1 hour ago DWP admits thousands of Pension Credit claims 'outstanding' after sign

Labour decided to means test the Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300, after discovering a '£22 billion' black hole in public spending left by the previous government

Politics

20 hours ago Thousands of students could soon be housed in new Manchester Metropolitan University skyscraper halls

The project hasn't been finalised yet

Society

65 minutes ago New Orleans archbishop fires food bank leaders for refusing to fund abuse settlement

Bankrupt Roman Catholic archdiocese replaced members at church-affiliated non-profit over $16m disputeThe archbishop of New Orleans’ bankrupt Roman Catholic archdiocese on Thursday abruptly fired and replaced top leaders at a church-affiliated food bank, with those dismissed saying it was because the non-profit refused to contribute to paying survivors of child sexual abuse by clergymen.The ousted members of Second Harvest’s board of directors say the changes “follow months of increasingly aggressive pressure placed on Second Harvest to contribute as much as $16m toward helping to resolve victims’ claims related to the church’s sexual abuse-related bankruptcy”, which has been pending since May 2020. Continue reading...

Economics

13 hours ago Barcelona players hit out at plans for Women’s Supercopa in Saudi Arabia

‘To a country that doesn’t respect women? I don’t see it’RFEF in dicussions with Saudi Arabia over competitionFemale players in Spain have hit out at plans to take the women’s Supercopa to Saudi Arabia. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been in negotiations with the Saudis to extend their agreement to play the men’s Supercopa semi-finals and final away from Spain until at least 2034 and include the women’s competition too.However, Barcelona players have now criticised the plans. “Taking the Supercopa outside of Spain and to a country that doesn’t respect women? I don’t see it,” the midfielder Patri Guijarro said after their semi-final win over Atlético Madrid in this year’s edition. Continue reading...

Sport

95 minutes ago Washington Wizards pay moving tribute to plane crash victims before NBA game against LA Lakers

Capital One Arena fell silent on Thursday night as the Wizards and Lakers paid tribute to the victims of the tragic plane crash in Washington DC .

Events

19 hours ago Antiques Roadshow guest confesses plan to ‘be nice’ to his mum to get hands on ‘rare’ painting worth thousands

An Antiques Roadshow guest pulled a face as the true value of a neighbour’s gift was unveiled

Culture

9 hours ago Do I need a TV licence to watch Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming services?

The Government is reportedly planning a shake-up of the licence fee, which could require more people to pay

Technology

26 hours ago Groundbreaking new test 90% accurate in finding patients at high risk of bowel cancer

Doctors believe new test could lead to earlier diagnoses and more effective treatment for thousands of patients

Science

16 hours ago Money pit motors: Expect to lose thousands on these new EVs and luxury cars that depreciate fastest

The worst offender - a popular battery model built in Britain - loses 73% of its value after just three years of ownership, new data from motoring title Auto Express shows.

Transport

3 hours ago Marianne Faithfull's most iconic moments as pals pay tribute to late singer

Marianne Faithfull's life was one of the most colourful in rock and roll history, she dated Sir Mick Jagger and inspired some of the Rolling Stones' most iconic songs

Politics

5 hours ago IPL billionaires and Birmingham City owners win auction for Hundred teams

Mumbai Indians owners pay £60m for Oval InvinciblesKnighthead Capital take stake in Birmingham PhoenixEnglish cricket’s landmark Hundred sale produced an eventful first day as the Ambanis, India’s richest family, and Knighthead Capital, owners of Birmingham City, secured the right to buy 49% stakes in Oval Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix respectively.The Guardian has learned that Knighthead’s offer of about £40m for 49% of the Phoenix prevailed in a sealed-bids auction over that of private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. CVC had earlier lost out to Reliance Industries Ltd, owners of Mumbai Indians, in a three-way auction for the equivalent stake in Oval Invincibles. Continue reading...

Economics

4 hours ago As a human rights lawyer, I fight against discrimination in all its forms. Witnessing the recent anti

In the face of those who refuse to see our humanity, I choose to imagine that we are humane enough to believe in theirsMy grandmother, Holocaust survivor Olga Horak OAM, passed away in August 2024 just days after her 98th birthday. Just one week before, she attended her great-granddaughter’s Jewish day school to share her remarkable story of survival with the Year 6 students. Her parting message was simple: “Never forget. Don’t hate”. Although she could no longer stand up straight, in her decades-long commitment to Holocaust education as a volunteer at the Sydney Jewish Museum, she was indefatigable until the end.When she died, we lost an empire of knowledge. Just as we do whenever we lose a survivor. Her strength of character, her disarming candour, her twinkly eyes, her testimony and her light have secreted themselves in the hearts of the thousands of people she touched, like little mirrors reflecting flashes of her life. A giant photo mosaic. Continue reading...

Events

5 hours ago Archbishop of York ‘categorically rejects’ bullying and coercion allegations

Stephen Cottrell denies bullying members of a committee to secure the Bishop of Liverpool’s appointment.

Politics

5 hours ago Darts top 10 star is still waiting for £60,000 bookies pay out for World Championship thriller

The Australian ace produced magic at the Ally Pally with his perfect nine-dart leg in his loss to Luke Woodhouse.

Economics

4 hours ago American Airlines CEO under fire for 'lack of respect' with outfit during briefing about DC plane crash

Robert Isom issued a heartfelt message to family members whose loved ones were onboard the passenger flight that crashed with a military helicopter at Reagan International Airport.

Events

6 hours ago BBC The Apprentice star lifts lid on application process that's 'like Squid Game'

The Apprentice star Raj Chohan dishes the dirt on the BBC competition's "brutal" application process and how she beat thousands of applicants to earn a place on the show

Politics

7 hours ago Watch: Tony Blair and Gordon Brown pay tribute to ‘working class hero’ John Prescott at Hull funeral

Former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown paid tribute to a “working class hero” at the funeral of Lord John Prescott.

Economics

8 hours ago Dancing On Ice's Torvill and Dean 'deeply saddened' as they pay tearful tribute to victims killed in Washington DC plane crash including figure skater

Skating stars, known as Torvill and Dean, expressed their sadness in an emotional post on X to pay their respects.

Events

7 hours ago Ticketmaster rejects Oasis investigation invitation to give evidence at Parliament

"The Oasis ticket sale incident provoked a wider public conversation about the prices we pay for the goods and services we use"

Politics

11 hours ago Uniqlo's 'incredible' £13 bag in 10 colours praised for 'fitting everything'

The newly reduced bag has been a hit on social media ever since it first came out, with thousands sharing glowing feedback

Economics

9 hours ago Council workers clearing coal which could have put 'thousands of lives at risk' were told they faced prosecution

RCT council leader Andrew Morgan called it 'outrageous'

Events

8 hours ago Manchester Chinese New Year 2025: Dragon parade, road closures and Chinatown events this weekend

This weekend, thousands are expected to head to Manchester City Centre to celebrate the Year of the Snake

Politics

12 hours ago Trade union boss warns Reeves against trading workers rights for economic growth

Exclusive: FBU general secretary issues a warning to Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer over pay and workers rights following the chancellor’s speech

Economics

10 hours ago ‘America’s gulag’: Trump’s Guantánamo ploy tars migrants as terrorists

The president wants to detain thousands of people at a site that is notorious for its secrecy and history of abuseIt has been denounced as “America’s gulag”: a secretive, abuse-ridden Caribbean prison camp for terror suspects that Donald Rumsfeld once said contained “the worst of the worst”.“All of us have scars in our souls, deformities, from living at Guantánamo,” a former Yemeni inmate recalled of his time at the notorious military detention facility in south-east Cuba. Continue reading...

Events

9 hours ago ‘Everyone has an impact’: how to start reducing your environmental footprint

As fires tear through California and Trump sets back efforts to curb the rise of global temperatures, what can individuals do to make a difference?2024 was the hottest year on record. Average global temperatures rose to 1.6C above preindustrial levels, according to data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) – a rise that led to extreme weather events and “misery to millions of people”, as one of the group’s experts told the Guardian.Less than a month into the new year, fires have torn through huge swathes of Los Angeles, upending the lives of thousands. Donald Trump, a climate denier, is pulling the country out of international climate agreements and setting back efforts to curb the rise of average global temperatures. Continue reading...

Politics

12 hours ago Tony Blair and Gordon Brown pay tribute to 'working class hero' at John Prescott's funeral

Labour leaders past and present gathered at Hull Minster to remember the former deputy prime minister

Economics

13 hours ago Bishop of Liverpool resigns after sexual assault and harassment claims

Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath said he did not want the story to become ‘a distraction’.

Events

10 hours ago Medicinal cannabis sector could boost incomes of British farmers, Tory MP says

David Mundell said the sector could create tens of thousands of jobs in rural areas and ‘potentially bring more than £1 billion to the UK economy’.

Politics

12 hours ago Blair and Brown pay tribute to ‘working class hero’ at funeral of John Prescott

Senior figures from past and current Labour governments gathered at Hull Minster to remember the former deputy prime minister.

Economics

14 hours ago BT cutting thousands of jobs in ongoing revamp as revenues hit by weaker trading

The telecoms giant reported a 3% drop in revenues to £5.2bn in its third quarter to the end of December as tough trading outside the UK and lower handset sales hit the group

Events

11 hours ago Bishop’s resignation latest in series of difficulties for Church of England

It comes in the same months as Justin Welby formally quit as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Politics

13 hours ago John Prescott funeral in pictures: Sir Keir Starmer, Gordon Brown pay tribute to 'working

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has attended John Prescott’s funeral, alongside former UK Labour leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown

Economics

16 hours ago BT trading hit by weak phone sales as thousands of jobs go in ongoing revamp

The group reported a 3% drop in revenues to £5.2 billion in its third quarter to the end of December, sending shares lower.

Events

11 hours ago Italian town clamps down after TikTok star draws ‘unmanageable’ crowds

Mayor caps tourist bus numbers after thousands of visitors descend on Roccaraso, clogging roads and leaving litterThe mayor of a popular Italian ski resort is clamping down on day-trippers after the town was suddenly overwhelmed by 260 buses bringing more than 10,000 visitors from Naples and the surrounding Campania region, lured by a TikTok star and cheap tickets.The onslaught on Sunday severely clogged the road leading up to Roccaraso, nestled in the mountains of Abruzzo, and overcrowded its ski slopes. Local residents were furious after the crowds, many of whom brought picnics, left the resort strewn with rubbish. Continue reading...

Politics

14 hours ago DWP '£105 pay boost' update for those on state pension, Universal Credit, PIP

Millions of people receive the one-off tax-free payment

Economics

17 hours ago Christian Iraqi who burnt Koran in Sweden sparking huge protests is shot dead 'in live stream assassination'

An anti-Islam activist who burnt the Koran repeatedly in protest, sparking outrage in Muslim countries, has been shot dead. 

Events

11 hours ago Claes Bang: ‘I think I have more of a sense of humour in English than I do in Danish’

The actor on saying yes to everything except pornography, working with ‘sweet’ Mick Jagger and why he wants to play a detective like Humphrey BogartWhat do you think is the dark “thing” directors see in you when they cast you as the antagonist? link98That is assuming they see a dark thing, right? There have been quite a lot of those nasty ones. I honestly don’t know, because I think I’m quite nice.Your performance often explores complex, morally ambiguous characters, from Christian in The Square to Dracula. What draws you to these roles, and how do you approach finding humanity in such layered, sometimes dark, figures? WeirdDugI’m drawn because there’s often more to play with. You can get out all your Legos and have fun. It’s quite fulfilling. Dracula’s not so nice, but he’s so over the top and actually quite sympathetic. Then the next bit of the question comes into play: where do I find the humanity? I always look for something I can relate to – the inferiority complexes, the insec...

Politics

15 hours ago How to get cheaper water bills and the help available if you are struggling to pay

As confirmed by industry body Water UK, the rise will take the average water and wastewater bill from £480 to £603 for the next year alone

Economics

20 hours ago Decades of neglect have failed rail links in Wales and the south west of England

A partnership between areas of south Wales and the west of England has identified opportunities to make rail a viable option for hundreds of thousands more people

Events

12 hours ago Linda Nolan's family share funeral details and invite fans to pay their respects

They have requested that fans join them in Blackpool to celebrate her 'remarkable life'

Politics

15 hours ago Ombudsman staff to strike out over pay and mandate pushing for office working

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union will walk out on February 12 and take an additional week of targeted industrial action

Economics

12 hours ago Thousands being declined mortgages after making this major home improvement

The discount supermarket chain will introduce a digital micro-donation system onto its tills, which will allow customers to donate up to 30p per transaction at the card reader to the NSPCC children's charity

Politics

13 hours ago Local bank branch closing? Why 350 shared banking hubs could be the perfect solution

Our cities, towns and villages have lost thousands of local bank branches in the past decade - but what happens when it all goes a bit Pete Tong?

Politics

15 hours ago Coleen Nolan 'struggling to pay bills' despite £3k a day Loose Women salary

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has recently admitted that her panel show salary "goes straight on bills, mortgage and insurance" and confessed that she "has worries"

Economics

13 hours ago France hikes ticket price for Brits at world's most visited museum The Louvre

Brits could soon pay more to enter the Louvre to see Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa painting, as French president Emmanuel Macron announces major overhaul of the world's most visited museum

Politics

20 hours ago Average £123 bill increase for everyone from April while some pay more

The average hike from April 1 will be 26% while some will have to find money for a 47% increase

Economics

15 hours ago Punters set to see some of their favourite drinks go up in price in a couple of days

New alcohol duty rates will soon hit the UK, seeing some people pay more for certain wines and spirits

Politics

24 hours ago Meta agrees to pay Trump $25m for suspending accounts over Capitol riots

Settlement originates from lawsuit by president against the platform, one of several filed after 6 January violenceMeta has agreed to pay $25m to settle a lawsuit with Donald Trump. The suit originated in 2021 when Trump sued the social media company for suspending his accounts after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The settlement was first reported by the Wall Street Journal and has been confirmed by a Meta spokesperson.The majority of the settlement, $22m, will go toward a fund to pay for Trump’s presidential library, according to the Wall Street Journal. The remainder will pay for legal fees and go to other plaintiffs listed in the case. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Continue reading...

Economics

16 hours ago Jhon Duran transfer update as Unai Emery gets his wish with alternative move cancelled

Unai Emery has received a much-needed boost late in the January transfer window, with Arsenal and Al-Nassr circling around Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran respectively

Politics

16 hours ago German migration proposal ‘oblivious to history,’ minister says, as Luxembourg rejects idea of internal borders in EU – Europe live

EU migration commissioner says bloc is working on ‘tighter rules’ following German plan chancellor describes as ‘unforgivable’ and as the ministers go to talk behind the closed doors, let us take a look at what’s happening elsewhere in Europe.Ingrid Gercama spoke with students protesters in Serbia to give you an idea on what is happening on the ground after the country’s prime minister Miloš Vučević resigned earlier this week following months of protests over the fatal collapse of a train station roof in November.Sitting on the balustrade of a viaduct in Belgrade, Uroš Pantović wasn’t in the mood to mince his words. The 22-year-old had joined tens of thousands of others protesters on Monday to block one of the Serbian capital’s main intersections, turning the junction into a sea of mostly good-humoured but nonetheless determined dissent.“We’re here to tell our government that it’s accountable to us,” said Pantović, a student at the law faculty of the University of Belgrade, who had ...

Politics

17 hours ago Christian Horner gives verdict on ‘box office’ Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari red

The Red Bull team principal is eyeing a fifth straight drivers’ title for Max Verstappen this year

Politics

19 hours ago Scotsman Obituaries: Allan McLean, Scottish journalist who became a respected voice in defence of Britain’s rail network

Allan Paterson McLean FCILT, journalist. Born: 22 December 1946 in Edinburgh. Died: 23 January 2025 in Edinburgh, aged 78

Politics