84 minutes ago Disability benefit claimants are waiting '10 times longer for calls to be answered'

The Public Accounts Committee concluded that disability benefit claimants, in particular, are receiving a subpar service, including lengthy processing times for their claims

Politics

5 hours ago The most brazen shoplifters ever caught on camera: Shocking footage show 'kamikaze thieves' raiding stores in full view of staff and customers as offences surge to record levels

This footage, filmed at a branch on London 's Chancery Lane, is only one of countless examples of brazen shoplifting that have been caught on camera across the UK.

Economics

52 minutes ago Rangers total Europa League prize money after clinching last 16 place as the grateful eight lands UEFA bonus

European football comes with plenty of glamour - and plenty of prizemoney, with the Gers already pocketing a decent wedge

Sport

99 minutes ago UK weather maps turn purple as wall of snow length of Britain to hit in

The UK is set for more wintry conditions in February and maps indicate that large areas of the country will see snow flurries as temperatures drop as low as -8C

Events

13 hours ago Influencer apologizes after screaming racial slurs at parking attendants in Beverly Hills

Florence Mirsky, who dated record producer Scott Storch, says she’s taking ‘full accountability’ for her behavior

Science

5 hours ago TOM UTLEY: Memo to the Utley boys: I regret to inform you the local branch of the Bank of Mum and Dad has closed down

Few parents reading this will be surprised to learn that the Bank of Mum and Dad is fast running short of funds, with gifts of cash to help the young get on the housing ladder taking a tumble.

Politics

5 hours 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

15 hours ago Man City drop huge Rodri return hint as star set for Champions League role

Rodri has been out injured since mid-September following his ACL rupture but the Manchester City and Spain midfielder could be back in action much sooner than expected

Sport

5 hours ago Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds to ask federal court to drop Justin Baldoni's $400M suit amid legal battles

'The Lively-Reynolds Parties intend to move to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint,' an attorney for the couple requested to Judge Lewis Liman in a letter.

Events

5 hours ago Are you slim but taking Ozempic to drop a dress size? Then it's not a fat jab you need, it's therapy: BRYONY GORDON

Like the woman across the restaurant, my friend needs Ozempic like a fish needs a bicycle, or Rachel Reeves needs another economic downgrade.

Politics

24 hours ago World media reacts to Celtic 'redemption' at Aston Villa as Champions League spectacle forces grovelling Rodgers apology

It was a classic Euro night at Villa Park as the Hoops returned north of the border with plenty of credit in the bank

Sport

8 hours ago We must reform the post or nationwide service cannot survive, says Royal Mail chief exec EMMA GILTHORPE

We want to protect what makes Royal Mail unique and continue to serve 32m addresses across the UK for the same price, however remote they may be.

Events

8 hours ago Watch as Richard Madeley confronts Rachel Reeves over her 'exaggerated' CV in GMB clash

The host, 68, brutally tore into the Chancellor, 45, as he quizzed her about why she had lied about the length of time she had worked at the Bank of England.

Politics

6 hours ago DWP benefit claimants received £4billion less than they were entitled to last year

The Public Accounts Committee warned people claiming disability benefits are also getting 'unacceptably poor service' - waiting on average 10 times longer for calls to be answered

Economics

30 hours ago Champions League: Ancelotti fears City playoff as Real Madrid miss top eight

Bayern and Real Madrid head to playoffs despite winsLeverkusen and Lille in last-16 spots ahead of AtalantaReal Madrid and Bayern Munich both won their final league phase matches but finished a point short of a direct place in the last 16 – leaving their managers worried by the possibility of facing Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs.Real Madrid wrapped up their campaign with a 3-0 win over Brest, who drop into the unseeded playoff teams. Rodrygo gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side a 1-0 half-time lead and Jude Bellingham doubled the advantage shortly after Ludovic Ajorque’s goal was disallowed for the hosts. Continue reading...

Sport

11 hours ago Crowds greet militant leader Zakaria Zubeidi among prisoners released in Ramallah

Israel freed 110 Palestinians in exchange for three Israelis and five Thai nationals held in GazaAs the line of white buses drew closer to the West Bank city of Ramallah at dusk, their most notorious passenger stood at the window of one of the buses and waved. Skinny in his grey Israeli prison tracksuit, his head shaved, Zakaria Zubeidi lifted two fingers to make a peace sign and gestured at jubilant crowds.The 49-year-old, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, was among 110 Palestinian prisoners freed in exchange for three Israelis and five Thai nationals held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. The prisoners’ release was delayed by Israeli officials, who expressed dismay at the chaotic scenes in Gaza that accompanied the Israelis’ transfer to the custody of the Red Cross. Continue reading...

Events

10 hours ago Kash Patel says FBI wouldn’t seek retribution against Trump opponents; at least five senior agency leaders reportedly demoted or moved – live

Trump’s nominee to lead FBI also denied having an ‘enemies list’; Tulsi Gabbard faces sharp criticism over past comments sympathetic to RussiaRFK Jr dodges clear answers on vaccines on second day of hearingsGabbard grilled on Snowden, Hezbollah and Putin in tense Senate hearingHere’s some more reaction to Donald Trump’s executive order instructing the military to prepare to house 30,000 immigrants at the US naval base in Cuba.“Guantánamo is a stain on our nation’s honor,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said.For years, I have advocated for its closure, condemning the abuses and glaring lack of accountability that persist there. This massive expansion into a mass detention camp is morally indefensible & raises significant civil liberties concerns.We cannot allow this level of dehumanization to become normalized. We need to shut down Guantánamo once and for all. Continue reading...

Politics

8 hours ago European Central Bank cuts rates for the fifth time as Germany and France teeter on the brink of recession

ECB chief Christine Lagarde (pictured) said the single currency bloc was 'set to remain weak in the near term' as the rate was cut from 3% to 2.75%.

Economics

12 hours ago The Guardian view on the Washington DC plane crash: Trump’s warped priorities | Editorial

The president is more concerned with attacking the federal government than with putting safety firstFew stretches of airspace on the planet are as busy or as carefully monitored as the skies above Washington DC. Commercial and military aircraft are on the move there at all times. The greatest concentration is around Reagan National airport, the city’s principal domestic hub, which sits on the west bank of the Potomac River within sight of the Capitol dome.No one yet knows how a Black Hawk military helicopter collided with an American Eagle flight from Wichita above the Potomac on Wednesday evening. But the destruction was total. No survivors have been found from among the 64 people on board the flight from Kansas or among the three-strong crew of the helicopter. By early Thursday, the rescue effort was already a recovery operation. Bodies were being lifted from the river’s icy waters through the day.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like ...

Events

11 hours ago Kash Patel says FBI wouldn’t seek retribution against Trump’s opponents; Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr face questions from senators – live

Trump’s nominee to lead FBI also denied having an ‘enemies list’; Tulsi Gabbard faces sharp criticism over past comments sympathetic to RussiaRFK Jr dodges clear answers on vaccines on second day of hearingsHere’s some more reaction to Donald Trump’s executive order instructing the military to prepare to house 30,000 immigrants at the US naval base in Cuba.“Guantánamo is a stain on our nation’s honor,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said.For years, I have advocated for its closure, condemning the abuses and glaring lack of accountability that persist there. This massive expansion into a mass detention camp is morally indefensible & raises significant civil liberties concerns.We cannot allow this level of dehumanization to become normalized. We need to shut down Guantánamo once and for all. Continue reading...

Politics

12 hours ago Government to overspend £8.6bn on benefits bill as DWP boss says ‘radical’ changes to come

Labour should drop its “cruel and poorly thought-out plans” says leading charity

Economics

14 hours ago Stormzy joins forces with McDonald's for 'famous order' in UK and Ireland

The collaboration is set to hit stores nationwide and in Ireland come February 12, but lucky fans in Croydon get an exclusive first taste on February 10

Events

13 hours ago Letters: Build a third runway? Heathrow should drop its shorthaul flights

Letters: Build a third runway? Heathrow should drop its shorthaul flights  The Independent

Politics

14 hours ago How much will YOUR water bill go up? Interactive tool reveals the price increases for customers across Britain

The rise will take the average water and wastewater bill in England and Wales from £480 to £603 for the next year alone. This equates to an increase of around £10 a month, from £40 to £50.

Economics

15 hours ago Power restored to all affected properties in Scotland after Storm Éowyn

Almost 300,000 customers were left without electricity, some for nearly a week.

Events

14 hours ago RFK Jr avoids supporting Covid vaccines and abortion pill; Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard also grilled by senators – US politics live

Health nominee RFK Jr wouldn’t say Covid vaccines were successful; other Trump nominees also grilled by senators for top intelligence rolesHere’s some more reaction to Donald Trump’s executive order instructing the military to prepare to house 30,000 immigrants at the US naval base in Cuba.“Guantánamo is a stain on our nation’s honor,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said.For years, I have advocated for its closure, condemning the abuses and glaring lack of accountability that persist there. This massive expansion into a mass detention camp is morally indefensible & raises significant civil liberties concerns.We cannot allow this level of dehumanization to become normalized. We need to shut down Guantánamo once and for all. Continue reading...

Politics

16 hours ago Barclays to drop savings rates for some accounts with up to £10k in just two weeks

Some Barclays customers will see their savings accounts be hit by rate cuts very soon

Economics

18 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

14 hours ago Man United stars drop early team news hints after Marcus Rashford decision

Manchester United will look to book a place in the last-16 of the Europa League when they take on Bucharest side FCSB

Politics

17 hours ago European Central Bank cuts interest rates to support growth as eurozone economy stagnates

Live coverage of business, economics and financial news as ECB cuts main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points in effort to support growthIt was a flash reading on the Eurozone economy, so we don’t have the details on what the drivers were. But it’s clear that it was a weak end to 2024.But the European Central Bank might be able to spur a bit of economic growth in the eurozone with looser monetary policy.This marks a weak end to last year, following positive growth in the first three quarters of 2024. As a result, first estimates suggest that the currency bloc as a whole grew by 0.7% in 2024. Declining activity in Germany – the Eurozone’s largest economy – has weighed on the bloc’s growth, with German GDP contracting by 0.2% on the quarter. This suggests Germany has now seen annual declines in activity for two consecutive years.In 2025, further loosening of monetary conditions is expected to provide a modest uptick in activity for both Germany and the Eurozone, with growth expecte...

Economics

20 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

14 hours ago Fabio Hurzeler confirms Evan Ferguson talks after West Ham transfer interest

Republic of Ireland international keen to bank first-team football after struggles with fitness

Politics

19 hours ago Anyone booking a holiday with one travel agent can get a refund if the price changes after booking

The travel retailer has launched a generous new scheme that promises customers a refund if the cost of their holiday decreases after booking

Economics

20 hours ago Judge upholds legal challenge against new North Sea oil and gas fields

The decision to grant consent to the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields will now be reconsidered, taking into account downstream emissions.

Events

14 hours ago Barclays hardens stance on hybrid working as staff told to come into office more

The bank is the latest large company to roll back its flexible working policies brought in during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Politics

19 hours ago Mortgage approvals to home buyers edged up in December, Bank of England figures show

Some 66,526 deals got the green light in December, up from 66,061 in November, the Bank said

Economics

21 hours ago Slowdown in shift towards EVs contributed to drop in UK car production last year

'Amid significant geopolitical and trade tensions, UK manufacturers are set on turning billions of pounds of investment into production reality, transforming factories to make new electric vehicles for sale around the world'

Events

15 hours ago RFK Jr and Trump FBI pick Kash Patel face Senate confirmation hearings – US politics live

Health nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr faces further grilling on day two of his confirmation hearing as Patel will face scrutiny over loyalty to TrumpHere’s some more reaction to Donald Trump’s executive order instructing the military to prepare to house 30,000 immigrants at the US naval base in Cuba.“Guantánamo is a stain on our nation’s honor,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said.For years, I have advocated for its closure, condemning the abuses and glaring lack of accountability that persist there. This massive expansion into a mass detention camp is morally indefensible & raises significant civil liberties concerns.We cannot allow this level of dehumanization to become normalized. We need to shut down Guantánamo once and for all. Continue reading...

Politics

20 hours ago Mortgage approvals to home buyers edged up in December – Bank of England figures

One property expert described the start of 2025 as ‘upbeat’.

Economics

15 hours ago International staff of UN Palestinian agency forced to leave as Israel ban comes in

Aid agency says its work in West Bank and Gaza will continue

Politics

20 hours ago German and French economies shrink ahead of European Central Bank interest rate decision – business live

Live coverage of business, economics and financial news as ECB expected to cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points in effort to support growthThe decision to greenlight a giant new oilfield off Shetland has been ruled unlawful by the courts in a major win for environmental campaigners.The proposed Rosebank development – the UK’s biggest untapped oilfield, due to be developed by Norwegian oil company Equinor – had been given the go-ahead in 2023 under the previous government. Continue reading...

Economics

16 hours ago Trump’s Guantánamo Bay order condemned as ‘disastrous’ and ‘indefensible’ by rights groups – US politics live

US president prompts outrage after signing an executive order to prepare huge detention facility at Guantánamo Bay he says could hold 30,000 immigrantsHere’s some more reaction to Donald Trump’s executive order instructing the military to prepare to house 30,000 immigrants at the US naval base in Cuba.“Guantánamo is a stain on our nation’s honor,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said.For years, I have advocated for its closure, condemning the abuses and glaring lack of accountability that persist there. This massive expansion into a mass detention camp is morally indefensible & raises significant civil liberties concerns.We cannot allow this level of dehumanization to become normalized. We need to shut down Guantánamo once and for all. Continue reading...

Politics

21 hours ago KPMG's partners took home record £816,000 each last year after laying off 200 staff and freezing salaries of 12,000 of its UK workers

The smallest of the 'big four' accounting firms saw its profits bumped by 11 per cent - after the brutal swathe of job cuts made them more profitable.

Economics

16 hours ago ‘Like dropping a bomb’: why is clean energy leader Uruguay ramping up the search for oil?

The South American country has begun exploration in its Atlantic waters, with experts warning it is endangering livelihoods, marine life and climate goalsWhen he hears the news, the only words that fisher Francisco Méndez can use are those of war. “What they are planning to do is like dropping a bomb – and when you drop the bomb, everything dies,” says the 41-year-old father of five.For 22 years, Méndez has sailed into the Atlantic Ocean, fishing for brotula and striped weakfish alongside his father, brothers and uncles. He is also joined, occasionally, by dolphins and whales, curious about his white and orange vessel. But now Méndez fears his family’s way of life and livelihood are under threat. Continue reading...

Politics

22 hours ago Royal Mail to cut deliveries under regulator proposals; Shell hikes investor payouts – business live

Live coverage of business, economics and financial news as UK postal service set to deliver on alternate weekdays and drop SaturdaysGermany’s Dax stock market index is also in on the party with a new record high, while Spain’s Ibex benchmark is at its highest since 2008, before the Eurozone crisis crunched its economy for a decade.Spain’s stock market has risen strongly in the last couple of years, as the country has become the surprise leader of the European economy – with a growth rate far outstripping the EU’s largest economy, Germany.Posts record funds under management of £190.21bn at 2024-end, above analysts’ views of £187.4bn, according to company-compiled consensus. Continue reading...

Economics

16 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

29 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

17 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

29 hours ago London gold market queues up to borrow central bank gold after big shipments to US, sources say

London gold market queues up to borrow central bank gold after big shipments to US, sources say  Reuters UK

Economics

18 hours ago High street banks accused of 'abandoning' Dumfries and Galloway communities

Bank of Scotland branches in Annan, Thornhill, Moffat and Sanquhar will close over the next 14 months.

Politics

18 hours ago Drop in searches for LED headlights as government probes 'blinding' lamps

A survey found there is less demand in the last year for the bright headlights

Politics

19 hours ago Ancient papyrus is deciphered after 1,900 YEARS: Mysterious scroll is the 'best

The scroll, found in the Judean desert, has been painstakingly translated from Nabataean, an ancient Arabic language.

Politics