31 h. ago Nigerian military officers to face trial over alleged coup plot

The group planned to overthrow the West African nation’s government, officials say

Events

36 h. ago Storm Chandra brings snow to 27 UK areas as Met Office warn of 17 hour blizzards

The nation is going to be blanketed in snow as the Met Office warns 27 areas to prepare for the white stuff

Events

45 h. ago England captain Maro Itoje absent from training camp to attend mother’s funeral in Nigeria

Borthwick: ‘We are deeply saddened for him’Itoje misses launch of 2026 Six NationsEngland will kick off their Six Nations training camp in Spain this week without their captain, Maro Itoje, who has travelled to Nigeria for his mother’s funeral. Itoje was conspicuously absent from the official Six Nations championship launch in Edinburgh on Monday and is not expected to join up with his squad until Wednesday evening.With the tournament commencing on Thursday week every team is scrambling to be ready for their opening games but Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, has given the Saracens lock permission to miss the start of this week’s training block in Girona. “He is in Nigeria for the funeral of his mother and we are all deeply saddened for him,” said Borthwick, whose side open their campaign at home to Wales on Saturday week. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago M6 grinds to a halt with all lanes closed after ‘serious’ crash as drivers hit with long delays

A MAJOR motorway has seen all lanes closed after a "serious" crash sparked long delays. The M6 northbound is closed between Junction 6 (Birmingham, Spaghetti Junction) and Junction 7 (A34 Great Barr), National Highways said. Traffic officers are on scene assisting with full carriageway closures and traffic management measures. "Due to the nature of the...

Events

58 h. ago AI systems could use Met Office and National Archives data under UK plans

Ministers plan to license content from institutions such as National History Museum and National Library of ScotlandMet Office data and legal documents from the National Archives could be used by artificial intelligence systems as the UK government pushes ahead with plans to employ nationally owned material in AI tools.The government is providing funds for researchers to test how Met Office content could be used by the technology, such as in helping agencies and councils know when to buy more road grit. Another project will explore whether legal data from the National Archives – the UK’s repository for official documents – could help medium- and small-sized businesses with legal support. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Retail sales see surprise December bounceback amid online boost

The Office for National Statistics said the total volume of retail sales is estimated to have risen by 0.4% in December.

Politics

6 d. ago Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez assured US of cooperation before Maduro’s capture

Exclusive: sources say powerful figures in the regime secretly pledged US and Qatari officials they would welcome Maduro’s departureBefore the US military snatched Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, earlier this month, Delcy Rodríguez and her powerful brother pledged to cooperate with the Trump administration once the strongman was gone, four sources involved at high levels with the discussions told the Guardian.Rodríguez, who was sworn in on 5 January as acting president to replace Maduro, and her brother Jorge, the head of the national assembly, secretly assured US and Qatari officials through intermediaries ahead of time that they would welcome Maduro’s departure, according to the sources. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Government borrowing falls sharply as national insurance hike boosts coffers

The Office for National Statistics said borrowing was £7.1 billion, or 38%, less than the same month in 2024.

Politics

7 d. ago UK inflation inches up in December but a decline toward 2% is expected in 2026

Inflation in the United Kingdom rose in December for the first time in five months, pushing further above the Bank of England’s target

Economics

7 d. ago Examples of where inflation accelerated in December – and where it eased

Foods including pizza, quiche, breakfast cereal and crisps all saw an acceleration of inflation last month.

Economics

7 d. ago Inflation bounces back in December as Christmas travel fuels price rises

The rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to 3.4% in December from 3.2% in November, the Office for National Statistics said.

Economics

7 d. ago UK inflation rises again in another blow to struggling households

Inflation measures how the price of goods and services has changed over time, with data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) every month

Economics

7 d. ago Inflation expected to swing higher over more expensive plane tickets

A consensus of economists have predicted that it will jump higher to 3.5% for last month, from 3.2% in November.

Economics

8 d. ago State pension 'gap' warning as hundreds of thousands of people urged to act

Analysis of Office for National Statistics data has found around 740,000 single retirees and 500,000 retired two adult households are 'mainly reliant' on the state pension

Events

8 d. ago Major update on wage growth and unemployment rates as new figures released

The Office for National Statistics has published its updates wage growth and unemployment rate figures today

Politics

8 d. ago China's population shrinks for the fourth straight year with birth

Official figures revealed that the world's second-most populous nation shrank in 2025, with the total population to 1.404billion - around three million fewer people than the year before.

Politics

8 d. ago Wage growth falls as unemployment stays at highest level for nearly five years

The Office for National Statistics said retail and hospitality sectors have seen some of the biggest falls in payrolled employees.

Politics

8 d. ago Labour's jobs massacre gathers pace with retail and hospitality hit after brutal tax raids while public sector enjoys huge pay bonanza

The rate of UK unemployment remained unchanged at 5.1 per cent in the three months to November, the Office for National Statistics said today.

Events

8 d. ago Number of employed people in UK falls again as wage growth slows

Shops, restaurants and hotels particularly hit by slowdown in hiring, as unemployment remains at 5.1%Business live – latest updatesThe number of employed people in the UK has fallen again, particularly in shops, restaurants and hotels, reflecting weak hiring, while private sector wages grew at the slowest rate in five years, official figures show.Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the number of employees on payrolls fell by 184,000 in December compared with a year earlier, to 30.2 million. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Referees in crisis and pitch pressure: six things we learned from Afcon 2025

Dramatic tournament left food for thought for the 2027 edition, from the weather to the warm welcome in MoroccoAt the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, officiating was at its finest, with the Confederation of African Football’s video assistant referee operation setting standards that were the envy of the Premier League and several other European leagues. Sadly, refereeing standards took a nosedive at this tournament, which many associate with the abrupt dismissal of the Ivorian Noumandiez Doué as head of Caf’s refereeing department on the eve of last year’s African Nations Championship. Continue reading...

Events