50 m. ago Dismay as Derbyshire council removes Pride flag after Christians complain

LGBTQ+ emblem disappears from above Matlock Christian bookshop as manager says they are ‘not happy with the gay rights situation’The spa town of Matlock in the Peak District is known for the joyful flags adorning its historical high street. The St George’s Cross, the union flag, the Derbyshire county flag and the Pride flag flutter brightly above the town’s many independent businesses.That was until a row erupted that has divided the town, after the mysterious disappearance of a Pride flag turned out to be the work of the very council that had installed it. Continue reading...

Politics

54 m. ago Jodie Marsh dances with Nigel Farage as he tries to hide face from camera

Jodie Marsh hosted a charity event to support her Fripp Farm Animal Sanctuary earlier this week, and controversial politician Nigel Farage was among the attendees

Events

60 m. ago Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals what ended Sylvester Stallone feud

The action stars had animosity towards one another at the height of their success in the 1980s and 90s

Events

91 m. ago Tories say they would support UK joining fight against Iran if Starmer deems it necessary – UK politics live

Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said.Campaigners from trade unions, voluntary organisations and the Church of Scotland have announced plans for an anti-poverty march to “demand better” from politicians in Scotland, reports the PA news agency.The campaign, Scotland Demands Better, will culminate in a march in Edinburgh on 25 October, walking from the Scottish parliament, up the Royal Mile and along George IV Bridge to The Meadows.Change for the better happens when people stand together and demand it. Scotland desperately needs that change.Too many of us are being cut off from life’s essentials. Too many are frightened of what the future will bring. Too many of us are feeling tired, angry, isolated, and disillusioned.Air pollution remains the most important environmental threat to health, with impacts throughout the life course.It is an area of health where the UK has made substantial progress in the last three decades, with con...

Politics

1 hour ago ‘This isn’t a gimmick’: the New Yorkers trying to restore the American chestnut

More than 120 years after billions of the trees were wiped out, blight-proof seeds are being plantedIt was in New York City that a mysterious fungus was first spotted on an American chestnut, a blight that was to rapidly sweep across the eastern US, wiping out billions of the cherished trees. Now, 120 years later, there is fresh hope of a comeback for chestnuts, spurred not only by scientists but also eager New Yorkers planting blight-proof seeds in their back yards and local parks.The American chestnut was once found in vast numbers from Maine to Mississippi and known as the redwoods of the east due to its prodigious size. But 4bn trees were killed off in the first half of last century by a blight introduced from Asia to which it had little defense, spread by spores carried by the wind, rain and animals. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Lithuanian hunters refuse to kill bear that ambled around capital for two days

Government issued permit to shoot young female who entered Vilnius, despite only small number left in Baltic countryEurope live – latest updatesA young female bear caused a stir after wandering out of the forest and into the leafy suburbs of the Lithuanian capital.For two days, the brown bear ambled through the neighbourhoods of Vilnius, trotted across highways and explored backyards – all while being chased by onlookers with smartphones and, eventually, drones. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Mohamed Salah 'broke down crying' in dressing room after harsh double punishment

John Obi Mikel has lifted the lid on the infamous incident in which Jose Mourinho made Mohamed Salah cry, and suggested the Portuguese's tough love at Chelsea was a test for his players

Politics

2 h. ago UK interest rates expected to remain on hold; rate cuts in Norway, Switzerland and the Philippines – business live

Central bankers warn that trade war worries, and conflict in the Middle East, could hurt growthNewsflash: We have a third interest rate cut this morning!Norway’s central bank has surprised analysts by cutting its policy rate by a quarter of one percentage point, to 4.25%. The rate had been set at 4.5% since December 2023.“Inflation has declined since the monetary policy meeting in March, and the inflation outlook for the coming year indicates lower inflation than previously expected.A cautious normalisation of the policy rate will pave the way for inflation to return to target without restricting the economy more than necessary.”“The uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook is now greater than normal. If the economy takes a different path than currently envisaged, the policy rate path may be adjusted. But our objectives stand firm. We will finish the job and ensure that inflation is brought all the way back to 2 percent.”The Monetary Board also noted indications of a deceleratio...

Politics

3 h. ago Bank of England expected to leave interest rates on hold as Middle East conflict pushes up oil price – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as Switzerland and Philippines cut interest ratesNewsflash: We have a third interest rate cut this morning!Norway’s central bank has surprised analysts by cutting its policy rate by a quarter of one percentage point, to 4.25%. The rate had been set at 4.5% since December 2023.“Inflation has declined since the monetary policy meeting in March, and the inflation outlook for the coming year indicates lower inflation than previously expected.A cautious normalisation of the policy rate will pave the way for inflation to return to target without restricting the economy more than necessary.”“The uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook is now greater than normal. If the economy takes a different path than currently envisaged, the policy rate path may be adjusted. But our objectives stand firm. We will finish the job and ensure that inflation is brought all the way back to 2 percent.”The Monetary Board also noted indications of...

Economics

3 h. ago Lithuanian hunters refuse a government request to shoot a wild bear in the capital

Lithuanian hunters have refused to shoot a wild bear that was spotted roaming around the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius and criticized the government for issuing a permit to kill a member of the protected species

Politics

3 h. ago Wild bear finally has plastic lid removed from neck after two years

A Michigan bear is feeling much, much better

Politics

3 h. ago Common vegetable extract found to remove most microplastics from water

Researchers say plant extracts work significantly better than commercially available synthetic polymers used in wastewater treatment

Politics

4 h. ago Emmerdale fans 'rumble' what’s wrong with Bear as links to his 'past'

Paddy Kirk has started to show concern for his father who appears to be struggling with his health

Politics

4 h. ago Remove limescale from your toilet with 1 cheap item that works better than bleach

Removing limescale from a toilet bowl can be a real hassle. But an expert has shared a simple hack to get rid of the unsightly stains without using bleach

Politics

4 h. ago 'Horrendous' queues at Spanish airport as tourists 'stuck in stairwell'

Tourists at a well-used Spanish airport have complained of lengthy queues and 'chaos' at security and waiting to board, with some even claiming they had to wait in a stairwell in sweltering heat

Society

7 h. ago New Hampshire's Juneteenth celebration culminates with dance event

Though the Trump administration has been removing content on African American history from federal websites, Juneteenth remains a federal holiday, commemorating June 19, 1865

Culture

7 h. ago Rampaging raccoons: how the American mammals took over a German city – and are heading across Europe

Many in Kassel have embraced the animal but the EU classes it as an invasive species and ecologists are divided about what to do nextIn Kassel, everyone has a story about raccoons. Some struggle with a family of them that moved into their roof and simply will not leave. Others recount how a picnic in the park turned into an ambush as gangs of the black and white animals, known in Germany as Waschbären, raided the food. Almost everyone seems to have a neighbour who feeds them, to the annoyance of the entire street.“We are the raccoon city. They are everywhere,” says Lars, a Kassel resident, as he tends his allotment by Karlsaue park in the fading light. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Why Dyson's former boss is backing the creation of a Scottish sovereign wealth fund

“Part of the problem, not necessarily just in Scotland, is that a lot of these technologies and investments are long term” – Jim Rowan

Economics

9 h. ago Spanish island set to make huge change to beaches in 2026 affecting Brits

In a desperate effort to tackle over-tourism and fight against rising sea levels, one Spanish island is planning to remove a whopping 1,700 of its sun loungers from popular beaches

Politics

11 h. ago TUI urges anyone packing one tiny item in hand luggage to remove it at the airport

TUI is advising passengers to avoid packing one common item in their hand luggage that is banned from carry to and from the US. But if you do need to pack it, here's how.

Politics