2 h. ago Delays approving new jobs put ministers in ‘invidious position’, says ex

Former whip Ruth Edwards said she was facing a choice between missing mortgage payments and breaking the rules thanks to delays at Acoba.

Politics

3 h. ago The rise of ketamine as Gen Z's drug of choice: From 'ket walks' to k

EXCLUSIVE: Despite medics warning that abuse of the drug can prove fatal, social media users regularly make light of its impacts.

Events

9 h. ago Mark Drakeford says UK Government has made 'wrong' choice as Wales set to lose £65m

The chancellor has decided the money Wales will get to plug the gap made by her changes to the National Insurance contributions won't be the full amount

Politics

11 h. ago Scotland accused of 'beaver betrayal' as nature officials delay release in picturesque glen

Those behind the release had planned to see beavers in the glen this spring.

Politics

12 h. ago Everything we learned from Nintendo’s ‘deep dive’ into the Switch 2

In this week’s newsletter: Finally, the sequel to the revolutionary handheld console was unveiled – and it was a reminder that no does joy like NintendoSixty minutes – that’s how long Nintendo took on Wednesday afternoon to remind us that no other video game manufacturer creates joy like this one. It was the Nintendo livestream we’ve been waiting for: a deep dive into the new console after so much speculation. Sure, the Switch 2 is the company’s first real hardware sequel – an updated and spruced-up version of its predecessor rather than a radical new piece of kit. But the updates are the intriguing part.Naturally, we’re getting a larger (7.9-inch, to be precise) screen that displays in full HD at 1080p; but we’re also getting re-thought Joy-Con controllers that now click to the console via strong magnets rather than those fiddly sliders we all put on the wrong way. The buttons are larger, too, so adults will be able to play Mario Kart with some semblance of skill. But the main new ...

Politics

12 h. ago The best spa hotels in Bath for rejuvenating retreats, thermal waters and peaceful countryside escapes

Soak in the natural thermal waters, try out a high-tech treatment or simply snooze on the massage table with these indulgent spa break hotels in Bath

Politics

14 h. ago Scottish hospitality empire makes plea to punters as extra £1.7 million wage bill hits profits

“The ripple effects of these increases will be widespread, and we have no choice but to raise our prices as a result” – Louise MacLean, Signature

Economics

16 h. ago Nutritionist reveals the healthiest way to drink your coffee if you can't kick your morning cup

If you're an avid coffee drinker, you probably feel especially targeted when someone talks about how 'unhealthy' your morning cup of joe is.

Politics

16 h. ago Families can hop to Threave Garden and Nature Reserve for some Easter fun

The historic site on the outskirts of Castle Douglas is one of 40 National Trust for Scotland properties hosting Easter egg trails.

Politics

16 h. ago Arnold Schwarzenegger's daily protein shake that 'only the Terminator' would drink

The Terminator actor shared the recipe for his daily protein drink - and fans are not convinced by the unusual concoction

Events

16 h. ago Teen gets text saying 'this was all a lie' before realising he's lost thousands to scammer

Max Greenhalgh has revealed the ‘earth-shattering’ moment a fraudster came clean in a text as a new report says payment fraud could have been worth as much as £3billion in a year

Politics

16 h. ago Increased menopause awareness among young women boosts confidence and preparation

The stigma attached to the menopause is fading away as more women are gaining the confidence to talk about the natural ageing process and the symptoms they have experienced

Events

17 h. ago 'I always worry' – Ruben Amorim warned he may have no choice over Man Utd transfer

Manchester United's miserable season continued against Nottingham Forest and under pressure manager Ruben Amorim has been warned he may have to sell one of his few bright prospects

Events

18 h. ago Beauty fans race to grab five iconic MAC products for £13 each in Look Fantastic sale

Grab a lipstick, mascara, powder and more with this limited-edition bundle, now £46 off

Economics

18 h. ago US health agency layoffs gut mine safety, infertility and smoking programs

Thousands lost jobs as sweeping cuts reshape public health, leaving experts and lawmakers scrambling From experts in mine safety to smoking and infertility – mass layoffs hit branch after branch of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s plan to downsize nearly a quarter of the 82,000-person workforce took effect.Even as the sprawling nature of layoffs became apparent on Tuesday, a complete accounting was elusive. Layoffs were undertaken with few public details, with even apoplectic congressional lawmakers left in the dark. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Primark shoppers 'obsessed' with trendy £38 'colour of the season' outfit

Shoppers were quickly taken by the trendy outfit that comes in a bold yet trendy colour choice

Economics

19 h. ago The Beatles biopic causes fury among fans over casting choices

Sam Mendes has announced his cast for The Beatles biopics, but social media users are not happy

Politics

19 h. ago Ezra Klein on Trump, Vance and free speech: ‘It feels like we are in one of the darkest imaginable timelines’

The influential US commentator has written a book about how politics can change people’s lives for the better. But first, there are more pressing challenges to address ...Ezra Klein, the New York Times podcast host and progressive media’s undisputed nerd king, starts his new book with something of a palate cleanser for our troubled times. For a few paragraphs, he and his co-author, the Atlantic journalist Derek Thompson, whisk us out of the grim reality of contemporary politics to a world of Abundance (the word they picked as their title).“You open your eyes at dawn and turn in the cool bedsheets,” they purr, before conjuring a near-future utopia where the cost of living crisis is a distant memory. “You live in a cocoon of energy so clean it barely leaves a carbon trace and so cheap you can scarcely find it on your monthly bill.” The fridge is full of fresh fruit and vegetables from skyscraper farms that sit amid rewilded landscapes. This is what we can look forward to, they say, if...

Politics

21 h. ago Israel announces plan to seize ‘large areas’ in Gaza – latest updates

Defence minister Israel Katz says large areas of the territory will be seized and added to the security zones of IsraelAirstrikes continued on Gaza on Wednesday morning after the Israeli defense minister announced that Israel intended to expand its war. In a statement, Israel Katz said the offensive was “expanding to crush and clean the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure and capture large areas that will be added to the security zones of the state of Israel.”The move has been condemned by the Hostages Families Forum, who said it appeared that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were making the return of 59 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas “a secondary task” that had been “pushed to the bottom of the priority list.”I wish success to the IDF soldiers who are fighting bravely and powerfully in Gaza for the return of the kidnapped and the defeat of Hamas. The goal of Operation “Strength and Sword” is first and foremost to increase pressure for the release of all the hostage...

Politics

23 h. ago The pasta that’s as good for your gut as it is for your soul

Dr Rupy’s rigatoni with walnuts, tempeh and lentils is rich, hearty and high in protein – proof that healthy food doesn’t have to taste like it

Politics