1 hour ago I’ve seen horrible things at football matches – but what landed on the pitch last week was the worst | Adrian Chiles

When a mysterious object fell from the sky mid-game, I knew it was a portent of doom. The surprise was finding out who chucked it thereA funny thing happened at the football last Saturday, and not in a good way. My team, West Brom, were outplaying Derby County but, importantly, without managing to score a goal. Ordinarily, as the second half went on, I would have given in to pessimism, assuming that for all our dominance we’d not score, though Derby somehow would, and I’d go home miserable. But on this occasion, I really thought the match would be ours. Until this thing happened.Play suddenly stopped, for reasons that were at first unclear. A few of the players were looking at something lying on the pitch. Gingerly, squeamishly, they edged closer to whatever it was. Bizarre. As opera glasses aren’t available on the backs of seats at football grounds, we couldn’t identify the object. Eventually a member of the ground staff appeared, wearing rubber gloves. He strode out to the middle ...

Politics

2 h. ago Who is Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron?

The French first couple have taken legal action against Candace Owens

Politics

9 h. ago Eddie Hearn threatens to sue Chris Eubank Jr over ‘sabotage’ claim before Conor Benn rematch

Eubank Jr makes allegations against Matchroom at press conferenceHearn rejects claims and threatens legal action unless boxer apologisesEddie Hearn has threatened to sue Chris Eubank Jr, after the boxer fired the first shots during a press conference ahead of his rematch with Conor Benn by accusing his opponent’s team of dirty tricks and “sabotage”.Eubank Jr, who won their first bout by unanimous decision in April, claimed an ambulance taking him to hospital afterwards was stopped – and appeared to point the finger at Benn’s promoters, Matchroom Boxing. Continue reading...

Events

17 h. ago Scottish Government 'has not conceded any' of For Women Scotland's legal challenge

The Scottish Government has now lodged its defence against the For Women Scotland legal action - and is understood to have not conceded any points.

Politics

19 h. ago Opponents of 2030 Winter Olympics in French Alps launch legal action

A citizens' group in France is taking legal action to demand a public debate on the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

Politics

21 h. ago Christian group launches legal action to stop Grade II listed former Carnegie Library becoming town's first mosque

Labour council chiefs agreed a 30-year-old lease to turn the landmark former library into a mosque after it has sat unused for ten years.

Politics

21 h. ago Lawyer who brought Hamas case claims he was unlawfully detained by police

Fahad Ansari launches legal action against UK home secretary after his phone was seized at Holyhead portA lawyer who filed Hamas’s challenge to proscription claims he was unlawfully detained under the Terrorism Act, with his phone containing legally privileged information examined because of his client.Fahad Ansari, who issued legal proceedings on Wednesday against the home secretary and the chief constable of north Wales police, was stopped by officers at the port of Holyhead on 6 August as he returned from a family holiday in Ireland with his wife and four children. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Grand Slam Track denies Michael Johnson earned $2m from scrapped series

Former sprinter claims he is facing own financial losses ‘Michael has asked for patience while we try to fix this’Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track organisation has denied the former American sprinter has pocketed $2m from the series while his athletes have gone unpaid, calling the speculation “categorically false” – and claimed he was facing financial losses himself.Johnson is facing the prospect of legal action from athletes, agents and the suppliers who helped stage three GST meetings, with sources claiming they are owed as much as $19m (£13.9m). It is understood that two athletes claim they had to withdraw from buying a house when prize money was not paid, and many privately believe they will never receive their money. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago Why is Donald Trump suing the New York Times for $15 billion?

Trump’s lawsuit comes less than a week after the New York Times said it had been threatened with legal action by the White House

Politics

28 h. ago Council begins legal action to remove ‘African tribe’ from new site in woods

Scottish Borders Council has initiated fresh legal proceedings to evict the self-styled 'African tribe' from council-owned land

Politics

29 h. ago ChatGPT developing age verification system to identify under

Sam Altman said if there is doubt the system will default to the under-18 experience putting ‘safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens’OpenAI will restrict how ChatGPT responds to a user it suspects is under 18, unless that user passes the company’s age estimation technology or provides ID, following legal action from the family of a 16-year-old who killed himself in April after months of conversations with the chatbot.OpenAI was prioritising “safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens”, chief executive Sam Altman said in a blog post on Tuesday, stating “minors need significant protection. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago Legal action threat over decision to turn town's library into mosque

In the lead-up to a council meeting on the issue the building was vandalised in anti-mosque messaging

Events

69 h. ago Cheryl struts her stuff in a racy leather trench coat as she continues to launch her return to the spotlight with skincare campaign

She has collaborated with Nivea for a soft launch back to the spotlight. 

Politics

3 d. ago Vicky Pattison breaks down in tears at Strictly launch as she admits to feeling 'scared' and 'overwhelmed' about taking part in the competition

Vicky Pattison broke down in tears at the Strictly press day as she admitted to feeling 'scared' and 'overwhelmed' about taking part in the competition.

Politics

4 d. ago Bridget Phillipson issues Labour warning as she prepares campaign launch

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is running to replace Angela Rayner as deputy leader, says she wants to 'unite' the party and take the fight to Reform UK

Events

5 d. ago Bee Network strikes to hit two thirds of services across Greater Manchester

Many bus services will not run at all as 2,000 drivers take legal action

Events

5 d. ago ‘African tribe’ camping in Scottish woods defiant after court removal order

Members of the so-called Kingdom of Kubala show no inclination to leave their campsite despite the legal action.

Events

6 d. ago Strictly Come Dancing in chaos as full list of 2025 pairings leak online just over a week before BBC show launch airs

BBC bosses had gone to great lengths to keep the partnerships under wraps ahead of next weekend's big launch, where 15 celebrities will go head-to-head for the glitterball trophy.

Events

6 d. ago Era of low taxes is over, warns the OECD amid fears Rachel Reeves is set to launch a fresh round of hikes

Governments acted to ease tax burdens during the pandemic but this trend started to reverse two years ago and 'has now solidified', it said.

Events

7 d. ago UK fashion brand sold in Next and M&S on the brink of collapse

The retailer has filed a notice to appoint administrators, which signals a company is about to go bust and provides a temporary legal freeze that stops creditors from taking legal action for ten days

Politics