14 h. ago The minister, the general and the oil baron: All the mysterious deaths of Russian officials and businessmen

A large number of Russian officials and business executives have died since the beginning of the war in Ukraine

Politics

4 d. ago Russian oil tycoon dies 'falling out of window' in latest mysterious death

Andrey Badalov, 62, the vice-president of Transneft, fell from the 17th floor of a Moscow apartment block and he adds to the long list of mysterious deaths since Russia invaded Ukraine

Events

6 d. ago SNP Government to evaluate potential benefits of four day working week for Scots

EXCLUSIVE: The Scottish Greens have pushed for more organisations to adopt a four-day working week but Keir Starmer has ruled out the UK civil service being one of them.

Politics

8 d. ago Liz Kendall ignores call from Labour MP for welfare bill to be withdrawn – UK politics live

Andy McDonald says MPs are being asked to vote without vital evidence but work and pensions secretary says employment support programmes are being improvedThe Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.Here is the key chart from the document. Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago Liz Kendall makes statement to MPs about welfare bill concessions – UK politics live

Work and pensions secretary speaks to parliament as No 10 disputes figures showing benefit cuts to push 150,000 more into povertyThe Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.Here is the key chart from the document. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Life's a beach: Britons cast work aside to flock to the coast and make the most of the sweltering 34C heat

Britain is bracing for a searing start to the week as a fierce 'heat dome' pushes temperatures towards record-breaking highs.

Society

8 d. ago No 10 disputes figures showing benefit cuts to push 150,000 more into poverty – UK politics live

No 10 spokesperson says ‘poverty modelling is subject to uncertainty’ and cites investment in health and care systemThe Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.Here is the key chart from the document. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago DWP says 150,000 more people pushed into poverty by benefit cuts, not 250,000 as forecast said before U

Analysis says, allowing for concessions to welfare bill announced last week, cuts will still push people into relative povertyThe Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.Here is the key chart from the document. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Enter the heat dome: Britain heads for one of the hottest June days EVER as 'killer' heatwave causes havoc across Europe

Britain is bracing for a searing start to the week as a fierce 'heat dome' pushes temperatures towards record-breaking highs.

Events

1 week ago Budapest Pride expected to be a rallying cry against Orbán’s rollback of rights

Record numbers expected at march despite Hungary’s leader saying those attending will face ‘legal consequences’Record numbers of people are expected to take part in Budapest Pride on Saturday, with Hungarians joining forces with campaigners and politicians from across Europe in a march that has become a potent symbol of pushback against the Hungarian government’s steady rollback of rights.“This weekend, all eyes are on Budapest,” Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner for equality, told reporters in the Hungarian capital on Friday. “This is bigger than one Pride celebration, one Pride march. It is about the right to be who you are, to love who you want, whether it is in Budapest, in Brussels or anywhere else.” Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer delivers closing arguments at sex

The music mogul could face life in prison for racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitutionA lawyer representing Sean “Diddy” Combs began delivering the defense’s closing arguments on Friday morning in the music mogul’s federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, marking the final chapter in a case that has drawn global attention over the last seven weeks.Marc Agnifilo, a defense attorney, is expected to push back against the government’s allegations that Combs coerced women into participating in drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers and that he ran a criminal enterprise that engaged in crimes such as sex trafficking, drug distribution, kidnapping, forced labor, arson and bribery. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago US spies contradict Donald Trump as Iran 'not racing for nuclear weapon'

American officials and senior lawmakers have pushed back on Donald Trump's claims that Iran is weeks away from a nuclear weapon, suggesting they are not supported by available US intelligence

Events

2 w. ago Russian oil tycoon accused of cheating with secret second family faces jail for not paying legal fees in multi

Mikhail Kroupeev, the non-executive chairman of energy company Gulfsands appeared at the High Court in London today following the collapse of his 36-year marriage.

Society

2 w. ago A Spree change: from Berlin to Oslo, Europe’s urban swimmers take the plunge

Parts of the Seine are opening to bathers and Berliners are pushing authorities to permit river dips, while other hotspots continue to delight city dwellersThe last time there was full-scale river swimming in Berlin’s city centre, before access was outlawed a century ago, there were probably fewer inflatable unicorns and fluorescent pool noodles.But this week, a “Dip-Dip-Hurrah” demonstration to push for the lifting of the roaring 20s-era ban saw about 300 people, many with colourful swimming caps and assorted flotation devices, bob down the Spree river as the golden-hour sun bathed the old Prussian monuments of the historic Mitte district in a warm light. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Coalition of the willing to reconvene ‘in weeks’ as UK pushes Russian oil cap

The Prime Minister on Tuesday announced a series of measures aimed at ramping up pressure on Vladimir Putin.

Politics

3 w. ago UK pushes for lower Russian oil cap as PM denies coalition of the willing is dead

The Prime Minister said he ‘strongly’ believes that restrictions on the price of Russian crude oil should be increased.

Events

3 w. ago PM denies coalition of the willing is dead as UK pushes for lower Russian oil cap

The Prime Minister said he ‘strongly’ believes that restrictions on the price of Russian crude oil should be increased.

Events

3 w. ago Furious Hyrox competitors claim new carpet for world championships sled push this weekend 'slowed them down'

Competitors at the esteemed fitness competition complained this year's event in Chicago 'sucked' after organisers deployed new turf for the first time.

Sport

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russian drone factory attacked, 1,000km away in Tatarstan

Factory making Iranian-designed Shahed drones is hit, far from Russia-Ukraine border; Russian strikes damage energy and other civilian facilities in Poltava oblast. What we know on day 1,209See all our Ukraine war coverageUkraine’s military said on Sunday it had attacked a Russian drone factory in the city of Yelabuga in Russia’s Tatarstan region. The target is around 1,000km from Ukraine. The Ukrainian military general staff said the factory produced, tested, and launched drones at Ukraine, in particular against energy and civil infrastructure. Videos on social media showed an explosion said to be at the factory in Yelabuga, also known as Alabuga, which builds Iranian-designed Shahed drones. The Russian local governor confirmed the attack.Russian forces hit the Kremenchuk oil refinery in Ukraine’s Poltava region with missiles and drones, Russia’s defence ministry said on Sunday. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, denounced the attack on the central Poltava region as a vile s...

Events

3 w. ago Welsh couple set to break Guinness World Record in brutal rugby challenge

The Welsh couple will be pushed to the brink this week

Politics