28 h. ago Birmingham locals fume over 'diabolical health hazard' that's 'making kids sick'

Fed-up Birmingham locals have demanded the council act straight away to end the rubbish crisis that has left locals fearing for their health as huge rats scurry among the debris

Politics

31 h. ago Barcelona XI vs Dortmund: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League today

Barca are without Alejandro Balde for quarter-final second-leg tie in Germany, but Dani Olmo is back

Sport

5 d. ago Chess: Magnus Carlsen in form at Paris Freestyle after Hans Niemann drops out

Carlsen was the early frontrunner in the second leg of the Freestyle Grand Slam in Paris, from which both Alireza Firouzja and Niemann withdrew shortly before the startMagnus Carlsen, the world No 1, was an early front runner in the $375,000 second leg of the Freestyle Grand Slam in Paris. The 34 year-old tied for first with Russia’s Ian ­Nepomniachtchi in the 12-player round robin which decided Thursday’s quarter-­finalists, and which proved a disaster for India. Three of their four contenders were eliminated, headed by the 18-year-old world champion, Gukesh ­Dommaraju, who also failed in the first Grand Slam leg in Germany. Friday’s semi-final pairings are Carlsen (Norway) v Fabiano Caruana (US) and Hikaru Nakamura (US) v ­Vincent Keymer (Germany).Gukesh could have qualified by beating Nepomniachtchi in the final round, but instead was brutally defeated in only 21 moves. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Germany is finally getting a new government – and it will be plunged straight into crisis mode | John Kampfner

With the country enveloped in gloom and facing mayhem from the US and Russia, it’s hard to imagine a more fraught time to take powerGermany is about to get a new fitness trainer. So declared Markus Söder, one of the political leaders who have just announced a coalition agreement. In one of the quirks of the country’s constitution, the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) will play a significant role in the new administration, and Söder used his moment in the limelight to play the entertainer.It was a curious way to announce the arrival of a new government, expected to be sworn in during the first week of May. Since the elections of 23 February, Germany will have been in limbo for two and a half months, and all while Donald Trump rampages across the world.John Kampfner is the author of In Search of Berlin, Blair’s Wars and Why the Germans Do It Better Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan LIVE: Champions League match stream, latest score and goal updates

Bayern look to overcome a major injury crisis in quarter-final first-leg showdown in Germany

Sport

8 d. ago Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan LIVE: Champions League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Bayern look to overcome a major injury crisis in quarter-final first-leg showdown in Germany

Sport

8 d. ago Scottish Labour MP warns UK Government welfare cuts will plunge people into 'deeper poverty'

Katrina Murray sounded the alarm as she launched a consultation with her constituents on proposals to cut nearly £5bn from the welfare budget.

Events

3 w. ago Reeves’s benefit cuts to plunge 250,000 people into poverty, government admits

There was outrage as the chancellor announced yet more welfare cuts which are now set to affect 3.2 million families

Politics

3 w. ago Reeves’ benefit cuts to plunge 250,000 people into poverty, government admits

An extra 50,000 children will also be left in poverty after the Labour chancellor’s move to slash £5bn from the welfare bill

Politics

3 w. ago Why can't England produce strikers, centre backs or goalkeepers? It all starts with Mesut Ozil, writes MATT BARLOW

MATT BARLOW: It was the morning after England had been demolished by Germany in the Under-21 Euros final and Sir Trevor Brooking was sifting through the debris in a Malmo hotel.

Events

3 w. ago Nations League roundup: Trincão and Ronaldo fire Portugal into semi

Substitute Trincão’s double set ups Germany tieSpain and France to meet after both win on penaltiesFrancisco Trincão came off the bench to score twice and Cristiano Ronaldo also found the net as Portugal defeated Denmark 5-2 after extra time for a 5-3 aggregate victory that sent them through to the Nations League semi-finals, where they will face Germany.With the Danes leading the tie 1-0 thanks to Rasmus Højlund’s goal in Thursday’s first leg in Copenhagen, Ronaldo won and then missed an early penalty before Portugal took the lead on the night in the 38th minute thanks to an own goal from the Denmark and Fulham defender Joachim Andersen. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Europe is crying out for leadership. After years of drift, Germany is finally ready to answer | John Kampfner

A historic vote to boost spending on defence and infrastructure shows the country is shedding its excess of caution – and its complacencyFew people outside Berlin’s political bubble will have heard of Lars Klingbeil. They will soon, though, as he is about to become one of the pivotal players in the new German government. The co-leader of the Social Democratic party (SPD) captured the moment in this week’s debate in the Bundestag, one of the most important in Germany’s recent history.“A few weeks ago, many would have thought that we couldn’t have come to an agreement. The differences were too great,” he said. “What differentiates this country from others is that we are ready, as parties of the democratic centre, to find solutions and not to leave the ground for populist extremism to blossom.”John Kampfner is the author of In Search of Berlin, Blair’s Wars and Why the Germans Do It Better Continue reading...

Politics