27 h. ago I volunteered to dogsit my friend's 'cute and adorable' puppy and it cost me over £1,000 in damages. Should I send her the bill? VICKY REYNAL replies

I am furious because my friend deceived me into thinking her puppy was 'good'. Should I send her a bill for the damage?

Economics

4 d. ago The indoor houseplant plant that can help you breathe more easily

It's ideal for the rooms you spend the most time in like your bedroom or home office

Politics

5 d. ago El Salvador president vows to double size of prison holding US deportees

Donald Trump urged that the prison, which already holds 40,000, be expanded after he threatened to send American citizens who have broken the law

Events

7 d. ago HMRC sends letter 'out of blue' asking UK household pays £56,000 bill 'at once'

A woman has spoken out after being "harassed" by HMRC for two years after the taxman wrongly claimed she owed more than £50,000 in inheritance tax - despite her paying the bill

Economics

7 d. ago Trump memo outlines plan to slash US state department budget in half

Cuts would mean dramatic decreases in funding for humanitarian aid, global health and international groupsThe Trump administration is reportedly proposing to slash the state department budget by nearly half in a move that could drastically reduce US international spending and end its funding for Nato and the United Nations, according to an internal memorandum.The memo based on spending cuts devised by the White House office of management and budget envisions the total budget of the state department and USAID, the main foreign assistance body which has been largely dismantled by Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency”, or Doge, being reduced to $28.4bn, a reduction of $27bn or 48% from what Congress approved for 2025. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Home Office spends nearly £1,000 sending staff on 'Swedish dog massage' course

Nearly £1,000 was spent on the unusual lessons last September to ensure that sniffer dogs are 'well looked after'.

Economics

1 week ago Scotland’s businesses want more office time despite hybrid working productivity boost

New research from leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK finds that businesses in Scotland who have adopted a hybrid working approach believe it has boosted their people's productivity and wellbeing, yet many are still keen for their people to spend more time in the office than they do currently.

Economics

2 w. ago Dangerous dog on the loose for days after attacking officer shot dead by police

Police shot dead the American Bully, which had mauled one of their officers, on Monday evening after spending hours attempting to safely capture the dangerous dog

Events

2 w. ago DWP sends letters to 370,000 women urging them to check State Pension

The latest data shows 493,813 people have used the online tool at GOV.UK to check if they are missing HRP from their State Pension

Politics

2 w. ago WW3 fears as Germany sends 5,000 troops to Lithuania to 'protect' NATO's eastern flank

Tensions in Europe and fears of a third World War are growing as Germany starts sending troops to Lithuania to 'protect' a NATO flank, according to senior military officials

Politics

3 w. ago King Charles recuperates after hospital stay as he sends condolences to Myanmar quake victims after death toll tops 1,000

King Charles has sent a message of condolence to the people of Myanmar following a deadly earthquake that has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the south-east Asian country.

Events

3 w. ago North Korea sends 3,000 more troops to Russia ahead of Kim Jong Un’s likely visit to Moscow

North Korea sent an additional 3,000 troops and missiles to Russia at the beginning of 2025 to support its invasion in Ukraine, South Korea’s military said in its latest assessment, as Kim Jong Un is likely to visit Moscow again.

Politics

3 w. ago 250,000 more people will face relative poverty after Rachel Reeves’ benefits cuts, DWP says – spring statement live

Department for work and pensions says thousands, including children, will be hit by chancellor’s reforms, as OBR forecasts UK growth to halve in 2025Spring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers...

Politics

3 w. ago Economic growth forecast halved as Reeves blames global instability

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was forced to set out further cuts in public spending after the Office for Budget Responsibility’s verdict.

Economics

3 w. ago Reeves announces welfare changes, increased defence spending and new growth forecasts – spring statement live

Chancellor OBR forecasts for UK growth halved in 2025 but up in the remaining years of this parliamentSpring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party...

Economics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer faces PMQs before Rachel Reeves delivers spring statement – UK politics live

Chancellor is expected to announce further welfare cuts when she outlines departmental spending plansRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party, which is in favour of a wealth tax.Across th...

Politics

4 w. ago Sir Jim Ratcliffe sent new Man United stadium warning with 'unique' £760m point

Latest Manchester United news as Everton's £760m stadium designer sends United a warning about 100,000-seater designs

Events

4 w. ago Pregnant consultant has payout increased to more than £100,000 after boss fired her for morning sickness by sending a jazz hands emoji

Her boss Ammar Kabir sent her a 'deliberately vague' message explaining how the business was struggling' and he needed to find someone who can 'be in the office'.

Economics