39 m. ago Dengue fever is heading for Britain: Scientists warn mosquito

Experts from the University of Montpellier say that climate change could create the perfect conditions for the Asian tiger mosquito - the insect that transmits the virus - in Britain.

Events

74 m. ago UK inflation rises again in new misery for households as costs rise

Inflation shows how the price of goods and services have changed over time with new data published every month by the Office for National Statistics.

Economics

1 hour ago We criminalise the political stunt at our peril. It is a crucial art form that is impossible to ignore | Mark Borkowski

At the same time as we applaud the suffragettes and the likes of Peter Tatchell, Britain is losing the right to protestMark Borkowski is a crisis PR consultant and authorWe must ask ourselves: how would the heroic suffragettes or the remarkable Greenham Common women be regarded if active today? The answer is simple: they would be locked up. Just as they were locked up then. A century ago, women chained themselves to railings, set fires, endured prison and changed the world, and we celebrate their victories without thinking too hard about their methods. Yet today’s laws would criminalise them on sight.Last month, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, wore a commemorative sash celebrating the suffragette struggle. Yet this is the same Yvette Cooper presiding over an age of repressive laws and mass arrests. It’s a paradox: we laud the rebels of the past while shackling the rebels of the present.Mark Borkowski is a crisis PR consultant and author. His BBC Radio 4 Archive on 4 documentary, ...

Politics

2 h. ago A moment that changed me: I slipped in the shower, realised I was exhausted – and transformed my life

I was working non-stop as a standup comedian, and thought I loved the hustle. But when I found myself sobbing into the carpet after a back spasm, I had to reassess everythingFor as long as I can remember, I have been ambitious and desperate to prove myself. It started with a competitive spirit at school sports days, then a determination to land parts in local theatre productions, then a place at drama school. I was between acting jobs when a friend suggested I try standup. One gig and I was hooked.I quickly decided comedy was my future and I would do whatever it took to make it work. The rest of my life went out of the window. I gigged constantly – often six nights a week – determined to hone my craft and establish myself as a comedian. I was always knackered, but I revelled in it, telling myself I loved the hustle. I trod the boards at comedy clubs, art centres, theatres anywhere that would have me. I performed for six years at the Edinburgh festival fringe – the first two to very ...

Politics

2 h. ago Sabrina Ghayour’s recipes for lamb koftas with smoky aubergine salad

Popular across the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, koftas are easy crowdpleasers, especially with a spicy, smoky salad on the sideGreat food doesn’t need to be complicated. These recipes are wonderful on their own, but even better with some flatbread on the side. Charred aubergine is such a classic way to cook this vegetable, and popular in so many countries across the eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and south-east Asia. The cooked flesh cooks beautifully and holds a wonderful smokiness that really imparts itself into the dip, adding extra depth. Koftas, meanwhile, are always crowd-pleasing for kids and adults alike, and the harissa yoghurt and burnt orange really complement the spice. Both are perfect as a main meal or as part of a bigger feast for sharing. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Contrasting Jamie Vardy transfer answer tells Celtic fans everything as boss changes tune

Rodgers would neither rule a move for the Leicester City legend in or out and that in itself was a clue

Sport

3 h. ago 9/11 victims' fund architect slams changes to New Hampshire abuse settlement program

An attorney who helped design the 9/11 victims’ compensation fund says New Hampshire lawmakers have undermined the fairness of a settlement program for abuse victims at the state’s youth detention center

Events

3 h. ago ‘Liam Gallagher is funnier than most standups!’: Is comedy the new rock’n’roll – or vice versa?

Oasis’s tour gobbled up Edinburgh audiences while fringe comics put on shows about Britpop and Arctic Monkeys. The music industry and the funny business could be more entwined than ever‘Comedy is the new rock’n’roll!” This line, variously attributed to a defunct listings mag, a member of the Comedy Store Players and Janet Street-Porter, became common currency in the 1990s, when comedy gatecrashed arenas with Newman and Baddiel’s maiden Wembley gig in 1993. Had the art of making people laugh eclipsed – in size, public enthusiasm, cultural cachet – the art of making people groove?It feels like a quaint conversation in light of the arrival of Oasis’s mega-tour in Edinburgh this month, which triggered panic among standups at the gazumping of their fringe audience. But has comedy returned to playing second fiddle to its sexier, better-loved big brother? Or are such distinctions meaningless in a cultural landscape unrecognisable from the 1990s? Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Europe’s rich are watching Norway’s election debate on wealth taxes

Changes to taxation are at the heart of the centre-right’s attempts to retake power in Norway

Politics

4 h. ago Get to grips with NHS wait times as terminally ill grandad kept for 15 hours

Record View says change is urgently needed.

Politics

7 h. ago Why is the New Zealand government cutting Māori words from some school books?

Changes to readers for young children have sparked criticism from academics, authors and teachers, who have called it ‘an assault’ on Māori identityA shake-up of New Zealand’s curriculum has resulted in Māori words being scrapped from a selection of books used to teach five-year-olds and a decision not to reprint a well-loved book for young readers because it contained too many Māori words.The changes have sparked widespread criticism from academics, teachers and authors, who have called it “an assault” on Māori identity and the latest in the coalition government’s efforts to prioritise English over the Indigenous language – criticisms the education minister has strongly rejected. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Robbie Williams, 51, reprises iconic dungarees from his Take That heyday at new album Q&A as he admits he's battling with his hair which is 'thinning everyday'

Robbie, who is set to release his new album on October 10th, also reflected on how his appearance has changed over the years, during an interview with Joe Lycett .

Events

8 h. ago Vladimir Putin's bizarre walk could have worrying link to KGB and steroids

Vladimir Putin's walk has changed in recent years and scientists believe they have found the worrying reason why

Politics

8 h. ago How home sizes are changing in the UK: Are they getting bigger or smaller?

Other dwellings such as semi-detached houses grew between 2013 and 2023

Politics

8 h. ago Diabetes patients could be offered weight loss jabs sooner in major shake

The changes will impact millions of people with type 2 diabetes in England in the biggest shake-up of care in a decade

Science

8 h. ago Bungalows balloon but flats shrink – analysis into changes in typical home sizes

Overall, average property sizes in England have increased slightly since 2013, according to analysis from Nationwide Building Society.

Politics

8 h. ago Brits urged to check change as rarest £1 coins enter circulation

These will be the last coins of their kind to enter circulation

Economics

10 h. ago Russell Martin tells Rangers boo boys pain comes before change and being two goals down is a second leg 'privilege'

Sections of the Ibrox crowd were not shy in making their feelings known after the full-time whistle

Politics

12 h. ago Swinney has ‘no intention’ of reshuffling Scottish cabinet before May election

First Minister John Swinney said he would not change his cabinet team, despite a number of members confirming they will not run next year.

Politics

14 h. ago Hurricane Erin sparks huge waves and evacuations in North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Storm running parallel to east coast is expected to expand in size and generate hazardous rip currents in coming daysHurricane Erin remained far out at sea on Tuesday, yet it was still producing huge swells, with waves towering 20ft (6 meters) or more and crashing across sand dunes along North Carolina’s barrier islands.The storm was tracking northward, running roughly parallel to the east coast, according to the US’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Though not projected to strike the mainland, Erin is expected to expand in size and generate hazardous rip currents in the upcoming days. Continue reading...

Politics