44 m. ago Chinese economy slows as Trump tariffs bite; FTSE 100 on track to hit new record

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe owner of Kingsmill has agreed to buy its rival bakery business Hovis, in a deal that could make the biggest bread brand in the country if it gets the green light from regulators.Associated British Foods, a FTSE 100 company which also owns the retailer Primark, has agreed to buy Hovis from the private equity firm Endless.This transaction will create a UK bakeries business that is both profitable and sustainable over the long term. Supporting the Hovis and Kingsmill brands with well-invested and efficient operations will also enable innovation and growth. This solution will create value for shareholders, provide greater choice for consumers and increase efficiencies for customers.Firms may be running on existing capacity rather than building new plants The July industrial value-add breakdown tells a more nuanced story than the weak fixed asset investment headline. Continue reading...

Politics

78 m. ago King hails heroes’ courage on VJ Day and reflects on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The monarch released an audio message on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day in which he vowed those who fought for the allies will never be forgotten.

Politics

83 m. ago Woman, 85, admitted to hospital wearing '£30k of jewellery' says it was 'stolen'

Sheila Williams, 85, claims she was wearing a substantial amount of jewellery when she was admitted to hospital but was told it had either been misplaced or mixed up with the laundry

Economics

2 h. ago Love Island's Dejon hits back at 'unfair' backlash after release of 'tell

Love Island star Dejon Noel-Williams has hit out at 'untruths' as he continues to be the subject of criticism following his time in the Spanish villa with Megan Moore

Events

3 h. ago Teenager who murdered Briton Emma Lovell in Queensland home invasion has sentence reduced on appeal

Queensland attorney general says she is considering high court challenge to the decisionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA teenager who murdered a British woman during a home invasion in Queensland has had his time in detention reduced by almost 18 months on appeal.But Queensland’s attorney general says she will consider a high court challenge to the decision. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago Emma Lovell: teenager who murdered British woman in Queensland home invasion has sentence reduced on appeal

Queensland attorney general says she is considering high court challenge to the decisionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA teenager who murdered a British woman during a home invasion in Queensland has had his time in detention reduced by almost 18 months on appeal.But Queensland’s attorney general says she will consider a high court challenge to the decision. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago I went into hospital wearing £30,000 of jewellery but now it's gone

Sheila says she feels 'violated and distressed' over the loss of the jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds

Economics

7 h. ago The British woman who could be crowned Anna Wintour's successor at US Vogue: She tells the French how to dress and is a wellness guru. So is Claire Thomson

What strikes first about Claire Thomson-Jonville is how much she looks like a Vogue model herself, writes Christa D'Souza.

Society

7 h. ago How Britain went 'crazy' for VJ Day: Dancing, bonfires and kissing as the nation celebrated Japan's defeat and final end of WWII

On August 15, 1945, and in the days leading up to it, tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of the British capital and elsewhere to celebrate the end of the Second World War,

Events

8 h. ago The robbers, sex attackers and handbag thieves running riot on lawless London's trains as Tube crime surges

British Transport Police have issued five appeals for suspects across the London train network this week as they probe reports of crimes such as sexual assaults, bicycle theft and wallet robbery.

Events

8 h. ago West must not be cowed by Putin in pursuit of peace in Ukraine, head of British armed forces warns

Sir Tony Radakin stressed that ‘Russia is weak’ and that Nato allies needed to demonstrate confidence

Events

9 h. ago King Charles and Queen Camilla to honour veterans on 80th anniversary of VJ Day

Royal British Legion will be guests of honour at a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum

Politics

9 h. ago VJ Day: Powerful images of 33 'forgotten' war heroes to be honoured by nation

Many of the veterans have never told their story before registering with the Royal British Legion to be part of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Over Japan

Events

9 h. ago Vera Lynn’s audition records to be released 90 years after they were recorded

What A Difference A Day Makes will be released as a single on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Politics

9 h. ago BBC Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova shares health update after being rushed to hospital

Strictly Come Dancing's Nadiya Bychkova has shared an update after being hospitalised

Science

9 h. ago Nearly half of voters fear the Government will not be able to 'smash the gangs' after migrant count hits 50,000

While the poll applies to British governments in general, it indicates a lack of faith in Sir Keir Starmer's 'smash the gangs' policy to control the boats.

Events

9 h. ago Strictly Come Dancing's Nadiya Bychkova shares health update after hospitalisation

Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova shared earlier this week that she had ended up in hospital amid rehearsals for the BBC show's return and she's since issued an update to fans

Science

10 h. ago Premier League clubs to have final say on playing matches abroad as vote option emerges

Spanish football will break new ground this season after Villarreal and Barcelona were given permission to play their LaLiga fixture in Miami on December 20 - but English football will not follow suit for now

Politics

12 h. ago Pensioner dies during heart surgery at NHS hospital after 10

Jean Dye, 77, was at the crucial stage of the procedure when the electricity went down at Scunthorpe General Hospital. Doctors had to stop as they couldn't see the X-rays

Events

12 h. ago Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte: Fight time, undercard, latest odds, prediction, ring walks

British heavyweights collide in hotly-anticipated clash this weekend

Sport