38 m. ago UK defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 with aid budget slashed to help fund move

Keir Starmer says now is the time to deepen European security, as he announces move in the CommonsThe rightwing historian Niall Ferguson is in the audience for Badenoch’s speech, according to James Heale from the Spectator.Niall Ferguson spotted at Kemi Badenoch’s big speech on foreign affairs hearing we might get some policy tooTractors’ horns interrupt Badenoch’s speech shortly after she begins speaking. Attendant spinner heard swearing furiously Continue reading...

Economics

41 m. ago Critically injured South African soldiers are evacuated from Congo amid rebel offensive

South Africa's armed forces say a group of soldiers critically injured in fighting in eastern Congo a month ago have been evacuated by the United Nations

Events

45 m. ago Kremlin disputes Trump claim Russia would accept Nato peacekeeping troops in Ukraine – live

Kremlin says it has nothing to add to the foreign ministry’s position on the unacceptability of Nato peacekeepers in UkraineUkraine’s presidential press service has issued a photograph showing president Volodymyr Zelenskyy introducing the world leaders visiting Kyiv some new developments in Ukraine’s defence industry.British prime minister Keir Starmer is set to announce a cut to the country’s aid budget to immediately hike defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, ahead of his visit to the White House on Thursday, according to The Sun. Continue reading...

Politics

46 m. ago ‘It makes you feel like the hero of your own quest’: the dark, delightful magic of the dungeon synth scene

Amid dinosaurs, swords and leather armour, we visit the UK’s first festival for dungeon synth – a fast-growing black metal spinoff dedicated to fantasy and escapeA flurry of inflatable caveman clubs have erupted into the air, a crowd of ecstatic metallers swinging them merrily as they watch a hooded dinosaur peering over a synthesiser. The masked musician, Diplodocus, has transformed this crowded pub in soggy south London into a mystical underworld, one entrancing chord at a time.This is Albion Dungeon fest, a sellout, weekend-long event, and the first of its kind in the UK. Emerging in the 90s as an offshoot of black metal, dungeon synth replaced guitars with keyboards to make it less moshing, more magic. Its mystical sound has aesthetics to match, channelling the atmosphere of JRR Tolkien books, the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons and a darkly quaint reimagining of the medieval era. Continue reading...

Politics

54 m. ago Former Church of England leader faces potential disciplinary action over handling of abuse claims

A former leader of the Church of England is among several members of the clergy facing potential disciplinary action over the way the institution handled sexual abuse allegations

Politics

59 m. ago Jamie Oliver recipe lets the oven 'do the work' for delicious chicken traybake

Jamie Oliver's chicken traybake recipe is a quick and easy dish to prepare, as it takes very little effort and leaves you with more time to relax or catch up on other tasks

Society

60 m. ago Trump and Macron's awkward handshakes at White House meeting go viral

The leaders meet in Washington to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the potential end to Russia’s military action

Politics

64 m. ago There’s a reason Hugh Grant is the best thing in middling movies: he writes his own lines

The actor’s insistence on scripting his own scenes in Paddington 3 and Bridget Jones 4 are proof of his talents. So why on earth hasn’t he written his own film yet?We can all agree that Paddington in Peru was, well, fine. Compared to the previous Paddington films it was a bit of a damp squib, but Olivia Colman got a few chances to be decently silly and it was leagues better than any of the recent live-action Disney remakes.However, there was one moment where Paddington in Peru touched greatness. And this was the mid-credit sequence. For those who haven’t seen it, it’s a nod to the Paddington 2 scene in which a huge amount of prisoners introduce themselves, only this time it’s a huge amount of bears. And the person they’re introducing themselves to is Phoenix Buchanan, played by Hugh Grant. Continue reading...

Politics

73 m. ago Man Utd treble winner urges club to sign Paul Pogba for THIRD time after drug ban

Paul Pogba is looking for a new club after serving a ban for failing a doping test and Manchester United have been encouraged to move for the French international once again

Events

75 m. ago 'I have quality that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can't match – they're not like me'

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan has compared a particular part of his game to all-time greats Lionel Messi and his ex-team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo

Politics

93 m. ago Man City sent blunt warning over Rodri injury return: 'It's not worth the risk'

Manchester City have been told that bringing Rodri back from injury before the time is right could be a huge risk as the outgoing champions continue to struggle without him

Events

96 m. ago Tusk says European leaders heading to London to discuss joint plans on defence – Europe live

Polish prime minister says EU leaders will meet on Sunday and calls for greater defence mobilisation across EuropeThe London summit is understood to be still in planning and would serve as a forum for European leaders to get debriefed on both Macron and Starmer’s conversations with Trump during their respective visits to the White House and to consider implications for European and Ukrainian security.It so happens that Starmer is due to speak in UK parliament in the next half hour, so we could get an official confirmation of what Tusk said.I hope that this greater [defence] mobilisation of Europe, of member states and Europe more broadly, will become a fact.[Before meeting at the next European Council,] we will be in London on Sunday, together with our British friends and a group of leaders, to talk about these joint plans on defence. Continue reading...

Politics

98 m. ago Badenoch says US being realistic and UK needs ‘to be so too’

The Conservative leader also said she ‘wouldn’t be afraid’ to call Vladimir Putin a dictator if it were her heading to the White House for talks.

Politics

1 hour ago Youngsters shaping Scottish Golf's future meet up in St Andrews

Eleven members of Young Leaders’ Programme sit round the table for first time

Politics

1 hour ago Australia v South Africa: Champions Trophy cricket match washed out – live

Updates from the match at Rawalpindi Cricket StadiumPlay was due to start at 2pm local/8pm AEDT/9am GMT“Just a heads up Rob...” begins Alistair Connor. “Check out weather.com , the rain’s only getting worse in Rawalpindi. Can’t see any sort of match happening. Or are you contractually or diplomatically obliged to avoid mentioning that?”It’s more that I’m one of nature’s optimists you can’t always trust the weather apps. Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago Adorable moment woman finds her husband spraying their son head

RaShell Crabtree, from Tennessee , left her husband in charge of bathing their young son, Coleman on February 11.

Politics

1 hour ago BBC apologises for Tim Westwood's 'bully behaviour' as probe results published

The BBC has release a report into Tim Westwood's conduct during his time at the BBC

Politics

1 hour ago Trump and Macron: The most awkward moments from Ukraine meet

The pair of world leaders did not disappoint with their very awkward handshakes during their meeting concerning Ukraine

Politics

1 hour ago Even the Glazers cannot show the little ambition they have at Manchester United this time

Man United have unpopular owners on both sides of the Atlantic. Ineos are damaging morale but the Glazers have done the greater damage.

Politics

1 hour ago George Carey among clergy facing possible disciplinary action over Makin report

He is one of 10 people named regarding potential failures in handling abuse allegations.

Politics