2 h. ago Readers' Letters: Governments must stop taking so much from us in taxes

Taxation in the UK is beyond a joke, reckons reader

Politics

3 h. ago ‘This becomes a form of torture itself’: a story from detention told to Refugee Tales

Winning your case in detention in the Fast Track system was close to impossible

Events

3 h. ago Scots pay half billion in subsidies while China build the buses

Ministers should have been using their leverage over the big operators to keep Falkirk afloat

Events

9 h. ago Parents say children are asking to miss school over ‘horror movie’ toilets

Around 10 per cent of parents say their child has asked to miss school over the issues

Society

10 h. ago Israel launches devastating airstrike on Iran's nuclear sites killing top military leaders

The operation raised the potential for all-out war between the countries.

Events

12 h. ago Donald Trump is losing control of American foreign policy | Christopher S Chivvis

After Israel’s attacks on Iran and Ukraine’s on Russia, it is time the administration finds discipline and focus to regain authority of its foreign policyIran and the US have stood at a crossroads in recent weeks. Down one path lay negotiations that, while difficult, promised benefits to the citizens of both countries. Down the other path, a protracted war that promised little more than destruction.Back in 2018, Donald Trump had blocked the diplomatic path by tearing up the existing nuclear agreement with Iran – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. But since beginning his second term in January he has been surprisingly open to negotiations with Tehran. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seemed ready to go along. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Canada and India to share terrorism intelligence despite 2023 murder plot, says report

Accord comes as Mark Carney seeks shift in Ottawa’s relationship with New Delhi after long diplomatic spatCanada and India plan to share intelligence in an effort to combat the rising threat of international crime and extremism, according to a new report from Bloomberg, days before a meeting between the two countries’ leaders.Canadian officials declined to comment on the report, which, if confirmed, would represent a dramatic shift in relations between the two countries which for nearly two years have been locked in a bitter diplomatic spat after Canada’s federal police agency concluded that India planned and ordered the murder a prominent Sikh activist on Canadian soil. Continue reading...

Events

14 h. ago Israel’s air might and Iran’s nuclear bunkers may make for lengthy conflict

Lightning air strikes have weakened Iran’s military leadership, but its nuclear facilities are deeply defendedMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s assault on Iran demonstrates a ruthless combination of air power and intelligence – and a significant disparity between the two countries in a conflict that is likely to be a long one if the goal is to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear capability.Israel’s air force undertook waves of airstrikes, beginning at about 3am on Friday, aimed, briefings indicated, first at Iran’s military leaders and intelligence in Tehran, then switching to air defence batteries, missile launch sites and, above all, the critical facility at Natanz where uranium can be enriched to weapons grade. Continue reading...

Events

14 h. ago Putin's mouthpieces say future of Europe is 'to learn Russian and serve them fast food'

Russian politicians mocked Western countries in a TV show and gave a chilling warning about what they have in store for modern Europeans after their countries have been conquered

Politics

15 h. ago A letter demanding data on Cuban medical missions roils the Caribbean and the Americas

An unusual request from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about Cuban medical brigades is roiling countries in the Caribbean and the Americas

Events

16 h. ago I tried a car with a new UK compulsory speed limiter and other drivers had plenty to say

All new cars sold in UK dealerships must be fitted with a mandatory speed limiter device even though it's an EU rule, and I found out the hard way what other motorists thought of mine

Transport

16 h. ago Trump fails to overturn $5m damages award to E Jean Carroll for defamation

US appeals court denies challenge after 2023 civil jury trial found Trump sexually abused Carroll then defamed herDonald Trump has lost his latest legal attempt to challenge the $5m in damages awarded against him for defaming E Jean Carroll, the New York writer who a jury found was sexually abused by the president in the 1990s, before he embarked on his political career.A US appeals court in New York City on Friday denied Trump’s request to reconsider its decision in December to uphold the jury’s award of $5m to Carroll. The court was divided in its opinion, with two Trump-appointed judges, Steven Menashi and Michael Park, dissenting. Continue reading...

Events

17 h. ago I used a Ouija Board for fun when I was a teenager and this is why I've never touched one since

I used to use it like a board game, but then I had a disturbing realisation

Politics

18 h. ago Glasgow Library becomes first in Scotland to receive prestigious award

The city library is the first in Scotland to win a special award.

Events

20 h. ago Brits dedicate over 7 hours to holiday preparations, ticking off an extensive 30

A survey of 2,000 adults revealed the top things we do before every holiday - and it's no wonder we're all exhausted before we've even stepped foot on the plane

Politics

20 h. ago New train to connect five European countries for less than £50 a ticket

An exciting new sleeper train route is set to connect five European countries in a journey spanning more than 700 miles.

Economics

20 h. ago Direct flights between India and China to resume soon in landmark deal

The two countries have also talked about economic and trade deals

Economics

20 h. ago Why Israel and Iran’s escalation is unprecedented – and what it means for a teetering Middle East

The deep fear is that this war between Israel and Iran - two nations lying 2,000 km apart - will play out on the ground of all the countries in between, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew from Damascus

Politics

22 h. ago ‘The best way to discover hidden gems’: why you should try out a bookshop crawl

Like bar-hopping, but for browsing books: this trend, popularised on TikTok, makes for a great day out – and can help you discover unique literary spotsWe’ve all heard of bar crawls, but what about a bookshop crawl? The premise is essentially the same – you hop from venue to venue – but instead of drinking beers you browse books. Having begun as a trend among TikTok users, mainly in the US, the idea has begun to be adopted across the globe.There are a few “official” ways to try it out for your yourself: Bookshop Crawl UK organises the London Bookshop Crawl, as well as crawls across the country, Bristol Walkfest has organised a walking tour of the city’s numerous indies, and in April, the Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl ran an event for Independent Bookstore Day which rewarded participants who visited 10 shops on the day with 10% discount on books for the rest of the year. And the Global Book Crawl runs an annual event with 17 participating countries, from Ireland to Fiji. Continue readi...

Politics

25 h. ago The top 'Dadisms' that Brits secretly love, from dad dancing to DIY disasters

A survey of 2,000 UK adults has revealed the most popular 'Dadisms' - the phrases, habits and characteristics that make fathers unique, from napping on the sofa to the way they dance

Events