35 m. ago Lithuania to teach school children how to use drones to counter Russian threat

Around 7,000 children are to be taught drone skills by 2028, Lithuania’s defence minister said

Events

41 m. ago Bezalel Smotrich outlines plan for 3,000 new housing units in controversial West Bank settlement, reports say – Middle East crisis live

Israel’s far-right finance minister announces plan to advance tenders for housing which international community says would split West Bank in half, reports Times of IsraelThe health ministry in Gaza has just issued a statement, saying four more people have died from famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours.This brings the total to 239 since the start of the war, including 106 children, according to the health ministry. Continue reading...

Events

45 m. ago Illegal migrants hiding in lorries could be behind surge in food poisoning outbreaks that has seen up to 3,000 trucks contaminated, claims report

Lorries were the most common route used by people smugglers to hide migrants before tighter security around ports and the Channel Tunnel led to rise in small boat crossings.

Events

49 m. ago 'I found £2,000 in lost savings account after watching TikTok video'

Tayo Olutunde discovered he has a Child Trust Fund, which is a saving account that was given to children born between September 1, 2002 and January 2, 2011

Economics

96 m. ago Outrage as transport regulator finds illegal migrants hiding in lorries could be behind explosion in food poisoning outbreaks: '3,000 trucks contaminated'

Lorries were the most common route used by people smugglers to hide migrants before tighter security around ports and the Channel Tunnel led to rise in small boat crossings.

Events

97 m. ago Bezalel Smotrich approves 3,000 new housing units in controversial West Bank settlement, reports say – Middle East crisis live

Israel’s far-right finance minister approves tenders for housing which international community says would split West Bank in half, reports Times of IsraelThe health ministry in Gaza has just issued a statement, saying four more people have died from famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours.This brings the total to 239 since the start of the war, including 106 children, according to the health ministry. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago After a tough year, dad wins £78k Aston Martin for just 20p in an online prize draw

A year out of work recovering from a hip replacement ended in style for Eugene Dunkley, who won a £78,000 Aston Martin for 20p.

Economics

1 hour ago Pensioners can claim two benefits which boost annual income to nearly £18,000

Older people on a low income or living with a health condition could be due extra financial help on top of their State Pension.

Economics

1 hour ago Church and charity treasurer, 75, who defrauded both organisations out of £285,000 is jailed for four years

Terence Capstick abused his trusted volunteer role at Winslow Parish Church and the Rogers Free Educational Trust in Buckinghamshire to siphon off huge sums over nearly five years.

Economics

2 h. ago The $62m question: does a high school really need a professional

A 10,000-seat arena for a school in Georgia with fewer than 2,000 students raises questions about America’s sporting and educational prioritiesWhen the television cameras pan around the US’s newest sporting temple to show the cavernous stands, elegant brick exterior, VIP suites and massive video board, viewers might believe they are looking at a professional venue.Yet the occupants of Phillip Beard Stadium, the Buford Wolves, are not a professioanl team or even a college one. They are high-schoolers. In the exorbitant world of high school football, Buford’s $62m, 10,000-capacity arena is not the biggest or most expensive taxpayer-funded student stadium in the US. But it may be the most luxurious. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Edinburgh Fringe cabaret and variety reviews: Apocalypse Cabaret: Songs for the End of the World | Dangerous Goods | Arthur Hull’s Flop: The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals Ever Written

If it’s the end of the world as we know it then go out feeling fine with Scout Durwood’s first-rate one-woman karaoke-confessional Apocalypse Cabaret

Culture

2 h. ago Homeowner property repossessions in 47% annual jump but mortgage arrears falling

UK Finance, which released the figures, said repossessions remain significantly lower than long-term averages.

Society

2 h. ago No cars available for full Electric Car Grant nearly a month after launch

Scheme aims to reduce the cost of electric cars priced under £37,000.

Politics

2 h. ago Council houses worth £550,000 are seized from 'fraudsters' after probe finds they already OWNED their own properties elsewhere

Hackney Council in north London confiscated seven homes, redistributing them to those most in need who had been on the waiting list for social housing for some time.

Society

3 h. ago Motorists miss weddings, concerts and even holidays due to car problems

A poll of 2,000 motorists found 61% have had their plans scuppered thanks to a car problem, with one in twenty of those completely missing a loved one's wedding

Transport

3 h. ago Brits missing weddings, holidays and concerts due to annoying car issues

A poll of 2,000 motorists found car troubles cause Brits to miss holidays, job interviews and even weddings

Events

3 h. ago DWP crackdown on benefit fraud as woman jailed for wrongly claiming £110,000

The UK Government has issued a stern warning that benefit fraud will be detected and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, following the sentencing of a Manchester woman to 20 months in prison

Economics

3 h. ago M25 traffic updates: Motorway section reopens after being shut for 17 hours due to huge lorry fire

Approximately 250,000 motorists use the M25 daily, making it the busiest motorway in Britain

Events

3 h. ago NGOs call for end to Israel’s ‘weaponisation’ of aid – Middle East crisis live

More than 100 international NGOs sign letter saying more than 60 requests to bring in food, water and items for shelter were denied by authorities in July aloneThe UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has just issued a warning on X, saying that soaring temperatures in Gaza are now above 40°C, making an already dire humanitarian situation “far worse”.“With very limited water available, dehydration is increasing,” the agency said in a post on X. It added that bombardments and forced displacement continue, while limited electricity and fuel mean there is “no relief from the extreme heat”.Approval of construction plans in E1 buries the idea of a Palestinian state and continues the many steps we are taking on the ground as part of the de facto sovereignty plan that we began implementing with the establishment of the government.After decades of international pressure and freezes, we are breaking conventions and connecting Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem. This is Zionism at its best – bui...

Events

4 h. ago ‘I have to believe I deserve to be here’: ‘Tesco TikToker’ Hannah Lowther on her path to West End stardom

The up-and-coming musical theatre star’s online audience of 1.2 million has been crucial in scoring her major roles. Her career is part of a shift in the industry towards performers with social media clout – but not everyone is happyIf you’re on TikTok, you’ll probably recognise Hannah Lowther. Known affectionately as the “Tesco TikToker”, she found viral fame during lockdown by filming herself singing and dancing in the aisles of the supermarket during her shifts there.“I got 10,000 views on a video and I thought: OK, that’s it, I’m famous, and I just never let it go,” the 27-year-old laughs. Since then, Lowther has built an audience of 1.2 million followers and leveraged her social media presence into a starry stage career, landing roles in West End musicals including Heathers and Six. “At the back of my mind, I was thinking: You know what? Maybe this could help me one day.” Continue reading...

Politics