90 m. ago Ashes second Test, day four: England all out for 241 as Australia close on victory – live

OBM updates with hosts needing 65 from second innings Day three report: sun setting on England’s Ashes dream Ashes top 100 | Get the Spin newsletter | Email James“As I reach the end of another working week, I am once again reminded of the cruelty of cricketing disappointment. It’s hard enough being an Englishman living in Brisbane at the moment, but no cricket on my weekend seems excessively cruelty...”There’s cricket on today, Phil Withington. It might not last very long, that’s all. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Trump no longer pushing back when White House insiders say Hegseth is not up for the job as he ‘tires’ of controversies: report

It’s been a “rough week for Pete,” a senior official said.

Politics

13 h. ago Trump was persuaded into pardoning golf partner’s client over 18 holes: Report

Gowdy told the WSJ that following a round of golf with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on November 16, the president asked if he needed anything, prompting talks of Leiweke pardons

Politics

13 h. ago Arne Slot’s Liverpool misery deepens as Ao Tanaka delivers again for spirited Leeds

Leeds United 3-3 Liverpool: Ao Tanaka’s 96th-minute equaliser denied the Premier League champions at the death at Hugo Ekitike had earlier opened a two-goal lead

Politics

15 h. ago Tanaka equaliser caps thrilling comeback as Leeds deny Liverpool

Last season, there was a coldly efficient streak to Liverpool. They rolled out a series of unremarkable 2-0 wins, a title rooted in unfussy competence. This season could hardly be more different; they are neither unfussy nor competent. They led 2-0 and, four minutes intostoppage time, they led 3-2, and yet still they didn’t win it. It was tremendous fun, but Arne Slot will have hated it.Just as no side can be sure whether a win at West Ham in their previous away match means they’ve played well or were just playing West Ham, so it would be unwise to read too much into this mishmash of the haplessness and excellence. Their three goals all resulted from fine finishes and one from clever buildup play, but the image of the game – once again – would be Virgil van Dijk standing hands on hips, steam rising both literally and metaphorically as he glared in disbelief at the bizarrely diffident defending around him. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Dias and Foden sink Sunderland to help Manchester City pressure Arsenal

A moment of sheer brilliance in the 65th minute from Rayan Cherki had all at the Etihad Stadium sucking air in awe. The Frenchman burst along the right and cut back, then delivered a scintillating rabona plum on to the head of Phil Foden, who nodded home off the bar. Manchester City had cruised to a 3-0 lead and were heading for second, two points off the top, after Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa.The manager will adore Cherki’s man-of-the-match display as much as there being no second-half defensive horror show to follow the one at Fulham, and you have to wonder if City will again break the hearts of the Gunners come May. If Cherki continues to play as he did here then he will join Foden and Erling Haaland as City’s gun attackers who will give them the best chance of yet another crown. Continue reading...

Sport

17 h. ago Rayan Cherki too good for Sunderland as Manchester City pressure Arsenal

In the 65th minute Rayan Cherki burst along the right, cut back, then delivered a scintillating rabona plum on to the head of Phil Foden, who nodded home off the bar. Manchester City had cruised to a 3-0 lead and were heading for second, two points off the top, after Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa, and the Etihad Stadium doffed the proverbial at the magical Cherki.Of his 22-year-old star man, Pep Guardiola said: “Rayan is an exceptional player, so young, has huge personality. In the final third he has something special. What I admire the most about Rayan is not the skills. I never saw these kind of crosses from Messi – I like simplicity because I learned from Messi never to make a mistake with the simple things. Continue reading...

Sport

17 h. ago Everton turn on style and condemn Dyche to miserable return with Nottingham Forest

Sean Dyche would not have recognised Everton on his return to the club he saved from relegation and possible administration not so long ago. The former Everton manager was greeted by plush new surroundings, a contented fanbase and a vibrant, confident opponent as the home team rose to fifth in the Premier League with a comfortable defeat of Nottingham Forest.Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall produced another immaculate performance in the heart of Everton’s midfield as a fourth win in five games reinforced the advances made since David Moyes replaced Dyche in January. Dewsbury-Hall forced the first goal and scored the third, with Thierno Barry finally getting off the mark to wild acclaim in-between. Forest were subdued and second-best throughout. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Chelsea frustrated by Bournemouth to lose further ground on title rivals

Any momentum Chelsea had picked up in the final week of November, through outclassing Barcelona and matching Arsenal with 10 men, appears to have been stunted in December. After Wednesday’s defeat at Leeds, a point against Bournemouth is no disaster but, with Arsenal’s earlier loss to Aston Villa, it is a chance missed. Eight points separate Enzo Maresca’s side and the top of the Premier League.Bournemouth took a leaf out of Leeds’ book and hounded Chelsea from the start. The visitors, behind within six minutes at Elland Road, were let off the hook twice early on. Antoine Semenyo thought he had given Bournemouth the lead when he pounced on a loose ball inside the area, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to intervene because Evanilson was marginally offside from Alex Scott’s incisive pass into the box. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Scientists who advised government during Covid did not reveal they had received more than £200m in grants from one of the world's biggest pharma investors, report says

Twenty-six members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), which helped shape lockdown rules, did not register their Wellcome Trust funding, a report reveals.

Economics

18 h. ago Trump admin deadnames trailblazing transgender admiral on official portrait: Report

Adm. Rachel Levine made history in 2021 as the nation’s highest-ranking openly transgender official

Politics

20 h. ago Villa’s Buendía scores with last kick of the game to stun leaders Arsenal

Mikel Arteta had acknowledged the hazards that awaited Arsenal, the Premier League’s pacesetters, at Villa Park. Aston Villa inflicted irrecoverable damage on his side in January, Unai Emery’s team rallying from two goals down to earn a point at the Emirates Stadium, a result that left Arsenal lagging behind Liverpool and with too much ground to make up in the title race. Two seasons ago Villa did the double over Arsenal, two late goals earning an away victory in the final weeks of the season that paved the way for Manchester City to pip Arteta’s side to the crown.So Arteta and Arsenal knew the challenge of unpicking a Villa side that had won 12 of their previous 14 matches in all competitions, including eight of their previous nine league matches. Emery equally knew the difficulty of overcoming an Arsenal side who had won 17 of their 21 matches this season and seemingly addressed perceived weaknesses in the summer. Even with Cristhian Mosquera absent with an ankle injury, meaning J...

Sport

20 h. ago Blackstenius blasts late goal to deny lowly Liverpool and earn Arsenal vital WSL win

Arsenal rebounded from two back-to-back draws and a week of speculation about their squad harmony as Stina Blackstenius’s late strike gave them all three points against Liverpool. They had taken an early lead through Olivia Smith, but they shrank into themselves after Beata Olsson’s equaliser until Blackstenius delivered in the 87th minute.The home team had got off to a blistering start after a full-voiced rendition of North London Forever. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, when the former Liverpool forward Smith shrugged off three challenges as she drifted towards the edge of the area and lashed in. Continue reading...

Politics

21 h. ago Eerie moment UFO spotted rising out of the sea in Suffolk before zipping off

Flying saucers, strange lights in the sky and objects that look like alien spaceships every year Brits report hundreds of sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and have been doing so for more than eight decades.

Politics

22 h. ago Tymon stunner gets Swansea City up and running under Vitor Matos

The Swans eased their way to a 2-0 win over Oxford United on Saturday

Politics

22 h. ago Pressure grows on ‘reckless’ Hegseth as twin scandals engulf Pentagon chief

Defense secretary defiant but allegations of war crimes and blistering watchdog report increase calls for him to goPete Hegseth is facing the most serious crisis of his tenure as defense secretary, engulfed by allegations of war crimes in the Caribbean and a blistering inspector general report accusing him of mishandling classified military intelligence. Yet despite the long list of trouble and as lawmakers from both parties call for his resignation, Hegseth shows no signs of stepping down and still holds Donald Trump’s support.The twin crises have engulfed the former Fox News personality in separate but overlapping allegations that lawmakers, policy experts and former officials say reveal a pattern of dangerous recklessness at the helm of the Pentagon. Democratic legislators have reignited calls for his ouster after revelations that survivors clinging to wreckage from a September boat strike were deliberately killed in a “double-tap” attack, while a defense department investigation...

Events

23 h. ago Sun setting on England’s Ashes dream as Australia close on second Test triumph

Second Test, D3: England 334 & 134-6; Australia 511Tourists collapse under lights, still trailing by 43Saturday night at the Gabba witnessed a collapse to rank among England’s most demoralising on Australian soil. In fact the entire third day could be filed under that category: three sessions of one-way traffic on Vulture Street that mean the Ashes urn is unlikely to change hands.Even the word “unlikely” is a simple nod to the fact that in nearly 150 years of Test cricket a 2-0 deficit has been overcome once before; that it remains mathematically possible. But the way the first five days of this series have played out — the way Mitchell Starc has taken residence in English minds and painted the walls fuchsia pink — this is the stuff of fantasy. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago London councils have a ‘sustained reliance’ on private firms as report shows £500m spend

London councils have a ‘sustained reliance’ on private firms as report shows £500m spend  The Guardian

Economics

28 h. ago Scottish Government accused of 'rationing education' in damning new colleges report

Union leaders have accused the Scottish government of “rationing education” in a damning report into a college sector facing “unprecedented strain”

Politics

31 h. ago Falcons vs. Seahawks Week 14 Injury Report: Drake London misses a third straight game

Falcons vs. Seahawks Week 14 Injury Report: Drake London misses a third straight game  The Falcoholic

Events

36 h. ago Republican lawmaker says Hegseth’s credibility is ‘ruined,’ citing Signalgate and Ukraine: ‘Poor decision making’

Rep Don Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, called the Inspector General’s Signalgate report exonerating Hegseth, ‘baloney’

Politics

38 h. ago Admiral says two survivors on ‘narco boat’ hit with second strike had no way to call for help, report says

In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, Admiral Frank ‘Mitch’ Bradley reportedly said the two survivors did not appear to have communications equipment

Events

38 h. ago New report on world’s billionaires reveals a startling stat about women

‘The billionaire community is more diverse, mobile, and forward-thinking than ever before,’ says UBS report

Politics

39 h. ago Falcons injury report: Drake London status vs. Seahawks revealed

Falcons injury report: Drake London status vs. Seahawks revealed  Falcons Wire

Events

39 h. ago Falcons injury report: Drake London, Brandon Dorlus ruled out, James Pearce Jr. questionable vs. Seattle

Falcons injury report: Drake London, Brandon Dorlus ruled out, James Pearce Jr. questionable vs. Seattle  Atlanta Falcons

Events

45 h. ago Hillsborough survivors call for former Chief Constable Norman Bettison to lose knighthood

It comes after a damning report said he would have faced gross negligence charges over the 1989 disaster which claimed 97 lives

Events

45 h. ago ‘No mistrust’ between Europe and US over Ukraine, Macron says

French president’s remarks come a day after a report claimed he had warned Washington could betray KyivEmmanuel Macron has said there is “no mistrust” between Europe and the US, a day after a report claimed the French president had warned privately there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine.“Unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is essential. And I say it again and again, we need to work together,” Macron told reporters during a visit to China. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago California pesticide agency could loosen restrictions on most toxic rat poisons

The anti-coagulant rodenticides also unintentionally harm wildlife across the state, including endangered speciesThe administration of Gavin Newsom, the California governor, is moving to loosen restrictions around the most toxic rat poisons, even as a new state report shows the rodenticides are unintentionally poisoning wildlife across the state, including endangered species.Blood-thinning, anticoagulant rodenticides were significantly restricted when a 2024 state law approved after 10 years of legislative wrangling required the California department of pesticide regulation to limit the substances’ use unless data showed species collaterally harmed or killed by it had rebounded. Continue reading...

Events

46 h. ago Falcons vs. Seahawks Week 14 Injury Report: Drake London still not practicing

Falcons vs. Seahawks Week 14 Injury Report: Drake London still not practicing  The Falcoholic

Events

46 h. ago Texas man undeterred by local theater’s rodent infestation brings his own mouse traps on movie night

Movie goers report mice crawling up their arms as the theater says it is working to control the problem

Politics

46 h. ago Trump warns Europe faces ‘civilisational erasure’ within 20 years because of migration & EU in explosive new report

TRUMP has warned Europe will face a "civilisational erasure" within 20 years. The bombshell remarks blame the EU and migration for what Trump anticipates will be Europe's downfall. The claims come from the official US National Security Strategy released overnight, which tells of the broad continental decline Europe will soon face. A "total cultural unravelling"...

Events

46 h. ago Man brings mouse traps to Texas movie theater after complaints of rodent infestation

Movie goers report mice crawling up their arms as the theater says it is working to control the problem

Society

46 h. ago Ashes: Australia take control of second Test despite Will Jacks' brilliance

All-rounder took one of the great catches to dismiss Steve Smith, but five others went down as the tourists’ fluffed their chances in the field

Politics

47 h. ago England rue five dropped catches as Australia build lead in second Ashes Test

Second Test, day two: England 334; Australia 378-6Late wickets offer tourists hope amid string of spillsThe ball may be pink and the meal breaks off-kilter, but for so much of the second day in this pivotal day-night Test match, the atmosphere inside the Gabba was an all-too-familiar one for England’s supporters.Gone was the triumphalism that met Joe Root’s first Test century on these shores 24 hours earlier and in its place the sight of Australia taking control. England’s attack had been in the madhouse, sending down a feast of wide long hops and half-volleys to make Jackson Pollock look positively precise. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Tara Reid heard slurring her words and moaning in 911 call after horror 'drink spiking'

American Pie actress Tara Reid was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after she claimed her drink had been spiked at a hotel bar in Illinois before later filing a police report

Events

47 h. ago Bloke who 'did nothing but sell beans' kidnapped by five masked men with £300k ransom

According to the police report, five hooded individuals burst into a property and dragged a man away to an unknown destination before demanding a ransom

Economics

49 h. ago Ashes: Australia's batters make England pay for bowling spell that was 'absolute disaster'

Hosts turn the screw in response to England’s 334 on day two of second Test at the Gabba

Events

49 h. ago Feminist coalition rejects inquiry guidance urging women to trust undercover officers

A coalition of feminist organisations has rejected undercover police plans following the Angiolini report, warning women cannot trust a system that employs officers with sex offence histories

Events

50 h. ago Give credit where it’s due: Labour is finally doing things its supporters actually want | Gaby Hinsliff

From tackling child poverty to being honest about Brexit, the party seems to have recognised the growing electoral threat to its leftWhat does it take for a small child not to recognise their own name? I’ve been thinking about that for days, since reading the Local Government Association’s recent report on a growing crisis in early childhood. We’ve known for a while about children starting school still in nappies, or speaking in Americanisms absorbed from hours stuck in front of YouTube, or even struggling to sit upright because they’ve spent too long slumped over an iPad to develop core muscles. So sadly, it’s not surprising to read of early-years workers telling the LGA they see more and more pre-schoolers who can barely speak, play with others or contain their rage when things don’t go their way. But it was the practitioner who noted that some children “don’t seem to respond to their name” who got to me. You have to wonder how often that child hears a loving adult trying to get t...

Politics

51 h. ago Ashes: Jofra Archer makes England breakthrough after rapid Australia response

Australia move quickly in response to England’s 334 on day two of second Test at the Gabba

Politics

51 h. ago What I saw reporting on the American lives cut short by killer heat

In this week’s newsletter: Coroners can’t agree on how to count heat fatalities – and the dismantling of climate investments is leaving fragile communities exposed• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereDonald Trump’s decision to boycott Cop30, withdraw the US from the Paris agreement and illegally terminate a slew of investments in renewable energy will not change the reality of climate breakdown for Americans.In what has become an annual reporting tradition, I found myself in Arizona reporting on heat-related deaths during yet another gruelling heatwave, when temperatures topped 43C (110F) on 13 out of 14 straight days in Phoenix. Before embarking on this trip, I spent weeks combing through hundreds of autopsy reports, which I obtained from two county medical examiners using the Freedom of Information Act. Each death report gave me a glimpse into the person’s life, and I used clues from the case notes to track down friends and loved ones in the hopes of bett...

Events

51 h. ago Top Scottish Schools 2026: Here are the 9 secondary schools in Scotland hailed as the best in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026

The report covers both state and independent secondary schools.

Politics

52 h. ago Family of boy, five, who died at school criticise coroner's report

Benedict's family wants a new law to protect children and save lives in the future

Events

58 h. ago Public and politicians left in dark about true impact of migration on Britain because of gaps in data, report finds

The government does not know how many people are in the country unauthorised - with policymakers unable to make informed choices about asylum claims and ECHR, experts warn

Politics

59 h. ago Ruben Amorim ‘angry and frustrated’ after West Ham’s Magassa denies Manchester United

Until Soungoutou Magassa’s 83rd-minute equaliser Manchester United seemed to be flowering in the cold of winter on the way to a win that would have been their fifth in eight games.Instead Jarrod Bowen’s flick-on from Andy Irving’s corner from the right had to be cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui, only for the ball to go straight to Magassa, who drove home a first goal for the Hammers. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Amorim ‘angry and frustrated’ after West Ham’s Magassa denies Manchester United

Until Soungoutou Magassa’s 83rd-minute equaliser Manchester United seemed to be flowering in the cold of winter on the way to a win that would have been their fifth in eight games.Instead Jarrod Bowen’s flick-on from Andy Irving’s corner from the right had to be cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui, only for the ball to go straight to Magassa, who drove home a first goal for the Hammers. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Call for transparency to be key focus of artificial intelligence use at Renfrewshire Council

If motion is agreed, local authority will produce six-monthly 'AI Transparency Report' for consideration.

Politics

60 h. ago Magassa earns West Ham a vital point as Manchester United waste chance to go fifth

Until Soungoutou Magassa’s 83rd-minute equaliser Manchester United seemed to be flowering in the cold of winter on the way to a win that would have been their fifth in eight games.Instead Jarrod Bowen’s flick-on from Andy Irving’s corner from the right had to be cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui, only for the ball to go straight to Magassa, who drove home his first goal for the Hammers. Continue reading...

Politics

61 h. ago Falcons injury report: Latest on Drake London from Thursday's practice

Falcons injury report: Latest on Drake London from Thursday's practice  Falcons Wire

Events

63 h. ago ‘Deeply troubling’: Canadian legislators call for halt to ICE armored vehicle sale after report by The Independent

Canadian MP Jenny Kwan says she will be proposing revisions to a bill she sponsored, that would prevent such items from going to the United States

Events

65 h. ago Foreign aid cuts will see extra 200,000 children under five die this year, damning Gates report warns

Report from the Gates Foundation says the death rate for under-fives will increase for the first time this century as cuts by Donald Trump and from nations across Europe begin to bite

Events

65 h. ago Amazon could ditch USPS and create its own shipping network in massive industry shakeup: report

The retail giant is one of the postal service’s most lucrative shipping contracts and reportedly provided it with $6 billion in 2025

Politics

65 h. ago Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly out for two to four weeks with calf strain

Injury expected to keep him out for up to a monthPreliminary scans ruled out achilles damageComes amid ESPN report on his future with BucksMilwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss around two to four weeks with a right calf strain, according to an ESPN report.The injury occurred less than three minutes into Wednesday night’s win over the Detroit Pistons. Antetokounmpo collapsed without contact as he tried to get back on defense and immediately reached for his lower right leg. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago Starmer: Novichok poisoning inquiry shows UK must be vigilant to Russian threats

The Prime Minister said the inquiry’s report ‘is clear: moral responsibility lies with Putin’.

Events

66 h. ago Vladimir Putin ordered Skripal novichok poisonings in show of ‘Russian power’, Dawn Sturgess inquiry finds

The foreign secretary warned Putin is ‘an active threat’ to Britain’s citizens in wake of report

Politics

66 h. ago Donald Trump's unhinged latest: Health fears, Hegseth in peril and another racist rant

Pete Hegseth has learned from a master - and came out swinging against a report that found he had put troops lives in danger by putting bombing plans in the group chat

Politics

66 h. ago Salisbury poisonings: Reason part of Dawn Sturgess inquiry to remain secret

Lord Hughes said the closed section of the £8million report 'cannot be made available to the public because of the damage which might be done to national security and the risk of harm which might be occasioned to some individuals if it were to be published'

Politics

66 h. ago US and EU critical minerals project could displace thousands in DRC– report

Global Witness says plan to upgrade railway line to Angola puts up to 1,200 buildings at risk of demolitionUp to 6,500 people are at risk of being displaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project funded by the EU and the US, amid a global race to secure supplies of copper, cobalt and other “critical minerals”, according to a report by campaign group Global Witness.The project, labelled the Lobito Corridor, aims to upgrade the colonial-era Benguela railway from the DRC to Lobito on Angola’s coast and improve port infrastructure, as well as building a railway line to Zambia and supporting agriculture and solar power installations along the route. Angola has said it needs $4.5bn (£3.4bn) for its stretch of the line. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago Instagram down LIVE: Social media platform suffers major worldwide blackout

Instagram has gone down impacting millions of users across the globe, as people report being unable to log in to the social media app

Politics

67 h. ago Dawn Sturgess family statement in full following release of inquiry report

The statement comes after the final report from the inquiry into Sturgess’ death was released on Thursday

Politics

67 h. ago Report takes aim at Fifa and IOC over policies for athletes convicted of sexual assault

The collaborative report said a lack of clear standards across borders creates confusion for big events like the World Cup and OlympicsWith the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup set to take place on Friday, a report examining the participation of athletes convicted of sexual offences at major sporting events has highlighted significant distrust of international sports governing bodies in how they deal with these situations.The report, titled No One Wants to Talk About It, is the result of interviews with elite athletes directly affected by sexual abuse and is intended to gauge attitudes around the eligibility and accreditation criteria for athletes with prior criminal sexual convictions and their participation at mega sporting events. Continue reading...

Events

67 h. ago Family of Salisbury Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess condemn inquiry's 'unanswered questions' as it finds Vladimir Putin ordered attack on Sergei Skripal 'to show Russian power'

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, pictured here with daughter Yulia, was poisoned by Novichok at his home in Salisbury. A report today found Putin authorised the hit as a show of Russian strength.

Events

67 h. ago Novichok victim’s family call for change as they criticise inquiry report

Dawn Sturgess died after being exposed to the nerve agent in 2018.

Events

68 h. ago US unemployment claims fall to lowest level since September 2022

The U.S. job market appears stuck in a ‘low-hire, low-fire’ state that has left those out of work struggling to find a new job

Politics

68 h. ago Putin authorised operation that led to 2018 novichok death, inquiry finds

Russia’s GRU military intelligence service was responsible for poisoning Dawn Sturgess, UK report concludes

Culture

2 d. ago S Club 7 star Jon Lee splits from his boyfriend just six months after meeting on Celebs Go Dating

S Club 7 star Jon Lee has split from his boyfriend just six months after meeting on Celebs Go Dating, according to a new report.

Politics

2 d. ago Donald Trump health report 'may have scanned wrong area', doctor claims

Donald Trump's physician released a health memo earlier this month, but a medical expert has claimed crucial data may be missing from the report

Science

2 d. ago Earthquake of 3.3 magnitude rattles Lancashire and Lake District

Residents report homes shaking from quake with epicentre near the village of Silverdale in LancashireResidents were shaken by what felt like an “underground explosion” after England’s biggest earthquake in two years affected towns and villages across Lancashire and Cumbria.A 3.3-magnitude earthquake was felt as far as 12 miles from the epicentre near the coastal village of Silverdale in Lancashire shortly after 11.23pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago People 'lacking confidence' and will feel decline after Christmas

A new report has found a general lack of confidence that disappears over the festive season

Politics

2 d. ago Vladimir Putin was 'morally responsible' for death of Dawn Sturgess in Salisbury Novichok poisonings after authorising attack as a 'public demonstration of Russian power', inquiry finds

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, pictured here with daughter Yulia, was poisoned by Novichok at his home in Salisbury. A report today found Putin authorised the hit as a show of Russian strength.

Events

2 d. ago New York Times sues Pentagon over new reporting restrictions – US politics live

NYT accuses Pentagon of infringing on the constitutional rights of its journalistsWith the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, already in the hot seat over the 2 September boat strike and the inspector-general report on his use of the Signal messaging app in March, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Hegseth had asked Admiral Alvin Holsey to step down after he had expressed concerns over the legality of the attacks in the Caribbean.Hegseth had announced in October that Holsey would be stepping down as head of the US military’s southern command less than a year after he took over the post. The posting, which oversees operations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean, typically lasts three years. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Record numbers becoming billionaires through inheritance, UBS report finds

Swiss bank says bequests made 91 people billionaires, while overall number jumped from 2,682 in 2024 to 9,919 this yearThe super-rich are inheriting record levels of wealth as they pass down billions of dollars to their children, grandchildren and spouses, research by a Swiss bank favoured by billionaires shows.Globally, there are 9,919 billionaires this year, up from 2,682 in 2024, UBS found. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Putin 'morally responsible' for Brit mum's death after Salisbury Novichok poisoning

An inquiry report into the death of mum-of-three Dawn Sturgess, who was fatally poisoned by Novichok in Salisbury, has found Putin to be "morally responsible" for the incident

Politics

2 d. ago Killing of survivors sparks outrage – but entire US ‘drug boat’ war is legally shaky

Pentagon’s Law of War manual clearly prohibits attack, but justification for whole campaign also faces tough questionsGraphic depictions of two survivors being killed by a second US military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug ferrying boat have provoked outrage where previously there was none – or at least relatively little.A firestorm of controversy has greeted a recent Washington Post report which suggested that a deadly attack on a vessel carrying 11 people in the Caribbean was followed with a second assault after the initial strike failed to kill everybody onboard. Continue reading...

Events

2 d. ago Global race to secure critical minerals for weapons threatens climate, warns report

Study reveals US earmarked billions to stockpile critical minerals for military use, including precision-guided weaponry and AI-driven warfareThe accelerating global arms race is hindering climate action as critical minerals that are key to a sustainable future are being diverted to make the latest military hardware, according to a reportThe study from the Transition Security Project – a joint US and UK venture – reveals how the Pentagon is stockpiling huge stores of critical minerals that are needed for a range of climate technologies including solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and battery storage. Continue reading...

Events

2 d. ago Root finally makes century in Australia and late burst gives England edge after Starc salvo

Second Test, day one: England 325-9Starc takes six but Root and Archer add 61 for final wicketIt was one of the most intense opening days to a Test match in recent memory. The Gabba was like a cauldron, the air as thick as soup, and with the pink ball zipping around for Mitchell Starc as he continued his bulldozing start to the series, the pressure on England felt relentless.And yet at 8.38pm local time this all melted away as Joe Root tickled Scott Boland for four to seal his 40th Test century and – far more notably – his first on Australian soil. Root insisted this tour was never about addressing the gap in his otherwise stellar CV but, even for the most self-effacing of masters, the sense of relief out in the middle was palpable. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago 200,000 children under the age of five to die this year because of foreign aid cuts

Report from Gates Foundation says the death rate for under-fives will increase for the first time this century

Events

3 d. ago NHS England warns of sharp rise in flu patients as admissions more than double

The NHS said the report reflects its first weekly snapshot of pressures facing hospitals this winter, highlighting demand not only from respiratory illness but also gastrointestinal infections.

Events

3 d. ago New report shows billionaires are inheriting more wealth than ever

The report forecasts $5.9 trillion will be inherited by billionaire children over the next 15 years

Economics

3 d. ago Hegseth forced out US Navy admiral who had legal concerns over Trump’s drug boat strikes: report

The departure of Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, has stunned lawmakers and military experts

Events

3 d. ago US and EU critical minerals project could displace thousands in DR Congo – report

Global Witness says plan to upgrade railway line from DRC to Angola puts up to 1,200 buildings at risk of demolitionUp to 6,500 people are at risk of being displaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project funded by the EU and the US, amid a global race to secure supplies of copper, cobalt and other “critical minerals”, according to a report by campaign group Global Witness.The project, labelled the Lobito Corridor, aims to upgrade the colonial-era Benguela railway from the DRC to Lobito on Angola’s coast and improve port infrastructure, as well as building a railway line to Zambia and supporting agriculture and solar power installations along the route. Angola has said it needs $4.5bn (£3.4bn) for its stretch of the line. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Hardline migration policies are fuelling people smuggling, report finds

As leaders try to break smugglers’ business model, research suggests strategy so far has had opposite effectHardline migration policies adopted by governments across the globe have been a boon for people smugglers, fuelling demand and allowing them to raise their prices, according to a report.The findings, released on Thursday by the Mixed Migration Centre of the Danish Refugee Council, and based on interviews with thousands of migrants and hundreds of smugglers, come as officials prepare to gather next week in Brussels to discuss how best to combat smuggling. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Salisbury Novichok poisoning inquiry to answer questions 7 years after Russian attack

The report could have far-reaching implications for UK-Russia relations, which are already tense following Vladimir Putin threatening he is ready for a war with Europe

Events

3 d. ago Teaching children finance more important than history or science, new report reveals

TEACHING children about financial education is more important than history or science, a major survey shows. A new global report from Santander finds that people rank financial education second only to maths in a list of the core school subjects. The study come after Ministers announced last month that financial literacy will be required in...

Society

3 d. ago England earthquake of 3.3 magnitude rattles Lancashire and Lake District

Residents report homes shaking from 3.3-magnitude quake that British Geological Survey says was centred just off the coast of Silverdale, LancashireA 3.3-magnitude earthquake shook homes in north-west England late on Wednesday, the British Geological Survey (BGS) reported.The quake struck shortly after 11.23pm and was felt across Lancashire and the southern Lake District, including the towns of Kendal and Ulverston, within 12 miles of the epicentre. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Detainees at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facing ‘harrowing human right violations’, new report alleges

Amnesty International finds immigrants at Florida facility were shackled and left outside in metal cage for up to a dayDetainees at the notorious Florida immigration jail known as “Alligator Alcatraz” were shackled inside a 2ft high metal cage and left outside without water for up to a day at a time, a shocking report published Thursday by Amnesty International alleges.The human rights group said migrants held at the state-run Everglades facility, and at Miami’s Krome immigration processing center operated by a private company on behalf of the Trump administration, continue to be exposed to “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” rising in some cases to torture. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago 200,000 children under the age of 5 to die this year because of foreign aid cuts

Report from Gates Foundation says the death rate for under-5s will increase for the first time this century

Events

3 d. ago Rockets, gold and the Foreign Legion: can Europe defend its frontier in the Amazon? | Alexander Hurst

It borders Brazil, but French Guiana is now a remote outpost of the EU. It is home to Europe’s only spaceport, some of the most biodiverse forest on the planet and a military mission that is testing the limits of western powerAbove me, a ceiling of rough wooden branches and tarp. To my right, an officer in the French Foreign Legion types up the daily situation report. In front of me a French gendarme named David is standing in front of a table full of large assault rifles, pointing out locations on a paper map. A generator hums. All around us, splotches of forest dot the hundreds of islands that make up the archipelago of Petit-Saut, a watery ecosystem three times the size of Paris.Except Paris is 7,000 kilometres away from where I am, in Guyane, or French Guiana, a department of France in South America, just north of the equator. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Noem’s rush to bolster ICE’s members means applicants who can ‘barely read or write’ are being accepted, report says

The Homeland Security Department hopes to hire 10,000 new deportation officers by the end of the year to help in President Donald Trump’s massive immigration crackdown

Politics

3 d. ago Falcons release first injury report for Week 14 game vs. Seahawks

Falcons release first injury report for Week 14 game vs. Seahawks  Falcons Wire

Events

3 d. ago Wirtz delivers but lacklustre Liverpool are held by Sunderland

Liverpool’s big name, big money summer signings owed Arne Slot following poor starts to life at Anfield and, right on cue, Florian Wirtz delivered. A deflected shot from the potential £116m recruit spared the Premier League champions the ignominy of a 10th defeat in 14 games with a late equaliser against Sunderland, who will count this as an opportunity missed.Chemsdine Talbi had set the in-form visitors on course for a first win at Anfield since 1983 before Wirtz’s shot flew in off Nordi Mukiele in the 81st minute. Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor was close to restoring his side’s lead when rounding Alisson in stoppage time but a superb goalline clearance from striker Federico Chiesa salvaged a point for Liverpool. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Florian Wirtz delivers but lacklustre Liverpool are held by Sunderland

The celebration was justified yet indicative of another worrying night for Arne Slot. It was the 94th minute and Federico Chiesa was waving his arms in front of Liverpool fans, rejoicing not in delivering a victory befitting his job as a striker but in saving the Premier League champions from certain defeat. Sunderland should consider their point at Anfield as an opportunity missed.Chiesa’s celebration followed his goalline clearance to deny Sunderland a first win at Anfield since October 1983. Slot, though restrained in his technical area, must have been tempted to join in. His team were staring at a 10th defeat in 14 games when Wilson Isidor, on as a Sunderland substitute, raced through from goalkeeper Robin Roefs’s smart pass and rounded Alisson in the Liverpool goal. Chiesa, on as a substitute as Slot chased victory, had abandoned his attacking instincts to track back and produced a vital block. Liverpool were spared another inquest, just about. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Ao Tanaka’s cracker sets Leeds on way to upset victory against sloppy Chelsea

Leeds produced arguably their performance of the Premier League season so far to inflict a rare defeat on Chelsea and perhaps alleviate some of the pressure engulfing Daniel Farke.A run of four wins in succession had left speculation rife that Farke was entering a pivotal period if he wanted to keep his job at Elland Road, having guided the Whites to promotion last season. He and his team responded accordingly with a wonderful display filled with energy, aggression and quality to move out of the relegation zone. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago NTSB describes final moments of flight that killed missionary father and daughter in Florida crash

The National Transportation Safety Board described the fatal Nov. 10 flight that killed a Christian missionary father and his daughter in its preliminary report

Events

3 d. ago Merino and Saka down Brentford but Arsenal made to sweat on more injuries

A night on from the chaos of Manchester City almost capitulating during their 5-4 win against Fulham, Arsenal seized the opportunity to prove that they are a sturdier proposition than Pep Guardiola’s side.They kept their eighth clean sheet of the season despite losing another centre-back to injury and restored their five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League by seeing off Brentford thanks to an early header from Mikel Merino and a late goal from Bukayo Saka. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Failed asylum seekers were treated to spa days, football tournaments and bingo nights while waiting for deportation, report finds

An inspection of Dungavel House in Lanarkshire found detainees enjoying a packed nine-hour daily leisure schedule, complete with a cinema room, barber salon and even a social hub.

Events

3 d. ago Dominic Raab asked Harry Dunn's family 'what else he could have done' after crash suspect was allowed to leave Britain

Mr Dunn, 19, was struck head-on by Anne Sacoolas whose car was on the wrong side of the road near RAF Croughton, Northamptonshire on August 27, 2019, while riding on his motorbike.

Events

3 d. ago ‘Green River Killer’ who butchered up to 80 people is ‘near death’ in prison: report

Gary Ridgway, aka the Green River Killer, pleaded guilty in 2001 in a deal to avoid the death penalty

Events

3 d. ago Florida firefighter arrested after attacking teens with baseball bat and threatening to kill them after ‘ding

The firefighter hit the teens and the golf cart they were fleeing in with a baseball bat, according to a report

Events

3 d. ago US private employers unexpectedly shed 32,000 jobs in November in biggest drop since 2023

Small establishments lost 120,000 jobs last month, which economists attributed to tariffs on imports that have raised costs for businesses

Society