37 m. ago Vodafone terminates contracts of 12 franchisees who joined £120m lawsuit

Telecoms group says it strongly refutes claim by 62 franchisees that it ‘unjustly enriched’ itself at their expenseVodafone has terminated the contracts of 12 franchisees who have continued running the brand’s high street stores while also being part of a £120m high court claim against the telecoms group.The legal case was launched in December, when 62 franchisees claimed Vodafone had “unjustly enriched” itself at the expense of scores of vulnerable small business owners by slashing commissions to franchisees operating the mobile phone company’s retail outlets. Continue reading...

Economics

39 m. ago Tatjana Maria storms into Queen’s final after stunning Madison Keys

37-year-old qualifier beats third top-20 player at eventAustralian Open champion outclassed in straight setsTatjana Maria knows a thing or two about fairytales, coming from the land of the Brothers Grimm and the Pied Piper of Hamelin, but not even the veteran German could have envisioned what has happened to her at Queen’s Club this week.The 37-year-old arrived in west London having lost nine matches in a row and looking in danger of dropping out of the world’s top 100. Now – improbably – she has powered into the final having won six matches in a row and taken the scalp of the reigning Australian Open champion, Madison Keys, in the semi-finals. “I cannot believe it,” she said after outplaying Keys 6-3, 7-6. “It’s a dream come true.” Continue reading...

Politics

83 m. ago Zoe Slater's EastEnders return 'sealed' for next week as fans 'solve' soap's latest clue

EastEnders are dropping even more hints about Monday's big episode - and their latest video has fans convinced they've solved the 'blink and you'll miss it' clue

Politics

1 hour ago Coronation Street icon 'set to return' 18 years after debut 'to help Maria take down Lou'

Coronation Street fans are convinced that a former cobbles resident is set to make a return in an explosive twist to help Maria Connor take down Lou Michaelis

Politics

2 h. ago Ange Postecoglou could make instant return as club contact sacked Spurs boss

Tottenham announced the sacking of Ange Postecoglou last week, despite the Australian guiding the club to the Europa League trophy, with Brentford boss Thomas Frank quickly unveiled as his successor

Politics

3 h. ago Ange Postecoglou 'talks moving quickly' over swift return to management after Tottenham sacking

The Australian could be managing the likes of Ivan Toney and Riyad Mahrez next season

Politics

3 h. ago Markram steers South Africa to historic World Test Championship final triumph

Final, D4: SA, 138 & 282-5, bt Aus, 212 & 207, by five wktsVerreynne sees Proteas home against AustraliaFirst trophy since 1998 banishes ‘chokers’ barbAs the South African balcony erupted in ecstasy, and the green shirts in the crowd sent a roar ringing around St John’s Wood, Temba Bavuma simply sat there with his head in his hands. Relief? Disbelief? Whatever it was, it was the culmination of a journey from the township of Langa to the new pinnacle of Test cricket at Lord’s. South Africa, World Test Championship winners under his calm leadership, had made history.There were a couple of stutters along the way, moments when South African backsides started to twitch like a rabbit’s nose and memories of all those self-inflicted heartaches at International Cricket Council events came flooding back. But in the end, guided by a masterful 136 from Aiden Markram - catharsis after last year’s loss in the T20 World Cup final under his captaincy - they squeezed out the remaining 69 run...

Sport

4 h. ago Emma Raducanu pulls out of Berlin Open with ‘lingering’ back problem

British No 1 loses Wimbledon seeding as a resultShe is confident of playing at Eastbourne later in JuneEmma Raducanu will miss next week’s Berlin Tennis Open as she continues to manage a back problem. The 22-year-old has been struggling with the issue since competing in Strasbourg last month before the French Open and took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss to Zheng Qinwen at Queen’s Club on Friday.Speaking afterwards, Raducanu said: “It’s been lingering for the last few weeks, and I have had back issues before. I think it’s just a vulnerability of mine. I know I need to take good care of it. I’m not overly concerned that it’s something serious, but I know it’s something that’s very annoying and needs proper and careful management.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Emma Raducanu to sit out Berlin Open in a bid to ease back concerns

The 22-year-old needed treatment during her loss to Zheng Qinwen at Queen’s Club on Friday.

Politics

6 h. ago Family of Air India crash victims speak of their ‘tremendous’ loss

The family of a couple who died with their daughter in the Air India plane crash say they will be missed “tremendously”.

Events

6 h. ago MBE pair Luke Littler and Luke Humphries warned they won't be treated like royalty at World Cup of Darts

German duo Ricardo Pietreczko and Martin Schindler are gunning for the hot favourites in Frankfurt

Events

6 h. ago Ikea urgent product recall as shoppers told 'stop using it immediately'

Due to a risk of "small metal pieces detaching during use", shoppers are being asked to return the item

Politics

7 h. ago Two groups of Brits may need to 'apply' for reinstated £300 DWP payment says BBC expert

The DWP has announced that the winter fuel allowance will return this year and be paid in November and December to 9 million extra pensioners - but some may have to apply

Economics

7 h. ago Emmerale icon 'to return' after 9 years as Kammy’s criminal sidekick 'revealed'

Emmerdale viewers are convinced that Kammy Hadiq is working with a former Dales icon as he grows closer to Vinny Dingle and continues to commit crimes

Events

7 h. ago Emmerdale icon 'to return' after 9 years as Kammy’s criminal sidekick 'revealed'

Emmerdale viewers are convinced that Kammy Hadiq is working with a former Dales icon as he grows closer to Vinny Dingle and continues to commit crimes

Events

8 h. ago Fern Britton shares secret to weight loss after showing off incredible body transformation

Former This Morning star Fern Britton has spoken out about her recent weight loss, after wowing fans with her incredible transformation as she shared a snap of herself working out

Politics

8 h. ago MTV's The Valleys was an iconic reality show and it's time for it to return to our screens

It has been over a decade since controversial Welsh reality TV show The Valleys hit out TV screens

Culture

8 h. ago Andrew Lloyd Webber is ‘hot again’ –with help from new kids on musicals block

Veteran composer’s work is everywhere, but generation who grew up admiring him say he has never been out of touchWhen Andrew Lloyd Webber walked on stage to collect the Tony award for best musical revival for Sunset Boulevard, it was the first time in 30 years he had been recognised by the American Theatre Wing.The Jamie Lloyd-directed revival was the star of the show at American theatre’s big night last Sunday with its three wins signifying a return to prominence for the veteran composer. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv repatriates more bodies of fallen soldiers amid major exchange with Russia

Ukraine says return in line with deal reached in Turkey while Russia hands over 1,200 bodies; Moscow claims capture of another Sumy village. What we know on day 1,207Ukraine has repatriated more bodies of fallen soldiers in accordance with an agreement reached during peace talks in Istanbul, Ukrainian officials said Friday. Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said Russia had returned 1,200 bodies, and “according to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, in particular military personnel”. The repatriation of the bodies was carried out with the help of Ukraine’s armed forces, the country’s security service, the interior ministry and other government agencies, its statement said. Forensic experts would now work to identify the remains. The repatriation marks one of the war’s largest returns of remains.Russia says its forces have captured another village in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region amid its ramped-up offensive there. M...

Events

12 h. ago SNP minister Mairi McAllan claims Scots don't like party members 'sniping' at John Swinney

Some Nationalists have questioned their leader's future after the party suffered a shattering loss at the recent Hamilton by-election.

Politics