CATEGORIES

'Nuisance' fines by councils rose 42% last year, report finds

\"Busybody\" fines - on-the-spot penalties issued for offences including swearing, shouting, idling, loitering and begging - jumped 42% in 2023, according to a report.

Sale of the Observer to Tortoise Media agreed in principle

The sale of the Observer, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media has been agreed in principle.

Welby sorry for resignation jokes in final Lords speech

The archbishop of Canterbury has apologised after being accused of making light-hearted comments over his resignation following serious safeguarding failures in the Church of England.

Romanian presidential election to be rerun after court ruling

A top Romanian court annulled the first round of the country's presidential election yesterday, days after declassified intelligence alleged Russia had run a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round.

Rape trials collapse due to record court delays

Justice system backlog sees doubling of victims pulling out of cases

'We are in December': Title talk comes too early for Van Dijk

Fluctuating Newcastle clash reminds pacesetters' captain that Liverpool have far to go

O'Neil's focus on next game as pressure builds at Wolves

Gary O'Neil has vowed to carry on at Wolves until he is told otherwise after facing a backlash from fans following their 4-0 drubbing at Everton.

Madueke on the rise but Maresca wants more, more, more

Chelsea manager pleased with winger's recent gains on the pitch after criticism of his efforts during training

Timber hails Arsenal's fresh momentum

Jurriën Timber believes Arsenal are gaining critical momentum in their push for a first Premier League title in two decades.

Doku claims wounded City will shut out noise

Jérémy Doku insists Manchester City will shut out the noise as they attempt to get back into the title race.

Russell reveals Verstappen threat to 'put my head in wall'

World champion was 'going to purposefully crash into me' says Mercedes driver

Dujardin 'fully respects' one-year suspension

British rider banned until July 2025 after investigation into horse whipping video

Spectre of brain injury casts long shadow over American campuses

College football, the game's entry point to the NFL, is under scrutiny after spate of sports injury-related deaths

Shell and Equinor to combine UK North Sea oil and gas assets

Shell and Equinor will combine their UK North Sea offshore oil and gas assets to create a new company with 1,300 employees.

Bitcoin hits $100,000 as Trump fuels crypto fever

Bitcoin has crossed $100,000 for the first time, scaling a fresh record high amid a euphoric rally sparked by Donald Trump's election victory.

Ashley says budget felt like a 'kick in the face' for his Frasers Group

The chief executive of the high street retail giant Frasers said that \"we felt we'd been kicked in the face\" after Rachel Reeves' autumn budget.

Vodafone and Three granted approval to merge

Vodafone and Three have been given the green light to create the UK's largest mobile phone operator after agreeing to invest heavily in upgrading the merged group's network across the country.

Conspiracies and cosying up to dictators Why intelligence experts are spooked by Tulsi Gabbard

In 2018, a Syrian dissident with the codename Caesar was set to testify before the House foreign affairs committee about the torture and summary executions that had become a signature of Bashar al-Assad's brutal crackdown on opposition during Syria's civil war.

Police release new photo showing face of suspect sought in killing of health insurance CEO

The New York police department on Thursday issued photographs clearly showing the face of a man they suspect of shooting and killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, early on Wednesday in Manhattan.

Italian nun arrested over links to mafia network

A nun was among 25 people arrested in Italy on suspicion of being part of a criminal gang with links to the country's most powerful mafia network, the 'Ndrangheta.

Islamist rebels seize strategic city of Hama from Syrian regime forces

Islamist insurgents have seized the Syrian city of Hama, a vital location on the road to Damascus, marking the latest challenge to Bashar al-Assad's control of the country.

McGregor ordered to pay Nikhita Hand's €1.5m costs in civil rape case

Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay the entire legal costs, estimated at €1.5m, in relation to a civil rape case brought by a woman in Dublin, a judge has ruled.

Woman who grabbed soldier's gun says: 'I just needed to stop them'

A South Korean party spokesperson seen grappling with a rifle-wielding soldier has insisted that she was not especially brave, after a viral video made her a symbol of defiance against martial law.

South Korean president investigated for insurrection over martial law

South Korea's ruling party says it will block a move by the opposition to impeach the beleaguered president, Yoon Suk Yeol, as police said they were investigating Yoon for alleged insurrection over his botched attempt to impose martial law.

Wallace ghostwriter makes new claims of sexual harassment

The ghostwriter of Gregg Wallace's 2012 autobiography has claimed he sexually harassed her when she was working on the book.

Lung cancer 'could be detected by urine test'

Scientists have created a world-first urine test that could indicate the first possible signs of lung cancer.

Sake: Japan's 'divine gift' granted special status by Unesco

Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It is brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savoured in the country's pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts.

Mother of last British hostage in Gaza appeals to UK government

The mother of the last remaining British hostage in Gaza has said she wants \"solutions, not sympathy\" as she appealed to the government to help keep her daughter alive.

Ghey's killer fails in bid to have sentence reduced

One of the two teenagers convicted of murdering 16-year-old Brianna Ghey has failed in his bid to reduce the length of his sentence after claiming a judge failed to take into account his \"immaturity\".

Weather warning as Storm Darragh hammers UK with 80mph gusts

An amber warning for wind has been issued for large parts of the UK, with power cuts and flying debris possible amid the arrival of the fourth named storm of the season.