CATEGORIES

The two Lukes and a sport caught between silly and serious

Speed with which darts has changed is almost surreal, but it hardly matters when it attracts so many eyeballs

'Fiercely competitive' McCullum must make sure England are at the races from outset

As a sideline to the day job as England's head coach, Brendon McCullum owns and breeds racehorses in his native New Zealand.

'Winning the Ashes in Australia would mean more than anything'

The big interview Joe Root Ashe steels himself for his 150th Test tomorrow, the start ofacrucial period for England, the record-breaking batter is intent on seizing the day

Under a cloud After a monumental season, Sinner's biggest opponent is now off the court

At the end of the 2023 tennis season, as Jannik Sinner had elevated his game to new heights and his Italy team to their first Davis Cup title in 46 years, there was one comparison to note.

Trump tariffs on imports from China 'could lower world prices'

Donald Trump imposing massive US tariffs on Chinese imports could drag down global inflation by lowering the price of goods in other countries, a senior Bank of England policymaker has said.

B&Q owner says UK tax increases will cost it £31m

The B&Q owner, Kingfisher, has said uncertainty over the UK government's budget hit consumer spending, and it will pay an extra £31m in taxes after the rise in national insurance.

Barclays accepts a fine over Qatari payments but says it did nothing wrong. This is a cop-out

A regulatory ruling that your conduct was \"reckless and lacked integrity\" is meant to be a highly serious matter for a bank.

FCA labelled 'incompetent at best' in MPs' report

Britain's financial sector watchdog is \"incompetent at best, dishonest at worst\", according to a damning report by MPs and peers that called for a big shake-up.

ITV share price jumps amid rumours of takeover battle

ITV's share price has jumped after a report that several investors are considering making bids for the British broadcaster.

Barclays fined £40m after failing to disclose Qatar deal

Barclays will pay a fine of £40m for \"reckless\" failures to disclose a fundraising deal with Qatar at the height of the financial crisis, after the British bank agreed to withdraw a legal challenge against it.

Klitschko warns US podcaster he is repeating Putin's propaganda

The podcaster Joe Rogan is \"repeating Russian propaganda\" about the war in Ukraine, the former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko said on social media, adding that Rogan should invite him on his podcast to discuss the issue \"like free men\".

Macy's says worker hid up to $154m in expenses

Macy's revealed yesterday that a single employee had been responsible for hiding up to $154m (£122m) in expenses over the course of nearly three years, prompting the company to delay the release of its quarterly earnings report.

Kennedy's Views on prescription drugs alarm US health experts

Public health experts are concerned that, if confirmed, Donald Trump's choice for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Robert F Kennedy Jr - could restrict access to pharmaceutical treatments in favor of more experimental approaches.

Islamabad locked down to deter rally in support of ex-PM Khan

Pakistan's capital was put under lockdown as the government shut down the internet, blocked highways and brought in thousands of police and paramilitaries in an effort to prevent supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan protesting in Islamabad.

'We need a revolution' Italian victim's sister campaigns for change

Just a day after being told that her sister Giulia was dead, Elena Cecchettin was interviewed on live TV outside the family home in Vigonovo, a small town close to Venice. Floral tributes were tied to the railings behind her, and a torchlight procession attended by thousands of well-wishers was under way. But Elena was not looking for sympathy. \"Don't hold a minute of silence for Giulia - burn everything,\" she said. \"We need a cultural revolution to ensure that Giulia's case is the last.\"

Pro-Russia Nato critic in Romanian presidential runoff vote

An ultranationalist, Moscow-friendly Nato critic is set to face a centre-right candidate in the runoff of Romania's presidential elections after a shock first-round result that could jeopardise its support for Ukraine.

Pelicot trial Prosecutors seek 20-year jail term for rapist husband

French prosecutors have demanded that Dominique Pelicot be jailed for 20 years, the maximum available sentence, for having drugged and raped his wife, Gisèle, and invited at least 70 strangers to rape and abuse her over a decade.

'Invisible epidemic': third of women in EU have faced violence, survey finds

Every third woman across the EU has experienced physical violence, including threats, or sexual violence, a survey has revealed, in what one official described as an \"invisible epidemic\".

Peace talks Polarised opinions among the Israelis displaced by war

Here is a crack, a boom and a siren, almost simultaneously. Sergio Helman has not quite reached the concrete shelter a dozen metres from his hummus restaurant, off Route 99, which marks the northernmost limit of the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona.

Tell cinemas to turn volume up, says Wicked director after muffled-movie complaints

The Wicked director, Jon M Chu, is encouraging audience members to ask cinemas to turn up the volume on his blockbuster musical after some viewers reported sound issues.

Israel used US-made guided bomb in strike that killed three journalists

A Guardian investigation has found that Israel used a US munition to target and kill three journalists and wound three more in a 25 October attack in Lebanon which legal experts have called a potential war crime.

Wales prepares to introduce visitor charge for people staying overnight

People who stay in Wales overnight, including children, are set to be charged a visitor levy under a scheme that could raise up to £33m a year, which would be ploughed back into tourism and culture.

UK aims to forge global coalition for action on climate

The UK will seek a global coalition to push for climate action after a fractious end to UN climate talks in Azerbaijan, Ed Miliband has pledged.

Professor quits Royal Society over Musk's membership

A leading scientist has resigned from the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of sciences, over concerns about Elon Musk's continuing fellowship.

Lammy urged to fulfil pledge to help Britons jailed abroad

Alicia Kearns, as a former Foreign Office official and an outspoken voice on foreign affairs, is an MP who understands how the department ticks.

Feeling abandoned by Britain Five arbitrarily held for years

The cases of five British men, held for years without a fair trial, are being highlighted as MPs, families, and campaigners fight for their release and better help for all those arbitrarily detained abroad.

'People got embarrassed' Ethiopians and Eritreans on the legacy of Band Aid

Forty years on, Yared Markos's memories of famine in rural Ethiopia are vivid. His father was a geotechnical engineer, and as a boy he travelled with him from the city to his homeland's countryside.

Special needs crisis 'creates pipeline from school exclusion to criminal exploitation'

The crisis in special needs education has left children vulnerable to criminal and sexual exploitation, experts have warned, as parents of victims describe years of failed attempts to get support.

Novichok bottle 'picked up minutes after it was discarded'

A \"bin surfer\" may have found a fake perfume bottle containing a deadly nerve agent just minutes after it was discarded by agents trying to assassinate former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, a police counter-terrorism chief has said.

Thousands die each year in unrelieved pain, study finds

An estimated 20 terminally ill people die in unrelieved pain each day, according to a study by the independent Office of Health Economics.