Bath's Van Graan calls for simplification of game after sin-bin error

Bath's director of rugby, Johann van Graan, has called for the game's authorities to simplify and protect the sport following the controversial officiating error which saw the Harlequins' prop Irné Herbst return from the sin-bin three minutes early at a crucial stage of last weekend's Premiership game at the Twickenham Stoop.

Battle for the House of Mouse Disney boss in showdown with critics over company's future

Disney faces a showdown over its future this week as the Hollywood investors giant's decide whether to back its leadership or throw their weight behind a billionaire activist investor demanding change.

Greetings card industry calls for Saturday postal deliveries to be retained

Greetings card retailers have urged the communications industry regulator to cut a midweek delivery day rather than Saturday if it must reduce Britain's letter services, as a consultation on postal reforms closes.

Jump in domestic orders ends two-year dip in factory output

A jump in domestic orders in March helped pull UK factories out of almost two years of contraction, according to a leading business survey.

Superdry drops to record low after boss opts not to make bid

Superdry's share price more than halved to a new record low yesterday after its chief executive decided against making an offer for the struggling fashion retailer.

UK house prices fall for the first time in three months

The UK housing market was \"subdued\" in March with prices edging down on the previous month as high mortgage rates continued to affect the market, according to Nationwide building society.

Cruise passengers chase ship to Senegal after being left on island

Eight cruise passengers had to scramble to reunite with their cruise ship after being left behind in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Maryse Condé, activist, academic and extraordinary storyteller’, dies at 90

Maryse Condé, the Guadeloupean author of more than 20 novels, activist, academic and sole winner of the New Academy prize in literature, has died aged 90.

‘Majestic guests: Polar bears payvisit to Svalbard research station

Katarzyna Kudłacz was preparing a breakfast of scrambled eggs at a research station on Svalbard when she looked up to see three unexpected guests.

Tuned in Ramadan radio show explores lives of Dutch Muslims

An hour before dawn in a nondescript building in Hilversum, a town half an hour south of Amsterdam, Nora Akachar grabs the microphone.

Leftist reformer sworn in as president of Senegal vowing peace and hope

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a leftwing pan-Africanist, has been sworn in as Senegal's youngest president, pledging systemic change, greater sovereignty and calm after years of deadly turmoil.

Child, 12, held after pupil dies in school shooting in Finland

A 12-year-old child has died and two others have been seriously wounded in a school shooting in Finland, leaving the nation reeling.

Ukrainian drone strikes target oil refinery deep inside industrial Russia

Ukraine has launched drone strikes in Russia more than 800 miles from the border, in some of its deepest attacks into Russia's industrial heartland since the start of the war.

Trump avoids asset Seizure after posting 175m bond in civil fraud case

Donald Trump posted a $175m (£139m) bond in his New York civil fraud case on Monday, averting asset seizures by state authorities that could have hobbled the former US president's business empire.

Councils call for independent review of arbitrary’ levelling-up funding policy

Councils have called for an independent review of Boris Johnson's levelling up policy, as local authorities count the cost of years of hype, disappointment, bureaucratic delay and \"begging bowl\" culture.

Twenty councillors quit Labour party in protest at national leadership

Twenty Labour councillors from Lancashire have resigned in protest at the party's national leadership.

Woman who refused to be FGM cutter fights renewed risk to girls

A woman who stood up against her community and refused to be a female genital mutilation cutter is launching a campaign to protect tens of thousands of girls who are at renewed risk of the practice in her home country, Gambia.

Litter ruining’ photographers’ favourite car dumping site

An old flooded slate mine used as a dumping ground for cars in north Wales, the eeriness of which attracts Instagram photo seekers, is in danger of being destroyed by visitors trashing the site, it has been claimed.

Campaigners fear plan for River Wye cleanup has been 'quietly abandoned'

The government has been accused of quietly shelving a delayed plan to restore the polluted River Wye after letters seen by the Guardian show it remains incomplete, with no publication date in sight.

Labour's bitter row in Ilford South persists as ex-MP lodges complaint

A former shadow minister who was deselected as an MP by local Labour members has submitted a complaint to the party alleging \"vote rigging\" in the contest.

One of UK's most wanted fugitives held after 27 years on the run

One of the UK's most wanted fugitives appeared in court yesterday on child sexual abuse charges after being arrested at Heathrow airport on Thursday after 27 years on the run.

Butterfly survey reveals worst year since 1976 for small tortoiseshell

The small tortoiseshell butterfly has suffered its worst year on record in England, and has declined by 82% across the UK since 1976, according to the annual count of butterfly populations.

Michael Ball to take over Sunday Love Songs show on Radio 2

The West End musical star Michael Ball is to become the nation's new purveyor of romantic hits when he takes over the Sunday Love Songs programme on Radio 2 from June.

Pole opposition Village residents in row with broadband firm over 'eyesores'

Built as a model village on the outskirts of Birmingham for the Cadbury factory workers, Bournville has for over 100 years been subject to strict planning laws to preserve its picturesque charm.

Homeless Do not arrest rough sleepers if they smell Keegan

Rough sleepers should not be arrested if they smell, a cabinet minister has said, as she apparently joined a growing rebellion by Tory MPs against plans to criminalise homelessness.

Sunak rejects claims nurseries cannot cope with free care plan

Rishi Sunak has dismissed claims that nurseries do not have the capacity to deliver on a big expansion of free care, as concerns were put to him about whether the sector could cope with the influx of children.

Super-rich getting even richer, Forbes’ billionaires list reveals

The world has more billionaires than ever, with 2,781 people having fortunes of more than $1bn (£800m), an increase of 141 on 2023, according to the Forbes annual rich list.

Village seeks Styles superfans to guide visitors to Harry's house

A Cheshire village that has been swamped by young visitors has appealed for tour guides with a very specific skill set: an expert knowledge of Harry Styles.

Former Ofsted chief defends verdict on Ruth Perry’s school

Ofsted's former chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, has refused to concede that her organisation made errors in its handling of the inspection that contributed to the death of a headteacher, Ruth Perry.

Jamaica struggles as England turns to foreign teachers

Schools are following the NHS and social care providers by increasing their recruitment of teachers from overseas to fill vacancies, leaving classrooms empty in countries such as Jamaica.