CATEGORIES

Public finances in 'very risky period', warns OBR

The UK's public finances are in a \"very risky period\" after a series of major shocks that have pushed the nation's borrowing costs up at the fastest rate in the G7, the Treasury's tax and spending watchdog has said.

Hundreds of jobs at risk in UK amid global cost cuts by Sensodyne make

The company that produces Sensodyne toothpaste, Centrum vitamins and Panadol painkillers plans widespread layoffs in the UK and around the world a year after being spun off from Britain's second-biggest drugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline.

Pistoletto artwork destroyed in suspected arson attack

One of the most famous works by the Italian contemporary artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, Venus of the Rags, has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack in Naples.

Thailand's leading candidate for PM blocked from taking power

The leader of Thailand's pro-reform party, which won the most seats in May's election, has been blocked from taking power by a parliamentary vote that included military-appointed senators.

Surfers told to keep clear of 'aggressive' otters filmed stealing boards

A California otter is making headlines for her unusual, and worrying, interactions with surfers.

Russian general says he was 'fired for telling the truth' about state of war

A Russian general said he was fired as a commander after telling Moscow's military leadership \"the truth\" about the dire situation at the front in Ukraine as tensions in the Russian army grow in the wake of the Wagner group's short-lived mutiny.

Musk startup aims to develop 'pro-humanity, maximally curious' AI

Elon Musk has launched an artificial intelligence startup that will be \"prohumanity\", saying the world needs to worry about the prospect of a \"Terminator future\" in order to avoid the most apocalyptic Al scenarios.

Labour to stop former ministers taking jobs as lobbyists for five years

Labour would ban ministers from taking lobbying jobs related to their former brief for up to five years after leaving their posts to \"fix the broken standards system and clean up politics\".

Rail minister challenged by speaker on ticket office cuts

The government has been challenged in the Commons over plans to close railway ticket offices, including by the speaker, who told the rail minister he was being misinformed by train operators. Labour described the consultation over the proposals to close most ticket offices in England as a \"sham\" and Conservative MPS also raised concerns, as unions staged demonstrations around the country.

Teenagers sentenced to life in jail for mistaken identity murder

Two teenage boys have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a 16-year-old in a case of mistaken identity.

Spacey in tears as he tells court his world exploded after sexual abuse allegations

Kevin Spacey broke down in tears yesterday as he said his \"world exploded\" when sexual abuse allegations against him emerged in 2017, saying: \"I lost everything.\"

Concealed pages in history of Elizabeth I reveal their secrets

It was the first official account of Elizabeth I's reign, one of the most valuable sources on early modern Britain, commissioned by her successor, King James I. But, for 400 years, no one has been able to read passages on hundreds of pages of its manuscript because they were so heavily revised and self-censored by their 17th-century author, apparently to avoid offending his patron.

Fears over impact of last year's drought as Big Butterfly Count begins

Last summer's drought may have reduced butterfly populations this year because grasses and flowers that would usually feed caterpillars withered and died in the heatwave, scientists say.

'Big obstacle' Cliff Richard lawyer questions prospect of successful damages case

A lawyer who helped Cliff Richard recover damages from the BBC has cast doubt over whether Huw Edwards would be able to successfully sue the Sun, despite growing criticism of its reporting.

Negotiations in detail - Who has been offered what, from teachers to the police

Teachers - A 6.5% pay rise is being offered to teachers in England in what appears to be a package that also avoids problems with how increases would be funded.

I was sexually abused and dealt drugs as a child, says footballer Dele Alli

The footballer Dele Alli has revealed he was sexually abused at the age of six and selling drugs aged eight, as the former England international opened up on a traumatic childhood.

MPS urge NHS dentistry reform, as patients pull teeth with pliers

NHS dental services in England are not fit for purpose and need urgent reform, according to MPs who have warned that people are resorting to DIY treatment using pliers.

British Library buys rare cricket book, thanks to mystery donor

The British Library has acquired a \"virtually unobtainable\" cricket book after a mysterious donor funded the sale of the copy that once belonged to the famed commentator John Arlott.

It's 'Slou-wit!' rail firm promises to stop mangling station names

There are many things wrong with the north of England's railway network: 11th-hour cancellations, dilapidated Victorian infrastructure and trains with two carriages that ought to have six. To this list, we can now add the mispronunciation of stations.

Chaos for Hollywood as actors vote for walkout

Thousands of Hollywood actors are to go out on strike from today, widening the standoff between movie workers and studio executives over wages and threatening chaos across the film industry.

UK's response to threat from China 'inadequate'

The UK's approach to a \"whole of state\" assault by the Chinese government on its economy, politics, civil infrastructure and academia is completely inadequate, an influential parliamentary committee has found.

NHS unions' fury after PM insists pay offer is final

Health union leaders reacted furiously yesterday to a warning from Rishi Sunak that his offer of a 6% pay rise this year was final, and that \"no amount of strikes\" would change his mind, as they began their longest strike yet in England.

Philipsen's final flourish seals fourth stage triumph

Jasper Philipsen took his fourth win of this Tour de France, claiming stage 11 from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins by sprinting clear of his closest rival Dylan Groenewegen, of Team Jayco AlUla, in the final 100 metres.

Jabeur uses style to stifle power and avenges 2022 final defeat

Ons Jabeur is known back home in Tunisia as the Minister of Happiness. She's a pirouetting, skipping, sliding cartoon on the court. She plays like a video game character if someone dropped the controller and all the trick-shot combinations were mashed at once.

Knight marshals England home to level up series

England moved a step closer to regaining the Ashes last night in a nerve-shredding two-wicket win, brought up with 11 balls to spare.

Interest rate increases threaten prime minister's fiscal plans and key pledges, OBR to warn

The Treasury's tax and spending watchdog is set to sound the alarm over the impact of rising interest rates on public finances, delivering a serious blow to the government's scope for pre-election tax cuts.

Channel 4's chief executive paid nearly £1.5m in 2022

Alex Mahon was awarded nearly 1.5min 2022, the highest annual pay for a chief executive in Channel 4’s 40-year history, amid a challenging” economic environment and a TV advertising downturn, the broadcaster said yesterday.

Hungarian shops seal books with LGBTQ+ characters in plastic

Hungary's largest bookseller has started wrapping books that feature LGBTQ+ characters in plastic to prevent customers from opening them in its shops after it was taken over by a private foundation with close ties to Viktor Orbán.

Deforestation in Colombia plummets after fresh peace talks

Deforestation rates in the Colombian Amazon have fallen by 26% in the last year as a result of what is probably the first peace process in history to put the environment at its centre, officials said yesterday.

RTÉ boss says he may sell off Dublin HQ amid outrage over star's pay

The new director general of Ireland's national broadcaster has raised the prospect of selling off its headquarters in south Dublin in response to a furore over its own statements about the pay of its top presenter.