CATEGORIES

Beaumont's hair-raising knock seals series victory

England scrapped their way to a six-wicket victory in the third ODI against South Africa to win the series 2-1, relying on the steadying hand of Tammy Beaumont after Marizanne Kapp had left them wobbling perilously at 25 for three.

Supreme court allows appeal in £30bn car loan mis-selling case

The supreme court has granted permission for two car lenders to appeal against a landmark ruling on motor finance commission payments that has left firms fearing a potential £30bn compensation bill.

CMA launches bid-rigging investigation into school contractors

An investigation was launched yesterday into allegations that several roofing and construction firms illegally colluded to rig bids to win contracts for repairing schools.

Elon Musk's SpaceX valued at $350bn after share buyback

Elon Musk's rocket company, SpaceX, and its investors have agreed to buy shares from its employees, valuing the business at $350bn.

Harrods hits diners with £1 charge on top of 12.5% service fee

Harrods has introduced a £1-a-head \"cover charge\" in its London cafes and restaurants, which staff say aims to raise profits by up to £1m after a government crackdown on companies taking a cut of tips.

Annual cost of renting a home is 27% higher since pandemic

The average cost of renting a newly let UK home is now £3,240 higher than at the end of the pandemic lockdowns, after three years of rental increases outstripping rises in earnings, research shows.

US inflation rate up slightly as Fed ponders interest rate hike

The US inflation rate barely moved in November, the last piece of major economic news before the Federal Reserve decides whether to cut interest rates for the third time in as many months at its meeting next week.

Tui profits soar 35% as tourists look for more affordable destinations

Cash-strapped consumers are still prioritising spending on holidays but are choosing more affordable destinations including Egypt, Bulgaria and Tunisia, according to Europe's biggest package trip operator.

Labour's green energy goal 'leaves little room for error', say experts

Labour's plan to switch to a clean power system by 2030 faces \"significant challenges\" to avoid delays and prevent vulnerable households paying higher bills, experts have warned.

Outcry over Iran's new hijab law that could see women executed or jailed for 15 years

Women in Iran could face the death sentence or up to 15 years in prison if they defy compulsory morality laws due to come into effect tomorrow.

Trump picks son's fiancee as ambassador to Greece

Donald Trump has named Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host who has been engaged to his eldest son, as US ambassador to Greece.

US executives warned about online 'hitlist' after killing of healthcare CEO

The New York police department (NYPD) has warned US healthcare executives of a heightened risk to their lives after identifying an online \"hitlist\" posted in the wake of last week's assassination of the United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

Girl, 11, is sole survivor of migrant boat sinking that left dozens dead

An 11-year-old girl has been rescued off the Italian island of Lampedusa after spending days alone at sea.

Whale's record 8,000-mile journey no fluke, say researchers

A humpback whale has travelled more than 8,000 miles from South America to east Africa, the longest distance recorded for an individual whale.

Māori tribes ask king to intervene in New Zealand treaty row

Representatives of more than 80 Māori tribes have issued a rare plea to King Charles requesting his intervention in New Zealand politics, amid growing tension over the government's policies for Māori and a souring of the relationship between Indigenous people and authorities.

Claims Hamas present in Gaza's hospitals 'grossly exaggerated' says top ICC lawyer

Claims about the presence of Hamas fighters in hospitals in Gaza under siege by Israel's military have been \"grossly exaggerated\", a top prosecutor at the international criminal court (ICC) has said.

Study shows 96% of children in Gaza feel their death is close

A study of children in Gaza has found that 96% of them feel that their death is imminent and almost half want to die as a result of trauma from the war.

Call for two-year jail term over Amsterdam football violence

Prosecutors have called for a man suspected of punching and kicking Israeli football fans in Amsterdam during a night of violence to serve two years in jail.

South Korean police raid President Yoon's office amid crisis over martial law decree

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the search yesterday was part of an attempt to establish whether Yoon's actions, supported by other senior figures in his administration, amounted to insurrection – a crime that does not carry presidential immunity and can carry the death penalty.

'Someone has to stay' The power plant workers keeping Ukraine's lights on

In the cavernous turbine hall of a coal-fired thermal power plant, deputy chief engineer Oleksandr runs through the extensive damage, pointing out various consequences of numerous Russian strikes over the past two years.

'We are being dismissed' Living with the painful experience of 'medical misogyny'

Women and girls in the UK with gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis have spent years in pain owing to \"medical misogyny\", according to a parliamentary report.

UK teenager jailed in Dubai over relationship with 17-year-old girl

An 18-year-old man from London has been sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, a campaign group has said.

Film review The amazing life and career of the dapper 007

That lovable British star Roger Moore, who ascended to movie Valhalla with seven James Bond films between 1973 and 1985, gets the indulgent treatment he deserves in this documentary celebration, featuring interviews with Christopher Walken, Pierce Brosnan, 007 superfan David Walliams, the franchise producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, his children, and of course Joan Collins, who is almost Moore's female equivalent in arch self-deprecating wit.

'I needed the money': Carrey on Sonic sequel

Jim Carrey says he came out of retirement for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 because he needed the money.

Train crew shortages risk disrupting travel plans of Christmas rail passengers

Passengers visiting family and friends over Christmas could have their journeys disrupted by train crew shortages, especially on lines hit by engineering works, the rail minister warned yesterday.

Mystery of how crocs get scales on head solved

It sounds like a conundrum that Rudyard Kipling would have explored in his Just So Stories, but researchers say they have the answer to how crocodiles get the scales on their heads.

Developers 'not fulfilling biodiversity pledges on new estates'

Nearly half of the nature-friendly enhancements promised by developers building homes have failed to materialise, according to a study of almost 6,000 new houses.

Most leave voters now back free movement in pursuit of EU-UK reset

A majority of Britons who voted to leave the EU would now accept a return to free movement in exchange for access to the single market, according to a cross-Europe study that also found a reciprocal desire in member states for closer UK links.

Pianist passes grade 8 seven decades after his last exam

By the age of 88, most of us imagine our exam days are long over. But for Ray Eveleigh, the challenge of taking grade 8 piano was too much to forgo, and he passed with a distinction 67 years after he took grade 7.

Legalisation of cannabis wrong, says Elton John

Sir Elton John has criticised the legalisation of cannabis in parts of North America, saying it was \"one of the greatest mistakes of all time\".