CATEGORIES

Sex workers win employment rights in world first for Belgium

Belgian sex workers have gained the right to sick days, maternity pay and pension rights under the first law of its kind in the world.

Snake in a car slithers up leg of woman driving on motorway

An Australian woman who was driving along a motorway and looked down to see one of the world's most venomous snakes \"slithering up her leg,\" had a remarkable escape after weaving through traffic and leaping out of her car, police said.

'China's answer to Barbie': feminist movie Her Story on track to be year's biggest hit

It has been described as China's answer to Barbie: a film about women, directed by a woman, that examines the female experience with a cast of female leads.

Kash Patel, Trump pick for FBI director, could face Senate blowback

Donald Trump's plan to nominate as FBI director the \"deep state\" conspiracy theorist Kash Patel, a virulent critic of the bureau who has threatened to fire its top echelons and shut down its headquarters, is facing blowback in Congress as US senators begin to flex their muscles ahead of a contentious confirmation process.

VW workers in Germany to strike over jobs dispute

Workers at Volkswagen factories in Germany will strike from today over the carmaker's plans to lay off thousands of people, cut pay and close plants for the first time in its home country.

EU's new diplomat Scrutiny of Kallas's stance on conflict in Middle East

It was no surprise that Kaja Kallas went to Ukraine on her first day as the EU's chief diplomat.

Unrwa suspends aid deliveries through main Gaza route after armed gangs attack convoy

The UN's agency for Palestinian refugees has suspended aid deliveries through the main lifeline for Gaza after a fresh attack by armed gangs on a convoy, amid a severe food crisis caused by more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Woman left traumatised by Terrorism Act arrest after daughter's protest

A woman has said she was left traumatised after being arrested under the Terrorism Act and held incommunicado for five days because her daughter was allegedly involved in action against an Israeli arms firm.

Reform UK 'bullish' as polls point to Scottish success

Reform UK is celebrating \"an extraordinary sense of momentum\" in Scotland, as the UK's top polling expert predicts the populist-right party could end up deciding the next Holyrood government.

Labour blames weather for surge in small boat arrivals

Small boat arrivals have risen to more than 20,000 since Keir Starmer took power, with the Home Office claiming a record number of calm autumnal days in the Channel was responsible.

'The future looks bleak' Fears climate crisis will create first ghost town

In the aftermath of its latest flood, the town centre of Tenbury Wells was a scene of chaos.

All I want for Christmas is UPFs: why nutritional experts overindulge too

From mince pies to pigs in blankets, Christmas is a time for indulgence often on ultra-processed foods.

Haigh's exit dealt with fast in contrast to Conservatives, minister says

Decisions over Louise Haigh's future were \"dealt with very quickly\" and marked a \"big contrast\" to how issues were handled under Conservative governments, a cabinet minister said yesterday.

Explained The bill has passed its first hurdle but what could change?

The backing of the assisted dying bill by the House of Commons was a historic moment for England and Wales but just the first step in a long process.

'It's a mess' Assisted dying debate brings critical state of palliative care into focus

During last Friday's debate in the House of Commons on assisted dying, Wes Streeting was seen ferociously nodding as MPs raised the need for better end-of-life care.

Putin may have ordered Salisbury attack to hide allegations against him

Vladimir Putin may have ordered the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal because the former Russian spy had secret information about the president's \"criminal embezzlement\", the UK government believes.

Timeline Allegations against MasterChef presenter

Gregg Wallace faces a series of claims. Here are some that have emerged in the last four days.

Complaints of poor public services soar

Complaints about public services have soared by more than a third since 2016 with substantial jumps concerning benefits, prisons, the NHS and higher education, according to a leading cross-party thinktank.

Cladding on high-rises to be fixed by 2029 - Rayner

Dangerous cladding on all high-rise buildings in government-funded schemes in England will be fixed by the end of 2029, Angela Rayner has pledged.

Canny timing by the militants has taken advantage of Russian and Iranian distraction

It was not Kyiv that fell in three days, but Aleppo. A surprise offensive launched by Syrian rebels from the north-west of the country last week has reignited a dormant conflict - and revealed a change in the balance of power caused not by one but two nearby wars, in Ukraine and Lebanon and the Middle East.

'We felt completely lost'

City left reeling after Islamists seize control in surprise offensive

'A fairytale space': ancient oak reborn as huge single-tree table

A community in Devon has raised more than £22,000 to turn a 500-year-old oak tree into what they believe will be the longest table ever crafted from a single English oak.

Police investigating alleged Groucho Club assault hold man, 34, on suspicion of rape

A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape as part of an investigation into an alleged sexual attack at the Groucho Club in central London.

Ruling Social Democrats likely to win Romanian elections

Romania's main centre-left party was on track to finish first in parliamentary elections, according to early exit polls last night, seemingly beating an advancing far right boosted by the shock victory of an ultranationalist in last week's presidential first-round ballot.

Irish Greens fall from junior coalition partner to virtual wipeout in election

The Green party in Ireland is facing virtual wipeout in the general election, with its leader last night admitting it is entering a period of \"rebuild\" after the electorate removed any prospect of the party re-entering government.

'You're a slut': Dench reveals parrot's pet name for her

She has been hailed as a national treasure, the queen of stage and screen. But Dame Judi Dench has revealed that her pet parrot has a rather less polite name for her: \"Slut.\"

Greenland divided as direct flights from US usher in new era of tourism

The capital's new airport has been opened, two more are in the making, and expectations are high: the Americans are coming to Greenland.

Many unable to access eVisas to prove right to be in UK

The Home Office has admitted that many people who have the right to live and work in the UK cannot access their eVisas and provide proof they are allowed to be in the country.

UK firms' expectations for growth take 'decisive turn for worse', CBI says

Growth expectations among UK companies have taken \"a decisive turn for the worse\" in a fresh blow to Rachel Reeves amid warnings that business confidence has plummeted since the budget.

Outrage over Wallace's 'middle-class women' jibe

Fury over Gregg Wallace's alleged conduct has intensified after he dismissed his accusers as \"middle-class women of a certain age\" after revelations of multiple complaints made to the BBC over 12 years.