Will the chancellor risk the wrath of 'white van man'?

The prime minister and the chancellor have been asked repeatedly about how various taxes and duties might be changed in the Budget - and they have repeated their refusal to \"write the Budget in advance\". Formally, we will have to wait until Wednesday 30 October to learn the terrible truth, but that hasn't stopped the speculation - some inspired, some less so.

Starmer backs smoking ban as hospitality sector hits out

The government is considering a ban on outdoor smoking in an effort to curb preventable deaths and alleviate pressure on the NHS. The proposal would affect small parks, pub gardens, and areas outside hospitals, nightclubs and sports venues.

'It opens your eyes'

Chris Eubank Jr tells Alex Pattle about becoming a father figure to his late brother's son, and his ambitions to follow his next bout in Riyadh with Middle East 'mega-fights'

Glittering ceremony sets.stage for sporting drama

Just days before Paralympians last gathered for their Winter Games in Beijing, Russian tanks rolled across the border into Ukraine.

Newcastle's forgotten man returns with sublime touch

Newcastle United win 4-3 on penalties

'A podcast mogul? I'll take that as a compliment'

Gary Lineker opens up to Richard Jolly on 'Match of the Day', expanding his Goalhanger media empire and changing his habits on Twitter/X where it's 'a very unpleasant world'

Who can blame the public.for resisting water bill rises?

Customers are being asked to pay for the industry's mess

Thames Water claims bills must rise by nearly 60%

Thames Water has proposed hiking average customer bills by as much as 59 per cent by 2030 in a new business plan for the coming years.

'It's about seeing the gods.as a dysfunctional family'

Jeff Goldblum and Janet McTeer star in a new dynastic saga that reimagines Greek mythology. Nick Hilton talks to them and to screenwriter Charlie Covell about Netflix show 'Kaos'

One ring to bore them all...

The lavish budget for the mirthless rollercoaster that is 'The Rings of Power' season two has been spent unwisely. And why must humour be eschewed at all costs

THE BREADLINE

An artisanal bakery boom is seeing us queue up at dawn and pay a premium for our daily bread but behind this rise lies a story of gentrification, ultra-processed foods and a health divide between the haves and have-nots

MISSING MASCOTS

Ever notice the reduction in illustrated or child-friendly brand icons in shops or fast food chains? Kate Ng asks why once-ubiquitous cartoons seem to have been quietly retired

The prime minister's Brexit 'reset' is not what it seems

Keir Starmer’s mission to Germany ought to be something that arouses hope and optimism about Britain’s fractured relationships with its nearest neighbours – and still by far its largest economic partner – the European Union.

If anyone can secure a US trade deal, it's Mandelson

Peter Mandelson has more lives than a cat.

The real story of Starmer, Reeves and a painful Budget

Although Sir Keir Starmer appeared to lead from the front in his Downing Street rose garden speech setting out the government’s strategy, his fate is not in his own hands.

Family 'in shock' after boy, 4, smashes ancient artefact

A four-year-old child accidentally smashed a Bronze Age jar into pieces at the Hecht Museum in Israel.

Russian Su-35 fighter jet brought down over Ukraine

Ukrainian troops have dramatically downed a Russian fighter jet over eastern Ukraine as an oil depot was set ablaze by a drone strike more than 100 miles away in Russia.

Telegram chief charged for allowing 'criminal activities' on popular messaging app

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been banned from leaving France as authorities put him under official investigation as part of a probe into criminal activity on his messaging app.

Ten Palestinians killed after Israel raids West Bank camp

Palestinian Authority condemns action as 'serious escalation'

Prison teacher charged over 'relationship' with murderer

Instructor accused of misconduct with killer of Zara Aleena

National Portrait Gallery to have its first female director

The National Portrait Gallery has appointed its first ever female director, who has said she is “honoured” to have the opportunity to help write the next chapter in its history.

Two survive as light aircraft crashes on Cotswolds road

This is the moment a light aircraft crashed onto a busy road in the Cotswolds, narrowly avoiding drivers.

Mother stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival might need to have her leg amputated

Cher Maximen is fighting for life in hospital, a court hears

Heatwaves may be affecting bees' ability to smell flowers

Heatwaves are impairing the ability of bumble bees to detect floral scents, posing a serious threat to their role as pollinators, according to a new study.

Baffling baffling baffling

This 'Beetlejuice' sequel has been 36 years in the making... shame it didn't remain a one-off

BBC 'let down' by highprofile scandals, says boss

The BBC director general Tim Davie said the broadcaster has been “let down” by several controversies which have rocked the corporation in recent months and involved high-profile presenters and TV shows.

Who is going to be Britain's next ambassador to the US?

Who will be our next man – or woman – in Washington? The question has been obsessing the Westminster “bubble”, and some interested parties further afield.

Truss secretly called Sunak 'Russhi' for his Putin stance

Liz Truss secretly mocked Rishi Sunak as “Russhi Sunak”, accusing him of not doing enough to oppose Vladimir Putin over the war on Ukraine.

Starmer accused of lacking ambition over Brexit 'reset'

Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for lacking ambition in his bid to reset relations with the EU, after he rejected the idea of free movement for under-30s and rejoining the students’ Erasmus scheme even before talks got underway.

The unbelievable (but true) tale of 'Termite' Watkins

It is hard to invent a boxer like Maurice Termite” Watkins and what he achieved in and out of the ring.