CATEGORIES

Jail staff sacked over messages mocking suicide of prisoner

Two prison officers have been dismissed for joking about an inmate's suicide on a WhatsApp group in a string of abusive messages made just hours after his death.

Drugs, fans, Jackie O... 10 things we learned from Al Pacino's memoir

When Penguin bought the rights to Al Pacino's memoir in 2022 for $5m, it raised questions about the true Value of Hollywood celebrity autobiography at a time when most stars happily spill sanctioned life highlights for free on social media.

Inquiry into whether 'race science' group accessed genetic data

Concerns have been raised about access to a scientific repository of the genetic data and medical records of more than 500,000 people, after an investigation revealed that \"race scientists\" appeared to claim to have obtained the data.

Indo-Pacific Starmer will boost military presence to counter China

The UK will increase its military and economic presence in the Indo-Pacific to support regional stability, Keir Starmer will announce today.

Commons MPs divided over reform of working hours to aid parents

MPs tasked with modernising parliament are divided over family-friendly hours, with some lobbying for shorter days to return home to children and others hoping for shorter periods away from their constituencies.

Home Office carries on demanding fees unlawfully charged for language tests

Thousands of people applying for visas in the UK have been unlawfully charged for language tests, the government has disclosed, but the Home Office is continuing to demand the fees because it needs the money.

Road pricing Will the chancellor grasp the nettle to make up for lost fuel duty?

While the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, grapples with the parlous £40bn funding gap in Britain's finances, another £25bn of annual revenue is revving up to disappear into the sunset.

A defining moment Labour MPs fear tough budget will bring new set of problems

When Rachel Reeves stands up in the Commons on Wednesday, her budget will end months of speculation, allowing the government to fully set out what it stands for. And that, some Labour MPs fear, could herald a whole new set of problems.

What is a working person? Maybe we will find out by the time the chancellor sits down

It is a phrase that crops up 21 times in the Labour manifesto, 12 times in the Conservative manifesto and has been used in the House of Commons more than 3,500 times in the past decade. So, surely everyone knows what \"working people\" are - don't they?

Mescal reveals he was cast in Gladiator II after a Zoom call

The Irish actor Paul Mescal has revealed he was cast in Gladiator II after a 30-minute Zoom call.

Author offers seaside cottage to working writers for free retreats

On the wall of a Ramsgate house owned by the Booker winner Bernardine Evaristo hangs a large-scale cover of Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own. It might just as well read \"A Cottage of One's Own\", as that is precisely what the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) president is offering.

Mirren: 'It's sad Cobain died before he could experience GPS tracking'

The actor Helen Mirren has lamented that the Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain did not live long enough to be able to experience the excitement of tracking his location on his phone.

Man jailed for pet scam blackmailed victim again days after early release

A man who was let out of prison under the government's early release scheme, after being jailed for blackmailing people over their missing pets, went on to blackmail one of his previous victims within a fortnight of being freed.

Artisan cheesemakers in shock over £300,000 scam

The close-knit community of artisan cheesemakers has been dealt a blow by fraudsters who have stolen more than £300,000 worth of award-winning, clothbound cheddar in a sophisticated scam.

Catfisher who abused 70 young girls in 'horrif1c' case given life sentence

A man from Northern Ireland who abused at least 70 children online and drove one to suicide was sentenced to life in jail yesterday with a minimum term of 20 years in a \"horrific\" case that has caused 'catastrophic damage,' to young girls all over the world.

Surface water found to help oceans absorb carbon dioxide

A sliver of cool surface water less than 2mm deep helps oceans absorb carbon dioxide, a British-led team of scientists has established after spending months in the Atlantic measuring gas and temperature levels.

MPs push for clarity from Starmer on reparations for slave trade

Labour MPs have urged Keir Starmer to clarify his government's position on non-cash reparations for Britain's historical role in the slave trade, as No 10 says the issue is off the table.

Robinson charged under Terrorism Act on eve of far-right protest in London

The far-right leader Tommy Robinson has been charged under the Terrorism Act and is being held in custody before a planned march of his supporters amid fears of a repeat of violence that erupted when he was imprisoned in 2018.

One's company, two's a crowd: why solo dining is on the up

People eating alone might once have been met with curious, pitiful looks from staff and fellow diners.

Kate Bush wish to make new music as short film is released

Kate Bush said yesterday she was \"very keen\" to make a new album, adding: \"I've got lots of ideas...it's been a long time.\"

Astronauts back on Earth after eight months on ISS

Four astronauts have returned to Earth after a nearly eight-month space station stay extended by technological problems and weather.

Musk has been in regular contact with Putin for two years, claims report

Elon Musk, the world's richest man who is now central to Donald Trump's election campaign, has been in regular contact with Vladimir Putin for the past two years, according to a report in the US.

Budget to make a million poor households better off

Change to universal credit will bring extra £420 a year to poorest families

Awkward Test surface 'can only get worse', Smith warns

England's Jamie Smith said the third Test against Pakistan, and with it the series, \"will be decided by small margins\" on a wicket that has already troubled batters and promises worse to come.

Firefighting knock shows why England believe they have a keeper upgrade

The cojoined cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are pretty contrasting places.

Late wickets provide hope for tourists after Smith leads rally

From the sport that once brought you leg theory, this was more like chaos theory.

Richarlison takes charge from spot to keep up Tottenham's perfect start

This was a long way from Tottenham's most cohesive performance of the season but perhaps Ange Postecoglou can file away this narrow win over AZ Alkmaar as one of those nights when the result mattered most.

United pegged back after dazzling double save from Onana

It just had to be about him. Almost six years after being sacked by Manchester United, José Mourinho was shown a red card against his former employers for protesting when he thought his Fenerbahce side should have been awarded a penalty.

Gunners blazing - Send in the clown emojis: the dangers of discussing an Arsenal red card

Another week, another well-received podcast. Geoff: the Guardian stopped caring about actual journalism a long time ago.

Hong Kong celebrates its first dinosaur fossil discovery

Hong Kong officials say they have discovered dinosaur fossils in the city for the first time, on a remote uninhabited island.