CATEGORIES

Dodds quits as minister over cuts to aid budget

Anneliese Dodds, the international development minister, resigned yesterday over Keir Starmer's decision to slash the international aid budget by almost half to pay for an increase in defence spending, warning it could allow Russia and China to increase their global influence.

Rising star Brits hopeful Myles Smith on class, cuts and success

Myles Smith's song Stargazing - a thumping pop-hoedown full of stadium-sized chants and euphoric romance - was one of the biggest hits by a British artist last year, racking up nearly 700m streams on Spotify, spending 40 weeks on the UK chart and breaking the US Top 20.

Give a dam Eager beavers are farmer's best friend whether in drought or flood

Chris Jones, a beef farmer, is proud of his beavers. \"They are just extraordinary,\" he says. Since releasing a couple into an enclosure on his Cornwall farm in 2017, he says they have saved it from drought, prevented flooding in the nearby village, boosted the local economy and even improved oyster beds in Falmouth Bay.

Bond unbound Could 007 face new horror when book copyright ends?

Amazon may have captured James Bond, paying billions to get creative control of the super spy, but a clock is now ticking that means 007 – or at least a version of him – could escape into the wider world in a decade's time.

Cash Isas Many providers fail to adopt more flexible rules

Despite government efforts, many firms won't let savers open a second Isa account in the same tax year. Hilary Osborne reports

The Filter Air fryers tested for crisp and crunch

Like microwaves in the 1980s, air fryers have become kitchen \"disruptors\", offering time-saving convenience and healthier cooking, but with the added allure of easily achieved, mouth-watering crispiness.

They must return to us' Hamas video of unfreed hostages fuels agony

When Hamas brought two captive Israelis to watch Saturday's release of six of their fellow hostages and then beg for their own liberation, it was purposely jabbing at a deeply painful divide in Israeli society.

A complete unknown: is this the most open Oscars race in recent memory?

The red carpet is being vacuumed, the manicurists are working overtime, and across Hollywood, an unprecedented number of acceptance speeches are getting a polish.

You Are Gambling With World War Three' - Trump

US president gives Zelenskyy ultimatum 'to make a deal or we are out' in disastrous summit

Defence talks Starmer to host summit to secure lasting peace for Ukraine

Keir Starmer will hold talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Italy's Giorgia Meloni in Downing Street tomorrow before a major London defence summit aimed at securing \"lasting and enforced\" peace in Ukraine.

Soft scoop Ice-cream seller among pals praying for the pope

When Sebastian Padrón opened his ice-cream parlour around the corner from Pope Francis's home in Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City, his wife, Silvia, came up with a plan to ingratiate him with his fellow Argentinian.

Bank must be cautious over more rate cuts, says deputy governor

Bank of England policymakers must proceed cautiously, like mountaineers, when they cut interest rates over the next few months as inflation risks rise, according to the central bank's deputy governor, Dave Ramsden.

Meta apologises after violent videos flood Instagram feeds

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta apologised yesterday after Instagram users were subjected to a flood of violence, gore, animal abuse and dead bodies on their Reels feeds.

Second US raw pet food recall after more cats catch bird flu

As the bird flu outbreak continues to grow in the US, a second company selling raw pet food has issued a voluntary recall after cats from two households in Oregon contracted H5N1 from tainted meat.

AI firm deepens copyright row by releasing video-making tool

The artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT has launched its video generation tool in the UK amid a row between the tech sector and creative industries over copyright.

Man accused of stealing gold toilet used its 'splendid facilities'

One of the men on trial over the theft of a £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace \"took advantage of its facilities\" the day before it was taken, a court heard yesterday.

Fire and ice Fury at visitors risking lives to see Etna's lava flows

Fire and ice

Glue helps bring rare lichen back to East Anglia

A rare lichen has been reintroduced to its historical habitat of East Anglia with the help of bookbinding glue.

Forget Fabergé... New Yorkers Now Shell Out a Fortune for a Single Egg

What did you do last week? By the middle of this week, more than a million US federal employees—roughly a third of the federal workforce—had tried to reply to that question, sent to them at the weekend by Elon Musk along with the threat that anyone failing to engage could be fired.

Generation exercise 'Change of mindset' as women train to stay stronger for longer

All it the revenge of the middle-class, middle-aged woman. A recent report found that women aged between 40 and 50 are doing more exercise than women half their age.

Macron Calls for Release of Writer on Jail Hunger Strike in Algeria

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has said he is concerned about the \"arbitrary detention\" and the health of Boualem Sansal, days after the French-Algerian author began a hunger strike over his imprisonment in Algeria.

Trump to Make English US's Official Language for the First Time

Donald Trump is planning to sign an executive order that would make English the official language of the US for the first time.

Pharma firm GSK pauses diversity policies in UK, citing Trump's executive orders

The British pharma company GSK has paused diversity targets for UK workers, claiming it is obliged to do so in response to executive orders signed by Donald Trump.

Prisoners could earn credits for early release in US-style changes

Prisoners may have to earn their freedom through \"good behaviour credits\" rather than being automatically released after a set period as part of an overhaul being considered.

Culture secretary intervenes as BBC admits 'flaws' in Gaza film

The culture secretary held an urgent meeting yesterday with Samir Shah, the chair of the BBC, after the corporation apologised for \"serious flaws\" in the making of a documentary about the war in Gaza.

Explainer Key questions for any deal on Ukraine - if one can be struck at all

Will Vladimir Putin abide by any peace deal?

'She did her duty' How the royals are weaponised in the name of politics

How the royals are weaponised in the name of politics

Bank error in your favour? $81tn credited to account by mistake

The US bank Citigroup credited a client's account with $81tn when it meant to send $280 before the \"fat finger\" error was caught.

Constrained options Is there any wiggle room for Reeves?

Rachel Reeves is rapidly running out of wiggle room amid higher borrowing costs, stubborn inflation, a sluggish economy and a promise to find room for billions more in spending on defence.

Beijing warns Taiwan: 'We will come and get you sooner or later'

China's defence ministry spokesperson has warned Taiwan \"we will come and get you sooner or later\", after Taipei announced an expansion of military exercises.