Sunak's Hopes For 'Bounceback' Fade As UK Economy Flatlines In April

The UK economy flatlined in April, held back by wet weather, as the signs of a recovery from last year's recession began to fade.

Southgate needs Saka but can his body take the strain in Germany?

I's Bukayo Saka a little burned out? After six years of almost always making himself available, is the Arsenal and England No 7 feeling the strain? Like many overplayed youngsters before him, are these the first signs of a player whose body is starting to plead for a rest?

Hazlewood raises run-rate dilemma but the task for England is clear

Struggling holders must beat Oman then Namibiaand hope Australia help them out

Ailing Hodgkinson shows heart from front and hangs on to 800m crown

Briton 'finds way to win' after battling illness and Gajanova to strike gold again in Italy

American dream What will be the real legacy of Cricket World Cup's New York adventure?

The shuttle bus was a squeeze, with more passengers than seats, and now someone needed to get up for the elderly couple who were the last ones on board.

China Policies fail to fix swollen property market

All across China, from Beijing in the north, to Shenzhen in the south, millions of newly built homes stand empty and unwanted.

Guilty as charged? Why Brussels wants to pull Beijing's plug

The EU has told Beijing that it plans to impose new tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles into the trading bloc, potentially triggering a trade war. Here's what's been generating the sparks.

Danish PM still 'not great' after shock of assault in Copenhagen

Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has said she needed time out with her family to recover from the shock of being assaulted on a Copenhagen square last week and is still \"not doing great\".

Lebanon Hezbollah launches salvo after commander killed

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has launched its biggest salvo of rockets at Israel since the war in Gaza began, in retaliation for the killing of a senior field commander, bringing the two sides closer to all-out conflict.

Les Républicains head vows to stay on despite revolt over call for alliance with Le Pen

Éric Ciotti, the leader of France's mainstream rightwing party, Les Républicains, has vowed he will stay in his job despite key members of his party voting unanimously to oust him over his proposed alliance with the far right.

Birmingham building project 'fails residents' on green space

Campaigners are warning that a major development project likely to be approved by Birmingham city council falls far short of the city's own guidelines for open green space.

One year after Nottingham attack, victims' families vow 'relentless pursuit' of justice

The families of the victims of the Nottingham attacks have vowed to take their fight for accountability \"to the next level\" on the one-year anniversary of the killings.

Staunton and Colman call for urgent funding for the arts after 16% drop

Imelda Staunton and Olivia Colman have called on all political parties to urgently invest in the arts as research by Equity suggested funding in the UK has dropped by 16% since 2017.

Bands withdraw from Download festival over Barclays' Israel ties

Multiple bands have pulled out of Download festival over Barclaycard being used as its official payment partner, in protest against Barclays providing financial services to defence companies supplying Israel.

Sunak and Starmer both grilled on broken pledges but PM feels heat on trust

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer both faced derision from voters during a live TV event last night, with the prime minister mocked over his record in No 10 and the Labour leader accused of being a \"political robot\".

"There is no strategy' Conservatives' local campaigns in 'disarray'

The Conservative on-the-ground election campaign is descending into \"disarray\" amid a chronic lack of volunteers and strategy and an increasing sense of panic in formerly ultra-safe seats, insiders and opponents have told the Guardian.

Man, 46, arrested in connection with PPE Medpro investigation

An arrest has been made in connection with the criminal investigation into PPE Medpro, the company that was awarded large government personal protective equipment contracts during the Covid pandemic.

Dire adieu: French pop star Françoise Hardy dies at 80

Françoise Hardy, whose elegance and beautifully lilting voice made her one of France's most successful pop stars, has died aged 80.

Israel and Hamas guilty of war crimes, says UN body

A UN investigation has accused Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on and since 7 October, the date of Hamas's surprise attack on Israel.

Starmer to put economy at heart of manifesto

Keir Starmer will today put economic growth and wealth creation at the heart of Labour's offer as he unveils a business-friendly manifesto targeted at former Conservative voters.

Sunak aide bet on election date before announcement

‘I should have thought how it looks,’ says PM’s private secretary

Butler challenges England to avoid run-rate obsession

Jos Buttler has urged his England players not to get sucked into a state of desperation this week regarding net run-rate as they try to resurrect their T20 World Cup defence from a perilous position.

McIlroy ready for 'boring' plan to end major drought

Rory McIlroy's latest chance at ending his decade-long chase of a fifth major title will launch under the brightest of spotlights after he was grouped with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele for the opening two rounds of the US Open.

Protectionism slowing growth and ingraining poverty, says World Bank

A new era of protectionism is leading to slower global growth and hindering attempts to eradicate poverty, the World Bank has warned.

Tata says Welsh steelworks 'at risk' if £500m in aid delayed

Tata Steel has claimed that steelmaking in south Wales could be \"at significant risk\" if a £500m subsidy package is delayed, after the shadow business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, called for it to restart talks with a potential Labour government.

Trafficked, beaten and raped The price of a rising cocaine habit

Maddalena Chiarenza never knows what state the children will be in when they arrive at her door.

UN: Gaza worst for 'violations' against children

More grave violations against children were committed in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel than anywhere else in the world last year, according to a UN report which is due to be published this week.

Shock and anger as head of France's moderate right signals electoral pact with Le Pen

The leader of France's mainstream right has said he would back an alliance with the far right in the snap legislative elections later this month, shocking opponents and party members and throwing French politics into further disarray.

'He's grown so fast' Man stranded in Turkey by Home Office finally reunited with family

On a scrap of grass behind a red-brick housing estate in Chester, Siyabonga Twala stops to get his breath back as his son Mason dribbles a football past him.

Exclusive London fundraiser rakes in millions for Trump

A fundraiser for Donald Trump in London yesterday, where his eldest son was set to be the star guest, had already clocked up £2m in donations before it began, according to organisers.