CATEGORIES

Metro Bank fined £17m for failures in money laundering controls

Metro Bank has been fined nearly £17m by the UK's financial watchdog for failings in its money-laundering controls over four years, in a fresh blow to the lender a year on from its near-collapse.

Bluesky, rival to Musk's X, gains 700,000 users after US election

The social media platform Bluesky has picked up more than 700,000 new users in the week since the US election, as users seek to escape misinformation and offensive posts on X.

Job market cools as firms warn of surge in costs after budget

The UK's jobs market has shown further signs of cooling after a rise in unemployment in September while pay growth slowed amid warnings from business leaders that the budget could hit hiring demand and lead to higher prices.

UK can rebuild EU relations while agreeing US trade deal, says economist

The UK can strike a US trade deal with Donald Trump while also rebuilding EU relations after Brexit to cement its status as a \"beacon of stability\" in an increasingly volatile world, a leading economist said yesterday.

Australian man jailed for 'discarding' wife in Sudan

An Australian man who tricked his wife into travelling to Sudan before taking her children and passport back to Australia has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Spain braces for new storms amid protest over flood failures

People in flood-hit Spain stacked sandbags and braced for new storms yesterday as the political repercussions from last month's deadly climate disaster rumbled on.

Plan to save 200-year-old fir from being Vatican's Christmas tree

Environmental activists in Italy's northern Trentino province have started a campaign to stop the felling of a 200-year-old fir tree intended to form the centrepiece of the Vatican's Christmas decorations.

Iran cites 19th-century British map in row over ownership of three strategic islands

Maps drawn up more than 130 years ago on the instruction of the Marquess of Salisbury, the then British foreign secretary, have been cited by Iran in its dispute with the Gulf states over the ownership of three strategic islands at the entrance to the critical strait of Hormuz waterway.

Moscow doctor jailed for alleged comments on war in Ukraine

A Russian court has sentenced a pediatrician in Moscow to five and a half years in prison after the mother of one of her patients publicly denounced her for comments she allegedly made about Russian soldiers in Ukraine during a private consultation.

German government agrees on February date for snap election

Germany is expected to hold a snap election on 23 February after an agreement reached yesterday morning by parliamentary factions from the leading Social Democrats (SPD) and the main conservative opposition CDU/CSU, with the official confirmation by the president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, considered a formality.

Dozens killed as motorist drives car into crowd in China

A motorist killed 35 people and severely injured 43 others when he rammed his car into a crowd exercising outside a sports centre in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, police said yesterday.

Amsterdam Violence result of hooliganism and antisemitism, mayor's report finds

The violence that erupted in Amsterdam last week was sparked by \"a toxic cocktail\" of hooliganism and antisemitism, according to a detailed report published by the city's mayor.

Roles for Rubio and Waltz signal hard Trump stance on Ukraine and China

Donald Trump has chosen a pair of establishment Republicans from Florida for senior roles in his administration as he builds a national security team that looks more hawkish than the isolationist America First brand of foreign policy he has championed in public.

New president to sign flurry of executive orders on first day - top aide

Donald Trump will mark the first day of his return to the White House by signing a spate of executive orders to reinstate signature policies from his first presidency that were revoked by Joe Biden, according to his incoming chief of staff.

Aid groups accuse Israel of ignoring US ultimatum on 'apocalyptic' Gaza

A coalition of international aid organisations has accused Israel of ignoring a US ultimatum that threatened sanctions if Israel did not implement a series of measures to counter the acute humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

From bold statements in Baku to getting ready for Rio, Starmer's keen to rack up the air miles

The fact that Britain had bothered to come to Cop29 proved we were open for business. Somehow, money would come flooding in

UN chief says 2024 has been 'a masterclass in human destruction'

This year has been \"a masterclass in human destruction\", the UN secretary-general has said as he reflected on extreme weather and record temperatures around the world.

Emissions This year due to set another record with 'no sign' of fossil fuel peak

There is \"no sign\" of the transition away from burning fossil fuels that was pledged by the world's nations a year ago, with 2024 on track to set another new record for global carbon emissions.

'I was denied being with her in her last moments'

Families back right for terminally ill people to choose when to die

Fewer than 1,000 people a year may choose to die if bill is passed, MP says

Fewer than 1,000 patients a year in England and Wales are expected to choose assisted dying should the law pass, the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said, as she outlined her bill setting out the legislation.

Woman died during gastric sleeve surgery, inquest hears

A woman died during an operation after travelling to Turkey for slimming surgery, an inquest has heard.

£30 'fart blaster' stars on budget-friendly Christmas toy chart

A \"fart blaster\" with a repertoire of 15 sounds that blasts \"fog fart rings,\" and a waddling mother duck are among the toys destined to appear on Christmas lists as experts predict a \"record-breaking\" year for sales.

Working-class people 'blocked' from arts careers, report finds

Young people from working-class backgrounds are being \"blocked\" from entering the creative industries, which remain \"elitist\" and inaccessible, according to research.

BBC begins search for Lineker's Match of the Day replacement

Speculation about who will replace Gary Lineker as the presenter of Match of the Day began in earnest yesterday after the BBC confirmed the former England striker would step down at the end of the season.

Pants, panting and Des Lynam His MOTD career highlights

No one gave Leicester City a hope of winning the 2015-16 Premier League, apparently including Lineker, who began his playing career with the Foxes in 1978 and remains a loyal fan.

Couple sue mansion's seller for £36m over moth claim

The daughter of a Georgian billionaire and her husband are suing for more than £36m after claiming the London mansion they purchased was \"infested\" by \"millions of moths\", the high court heard.

Curzon cinema chain bought by US owners of Poundstretcher

The British arthouse cinema chain Curzon has been acquired by the US investment firm that owns Poundstretcher and Majestic Wine.

Wild birds still in decline despite nature promise

Wild bird numbers are falling in the UK despite promises by the government to halt nature decline by 2030.

Teenage girl killed by car on M5 shortly after fleeing police vehicle

A teenage girl who was killed by a car while on foot on the M5 had fled a police vehicle before she was struck, it has emerged.

'His Voice will resonate for generations': Frank Auerbach dies aged 93

Frank Auerbach, the artist who arrived in Britain as a Jewish refugee fleeing Hitler's Germany and went on to become one of the most significant figurative painters of the postwar era, has died aged 93.