CATEGORIES

Ministers consider non-profit water firms

Water companies in England could be banned from making profits under plans for a complete overhaul of the sector.

MP calls for scrutiny into Bangladeshi ex-minister's property deals

British regulators have been urged by MPs to examine the relationship between London estate agents, lawyers and lenders and a former Bangladeshi government minister under investigation for alleged corruption.

Borrowing at third highest on record for September

The Treasury has said it will need to take difficult decisions in next week's budget after higher debt interest payments and pay awards for public sector workers pushed government borrowing to £16.6bn last monththe third highest September figure on record.

Study shows city parks can reduce global heating health effects

Green spaces in cities play a vital role in reducing illness and deaths caused by climate change, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind.

Fifa refusing to engage on Saudi worries, claims union

Fifa has been accused for a second time of failing to engage with concerns over human rights risks in Saudi Arabia, two months before the Gulf state is expected to be confirmed as a World Cup host.

Ministers pause opening of 44 schools and order review of costs

Ministers have paused plans to open 44 state schools in England, including three sixth form colleges backed by Eton, while they review each school's potential demand and value for money.

Elections official criticises Musk's Michigan voter 'disinformation'

Michigan's top elections official defended the state's elections after Elon Musk repeatedly spread false claims on X about inactive voters.

Reality cheque Lavishing £2m a year on Ferguson while laying off 250 staff leaves a sour taste

Wayne Rooney had stolen the show in a 2-0 Manchester United win. The visit of the Premier League champions to Aberdeen in the summer of 2008 provided the kind of carnival occasion always guaranteed after Alex Ferguson's defining move from Pittodrie to Old Trafford. This particular friendly was to mark the 25th anniversary of Ferguson leading Aberdeen to Cup Winners' Cup glory. Friendly it was ... until post-match media duties.

Game nearing 'crisis point' in schools, new report warns

The Rugby Football Union has been warned it is facing an existential crisis and has been urged to make radical changes in schools rugby to avoid becoming a \"declining minority sport\" that could weaken Steve Borthwick's England side amid a damaging decline in participation.

At-home brain stimulation helps people with depression - study

People with major depression could alleviate their symptoms by self-administering a form of electrical brain stimulation at home, according to a clinical trial of the therapy.

Charles heckled by senator at Australia's parliament

King Charles has been heckled by an Indigenous Australian senator, who called for a treaty and accused the crown of stealing Aboriginal land as the monarch concluded a speech at Parliament House in Canberra.

Italian ministers pass new law to save Albania migrant hub deal

Italy's far-right government has passed a new law to overcome a court ruling that risks blocking the country's deal with Albania aimed at curbing migrant arrivals.

NHS told it can use AI to help detect fractures

Millions of patients in England with suspected broken bones could have their X-rays checked with a £1 artificial intelligence scan to help NHS doctors avoid missing fractures.

Sanofi buyer faces €100m fine if jobs in France are lost

The French government has warned a US private equity firm buying the consumer healthcare arm of the drug-maker Sanofi that it will be penalised more than €100m (£83m) if it does not keep production and jobs in France.

Muted by her minders, KemiKaze leaves stage for Honest Bob to show he's maddest of them all

You can only conclude that some politicians are simply untreatable. Their egotism and self-delusion so deeply ingrained that reality never gets a look-in. I give you Robert Jenrick. Exhibit A. He is a worthy successor to Liz Truss as one of the dimmest solipsists you could hope to meet.

Seoul summons Russian ambassador over North Korean troop deployment

South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador to Seoul to protest \"in the strongest terms\" about the reported dispatch of thousands of North Korean troops to help Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Hurricane Oscar adds to Cuba crisis after massive power cut

Hurricane Oscar has dumped heavy rain across the eastern end of Cuba, adding to a list of woes besetting the Caribbean's biggest island, which was hit at the weekend by a massive power cut.

UK pledges extra £2.26bn for Ukraine to spend on arms

Britain is to lend Ukraine an additional £2.26bn and allow Kyiv to spend the money on weapons to fight off the Russian invasion as part of a wider $50bn (£38.5bn) loan programme expected to be confirmed by G7 members this week.

Ex-Verve singer Ashcroft 'ready to bring it' as Oasis support act

Richard Ashcroft has been named as the support act for Oasis's 2025 reunion tour in the UK and Ireland.

Chaos in India after 90 hoax bomb threats made to airlines

A reported 90 hoax bomb threats have been made against Indian airlines in the past week, provoking international travel chaos as planes were grounded, diverted and flown to safety by fighter jet escorts.

WH Smith to sell vinyl records amid resurgence

The high street retailer WH Smith is to sell vinyl records for the first time in three decades, stocking them in 80 of its shops across the UK.

John Stapleton diagnosed with Parkinson's

The broadcaster John Stapleton has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Disabled fans' survey shines critical light on Uefa care

Uefa's communication with disabled supporters has been widely described as \"non-existent\" in a survey that paints a damning picture of accessibility for fans watching their clubs on European away trips.

House arrest proposals to be considered as part of sentencing overhaul

Judges could get powers to impose a punishment of house arrest on criminals under a comprehensive overhaul of sentences to be launched today.

Microsoft to launch AI 'employees' that can perform business tasks

Microsoft is introducing autonomous artificial intelligence agents, or virtual employees, that can perform tasks such as handling client queries and identifying sales leads, as the tech sector strives to show investors that the AI boom can produce indispensable products.

Arts in Scotland face 'managed decline' with funding shortfalls

Arts leaders in Scotland have warned that the sector is facing \"death by slow cuts\" because of a lack of clarity over funding, with delays and funding shortfalls meaning some large institutions face temporary closure within months.

Conkers champion, 82, cleared of using steel nut to win title

The winner of the World Conker Championships has been cleared of wrongdoing after he was found with a steel nut in his pocket.

Black and Chinese women '80% less likely to be given HRT'

Menopausal women of Chinese and black African backgrounds are about 80% less likely to receive hormone replacement therapy than white women, according to a study.

Ministers to oversee 'dire' HS2 as cost still uncertain

Ministers are to oversee HS2 and have launched a review after the government was unable to ascertain the scale of the ballooning overspend on the long-delayed high-speed rail line.

Frequent returners 'to send back £6.6bn of products'

Shoppers with a habit of returning goods to retailers will send back £1,400 of products each this year, totalling £6.6bn, a UK report has found.