News

Map shows '100-day cough' hotspots as UK cases surge 40% in a week

The highly contagious bacterial disease, also known as whooping cough, has had a major comeback this year.

How Israel and Iran’s April war unfolded

An apparent Israeli attack on Iran has further ratcheted up tensions between the two arch-rivals, whose long-running shadow war has now been dragged firmly into the open. The two nations’ enmity stretches back decades, with the onset of the war in Gaza late last year triggering a pattern of tit-for-tat escalation that threatens yet to spark a wider...

Police open investigation into American Idol star Mandisa’s death aged 47

Police open investigation into American Idol star Mandisa’s death aged 47 - Singer’s cause of death is not yet known

Hit 80s band announces tour and promises to play songs from all 11 albums

Chinese GP: Lando Norris snatches pole as chaos and confusion erupt in the rain in Sprint qualifying

Lando Norris grabs the season's first Sprint qualifying pole position!

Wallabies-eligible England international moves back to Australia

Nic Dolly, the recent England international who is leaving Leicester Tigers at the end of the season, has signed for the Western Force and will be eligible to play for the Wallabies this year. Dolly, 24, will be available for selection in November having won his only England cap against South Africa back in the 2021 autumn Tests. The Western Force ...

Microsoft teases lifelike avatar AI tech but gives no release date

Researchers at Microsoft have revealed a new artificial tool that can create deeply realistic human avatars -- but offered no timetable to make it available to the public, citing concerns about facilitating deep fake content. "It paves the way for real-time engagements with lifelike avatars that emulate human conversational behaviors," researchers said in the post.

‘These birds are telling us something serious is happening’: the fading song of the marsh tit

Richard Broughton has been nosing around this neighbourhood for 22 years. He gossips about inhabitants past and present, reeling off information about their relationship status, openness to visitors, brawls and neighbourly disputes. “They used to have a big punch up in spring here,” he says, pointing out where one family’s territory ends and the next begins. Some areas are eerily quiet, with popular old haunts lying uninhabited. “I always get a...

Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of April 20

In Ukraine, there were 102 combat clashes on the front line over the day. The enemy actively stormed the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on three fronts in the Donetsk region, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russian army attacks Overall, the enemy launched 29 missiles and 67 aerial strikes, as well as conduct...

Birbalsingh tells Braverman to ‘take a hike’ for using her school as a ‘political football’

Katharine Birbalsingh has taken a swipe at former home secretary Suella Braverman and accused her of using her school as a “political football”. The headteacher of Michaela Community School in Brent, north-west London, who is dubbed Britain’s strictest, has hit out at Ms Braverman in the wake of the row over her school’s prayer ban. She won a legal...

Russian war correspondent killed by Ukrainian drone, Izvestia says

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian war correspondent Semyon Eremin, who worked for the Russian daily Izvestia, was killed on Friday in a Ukrainian drone attack in southeastern Ukraine, the newspaper said. Izvestia said Eremin, 42, died of wounds suffered when a Ukrainian drone attacked while he was returning from a trip to a Russian unit in the Zaporizhzhia region. "Izvestia war correspondent Semyon

The only remaining way the Premier League can get the fifth Champions League spot

Manchester United’s quest for European football looks all but dead and buried at this stage of the campaign. Still, those battling for a chance to play

Hunt reportedly mulling stamp duty and NI cuts in effort to woo voters

Stamp duty and national insurance cuts are reportedly being considered by Jeremy Hunt before the next general election. The chancellor has previously hinted there could be another “fiscal event” before voters go to the polls in an attempt to boost the Conservatives’ tax-cutting credentials. The Times reported that the Treasury was considering plans to increase the threshold at which people buying a house would need to pay stamp duty, from...

Some Galaxy phone screens are showing a nasty green line after an update

Some Samsung phones, especially older ones, have been acting up with a green line on the screen after updates.

Allies to assist with air defense and more. Stoltenberg summarizes NATO-Ukraine Council

NATO allies have agreed to help Ukraine strengthen its air defense. Announcements of supplies may be made in the near future, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated during a press conference following the NATO-Ukraine Council. Strengthening air defense According to the Secretary General, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who attende...

Zuber Issa to offload Asda stake as billionaire brothers separate business empire

Zuber Issa is reportedly close to agreeing a deal to offload his 22.5pc share in the retailer to TDR Capital, according to Bloomberg News, which would hand majority control of the chain to the private equity giant. The deal would increase TDR’s holding in Asda by about two-thirds, while the transaction would further dismantle the relationship betwe...

Trump media shares gain as it alerts Nasdaq of 'potential market manipulation'

(Reuters) - Shares of Donald Trump's media and technology company were up more than 3% on Friday after it asked the Nasdaq exchange to help prevent "naked" short-selling in its shares. Trump Media & Technology Group has alerted the CEO of Nasdaq of "potential market manipulation" in its shares, it disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Reports indicate that, as of

Donald Trump will use his weekend reprieve from the courtroom to campaign in North Carolina

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — On a weekend reprieve from the courtroom, former President Donald Trump will campaign Saturday in North Carolina as he juggles legal troubles and his rematch against President Joe Biden. Trump’s evening stop in the coastal city of Wilmington marks his first rally since his criminal hush money trial began this week with jury selection in Manhattan. The occasion offers the former president a fresh chance to amplify claims...

Friday’s White House briefing was unexpected in multiple ways

Friday’s White House briefing was unexpected in multiple ways - From Israel and Iran to the man who set himself on fire outside the Trump trial, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had little to say

Caitlin Clark reportedly expecting seven-figure Nike endorsement deal worth eye-watering amount

Caitlin Clark reportedly expecting seven-figure Nike endorsement deal worth eye-watering amount - Clark was picked by the Indiana Fever during 15 April’s WNBA draft

WhatsApp now chats with users, and it won't leave you on read like your friends

Google who?

Unilever gives up on ‘saving the world’ after ‘virtue-signalling’ backlash

Unilever has abandoned efforts to “save the world” after a backlash from investors over “virtue-signalling” that included giving Hellmann’s mayonnaise a social purpose. The consumer goods giant, which owns Marmite, Dove, Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s, has watered down green targets and scrapped some diversity pledges after investors told it to focus mor...

Trump’s hush money trial opening arguments begin Monday with all 18 jurors and alternates seated

Trump’s hush money trial opening arguments begin Monday with all 18 jurors and alternates seated - Five final alternate seats were filled on Friday, teeing up the first-ever criminal trial of an American president

US to swiftly arm Ukraine following Congress decision: White House

The White House expects that the supply of arms to Ukraine will begin immediately after the US Congress passes a bill to extend funding for aid, according to the White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre during a briefing. When asked how quickly new military aid shipments to Ukraine will begin after Congress's decision, the spokesperson said, "Ri...

Erik ten Hag Hag confirms triple injury boost ahead of FA Cup semi-final

Erik ten Hag spoke to reporters this afternoon to provide an update on the team news ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.

Black undercover police officer beaten up by his own colleagues awarded $23.5m

Black undercover police officer beaten up by his own colleagues awarded $23.5m - Fellow undercover officer told investigators police in riot gear ‘beat the f*** out of [Mr Hall] like Rodney King’

Two detained in Poland over attack on Alexei Navalny aide

Two detained in Poland over attack on Alexei Navalny aide - Leonid Volkov was attacked with a hammer in Lithuania

Former Wales winger Leighton James dies, aged 71

Former Wales winger Leighton James dies, aged 71 - He had three spells at Burnley, helped hometown club Swansea in to the top tier of English football and won 54 caps for his country.

Blast at military base in Iraq

Injuries and "material losses" have been reported after a large explosion at a military base in Iraq.

Arcfox to Zeekr: Every new car at the 2024 Beijing motor show

The electric Mercedes G-Class, BYD's first pick-up and Ora's 395bhp sports saloon are among the headliners

Study finds dysfunction of key brain systems in people with psychosis

Inside the brains of people with psychosis, two key systems are malfunctioning: a "filter" that directs attention toward important external events and internal thoughts, and a "predictor" composed of pathways that anticipate rewards. Dysfunction of these systems makes it difficult to know w...

What the papers say – April 20

What the papers say – April 20 - Here are the biggest news stories impacting Britain this Saturday.

Stabbed Iranian journalist ‘was attacked by Eastern European mercenaries’

Three men who attacked an Iranian journalist outside his London home were mercenaries from Eastern Europe hired by Tehran, investigators believe. Pouria Zeraati, a dissident who works for the London-based Iran International network, was ambushed and stabbed several times as he left for work last month. The broadcaster, who had previously been subje...

Twitter users have been confusing Elon Musk's Grok AI with fake news and it's all rather amusing

You almost feel sorry for it, don't you? Almost.

Hilary Cass says criticism of gender care review ‘inaccurate’ and ‘unforgivable’

Hilary Cass says criticism of gender care review ‘inaccurate’ and ‘unforgivable’ - The 66-year-old healthcare professional fears for her safety in the wake of the report’s publication and subsequent online abuse aimed at her.

Siân Brooke: ‘For a long time, I shied away from roles with my accent’

in which a celebrity reflects on the highs and lows of their life.The 44-year-old English actress Siân Brooke made her debut in American fantasy drama Dinotopia in 2002. Multiple stage roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company followed, alongside smaller TV roles. In 2017, she appeared in hit BBC series Sherlock playing the villainous Eurus Holmes i...

Spurs lining up move for “world-class” £310k-p/w Kulusevski upgrade

Ange appears to be eager to bolster his team with some added firepower.

Tributes as Standard City ace Chris Locke dies at 66

Tributes as Standard City ace Chris Locke dies at 66 - Locke first joined the Evening Standard in 1992 and served a total of 11 editors

Our latest VPN testing results

We're constantly testing the best VPNs, and here are the results of our last round of expert reviews in 2024.

Hunt for 400-year-old ship with £4,000,000,000 of gold just off the UK coast

A Cornish company will spend months looking for the Merchant Royal in a 200 square mile area of the English Channel.

Netflix criticised for ‘ideological’ refusal of Oct 7 documentary

Netflix has been criticised by MPs and peers over its “ideological” refusal to air an Israeli director’s documentary on the Oct 7 attacks. Thirteen parliamentarians have written to the streaming giant after they attended a special screening of Nova, a film by Dan Pe’er, which chronicles the Hamas ambush of a rave party. Out of the 1,200 victims of ...

Russia says it's shot down Ukrainian planes

The Russian Defence Ministry released footage of their military activity

Next Man Utd manager: Ratcliffe rocked as potential Ten Hag successor signs elsewhere

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been dealt a blow as one of the managers tipped to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United has signed elsewhere

Taulupe Faletau’s comeback game ends in disaster as injury strikes again

Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau had his comeback for Cardiff cut short on Friday.

Emma Raducanu’s run at Stuttgart Open ended by world number one Iga Swiatek

Emma Raducanu’s run at Stuttgart Open ended by world number one Iga Swiatek - The 21-year-old Briton had been boosted by winning four successive matches for the first time since her US Open title in 2021.

Russian attacks in Dnipro: Eight dead and at least 25 injured

Eight people were killed and 25 others injured in coordinated attacks on several towns in the Ukrainian region of Dnipro on Friday. The attacks caused considerable damage to infrastructure and buildings.

2024 Chinese Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying results (Shanghai)

Here are the complete results from the Sprint Qualifying session at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix...

Pension funds brace for £30bn hit from Gove leasehold reforms

Pension funds are braced for a hit worth tens of billions of pounds as Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, tries to salvage his ambition of overhauling Britain's centuries-old property leasehold system.

Over 2,100 people forced to evacuate after massive volcanic eruption

People fled their homes as the volcano could cause a tsunami.

Gender report author cannot travel on public transport over safety fears

The paediatrician behind a landmark report into transgender treatment of children has criticised the "disinformation" about her findings as she revealed she avoids travelling on public transport over security fears.