Study discovers hidden mechanism behind rapid COVID variants

The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID has the unsettling ability of often generating variants of itself. Other viruses also mutate, but as SARS-CoV-2 quickly spread throughout the entire human population during the pandemic, killing millions, the virus' dynamic evolution posed a serious problem...

David Pecker, former National Enquirer publisher, testifies in Trump hush-money trial

David Pecker, the ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, was the first prosecution witness to appear against Donald Trump on Monday. His friendship with the former president stretches back decades. One ex-employee said that he attempted to model himself on Mr Trump, while prosecutors claim the men formed a “criminal conspiracy” to influence the 201...

NYC TikTok star Eva Evans dies aged 29

Influencer Eva Evans, who became a social media star for her tips about New York, has died at the age of 29. Evans racked up more than 300,000 followers and 13.6 million likes on TikTok alone for her “honest reviews” on everything from makeup to restaurants, and for sharing candid glimpses into her own life in the big city. She also starred in her ...

Peter Kay cancels sold-out Co-op Live Manchester gig with just 24 hours to go

Peter Kay cancels sold-out Co-op Live Manchester gig with just 24 hours to go - Comedian said he was ‘truly gutted’ to be moving dates

North Korea conducts nuclear counterattack exercise, South Korea threatens 'end of regime'

South Korea has issued a warning to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) about the consequences of Pyongyang's potential use of nuclear weapons, according to Yonhap. Nuclear exercises The DPRK conducted its first-ever nuclear counterattack drill led by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The exercises reportedly involved a salvo missile la...

I found out about the Home Office's Rwanda plan a day before I crossed the English Channel

At one point, the boat's motor stopped – so the 37 men, women and children began to cry, scream and pray.

North East deals of the week: key contracts, acquisitions and investments

Companies taking part in this week's round-up include Hines and Olympian Homes, Geowarmth, Grid Smarter Cities, Blackstone, AAP, Red Rover Interactive and Vrai

Mexico's likely next president has a Jewish origin. Is that relevant in a deeply Catholic country?

MEXICO CITY (AP) — By mid-2024, Claudia Sheinbaum will most likely become Mexico’s first female president. She would also be its first leader with a Jewish background in a country that’s home to nearly 100 million Catholics. On June 2, voters will choose a new president, 628 congressmen and thousands of local positions — Mexico’s largest election ever, according to the National Electoral Institute. Sheinbaum, a former mayor of Mexico City and...

Dubai airport chaos: Emirates boss writes open letter after hundreds of thousands passengers stranded

Dubai airport chaos: Emirates boss writes open letter after hundreds of thousands passengers stranded - ‘Our response has been far from perfect’ writes Sir Tim Clark in open letter to passengers

Biden made two important promises in his conversation with Zelenskyy: What Ukraine can expect

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today, on April 22, had a conversation with his American counterpart Joe Biden. They discussed the weapons supplies needed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian president's Telegram page. Biden assured Zelenskyy that he would immediately sign the bill providing assistance to Ukraine upon its approv...

Russian man gets 5 years labour for street interview about Ukraine war

LONDON (Reuters) - A Russian man was sentenced to five years' forced labour on Monday for spreading "deliberately false information" about the army in a street interview with U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in which he talked about the war in Ukraine. The sentence against Yuri Kokhovets, 39, was announced by the Moscow city courts service. RFE/RL journalists had approached him in July

Reporting in India ‘too difficult’ under Modi, says departing Australian journalist

The south-Asia correspondent for Australia’s national broadcaster, Avani Dias, has been forced out of India after her reporting fell foul of the Indian government, in a sign of the increasing pressure on journalists in the country under Narendra Modi. Dias, who has been based in Delhi for the ABC since January 2022, said she felt the government had made it “too difficult” for her to continue to do her job, claiming it blocked her from accessing...

Extreme Right-wing terrorist group Terrorgram to be banned in UK

Terrorgram, an extreme Right-wing terrorist group, is set to become the first online organisation to be banned in the UK. The move would mean support for the group would be illegal, with punishments of up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine. A draft proscription order was laid in Parliament on Monday, and will come into effect on Friday if i...

Russia has up to 25,000 troops trying to storm Chasiv Yar area, Kyiv says

KYIV (Reuters) - Russia has a force of 20,000-25,000 troops trying to storm the eastern Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar and surrounding villages, Ukraine's military said on Monday, describing the situation in the area as difficult. Ukraine has full control of Chasiv Yar, which lies on strategic high ground in the partially-occupied Donetsk region, but Kyiv's top commander has said Russia wants to

Australia PM calls Musk 'arrogant billionaire' after court orders X to hide church stabbing posts

By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian court has ordered X to hide some posts commenting on the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney, deepening a war of words between the social media platform's owner Elon Musk and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Australia's federal court late on Monday granted the country's cyber regulator, the eSafety commissioner, a two-day injunction requiring

Celine Dion addresses touring plans following Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis

Celine Dion addresses touring plans following Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis - The ‘All By Myself’ singer cancelled her world tour in 2023 after revealing she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome

China's ambassador summoned to Foreign Office to be warned against Beijing interfering in British democracy

China's ambassador summoned to Foreign Office to be warned against Beijing interfering in British democracy - The move came after a former parliamentary researcher and a second man were charged with spying for China after a probe by counter-terrorism police

Carlos Sainz admits to ‘uncomfortable’ frustration as ‘sad fact’ realised at Chinese GP

Carlos Sainz says he is feeling "uncomfortable" about his current position, as he bids to find a new employer for 2025...

US Congressman on timing of Ukraine's aid: Sooner than anyone thinks is possible

Ukraine will receive aid from the United States of America sooner than expected, according to the members of the US House of Representatives, Thomas Kane and Bill Keating, who arrived in Kyiv on a visit. According to Kane, a number of people both in the United States and in Ukraine know what the bill provides for and what it allows, including for t...

Columbia University cancels in-person classes to quell pro-Palestine campus protests

The president of Columbia University in New York moved all classes online on Monday in an attempt to calm students after a weekend of pro-Palestine protests. Baroness Shafik, a former Whitehall mandarin and deputy governor of the Bank of England, has intervened in a bitter campus row that has left Jewish students fearing for their safety. Pro-Pales...

Mortgage rate rises announced by five lenders: HSBC, Barclays and NatWest all hiking interest

Five mortgage lenders have announced they are increasing rates in the latest blow to home buyers and anyone looking to remortgage.

Welsh government set to announce changes to 20mph limits

The Welsh government is set to announce changes to the default 20mph speed limit.

Met chief apologises to Stephen Lawrence’s mother over ‘unacceptable’ failure

Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, has apologised to the mother of Stephen Lawrence after failing to keep her updated about a potential new development in the case and said an outside force would assess any fresh evidence. Sir Mark had promised to answer questions stemming from a BBC investigation last year, in which Matthew Whi...

Casemiro reveals Man Utd team-mate played FA Cup semi-final while injured

'I don't know how many injuries we have with different players.'

Indonesia's biggest party confirms President Jokowi no longer a member after backing Prabowo

By Ananda Teresia JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia President Joko Widodo and his son, incoming vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, are no longer members of the country's largest party after they backed rival candidate and election winner Prabowo Subianto, a party official said on Tuesday. Their exit will put the spotlight on the next moves for the popular Jokowi, as the outgoing president is

Inside the ‘sinking belt’ where dozens of cities are falling beneath the sea

Kendji Girac: French singer who won The Voice seriously injured in shooting

Kendji Girac: French singer who won The Voice seriously injured in shooting - The 27-year-old was shot in the chest while visiting Biscarrosse

Zelenskyy and Biden agreed on supply of ATACMS to Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the United States Joe Biden have agreed on the supply of ATACMS, Ukraine's head of state announced this during his evening address. According to Zelenskyy, he discussed with Biden the issue of Ukraine's defense against Russian attacks. In particular, the supply of Patriot air defense systems...

Ford to launch new Mustang variant next year

Firm promises “the best is absolutely yet to come” as it celebrates pony car’s 60th anniversary

WWE Backlash France preview with UK start time for Cody Rhodes' first big test

The huge premium live event in fast approaching.

What the papers say – April 23

What the papers say – April 23 - A variety of stories feature on the front pages of the nation’s newspapers.

Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of April 23

In Ukraine, 86 combat engagements took place in the frontline over the last day. Russia significantly intensified assaults in the Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff. Russian attacks In total, Russia launched 6 missile and 77 air strikes, fired about 100 times from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of Ukr...

Trump called this visa 'very bad' for Americans. Truth Social applied for one

MIAMI (AP) — The social media company founded by former President Donald Trump applied for a business visa program that he sought to restrict during his administration and which many of his allies want him to curtail in a potential second term. Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, filed an application in June 2022 for an H-1B visa for a worker at a $65,000 annual salary, the lowest wage category allowed under the...

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

Five Man City stars ‘to leave’ in mass exodus as Fabrizio Romano denies Arsenal transfer claims

City could wave farewell to up to five of their big-name stars in a summer clearout - but one deal with Arsenal will seemingly not go through

Oil prices drop as tensions ease between Iran and Israel

Oil prices fell on Monday, April 22, due to renewed attention to market fundamentals. The risks of escalation of hostilities in the Middle East have decreased after a minor Israeli strike on Iran, according to Reuters. Brent crude oil futures fell 0.8% to $86.60 per barrel. WTI crude oil futures fell 0.7% to $82.50 per barrel. "Brent crude prices f...

Chris King, US rapper and friend of Justin Bieber, dies after shooting in Nashville

Chris King, US rapper and friend of Justin Bieber, dies after shooting in Nashville - Bieber and Trippie Redd pay tribute to late trap star

Met officer admits mistake on order allegedly breached by Tommy Robinson at march against antisemitism

Met officer admits mistake on order allegedly breached by Tommy Robinson at march against antisemitism - Robinson was arrested at a march against antisemitism near the Royal Courts of Justice in London

Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Aamir Khan file police complaint after being targeted by deepfakes

Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Aamir Khan file police complaint after being targeted by deepfakes - Deepfake videos of actors endorsing political party go viral on social media

Tory researcher charged with spying for China

A second man was also charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act.

Labour MP ‘may have misled’ Parliament with response to Cass Review

A Labour MP admitted on Monday she “may have misled” the House of Commons by quoting a briefing issued by Stonewall in response to the Cass Review. Dawn Butler claimed in a debate last week that “over 100 studies” were excluded from the landmark report into gender identity services by Dr Hilary Cass, a paediatric consultant. But Dr Cass clarified o...

Board of Deputies calls for teaching union to be investigated over anti-Semitism

The UK’s largest Jewish community organisation has called for an investigation into complaints of anti-Semitism at the National Education Union. The Board of Deputies of British Jews demanded action as it claimed the teaching union had become a “hostile” environment for Jewish teachers. It said it has received complaints from members after a Jewish...

Lisandro Martinez shares positive injury update on Instagram

Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez has only managed seven Premier League starts this season and sustained a calf strain in training at the beginning of the month.

Supreme Court will decide whether Trump is immune from federal prosecution. Here’s what’s next

Supreme Court will decide whether Trump is immune from federal prosecution. Here’s what’s next - The court’s decision — whenever it comes — will go a long way in determining a trial date for Trump in one of the four criminal prosecutions that he faces

Rishi Sunak refuses to rule out July election

The preferred date of the next general election is expected to be in Autumn

Huw Edwards resigns from the BBC

Huw Edwards has resigned from the BBC in the wake of a scandal over claims that he allegedly paid a teenager for explicit pictures. The presenter, who delivered the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, was among the highest-paid stars at the BBC. A BBC spokesman said: “Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC. After 40 years of service, Huw h...

Military helicopters collide in Malaysia during training session

Manchester United make decision on sacking Erik ten Hag before FA Cup final

Pundits are expecting United to part ways with the Dutchman.

What is the Israeli Netzah Yehuda battalion accused of?

By Andrew MacAskill JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli leaders said they will fight against sanctions being imposed on any Israeli military units for alleged human rights abuses after media reports said Washington was planning its first sanctions against the country's defence forces. The United States will impose the sanctions on Israel's Netzah Yehuda battalion over its treatment of Palestinians in

Trump’s legal fees eat into his campaign funds as millions more drained from coffers

Trump’s legal fees eat into his campaign funds as millions more drained from coffers - One group that has underwritten many of the former president’s legal fees spent nearly $3.7m last month