Politics

France’s seizure of villa belonging to Putin’s ex ‘illegal’

The Kremlin has condemned the seizure of a £7.6m palatial French villa linked to Vladimir Putin’s ex wife as “illegal”. Nicknamed Suzanna, the palatial, art deco home was purchased for €5.4 million in 2013, with renovations totalling up to €3.5 million, according to French media. The villa, 300m from the beach, is reported to be owned by a real est...

I’m choosing the Nintendo Switch 2 over PS5 Pro — here’s why

The Nintendo Switch 2 won't beat PS5 Pro on power and I'm okay with that.

Pregnant woman evacuated from Disney cruise ship

A pregnant woman was evacuated from a Disney ship after experiencing health complications while the ship was in transit.

'Unusual' beaver die-off in Utah caused by 'rabbit fever,' which can also infect humans

At least nine beavers and a vole have been found dead in Utah after an unusual outbreak of tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, which can infect and kill humans, cats and dogs. Experts warn people to be wary of ticks, which can transmit the disease across species.

Windows of plane used by King Charles fell out mid-flight after the frames were melted by lights

Windows of plane used by King Charles fell out mid-flight after the frames were melted by lights - A loud noise was heard shortly after take-off when the aircraft was at 14,000ft

Further spike in driver Shanghai concerns after shock painted track reveal

The Shanghai International Circuit has been painted ahead of the first Chinese GP in five years.

Netflix shares sink as company announces halt in reporting subscriber tally, weak outlook

Shares of Netflix took a sharp tumble of about 5 per cent as the market closed, spurred by the streaming video pionaeer's decision to cease disclosing subscriber numbers and prioritise viewer engagement metrics.

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!

Bitcoin slides below $60,000 on reports Israel strikes Iran

(Reuters) - Cryptocurrencies fell heavily and bitcoin broke below $60,000 on Friday in a rush out of risky assets following reports of an Israeli missile strike on Iran. Bitcoin slid more than 5.5% to $59,961 in the Asia session as the U.S. dollar rose broadly. Ether fell by a similar margin, dropping below the $3,000 barrier to $2,895. Israeli missiles hit a site in Iran, ABC News reported,

Four men arrested after nationwide people smuggling raids

Four men arrested after nationwide people smuggling raids - The men were detained after Home Office teams carried out dawn raids at addresses across the country on Wednesday.

Walls collapse at Copenhagen's blaze-hit Old Stock Exchange

By Tom Little and Louise Rasmussen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Large parts of the outer walls of Denmark's landmark 400-year-old stock exchange building collapsed on Thursday afternoon, two days after a fire ripped through the historic structure. There was a loud bang as the brickwork came down and a cloud of ash enveloped the building. "The thing we feared has happened," Copenhagen fire department

‘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...

Fernando Alonso made Aston Martin decision ‘with gun to his head’ amid Mercedes offer – report

Did Fernando Alonso receive a Mercedes offer before being pushed into signing a new Aston Martin contract?

‘An absolute disgrace’: decision to scrap FA Cup replays met with fury

New changes to the format of the FA Cup, including an end to replays and the final being played during the league season, have been met with strong criticism with the decision-making process described as an “absolute disgrace”. Replays are to be dropped from the first round onwards from next season and the final moved to the penultimate weekend of the Premier League campaign, as part of a deal agreed between the FA and Premier League. Mark...

Signs twinning seaside town with Israeli city removed

Signs twinning an Israeli city with a British seaside town have been removed. There were four signs on the outskirts of Bournemouth, Dorset recognising one of its twin cities – Netanya in Israel. But the signs have now been taken down by an unknown person, sparking uproar in the coastal resort. Anne Filer, the town’s Jewish mayor, said she was “ver...

London Covid booster programme to launch on Monday as 800,000 people urged to get jab

London Covid booster programme to launch on Monday as 800,000 people urged to get jab - People aged over 75 or with a weak immune system urged to come forward

Former senior civil servant accused officials behind small boats policy of 'harbouring racist views'

A former senior civil servant criticised some of the policymakers behind the illegal migration bill, accusing them of "harbouring racist views" about immigrants, it has emerged.

Secrets of Winchcombe meteorite’s brutal space journey revealed in new analysis

The space rock was repeatedly smashed apart and rebuilt in a violent odyssey that lasted millions of years.

Two female BP execs to leave in first reshuffle since Looney stepped down

Leigh-Ann Russell (pictured), chief technology officer, is departing after 18 years while Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath will stand down after just two years.

Chelsea star worth €35-40m tells club he wishes to leave this summer

Chelsea fans want him to stay...

Japanese doctors demand damages from Google over ‘groundless’ reviews

The medics want to highlight the potential dangers of unpoliced technology.

Emma Raducanu continues stunning form on clay with emphatic win against Linda Noskova

Emma Raducanu continued her comeback to tour-level tennis in fine fashion after securing a fourth straight win – the first time she has achieved such a feat since her 2021 US Open triumph – to move into the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open. The Briton played some of her finest tennis in recent years as she powered past Czech sensation Linda Nos...

What the papers say – April 19

What the papers say – April 19 - A variety of stories feature on the front pages of the nation’s papers on Friday.

Philanthropist Julia Rausing dies aged 63

Philanthropist Julia Rausing dies aged 63 - In a statement, her family said: ‘She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy across many charities which we will continue in her name.’

Mental health sicknotes to be harder to get as PM tries to cut £69bn benefits bill

GPs could no longer be responsible for issuing fit notes, under the proposals, with it instead falling to occupational health specialists to make the call

Graham Linehan launches social media campaign to get his stalled Father Ted musical on stage

Graham Linehan launches social media campaign to get his stalled Father Ted musical on stage - The writer claims he turned down an offer of £200,000 to take his name off the planned stage version of the hit TV show

Post Office was urged by external lawyers to ‘suppress’ key document, inquiry hears

The Post Office was urged by its external law firm to “try and suppress” disclosure of a key document for “as long as possible” as branch owner-operators tried to mount legal action against the state-owned postal company, a public inquiry has heard. Rodric Williams, a senior in-house lawyer at the Post Office giving evidence to the inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal, was asked about an email sent to him in which it was suggested that his...

France announces ‘surge of authority’ against student violence hours before schoolgirls stabbed

Gabriel Attal, the French prime minister, announced measures on Thursday to crack down on teenage violence hours before two girls were stabbed outside their school. The French government is targeting violence in and around schools as it seeks to regain ground lost to the far-right on security issues two months ahead of European elections. Sixth for...

All 12 jurors finally selected in Trump hush money trial

A full jury has been selected for Donald Trump’s hush money case after the dismissal of two jurors threatened to delay the start of the trial. Seven members had been selected earlier this week, but were whittled down to five as the case resumed on Thursday. One woman raised concerns that she could be identified from media reports, while prosecutors...

Shakhtar Donetsk admit plans to sell £60m-rated Manchester United target

Manchester United are one of several clubs reportedly interested in signing Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov. According to the Standard, United are one of four Premier League clubs monitoring the playmaker ahead of a potential transfer in the summer.

Arrest over Russian plot to assassinate Volodymyr Zelensky

A man suspected of aiding a plot by Russian intelligence services to assassinate Volodymyr Zelensky has been arrested in Poland. The Polish national, named only as Pawel K, is suspected of supplying information to Russian military intelligence to help Russian special forces plan an attempt on the Ukrainian president’s life, Polish prosecutors said....

Four players Arsenal are ready to sell after Champions League exit

Eddie Nketiah could be sacrificed.

US ‘most wanted’ fugitive captured by Italian police in Rome

US ‘most wanted’ fugitive captured by Italian police in Rome - Moises Tejada, 54, was picked up in St Peter’s Square near the Vatican last week, and found to be carrying three concealed knives

'Blasts' shown over Iran in IRGC video

Footage, which Sky News cannot independently verify, surfaced on Telegram appearing to show blasts of light over Isfahan in Iran

Inside the secretive crime platform at the centre of cyber scams

Charity watchdog investigates woman over possible pro-Hamas news network funding

The Charity Commission said it had launched an inquiry into Aozma Sultana, who was sanctioned by the UK and US governments last month.

Liz Truss's book in breach of rules in place on minister's memoirs

Liz Truss's memoir broke the rules in place for ministers publishing works about their time in office.

West Ham player ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen: Michail Antonio bullies defence with Mohammed Kudus a huge threat

West Ham player ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen: Michail Antonio bullies defence with Mohammed Kudus a huge threat - The Hammers gave Leverkusen a huge scare at the London Stadium

'Bitcoin halving' is coming. So what is it all about?

As the clock ticks down towards the next "bitcoin halving" – an event coded into the cryptocurrency's algorithm to slow down the introduction of new coins into circulation – we take a deep dive into the history of bitcoin and the blockchain technology powering it. Plus, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro remains defiant after the US decision to reimpose sanctions on his country's oil sector.

UK passengers hit by flight disruption due to flooding at Dubai airport

UK passengers hit by flight disruption due to flooding at Dubai airport - Emirates has cancelled seven flights between the United Arab Emirates airport and the UK, with British Airways diverting or axing four.

Liverpool abandon Sporting CP pursuit in favour of better option to kickstart new era

The Reds have switched their attention away from the Sporting CP man, knowing the importance of the position they're looking to fill

Stocks sink, oil surges on reports of Middle East attacks

By Kevin Buckland TOKYO (Reuters) -Asian shares and bond yields sank on Friday while safe-haven currencies, gold and crude oil jumped after reports of a sharp escalation in Middle East hostilities. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares dived 2.3% and U.S. stock futures pointed 1.5% lower following media reports Israeli missiles had hit a site in Iran. U.S. long-term Treasury yields

Prosecution of woman for climate trial sign not in public interest, court told

The prosecution of a woman for contempt of court for holding a sign reminding juries of their rights is not in the public interest, the high court has been told. During a hearing on Thursday, the court heard arguments for and against an attempt by the solicitor general to bring a case against Trudi Warner, 69, who was charged last year for holding a sign – outside the trial of climate activists – reminding juries of their right to acquit a...

Peter Murrell re-arrested in SNP finances probe

Peter Murrell re-arrested in SNP finances probe - The former SNP chief executive was initially arrested and released without charge in April 2023.

How Britain’s worklessness crisis has spiralled

It was in the cafe of a leisure centre in Barking, east London, last month that the Work and Pensions Secretary attempted to shatter the big taboo about Britain’s worklessness crisis. Sitting at a table overlooking a windswept park, Mel Stride told The Telegraph that mental health culture had “gone too far”. The intervention was a calculated risk f...

Longest Covid infection recorded at 613 days

The virus mutated around 50 times during the 613-day period

Britain's Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a US resident

Britain's Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a US resident - Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident

Drone captures aftermath of powerful tornado in Ohio

Several tornadoes touched down in Ohio, USA, on Wednesday. With peak winds of 110mph, the severe storm downed trees and power lines, and caused extensive damage to homes. The National Weather Service confirmed that at least five tornadoes touched down in several counties. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported.

China opens new air routes near Taiwanese islands

TAIPEI (Reuters) -China's aviation regulator said on Friday it had opened new air routes to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Fuzhou with flight paths situated very close to the Taiwan-controlled islands of Kinmen and Matsu, in a move likely to anger Taipei. Taiwan's government expressed anger in January after China "unilaterally" changed a flight path called M503 close to the sensitive median

Netanyahu has done what the world warned him not to

Israel’s strike on Iran on Friday morning will not come as a surprise to Western observers – but it will cause great concern in Washington and London as the region tips closer towards an all-out war. Following Iran’s attack on Israel on April 13, itself a response to an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate, Israel was clear a response would be re...