World News
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ASEAN and UK collaborate on £25 million Economic Integration ProgrammeIn a joint effort to bolster economic growth in the ASEAN region, the UK Mission to ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat unveiled the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP) in Jakarta.Read More...
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Foreign Office issues fresh warning for Brits traveling to popular destinationAs British tourists gear up for trips to Indonesia, the Foreign Office has issued a timely update to its travel advice, emphasizing the importance of passport validity. With over 335,209 UKRead More...
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High global food prices expected to stabilize in 2024, predicts Oxford EconomicsOxford Economics forecasts a decline in global food prices this year, signaling potential relief for consumers worldwide who have been grappling with rising food costs.Read More...
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Brits maintain interest in luxury property in PortugalThe United Kingdom continues to lead the pack in searches for luxury homes in Portugal, comprising 11.9% of total international demand at the start of 2024. Following closely behind are theRead More...
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PM Sunak reaffirms UK support for regional stability in call with King Abdullah II of JordanPrime Minister Rishi Sunak engaged in a conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan earlier today, emphasizing the United Kingdom's unwavering commitment to bolstering Jordanian andRead More...
Culture
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Gustav Klimt portrait sells for £25.7 million at Vienna auctionA long-lost portrait by Gustav Klimt, depicting a young woman, fetched a staggering 30 million euros (£25.7 million) at an auction held in Vienna on Wednesday.Read More...
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Rishi Sunak: remembering those lost in terror attackIn his Passover message to the Jewish community, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledges the somber reality that "for too many families, there will be empty seats" at the Seder table thisRead More...
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Co-op Live: Manchester's new arena opens with high capacity and ambitionsA monumental addition to Manchester's entertainment landscape, the new £365m Co-op Live arena is poised to claim the title of the largest indoor arena in the UK. Nestled beside ManchesterRead More...
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Brontë birthplace unveils open day prior to renovationThe birthplace of the renowned Brontë sisters is set to welcome visitors for a special glimpse inside before embarking on a significant refurbishment.Read More...
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Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' smashes Spotify recordTaylor Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," has shattered Spotify's record for the most-streamed album in a single day, the platform has announced. Not only did Swift'sRead More...
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Historic London pub, linked to Royalty, ravaged by fire: a heartbreaking lossA renowned London pub, steeped in history dating back possibly to the 16th century, has suffered extensive damage in a devastating fire. The Burn Bullock, a grade II-listed establishmentRead More...
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Salvator Rosa painting stolen from Oxford, recovered in Romania, and returned to UKA painting valued at EUR 2 million, stolen from an art gallery at Oxford University approximately four years ago, has been recovered in Romania and returned to UK judicial authorities,Read More...
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Plans to demolish former Museum of London site put on pauseA last-minute intervention from Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has halted plans to demolish the former Museum of London site.Read More...
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June’s London Fashion Week returns with fresh conceptThe British Fashion Council has unveiled an innovative approach for the upcoming London Fashion Week in June, aiming to spark a cultural phenomenon. Set to take place fromRead More...
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London's inaugural Taiwanese culture festival explores island's identity and historyLondon's vibrant Notting Hill district is about to experience a taste of Taiwanese culture with the launch of the 16-day Taiwan Festival on Friday, April 12.Read More...
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Soho showcase: The Art of Banksy unveils London's largest collectionThe largest collection of original Banksy artworks is set to make its debut in London's Soho, featuring over 150 pieces from the enigmatic Bristol-based artist. Opening at 100 CharingRead More...
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Taylor Swift joins billionaire elite: a look at the wealthiest of 2024Taylor Swift has ascended to the ranks of the world's wealthiest individuals, marking her debut on the billionaire list alongside luminaries such as Elon Musk. This revelation comes courtesy of aRead More...
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JK Rowling challenges police to "arrest her" amid Twitter controversy surrounding Scotland's Hate Crime ActThe Hate Crime and Public Order Act has officially taken effect in Scotland, sparking a fiery debate over free speech and expression. At the center of this controversy is renowned authorRead More...
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Sport
Police in London are investigating allegations that a young tennis player was poisoned while competing at this year's Wimbledon, a British newspaper reported on Thursday.
Gabriella Taylor, 18, withdrew from the Girls' Singles competition in July and spent four days in intensive care.
Police are now investigating whether she was deliberately poisoned, The Telegraph newspaper said.
Taylor was reportedly diagnosed with Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread by animals.
British Paralympic sprint star Jonnie Peacock will defend his 100m title in the Paralympics in Rio after he gained selection for the team on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old -- one of 41 athletes to be added to the 13 selected in June -- said he would face some stiff opposition but was ready to show his amazing performance in London was not a one-off.
He said there would be some 'incredibly fast times in Rio' but he is primed to 'give a performance to be proud of'.
Peacock is part of a strong team, which also includes legend David Weir, who won four Paralympic titles in London, and Libby Clegg, who is fresh from breaking the 200m world record at last weekend's IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final.
Chelsea on Saturday announced the signing of Leicester City's all-action defensive midfielder N'Golo Kante on a five-year deal to become new boss Antonio Conte's second capture of the summer.
The fee for the French international was about £32 million (38 million euros, $42 million), British media said, and comes after Chelsea snapped up Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi from Marseille for a similar fee.
Kante's move to London will bolster a side that failed miserably in its defence last season of the Premier League title, but represents a blow to reigning champions Leicester as they battle to keep together the side that shocked world football.
"I am so happy to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It?s a dream come true for me," the 25-year-old Kante told Chelsea's website.
"The opportunity to work with Antonio Conte, a brilliant coach, and some of the best players in the world was simply too good to turn down."
Crystal Palace have signed England international winger Andros Townsend from Newcastle for a club record £13 million ($17m, 15.5m euros), the Premier League club confirmed on Friday.
The 24-year-old has agreed a five-year contract with his transfer coming on the same day that striker Dwight Gayle moved in the opposite direction.
Newcastle United snapped up goalkeeper Matz Sels for a reported fee of £4.5 million (5.4 million euros) from Belgian side Gent on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old, voted goalkeeper of the year last season in Belgium, signed a five-year contract and becomes Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez’s first summer signing, as the Spaniard looks to freshen up his squad after relegation from the Premier League.
“I am really pleased to welcome Matz to the club,” Benitez said. “He’s a fantastic goalkeeper and many top clubs have been interested in signing him.
“Obviously we have injuries to Tim Krul and Rob Elliot which could be difficult for us in the first part of the season so it was important to strengthen in this area to be sure we can make a strong start in the Championship.”
Sels joined Gent from Lierse in January 2014 and made 106 appearances in all competitions for the club.
The three-day sale of memorabilia belonging to world football icon Pele ended in London on Thursday with the artefacts sold for the princely total of £3.4million ($5million, 4.4million euros).
The final day of the sale -- held in London but under the banner of Los Angeles based auction house Julien's -- was lit up by the sale of the 75-year-old Brazilian's third and final World Cup winners medal from 1970 which fetched £346,000.
To put that price into context, the ones from 1958, when he was just a teenager, and 1962 had sold collectively on Wednesday for £340,000.
"It was a white glove auction where 100% of all the lots sold," Darren Julien, Chief Executive of Julien's auctions told AFP.
Julien's had extra reason to be happy as they had placed an original total estimate of £3million on the memorabilia.
Another Pele item to make big money on Thursday was his 1000th game crown which eventually went for £162,000.
England captain Alastair Cook said on Wednesday he wants all cricketers found guilty of match-fixing to be banned for life, but that he would be prepared to face Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir.
Left-arm quick Amir is in line for a Test return -- having already made his comeback in white-ball international cricket -- in the series opener against England at Lord’s next month.
It was during a Lord’s Test against England six years ago that Amir and two Pakistan team-mates were involved in the deliberate bowling of no-balls -- the trio having been lured into a newspaper ‘sting’ operation to demonstrate their willingness to take part in spot-fixing.
A teenager at the time and one of world cricket’s undoubted rising stars, Amir was sent to jail by an English court and banned from all cricket worldwide for five years.
The three-day sale of more than 2,000 items from world football icon Pele’s personal memorabilia kicked off on Tuesday, with shirts, souvenirs and medals all going under the hammer.
The Brazil legend’s collection of items from his extraordinary career, being sold in London by Los Angeles-based Julien’s Auctions, is expected to fetch some £3 million ($4.4 million, 3.8 million euros).
The 75-year-old is the only player to have won the World Cup three times and the standout item is a replica awarded to him of the Jules Rimet winners’ trophy, which is estimated to fetch up to £410,000.
His World Cup winners’ medals from 1958, 1962 and 1970 are expected to net up to £140,000 each.
The sale began Tuesday with a yellow 2015 Brazil national football team jersey presented to Pele, bearing his name and the number 10 on the back.
It sold for £725, surpassing its estimate of £280 to £420.
Gareth Bale believes Wales have it in them to cause an upset at the forthcoming European Championship in France by topping a group that also includes England.
The main aim for Wales, appearing in their first major tournament finals since the 1958 World Cup, will be to get out of a group that also includes Slovakia and Russia and into the knockout stage.
But Real Madrid star Bale, set to feature in Wales’ final warm-up match against Sweden in Stockholm on Sunday, wants the team to aim higher.
“We’re not going there just to make up the numbers,” Bale told a BBC Wales documentary entitled, “Gareth Bale: Euro Star.”
“We want to win every game that we play, we want to win the group and give ourselves the best chance.
“No matter who we play we feel confident in our abilities we can win.
Manchester United were locked in a second day of talks with Jose Mourinho’s agents on Wednesday, hammering out a deal to sweep the controversial Portuguese boss into Old Trafford.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager has agreed personal terms on a three-year deal with a likely annual salary of at least £10 million ($15 million, 13 million euros) but issues remain over image rights, Sky News television reported.
Chelsea still own Mourinho’s image rights, despite his sacking last year, and the two clubs were reported to be locked in negotiations that could see United paying their rivals millions of pounds, according to press reports.
The 53-year-old is mulling a bid for Zlatan Ibrahimovic as one of his first moves in the job, according to media reports, after the star Sweden striker played his final game for French champions Paris Saint-Germain last week.