Women’s Six Nations guide
The Women’s Six Nations gets under way on Saturday, 11 April with world champions England bidding for an eighth successive title and a fifth consecutive Grand Slam. The Red Roses will return to Allianz Stadium for the first time since beating Canada in September’s World Cup final, when they start
‘Two weeks will make such a difference’: UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave
When Erin Sharkey had miscarriages, they brought devastation and uncertainty – not least when it came to her and her partner deciding how much time they should take off work to help to process their loss. But now, for her and others in Northern Ireland, there is an answer in
Trump says Iran’s handling of Strait of Hormuz is ‘not the agreement we have’
US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of doing a “very poor job” in its handling of oil passing through the pivotal Strait of Hormuz, arguing it was “not the agreement we have”. The comments reflect the fragile nature of the ceasefire agreement, with reports showing conflicts on what was
Trump issues expletive-laden threat to Iran over Hormuz Strait blockage
US President Donald Trump has published an expletive-laden post on social media in which he threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges if it failed to meet his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping. He repeated an earlier threat to unleash “hell” but told
Trump seeks $1.5tn for defence alongside domestic spending cuts
The White House is asking Congress to boost the US defence budget to $1.5tn (£1.1tn), a sweeping rise that would mark the largest expansion in military spending since World War Two. It includes funding for the Trump administration’s proposed Golden Dome missile defence system, as well as a boost in
‘Not fit for purpose’ – the secret history of a deadly phrase
“Our system is not fit for purpose.” And with this description of parts of the Home Office in 2006, the then-Home Secretary John Reid minted a phrase that has lodged in the lexicon of British politics. He was speaking a few months after thousands of foreign-born prisoners had been released
‘Not pretending to be 20’: U2 drop ‘endearingly honest’ second surprise EP
Irish rock legends U2 have released their second surprise EP of 2026, with the six-track Easter Lily coming just over 40 days after Days of Ash. After a quiet period for the band, as drummer Larry Mullen Jr recovered from neck surgery, the two EPs follow confirmation last year that a
Power-washing, pool-cleaning and mowing: Why millions are playing games about mundane jobs
PowerWash Simulator sees players don their cleaning gear and hose down a variety of filthy in-game locations until they’re sparkling and spotless. While it may seem like an unusual premise, the original game from 2021 has sold more than 17 million copies. The sequel, released in 2025, has just been nominated
Guardiola wants Rodri to stay but says unhappy stars can go
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says unhappy players can leave the club, but he hopes midfielder Rodri will stay. During the international break, ex-Atletico Madrid player Rodri said he would consider joining their city rivals Real as “you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world”. The 29-year-old Spain captain has made
Rescue team in Iran face ‘harrowing and dangerous’ search for US crew member
Early reports indicate that the pilot of a US F-15 fighter aircraft downed over Iran was rescued – which, if confirmed, would be the latest in the long history of US combat search-and-rescue missions over decades. The search operation is ongoing deep inside Iran for a second crew member, according