Death toll in Hong Kong tower block fire rises to 36 with 279 reported missing
Huge blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Poin Tai Po district on WednesdayThe death toll from a huge fire that has engulfed several residential tower blocks in Hong Kong has risen to 36, with a further 279 people reported missing, the city’s leader John Lee said in the early hours of Thursday morning.A taskforce has been set up to investigate the cause of the fire, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, in the northern New Territories. The complex is made up of eight 31-storey towers... [Continue Reading]
Guinea-Bissau military takes ‘total control’ amid election chaos
Officers say they are closing borders and suspending poll as president and main rival both claim victory Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau have announced they are taking “total control” of the west African country, three days after elections that both the two main presidential contenders claim to have won.Military officers said they were suspending Guinea-Bissau’s electoral process and closing its borders, in a statement read out at the army’s headquarters in the capital Bissau and broadcast on state TV. They said they had formed “the high military command for the restoration of order”, which would rule the country until further notice. Continue... [Continue Reading]
Guinea-Bissau army officers say they have seized power; president deposed
Army says it has taken 'total control', deposed and arrested the president, and suspended the electoral process. [Continue Reading]
Five key takeaways from the UK’s tax-and-spending budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a rise in taxes and increased welfare spending. [Continue Reading]
Massive fire rips through Hong Kong high-rise complex, killing several
Video shows a colossal fire tearing through high-rise buildings at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court, killing at least 14. [Continue Reading]
China blocks Bytedance from Nvidia chip use: Report
ByteDance had bought more Nvidia chips than any other Chinese firm in 2025 as it raced to secure computing power. [Continue Reading]
‘Zootopia 2’ Review: Natural Habitats, Expanded
A sequel to the 2016 hit, this movie about an animal metropolis takes on an even messier social allegory than the first one, while building out a wider (if bloated) universe. [Continue Reading]
Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2’ Will Be a Test for Jared Bush
Jared Bush is trying to make the heart of the media empire beat more consistently. “Zootopia 2” will be a test. [Continue Reading]
Here’s Where Weather May Slow Your Thanksgiving Travel
A winter storm could make for tricky conditions. [Continue Reading]
Detroit Has Its Own Thanksgiving Parade. The City Gets Bigheaded About It.
The march down Woodward Avenue, which endured through the city’s hardest years, features papier-mâché caricatures that are uniquely Detroit. [Continue Reading]
Broadway Performers Rehearse for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
We tagged along to a late-night rehearsal for performers from “Just in Time,” “Buena Vista Social Club” and “Ragtime.” [Continue Reading]
How to Watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 99th edition of the New York parade will feature performances from Cynthia Erivo and Busta Rhymes, as well as dozens of floats and balloons. [Continue Reading]
What to Know About the Fire at a Hong Kong Apartment Complex
Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze in the high-rise buildings. At least 36 people were killed, and many more were feared trapped inside the towers. [Continue Reading]
Newey to become Aston Martin team principal in 2026
Formula 1 design legend Adrian Newey is to become Aston Martin's team principal next year. [Continue Reading]
Spacey set to face civil sex assault claims in court in 2026
Three men have sued the Oscar-winning actor, alleging that he assaulted them between 2000 and 2013. [Continue Reading]
Hit-and-run 'link' explored as man remains missing
Detectives say two men were injured in a hit-and-run, which could be linked to missing Brian Wright. [Continue Reading]
What we know about the Hong Kong apartment fires
The death toll continues to rise and hundreds are missing, as firefighters struggle to put out the fire. [Continue Reading]
Terror group Palestine Action like the suffragettes, court hears
Lawyers for the group say the government's ban is unprecedented, as they launch a legal challenge. [Continue Reading]
EU chiefs pressure Belgium on use of Russian frozen assets
The European Commission president and EU foreign policy chief have pushed Belgium, home nation of the Euroclear company, to use frozen Russian assets to arm Ukraine ahead of a crunch summit. [Continue Reading]
European Parliament NGO-funding probe descends into chaos and walkouts
A new European Parliament probe into NGO-funding transparency rapidly descended into chaos on Wednesday, as progressive and left-leaning MEPs stormed out of the meeting within the first 30 minutes. [Continue Reading]
One photo launched my food business — now I work with Anthropologie and Lululemon
'An entrepreneur friend of mine encouraged me to take the next step.' [Continue Reading]
Senne Lammens ‘surprised’ by Sir Alex Ferguson’s comments about him
'I couldn't really believe it.' [Continue Reading]
Rachel Reeves’ Budget shambles causes chaos in the Commons
The commotion in the Commons was at a fever pitch. [Continue Reading]
This is what a chemical attack on the UK would look like
'If they're training for it and practising for it, it's always possible.' [Continue Reading]
Enzo Fernandez reveals the fatal mistake Hansi Flick made against Chelsea
The visitors shot themselves in the foot at Stamford Bridge. [Continue Reading]
Jeremy Clarkson has one major exception to his pub’s ‘100% British food’ policy
'There have been some problems' [Continue Reading]
Caredoc workers to take strike action over pay dispute
INMO and SIPTU members employed at Caredoc facilities have announced plans to take strike action next month as part of a pay dispute. [Continue Reading]
At least 36 killed as fire engulfs Hong Kong towers
A massive fire has ripped through multiple high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district, killing at least 36 people and injuring scores of others as authorities struggled to bring the blaze under control. [Continue Reading]
Amazon deploys 2,000 robots in UK's Bolton warehouse to meet Christmas demand
In the UK, Amazon's Bolton warehouse uses 2,000 robots to streamline parcel handling, especially during the holiday peak, ensuring timely deliveries. [Continue Reading]
Millions of savers and investors to face higher tax bills after Reeves’s budget
Chancellor unveils measures that will affect Isas, pensions, and income from dividends, property and savings interestBudget 2025 – live updatesMeasures that will mean higher tax bills for millions of savers and investors were unveiled by the chancellor as part of her budget statement.Alongside two widely trailed measures – cutting the maximum that can be put into a cash Isa each year and clamping down on salary sacrifice pension schemes – were two surprises: an exemption from the new Isa rules for those over 65, and an increase in income tax on savings interest and property and share dividend income. Continue... [Continue Reading]
Budget 2025 calculator: find out if you are better or worse off
Use our interactive tool to see how you have been affected by Rachel Reeves’s tax and spending announcements. Use the arrow keys to scroll sideways and enter your detailsBudget 2025 – live coverageHow does freezing tax thresholds affect your tax bill?Budget 2025: key points at a glance Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Reeves’s tax-raising budget is crash landing on an economy that is struggling for growth
Bond vigilantes may be reassured but the jury is out for households and businessesRachel Reeves says budget will cut living costs after shock OBR leakBudget 2025 – follow liveFor a Labour voter who nodded off at the moment of the exit poll for last year’s general election, and woke up blinking in Wednesday’s wintry sunshine 16 months later, Rachel Reeves’s budget would have kindled a warm glow.A mansion tax of sorts; the end of the two-child limit on benefits; more money for the NHS, and jam today for households via cheaper utility bills. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Rachel Reeves says budget will cut living costs after shock OBR leak
Chancellor unveils action on energy bills, rail fares and two-child benefit cap as she reveals £26bn tax risesBudget 2025 – follow liveHow freezing tax thresholds affects your tax bill?Budget 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves has declared her budget will slash living costs for millions including ending the two-child benefit limit and cutting energy bills, but taxes are set to soar by £26bn to plug a gaping shortfall in the public finances.Major measures in the budget leaked early in a shock accidental release by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), triggering an instant bond market reaction an hour before... [Continue Reading]
Putin trying to negotiate an end to Ukraine war as he cannot win it on battlefield, says EU’s Kallas – as it happened
EU’s foreign policy chief says ‘there’s one aggressor and one victim’ in conflict amid US push to end the warIn case you missed it, US president Donald Trump defended his peace envoy Steve Witkoff overnight after Bloomberg reported that he allegedly advised Putin’s aide Ushakov on how to speak with Trump and conduct the talks.Trump did not appear too bothered by it, though. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Von der Leyen warns against ‘carving up’ of Ukraine amid crunch US-led talks
Commission president says undermining of sovereign European nation would ‘open the doors for more wars’The European Commission president has warned against “the unilateral carving up of a sovereign European nation” as Europe scrambles to assert influence over the US’s attempt to end the war in Ukraine.Speaking to European lawmakers in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen said Russia showed “no signs of true willingness to end the conflict” and continued to operate in a mindset unchanged since the days of Yalta – the much-criticised and misunderstood 1945 summit to settle the postwar order. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Guinea-Bissau army officers say they have seized power; president arrested
Officers order suspension of electoral process, border closures a day before presidential vote results expected. [Continue Reading]
LIVE: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich – UEFA Champions League
Follow our live build-up with full team news coverage before our text commentary stream of the UCL league phase tie. [Continue Reading]
Army Takes Control in Guinea-Bissau
The West African nation had recently held a presidential election in which the main opposition party was barred from the ballot. [Continue Reading]
Britain Raises Taxes by More Than $30 Billion in Push for ‘Stable Economy’
In announcing the measures, Rachel Reeves, the top economic official in an increasingly unpopular government, cited forecasts for slower growth and the need to hold down debt. [Continue Reading]
The Key to Their 50-Year Marriages and Close-Knit Families? Friendship.
Six women in their 70s, all married and all mothers and grandmothers, have been meeting twice a month for 44 years. They talk about everything that life throws at them. [Continue Reading]
As Prices Pinch, Bessent Looks for Ways to Mollify Wary Consumers
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has offered a variety of creative justifications for President Trump’s import duties. [Continue Reading]
Scottish fashion designer Pam Hogg dies
She was known for eccentric and outlandish designs, worn by stars like Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue. [Continue Reading]
NYC 'diva' food influencer arrested for skipping out on restaurant bills
Pei Chung, aka the "dine and dash diva", allegedly offered to pay for meals with social media posts. [Continue Reading]
They told me to choose between my hijab and boxing
How Germany's Zeina Nassar - who makes her pro debut on Wednesday - rewrote boxing's rules about fighting in a hijab. [Continue Reading]
New pay-per-mile tax for electric vehicle owners
Drivers of electric cars will pay a road charge of 3p per mile, while plug-in hybrid drivers will pay 1.5p per mile from April 2028. [Continue Reading]
Two-child benefit cap to be scrapped
The policy, introduced under the Tories, means parents can only claim universal credit for their first two children. [Continue Reading]
How Rosalía's new album got us talking about classical music
The singer's latest, Lux, has got us talking about classical music. Its popularity might surprise you. [Continue Reading]
US hikes national park fees for foreigners to put 'American families first'
Non-residents will soon have to pay $100 per person to enter 11 of the United States' most popular parks. [Continue Reading]
Owners of properties worth more than £2m in England face 'mansion tax'
The surcharge begins at £2,500, rising to £7,500 for properties valued at more than £5m. [Continue Reading]
Drug users could smoke cocaine in Glasgow consumption room under proposals
The Thistle currently lets people inject heroin or cocaine while under medical supervision without being prosecuted, but does not have a smoking room. [Continue Reading]