The 2026 World Cup is set to be a polarising event but, even if it will not be the first to be politically contentious, it will expose a growing unease Five months out from the World Cup the politics are impossible to avoid. There are concerns relating to one of...
Inquiry launched after Chelsea fans complain about policing at end of Charlton game
Fans upset at being unexpectedly held back at the Valley Police action ‘uncomfortably like that from past decades’ The Metropolitan police has commissioned an independent investigation after receiving complaints about its treatment of Chelsea supporters after the west London club’s FA Cup tie at Charlton last Saturday. The Chelsea Supporters’...
Pesticides may drastically shorten fish lifespans, study finds
Even low levels of widely used agricultural chemicals were linked to accelerated ageing, research suggests The lifespan of fish appears to be drastically reduced by pesticides, a study has found. Even low levels of common agricultural pesticides can stunt the long-term lifespan of fish, according to research led by Jason...
Spain’s meteorologists subjected to ‘alarming’ rise in hate speech, minister warns
Environment minister says attacks on social media affect perceptions of meteorology and denigrate researchers’ work Spain’s environment minister has written to prosecutors to warn of “an alarming increase” in hate speech and social media attacks directed against climate science communicators, meteorologists and researchers. In a letter sent to hate crimes...
Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Chelsea need to avoid long-throw blues, plus: a vacant spot for Liverpool and West Ham’s best hope for survival Race for the golden boot: Premier League top scorers Can the 198th derby be any spicier for Manchester United and their latest interim manager, Michael Carrick? This is his second caretaker...
‘It’s a long and difficult dream’: João Fonseca on practice, patience and matching Sinner and Alcaraz
Brazilian teenage tennis sensation says he cannot control expectations but is looking forward to challenging the best again in 2026, starting at the Australian Open ‘My dream is to become world No 1, win grand slam titles and make history for Brazil,” João Fonseca says with simple purity as we...
Tour de France reveals plans for six UK stages with historic 2027 Grands Départs
British roads will host the start of both races next year First time both Grands Départs have been outside France The men’s Tour de France will start in Scotland for the first time in 2027 and make its first visit to Wales when Britain stages the Grand Départ of the...
Grief over pet death can be as strong as that for family member, survey shows
Researcher calls for guidelines for diagnosing prolonged grief disorder to be expanded to cover people who lose pets Grief over the death of a pet could be as chronic as that for a human family member, research has shown, confirming what many people already know about their bond with their...
Social media time does not increase teenagers’ mental health problems – study
Research finds no evidence heavier social media use or more gaming increases symptoms of anxiety or depression Screen time spent gaming or on social media does not cause mental health problems in teenagers, according to a large-scale study. With ministers in the UK considering whether to follow Australia’s example by...
Cloth wraps treated with ‘dirt cheap’ insecticide cut malaria cases in babies
Soaking fabrics in a commonly used insect repellent is a simple and effective tool as mosquito bites become more common during daytime, study shows From Africa to Latin America to Asia, babies have been carried in cloth wraps on their mothers’ backs for centuries. Now, the practice of generations of...