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French borrowing costs surge as investors fear worsening public finances
French government bonds are experiencing a significant sell-off amid growing investor concern over the country’s fiscal position, pushing borrowing costs to levels not seen in years. The spread between French and German 10-year bond yields reached its widest level since 2012, with French yields hitting their highest point since 2002 before easing slightly. Analysts have…
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Julien Macdonald agrees £150,000 repayment after company liquidation
Fashion designer Julien Macdonald has agreed to repay £150,000 following the liquidation of his company three years ago, which left creditors and employees collectively owed £686,000. The settlement came after Macdonald initially disputed a substantial portion of the debt and engaged solicitors to defend his position, prompting liquidators to engage their own legal representation. The…
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Charles Spencer revives unsubstantiated royal grievances on US book tour
Charles Spencer is promoting his book about his sister Diana on a US tour, using interviews to repeat criticisms of the Royal Family and King Charles. Columnist Jan Moir argues that his account presents old family grievances as fact and aligns with complaints made by Harry and Meghan, giving the book publicity while reopening disputes…
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Bryony Gordon says loved ones cannot make someone stop drinking or recognise addiction
Bryony Gordon writes that friends and relatives cannot make someone recognise an alcohol problem or stop drinking, despite their understandable wish to find a reliable solution. She says this matters because advice around Sober October often treats abstinence as a lifestyle reset, which can overlook the needs of people with alcohol dependence and those close…
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British paratrooper George Hooley died after explosion during Ukraine test
Lance Corporal George Hooley, a 28-year-old Parachute Regiment soldier, died after an explosion while observing Ukrainian forces test a defensive capability away from the front line. The coroner said he sustained multiple injuries on 6 December 2025 and died in hospital in Kyiv three days later; the circumstances matter because British military personnel in Ukraine…
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Australian man now faces 133 child abuse charges after latest court appearance
A 63-year-old man from New South Wales has been hit with 133 child sex charges, up from 62 at his previous court appearance, following investigations by Australian federal authorities. Robert Andrew McPherson is accused of engaging in child sexual abuse, producing and possessing child abuse material, with authorities alleging a prolonged pattern of serious offending.…
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Madness film captures the band’s gritty years before chart success
*Take It or Leave It* is a 1981 docufictional comedy about Madness’s early years, following the working-class band from their beginnings in 1976 to their chart breakthrough. Its improvised dialogue and close attention to everyday struggles give it a gritty, social-realist feel, offering an unusually vivid picture of life before fame. The film shows the…
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US prepares third carrier and 10,000 troops for Middle East as Trump weighs Iran strikes
The Pentagon is preparing to send about 10,000 additional sailors and Marines to the Middle East, including a third aircraft carrier, as President Donald Trump considers whether to launch further strikes on Iran. The deployment would significantly strengthen US forces in the region while the conflict develops and US midterm elections approach. The ships en…
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Baltimore art gallery owner, 76, is killed in botched robbery as police arrest 32-year-old
Claudia Bismark, a 76-year-old artist and former Baltimore gallery owner, died after she and her husband were attacked during a robbery near Fleet Street on Tuesday morning. The case has drawn attention to the loss of a longstanding contributor to the city’s arts community, as well as residents’ concerns about feeling safe in their neighbourhood.…