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UK-linked energy and food fortunes outpace other billionaires since 2022
Analysis has revealed that billionaire families with fortunes in energy and food production have amassed vastly more wealth since 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a global cost of living crisis. Their wealth has grown four times faster for energy sectors and three times faster for food production compared to other super-rich families, raising…
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UK’s 10-year bond yield hits 5.38%, highest since 1999
The UK sold £4.25 billion of ten-year government bonds at an average yield of 5.38 per cent, the highest since September 1999. Higher borrowing costs add to the pressure on the government ahead of next month’s Budget, as more public money will go towards interest payments and less will be available for other spending. Bond…
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Woman found dead below Alderney cliffs as man arrested on suspicion of murder
A 34-year-old mother of two, Hannah Benfield, has been found dead at the base of cliffs on Alderney, a Channel Island, and a 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. This marks the first suspected murder on the island in 30 years, shocking the close-knit community of just 2,167 residents. Local leaders have…
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Indian judge reassures child abuse survivor her attacker faces life imprisonment
An Indian trial court judge has written a compassionate and emotionally moving letter to a 10-year-old child sexual abuse survivor, promising that her abuser would remain imprisoned for life. Judge Rajani Ranga’s letter, which praised the child as “the bravest little girl” and assured her that the convict “will never walk free again”, has resonated…
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Scientists create anti-aging holy grail drug that extends lifespan by 25% in some animals – and they say it could work in humans too
UK scientists have developed an experimental drug called 991 that extends the lifespan of yeast, worms and flies by up to 25 per cent. The drug works by activating a protein called AMPK, which acts as the body’s “fuel gauge” and helps cells conserve and produce energy during stress, exercise or fasting. The breakthrough raises…
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Missouri Williams and China Miéville among writers on ‘adventurous’ Goldsmiths shortlist
Six writers have been shortlisted for the 2026 Goldsmiths Prize, a £10,000 award that recognises fiction breaking new ground in the novel form. The shortlist, selected by a panel chaired by novelist Francis Spufford, demonstrates what the judges described as “newness of many different kinds” in contemporary fiction, affirming the prize’s mission to celebrate adventurous…
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Facial recognition trial scans 500,000 London rail passengers without a match
British Transport Police invested more than £320,000 in a six-month facial recognition trial that scanned over 500,000 commuters at London railway stations, yet produced no useful results. The system generated just one alert, which proved to be a false positive, meaning no matches were found and no arrests resulted from the technology. Despite this demonstrable…
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Rob Beckett calls Celebrity Traitors reunion with comedy friends surreal
Rob Beckett will appear on the new series of Celebrity Traitors with three comedy friends—Romesh Ranganathan, Joe Lycett, and James Acaster—an experience he has described as “surreal”. Despite their long-standing friendships and shared history performing together, Beckett has confirmed that none of them would hesitate to betray each other if it served their interests in…
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South Korean intelligence assesses Kim Jong-un weighs over 310 pounds
South Korea’s spy agency says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is “extremely obese”, weighs more than 310 pounds and is at high risk of cardiovascular disease. A lawmaker relaying the assessment said Kim remains physically active and his medical team has not identified signs of current health problems. His wellbeing is closely monitored because a…
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Dangote and Ruto to launch £12bn Lamu refinery amid land protests
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto are due to break ground on a $16bn oil refinery in Lamu, despite protests from residents seeking more compensation for land used by the project. Dangote says construction will proceed as planned and the refinery should be ready by 2030; at 700,000 barrels a day, it…