A looming deadline for people to plug gaps in their National Insurance record, to ensure they get the full state pension, has been softened. Concerns over a rush of last-minute enquiries mean anyone who requests a call back from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the issue will not be regarded as having missed the 5 April deadline.more

Greggs' revenue passed £2bn last year thanks to higher sales of pizzas, chicken goujons and potato wedges, but the sausage roll remains its top seller. The firm traditionally known for its baked goods said adding more items to its menu was a sign of its "further growth ambition".more

The US has declared a trade war on Canada, PM Justin Trudeau commented yesterday on the US imposing tariffs on products imported from Canada.more

‘Crude Oil (Vettriano)’ a Banksy painting inspired by the work of the recently deceased Scottish painter Jack Vettriano, was sold yesterday in the UK for £4.3 million (more than £21 million), AFP reported.more

During a visit to the US, President Andrzej Duda granted Polish citizenship to American actor Jesse Eisenberg. In thanking the President, the actor - whose ancestors emigrated to the US from Poland - emphasised his ties to Poland and the importance of rediscovering his roots.more

The head of UK diplomacy, David Lammy, stated yesterday that European partners are showing great determination to bring about a lasting and just end to the war in Ukraine in cooperation with the US.more

Real Madrid's players defeated Atletico 2:1 at home in a derby in the 1/8 finals of the Champions League. PSV Eindhoven lost to Arsenal by as much as 1:7, Club Brugge succumbed to Aston Villa 1:3 and Borussia Dortmund drew with Lille 1:1. The remaining four matches today and the rematches next week.more

Ukraine is proposing the first stage of ending the war: the release of prisoners of war and a truce in the air and at sea if Russia does the same, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski said yesterday, declaring that he was ready to act ‘under the strong leadership’ of US President Donald Trump.more

The UK will be hit by a slowdown in global trade even if US President Donald Trump does not directly impose tariffs on our country, UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced yesterday. The US leader announced the entry into force of tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China.more

Donald Trump is trying on a third term and it cannot be ruled out that he will resort to forceful means. A group of Republican politicians have already formed the Third Term Project initiative, and more than half of Americans estimate that he will try to stay in the White House, media in the US and UK write.more

Kew Gardens will open a ‘groundbreaking’ new garden in July warning of the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. The Carbon Garden will show how carbon helps to sustain life on Earth, the scale of the climate crisis and how nature can be used to combat it, at the world-famous attraction in South West London.more

Scientists at the University of Melbourne in Australia published findings on Monday showing that further melting of glaciers could significantly reduce the speed of ocean currents. The AFP news agency reported that this could lead to further global climate change as a consequence.more

Iga Świątek and Hubert Hurkacz lost to Americans Madison Keys and Tommy Paul 8-10 and ended their participation in the Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles exhibition event in Indian Wells, California, preceding the WTA and ATP 1000 tennis tournaments, in the semifinals.more

London is surrounded by many bustling commuter towns that could almost stake a claim to being part of the city themselves. However, if you'd prefer a quieter life, there are plenty of commuter villages that bring all the benefits of rural living with the convenience of a city link.more

Agency workers will reportedly be included in a ban on “exploitative” zero-hours contracts as part of changes to the UK government’s employment bill. Under the new rules, employers will have to offer agency workers a contract that guarantees a minimum number of hours every week, the BBC reported.more

Outrage among some British politicians was provoked by US Vice President J.D. Vance's words about security guarantees for Ukraine from ‘a random country that hasn't been at war for 30 or 40 years’. Vance asserted that he was not referring to the UK or France.more

Tonight's match against Atletico Madrid in the 1/8 finals of the football Champions League will be a special one for Real Madrid. ‘The royals’ will be celebrating - as the first club in history - their 500th appearance in European Cup competition, the most valuable club trophy they have won the most times - 15 times.more

A new study has revealed the UK's top supermarket for both in-store and online grocery shopping. Consumer champions Which? asked over 3,000 Brits to rate supermarkets on a variety of factors including queuing time, store appearances and choice of substitutions for deliveries.more

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated yesterday that the sincerity of US President Donald Trump's commitment to peace in Ukraine should not be doubted. However, he assessed that a minerals deal alone would not be sufficient as a guarantee of security.more

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at a press conference today that his government would consider participating in an international peacekeeping force that would be formed to ensure compliance with a possible truce in Ukraine. This is a turnaround in the attitude of the authorities in Canberra, the media noted.more

Sixty-seven per cent of Britons believe US President Donald Trump is to blame for the unprecedented row at the White House, while only seven per cent believe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski is at fault, according to polling centre YouGov yesterday.more

Unless urgent action is taken by governments, by 2050 more than half of the world's adults and a third of the world's children and young people will be overweight or obese, predict the authors of a study published in ‘The Lancet’.more

Wojciech Szczesny, who relaunched his career last October to become Barcelona's goalkeeper, has admitted that he is ‘open to anything’ when it comes to his future with the Catalan team. His initial assumption was that he would only be there until June 2025.more

Prisoners may have to earn their freedom through “good behaviour credits” rather than be automatically released after a set period as part of an overhaul being considered by the government.more

The Trump administration has suspended delivery of all US military aid to Ukraine, blocking billions in crucial shipments as the White House piles pressure on Ukraine to sue for peace with Vladimir Putin. The decision affects deliveries of ammunition, vehicles, and other equipment including shipments agreed to when Joe Biden was president.more