Vapers across the UK could soon be fined between £100 and £1,000 for vaping at bus stops, under new laws being considered by Parliament. The proposed changes would grant authorities such as Transport for London the power to issue fixed penalty notices to people caught vaping in certain public areas. more

From 1 November, every passenger arriving in Tanzania by plane will have to pay a new tax, the government of this African country has announced.more

Fans of Norway's Erling Haaland will have to get used to a new situation. The Manchester City footballer will wear his full name on his shirt during international matches - Braut Haaland. The information has been confirmed by the Norwegian Football Federation.more

Dartmouth Park, a secluded enclave in North London, has been hailed as one of the capital's top spots to live in by 2025, according to lifestyle experts at Muddy Stilettos, with locals quick to agree. more

Gas and electricity prices will rise by 2% for millions of households under the latest cap announced by energy regulator Ofgem. The increase, which is slightly more than analysts expected, means a household using a typical amount of energy will pay £1,755 a year, up £35 a year on the current cap.more

Defending champions VfB Stuttgart advanced to the second round of the German Cup with great difficulty. After a frantic match in Brunswick, they beat second division side Eintracht 8-7 on penalties. After 90 minutes, the score was 3-3, and after extra time, 4-4.more

Britain must brace for a rat invasion this winter after a warmer than usual summer has caused a boom in numbers. According to experts, we are seeing more rodents and they are getting bigger thanks to an increased access to food waste.more

From September 1, eligibility to extend Child Benefit for 16 to 19-year-olds will include teenagers who are home educated and those who are unable to attend college (for a minimum number of 12 hours) due to illness or disability. more

The war economy has created a new ‘middle class’ in Russia, giving it a sharp increase in income, higher social status and greater benefits. This new middle class fears the end of the war, according to the British daily “The Telegraph”.more

A “significant” jump in the cost of grocery staples such as eggs and butter is stoking food inflation, according to data pointing to a renewed cost of living squeeze. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said prices had risen at their fastest pace for 18 months, with food inflation hitting 4.2% this month. This was up from 4% in July and the highest reading since February 2024.more

Although the number of people dying of starvation fell to zero between 2008 and 2010, conflicts in Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen and the Gaza Strip in recent years have led to a sharp increase in the number of people suffering from hunger, with access to food being used as a weapon, according to the 'Financial Times'.more

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) announced yesterday that the number of children born in Scotland fell to a record low in 2024. According to statistics, there were 45,763 live births, 172 fewer than in 2023. This is the lowest level since records began in 1855.more

Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round of the US Open Grand Slam tournament in New York. The second-seeded Polish tennis player defeated Colombia's Emiliana Arango 6-1, 6-2 yesterday. The match lasted exactly one hour.more

Peatlands could become a key element in Europe's defence against two major threats: Russian expansionism and man-made climate change, the British daily “Financial Times” wrote yesterday.more

Topshop is officially back (kind of) – and this time it’s making its comeback in style. While the brand isn’t reclaiming its famous Oxford Circus flagship just yet (now home to IKEA), the British fashion favourite is opening a new concession inside Liberty, one of London’s most historic and best-loved department stores.more

Spain’s National Police on the Costa del Sol have detained a Polish crime boss listed by Europol as one of Europe’s most wanted, for alleged murder, drug trafficking and belonging to a criminal organisation. The suspect – who police believe to be the leader of a violent Krakow-based gang that moved narcotics from Spain to Poland – was tracked down and arrested in Benahavís (Malaga).more

The number of plastic bags Brits are using is on the rise for the first time in a decade – and experts say online shopping is to blame. New data shows that people in England bought 437 million plastic bags in the past year, up 7 per cent from 407 million in 2023/24. more

The growing number of tourists and the expansion of scientific bases are harming ecosystems in Antarctica, according to a report published on the Nature Sustainability website.more

Titleist Venus Williams was eliminated in the first round of the US Open. However, the 45-year-old American tennis player put up a fierce battle against 11th-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is now in the second round after defeating Reilly Opelka of the USA.more

They are the scourge of the modern commute: passengers who play music or videos out loud. But amid widespread disapproval from fellow travellers, Transport for London (TfL) is trying to appeal to the better nature of “headphone dodgers” by asking them to “be considerate” and plug in.more

Leaders in the hospitality industry have said that more than half of the UK's job losses since the last budget have come from their sector. Job losses in restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels total around 89,000 since last October, according to UKHospitality analysis of Office for National Statistics data.more

A couple who died in a helicopter crash during the bank holiday on the Isle of Wight have been named by relatives. Justyna Czoska, 52, a horse riding instructor, and her partner, Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, from Bloxham, Oxfordshire, died after the aircraft crash-landed at about 9.24am on Monday between Shanklin and Whiteley Bank. The helicopter had taken off from Sandown airport 20 minutes earlier.more

Defending champions Liverpool beat Newcastle United 3-2 away in the second round of the English Premier League. Just before halftime, 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, making his Premier League debut, scored the winning goal.more

Reform UK says it would offer payments to countries like Afghanistan as part of a plan to enable hundreds of thousands of migrant deportations if it won power. The party's leader Nigel Farage set out a five-year plan to detain and deport all migrants who arrive in the UK without permission at a news conference.more

King Charles and Queen Camilla have advertised a fresh opportunity at the palace which comes with some enticing perks. The Royal family are hunting for candidates capable of managing "complex" situations for the role of Royal Engagements Officer within the Private Secretary's Office.more