The UK is “sleepwalking into a quiet epidemic” of joblessness with millions of people out of work and on benefits, the boss of the nation’s biggest supermarket chain has warned. Ashwin Prasad, who runs the UK arm of Tesco, said he believed far fewer people were in work than should be and that taxpayers were spending “an ever increasing proportion of our national income on out-of-work benefits”.more

Hertha Berlin, featuring Dawid Kownacki and Michał Karbownik, lost on penalties to Freiburg in the quarterfinals of the German Cup. Bayern Munich's clash with RB Leipzig will take place on Wednesdaymore

There has been a five-fold increase in the number of refugee households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the last four years, the BBC has found. Government data for England showed a rise from 3,560 in 2021/22, to 19,310 in 2024/25.more

A woman who murdered her partner before cutting her body in two and burying her remains in the back garden of a house more than 15 years ago has been jailed for life. Anna Podedworna contacted Derbyshire Police last year, telling them Izabela Zablocka's body would be found buried in Princes Street, Derby.more

Drones are planned to deliver urgent pathology samples across southwest London from the spring, under the next phase of an NHS project. The samples will be carried from Nelson Health Centre in Merton to the South West London Pathology Network’s (SWLP) laboratory at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.more

The number of British troops in Norway will double over the next three years as part of efforts to combat Russian threats in the High North. Defence Secretary John Healey said the number of armed forces personnel stationed in the Arctic nation would rise from around 1,000 to 2,000.more

Napoli lost 6-7 on penalties at home to Como in the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia. The match ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time. Last week, Polish internationals Piotr Zieliński's Inter Milan and Nicola Zalewski's Atalanta Bergamo advanced to the semifinals.more

The long-awaited buy now, pay later (BNPL) rules will come into force from 15 July 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced. From then on, borrowers who use services like Klarna, Clearpay and PayPal’s ‘Pay in 3’ option will benefit from stronger protection.more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky intends to announce a plan for presidential elections and a referendum on the peace agreement on February 24, the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Russian invasion, the Financial Times reported today, as quoted by Reuters.more

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said yesterday that he would never resign. His position as head of government is under threat due to the contacts between Peter Mandelson, the former ambassador to the US whom he appointed, and American financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.more

Last year, Czech railway operator Leo Express carried over 50,000 passengers on the route between Prague and Krakow. This represents a 152% increase compared to 2024, the company said in a statement on Monday. From 1 March, the connection will be extended to Warsaw.more

Manchester United drew 1-1 away to West Ham United in the 26th round of the Premier League. The Red Devils had won their previous four matches under manager Michael Carrick.more

In Horden, a former mining village in County Durham, many homes sell for £1, but the town faces severe decline and fake facade elements.more

Parts of Britain may experience snow later this week as a band of wintry weather sweeps across the country. According to weather charts, the cold air will sweep across the UK from east to west, with the worst weather expected on Sunday. more

Iga Świątek advanced to the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha. The Polish tennis player defeated Indonesia's Janice Tjen 6-0, 6-3. Her next opponent will be Australia's Daria Kasatkina.more

More than 300,000 children already living in the UK could be forced to wait 10 years for settled status under proposed changes to the Home Office’s “earned settlement” policy, according to an analysis by a centre left thinktank.more

London tenants are suffering from the capital having the worst problem of damp in social housing in England, according to a Commons inquiry. The report by the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee also highlighted overcrowding in social homes in the city.more

In February 2026, several stores from popular chains including Poundland, River Island, and GAME will close amid restructuring and financial difficulties.more

So-called last-chance tourism threatens melting glaciers, according to Swiss Info, citing a report published by researchers at the University of Lausanne. Glacial landscapes could be ‘loved to death,’ experts warned.more

Portuguese league leaders FC Porto drew 1-1 at home with champions and runners-up Sporting Lisbon in the top match of the 21st round, conceding a goal in added time. Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior played for the home side, with the latter suffering an injury. Oskar Pietuszewski was on the bench.more

The British Museum in London has raised £3.5 million to purchase a gold medallion known as the ‘Tudor Heart’, symbolising the union between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The fundraising campaign was supported by actor Damian Lewis, who played Henry VIII in the BBC series, according to today's edition of ‘The Times’ newspaper.more

Poles are arming themselves to the teeth. Last year, they obtained a record number of firearms licences. Soon, it may become more difficult and expensive to obtain them. Members of the Polish 2050 party are calling for stricter regulations on gun ownership, according to today's ‘Dziennik Gazeta Prawna’.more

Buckingham Palace stated yesterday evening that it is prepared to assist the police in investigating the connections between the former Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, the late American financier and sex offender.more

Kacper Tomasiak won the silver medal in ski jumping on the normal hill in Predazzo. Philipp Raimund of Germany took the gold. Ren Nikaido of Japan and Gregor Deschwanden of Switzerland tied for the bronze.more

The Swedish government announced yesterday that at the beginning of June it will significantly tighten the conditions that must be met in order to obtain Swedish citizenship. In addition to a longer period of residence, requirements for self-sufficiency, good character and language proficiency will be introduced.more