Stig – It depends..

‘It moved … it was hopping!’ One man’s search for a wild wallaby in the UK

Reports of escaped wallabies are on the rise, especially in southern England. But how easy is it to spot these strange and charismatic marsupials – and why would a quintessentially [...]

‘A mini Battle of Cable Street’: the English neighbourhoods still grappling with the meaning of the flags

The controversy over flags has faded from the national agenda – but street by street, late at night and with ingenious equipment, their raising and removal is the subject of [...]

The snail farm don: is this the most brazen tax avoidance scheme of all time?

Terry Ball – renowned shoe salesman, friend to former mafiosi – has vowed to spend his remaining years finding ways to cheat authorities he feels have cheated him. His greatest [...]

How an invasion of purple flowers made Iceland an Instagram paradise – and caused a biodiversity crisis

Nootka lupins, introduced in the 1940s to repair damaged soil, are rampaging across the island, threatening its native speciesIt was only when huge areas of Iceland started turning purple that [...]

Rockets, gold and the Foreign Legion: can Europe defend its frontier in the Amazon? | Alexander Hurst

It borders Brazil, but French Guiana is now a remote outpost of the EU. It is home to Europe’s only spaceport, some of the most biodiverse forest on the planet [...]

‘They rose out of the ground!’: Scotland’s brutalist beauties – in pictures

The imposing concrete buildings that defined British postwar architecture held a vision of the future – but many fell into disrepair. A new book finds the finest examples Continue reading [...]

Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar

Health secretary has asked experts to investigate whether normal feelings have become ‘over-pathologised’The health secretary, Wes Streeting, has ordered a clinical review of the diagnosis of mental health conditions, according [...]

Path to peace in Ukraine unclear, says Trump, as US envoys prepare to meet Kyiv official

Trump’s comments come after an hours-long meeting at the Kremlin between US envoys and Vladimir Putin failed to achieve a breakthroughAnalysis: the Ukraine peace deal has stumbled yet again over [...]

Britain’s power grid’s £28bn upgrade approved to drive energy transition – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsSmaller business will see an increase in network charges under Ofgem’s plans.The regulator says that by 2031, indicative network charge increases range [...]

England earthquake of 3.3 magnitude rattles Lancashire and Lake District

Residents report homes shaking from 3.3-magnitude quake that British Geological Survey says was centred just off the coast of Silverdale, LancashireA 3.3-magnitude earthquake shook homes in north-west England late on [...]

Australia v England: Ashes second Test, day one – live

Updates from the day-nighter at the Gabba in Brisbane Ashes top 100 | Get the Spin newsletter | Email TanyaAustralia: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Cameron [...]

Leaked report reveals culture of bullying and harassment at scandal-hit NHS hospital

Exclusive: report into Blackpool Victoria hospital by Royal College of Physicians finds systemic failings have affected patient safetyA culture of systemic bullying and harassment has been allowed to flourish among [...]

UK farmers lose £800m after heat and drought cause one of worst harvests on record

Many now concerned about ability to make living in fast-changing climate after one of worst grain harvests recordedRecord heat and drought cost Britain’s arable farmers more than £800m in lost [...]

Probation officers in England and Wales to be given self-defence training after stabbings

Exclusive: Pilot schemes for bodycams, knife arches and metal detectors in probation offices also approved after attacks in Oxford and PrestonProbation officers will be given self-defence training, bleed kits and [...]

Revealed: Myanmar junta ‘crony’ given key role behind Fifa peace prize

Inaugural prize expected to be handed to Donald Trump but ‘process’ for choosing future winners to be proposed by controversial tycoon’s committeeIt was the timing that set off the first [...]

‘People had forgotten about it’: onboard the 7am Manchester-London train service saved from axe

Passengers welcome climbdown and say plan to turn Avanti West Coast service into ‘ghost train’ made no sense“I don’t think I’ve seen it this busy in years,” said Liam, a [...]

Putin and Modi to meet amid politically treacherous times for Russia and India

The Russian president’s Delhi visit gives him a chance to reduce Moscow’s isolation but both countries need each other to negotiate Trump’s America and a powerful ChinaWhen Vladimir Putin last [...]

We tested Europe’s luxurious new ‘business-class’ sleeper bus between Amsterdam and Zurich

A new overnight bus service in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland offers comfort and sustainabilityI feel my travel-scrunched spine start to straighten as I stretch out on the plump mattress, [...]

Ballet star Matthew Ball on gruelling roles and getting ogled on Instagram: ‘I don’t feel precious about my body’

Tall, handsome and used to receiving fire emojis on his social media posts, the dancer has, with his partner Mayara Magri, been called ‘the Posh’n’Becks of ballet’. But there is [...]

You be the judge: Should my best friend stop trying to set me up on dates?

Whitney thinks Haile would be happier in a relationship. Haile says she’s fine by herself. You decide who’s being too single-minded• Find out how to get a disagreement settled or [...]