Chancellor plans major intervention to help poorer UK households with rising energy bills

John Healey is planning a major intervention to cut energy bills for poorer households in this month’s budget, after ministers became alarmed at forecasts that show bills rising by hundreds of pounds in January.

Russia denies imposing anti-plague measures after lab worker death

Russia denies plague cases after laboratory technician’s death; US demands ‘transparency’ as WHO monitors situation.

Russian authorities have denied that they imposed anti-plague measures after a laboratory technician died of suspected pneumonic plague in a case which has drawn international scrutiny.

'Asos hacked': What can I do to protect myself?

Amid protests, Kosovo’s political deadlock raises prospect of new elections

Kosovo faces the risk of turmoil as protests against the convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders coincide with a midnight deadline to elect a president.

Demonstrators have called for changes to the law governing the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers, including measures affecting prison terms and where sentences are served. The protests follow the September 16 convictions of former KLA leaders, including former President Hashim Thaci.

Tear gas in Paris and Marseille as school protests spread and grow across France

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across France, as a wave of protests by high-school pupils spread to their parents, university students and unions.

Crowds of teenagers marched from the Place de la République in Paris, calling for more resources for schools, and what they called less repression from police.

South Korea considers steps to force North Korea apology for DMZ mine blast

Seoul has urged the North to remove any other mines planted on the southern side of the military demarcation line.

South Korea is weighing measures to force an apology from North Korea over a recent landmine blast that wounded three soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two countries, a Defence Ministry spokesperson has said.

US televangelist Jim Bakker, ensnared in fraud and sex scandal, dies at 86

The US televangelist Jim Bakker, who built a multimillion-dollar empire and lived ⁠in opulence before being disgraced by a sex scandal, a conviction for defrauding followers and divorce from his television co-host Tammy Faye, has died aged 86.

Trump suggests he would let Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles or San Diego

Leaders in California have denounced Donald Trump as “reckless” and “deranged” after the US president suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego – two liberal cities in the blue state that has been a frequent target of his administration.

Gauff hits back at ‘insane’ racist abuse after replayed point at China Open

Coco Gauff was targeted online after stopping play during a crucial point in the first set against China’s Sun Xinran.

Coco Gauff says she has received an “insane” amount of racial abuse on social media after the two-time Grand Slam champion beat local teenager Sun Xinran at the China Open in a third-round match, where a replayed point prompted an online backlash.

Lego fraudster among last year's most high-profile insurance scammers

A scammer jailed for making false home insurance claims about supposedly stolen Lego has been listed as one of last year's most high-profile insurance fraudsters.

The person was sentenced to 28 months in prison after an investigation found the claims were made up, insurance trade body the ABI said.