Stone Age societies embraced 'complex identities' and flexible gender roles, experts have revealed, after unearthing the skeleton of a woman who was buried like a man 7,000 years ago. Men, for example, were typically buried on their right side surrounded by polished stone tools. Hers was the only female skeleton found buried with polished stone tools. This discovery, of a female buried with 'traditionally masculine attributes', suggests society 'tolerated exceptions and was already experiencing the complexity of identities', the researchers said. Of all skeletons who were buried with polished stone tools and which had evidence of a typically–masculine kneeling pattern, nine were men and just one was a woman.

Female paedophile, 80, jailed after forcing young boy to have sex with herHazel Templeton, 80, has been jailed after forcing a young boy into sick acts in the 1980s - she has previous convictions for indecent assaults and gross indecency with a childView Image Newport Crown Court (file) (Image: Media Wales)An 80-year-old woman has been jailed after carrying out sick acts on a young boy. ‌Hazel Templeton, 80, repeatedly indecently assaulted her victim in the 1980s, threatening him and leaving him with trust issues that he said had ruined his life. ‌The defendant forced the victim to touch her sexually and carry out a sex act on her, the court was told. A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard Templeton also had sex with the victim on two occasions. She was sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment at Laganside Crown Court in Belfast in 2025.

Transit van stolen from residential street near StroudIt was taken and then driven away 'at speed'View Image Generic police file image (Image: Western Mail)Police are appealing for the public's help after a van was stolen from a residential street. ‌Investigators say the vehicle - a white Ford Transit - was taken from a residential area in Eastington, near Stroud, on Monday, February 23. ‌The van was then captured on CCTV being driven at speed down Bath Road and then Alkerton Road. Officers believe a red Vauxhall Insignia may be linked to the theft, as further CCTV footage from a neighbouring property captured the vehicle driving slowly towards the van before it was stolen. Article continues belowPolice would like to speak to anybody who may have seen anything suspicious in the area at the time or has any dashcam or CCTV footage which they consider relevant.

Photograph: Richard Rodriguez/Getty ImagesThe European Union (EU) expects that the US won’t increase its universal tariff on the bloc to 15 per cent, even after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the higher rate would likely go into effect this week. The EU received assurances that the US will keep a 10 per cent universal tariff rate in effect for the bloc’s exports, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. At the time, the US president threatened to increase the level to 15 per cent, but so far hasn’t introduced it. The EU-US struck a trade deal last summer that would impose a 15 per cent tariff on most EU exports to the US while removing tariffs on many American goods heading into the bloc. Bloomberg reported earlier that the lower 10 per cent levy — in addition to most-favoured nation tariffs already in place — would leave about €4.2 billion ($4.9 billion) of EU exports facing tariffs above the 15 per cent ceiling agreed in the EU-US trade accord.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ruled out cuts to the fuel excise amid fears petrol prices are set to soar due to the conflict in the Middle East. Chalmers hit back at Wilson for claiming the government collects more money when fuel prices increase, accusing him of 'intentionally lying'. 'Excise revenue does not increase when petrol prices increase. This could mean petrol prices in Australia rising by between 25 cents and $1 per litre, depending on movements in the Australian dollar and refinery margins. At the upper end of that range, fuel prices in many cities could climb towards — and potentially exceed $3-a-litre.

It comes as home-heating oil distributors and petrol retailers have insisted they are not “price gouging” customers. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke has now written to the CCPC, which has powers to investigate price gouging, asking it to initiate a review of Ireland’s energy market. “If the Taoiseach wants to protect Irish consumers from high fuel prices, he might want to look closer to home. Asked if its members were price gouging, Mr McPartlan said: “No doubt the Taoiseach understands how global markets operate. “There is no price gouging because we have to buy fuel every day and the price changes every day.

His successor – and now his predecessor too – Jim Rowan, had pushed Volvo down a route of basing new cars on software rather than hardware. That’s a route many car makers are taking now, but Volvo fumbled the move. “We decided that the future of Volvo cars must be electric and today can confirm that we are even more convinced that this is the right answer, not only to the climate challenge, but also to our customers’ expectations of getting better, more attractive cars." “The problems with those cars were mainly down to the software,” Samuelsson said. In his previous stint as chief executive, Samuelsson made the promise that by 2020, there would be no fatal accidents for occupants of Volvo cars.

TD Albert Dolan said Australia showed leadership in banning social media for under 16s and France followed suit and it was time for Ireland to 'step up'. Photograph: Getty ImagesIreland must show leadership and get young people off “toxic” social media platforms, a Government backbencher has said. Dolan said Australia showed leadership in banning social media for under 16s, France followed suit and it was time for Ireland to “step up”. The Dublin South-West TD claimed a ban on social media recommender algorithms for under-18s was removed from Ireland’s online safety code “because big tech lobbied”. “The parallels with big tobacco are clear in the damage to young people,” he said, adding that social media companies know the impact their platforms are having.

Farmers participating in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) are being advised that satellite imagery will again be used in the assessment of activities. The department has announced that it will again utilise the Area Monitoring System (AMS) to ensure that farmers in area-based schemes like ACRES are meeting eligibility requirements for 2026. AMS is defined as the regular and systematic observation, tracking and assessment of agricultural activities and practices on agricultural areas using Copernicus Sentinel Satellite data. AMS will be monitoring seven ACRES actions again in 2026. The purpose of this Technical Notice is to remind farmers of the ACRES actions to be monitored by AMS in 2026, some of which have key dates falling in March.

When he starts for England against Italy on Saturday, I'd urge Fin Smith to learn from my mistakes. In their defeats by Scotland and Ireland, England have started really poorly. Against both Scotland and Ireland, England came up against two desperate teams who had big points to prove. This is a monumental game for Borthwick, Fin and England. But so long as Fin and his team don't overplay their hand - as I did in the past - then I think England will do just enough to return to winning ways.

‘It’s very stressful, I’m pregnant and we thought we’d finally be in our home’ – prospective home buyers left in limbo

The UK's first premier Harry Potter flagship shop is set to open in the heart of London - featuring interactive areas, photo opportunities and exclusive merchandise. Arriving in autumn 2026, Harry Potter Oxford Street will be a two-floor 'wizarding emporium' located at The Ribbon, 134-140 Oxford Street. It will also be the world's biggest Harry Potter shop, taking up 21,000 square feet. Global Experiences today announced the newest addition will join the Harry Potter Shop in King's Cross as the UK's only two official Harry Potter retail destinations. It also joins a growing collection of official Harry Potter stores across the globe, including New York, Chicago, Harajuku, and Akasaka.

Simon Jordan appeared to defend Leeds fans accused of racism after they booed Manchester City's Muslim players breaking their Ramadan fast during a break in play in their Premier League clash last weekend. Despite this, a number of Leeds fans loudly booed the pause for players to take on water and energy gels, which prompted another message calling for unity and support. 'If there were Muslim players in the Leeds side and they had been part of a fasting break, would they have booed them? Only in the minds of the Leeds fans that booed do we know the motivation, and all the usual suspects will seek to say, "A-ha, alive and kicking. Leeds manager Daniel Farke had similarly suggested after the final whistle that he thought the supporters might have been mistaken.

Lewis Hamilton's 'clear as day' replacement breaks silence on Ferrari rumoursLewis Hamilton's time with Ferrari has not gone to planView 3 Images Ollie Bearman addressed links to Ferrari (Image: YouTube/High Performance Podcast)It's been two years since Ollie Bearman made his Formula 1 race debut with Ferrari at the mere age of 18. ‌Pressure has recently been building on one of Ferrari's current drivers, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, following a nightmare first season with the team. View 3 Images Lewis Hamilton is not getting any younger (Image: Marco Canoniero, LightRocket via Getty Images)‌"First of all I don’t even see them because you have to go on Autosport or whatever to find them. That remark mirrored the views of former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, who'd said earlier in 2025 that the 20-year-old is the "obvious candidate" when the seat becomes free. Let’s hope we see the Lewis Hamilton of previous seasons rather than last year’s version, and this isn’t the last year we see him in F1.

However, when once-off receipts arising from the Apple tax case are excluded from 2025, total tax receipts were up marginally on last year, rising by just over 1%. Direct TaxesIncome tax receipts of €2.9bn were recorded in February, which was over 10% ahead of the same month last year. On a cumulative basis, income tax receipts of €6bn were more than 5% ahead of the same period in 2025. Capital acquisitions tax collected at the end of the month amounted to €45m, which was down by €8m annually. Other TaxesMotor tax receipts of €164m were collected by the exchequer at the end of February, which was flat on last year.