TLDRThe UK and EU are exploring renewed talks on defence cooperation, following stalled negotiations on the UK joining the EU's €150bn Security Action for Europe (Safe) defence fund. Keir Starmer has expressed a desire to 'go further' in the UK's relationship with Brussels, with potential areas for future deals including chemicals and cars. The EU's trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, is due in London for talks, although defence is not currently on the agenda.

Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.

Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.

Former care worker Louise Stuart, 60, admitted illegally claiming £85,000 in benefits over eight years, blaming her dishonesty on not having enough money to pay for her basic needs. She perpetrated the fraud while her partner Russel Harrison was also fiddling benefits, in his case dishonestly claiming £36,000 over six-and-a-half years. He was given an immediate 18-month jail term for "brazen" dishonestly. At Carlisle Crown Court, Stuart, of Edinburgh Road, Maryport, admitted two counts of failing to disclose circumstances affecting her entitlement to benefits. “It’s dishonesty, and you knew it was,” said the judge, imposing an 11-month jail term which he said could be suspended.

Scientists are concerned that curiosity-driven research is set to be further cut back after three research councils confirmed they have paused funding opportunities. Amid a shake-up of how UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) allocates budgets for its research councils, three of the largest – the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have confirmed several of their main funding routes have been suspended in recent months until further notice. At the MRC, which had a core budget of £602 million in 2025-26, applicant-led research grants, new investigator research grants and partnership grants have been paused since late December with no indication of when they might reopen. ADVERTISEMENTApplicant-led responsive funding is also not open at the BBSRC – a move that affects standard research grants and new investigator awards. Overall budget settlements for the UK’s seven research councils, plus Innovate UK and Research England, have yet to be publicly announced.

Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.

Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.

United are yet to approve any incoming or outgoing transfers in January, though Kone could now be headed for the exit door. The 19-year-old academy product is understood to be close to securing a temporary switch to Lausanne until the season's end. The defensive midfielder is said to have been training with the Swiss Super League contenders for several days whilst awaiting the finalisation of paperwork. FC Lausanne-Sport wishes Souleymane Ndiaye a speedy and full recovery." Eternal respect and affection for Manchester United and its wonderful fans.

Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.

[1] The trustees were Ms Rayner, her then husband Mark Rayner, and a third-party trustee. Verrico & Associates (the conveyancer[8]) ranks as a so-called ‘obliged entity’ under Anti-Money Laundering regulations and it has obligations under the law which it must discharge both regarding Ms Rayner herself and the £162,000 deposit. Ms Rayner should have been put through Enhanced Due Diligence given her status as a Politically Exposed Person (a PEP), and before her being taken on as a client by Verrico. The internal report compiled by Verrico on Ms Rayner needs to come into the public domain. Again the respective application by Ms Rayner and the evidence she submitted that her representations were true need to come into the public domain.

Hamilton finished the day and the week with the fastest time having gone one tenth quicker than George Russells previous best from Thursday. The morning session on Friday was very busy, with eight F1 teams all heading out for their final allowed day of testing during this Barcelona private shakedown. For McLaren, Oscar Piastri took to the track during the morning session, before world champion Norris took over in the afternoon, beaten by Hamilton in the final moments of the Barcelona shakedown. Here are the fastest lap times from each day at the Barcelona shakedown. Please note that all of the times are reported, and not official due to the private nature of this week's shakedown.

HENLEY Hawks Women were left with just a single losing bonus point to show for a fiercely contested afternoon at Oakfield on Sunday as Thurrock edged a tight encounter in Championship South Division 1. Henley started the match with real intent, meeting Thurrock’s early physical challenge head-on and competing strongly at the breakdown. The Hawks’ line speed in defence caused early disruption, forcing errors and preventing Thurrock from finding attacking fluency. Thurrock extended their lead early in the half, but Henley’s response was immediate and full of intent. As the clock wound down, Henley pushed hard for a decisive score with Gianna Noble-Cunningham powering her way over the line, converted by Abbie Michelow.

The minority party’s blockade imperiled a push by Republicans for approval of larger package of legislation funding other departments, which needed to pass the Senate before the government’s spending authorization expired Friday. Democrats are demanding that the DHS funding bill be rewritten to include new restrictions on federal agents, following the killings of Good and Pretti, which came amid a surge of immigration agents Trump ordered into Minnesota’s largest city. Besides the homeland security department, Congress had not yet fully passed appropriations for the departments of defense, education, labor, health and human services, transportation, and housing and urban development. Trump has indicated that he would sign the spending package, blessed by his White House, when it reaches his desk. Republicans blocked the legislation when the vote took place, and the subsidies expired at the end of 2025.

Catherine O'Hara, the Canadian-born performer celebrated for her work in film and television comedies including Home Alone, Beetlejuice and Schitt’s Creek, has died at the age of 71. Her agent confirmed to the BBC that O’Hara passed away on Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a short illness. O’Hara first established herself in Canada’s comedy scene, beginning in the 1970s at Toronto’s Second City theatre. As Moira Rose, a former soap star with an ever-shifting accent, theatrical wardrobe and razor-sharp delivery, she won the 2021 Emmy for best actress in a comedy series. Catherine O’Hara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch; their sons, Matthew and Luke; and her siblings.

BEIJING, CHINA - JANUARY 30: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers remarks at a UK-China Business Forum at the Bank of China on January 30, 2026 in Beijing, China. Keir Starmer undertakes a high-profile diplomatic mission to China and Japan, marking the first visit to Beijing by a British leader since 2018. Accompanied by a delegation of 50 business leaders, Starmer aims to "reset" relations with President Xi Jinping to stimulate UK economic growth through expanded trade and the revival of high-level economic dialogues. Starmer concludes the trip with a brief visit to Tokyo on Saturday. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)