Money expert Martin Lewis has apologised after a breathless turn on his ITV programme, saying there was simply too much to cover in the slot and he hoped viewers still found something useful.He thanked former Labour leader Ed Miliband for joining the show to discuss the government’s home heating oil plan, and acknowledged his delivery felt hurried as the programme ran long.Lewis also warned...

Garden expert Alan Titchmarsh is urging gardeners to use March to get ahead of the season, calling it one of the most important months for outdoor work.In a recent video he outlined five practical tasks to prepare gardens for spring and secure an early harvest.At the top of his list is planting early potatoes — a job he says rewards gardeners quickly. Planted now, those early tubers can...

When Frances Tophill told colleagues she might end up living in a van after losing out on house bids, veteran gardener Alan Titchmarsh admits he was alarmed.The Love Your Garden star eventually secured a home in Devon, but she hasn’t ditched the van she once joked she could live in.Tophill, 34, from Kent, shot to fame after joining ITV’s Love Your Garden with Titchmarsh, Katie Rushworth and...

A leaked recording that reportedly shows US special envoy Steve Witkoff advising a Russian official on how to appeal to President Trump has stirred controversy in Washington.President Trump told reporters he had not listened to the audio but defended Witkoff, saying the envoy was doing what a dealmaker does to promote a peace plan.Bloomberg published a transcript of a call dated 14 October in...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out her Budget in the House of Commons around 12:30 GMT, facing pressure to find extra revenue while promising investment to cut NHS waiting lists and tackle the cost of living.She has flagged that tough but fair decisions are needed to reduce national debt and drive growth, with an immediate response from opposition leader Kemi Badenoch expected after the...

The government has announced a rise in the national minimum pay that will take effect from April, with adults aged over 21 set to receive an extra 50p an hour, lifting the rate to £12.71.Chancellor Rachel Reeves said around 2.7 million workers will benefit from the increases.Younger workers will also see larger percentage gains. Pay for 18 to 20-year-olds will increase by 85p to £10.85 an...

A freshly revised peace framework unveiled after intense talks in Geneva may be acceptable to Kyiv — but key issues still stand in the way of a deal.Washington had pushed for a rapid agreement ahead of Thanksgiving, but Kyiv balked when the initial proposal appeared heavily tilted toward Moscow’s demands.That prompted high-level delegations from Ukraine, the US, Germany, France and the UK to...

Belgium is preparing for widespread disruption this week as unions launch a three-day national strike that will culminate in a full general stoppage on Wednesday.The action is aimed at government plans to cut public spending by overhauling labour rules and reshaping unemployment and pension systems.The industrial action begins with transport on Monday, when national rail operator SNCB expected to...

A Paris administrative court has provisionally stopped the planned auction and export of La Pascaline, the calculating device built by Blaise Pascal in 1642. The ruling follows a legal appeal by scientists and heritage advocates who asked that the instrument be designated a national treasure and protected under France's heritage laws. Christie's had prepared to offer the machine as part of the...

Albania's prime minister has accused the UK Home Secretary of ethnic stereotyping after she highlighted Albanian families while unveiling major changes to Britain's asylum system. Shabana Mahmood told MPs that roughly 700 Albanian families were living in taxpayer-funded accommodation despite having had their asylum claims refused, and argued the government must remove people who have no right...