Two Russian men are set to stand trial in Angola, accused of running a covert campaign to sow dissent, spread false information and interfere in next year’s presidential vote.Igor Ratchin and Lev Lakshtanov were detained in August and face 11 counts including terrorism, espionage and illicit influence.Angolan prosecutors say their activities were part of a wider operation tied to a network that...

A major trade agreement signed this week will send more Australian beef to Europe by removing most export tariffs and easing market access.The pact, negotiated over about eight years, is valued at roughly A$10 billion and was finalised on Tuesday.Nearly all EU duties on a range of Australian farm products will be eliminated, covering wine, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, seafood, most dairy, and...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will tell MPs how the UK plans to respond if the war in the Middle East pushes energy bills higher.Her Commons statement will cover three main areas: a short assessment of the economic fallout, measures to bolster energy security, and the principles that would guide any future household support.On energy security, Reeves will recommit the government to building more...

Postal staff around the UK have told the BBC that managers instructed them to remove or stash first-class letters so rounds appeared completed, a practice they say has helped mask missed delivery targets.The claims come from ten postal workers who spoke anonymously to BBC Your Voice.They described mail being put on trolleys or moved out of sight and returned the next day when inspections or...

Italy’s governing coalition suffered a surprising blow as voters rejected a constitutional reform in a weekend referendum, handing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a significant political defeat.Preliminary results showed roughly 54% voting against the proposal and about 46% in favour, with turnout close to 60%.Early exit polling pointed to a narrow lead for the no camp that widened as counting...

Michael Lyster, one of RTÉ Sport’s most familiar presenters, has died aged 71.Lyster began his journalism career at The Tuam Herald in County Galway before moving to RTÉ around 1980.In his first year with the broadcaster he covered the Moscow Olympic Games and soon became a regular voice across its sports output. He took over presenting duties on The Sunday Game in 1984 and remained closely...

An explosion in the town of Bucha, just outside Kyiv, injured two police officers after a second device detonated when officers arrived at the scene.The blast happened in the early hours of Monday on a residential street.Emergency teams rushed in after a loud initial explosion and were hit by a follow-up blast that wounded the two officers in their limbs; their injuries are not believed to be...

Ministers are considering slowing HS2 trains as a way to reduce costs after the high-speed rail project ran into delays and ballooning budgets.The transport department has asked the company building the London-to-Birmingham section to study whether trains could initially operate at a lower top speed.A formal update on the programme’s timetable and cost is now expected only after the May...

Many families who once treated days out as a routine are tightening their belts as everyday leisure costs climb.Parents across the UK say meals, attractions and activities have become harder to justify on a middle-income budget, even when both adults are in work.Bianca and Paul Osborne, who live in Stockport and earn close to the national average household income, found a typical family outing...

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has publicly addressed her ties to Jeffrey Epstein, saying she was misled and expressing regret for not checking his background more closely.The 20-minute interview with public broadcaster NRK came after seven weeks of silence, following the release of millions of documents by the US Department of Justice.Those files showed the crown princess exchanged...