Speaking ahead of the meeting of the UK government’s emergency committee Cobra, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said he was “very hopeful” of progress being made – but cautioned any extra freedoms would not be an instruction to do “risky things”.

Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City to sign Jack Grealish, having identified the Aston Villa and England midfielder, 25, as a top target in his planned rebuild. (Independent)external-link West Brom have held talks with an American consortium over a £150m takeover. (Telegraph – subscription only)external-link Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists goalkeeper Dean Henderson “wants to stay

Southampton missed the chance to go third in the Premier League as Theo Walcott’s first goal since rejoining the club was only enough for a draw at Wolves. Saints had looked on course for victory when Walcott steered in Che Adams’ cross in the 58th minute – his first league goal for the club since

The first thing I thought when I read that Mario Balotelli had been linked with a move to Barnsley was that it was a little bit too near to where I live! I don’t want him coming around to my house in Harrogate and setting fireworks off in my kitchen again like he did when

Casper Grathwohl, the president of Oxford Dictionaries, said: “I’ve never witnessed a year in language like the one we’ve just had. The Oxford team was identifying hundreds of significant new words and usages as the year unfolded, dozens of which would have been a slam dunk for Word of the Year at any other time.

Liverpool moved level on points with Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur and thwarted Leicester City’s hopes of going top with an outstanding performance and victory at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side remain behind Spurs on goal difference but the manner of the win – achieved amid an injury crisis – sounded an ominous warning to those

No team is going to want to play England at the moment. It is like playing the All Blacks. England are a relentless, ruthless team who grind away at you. Physically and mentally you have to be at the top of your game in order to challenge them. It is tough for a side to

By Andreas IllmerBBC News image copyrightJosua Hutagalung The story made headlines around the world – a meteorite crashes through the roof of an Indonesian villager’s home and turns out be worth millions, changing his life forever. It was suggested that the find was worth $1.8m (£1.36m), making the man an overnight millionaire – and if

England: (12) 18 Tries: May 2; Pens: Farrell 2; Con: Farrell Ireland: (0) 7 Try: Stockdale; Con: Burns Wing Jonny May scored a superb solo try as England claimed an emphatic and entertaining Autumn Nations Cup victory against Ireland at Twickenham. May crossed twice as the hosts dominated the first half and the second try,

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says there will be “consequences” for the source who leaked a story about an incident between Dani Ceballos and David Luiz. Arteta described the confrontation as “nothing” and was more concerned about it becoming public knowledge. He said: “I don’t like the fact that that incident comes out at all.” The

By Jonathan AmosBBC Science Correspondent Related Topics Climate change A satellite that will be critical to understanding of climate change will launch on Saturday from California. Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich will become the primary means of measuring the shape of the world’s oceans. Its data will track not only sea-level rise but reveal how the great

The PM has said he does not believe Ms Patel is a bully and regards the matter as closed despite the resignation of his adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Alex Allan, whose report found Ms Patel’s conduct fell below the standards expected of government ministers.

Former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor will return to the octagon in January for a second fight with Dustin Poirier. UFC president Dana White said “it was never a concern” that McGregor would not sign a deal to fight on 23 January at UFC 257. “If Conor McGregor says he wants to fight, Conor McGregor

Related Topics US election 2020 US President-elect Joe Biden has condemned Donald Trump’s refusal to accept defeat in the presidential election, saying it sent “a horrible message about who we are as a country”. Mr Biden said he was confident Mr Trump knew he was not going to win and had shown “incredible irresponsibility”. There

Two-time winners England have been drawn against Six Nations rivals France in the Rugby World Cup 2021 pool stages, while Wales will face defending champions and hosts New Zealand. Australia feature in a challenging Pool A for Wales, with the fourth team yet to be determined in qualifiers. England also play South Africa and World

The duet is one of the most enduring Christmas pop songs, having returned to the UK top 20 every year since 2005. Along with a string of other festive favourites, it is now rising the chart again, at 59 in the current midweek chart.

Diversity Role Models, a charity which also received funding through the government’s LGBT anti-bullying programme, recently carried out what it called a “pulse check” on levels of LGBT education and bullying in 90 schools across England.

The government is set to confirm a rescue package of emergency funding for sports impacted by the absence of spectators because of coronavirus. A bailout of several hundred million pounds will be announced on Thursday, consisting of both grants and loans. Both rugby codes and horse racing will be among the main beneficiaries, although a

England will visit Pakistan for the first time in 16 years when they play two Twenty20 internationals in October. England have not toured since 2005 following an attack by gunmen on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in 2009. The Pakistan Cricket Board invited England to tour in early 2021 after Pakistan toured the UK

Shahrokh Aghlani lost his mother in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. He says his mother, who had mobility issues and lived on the 18th floor, might have survived if she had a PEEP (personal emergency evacuation plan). Now, he’s taking the government to court to try to force high-rise building owners to put PEEPs