A 24-year-old woman has been jailed for nine years after meeting men on dating apps then luring them to hotel rooms where they were tied up, assaulted and robbed in violent scams that left victims seriously harmed and terrified, one of whom was threatened with scissors and another burned with a hot iron during the ordeal.

Nigeria’s football federation has formally filed a complaint with world governing body FIFA over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s use of players they claim were ineligible during the African play‑off final for the 2026 World Cup qualification, saying several squad members did not comply with Congolese nationality laws allegedly breaching eligibility rules, the federation has said.

The Home Secretary has announced the rollout of a ground-breaking DNA tool, backed by a £7 million government investment, aimed at helping police catch rapists and sex offenders, giving victims and survivors faster justice.

House Democrats on the US House Oversight Committee have shared fresh photographs from the estate of the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, showing a range of prominent figures from politics, business, and entertainment, the latest tranche of material in an expansive release of images that campaigners say raises questions about Epstein’s wide circle of connections even though there is no suggestion of illegal conduct in the pictures themselves.

The Deputy Prime Minister has acknowledged that rejoining the European Union could provide a clear economic boost to the United Kingdom, as he repeatedly refused to dismiss the possibility of reversing Brexit. His comments, made during a detailed interview, reignited the national conversation about whether the country might eventually return to closer ties with the bloc.

Several European public broadcasters have announced their withdrawal from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Israel would be allowed to take part, following a vote on new rules rather than a direct vote on Israel’s participation itself. The decision has triggered a wave of boycotts from countries citing ethical objections and concern over the war in Gaza and its humanitarian consequences.