24 hours ago Steve RosenbergRussia editor, in Lipetsk At first glance, Yelets in winter looks like something from a Russian fairy tale. From the embankment I spy the golden domes of Orthodox churches and, down below, ice fishermen dotted along the frozen river. But in this town, 350km (217 miles) …

The war in Ukraine is about to enter its fifth year. Over the past year, Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control, mostly in the east of Ukraine, and have continued their barrage of air strikes on Kyiv and other cities. Some 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have …

A Reform government would end more generous defined benefit pension schemes for new local government workers and merge nearly 100 separate schemes to create a £500bn British Sovereign Wealth Fund. The new fund would increase investments in UK companies, products, housing and infrastructure by £100bn according to Richard Tice, head …

Inside the children's home where late night footsteps meant fear and abuse 10 hours ago Emma GlasbeyYorkshire home and social affairs correspondent Karen Bentham was 14 when she became a resident of Skircoat Lodge children's home. She recalls that a few weeks after she arrived at the home, she first …

Authorities in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of dozens of tigers at a popular tourist attraction this month. Seventy-two tigers died in the span of less than two weeks across two facilities of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a park where visitors can touch and …

A suspected rapist awaiting trial has been mistakenly set free from prison and has left the country, the BBC has learnt. The man from London was on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, charged with multiple allegations of rape, sexual assault and violence against a woman. After a pre-trial hearing in …

BBC sorry for airing racial slur shouted by guest with Tourette's at Baftas 10 hours ago Steven McIntoshEntertainment reporter The BBC has apologised for not editing out a racial slur from its Bafta Film Awards coverage after a guest with Tourette's syndrome shouted out when two black actors were on …

Mexico sends thousands of soldiers to stop violence after death of drug lord 9 hours ago Jack Burgess Mexico has deployed thousands of soldiers to bolster security after a wave of violence erupted following the death of a powerful drug lord, the country's security minister has said. Defence Secretary Ricardo …

The Liberal Democrats will push for documents on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as a UK trade envoy to be released, following his arrest last week. On Tuesday, the party will table a motion to force the government to release files on his appointment to the role in 2001, including those relating …

The government is adding the incentive payments to the GP contract starting in April. GPs will also get extra money – worth about £1,000 a year - for referring patients on to weight loss programmes. Ministers said it was important that patients who could benefit from weight loss support were …