Vladimir Putin’s economy minister has warned that Russia is “on the verge” of recession as he spoke on the second day of a signature event meant to bolster economic confidence. The minister, Maxim Reshetnikov, said at the St Petersburg economic forum that his view was based on “current business sentiment and indicators” pointing to a slowdown. “Everything else depends on …

Fire chiefs have issued a warning over outdoor fires and barbecues after a sevenfold increase in UK wildfires, as amber heat alerts were issued across England before what is expected to be a scorching weekend. The UK has already experienced more than 500 wildfires this year, with incidents up 717% compared with the same period in 2024. According to the …

The family-owned Los Angeles Lakers are about to be sold at a valuation of $10 billion, smashing the previous record for the purchase price for a team sport. The cross-country rival Boston Celtics went for $6.1 billion just three months ago. With team values soaring, there have been a number of notable franchise transactions in recent years: Los Angeles Lakers …