London did not publicise Adm Sir Tony Radakin's trip, but Beijing says he had in-depth talks with Chinese counterpartChina has confirmed that the head of the British military paid an unannounced visit to the country this week, where he met his counterpart at a time when Beijing's trade dispute with the US was intensifying.London did not publicise the visit, but China's defence ministry said Adm Sir Tony Radakin had discussed strengthening military cooperation with a country that the UK officially describes as posing a systemic challenge". Continue reading...
EY admits to failings in assessment of 2017 and 2018 financial statements of travel firm, which collapsed in 2019EY has been fined almost 5m for serious breaches of standards" over its audits of Thomas Cook in the years before the travel company's devastating collapse in 2019.The UK's audit watchdog, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), said EY and one of its partners, Richard Wilson, had admitted to failings related to their assessment of the travel agent's financial statements from 2017 and 2018. Continue reading...
Investigators find coordination failures between NHS and care bodies causing delays, distress and burnoutNavigating England's complex" health and care system is extremely difficult" and carers and patients are experiencing burnout, distress and harm as a result, a damning report says.There were frequent failures by NHS and care organisations in coordinating care for people with long-term health conditions, the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) found. Figures show 41% of adults and 17% of children have at least one long-term health issue. Continue reading...
With white paper imminent, Institute for Government urges ministers to abandon reactive, kneejerk' decisionsMinisters should introduce an annual migration plan to put an end to decades of incoherent, disconnected and unpredictable" policies around work visas, according to a Whitehall thinktank.The Institute for Government (IfG) said that successive governments have put forward reactive, kneejerk policies" formulated when politicians have been questioned by broadcasters over net migration figures. Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#6WH06)
More schools also reducing spending on trips, IT, extracurricular activities and GCSE subject choicesHalf of secondary schools in England have been forced to cut staff this year due to financial pressures that are pushing many towards breaking point", according to polling.As well as cuts to teaching and support personnel, there has been a marked increase in the proportion of secondary school leaders having to reduce subject choice at GCSE to save money, while extracurricular activities, school trips and investment in IT have also been hit. Continue reading...
British royals wish pontiff well in recovery from pneumonia during their state visit to ItalyKing Charles and Queen Camilla paid a surprise private visit to a convalescing Pope Francis on Wednesday afternoon during their four-day state visit to Italy.The royal couple visited Francis, 88, at his home in Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City, where he is recovering from a serious bout of pneumonia in both lungs. An official audience had previously been removed from the royals' schedule due to the pontiff's ill health. Continue reading...
by Rajeev Syal, Mimi Ibrahim and Vikram Dodd on (#6WGY5)
Announcement billed as a return to an era of bobbies on the beat' as part of community-focused measuresPolice officers on foot will patrol every busy neighbourhood at peak times as part of a set of community-focused measures to be unveiled by Keir Starmer.In an announcement billed as a return to an era of bobbies on the beat", the prime minister will also confirm that every neighbourhood in England and Wales will be given a named and contactable police officer. Continue reading...
Dmitry Ovsiannikov transferred funds to UK bank account while brother also convictedA former Russian government minister who was appointed as a governor in illegally annexed Crimea by Vladimir Putin has been found guilty of circumventing sanctions, in the first case of its kind.Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, the former governor of Sevastopol, was accused of deliberately avoiding sanctions by opening a Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) account and having tens of thousands of pounds transferred to it by his wife, Ekaterina Ovsiannikova. Continue reading...
Prospect of seeing 1977 version of film on big screen had become holy grail for fansThe force is finally with Star Wars fans long frustrated by director George's Lucas's alterations to the iconic space opera, with a rare screening of the original cut of the film in London this summer.The 1977 theatrical version of the film, in which Han Solo shot first and Jabba the Hutt was only mentioned by name, will be shown twice on the opening night of the British Film Institute (BFI)'s Film on Film festival on 12 June. Continue reading...
London fire brigade asks people to behave responsibly and Scottish fire and rescue service gives extreme' alertHot weather is expected to bring highs of 24C to the UK as fire services continue to warn of wildfires across the country.The Met Office said temperatures would peak on Friday in London and south-east England, which could make it the hottest day of the year so far, while temperatures could hit 23C on Thursday. Continue reading...
More than 20,000 drivers received perfect score when taking practical test last yearA record number of British drivers are passing their driving test first time while committing zero faults.Official figures released by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show more than 20,000 drivers received a perfect score when taking their practical test last year - the highest number since figures were first published in 2007-08. Continue reading...
Office for National Statistics for first time examines how estimated rates of self-harm and suicide differ by sexualityThe risk of suicide and self-harm for people who identify as gay or lesbian, bisexual or another sexual orientation (LGB+) is more than twice as high as for their heterosexual peers, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The ONS found that the risk of suicide among people aged 16 and over identifying as LGB+ in England and Wales was about 2.2 times higher than among heterosexuals, while the risk of intentional self-harm was 2.5 times higher. Continue reading...
North-east Atlantic mackerel in decline and Good Fish Guide says shoppers should look for other optionsMackerel stocks are nearing a breaking point", experts have said as the fish is downgraded as a sustainable option.People should be eating herring instead, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said, because mackerel continues to be overfished by countries including Norway and the UK. Continue reading...
Exhibition of rarely seen paintings by Cassandra Austen part of events marking 250th anniversary of author's birthPerhaps most well-known for destroying thousands of her more famous sister's letters, Cassandra Austen's act of what some called literary vandalism overshadowed her accomplished skills as an artist.But now the artwork of Jane Austen's older sister - played by Keeley Hawes in the recent BBC drama Miss Austen - are to go on display together for the first time in the house where the siblings lived. Continue reading...
by Agence France-Presse in Santo Domingo on (#6WGCR)
Singer Rubby Perez, who was performing at Jet Set club, and municipal governor among dead in Santo DomingoSearch efforts continued early on Wednesday after nearly 100 people died in a nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic.The popular Dominican merengue singer Rubby Perez, who was performing at the Jet Set nightclub before hundreds of people when the collapse occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday, was one of those killed, according to his manager. Continue reading...
Musician, who played with the Beatles between 1960 and 1962 until he was replaced by Ringo Starr, says he had a blast'Pete Best, the first drummer to perform with the Beatles before he was replaced by Ringo Starr, has confirmed his retirement.The 83-year-old's brother, Roag Best, announced the news on social media on the weekend, writing that the drummer would no longer be performing with his band, the Pete Best Band. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Four weeks into the dispute, with the council declaring a major incident, the streets are overflowing with rubbish and ratsGood morning. Whatever else is going on the world, there is very little that makes people as angry as the bins not being collected. This isn't to say that it's a trivial concern. As well as the natural disgust that comes with facing piles of stinking rubbish every time you go out, bin collection is a natural proxy for our sense of living in a functioning society; a basic feature of a developed economy. When it goes wrong, it feels as if something more profound is broken, too.To an infamous list that includes Paris in 2023 and Madrid in 2013, you can now add Birmingham in 2025 - the second such crisis in the city in eight years. Talks yesterday were said to be productive", but again failed to resolve the situation; as the strike drags on, residents are asking why they face such inadequate local services when the rates they pay keep going up.Economy | Rates on imports to the United States from dozens of economies rose further on Wednesday, with tariffs imposed on Chinese products since Donald Trump returned to the White House reaching a staggering 104%. The new tariffs include rates of 20% on the European Union, 26% on India and 49% on Cambodia.British Steel | Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are actively considering nationalising British Steel in an escalation of plans first revealed in the Guardian last year. The prime minister said all options were on the table to secure the future of the Scunthorpe plant after talks about a financial support package to move to less polluting technology faltered.Ukraine | A high-profile former Ukrainian commander has called for the head of the country's military to step aside, accusing him of putting Ukrainian soldiers' lives at risk. In an interview, Bohdan Krotevych, who recently resigned as chief of staff of the Azov brigade, said that Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi must go" and Ukraine's military leadership must be shaken up.Crime | The UK government is developing a murder prediction" programme to identify those most likely to become killers. Researchers are alleged to be using algorithms to analyse the information of thousands of people, including victims of crime, to identify those at greatest risk of committing serious violent offences.Theme parks | A former brickworks in Bedford will be the site of a new multibillion-pound theme park from the entertainment behemoth Universal, it has been announced. The government says the project will bring a 50bn boost to Britain's economy and create 20,000 jobs in construction, with a further 8,000 operational roles once it is up and running in 2031. Continue reading...
The Hebei nursing home's other residents have been transferred to nearby hospitals as authorities investigate cause of the blazeTwenty people have died in a fire at a nursing home in northern China's Hebei province, Beijing's state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday.The fire broke out on Tuesday night at the nursing home in Longhua County, roughly 180km northeast of the Chinese capital Beijing, Xinhua said. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent on (#6WG97)
Charities condemn national scandal' and call for pledge to build 90,000 social homes a year to meet demandThe wait for family-size social housing has risen to more than 100 years in parts of England, which charities have condemned as ludicrous" and a national scandal".Analysis from the National Housing Federation (NHF), Crisis and Shelter found that in 32 local authority areas across England, the wait for a home with at least three bedrooms was longer than 18 years - the duration of an entire childhood. Continue reading...
Keir Starmer hails visitor attraction - set to open in 2031 - as a way to bring jobs and growth to regionFirst Beijing, and now Bedford: a transformative" new British tourist magnet is coming to the home counties - just off the A421.A former brickworks will be the site of a new multibillion-pound theme park from the entertainment behemoth Universal, the government confirmed on Wednesday. Continue reading...
by Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondent on (#6WFY7)
Kerri Pegg, 42, of HMP Kirkham guilty of misconduct after inmate Anthony Saunderson gave her a Mercedes carA prison governor has been found guilty of misconduct in a public office, after she started a relationship with a Liverpool drug gang boss nicknamed Jesse Pinkman" after a character in the TV show Breaking Bad.Kerri Pegg, 42, has been told she faces jail after she accepted a gift of a 12,000 Mercedes C-Class car, which Anthony Saunderson paid for with 34kg of amphetamines. Continue reading...
Public told to avoid area as emergency services remained at Darley Moor racetrack on Tuesday eveningTwo men have died after a plane crashed at a racetrack in Derbyshire.At about 11.30am on Tuesday, a light aircraft crashed at Darley Moor racetrack near Ashbourne, police said. The public were told to avoid the area, where emergency services remained on the scene. Continue reading...
PM tells MPs on the Commons liaison committee that we are doing everything we can to ensure there is a bright future for Scunthorpe'Half of Britons (51%) think the government should impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the US, according to polling by More in Common, a campaign group. Last week, just before the Trump tariffs were announced, YouGov published figures suggesting 71% of Britons would favour retaliatory tariffs against the US.Yesterday YouGov also released polling suggesting that only around a third of voters think Keir Starmer and the government played a significant role in ensuring the US tariffs imposed on the UK are relatively low. Continue reading...
Creator of hit series responded to rumors of drama with Cristobal Tapia de Veer in fiery interview with Howard SternThe third season of The White Lotus may be over, but the drama continues for the hit HBO show. In a new interview, creator Mike White hit back at composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, who told the New York Times last week that he is quitting the show.De Veer, who composed the show's score and viral title sequence stylized for each of the three seasons' locations, told the Times that he would not return for the show's fourth season following creative differences with White. We already had our last fight for ever, I think," he said of White. He was just saying no to anything." Continue reading...
Case of Gaza medics is only latest incident when Israel has altered account of high profile killingThe Israel Defense Forces' changing account of its killing of 15 Palestinian medics and civil defence workers is part of a long familiar pattern in high profile cases involving the killing of civilians.Often, at first, the IDF denies involvement. Sometimes - in the context of Gaza - it initially suggests one of Hamas's own rockets fell short, causing the casualties. Continue reading...
Plantation Wharf Pier in west London is now called St Mary's Wandsworth, says Uber Boat by Thames ClippersA pier on the River Thames in west London has been renamed St Mary's Wandsworth after criticism by anti-racism campaigners.The pier, formerly known as Plantation Wharf Pier, is located between the Wandsworth Riverside Quarter and Chelsea Harbour piers. Continue reading...
DC Philippa Baskwill of Avon and Somerset police faces hearing over alleged gross misconductA detective is to face a misconduct hearing over allegations she deliberately weighed down the keys on her laptop to give the impression she was working while at home.Avon and Somerset police gave notice of the accelerated misconduct hearing, which will take place on Thursday, in relation to DC Philippa Baskwill. Continue reading...
Ukrainian president says men's capture shows Moscow is trying to involve Beijing in the war directly or indirectly'Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting with the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.They are two of what Ukraine's president described as many more Chinese members of the Russian armed forces, and their capture prompted him to accuse the Kremlin of trying to involve Beijing in the conflict directly or indirectly". Continue reading...
Bhim Kohli, who was walking his dog, was racially abused, kicked and punched in gratuitous' attackTwo teenagers have been found guilty at Leicester crown court of the manslaughter of Bhim Kohli after the 80-year-old was attacked in a park near Leicester in September.A 15-year-old boy, who kicked, punched and racially abused the 80-year-old man while he was walking his dog in a park, has been found guilty of manslaughter. Continue reading...
Rare early work Going to the Mill is to be auctioned after remaining in the Wallace family since 1926When LS Lowry sold one of his earliest paintings to the literary editor of the Manchester Guardian in 1926, he had an immediate change of heart.Arthur Wallace had edited a supplement for the Guardian to accompany a civic week organised by Manchester city council in October 1926, and featured three paintings by the then struggling artist. Continue reading...
Tycoon was named in Lords as having obtained injunction against Telegraph to stop publication of misconduct allegationsRetail tycoon Sir Philip Green has lost a legal case against the UK government after complaining about being publicly named in the House of Lords as facing misconduct allegations.The case, which was said to be a test of the concept of parliamentary privilege, was launched after Lord Hain announced in the House of Lords that Green had used the courts to obtain an interim injunction against the Telegraph to stop publication of the allegations during 2018. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6WFHM)
Those who lose benefit payments will find it difficult to access care and support services, says Policy in PracticeHundreds of thousands of seriously ill and disabled people will become invisible" and cut adrift from local support services as a result of the government's 5bn programme of disability benefit cuts, experts have warned.Claimants who do not qualify for personal independence payment (Pip) or incapacity benefits would lose a marker of need" with local councils and NHS bodies, making it nearly impossible" for them to access help, said the consultancy Policy in Practice. Continue reading...
Health secretary says chaos caused by fears of a global trade war will be another layer of challenge'US tariffs could adversely affect the supply of medicines to the UK, the health secretary has said.Donald Trump announced a wide range of reciprocal" tariffs on goods imported into the US, including a 10% levy on the UK as well as 20% on the EU, 34% on China and 46% on Vietnam. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6WFGE)
Backbench groups revive controversial issue to tackle threat of Reform and crack down on illegal migrationMore than 40 Labour MPs from three influential backbench groups have called on ministers to introduce digital IDs, which they claim would boost productivity in delivering public services and crack down on illegal employment.The open letter - organised by the Rother Valley MP, Jake Richards - is signed by the co-chairs of the Labour Growth Group, Chris Curtis and Lola McEvoy, as well as Jo White, who convenes the Labour Red Wall Group. Other signatories include Dan Carden and Jonathan Brash, members of the Blue Labour group of socially conservative MPs. Continue reading...
Report released as Labour admits it will break promise to enact law by 36th anniversary and rewrites key proposalsBereaved families have urged ministers to introduce the Hillsborough law in full, according to a new report, as Labour admitted a promise to bring legislation by the 36th anniversary would be broken.The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and the Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds attended the family listening day" event on 3 February, which the Ministry of Justice funded, organised by the campaign group Inquest. Continue reading...
Campaigners claim NI is being used as a whipping boy' to feed Irish republic's energy-hungry datacentresAn ambitious 350m (300m) plan to connect electricity grids across the island of Ireland is heading for the high court after a challenge brought by campaigners claiming Northern Ireland was being used as a whipping boy" to feed the republic's energy-hungry datacentres.An estimated 150 landowners representing 6,500 residents have called on the Northern Ireland minister for infrastructure, Liz Kimmins, to suspend the construction of more than 100 towering pylons in Armagh and Tyrone until a judicial review, due to start on 9 April, has been completed. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian