The Toxicator closed for about an hour on its first day after a burst pipe flooded the area nearby with sewageA toxic waste-themed ride at Alton Towers had to be temporarily closed on its opening day - after a burst pipe flooded the nearby area with sewage.Toxicator, the park's newest ride, was shut for about an hour on Saturday after the area nearby was evacuated. Continue reading...
Health secretary's comments that too many people are written off' prompts warnings against stigmatising peopleWes Streeting's comments that there is an overdiagnosis" of some mental health conditions has prompted experts to warn against stigmatising and punishing people.The health secretary also said too many people were being written off", as he was questioned about the government's welfare measures. Speaking to broadcasters, Streeting was repeatedly challenged on whether ministers were leaving disabled people uninformed for too long about the plans - and whether they would freeze the personal independence payment (Pip) as part of their welfare package this week. Continue reading...
French president says France, UK and others could each deploy a few thousand troops' to key locations to show Ukraine long-term support'Emmanuel Macron has said France, the UK, and other nations providing security guarantees for Ukraine after any eventual ceasefire would not be aiming to deploy a mass" of soldiers, but instead could send contingents of several thousand troops to key locations in Ukraine without needing Russia's permission.The French president told regional French newspapers, including Le Parisien and La Depeche de Midi, that several European countries, and indeed non-European ones" had expressed their willingness" to join a possible deployment to Ukraine to secure a future peace agreement with Russia. Continue reading...
Peter Reynolds, who runs a business in Afghanistan, was held along with his wife last month and needs heart pills, says his daughterThe life of a 79-year-old British man imprisoned along with his wife by the Taliban is in serious danger, his family have warned.Peter Reynolds and his wife, Barbie, 75, who run a training business in Afghanistan, were detained last month when they travelled to their home in Bamiyan province. Continue reading...
Several people killed in Kansas dust storm while scattered tornadoes cause fatalities in MissouriViolent tornadoes ripped through parts of the US, wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several states, part of a monster storm that killed at least 35 people as more severe weather was expected.In western Kansas, a dust storm was reported to have killed eight people as high winds produced blowing dust over the interstate, causing collisions of more than 71 vehicles on the I-70. Continue reading...
by Yohannes Lowe (now) and Vicky Graham (earlier) on (#6VZ1Q)
More than 150 people injured after blaze broke out in the early hours at Pulse club in town 60 miles from SkopjeAt least 59 killed in North Macedonia nightclub fireNorth Macedonia's public prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski has said five prosecutors would investigate the fire.At the moment, orders have been issued for collecting of evidence" and some people were being interviewed, Kocevski said. Continue reading...
Adrian and Joanne Fenton hit with penalty after calling police when they found a boy hiding inside bike-rack coverA couple who were fined 1,500 after reporting a boy who had stowed away on the back of their motorhome for their journey from France to Essex have had the penalty cancelled.Adrian and Joanne Fenton from Heybridge were fined by the Home Office for failing to check that no clandestine entrant was concealed" when they returned to their home across the Channel. Continue reading...
Interior minister says blaze at pop concert in eastern town of Koani probably caused by pyrotechnicsFifty-nine people have been killed and more than 100 injured in a fire that broke out in a nightclub in North Macedonia early on Sunday.The blaze in the small eastern town of Koani is thought to have erupted when special-effect pyrotechnics caused the roof of the Pulse nightclub to go up in flames. Continue reading...
At least 31 killed and up to 100 injured after Trump orders strikes on Sana'a and Saada in response to shipping attacksUS officials have said airstrikes launched by Donald Trump against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis may continue for weeks, after a first round on Saturday killed at least 31 people and injured up to 100 more.The strikes, which aim to punish the Houthis for their attacks against Red Sea shipping, are Trump's first such use of US military might in the region since he took power in January. Continue reading...
by Harriet Sherwood, Pamela Duncan and Matthew Pearce on (#6VZ30)
The pandemic forced many people in England and Wales to reflect how they might die with dignity, and the numbers of those wanting to die at home is on the riseWhen Marlene Viggers was told her newly diagnosed cancer was untreatable, she said she wanted to go home to die. She was the matriarch of the family, she held everything together, and she wanted to have her family all around her," said Neil Andrews, her son-in-law.For the next few weeks, until Marlene died in January 2022 at the age of 73, she was given round-the-clock care by her closest relatives supported by Marie Curie, the end of life charity. Continue reading...
Trusts work with the Royal Horticultural Society to create outdoor refuges for staff and patientsFor Hayleigh Austin-Richards, it is a place to have a cry, breathe fresh air and remind herself there is something magical about butterflies. As often as she can, the ward manager of Chapel Allerton's stroke rehabilitation unit in Leeds visits the hospital's Garden for Recovery", originally created for the Chelsea Flower Show and installed last summer.Austin-Richards's job can be hectic and tough, and she sees people going through some of the worst moments of their lives. The garden is a refuge: It's quiet. The way it's designed, it brings you in and shelters you in it. You feel like you're in the middle of nowhere," she said. Continue reading...
Maximo Napa says he survived by eating cockroaches, birds and a turtle - and thinking about his motherA Peruvian fisher was found alive after drifting at sea for 94 days, a navy official said on Saturday, as he was discharged from hospital after his ordeal.Maximo Napa, 61, was rescued in his small fishing boat on Tuesday after being spotted by an Ecuadoran vessel off the coast of Chimbote in northern Peru. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6VZ33)
Health secretary says too many people are being written off' and that is driving ministers' changes to welfareThe health secretary, Wes Streeting, has said he believes there is an overdiagnosis" of some mental health conditions as well as too many people being written off" - factors he said were the key drive for the government's welfare measures.Speaking to broadcasters, Streeting was repeatedly challenged on whether ministers were leaving disabled people uninformed for too long about the plans - and whether they would freeze the personal independence payment (Pip) as part of their welfare package this week. Continue reading...
Jack Aaron, whose past comments on controversial leaders led to widespread criticism, is now overseeing candidate selectionA Reform UK general election candidate who said Hitler was brilliant" at inspiring people and described Bashar al-Assad as gentle by nature" is now in charge of the party's vetting process.Jack Aaron's comments about the Nazi leader and Syrian dictator came to light last year when he stood for Reform in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency. He also claimed Vladimir Putin's use of force in Ukraine was legitimate". Continue reading...
A debate is raging over the future of a council building used for art exhibitions as public services in the Sussex town are squeezedWhen the doors closed on two art shows in the Sussex town of Lewes last weekend, a record number of people had crossed the threshold of Southover House to look at works by Picasso and Grayson Perry.For 18 months, the former council office building has housed a pop-up outpost of Charleston, the former home of key members of the Bloomsbury group, which is nearby in the village of Firle. Continue reading...
Planning application reignites row over statue on Edinburgh's Royal Mile of Elsie Inglis, Scottish suffragist and maternal health pioneerEdinburgh's Royal Mile and its surrounding streets are not short of monuments. In a 30-minute round trip, visitors can rub the nose of Greyfriars Bobby, spit on the Heart of Midlothian and touch David Hume's toe, all thought to bring good luck. On the way, they might stop for a selfie with Wojtek the Bear, an honorary member of the Polish army who went on to live in Edinburgh Zoo, while the Scott Monument, built to honour Sir Walter, looms overhead.According to campaigners, though, there is something missing: women. There are no freestanding statues of women in the city centre, and only a handful in the surrounding area. So when a fundraiser was launched in 2017 to secure a Royal Mile statue for Elsie Inglis, Scottish suffragist and maternal health pioneer, it quickly gained momentum. But when plans were finally unveiled last month, a bitter row was reignited about the choice of a male sculptor and his vision for the statue. Continue reading...
Whistleblower says over 1,000 inmates in England and Wales considered for the scheme which bypasses Parole BoardCriminals who have reoffended or broken probation restrictions are being re-released from prisons early on the government's direction under new measures to ease overcrowding.Justice sources say jails are hurtling towards another capacity crisis despite Labour's ongoing early release scheme and attempts to shift more offenders into open prisons. Continue reading...
School leaders attacked as an unaccountable elite' after years of below-inflation pay rises for teachersA record 775 heads of school academies in England were given pay packages worth more than 150,000 in 2022-23, sparking allegations of an unaccountable gravy train".Figures published last week by the Department for Education (DfE) reveal that nearly a third of academy trusts (30.8%) rewarded at least one staff member with a pay deal worth in excess of 150,000, including pension payments and benefits. This compares with just 12% in 2018-19. Continue reading...
Virtually unknown in the west, Ne Zha 2 is the world's highest-grossing animation at 1.6bn - outdoing Inside Out 2 - just weeks after its releaseJust a few years ago, the biggest star of the Chinese box office was a brave army commander. Last year it was a woman who rediscovers herself through boxing. But in 2025 the hero that has caught everyone's attention - and broken international box office records - is an animated demon child.Ne Zha 2, a Chinese animation written and directed by Yang Yu, is a whirlwind of a film. The plot, inspired by Chinese mythology, follows the story of Ne Zha, a demon child raised by humans. He is on a quest to obtain a precious elixir to restore the physical state of his friend, the dragon prince Ao Bing, whose body has been destroyed by a lightning strike. Continue reading...
Authorities in capital make apparent attempt to disrupt demonstration by cancelling public transportTens of thousands of people from across Serbia joined an anti-corruption rally in Belgrade on Saturday, in what is regarded as the culmination of months of protest that have shaken the grip of the country's autocratic president, Aleksandar Vui.The sound of whistles and vuvuzelas echoed throughout the Serbian capital, which has been on high alert since the rally was announced. Continue reading...
Diana ooac's exclusion follows expulsion of front-runner Clin Georgescu from race amid rising tension around pollRomania's electoral commission on Saturday excluded a second far-right hopeful, Diana ooac, from May's presidential election, amid rising tension in the run-up to the May rerun of the poll.Earlier in March, the electoral bureau barred Clin Georgescu, an independent who was polling at about 40% before the rerun election. Continue reading...
Sunday Times estimates the celebrity makeup artist, who founded her brand in 2013, has amassed 350m fortuneCharlotte Tilbury has topped a list of the top 30 richest beauty entrepreneurs in the UK.The entries on the Sunday Times's inaugural Beauty Rich List have built their wealth from a range of products and services including skincare, hair care, makeup, bath bombs and tanning shops. Continue reading...
by Toby Helm , Political editor, James Tapper on (#6VYWD)
Controversial plans to cut personal independence payments (Pip) may be shelved after a tense cabinet meeting and backlash from Labour MPsMinisters have left the door open to a humiliating U-turn on their highly contentious plans to cut benefits for disabled people, amid mounting uproar over the proposals across the Labour party.Both Downing Street and the Department for Work and Pensions did not deny they were about to backtrack on plans to impose a real-terms cut to the personal independence payment (Pip) for disabled people, including those who cannot work, by cancelling an inflation-linked rise due to come into force next spring. Continue reading...
The chanting you heard was not directed at you in any way,' inspector tells Sydney man who complained about neighbour's Christmas party in Glenmore Park
Prime minister tells a summit of 29 leaders that the Russian president cannot delay peace talks indefinitelyKeir Starmer accused Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet over agreeing to a ceasefire with Ukraine on Saturday as international pressure grew on the Russian president to enter talks.The prime minister said there was a limit to the length of time Putin could prevaricate, after he convened a virtual summit with 29 other international leaders who agreed to take plans for a peacekeeping force to an operational phase". Continue reading...
Farmers and bikers join students in climax to movement that Aleksandar Vui labels an imported revolution'A vast demonstration has been gathering in Belgrade, marking the climax of more than four months of student-led protests and the biggest challenge to President Aleksandar Vui in the 11 years of his increasingly autocratic rule.Vui stoked tensions in the run-up to yesterday's mass protest, suggesting there would be an attempt to overthrow him by force and calling it an imported revolution" with the involvement of western intelligence agencies, but he provided no evidence for the claims. The demonstrations against government corruption and incompetence have so far been overwhelmingly peaceful. Continue reading...
by Jason Burke in Jerusalem and Malak A Tantesh in Ga on (#6VYT6)
Militant group hardening its negotiating position in ceasefire talks amid new violence in territoryThe current fragile pause in hostilities in Gaza has come under further threat with Hamas hardening its negotiating positions amid new Israeli airstrikes in the devastated territory.The first phase of the ceasefire agreement ended two weeks ago but Israel is refusing to implement the scheduled second phase, which is supposed to end with its withdrawal from Gaza, the freedom of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, and a definitive end to the conflict. Continue reading...
by Amy Sedghi (now); Daniel Lavelle and Hamish Mackay on (#6VYKF)
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereFew resonant phrases are repeated in politics without a deliberate reason, and Keir Starmer's use of coalition of the willing" could well have been intended as a reminder to the US diplomatic and defence community: we helped you out; now return the favour.The most famous, or infamous, coalition of the willing was the 30 nations who publicly gave at least some support to George W Bush's US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.Absolutely we are not against sending Italian troops to help a population, but I think at this moment probably there are no troops that are able to solve the problem in Ukraine.We can only send troops if there is a clear UN mandate and for now, this is impossible."I think it is too early and we have to wait for it. After a decision from UN headquarters, there is no problem for Italy, but now it's really, really too early for us." Continue reading...
US secretary of state accuses Ebrahim Rasool of being a race-baiting politician who hates America' and Donald TrumpThe US is expelling South Africa's ambassador to Washington, with the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, accusing the envoy of hating the US and Donald Trump.South Africa's ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," Rubio posted on X on Friday. Continue reading...
The studio's latest remake may need more than a magic kiss to survive its entanglements with politics, sexism and CGI dwarf troubleFive years ago a $250m remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney's first full-length animated feature film, must have seemed like a fine idea to corporate executives, who were going all out on remaking the studio's dated classics into contemporary live-action movies.But the film - its title trimmed to Disney's Snow White, set to be released in cinemas this week - has turned into a massive headache for the studio. The press have barely been let near the remake's stars, Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian-Polish descent and plays Snow White, and Israeli actor Gal Gadot, playing the Evil Queen. And there are no dwarves. Continue reading...
Miriana Conte retitles song and removes reference to kant after complaint about similarity to swearwordA Eurovision contestant has reworked her song after a word in the lyrics sounded like an English swearword.Miriana Conte's song was originally titled Kant, the Maltese word for singing. Continue reading...
With regular teaching hours unavailable, agency tutors must compete for lessonsThe British Council has been accused of exploiting hundreds of agency teachers on zero-hour contracts forced to compete for lessons in a feeding frenzy" every week.An open letter from teaching staff reveals the prestigious government-funded public body does not offer regular hours to tutors on its popular English Online platform, which provides lessons to more than 45,000 students worldwide. Continue reading...
Voters reflect on their priorities and mood shifts in their communities before a crucial contestWhen the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, resigned in early January, after months of pressure to quit, the approval ratings of the progressive firebrand had dropped from their peak of 65% in September 2016 to 22%.At the end of last year, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, described by many as Trump Lite", was the clear favourite to win Canada's next general election, and the top pick of 45% of Canadians for prime minister. At the time, the three biggest issues for voters were all economic: reducing the cost of everyday items, inflation and interest rates, and access to affordable housing. Continue reading...
Four of five charged with murder of Joanne Penney, 40, at block of flats in Talbot GreenFive people have been charged after a 40-year-old woman was shot dead in south Wales last week.Joanne Penney died at a block of flats in Talbot Green, near Pontyclun, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Sunday. Continue reading...
Uncollected food waste poses public health danger' as 400 workers take indefinite action over pay and conditionsA bin collection strike in Birmingham could lead to rats thriving on a banquet" of food waste and pose a public health danger, pest controllers have said.About 400 council bin workers in Birmingham began an indefinite strike on Tuesday as part of a dispute over pay and conditions. Continue reading...
by Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondent on (#6VYMP)
Labour won the seat last year with more than 50% of votes - now polls suggest it will just hang on or lose to Reform UKOn a weekday morning, an advertising van is weaving its way through the narrow streets of Runcorn town centre. On the side is a black and white picture of Nigel Farage with a quote from the Reform UK leader: We are going to have to move to an insurance-based system of healthcare."The starting gun has been fired in the byelection that has been on the horizon since the sitting MP Mike Amesbury announced his intention to resign, and which could prove a huge test for Keir Starmer's government. Continue reading...
by William Christou in Arza, north-west Syria on (#6VYKZ)
Over 1,000 people - including 745 civilians - were killed in attacks last week that mostly targeted Alawite minoritySipping tea on an unusually warm February afternoon on his veranda that overlooked the small Alawite village of Arza, north-west Syria, Mohammed Abdullah al-Ismaili said he trusted the new Syrian authorities to keep him safe.We believe what [interim Syrian president Ahmed] al-Sharaa says, but the problem is these unknown groups," the 62-year-old official in Arza's municipality told the Guardian on 4 February, four days after a group of masked men raided the village at night and killed eight men on their knees. The government says the killings are individual cases, it seems like they are unable to control the cases." Continue reading...
Change affecting up to 300,000 people does not mean they will pay less tax and may not happen, in theory, until 2029Up to 300,000 people with side hustles ranging from selling clothes online to dog walking are to be freed from the chore of having to do a self-assessment tax return.The government said this week it wanted to make it easier for Britons to make the very most of their entrepreneurial spirit". Continue reading...
Andrew Sheridan is one of a number of chefs who say complaints and threats have severed the trust between restaurants and customersRestaurant owners are abandoning the age-old customer is always right" maxim because too many diners try to get freebies through threats, making malicious complaints and underhand tricks.Andrew Sheridan, cited as one of the finest chefs north Wales has ever produced", said he was tired of customers trying it on". Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian