by Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent on (#791H4)
New recruitment campaign to target adults in their 30s and 40s in bid to create 10,000 new foster care placesViennetta Basterfield, 67, spent two decades fostering more than 100 children in her west London home before she and her husband handed in the reins during Covid.Her own mother had died when she was nine and she was brought up by another woman who took her in. There was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to dedicate her life to passing that gift on to others. Continue reading...
Former investor alleges BitMEX sold products in UK despite not being regulated by Financial Conduct AuthorityA cryptocurrency exchange founded by the billionaire Reform UK donor Ben Delo is being sued for 20m over claims that the company mis-sold financial products in the UK.Lewis Barber, who is a software engineer, alleges that BitMEX offered crypto derivative products to investors in the UK, despite not being regulated or approved to do so by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Continue reading...
by Esther Addley and George Francis Lee on (#791H7)
Historic eatery in capital's theatreland given to heritage charity after changing hands only three times in 228 yearsWhen Thomas Rule served his first oyster to diners on Maiden Lane in London's Covent Garden, mad" George III was on the throne of England, John Adams was US president and William Pitt the Younger had just come up with a wheeze called income tax to pay for the Napoleonic wars.More than two centuries later, Rules, the restaurant Thomas founded in what became the capital's theatreland, has outlasted nine British monarchs and 45 prime ministers - but has changed hands only three times. The interior of its four-storey home, stuffed with historic playbills and vintage caricatures and gilded antlers, is little changed from the 19th century, nor has the tone of its determinedly meaty menu - think rabbit rillettes, shin of veal and roast guinea fowl. Continue reading...
Research shows that the best linguists process unfamiliar foreign speech sounds more like non-speech soundsIf you want to get really good at French, Arabic or Hungarian, don't start with rote learning vocabulary and grammar, focus on how they sound instead, research suggests.A new study of how humans learn modern languages has found that the brains of the most talented linguists hear foreign terms as random noise, not words. Continue reading...
by Luke Harding, and Andrew Roth in Kyiv on (#79127)
Ukrainian president's comments on particularly vile' strikes come after US threatened to halt intelligence sharingUkraine received no early warning from its partners about a second night of Russian ballistic missile strikes on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, including a critical power plant struck after dark, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.The Ukrainian president had earlier described an attack involving five missiles on Monday as particularly vile". He emphasised that receiving intelligence from Ukraine's western allies helps saves lives, and this is one of the most critical issues". Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#791F5)
Prime minister reiterates UK backing after the Ukrainian president's latest round of difficulties with Donald TrumpAndy Burnham will host Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street on Wednesday as the UK seeks to further underline its support for the Ukrainian president, in contrast to his difficulties with Donald Trump.The UK prime minister said his message to Zelenskyy and his country would be: We are with you for as long as it takes." Continue reading...
Vatican says pontiff had lower lobe of right lung removed in successful, on schedule and as planned' operation in RomePope Leo has lung cancer, the Vatican said late on Tuesday.Leo, 71, underwent an operation and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed, with tests confirming a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin, which followed an earlier statement saying the pope's operation had concluded successfully, on schedule and as planned". Continue reading...
by Sirin Kale Investigations correspondent on (#791AR)
More than 50 families call for investigation into how Vincent Chan was allowed to return to job after inquiry by nurseryThe parents of the victims of paedophile nursery worker Vincent Chan have reacted with fury to the news that he was cleared to return to work after significant concerns" were raised by the parent of a young girl.As first revealed in the Guardian, Chan was reported to his employer, the nursery chain Bright Horizons, by a concerned parent in 2021. Continue reading...
by Daniel Boffey in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands on (#7917T)
Exclusive: Caution urged over Javier Milei government's red notice' requests for arrest of individuals linked to oil projectBritain has appealed to Interpol to reject Argentina's requests for the arrest of individuals involved in a large oil project off the Falkland Islands.With tensions over the sovereignty of the British overseas territory reaching levels not seen since the war with Argentina in 1982, UK officials have sought urgent assurances from the international organisation. Continue reading...
Civilians warned to evacuate outskirts of Sana'a ahead of biggest attack so far on Houthi energy infrastructureSaudi Arabia has launched a series of strikes on a strategic oil depot on the outskirts of Yemen's capital Sana'a, in a fresh escalation of the conflict between Riyadh and the Iran-backed Houthi forces.Before the attack on Tuesday, a Saudi spokesperson warned civilians to leave the target area, in an apparent attempt to strike fear into the local population ahead of the biggest attack so far on Houthi energy infrastructure. Continue reading...
by Jon Henley and Angelique Chrisafis in Paris on (#790Y2)
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joins teenagers calling for investment to fix teacher shortages and crumbling schoolsMore than 160,000 schoolchildren, students and trade unionists have marched in cities across France as protests over high school education continued into a third week and many demonstrators denounced policing tactics.Riot police fired teargas at the end of Tuesday's marches in Nantes and near the Montparnasse area of Paris, but most of the demonstrations over teacher shortages, overcrowded classes and crumbling school buildings held in cities including Lyon, Lille and Marseille were peaceful. Continue reading...
by Jakub Krupa (now) and Yohannes Lowe (earlier) on (#790VY)
Ukraine's president says his country has halted strikes on Russian oil refineries for two days after Trump's energy ceasefire announcementOn frozen Russian assets, Poland's Sikorski says the use of frozen Russian assets is a complicated issue," but takes a very clear stance in response to any suggestion of releasing them back to Russia.We are working on it, but there is also some rumours that some people are expecting these assets to be released back to Russia.I don't think I'm speaking just for myself in saying: over our dead bodies."Russia right now is not ready for ceasefire, but still, this only can encourage us to stay with Ukraine and to, strengthen, the pressure on Russia and always be ready for conversations, but and also especially for, for ceasefire negotiations.But, until this doesn't happen, we are with Ukraine. We are with the president the German government is is backing the Ukrainian government and the president, completely. He is the person to lead Ukraine, and we are with him." Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#7915B)
Abta advice comes as more than more than 150 websites offer service of securing entry to Schengen zoneBritons travelling to Europe have told not to apply for an Etias visa waiver, with more than 150 websites touting the service despite its introduction being delayed.Non-EU citizens, including UK travellers and those from other visa-exempt countries including the US, Australia and Canada, will soon need to pay 20 (17) for an electronic waiver to enter the Schengen zone under the European travel information and authorisation system (Etias). Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#7915C)
Ken McCallum says Kremlin attempted to influence vote through social media and TV reports but it had little impactRussia did try to interfere in the Brexit referendum through social media and television reports, the head of MI5 said on Tuesday, but he added that did not mean the Kremlin had any impact on the result.Ken McCallum endorsed comments by Andy Burnham, who raised the issue over the past two days, though he said continuing to debate it had given the Kremlin a needless propaganda victory. Continue reading...
Nearly half of species are in decline, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit, conservation bodies sayWild bird populations in the UK have fallen to their lowest level since records began, figures show, with nearly half of species in decline.Figures produced by leading nature conservation bodies for the government show that average populations across 132 native breeding species fell by 19% between 1970 and 2025, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit in recent years. Continue reading...
by Chris Osuh Community affairs correspondent on (#79128)
Conference to explore legacy of Naseem Khan's seminal 1976 report about exclusion of minority ethnic artistsIt is 50 years since cultural historian Naseem Khan's challenge to the British arts establishment was first published, and the question of who and what counts as British continues to be contested.The Arts Britain Ignores - Khan's groundbreaking 1976 report, commissioned by organisations including the then Arts Council of Great Britain, presented a vision of a pluralistic national culture, in which the creativity of Britons of diverse ethnic backgrounds - from bhangra music, to black painters and Ukrainian dance - should be recognised, supported and respected. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#790ZS)
Move from anti-immigration or anti-Muslim views to violence is most marked trend' in spy agency's caseload over last yearExtremists holding anti-immigration opinions are becoming increasingly likely to consider carrying out terrorist attacks against immigration centres and asylum hotels in the UK, the head of MI5 has warned.Ken McCallum said a shift from radicalised rightwing sentiment to violence was the most marked trend" in the spy agency's caseload over the past year, contributing to a rise in the overall UK terror threat level.Russia remains aggressor number one" as the Kremlin continues to lash out against the west with assassination plots, explosive threats and cyber-attacks that at times stop not much short" of conventional warfare.Moscow tried to interfere in the 2016 Brexit referendum with anti-EU coverage on RT and Sputnik media, and via troll social media accounts, but there was a big difference between what may have been attempted and what actually resulted".He was particularly focused" on the risk of hostile states or terrorists using AI to generate new, deadly bioweapons, and announced the creation of a new AI threat assessment centre to distinguish fact from fiction.There was a concerning trend of violence targeted at political figures, religious or community groups", as demonstrated by the killing of the former minister and Reform UK spokesperson Anne Widdecombe.Threats from other states had quadrupled in the last decade and were running on par with MI5's counter-terrorism mission. We have again entered a new era of national security," he said. Continue reading...
Prosecution expected to open its case on Wednesday after eight men and four women selected as jurorsRussell Brand has attended court for the second day of his rape and sexual assault trial and a jury has been selected in the case.The 51-year-old comedian faces three charges of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women, in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999 to 2009. Brand denies all the charges. Continue reading...
About 2,000 criminals are being freed this month to ease overcrowding, while probation union moves towards strikeThe second wave of early prison releases has begun, with hundreds of offenders walking out across England and Wales under the government's controversial plan to ease overcrowding.About 2,000 criminals, including domestic abusers and violent offenders, are being freed this month, with another 3,000 to follow in stages over the next year. The total was reduced from 6,000 after an intervention by Andy Burnham. Continue reading...
Cocaine seizures in Europe are up more than fivefold in 10 years as a host of cartels take root. A four-month Guardian investigation reveals the true scale of a continent-wide shiftA four-month investigation by the Guardian has revealed that the surge in cocaine trafficking to Europe is directly linked to the expanding presence of Latin American criminal networks in Europe, where they have forged close ties with local mafia organisations.The investigation, utilising databases, police and intelligence agencies, along with interviews with judges, prosecutors and experts from eight countries, shows that cartels and factions from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and the US are active in at least 12 European countries. Between 2014 and 2024, there was a 471% rise in the quantity of cocaine seized and more local laboratories processing cocaine derivatives were dismantled. Continue reading...
Marches in Delhi against changes to voting registration led to dragnets, internet blackouts - and questions about India's electoral independence. Plus, the cinematographer capturing the beauty of the mundaneMonths of simmering public anger have given rise to a season of discontent in India. In its latest iteration, the demand is for the removal of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of a controversial electoral rolls revision that has struck 130 million people off the register. Protests have erupted every day over the past week, prompting a violent crackdown on dissenters in the capital.Over the weekend, Delhi was effectively under lockdown, transformed into a militarised landscape of barricades, road closures and paramilitary forces marching through the streets. Ahead of a protest led by the Cockroach Janta party on Saturday, authorities deployed a massive dragnet: 245 trains to Delhi were cancelled, 45 metro stations were shut, liquor shops were closed, internet services were cut off in the heart of the city and activists were put under house arrest. Continue reading...
Security forces use helicopters to rescue dozens of people as the two storms damage infrastructure and cause flash floodingAt least five people have died after Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel pummelled Mexico's Pacific coast, causing flooding that downed trees and electricity poles, blocked roads and inundated homes.Simon claimed the life of a 71-year-old man who died when a wall collapsed in Chilpancingo in the southern state of Guerrero, governor Evelyn Salgado said at a press conference. Continue reading...
Aircraft taken out of operation after flight from Perth after the discovery of parasitic insects on boardQantas has been forced to ground a plane in Rome after bedbugs were discovered on the aircraft on its way from Perth.The parasitic insects were found in the front of the economy section of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as it made its way from Perth to Rome for the QF5 flight on 9 October, a source with knowledge of the incident confirmed on Tuesday. Continue reading...
ZyMix platform has contract with Tencent, which US alleges has links to People's Liberation ArmyA new messaging and payment super app" marketed at British students uses servers owned by a Chinese company that has been put on a US military blacklist for its alleged affiliation to the People's Liberation Army.ZyMix, which is being pushed on university campuses as the UK's first super app designed for gen Z", combining chat, payments and community features, has a contract with a German-based subsidiary of Tencent Holdings, a Chinese conglomerate in Shenzhen. Continue reading...
Over 10m people have tuned in for episodes of new season of BBC hit as mass TV audiences become increasingly rareFor the celebrities chosen as traitors in the BBC's juggernaut reality show, the task is simple - kill off fellow contestants without getting caught.Yet with the new series of Celebrity Traitors once again attracting huge audiences, its UK producers are delighting in one of the show's more wholesome qualities - its popularity is staving off the death of television's ability to unite the nation. Continue reading...
Cambridge University study suggests stark gender divide in misdiagnosis, with women also waiting longer for treatmentWomen with autoimmune conditions are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic, and face much longer waits for a diagnosis and treatment, a study suggests.Hundreds of millions of people - about one in 10 globally - are affected by autoimmune conditions, which can cause a range of health issues including fatigue, muscle pain and rashes. Continue reading...
by Maya Yang in New York and Sian Cain on (#790K1)
Actor, who allegedly punched one Delta attendant, bit another and tried to open plane door, was charged for two separate assaults after the plane landedThe actor Selma Blair was arrested on Sunday at John F Kennedy airport in New York after she allegedly attacked two flight attendants on a Delta Air Lines flight, and separately charged with two counts of assault for allegedly kicking a police officer and a nurse after landing.Blair's arrest happened at about 11pm, after Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials said they responded to a call about a physically abusive passenger aboard Delta Air Lines flight 938 which was parked at the gate" at JFK after arriving from Los Angeles. Continue reading...
National park officials took the precautionary measure to limit tourist access after heavy rain caused the Iguazu River to flow at six times the normal rateHeavy rainfall fuelled by a supersized El Nino weather pattern briefly forced Argentinian authorities to close tourist access to the famed Iguazu Falls, amid fears that rapidly rising water levels would cause the river to burst its banks.National park officials took the precautionary measure on Monday when the Iguazu River's flow exceeded 12,000 cubic metres per second - more than six times its average rate. Continue reading...
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