Cheryl Bartley is charged with gross negligence manslaughter after 2023 death of Robert Smith, 61A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after the drowning of a 61-year-old man at a baptism ceremony in Birmingham in 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said.Robert Smith, from Brixton in south London, died at an address in Erdington on 8 October 2023. Malcolm McHaffie, the head of the special crime division, said: We have decided to prosecute Cheryl Bartley, 48, with one count of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to her role as a pastor during a baptism. Continue reading...
Defense secretary spoke to reporters in first press briefing since Trump announced ceasefire deal after 40 days of warAfter 40 days and 40 nights of war, Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, on Wednesday pointed to divine providence while telling reporters that Iran's weapons factories had been reduced to rubble, its military rendered ineffective for years and its supreme leader left wounded and disfigured, all for a temporary ceasefire.Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it," Hegseth said at the Pentagon's first press briefing since Donald Trump announced a two-week pause in hostilities on Tuesday night. Operation Epic Fury decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come." Continue reading...
by Helena Smith in Athens and Jon Henley Europe corre on (#74SY2)
Prime minister says ban would come into force next year and calls for united action across European UnionGreece has announced a social media ban for under-15s from 1 January, with the country's prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms - although he acknowledged it may incur the wrath of some children.We have decided to go ahead with a difficult but necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15 years old," he said in a TikTok video intended to address a young audience. Continue reading...
Airline projected a $2bn increase in fuel costs this quarter amid volatility in oil markets sparked by the warThe CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian, braced customers for higher fares following the surge in oil prices sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran, amid strong demand from passengers.Though rising oil prices have cost the company an extra $330m in fuel expenses, and it projected a $2bn increase in fuel costs in the current quarter, Delta forecast that revenue would grow 10% as flyers continue to book flights. Continue reading...
With former ministers and party heavyweights being dragged into court, the country is once again confronting the unresolved legacy of political graft and shady backroom deals Don't get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereEaster will not have been a particularly celebratory time for Spain's two biggest political parties. In a quirk of judicial fate, both the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' party (PSOE) and the conservative People's party (PP) are bracing themselves after two high-profile trials involving former senior figures from each party began in Madrid this week.Though vastly different, both cases have the potential to seriously dent each party's claims of having zero-tolerance for corruption as voters in Andalucia, Spain's most populous autonomous community, prepare for next month's regional election. That will be followed by a general election next year. Continue reading...
US vice-president has praised Orban and criticised EU and UK energy policies in speech at private school in BudapestOh, you can see where this is going to go.In his second question, the moderator tries to bait JD Vance into criticising Ukraine, as the chair asks about what he says are Ukrainian intelligence services attempting to influence" elections in the US or Hungary.I've also been told that the vice-president of the United States coming and saying that Viktor Orban is doing a good job and is a helpful statesman to the cause of peace, that's foreign influence.But what's not foreign influence is when the European Union threatens billions of dollars withheld from Hungary because you guys protect your borders; that's apparently not foreign influence.We would never do that because we respect the Hungarian people enough to respect their sovereignty. The fact that so many foreign actors, whether they're transnational organisations like the bureaucrats in Brussels or whether it's foreign governments, are literally threatening the Hungarian people vote this way or we're going to exact our revenge on you - that should make you very angry." Continue reading...
PM will meet leaders in the region to discuss diplomatic efforts to support the ceasefire agreed between the US and IranOpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is proposing the extension of the four-day working week, as a response to AI taking over some of the work done by humans. But for the Conservative party the four-day working week, at least in the public sector, is viewed as a menace. Officially, that's a value-for-money position, but it also overlaps with their opposition to civil servants working from home, which has some of the traits of a culture war obsession.Today the Conservatives have announced that, if they were in government, they would ban councils from letting staff work a four-day working week on full pay. Explaining why, the Tories say in a news release:The four-day working week, as introduced by Liberal Democrat-run South Cambridgeshire district council, has left residents with more council tax for less public service. Bin collectors and social housing officials receive 100 per cent of their pay for around 80 per cent of their originally contracted hours.The Labour government have failed to act. As communities secretary, Angela Rayner scrapped [Whitehall opposition to the South Cambridgeshire policy]. Labour are refusing to legislate against a four-day week, giving councils an effective green light to get away with charging more for less work. Consequentially, Labour-run Cambridge City Council has become the second council to sign up to the four-day week.Those areas which saw a statistically significant improvement include: the percentage of calls answered by the contact centre; the average number of days taken to update housing benefit and council tax support claims; the average number of weeks for householder planning applications to be decided; the percentage of planning applications (both large and small) decided within target or agreed timescales; the percentage of council house repairs complete within 24 hours; [and] the percentage of complaints responded to on time.If performance variations caused by Covid are discounted, every single service monitored either got better or stayed the same. Continue reading...
Executive complaints unit finding relates to broadcast of N-word during awards ceremonyThe BBC breached its editorial standards when it broadcast a highly offensive" racial slur during the Baftas, which was unintentional", a review has found, and made a serious mistake" in not removing it immediately from iPlayer.The broadcast containing the N-word remained on BBC iPlayer overnight before coverage was taken down. It had been said by John Davidson, the Tourette syndrome campaigner, who shouted it as Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, the stars of the film Sinners, were on stage presenting an award. Continue reading...
Lawyers for Robert Morales's family said chatbot may have advised the shooter' on how to carry out shootingThe family of a man who was killed at Florida State University last year plans to sue ChatGPT and its parent organization, OpenAI, for allegedly telling the accused gunman how to carry out the mass shooting.Lawyers for the family of Robert Morales wrote in a statement they had learned the shooter was in constant communication with ChatGPT" ahead of the shooting, and that the chatbot may have advised the shooter how to commit these heinous crimes". Continue reading...
Struggling pubs reel from rising business rates, wages and energy bills, with customers at limit of what they will payNick Evans is staring in vain at columns of numbers, trying to make them add up to a profit. He is a co-owner of the Old Crown Coaching Inn in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, a pub and hotel whose rich history is etched into its crooked wooden beams and cosy snugs.Oliver Cromwell stayed here in 1645. A room believed to have been used by the notoriously severe hanging judge" Lord Jeffreys to condemn rebels now stages happier encounters: it is the honeymoon suite. Continue reading...
Average price dips back below 300,000 after higher energy costs have knock-on effect on mortgage ratesUK house prices fell in March, as the housing market lost momentum amid uncertainty over the conflict in the Middle East and the impact on the economy and interest rates.Figures from Halifax, which is part of Lloyds - Britain's biggest mortgage lender - showed property prices dipped by 0.5% in March compared with a month earlier. As a result, the average price of a home slipped back below 300,000, to 299,677, after first crossing the milestone in January. Continue reading...
Donald Trump abandons threat for Iran to surrender or face destruction. Plus, why some people are bad texters'Good morning.The US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire deal on Tuesday evening, which includes a temporary reopening of the strait of Hormuz.How does the ceasefire affect Israel and Lebanon? The Israel prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran - but that the deal did not cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,500 in Lebanon.What has Trump said about the Iranian 10-point plan? He has called it a workable basis on which to negotiate". Here's what's in it.Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.How much of a margin do Republicans have in Georgia? The GOP currently holds the state House with a three-vote margin. Continue reading...
Colleagues left anti-Islam leaflet in locker belonging to Parmjit Bassi, who is not a Muslim, and accused him of knife attackA Network Rail worker has won a race harassment case after his colleagues left an anti-Islam English Defence League [EDL] leaflet in his locker.Parmjit Bassi, who is not a Muslim, was found to have been the victim of a racist attack when his co-worker stuffed an EDL leaflet in his locker that asked what individuals were doing to protect their children from Islam". Continue reading...
Orla Wates, 19, who died after incident on popular Ha Giang loop, described as beautiful, independent and very funny'The family of a British teenager have paid tribute to their daughter who died after a motorcycle crash on a popular route in Vietnam.The incident occurred on the Ha Giang loop in the country's north, and Orla Wates, 19, died at the Viet Duc university hospital in Hanoi, according to Viet Nam News. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#74SPK)
Qarsoq Hoegh-Dam aims to use his seat in Danish parliament to shift power from Copenhagen to NuukIt's not the standard motto for a newly elected parliamentarian, but Qarsoq Hoegh-Dam is adamant: if he does his job properly, there will soon be no need for it. I want to make myself as obsolete as possible," he said.Last month, Hoegh-Dam, a Greenlandic politician, became the first member of the pro-independence Naleraq to be elected to the Danish parliament. The new MP is clear that if all goes to plan, the largely autonomous Arctic territory will be the sole responsibility of the parliament in Nuuk, the island's capital. And there will no longer be any need for two seats representing Greenland in Copenhagen, its former colonial ruler. Continue reading...
No-fault evictions made up one in three reports made to renters' union Acorn in JanuaryIncreasing numbers of landlords are evicting tenants at the last minute before the law changes to outlaw the practice in next month, charities have said.The renters' union Acorn told the Guardian that no-fault evictions made up one in five of the reports they received from members in October, rising to nearly one in three by January. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: A Waitrose worker's dismissal after confronting a shoplifter has become a flashpoint in a wider debate over rising retail crimeGood morning. Overnight, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire, which included a temporary reopening of the strait of Hormuz. It followed a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan, but the Israeli government have said the deal does not include Lebanon.You can read our main report here and our live blog will be tracking news throughout the day. My colleague Martin Belam will have more details on what the pause in the fighting means in tomorrow's First Edition. Today, we are covering the scourge of shoplifting in the UK.Middle East | Donald Trump said he had agreed to a Pakistani-brokered two-week ceasefire, shortly before a deadline at which he had threatened to end the whole civilisation" of Iran. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued a statement saying: For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordinating with Iran's armed forces."UK news | Millions of graduates will have the interest on their student loans capped at 6% from September as a temporary measure to protect them from the risk of rising inflation driven by war in the Middle East.Entertainment | The Wireless music festival has been cancelled after the artist formerly known as Kanye West was banned from entering the UK amid a deepening political row over his previous antisemitic statements.Politics | Reform UK would stop issuing visas to people from any country that continues to demand compensation from the UK for its role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people, the party has said.World news | Australia's most decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has not applied for bail and will remain in custody after being charged with war crimes. The former SAS soldier and Victoria Cross-recipient is charged with five counts of war crime - murder" in relation to alleged offences in Afghanistan between April 2009 and October 2012. Continue reading...
How much fuel does Australia have left today, and when could we run out? Check how much petrol and diesel prices have risen near you in Sydney, Melbourne and across the country since the US and Israel's war on Iran began in late February
by Ajit Niranjan Europe environment correspondent on (#74SHZ)
More than 33GW of battery capacity approved for Turkish grid since 2022 compared with 12-13GW in GermanyTurkey has given the green light to more batteries to buffer its electricity grid than any EU member state, a report has found, in a further sign of rich countries losing steam in the race to a clean economy.More than 33GW of battery capacity have been approved in Turkey since 2022, according to the climate thinktank Ember, while the total planned and operational capacity in European frontrunners that started deploying them earlier, such as Germany and Italy, is 12-13GW. Continue reading...
Richard Hewett, who was forced to sleep in his car when his relationship broke down, is one of many in the UK hit by rising costs and a lack of social housingWhen Richard Hewett's relationship broke down, he was forced to leave his partner's council house - but found his disability benefits didn't stretch far enough to get him his own flat in his Essex home town. He resorted to the next best option: sleeping in his car.It wasn't what he had expected, aged 59. At 6ft 2in, he squeezed into a Ford Focus and struggled to sleep. When he broke his ankle, he couldn't look after it properly, contracted sepsis and had his leg amputated. Continue reading...
Category 3 cyclone is moving south of Fiji towards New Zealand, with winds at centre in excess of 150km/hTropical Cyclone Vaianu forming in the Pacific could bring life-threatening winds and heavy rain to New Zealand later this week, forecasters have said, with strong wind watches issued for the entire North Island.The category 3 cyclone is moving south of Fiji towards New Zealand, with winds around the centre in excess of 150km/h, MetService said on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Iran bombed US bases and allies' facilities soon after Russian satellites mapped them, according to Ukrainian assessment. What we know on day 1,505Russian satellites made detailed imagery of military facilities and critical sites across the Middle East including US bases and other targets that were attacked by Iran soon afterwards, according to a Ukrainian intelligence assessment. Reuters reported that the assessment cited at least 24 surveys of areas in 11 Middle Eastern countries from 21-31 March, covering 46 objects" including US and other military bases and airports and oilfields. Within days of being surveyed, military bases and headquarters were targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, the assessment said.Russian satellites were actively surveying the strait of Hormuz, according to the Ukrainians. Reuters said a western military source and a separate regional security cited their own intelligence in backing up the claims. Reuters said the Iranian foreign ministry had no immediate comment and the defence ministry in Russia did not respond to a request for comment.Reuters said its regional security source confirmed a specific incident where a Russian satellite imaged Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia days before Iran struck the facility on 27 March, hitting a sophisticated US E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft. The next day a Russian satellite passed over again to assess the damage, the assessment said. The Ukrainian report also alleges Russian and Iranian hackers were collaborating in the cyber domain.The Ukrainian military said it had struck Russia's Ust-Luga oil terminal in the Leningrad region on Tuesday. The general staff said on Telegram it had preliminary confirmation of damage to three storage tanks belonging to the Transneft-Baltika company.Crude oil exports from Russia's Sheskharis terminal in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk were suspended after a big drone attack and a fire, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The terminal, which typically loads 700,000 barrels a day of crude oil, is Russia's key oil outlet in the Black Sea. Its suspension will add to the strain on Russian infrastructure, which has been repeatedly attacked.Moscow's troops targeted two buses in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, its governor, Oleksandr Ganzha, said on Telegram. A drone smashed into a bus approaching a stop in Nikopol's city centre, he said, and later another bus was hit in a neighbouring community. Four people were killed in Nikopol and at least 16 injured, officials said. In the southern city of Kherson, a Russian attack on a residential area that lasted half an hour killed four elderly people and injured seven more, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. Other deadly Russian strikes took place in Zaporizhzhia and Sumy oblasts, said Ukrainian officials.Ukrainian drone strikes killed five civilians including a 12-year-old boy and his parents in Russia and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, Russian officials said on Tuesday. Reuters could not independently verify the officials' statements, and Ukraine denies deliberately targeting civilians. Continue reading...
Freelancer Shelly Kittleson was reportedly held by Iran-backed militia which says she must now leave countryThe US journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad street corner last week, has been released, secretary of state Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday.We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," he said on social media. Continue reading...
After meeting with Marco Rubio, foreign minister Winston Peters says he made sure US understands significant economic impacts on New Zealand and Pacific'
Man born in El Salvador has been fighting removal to series of third' countries after mistaken deportation last yearUS government attorneys on Tuesday told a federal judge the Department of Homeland Security still intends to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, despite a new agreement with Costa Rica to accept deportees who cannot legally be returned to their home countries.The Salvadorian national's case has become a focal point in the immigration debate after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last year. Since his return, he has been fighting a second deportation to a series of African countries proposed by homeland security officials. Continue reading...
Annie Ramos, who came to US from Honduras as a toddler, was detained last week at husband's base in LouisianaThe wife of a US soldier who was detained last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at her husband's Louisiana military base was released from federal custody on Tuesday.All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby," Annie Ramos said in a statement following her release. Continue reading...
Markwayne Mullin visits Asheville to survey Hurricane Helene recovery in first big trip since Kristi Noem's ousterMarkwayne Mullin, the US homeland security secretary, used a visit to Asheville, North Carolina to call for a fundamental shift in the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), arguing that states and local governments - not the federal agency - should lead disaster response.We shouldn't look at Fema as being a first responder, but look at Fema as supporting the first responders you already have," Mullin told reporters at a roundtable discussion. Continue reading...
As the US vice-president wades into a heated campaign, Hungary's leader faces the real possibility of defeatEven before the plane carrying JD and Usha Vance had landed in Budapest, the Hungarian government had hailed their two-day visit as a new golden age in the relationship between Washington and Budapest.What came next was a whirlwind of politics in which the US vice-president waded directly into the country's heated election campaign, just days before Hungarians cast their ballots. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler social policy editor on (#74S76)
Watchdog finds complaints against City of Sanctuary UK were misleading and false after online attacks over its migrant welcome projectA refugee charity subjected to vicious social media attacks over a migrant welcome project in schools has been cleared after watchdogs found allegations it encouraged pupils to send Valentine's Day cards to asylum seekers were misleading and false.City of Sanctuary UK came under fire last year after rumours spread online that under its schools programme, children were being forced" to write heart-shaped welcome cards to adult migrants, including cards addressed to my fiance". Continue reading...
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