Lee Castleton was left bankrupt, and his story featured in ITV drama about scandalThe former subpostmaster Lee Castleton, one of the highest-profile victims of the Horizon IT scandal, has become the first individual to launch legal action against the Post Office and Fujitsu.Castleton, who was played by the actor Will Mellor in the hit ITV drama Alan Bates vs The Post Office, was made bankrupt by the Post Office after a two-year legal battle. Continue reading...
Gaza health officials say five killed in two strikes as Israeli evacuation order may suggest plans for ground operationsIsrael has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes in Gaza on the second day of its resumed offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory.The attacks were far less intensive than the massive strikes early on Tuesday morning, which killed more than 400 people and shattered the relative calm since a 19 January ceasefire paused the 18-month war. Continue reading...
Allen Ferguson carried his son through a wildfire to safety during Friday's extreme weather conditionsA community in Oklahoma is lamenting the death of a local wrestling coach who carried his teenaged son through a wildfire to safety and sacrificed his life in the process.Allen Ferguson, of the Oklahoma City suburb of Chandler, died a hero, and his dedication to his family and our community will never be forgotten", said a statement from local state representative Jim Shaw. Continue reading...
Lord Darzi's undeclared interests in four companies included $500,000 of shares in US-based healthcare ventureThe independent peer Lord Darzi, a senior adviser to the government on the NHS, failed to officially declare shareholdings in healthcare companies worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.Ara Darzi is an eminent surgeon and professor at Imperial College London whose report on the NHS for the government in September informed the decision announced last week by the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to abolish NHS England. Darzi also has an extensive portfolio of private interests in commercial medical companies. Continue reading...
Bank says 18 other outlets will become counter-free' and further 36 will operate reduced hoursSantander is to close a fifth of its branches in the UK as part of an overhaul of its network, putting 750 jobs at risk.The retail bank said it would shut 95 out of its 444 high street outlets, and reduce the services or hours at a further 50-plus branches, by June to better serve the changing needs of customers". Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: what chance does a backbench rebellion have of shifting the government's plans to cut benefits?Good morning. After weeks of leaks and speculation, in parliament yesterday the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, set out the government's plan to cut the benefits bill. Her announcement covered a lot of ground, and she said that it was necessary to fix a system that is failing the very people it is supposed to help and holding the country back".When the dust settled, the consequences of that mission looked stark. In order to claw back 5bn a year by the end of the decade as the UK's growth prospects worsen, the government is removing benefits for up to 1.2m people with disabilities - and cutting incapacity benefits in favour of a smaller rise for those who are able to seek work. Taken together, the changes are the biggest cuts to welfare since George Osborne was chancellor in 2015.Ukraine | Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire, halting attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, after a phone call with Donald Trump. But the Russian leader declined to commit to a month-long full truce, leaving the chances of a quick end to hostilities looking slim.Middle East | The wave of deadly airstrikes that shattered the ceasefire in Gaza is only the beginning", Benjamin Netanyahu has warned, promising that the new offensive would continue until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed. With more than 400 dead, the attack represented the single deadliest day since the first month of the war in 2023.UK news | A 19-year-old man who shot dead his mother and two younger siblings had planned to kill 30 children at a primary school, a court has heard. At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors said that Nicholas Prosper wanted to achieve lasting notoriety as a mass killer".Society | Sir Gareth Southgate has expressed his concern that callous, manipulative and toxic influencers" are taking the place of traditional father figures for isolated young men. Delivering the prestigious Richard Dimbleby Lecture on Tuesday, the former England manager warned that young men are being tricked" into believing that success is measured by money or dominance".Space | Two Nasa astronauts stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024 finally arrived back on Earth on Tuesday evening, more than nine months after they were supposed to come home. Sunita Williams and Barry Butch" Wilmore's were stranded after the spacecraft which took them up had technical issues. Continue reading...
Lane reported the alleged serial abuse to another staff member only to be told you're not special', parliament hearsKeli Lane, who was convicted of killing her newborn baby daughter, was allegedly sexually assaulted every day for years by the notorious former prison guard Wayne Astill.Lane's alleged serial assaults by Astill were revealed by the Greens MP Sue Higginson who told the New South Wales parliament that Lane was a witness in a government inquiry into his abuse. Continue reading...
Counsel assisting NSW inquest says CCTV footage of Paul Thijssen in hours before attack at Sydney school not easy to watch'Lilie James was smiling and happy in the moments before Paul Thijssen used a hammer to murder his ex-girlfriend in a school gymnasium toilet, a coronial inquest examining their deaths has been told.James's body was found in the bathroom at St Andrew's Cathedral school in Sydney on 25 October 2023 after she'd been to water polo training with students.In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#6W15K)
International rules of combat to deter impact on noncombatants have been loosened or ignored - and other regimes may followIt is a casualty rate that would have unimaginable before the start of the Israel-Hamas war. More than 400 Palestinians have been reported killed after 10 hours of resumed Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, including, according to one early report, at least six members of one family in an attack on a car east of Khan Younis.Though it is too soon to determine how many noncombatants died in attacks that Israel says were directed at Hamas military commanders and political officials (casualty totals from Gaza's health ministry do not distinguish combatants from the uninvolved), the likelihood is that civilians will have been killed in large numbers. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#6W15H)
There is one very tangible reason for the current outbreak of good spirits: Conservatives know things could be worseTheir party is flatlining in the polls, largely lacking in policies and on the verge of a heavy kicking in the local elections. And yet in Westminster, many Conservatives seem almost cheery. What exactly is going on?Critics - including some Tories - may argue this is wishful thinking and displacement activity by MPs and shadow ministers who cannot accept that Kemi Badenoch is not up to the job of leading a party in existential trouble. Continue reading...
First title of series for tweens titled Game of Pets will be fantasy story to debut in 2026The Australian bestselling children's author Aaron Blabey has signed an eight-figure deal with the UK, US and Australian arms of Macmillan.The publisher announced the deal on Wednesday, contracting the actor turned writer to produce seven new titles across two new series for the tween reading market. Continue reading...
Aurelio Martinez was killed after plane crashed while taking off from Roatan island in CaribbeanGarifuna leaders have paid tribute to a prominent musician from their community who died in a plane crash that killed at least 13 people off the coast of Honduras.Aurelio Martinez was onboard a Lanhsa Airlines flight that crashed into the sea late on Monday while taking off from Roatan, one of the Central American country's main tourist destinations. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European Community affairs correspon on (#6W0QT)
Amnesty International describes legislation as full-frontal attack' on country's LGBTQ+ communityMPs in Hungary have voted to ban Pride events and allow authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attenders and potentially fine them, in what Amnesty International has described as a full-frontal attack" on LGBTQ+ people.The legislation - the latest by the prime minister, Viktor Orban, and his rightwing populist party to target LGBTQ+ rights - was pushed through parliament on Tuesday. Believed to be the first of its kind in the EU's recent history, the nationwide ban passed by 136 votes to 27 after it was submitted to parliament one day earlier. Continue reading...
Israeli prime minister bows to pressure from far-right over majority who prioritise deals to bring back hostagesAs the ceasefire in Gaza extended from days into weeks, and newly freed hostages began sharing grim details of their captivity, Benjamin Netanyahu's political room for manoeuvre seemed to shrink.He was caught between the far-right parties propping up his government, keen to return to war in Gaza, and the majority of Israelis who prioritised the fate of the remaining hostages over the total defeat" of Hamas demanded by their prime minister. Continue reading...
by Kiran Stacey, Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot on (#6W0TW)
Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, laid out plans for 5bn savings but faces rebellion from some Labour MPsUp to 1.2 million people with disabilities will lose thousands of pounds under the government's welfare overhaul, experts have said, as campaigners warn the plan will exacerbate the country's mental health crisis and push more children into poverty.Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, laid out her long-awaited changes to the benefits system on Tuesday, announcing a set of measures aimed at getting more people into work and saving 5bn by reducing disability payments. Continue reading...
Activists celebrate move, but note that a bull event without violence does not mean one without suffering'Mexico City's congress has voted to ban traditional bullfights and replace them with a new form of bloodless spectacle, marking the latest episode in a years-long legal battle to outlaw the practice in the capital.Animal rights activists celebrated the move on Tuesday - even if it wasn't the total ban on bullfighting they had been pushing for. Continue reading...
Congressman Don Beyer refused entry to US Institute of Peace after independent body taken over by Musk groupA senior Democratic congressman vowed to stop Doge's illegal power grab" after operatives from Elon Musk's so-called department of government efficiency" gained entry to the US Institute of Peace in Washington - an independent organization established by Congress - and forced out its leaders.I was at USIP tonight to conduct congressional oversight over Doge's break-in," Don Beyer of Virginia said on Monday. I spoke with [removed] acting president & CEO [George] Moose. USIP is an independent, non-profit entity and I will work to stop Doge's illegal power grab." Continue reading...
Nicholas Prosper, 19, planned to kill 30 pupils and two teachers after shooting his mother, brother and sister deadA 19-year-old man who shot dead his mother and two younger siblings had planned to kill 30 children at a primary school, a court has heard.Nicholas Prosper, from Luton, Bedfordshire, had wanted to carry out the killing at his former primary school to gain notoriety as a mass murderer, and had been planning it for months. Continue reading...
Work and pensions secretary says Benefits crackdown will save 5bn by 2030 but disability charities say cuts are immoral'. This live blog is closedQ: Why have you changed your mind on this?Badenoch says she has not changed her mind. As a member of the government, she abided by collective responsibility. She says in government she regularly questioned the case for net zero.The person who's been consistent in all this is me.I'm not going to pretend that I won't have critics ... This is politics. Being a politician is about being criticised.What I'm asking people to do is listen to what I'm saying. I am not doing what all the other parties are doing. We are changing the way we do things.That's not how it works. You can't just pull [a date] out of the air. And what we did was pick a target and then start thinking of how to get there.We need to start thinking about it in a different way. How does this impact families? How is business going to help us deliver? And that's what the policy commissions are going to do. Continue reading...
by Lucy Campbell (now) and Jakub Krupa (Earlier) on (#6W0BM)
Vladimir Putin issues long list of conditions and demands that require further consideration'Speaking for the Greens, who are expected to back the CDU/CSU and the SPD today after a political deal struck late last week, Britta Haelmann offered her support for the proposal - even as she sharply criticised Merz's change of heart on this issue in recent weeks.Rejecting Merz's comments about the new, challenging global circumstances, he said the conditions are no different than they were on 1 January or in October last year," after Trump was elected. Continue reading...
German MPs have voted to pass a motion to loosen the country's strict borrowing rules, altering the constitution. The measure had been proposed by Friedrich Merz, the presumptive incoming chancellor, in the outgoing Bundestag, or federal parliamentA motion put before the outgoing Bundestag to alter the German constitution to allow for greater investment and borrowing, in part to fund higher defence spending. The vote needs a two-thirds majority to pass. Continue reading...
Trump appealed judge's decision that said mass firings of probationary workers were likely illegalDonald Trump's presidential administration in court filings has for the first time acknowledged that it fired nearly 25,000 recently hired workers - and said agencies were working to bring all of them back after a judge ruled that their terminations were likely illegal.The filings made in Baltimore's federal courthouse late Monday include statements from officials at 18 agencies, all of whom said the reinstated probationary workers were being placed on administrative leave at least temporarily. Continue reading...
Michael Jones convicted of planning burglary from Blenheim Palace in September 2019A man has been found guilty over the theft of a 4.8m gold toilet from the Oxfordshire country house where Winston Churchill was born.Blenheim Palace's 18-carat lavatory was stolen in September 2019 while it was featuring in an art exhibition. Continue reading...
Met police arrest man on suspicion of causing death by careless driving after incident on the StrandA woman was killed and two pedestrians injured, including one seriously, when a van mounted the pavement on the Strand in central London.The driver of the van was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and driving with a concentration of drugs above the legal limit. Continue reading...
Inquiry recommends hospital alert system after staff failed to act on warning signs of difficult birthsA Scottish judge has ruled that the deaths of three babies during childbirth could realistically" have been avoided if maternity staff had been correctly trained.Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar KC said hospitals across Scotland should introduce a trigger list" of early labour warning signs that would immediately lead to women being called in for hospital assessment. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspon on (#6W0JE)
Maria Ressa says rules-based order can perhaps still exist' but social media is being used to undermine democracy around the worldThe arrest of Rodrigo Duterte is a welcome sign that the rules-based order continues to hold, the Nobel laureate Maria Ressa has said, even as the global order has been marred by the US descending into hell" at the hands of the same forces that consumed the Philippines.Ressa's remarks came after Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, made his first appearance before the international criminal court (ICC) in The Hague, accused of committing crimes against humanity during his brutal war on drugs". Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Why Benjamin Netanyahu ordered new attacks on dozens of sites in Gaza - and what happens nextGood morning. Just before 2.30am local time, Israel launched airstrikes on dozens of targets across Gaza. War planes hit sites across the territory, from Gaza City in the north to Khan Younis in the south. At least 330 people have been reported dead so far, Gaza's health ministry said, and Benjamin Netanyahu's office appeared to suggest that the two-month-old ceasefire is now over: Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength," it said.You can follow the latest here at the Guardian's live blog. Today's newsletter explains what's happened overnight, and why. Here are the headlines.UK politics | Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets. The changes are expected to affect some of the UK's most severely disabled people.UK news | Lucy Letby has called for the public inquiry into her crimes to be halted, arguing there is now overwhelming and compelling" evidence undermining her baby murder convictions. Lawyers for the former nurse took the extraordinary step of writing to Lady Justice Thirlwall on Monday to say that the inquiry - due to end on Wednesday - should be suspended immediately.Space | Two Nasa astronauts stranded" aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since last summer were finally on their way back to Earth on a SpaceX vessel on Tuesday, more than nine months after the failure of Boeing's pioneering Starliner capsule scuppered their originally scheduled week-long mission.Finance | The hedge fund manager Crispin Odey will be banned from the City and hit with a 1.8m fine by the UK's financial watchdog for deliberately attempting to frustrate" a disciplinary process into sexual harassment allegations.Second world war | The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John Paddy" Hemingway, has died aged 105. The Royal Air Force (RAF) said Hemingway, a member of the Few" who took to the skies during the second world war, died peacefully on Monday. Continue reading...
Crisis within British television is leading to an exodus of production talent, media executive saysThe UK's television industry is being hit by a perfect storm" that risks leading to British stories disappearing from the small screen, Elisabeth Murdoch has said.Murdoch, co-founder of the production company Sister, said that a crisis within British television was leading to an exodus of production talent - as well as a danger that British stories were struggling to be told. It follows warnings that cash-strapped British broadcasters are targeting their resources at dramas with international appeal. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian