General news

• Mercenary and coup plotter Simon Mann dies

  09-05-2025 22:06 via bbc.com
  
  He was arrested in 2004 after being part of a failed coup to overthrow Equatorial Guinea's ruler.
  
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• Iran closes airspace to all flights as foreign minister denies it plans to execute protesters – live

  15-01-2026 04:59 via theguardian.com
  US president says ‘important sources’ also told him executions not going ahead as Iran extends order closing its airspace to commercial flightsUS and UK military to withdraw some personnel from Middle East amid Iranian threatsAnalysis: why western diplomats are wary of predicting end days for Iran’s regimeMassacres and executions: what are we hearing from inside Iran? – podcastFor the first time in days, Iranians were able to make calls abroad from their mobiles on Tuesda
  
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• Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy declares energy emergency as cities shiver

  15-01-2026 03:30 via theguardian.com
  Night-time temperatures dip close to -20C; minister outlines major problems with desertion and conscription evasion. What we know on day 1,422Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to declare a state of emergency in Ukraine’s energy sector to tackle disrupted power supplies after heavy Russian attacks. Energy imports would also be increased, the Ukrainian president said. Emergency crews in Ukraine have proceeded with round-the-clock efforts to restore power and heating supplies at a time when night-time t
  
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• ISS astronauts begin journey back to Earth in Nasa’s first ever medical evacuation

  15-01-2026 02:54 via theguardian.com
  Four astronauts undock from International Space Station, with the affected crewmember in a stable condition, says space agencyFour crew members have left the International Space Station (ISS) and are heading back to Earth after a medical issue prompted their mission to be cut a month short in Nasa’s first medical evacuation.A video feed from Nasa showed American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui undocking from the IS
  
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• All Blacks begin search for new coach after ‘gutted’ Scott Robertson departs

  15-01-2026 02:32 via theguardian.com
  Robertson leaves role two years into four-year contractDecision to part ways comes after internal NZR reviewScott Robertson has stepped down as New Zealand coach following an internal review of the All Blacks’ performance.Speculation over Robertson’s future has mounted since December amid reports of friction between senior players and All Blacks staff. Continue reading...
  
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• Trump is making China – not America – great again, global survey suggests

  15-01-2026 01:01 via theguardian.com
  Exclusive: US is less feared by its traditional adversaries, while its allies feel ever more distant, results showA year after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a global survey suggests much of the world believes his nation-first, “Make America Great Again” approach is instead helping to make China great again.The 21-country survey for the influential European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) thinktank also found that under Trump, the US is less feared by its traditi
  
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• Traces of cancer-linked pesticide found in tests at UK playgrounds

  15-01-2026 01:01 via theguardian.com
  Pressure mounting for use of glyphosate, listed by WHO since 2015 as probable carcinogen, to be heavily restrictedChildren are potentially being exposed to the controversial weedkiller glyphosate at playgrounds across the UK, campaigners have said after testing playgrounds in London and the home counties.The World Health Organization has listed glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen since 2015. However, campaigners say local authorities in the UK are still using thousands of litres of glyphos
  
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• Reform UK politicians should be barred from speaking on campus, say 35% of students

  15-01-2026 01:01 via theguardian.com
  Survey by education thinktank finds ‘contradictory’ attitudes towards free speech at UK universitiesOne-third of students think Reform UK politicians should be barred from speaking on university campuses, according to a survey of student attitudes towards free speech that organisers described as “contradictory” and confusing.While 69% of students told the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) survey that universities should “never limit free speech”, simila
  
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• NHS corridor care is ‘torture’ leading to patient deaths and staff nightmares

  15-01-2026 01:01 via theguardian.com
  Royal College of Nursing publishes dossier of evidence including case of elderly patient who choked to death in corridorCorridor care is “a type of torture” that is leading to patients dying and causing NHS staff to have nightmares, the UK’s nurses union has warned.In one case, an elderly patient choked to death in a corridor, unseen by staff, according to a new dossier of evidence highlighting the problem published by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Continue reading...
  
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• Churchill’s desk and rare artwork among items donated to UK cultural institutions

  15-01-2026 01:01 via theguardian.com
  Items worth £59.7m allocated to museums, galleries, libraries and archives as part of Arts Council England schemeWinston Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli’s desk, a painting by Vanessa Bell and a rare artwork by Edgar Degas are among the items of cultural importance saved for the nation this year.The items, worth a total of £59.7m, will be allocated to museums, galleries, libraries and archives around the UK as part of Art Council England’s cultural gifts and acceptance in
  
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• Police chief behind Maccabi Tel Aviv ban clings to job despite home secretary wanting him to quit

  15-01-2026 00:48 via theguardian.com
  Shabana Mahmood has lost confidence in Craig Guildford over his force’s ‘exaggerated and untrue’ intelligence assessmentsExplainer: What did West Midlands police chief get wrong in decision to ban Maccabi fans?The police chief who used “exaggerated and untrue” intelligence to justify a ban on Israeli football fans was clinging on to his job on Wednesday, despite the home secretary demanding he resign.Craig Guildford, who leads West Midlands police, is determined to
  
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• Judd Trump and Neil Robertson wins continue run of 6-2 scores at Masters

  15-01-2026 00:30 via theguardian.com
  Trump defeats Ding Junhui, Robertson sinks WakelinAll eight first-round games ended in same scorelineThe world No 1 Judd Trump made three centuries as he saw off Ding Junhui 6-2 to move into the quarter-finals of the Masters, before Neil Robertson defeated Chris Wakelin by the same score – meaning that all eight first-round matches at London’s Alexandra Palace finished 6-2.After edging a lengthy first frame, Trump – who was not able to lift any silverware in 2025 – crafte
  
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• Arbeloa starts Real Madrid tenure with disastrous Copa del Rey defeat at Albacete

  15-01-2026 00:25 via theguardian.com
  Last 16: Albacete 3-2 Real MadridStoppage-time winner secures huge upsetFor 20 minutes of Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut as manager of Real Madrid, the fog came down and no one could see any football. For the other 70, they couldn’t either. Not from his team, at least. From Albacete Balompié, 17th in the second division, they witnessed something magical. An outrageous goal scored with single second to go was the perfect end to the greatest story they ever told, history made. Wh
  
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• Morocco book place in home Afcon final as Bounou denies Nigeria in shootout

  15-01-2026 00:10 via theguardian.com
  Morocco advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations final on penalties, beating Nigeria 4-2 in the final shootout after their semi-final ended goalless after extra time.Yassine Bounou saved two spot kicks for the tournament hosts, keeping out Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi’s efforts. Nigeria keeper Stanley Nwabali denied Hamza Igamane with the first save of the shootout, but it proved to be in vain. Continue reading...
  
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• Two-star Michelin restaurant in Wales handed one-star hygiene rating

  14-01-2026 23:49 via theguardian.com
  Ynyshir’s Gareth Ward ‘not embarrassed’ by score and says it was due to concerns about the use of raw ingredientsThe chef behind a Welsh restaurant with two Michelin stars says it has “the highest standards in the world”, despite being given a one-star hygiene rating in a recent inspection.Ynyshir, a restaurant with rooms near Machynlleth on the southern edge of the Eryri national park, has been praised as one of the best in the world. Continue reading...
  
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• Prop 50: appeals court rejects Republican bid to block California maps

  14-01-2026 23:30 via theguardian.com
  Judges uphold redrawing to offset Texas gerrymandering as Newsom attacks lawsuit as ‘weak attempt to silence voters’A federal appeals panel on Wednesday upheld the California ballot initiative that allows temporary changes to congressional district maps designed to benefit Democrats in upcoming elections.The measure, known as Proposition 50, emerged in response to actions taken in Texas, where Republican leaders sought to adjust congressional districts to increase GOP representation
  
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• Murder investigation launched after death of man

  14-01-2026 23:21 via bbc.com
  A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a 43-year-old man in Coleraine, County Londonderry.
  
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• Trump insists Greenland is crucial for national security after Denmark talks

  14-01-2026 23:20 via theguardian.com
  Talks fail to solve ‘fundamental disagreement’ over Arctic island controlled by CopenhagenDonald Trump reiterated on Wednesday that the US needs Greenland and that Denmark cannot be relied upon to protect the island, even as he said that “something will work out” with respect to the future governance of the Danish overseas territory.The remarks, which came after a high-stakes meeting between US, Danish and Greenlandic officials, indicate that fundamental differences remai
  
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• Sánchez errors hand Arsenal first-leg lead despite Garnacho’s Chelsea double

  14-01-2026 23:10 via theguardian.com
  It was the latest display of Arsenal’s power and aggression, their remorselessness. And when it was over, this Carabao Cup semi-final felt firmly within their grip. But for a late goal from the Chelsea substitute Alejandro Garnacho, his second of an eventful cameo, it would surely have been over.Even so, it was difficult on this evidence to predict anything other than Arsenal progressing into the final; moving closer to a rare piece of silverware under Mikel Arteta – one to pave the
  
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• Hillsborough Law campaigners say they cannot back proposed bill

  14-01-2026 22:52 via bbc.com
  They are concerned security services will be exempt from a law designed to stop cover-ups.
  
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• South East Water licence to be reviewed after supply chaos

  14-01-2026 22:27 via bbc.com
  About 17,000 properties still had no water or were experiencing intermittent supplies on Wednesday.
  
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• Three Palestine Action protesters end their hunger strike

  14-01-2026 22:04 via theguardian.com
  Four more who had paused their strikes choose not to continue after government opts against giving contract to Elbit Systems UKThree Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners have announced the end of their hunger strike after the government decided not to award a £2bn contract to the Israeli arms company subsidiary Elbit Systems UK – with another four who had paused their protest choosing not to continue.Fears had been growing for the welfare of those taking part. On Wednesday, Heba Mur
  
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• England seek new head coach for Rugby League World Cup after Shaun Wane quits

  14-01-2026 21:46 via theguardian.com
  Wane: ‘I believe the time is right to step aside’Successor likely to be part-time appointmentShaun Wane has left his position as England head coach with immediate effect, the Guardian can reveal, leaving the national team on the hunt for a replacement for the Rugby League World Cup later this year.Wane oversaw England’s 3-0 Ashes defeat against Australia last autumn but insisted in the aftermath of that series that he was keen to continue and rebuild going into the World Cup in
  
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• Mahmood has no confidence in police chief after Israeli fan ban

  14-01-2026 21:24 via bbc.com
  West Midlands Police apologises for errors, but makes no comment on its chief constable's future.
  
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• Massacres and executions: what are we hearing from inside Iran? | The Latest

  14-01-2026 21:22 via theguardian.com
  Protesters face execution as the Iranian regime continues its violent crackdown, defying the US president, Donald Trump, who has threatened ‘very strong action’ if demonstrators are killed. Erfan Soltani, 26, is the first protester to be sentenced to death, but it is unclear whether or not his execution has taken place. Lucy Hough speaks to journalist Deepa Parent about what she is hearing from those inside Iran Continue reading...
  
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• Labour MPs could rebel over Hillsborough law after talks with families break down

  14-01-2026 21:03 via theguardian.com
  Families are concerned about possibility for intelligence services to veto officers giving evidence after disastersKeir Starmer is facing the prospect of Labour MPs rebelling on his manifesto-promised Hillsborough law after talks broke down with families over how the duty of candour would apply to serving intelligence officers.Starmer was introduced at last year’s Labour conference by Margaret Aspinall, whose son James, 18, was one of the 97 people killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
  
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• US announces start of second phase of Gaza ceasefire

  14-01-2026 20:28 via theguardian.com
  No details given of committee members who will run territory but they are expected be technocrats, not politiciansThe US has announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, including the creation of a committee of Palestinian technocrats who are supposed to take over the day-to-day running of the territory for a transition period.The announcement was made on social media by Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, but it lacked any detail or names of potential members of
  
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• Amazon to close Milton Keynes fulfilment centre, affecting 590 workers

  14-01-2026 20:27 via theguardian.com
  The site was the UK’s first Amazon warehouse and staff will be offered a transfer to a new Northampton site or elsewhereAmazon is planning to close one of its UK fulfilment centres, offering workers the chance to transfer to another site.The company announced a consultation on a proposal to close the site in Milton Keynes, which was the first Amazon centre to open in the UK, in 1998. Continue reading...
  
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• Maternal death rate in UK rose by 20% over 14 years despite Tory pledge

  14-01-2026 20:11 via theguardian.com
  Experts describe increase as ‘absolute tragedy’ after data shows rate jumped despite Conservatives vowing to halve itThe rate of women dying during or soon after pregnancy in the UK has increased by 20% over the last decade, despite the Conservatives having pledged to halve it, according to figures experts have described as “an absolute tragedy”.In 2015, the then Tory health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, vowed to reduce maternal deaths by 50% by 2030 and make the NHS “one
  
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• Why banning of Maccabi fans raises questions about police integrity

  14-01-2026 20:08 via bbc.com
  The decision to ban fans of the Israeli team from a UK game was based on a flawed assessment, a report has found.
  
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