8 h. ago OBR confronted Treasury about ‘unhelpful’ policy leaks before Reeves’ Budget

The economy watchdog raised concerns with the Treasury about the amount of information being leaked ahead of the chancellor’s statement

Events

9 h. ago From enslavement to Windrush to Hurricane Melissa, Britain is still tearing Caribbean families apart | Nadine White

Leaving eight-year-old Lati-Yana Brown homeless and cut off from her mother should never have been sanctioned by the stateBritain’s long history with the Caribbean, from enslavement to the Windrush scandal, is marked by policies that have fractured families. The Home Office’s latest actions show little has changed. After the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, a tropical cyclone that made landfall across the Greater Antilles area in late October, eight-year-old Lati-Yana Stephanie Brown was left destitute in Jamaica. But after her UK-resident parents appealed for the Home Office to expedite her visa application, officials rejected it and Lati-Yana has been left to sleep on the floor of her elderly grandmother’s destroyed home.But the rejection rested on factual errors, according to Lati-Yana’s mother, Kerrian Bigby. Dawn Butler, her MP, shared a letter with me raising concerns about “misrepresentations” in the decision notice, including the claim that Bigby does not have full parental...

Events

15 h. ago UN experts raise concerns over homes rented out by English social landlord

Exclusive: Letter says L&Q appears to have systematically failed in its duty to provide adequate standard of livingUN experts have said that one of England’s biggest social landlords appears to have systematically failed to ensure the habitability of its rental properties.In a letter to the UK government, they cite the case of a disabled tenant, Sanjay Ramburn, 55, who they say lived with his family of five in an L&Q group property in Forest Gate, east London for several years with no electricity. They experienced four ceiling collapses, as well as severe damp and mould that affected their health. Continue reading...

Society

26 h. ago England to face huge Ashes disadvantage Ben Stokes knew all about as Joe Root concern raised

England will take on Australia at The Gabba in the Second Ashes Test which will be a day-night game in Brisbane

Politics

27 h. ago Israeli settlers attack and rob Italian and Canadian volunteers in West Bank

Group beaten in early hours of morning in village where they volunteered to help protect Palestinians from settler violenceItaly and Canada have raised concerns about the treatment of their citizens who were beaten and robbed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.Three Italians and a Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho, where they had volunteered to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago Care workers raise concerns over illegal pay and 'misleading' job adverts

Homecare Voices, a grassroots support network for over 650 care workers throughout the UK, warned staff were being promised hourly rates that didn’t include their travel

Economics

3 d. ago Cameron Barracks asylum seeker plans ‘made up on back of an envelope’ – Swinney

Concerns had been raised about the impact on the community in Inverness.

Events

3 d. ago Israel has ‘de facto state policy’ of organised torture, says UN report

Committee highlights allegations including dog attacks and sexual violence, raising concern about impunity for war crimesIsrael has “a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture”, according to a new UN report covering the past two years, which also raised concerns about the impunity of Israeli security forces for war crimes.The UN committee on torture expressed “deep concern over allegations of repeated severe beatings, dog attacks, electrocution, waterboarding, use of prolonged stress positions [and] sexual violence”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Rugby union’s breakaway competition R360 delays launch by two years

Competition will not now begin until 2028‘Decision to shift our launch is strategic’Rugby’s proposed breakaway R360 competition has announced it will be delaying its launch for two years until 2028. Fronted by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall, R360 said in a statement that its ambition remains to “complement the rugby calendar”.However, the announcement will raise concerns over the viability of the prospective competition in light of opposition from the sport’s established unions. Eight leading countries issued a joint statement last month indicating that any players who signed up for R360 would be banned from playing international competitions. Continue reading...

Sport

4 d. ago After a teddy bear talked about kink, AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toys

Advocates are fighting against the $16.7bn global smart-toy market, decrying surveillance and a lack of regulationAs the holiday season looms into view with Black Friday, one category on people’s gift lists is causing increasing concern: products with artificial intelligence.The development has raised new concerns about the dangers smart toys could pose to children, as consumer advocacy groups say AI could harm kids’ safety and development. The trend has prompted calls for increased testing of such products and governmental oversight. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago US regulators ‘taking seriously’ allegations of bankers’ support for Epstein

Exclusive: It follows calls from US senator Elizabeth Warren to investigate bank executives including ex-Barclays boss Jes StaleyUS regulators say they are taking allegations that top banks may have facilitated Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activity “very seriously”, as they faced calls to investigate executives including the former Barclays boss Jes Staley.In correspondence seen by the Guardian, bosses from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said they had reviewed a letter from the Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren, which raised concerns over bankers’ alleged support for the convicted child sex offender Epstein. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago 'People are leaving Salford because of M60 junction, they can't get to work'

Concerns have been raised about the impact of a major junction.

Politics

5 d. ago Concerns raised over fate of "unique" art based at former Stirling Pru building

The large-scale fibreglass installation which sat in the atrium of the building represented a major piece of commissioned work from the late 1980s.

Politics

5 d. ago Newcastle to lodge Uefa complaint over ‘unacceptable treatment’ of fans at Marseille game

Supporters ‘targeted with pepper spray and batons’French police used ‘excessive tactics’, claim NewcastleNewcastle are to complain over the “unacceptable treatment” their fans endured after Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Marseille in the Champions League. The Premier League club accused French police of using pepper spray, batons and shields to subdue supporters in the wake of Tuesday night’s loss at Stade Vélodrome.A club statement said: “We will be formally raising our concerns with Uefa, Olympique de Marseille and French police in relation to the unacceptable treatment of our supporters by police at Stade Vélodrome following Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture.” Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago Ayrshire care professional wins national Care Worker of the Year title

Lorna Grayston was a big winner during the Scottish Care Home Awards, held at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel.

Politics

5 d. ago Vegan influencer, 30, is fined after wrongly claiming online that she was an osteopath

'Concerns' were raised about Lily Iaschelcic (pictured), 30, after she claimed she was a qualified practitioner without being registered with the professional regulator.

Politics

6 d. ago Budget 2025 live: Reeves claims freezing tax thresholds in budget does not breach manifesto pledge

Chancellor says she will not ‘get into semantics’ when questioned on issue after her statementAt a glance: the key points from the budgetHow does freezing income tax thresholds affect you?Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, has rejected the concerns raised by the Resolution Foundation (see 9.54am) about the rise in the minimum wage rates. Asked about the thinktank’s comments, Nowak told Times Radio:I don’t accept those concerns ...First of all, that recommendation is based on the Low Pay Commission, which brings together employers, unions, independent experts, they’re tasked with making a recommendation on the minimum wage, which balances getting money into people’s pockets and the impact on unemployment. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Budget 2025 live: Rachel Reeves sets out tax rises and council tax changes as OBR apologises for leaking details

Office for Budget Responsibility blames ‘technical error’ after forecasts were published before chancellor gave her statementAt a glance: the key points from the budgetPaul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, has rejected the concerns raised by the Resolution Foundation (see 9.54am) about the rise in the minimum wage rates. Asked about the thinktank’s comments, Nowak told Times Radio:I don’t accept those concerns ...First of all, that recommendation is based on the Low Pay Commission, which brings together employers, unions, independent experts, they’re tasked with making a recommendation on the minimum wage, which balances getting money into people’s pockets and the impact on unemployment. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Budget 2025 live: Income tax thresholds to be frozen for three years in budget, OBR leak indicates

Forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility were accidentally published before Rachel Reeves gives her statementUK borrowing costs fall after early release of budget forecasts – business liveCould you do better than Reeves? Play our gamePaul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, has rejected the concerns raised by the Resolution Foundation (see 9.54am) about the rise in the minimum wage rates. Asked about the thinktank’s comments, Nowak told Times Radio:I don’t accept those concerns ...First of all, that recommendation is based on the Low Pay Commission, which brings together employers, unions, independent experts, they’re tasked with making a recommendation on the minimum wage, which balances getting money into people’s pockets and the impact on unemployment. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago 'Serious failings' identified at Greater Manchester social housing landlord

A watchdog has raised 'serious concerns'.

Events