5 h. ago Statues, bridges, soundscapes: Queen Elizabeth II memorial designs unveiled

Giant canopy of stone lilies and exact cast of Windsor oak tree among ideas for commemoration in St James’s ParkHow best to capture the enduring essence of Queen Elizabeth II is the question behind innovative designs shortlisted for a national memorial planned for Britain’s longest-serving monarch.An exact cast of a Windsor oak tree, a giant canopy of stone lilies and a “graceful and strong” stone bridge symbolising her as the bedrock of the nation are among shortlisted designs on which the public is now being consulted.A “tranquil family” of royal gardens linked by a natural stone path, by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners with the artist Yinka Shonibare, the ecologist Prof Nigel Dunnett and the landscape architect Michel Desvigne. It includes a statue of the queen alongside Philip, a wind sculpture for reflection, audio installations of the queen’s voice, a digital conservatory and a unity bridge.A memorial walk inspired by the idea of “togetherness” with 70 lily pad stepping sto...

Politics

32 h. ago ‘Tranquillising good taste’: can the National Gallery’s airy new entrance exorcise its demons?

When the Sainsbury Wing opened, it was called ‘vulgar pastiche’. Now, after an £85m revamp, it has become the famous gallery’s main entrance. But have its spiky complexities been tamed? And why all the empty space?Few parts of any city have seen so many style wars waged over their future as the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square. Nelson may be safely ensconced on his column, but another Battle of Trafalgar has been rumbling for decades beneath his feet, seeing architectural grenades hurled to and fro at the western end of the National Gallery.A 1950s competition first produced a bold brutalist plan to extend the gallery, formed of crisscrossing cantilevered planes jutting out into the square, but it was deemed too daring. The 1980s saw a glassy, hi-tech proposal, crowned with futuristic pylons, but it was famously dismissed by the then Prince Charles as a “monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend”. Finally, emerging victorious in the 1990s were the US pi...

Politics

36 h. ago New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay

Applications for work and study visas from nationalities such as Pakistanis, Nigerians and Sri Lankans among those that reportedly could be curbed by the Home Office

Society

37 h. ago Visas curbs planned for nationalities most likely to overstay and seek asylum

Applications for work and study visas from nationalities such as Pakistanis, Nigerians and Sri Lankans among those that reportedly could be curbed by the Home Office

Events

43 h. ago Trump plans to jumpstart one of the nation’s worst prisons. Officials may have to boot threatened seabirds to do it

The tourist destination is home to thousands of seabirds that rely on the island to nest and raise their families

Events

44 h. ago UK planning on restricting visa applications from certain nationalities – report

Labour promised in its manifesto that it would bring down immigration numbers.

Politics

3 d. ago Jim Dent, Augusta caddie turned pioneering Black golfer, dies aged 85

Dent’s grandson announces golfer’s passing at 85Augusta native became one of PGA’s longest hittersJim Dent grew up in the caddie yards of Augusta, Georgia, eventually working at the Masters and honing his game at the municipal course known as ‘The Patch’. He went on to become one of the PGA Tour’s longest hitters and one of the top Black golfers of his generation.Dent died on Friday at age 85, a week before his birthday, his grandson posted on Facebook. The PGA Tour said on its website that Dent suffered a stroke the day after Augusta National announced plans for Tiger Woods to design a par 3 course at The Patch. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago A climate election? The Coalition wants to take Australia backwards, while Labor is standing still | Clear Air

Depending on where things end up after Saturday, the biggest climate push may come from the crossbenchElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignPolls tracker; Election guide; Interactive seat explorerParty policies; Micro parties explained; Full election coverageListen to the latest episode of our new narrative podcast series: GinaGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastIf further confirmation was needed that the Peter Dutton-led Coalition would take Australia aggressively backwards on dealing with the climate crisis, his final election costings released on Thursday tell the story in black and white.The Liberal and National parties plan to gut programs designed to cut emissions and help create green industries to give the country an industrial future as demand for fossil fuels falls. They also plan to ignore advice that Australian nature is in poor and deteriorating health and strip back already limited funding for environment programs.Si...

Politics

6 d. ago Donald Trump to fire bungling national security advisor weeks after war plans group chat gaffe

Following Mike Waltz' mistake adding a journalist to a group chat discussing classified war plans, the security adviser now finds himself out of a role at the White House

Events

9 d. ago Loss of FEMA program spells disaster for hundreds of communities and their projects

For hundreds of communities nationwide, plans to protect against natural disasters and climate change have been upended because of the Trump administration's elimination of a federal grant program

Events

1 week ago China seizes control of disputed reef and plants national flag near Philippine military base

Chinese media says coastguard units entered remote sandbank, known in China as Tiexian Reef, ‘to exercise sovereignty’

Events

1 week ago Pacific island states urge rich countries to expedite plans to cut emissions

Developed countries pressed to submit national plans well before Cop30 as time runs out to avoid 1.5C temperature riseRich countries are dragging their feet on producing new plans to combat the climate crisis, thereby putting the poor into greater danger, some of the world’s most vulnerable nations have warned.All governments are supposed to publish new plans this year on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but so far only a small majority have done so, and some of the plans submitted have been inadequate to the scale of action needed. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago SIM farms: Fraud minister Lord Hanson outlines plans to ban devices used by scammers to con the public

Fraud minister Lord Hanson writes exclusively for the NationalWorld network to explain the government’s plans to ban SIM farms - used by scammers to con the public

Politics

2 w. ago Sarah, Duchess of York calls for national cancer plan to include teenagers

The late Queen’s former daughter-in-law has signed an open letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Politics

2 w. ago Small plane hit power line before crashing into the Platte River in Nebraska

The National Transportation Safety Board says a small plane appears to have struck a power line before it crashed into the Platte River in Nebraska

Events

2 w. ago Plans to publish nationalities of foreign criminals data by end of year

The Home Office announced work is being done to improve data processes on the group of offenders before it can be used for statistics.

Events

2 w. ago Britain needs houses, and Labour’s bold plan will address that. But it may require more migrants | Polly Toynbee

Ministers are ready to be relentless over planning reform. There is a skills gap though – and they must be brave enough to fill itAmid the shock of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) halving its growth forecast last month, one remarkable finding gets too little attention. It predicts housebuilding will rise to its highest level in 40 years, adding 0.2% growth or £6.8bn by 2029-30, potentially rising to more than 0.4% by 2034-35. The government has said that housing scores the biggest positive growth effect from a “zero-cost policy” the OBR has ever forecast.This is especially remarkable given that 2024 saw the fewest planning permissions granted for new homes for a decade, and the worst on record, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Planning applications plummeted when the last government scrapped councils’ mandatory housing targets, but since Labour reimposed a national planning policy framework, applications in the works have risen by more than 160%.Polly Toyn...

Events

2 w. ago US man shot dead after hijacking small passenger plane in Belize

Two people injured after man took control of plane at knifepoint before being shot by another passengerA US man has been shot dead after hijacking a small passenger plane and injuring two passengers in the Caribbean nation of Belize.Fourteen passengers were onboard the aircraft when the hijacker, identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, took control of the flight at knifepoint. Two passengers were injured, including one who was stabbed in the back. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago UK mobile phone provider to switch off service after O2, Vodafone and EE

Mobile phone users are being urged to check the model of their devices to see whether they'll be impacted a major shakeup taking place across the nation. It follows 2021 plans to phase out 2G and 3G services

Politics

3 w. ago Yoruba Nation Agitators Plan London Summit To Map Out Nigeria Exit Strategy, Organise Mass Rally In Southwest

Yoruba Nation Agitators Plan London Summit To Map Out Nigeria Exit Strategy, Organise Mass Rally In Southwest  Sahara Reporters

Politics