FAA ruled to have satisfied obligations in granting approval for expanded SpaceX operations next to wildlife refuge A US district court judge on Monday rejected a suit by conservation groups challenging the Federal Aviation Administration approval in 2022 of expanded rocket launch operations by Elon Musk’s SpaceX next to a national wildlife refuge in south Texas. The groups said noise, light pollution, construction and road traffic also degrade the area, home to endangered ocelots and jaguarundis, as well as nesting sites for endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles and for threatened shorebirds. US district judge Carl Nichols in Washington said FAA had satisfied its obligation “to take a hard look at the effects of light on nearby wildlife”. Continue reading...

Deputy PM says legislation will ensure public officials have duty to act with ‘honesty and integrity at all times’ The guilty escape justice. Well, not any more | David Lammy Public servants who deliberately cover up state-related disasters will face up to two years in jail under a new Hillsborough law, David Lammy has promised, following concerns from campaigners that it could be watered down. Writing in the Guardian, the deputy prime minister and lord chancellor said legislation would ensure that state actors from “the bobby on the beat to the highest office in the land” will face “serious punishments for serious wrongdoing”. Continue reading...

The Hillsborough campaigners have always said those who harm and mislead the public must be held to account. A new law, in their name, will do that David Lammy is deputy prime minister and secretary of state for justice Saturday 15 April 1989: one of the darkest days in British history. Thousands of Liverpool fans set out for Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, full of excitement for the FA Cup semi-final. Ninety-five of them never came home. Two more died of their injuries years later. The terrible images from the ground still haunt us today. What happened on the day of the disaster was appalling enough. But what came afterwards was a national disgrace. The authorities closed ranks to cover up their own failings – concerned more with protecting their own reputations than the public they were supposed to serve. And families, who had already lost everything, were forced to watch on as their loved ones were smeared and blamed for their own deaths. Continue reading...

Franzoso suffered ‘major head trauma’ in accident Lindsey Vonn: ‘This is incredibly sad … RIP Matteo’ The Italian skier Matteo Franzoso has died at the age of 25 following a crash during pre-season training in Chile at the weekend, his country’s winter sports federation (FISI) has confirmed. After suffering “a major head trauma” in the accident at the La Parva track on Saturday, Franzoso was taken by helicopter to the intensive care unit of a clinic in Santiago and placed in an induced coma. The FISI confirmed on Monday that he did not recover after “cranial trauma” and a subsequent swelling of his brain. Continue reading...

Care and support package, including housing, will help 30-50 young Palestinians for an initial two years The first group of children from Gaza have arrived in the UK for specialist life-saving treatment on the NHS, the Guardian understands. Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, informed the parliamentary Labour party on Monday evening about the news. On arrival in the UK, the patients and their families have been granted access to NHS treatment, appropriate housing and comprehensive support services for an initial two-year period. Continue reading...

Vice-president says White House will pursue those who praise Kirk’s death and groups that ‘promote terrorism’ JD Vance assailed what he called the “far left” and its increased tolerance for violence while guest-hosting Charlie Kirk’s podcast on Monday, saying the administration would be working to dismantle groups who celebrate Kirk’s death and political violence against their opponents. Vance, hosting the podcast from his office next to the White House, spoke to high-profile members of the Trump administration and some of Kirk’s long-time friends in the movement, including Tucker Carlson and Trump adviser Stephen Miller. Continue reading...

US president says three men were killed in the strike, adding that it occurred in international waters US politics live – latest updates Donald Trump said on Monday that the US military carried out a strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel vessel that had been on its way to the United States. He said three men were killed in the strike, adding that it occurred in international waters. Continue reading...

International Black Indigenous Circus Week in Philadelphia brings together artists specializing in aerial, juggling clowning and more for various panels and shows In an industrial building in north Philadelphia, teal and red fabric used for aerial tricks dangled from the high ceiling. Alyssa Bigbee, the co-founder of the Philadelphia-based International Black Indigenous Circus Week, called on five performers to circle around for the first rehearsal of their circus show titled The Rebellion: Anarchy. “Remember to breathe. Remember to pace yourself,” Bigbee told the group of mostly Black and brown artists. “Lean on each other and feed off of each other in terms of energy.” As the song Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses blared through the space, Bigbee strided up to a lyra, a metal circle resembling a hula hoop suspended from the ceiling. Her body undulated as she looped her legs in and out of the hoop. Artists linked arms and spun each other around. Later, they leaped into the air and simultaneously collapsed on to the floor. A commentary on the current sociopolitical environment since the November presidential election, the performance captured a range of emotions from anger to hope. Continue reading...

Manganese blue pigment, used in Pollock’s Number 1A, 1948, was since phased out for environmental reasons Scientists have identified the origins of the blue color in one of Jackson Pollock’s paintings with a little help from chemistry, confirming for the first time that the abstract expressionist used a vibrant, synthetic pigment known as manganese blue. The work titled Number 1A, 1948 showcases Pollock’s classic style: paint has been dripped and splattered across the canvas, creating a vivid, multicolored piece. Pollock even gave it a personal touch, adding his handprints near the top. Continue reading...

France flanker handed 12-match suspension Manaé Feleu also banned owing to a high tackle The France flanker Axelle Berthoumieu has been banned for biting the Ireland back-row Aoife Wafer in their Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final and will miss the semi-final against England on Saturday. France will also be without their captain, Manaé Feleu, as she has been banned for a high tackle during the game against Ireland. Both players are appealing against the sanctions. Continue reading...

Captain insists club is pulling in the ‘same direction’ at last as Tottenham’s Champions League campaign kicks off The way that Cristian Romero tells it, there was a kind of rage inside him, an overwhelming desire for Tottenham to be better that sometimes overtook him. The defender could not help himself, he needed to make his views known, but when all of the pieces were put together from last season and into the summer, it was difficult to see that he was planning on staying at the club. There was the repost of a social media message last September that claimed he was tired because Spurs had not flown him back on a private jet from Argentina duty. Note: reposts can be endorsements. There was the complaint in December that the club’s lack of spending meant they were falling behind Premier League rivals. “You have to realise that something is going wrong – hopefully they [the board] realise it,” he said. Continue reading...

Report calls on governments to commit to renewed action at general assembly in New York, saying ‘a different path is still possible’ Hard-won progress on women’s access to healthcare, rights and employment is being put at risk from global conflict, cuts to aid spending, and a backlash against gender equality, according to a UN equality watchdog. A woman’s chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth is more than a third lower than it was 25 years ago, UN Women said in its annual report, while girls are more likely to complete school than ever before. It also found that rates of intimate partner violence were 2.5 times lower in countries that had introduced comprehensive measures on violence. Continue reading...

Prime Vision will feature xG and player statistics Service will launch for Tottenham’s game with Villarreal Amazon Prime Video will give Champions League viewers a new kind of match coverage this season, dripping in data and taking its inspiration from video games. Prime Vision will offer a version of broadcast coverage in which datapoints will be overlaid on to live play, enabling fans to see a player’s name, their running speed, the distance of a pass and even the passing options as part of the extra information. The service will be unveiled in the UK on Tuesday night for the Tottenham v Villarreal league-phase game and will run alongside traditional coverage. Continue reading...

Labour MPs talk openly about replacing PM, as third senior ally in two weeks departs after publication of WhatsApps The crisis engulfing Keir Starmer has deepened on the eve of Donald Trump’s visit to the UK after the resignation of a third senior ally in two weeks raised further questions about the stability of his government. Paul Ovenden quit as the prime minister’s director of political strategy after the publication of old WhatsApp messages in which Ovenden relayed lewd jokes made at a party about the Labour MP Diane Abbott. Continue reading...

Arab states say US should use its leverage and influence as they promise to ‘activate joint defence mechanisms’ Gulf leaders meeting at an emergency summit in Qatar have called on the Trump administration to use its leverage to rein in Israel after the unprecedented Israeli attempt last Tuesday to assassinate Hamas negotiators in Doha. Speaking after the meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the group’s secretary general, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, said: “We … expect our strategic partners in the United States to use their influence on Israel in order for it to stop this behaviour … They have leverage and influence on Israel, and it’s about time that this leverage and influence be used.” Continue reading...

Medical tribunal rules ‘very low risk’ of Suhail Anjum, who had been dismissed by hospital in Greater Manchester, repeating behaviour A doctor who left a patient midway through an operation to have sex with a nurse is at “very low risk” of repeating his serious misconduct, a medical tribunal has ruled. Dr Suhail Anjum, 44, and the unnamed nurse were caught in a “compromising position” by a shocked colleague who walked in on the pair at Tameside hospital. The consultant anaesthetist had asked another nursing colleague to monitor the male patient, who was under general anaesthetic, so he could go to the bathroom. Continue reading...

Steve Borthwick’s new lieutenant has promised he won’t try to get the side to play ‘funky’ but instead will focus on ‘something that works to win us the game’ To say England have been through a few attack coaches in recent times is an understatement. The latest cab off the rank, Lee Blackett, is the 11th individual to take on the role in nine years but it may just be that the national team have found the ideal catalyst to enhance their chances at the next men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027. Blackett, 42, auditioned successfully for the job on this summer’s tour of Argentina and the US, where England scored 13 tries in three Tests, and has emerged as the big winner in Steve Borthwick’s latest cabinet reshuffle with Richard Wigglesworth switching to defence and Joe El-Abd helping out with the forwards. Continue reading...

‘Nato is responding with unity and strength’ to Russian threats, says John Healey RAF Typhoon jets will be deployed within days to shoot down drones over Poland and other Nato allies in eastern Europe if necessary, after last week’s incursion of 19 uncrewed Russian aircraft into Poland. The British fighters, based at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, will join Nato’s new Eastern Sentry mission working alongside French, German and Danish counterparts who are acting as reinforcements for Dutch F-35s and Polish F-16s. Continue reading...

Ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit, the mayor of London hit back at US critics of the capital’s crime rates and diverse population The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship following the election of Donald Trump, which he attributed to the city’s “liberal values”. In an opening salvo ahead of the US president’s state visit, Sadiq Khan said he wanted to challenge the idea that London was in turmoil and said that more Americans than ever were seeking to make it their home. Continue reading...

Concerns grow over potential cuts to educational support as Lib Dem leader addresses rally at Westminster Parents who are fearful about the government’s plans to overhaul special needs education in England took their fight to parliament on Monday, where the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, warned the prime minister: “Get this wrong and you are out.” Up to 700 parents, many carrying colourful, homemade banners, took part in the Westminster day of protest. “Failed”, said one poster in blood-red paint, dripping over a list of children’s names. “Stop cuts, start caring,” said another. Continue reading...

Met ask public for help identifying those who aimed ‘kicks and punches’ at officers among other offences Police are looking for 11 suspects in alleged violent disorder offences after the large far-right-led march through London on Saturday, and said they had already charged eight people with offences. The “unite the kingdom” march was led by the far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson and attracted more than 110,000 people, police said, in excess of what they or the organisers expected. Continue reading...

Sisters of Leonard Farruku tell inquest they want to know ‘what help there was’ for people on the barge The family of an asylum seeker who died on the Bibby Stockholm barge say they do not understand why a man “whose mental state was clearly not right” was moved there. An inquest into the death of Leonard Farruku, an Albanian asylum seeker whose body was found in a shower room on the barge in Portland Port on 12 December 2023 opened in Bournemouth on Monday. Continue reading...

As protesters go on trial, it is clearer than ever that ministers chose the wrong target and the wrong process The court appearance on Tuesday of three protesters charged with terrorism offences because they held up signs declaring their support for Palestine Action should shame the government. The decision to proscribe the group, taken in June, was an alarmingly illiberal overreaction to the damage some of the group’s supporters are alleged to have caused to military equipment. Now ministers and the public are seeing the consequences, as non-violent protesters against the ban are brought before judges. A long and proud tradition of civil disobedience includes campaigners for women’s suffrage, and against nuclear weapons and the burning of fossil fuels. Yet with its rash decision to lump the kind of direct action practised by Palestine Action in with terrorism, ministers have turned their back on this. More than 1,600 people have been arrested since the ban, many of them middle-aged and older. More protests are planned. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

The industry’s retreat from the UK reflects a deeper shift about how Beijing is rewriting the rules of innovation When Merck abruptly scrapped its billion-pound London research hub last week, critics blamed Britain’s lacklustre support for life sciences and a Scrooge-like grip on NHS drug prices. But one important factor may have been missed. That Merck, which is also cutting jobs elsewhere – 6,000 globally – is recalibrating not just in response to the UK or the US, but to China. Merck’s cash cow is pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda), an immunotherapy drug launched in 2014 that has successfully treated advanced melanoma, head and neck, lung, cervical and other cancers. It blocks an antibody called PD-1, teaching the immune system to fight the cancer. Because some patients are out of other options, the results sometimes seem miraculous. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

Nigel Topping says shifting course risks deterring capital, as he urges ministers to hold firm on green transition Weakening or changing net zero policy would deter investors and spook financial markets, the UK government’s new climate adviser has warned. Nigel Topping, recently appointed chair of the climate change committee (CCC), said there was “robust evidence” the UK would benefit economically from strong climate policy, despite calls from some politicians to back down. Continue reading...