Review says trauma-informed support could help interrupt ‘destructive cycles’ and reduce risk of harm to future babies Parents whose children are taken into care should receive trauma-informed support to reduce the risk of harm to any further babies they have, according to child protection experts. A national child safeguarding review, launched after the death of baby Victoria Marten, said that if “destructive cycles of harm are to be interrupted” there needed to be more focus on parents, as well as their vulnerable baby or unborn infant. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Calls for ‘urgent action’ as study also finds stark ethnic and socio-economic disparities in child mortality and consanguinity One in 14 children who died in England in a four-year period had parents who were close relatives, according to “stark” figures revealed by the first study of its kind. The figures, published by the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), based at the University of Bristol, analysed all 13,045 child deaths in England between 2019 and 2023. Of these, 926 (7%) were found to be of children born to consanguineous parents, meaning the mother and father are close blood relatives, such as first cousins. Continue reading...

Courtauld Gallery, London This quietly tremendous exhibition gathers more than half of the pointillist painter’s works, all depicting the Channel coast and sea, full of blizzards of light and a quivering sense of import Georges Seurat died young. His two most famous paintings, both extremely large and innovative in their composition and technique, were completed while he was still in his mid-20s. As it was, Seurat painted approximately 45 paintings before his death, probably from diphtheria, in March 1891 when he was 31. More than half these works depict the Channel coast and sea and were completed on his summer trips between 1885 and 1890. Seurat and the Sea at the Courtauld is the first exhibition to be devoted entirely to these images. Twenty-three paintings and smaller oil studies, and three drawings hang in two rooms. It is a quietly tremendous exhibition. Even if one takes on board the artist’s claims to science, objectivity and his adherence to theories about colour and perception which distance him from impressionism, Seurat’s paintings are peculiar and strange. Sometimes his line is very odd and stiff, yet his drawings themselves – tonal studies worked in conté crayon on textured, laid paper, are among the most marvellous I can think of. It is clear Seurat knew what he was doing; who knows what he might have gone on to achieve? Continue reading...

Rics surveyors report inquiries from new buyers, agreed sales and house prices were less negative in January There are “tentative signs” that the housing market in England and Wales is recovering from a months-long slowdown after uncertainty around the autumn budget and economic pressures, estate agents and surveyors have reported. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said its members were feeling more optimistic about the year ahead than at any time since December 2024, as inquiries from new buyers, agreed sales and house prices became less negative in January. Continue reading...

Nooteboom made international breakthrough with 1980 novel Rituals and won acclaim for his travel writing The Dutch writer Cees Nooteboom, whose novels, travel writing and translations made him a major literary figure in postwar Europe, has died aged 92. Publishing house De Bezige Bij said in a statement on Wednesday evening that Nooteboom had “passed away very peacefully on his beloved island Menorca”. The statement was made on behalf of the author’s wife, the photographer Simone Sassen. Continue reading...

Officials in US border city say FAA decisions caused major disruption – and residents are still scrambling for answers Officials in Texas were left scrambling for answers on Wednesday after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a surprise order to shut down the airspace over El Paso for 10 days and then, as turmoil ensued in the city on the US-Mexico border, abruptly lifted it within hours. Local leaders in the west Texas city said that they received no prior warning or explanation and the stunning announcement had put lives at risk. Continue reading...

Mark Kelly speaks out after grand jury declines to indict six lawmakers over video urging troops to resist illegal orders Arizona senator Mark Kelly warned that the Trump administration’s failed attempt to secure an indictment against him and five other Democratic lawmakers for a video urging service members to resist unlawful orders was a “master alarm flashing for our democracy”. On Tuesday, a grand jury in Washington DC declined to indict the six members of Congress who posted a video last year reminding members of the military and intelligence community that they “can refuse illegal orders” – a message that Donald Trump said amounted to “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Dani Anguiano contributed to this story Continue reading...

Adam Mosseri defends app on witness stand and says critics must separate ‘clinical addiction’ from ‘problematic use’ Instagram’s CEO dismissed the idea that users can be addicted to social media at a landmark California trial on Wednesday. “I think it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use,” Adam Mosseri said on the witness stand. Psychologists do not classify social media addiction as an official diagnosis. Researchers have documented the harmful consequences of compulsive use among young people, and lawmakers around the world are worried about its addictive potential. Continue reading...

David Lammy announces mandatory support and mentoring plan in wake of two stabbings at a school in Brent, north-west London Children who carry knives will be given earlier and more targeted support in the wake of stabbings at a secondary school, David Lammy has said. The deputy prime minister said every child in England and Wales caught with a sharp weapon will be given a mandatory, specialised plan from the authorities. Continue reading...

Arne Slot has said he does not believe his job security hinges on Liverpool securing Champions League qualification this spring but the Dutchman would much prefer not to put that assertion to the test. On this evidence there seems a decent chance the Champions’s manager will not have to. In finally ending Sunderland’s proud unbeaten home record in the Premier League this season, sixth placed Liverpool left themselves only three points adrift of fourth placed Manchester United and two behind fifth placed Chelsea. Continue reading...

The late actor became known for his role in Kevin Williamson’s era-defining teen show but in the years after he worked hard to subvert his persona James Van Der Beek, star of Dawson’s Creek, dies aged 48 James Van Der Beek: a life in pictures When an actor like James Van Der Beek dies, the obvious thing would be to concentrate on their biggest role. In the case of Van Der Beek, that would be Dawson’s Creek, Kevin Williamson’s soapy drama that ran for six seasons across the millennium. And that would be perfectly justified, since in its time Dawson’s Creek was a genuine sensation. It might be hard to remember, since the show became the water that all teen drama swims in, but Dawson’s Creek had a rare knack for meeting its audience where it was. Continue reading...

British pair finish seventh after stumble in free dance Gold goes to France’s Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron Lewis Gibson did his best to smile, but the pained pinch on Lilah Fear’s face gave the game away. The Team GB pair had spent years dreaming of becoming the first British Olympic skating medallists since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. But when it really mattered they suffered a nightmare on ice. Gold went to the French couple Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron with 225.82 points, with the US team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, the reigning three-time reigning world champions, having to settle for silver on 224.39 points. The Canadian pair of Paul Poirier and Piper Gilles claimed bronze with 217.73. Continue reading...

Ex-education secretaries urge change as data shows special educational needs spending rising fastest in wealthy areas Two former Labour education secretaries have urged the government to restore “sanity and certainty” to England’s special educational needs system, as analysis shows spending has risen fastest in the most affluent councils, leaving deprived areas “trailing behind”. According to research by the Policy Exchange thinktank, total local authority spending on special educational needs and disabilities (Send) increased by more than £5bn in real terms between 2018-19 and 2024-25 – a 58.5% increase in six years. Continue reading...

On a night when James Milner made history, equalling his former teammate Gareth Barry’s Premier League appearance record, his former club, Aston Villa, created more unwanted headlines for Fabian Hürzeler. A Tyrone Mings header, deflected in by Jack Hinshelwood with four minutes of normal time to play, on the defender’s 200th Villa appearance, was sufficient to down Brighton and extend their miserable run. It said everything about a poor Villa display that Unai Emery was unmoved by the goal. Brighton had looked most likely to score, Ferdi Kadioglu cracking an effort against the crossbar and Milner going close late on. For Hürzeler, the 32-year-old German feeling the heat, it is now one win in their past 13 league matches. Continue reading...

Manchester City’s week is moving along sweetly, this win closing the gap to three points to Arsenal, who travel to Brentford on Thursday. On Sunday, they beat Liverpool at Anfield, on Wednesday they downed Fulham at home, to reel off a 20th consecutive victory against them. The rosiest moment for the title challengers was Erling Haaland’s 39th‑minute strike, a first in the competition from open play in nine games, though Pep Guardiola will be concerned at how City still grasp for supreme control. Continue reading...

Tribe, which was forcibly removed from its lands near Lake Tahoe, used $5.5m grant and private donations for purchase The Washoe Tribe has purchased more than 10,000 acres of land near Lake Tahoe for conservation in one of the largest tribal land returns in California history. The sprawling property, located 20 miles north of Reno, Nevada, stretches from the Great Basin through the Sierra Nevada and encompasses sagebrush scrublands and juniper and pine forests. Continue reading...

Andrew Paul Johnson was found guilty of five counts including molesting a child under 12 and another under 16 A man who took part in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol and later pardoned by Donald Trump was found guilty on Tuesday of multiple child sexual abuse charges in Florida, officials said. Andrew Paul Johnson was arrested in Tennessee this August and extradited to Florida. He pleaded not guilty. Continue reading...

Cognitive health in later life is ‘strongly influenced’ by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments, say researchers Reading, writing and learning a language or two can lower your risk of dementia by almost 40%, according to a study that suggests millions of people could prevent or delay the condition. Dementia is one of the world’s biggest health threats. The number of people living with the condition is forecast to triple to more than 150 million globally by 2050, and experts say it presents a big and rapidly growing threat to future health and social care systems in every community, country and continent. Continue reading...

Attack at Kingsbury high school not being treated as terrorism after arrest of 13-year-old spotted near a mosque A 13-year-old suspected of stabbing two boys at a secondary school is a former pupil who was arrested after being seen at a mosque after the attack, which has not been declared a terrorist incident, police said. Two pupils at Kingsbury high school in Brent, north-west London, were seriously injured at lunchtime on Tuesday. Both remain in a “stable” condition in hospital with injuries now thought not to be life-threatening. Continue reading...

Multiple studies show that women who take Depo-Provera have much higher risk of developing meningiomas UK law firms are considering legal action on behalf of women who developed brain tumours after using the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera. Depo-Provera is a high-dose synthetic progesterone, prescribed for contraception and other menstrual symptoms, administered via injection every three months. According to UN calculations, 74 million women worldwide and 3.1% of UK women aged 15-49 use injectable contraception. Continue reading...

A teacher and five students among those killed in attack in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on Tuesday Canadian police have identified the suspect who carried out a school massacre in remote British Columbia as an 18-year old woman with a history of mental health problems. Six people, including a teacher and five students, were killed in the attack on Tuesday in the town of Tumbler Ridge, in foothills of the Rocky mountains. The victim’s mother and step-brother were later found dead at the family home, police said. The body of the shooter was also found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Continue reading...

Israeli leader was expected to advocate for more forceful US intervention during sixth visit to current White House Donald Trump has said that he is still seeking a deal with Iran to prevent it from seeking a nuclear weapon following a three-hour meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu in which the Israeli leader was expected to advocate for a more forceful intervention by the US military. Netanyahu’s sixth visit to the White House since Trump returned to office ended without any public remarks between the two leaders. The results of the hastily arranged meeting were announced by Trump in an online post. Continue reading...

Matt Murray defends paper’s strategy as ‘demoralized’ staffers ask tough questions in contentious town hall Top Washington Post editor Matt Murray acknowledged “a widespread sense of loss, of genuine trauma” in a contentious town hall meeting with staff on Wednesday after the company laid off nearly a third of its employees a week ago – though he expressed confidence that the Post is now on a path to success. “There’s no doubt that just the sheer depth of the cuts – and also, with that, the reality of what we face at the Post – has been a very hard thing to wrap our heads around and to grapple with,” Murray said, according to a recording of his remarks obtained by the Guardian. Continue reading...

Tiffany Smyth is married to Seamus Culleton, who despite having a valid work permit was detained in September The wife of an Irish man who has been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for five months - despite having a valid work permit – is pleading for help in instigating his release from the “dire conditions” he is facing in detention. “I just want him home where he belongs. I want us to be able to finish what we started,” Tiffany Smyth, wife of Seamus Culleton, said during a Wednesday press conference. Continue reading...

Actor best-known for role in Hal Ashby’s black comedy also appeared in films by Robert Altman and Wes Anderson Bud Cort, the actor best known for his role in dark comedy Harold and Maude, has died at the age of 77. According to Variety, Cort died in Connecticut after a long illness. Continue reading...