The Guardian - January 11, 2025

In this issue

January 11, 2025

Grooming gang rhetoric risks inciting massacre - Streeting

The use of inflammatory language over grooming gangs risks vilifying entire communities and could lead to atrocities such as the mosque massacre in New Zealand that killed more than 50 people, the health secretary has warned.

4 mins

Pharmacy shortage of epilepsy drug linked to man's death from fall

A man with epilepsy died following a fall after his pharmacy reportedly left him an \"IOU\" for his prescribed medication when it ran out of an anti-epileptic drug.

1 min

Weed resistant to widely used herbicide is found in UK for the first time

Scientists have identified a glyphosate-resistant weed on a UK farm for the first time, raising concerns about the controversial herbicide.

1 min

We have enough gas to heat homes, says No 10 after low supply warning

The UK has enough electricity and gas to meet demand, the government insisted yesterday, after the owner of the country's largest gas stores said levels had become \"concerningly low\" during the cold snap.

2 mins

Fears of 'rogue rewilding' after more lynx found roaming in the Scottish Highlands

For a brief moment this week, lynx roamed the Scottish Highlands once again.

3 mins

Sparkling tea challenges festive fizz as perfect partner for toasts

The key question is usually \"milk or sugar?\", but it could soon be \"still or sparkling?\" as tea becomes the latest target of a foodie makeover.

1 min

It was extraordinary' Dramatic rescue of woman who gave birth in a dinghy

The call that would lead to one of the most poignant images of the humanitarian emergency in the waters off the Canary Islands came at 4am on Monday.

4 mins

Health alert issued as temperatures as low as -20C forecast

The UK has recorded its chilliest January night in 15 years, as forecasters predicted it could get even colder over the weekend with temperatures falling as low as -20C in some locations.

2 mins

Beds fill up at 'hotel of mum and dad' as more young adults move back home

The \"hotel of mum and dad\" is the busiest it has been for two decades as an increasing number of young adults choose - or are forced by low wages and rocketing rents - to live with their parents, according to new research.

2 mins

Head of black officers group at Met may lose job for misconduct

The head of the Metropolitan police's Black Police Association (MBPA) committed gross misconduct over his participation in a WhatsApp group that shared sexist comments and racist remarks about Asian people, a police tribunal has found.

1 min

Police search for sisters who went missing in Aberdeen

Police searching for two sisters who disappeared in Aberdeen three days ago are working with officers in Hungary to find them.

1 min

De-aged actor to play Christ after 20 years - Gibson

Mel Gibson wants to cast a de-aged Jim Caviezel in his long-planned sequel to The Passion of the Christ, and said the film will be an \"acid trip\".

1 min

Anita Dobson to Demis Roussos: Winkleman on her fashion muses

Claudia Winkleman has revealed that her wardrobe choices on Strictly Come Dancing have been influenced by the former EastEnders actor Anita Dobson and the Greek singer Demis Roussos.

1 min

Nandy rejects call for England to boycott Afghanistan match

England should be allowed to play next month's cricket match against Afghanistan, the culture and sport secretary has said, despite calls for a boycott over the Taliban government's treatment of women.

2 mins

Inflammatory talk on grooming gangs risks inciting a mosque massacre, says Streeting

Zealand, where someone walked into a mosque and killed innocent Muslims stone cold dead with a gun whose magazine had inscribed on it 'For Rotherham'. We have to be extremely clear about the failings, the nature of it, and not allow political correctness, fear of stating the truth as it is, to fail victims as has happened before. We must also make sure entire communities are not tarred with the same brush.

2 mins

Louise Haigh Ex-minister pleaded guilty to phone lie

Louise Haigh pleaded guilty to lying that her work mobile phone had been stolen in 2013, according to court documents seen by the Guardian which shed new light on the controversy that triggered her departure from the cabinet.

2 mins

Communities Telford shows local inquiries work better, says chair

Public inquiries are seen as the \"Rolls-Royce solution\" to tackling the grooming gangs scandal but local reviews are more effective, the former chair of the Telford child sexual exploitation (CSE) inquiry has said.

2 mins

Conservatives 13 councils led by Tories want election delay

The Conservatives have been accused of \"bottling\" the local elections after 13 Tory-led county councils said they were asking for a delay to May's polls to allow them to take part in a structural shake-up.

2 mins

Fears for cost of borrowing after US jobs figures trigger global bond market sell-off

Concerns over the government's borrowing costs were revived yesterday after stronger-than-expected US jobs figures triggered volatile conditions in global financial markets.

3 mins

EU Starmer chief of staff sent to Brussels for below-radar talks

Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, made a below-the-radar trip to Brussels last month as No 10 prepares to appoint its own foreign affairs adviser to help bolster the Downing Street policy operation.

2 mins

China MPs call on Reeves to demand release of Jimmy Lai

Labour MPs have urged Rachel Reeves to demand the release of a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner this weekend when she becomes the first UK chancellor to make an official visit to China in nearly a decade.

2 mins

Markets fear 'stagflation' New year off to a bumpy start for chancellor

New year off to a bumpy start for chancellor

3 mins

Family sue for £2.15bn over fatal Leicester City helicopter crash

The family of Leicester City FC's former owner, who was killed in a helicopter crash outside the club's stadium in 2018, have launched a lawsuit against the company that made the aircraft.

1 min

Relocation help might have saved boy's life, says charity

The life of a 14-year-old stab victim could have been saved had he been helped to move out of south-east London, according to an anti-knife crime charity that knew him.

2 mins

Eggs-ellent choice: demand for hard-boiled favourite increases in scramble for protein

It was news to make even the most hard-boiled crisp manufacturer shudder: when Tesco released a list of the most-bought meal deal items for 2024, McCoy's flame grilled steak grab bags had fallen off their perch as its shoppers' favourite snack.

1 min

Oatzempic to navel oil Can TikTok health hacks really work?

The deluge of improbable health hacks on TikTok can only mean it's the start of a new year. Here we look at some of the more curious tips and the evidence, where there is any, behind them.

3 mins

Lost to the flames Family homes in a thriving enclave reduced to ashes

In the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, street after street tells the story of the firestorm that swept through the area in the past two days.

3 mins

Political firestorm Trump and allies using disaster to attack California Democrats

The president-elect and his Maga (make America great again) acolytes have used the fires to attack the Democratic political ruling establishment in Los Angeles and California - possibly foretelling power struggles ahead over a range of issues after Donald Trump assumes office this month.

2 mins

'Red flag' weather Return of strong winds raises alert for more fire

Return of strong winds raises alert for more fire

2 mins

Commander of top combat unit looks for international battalion recruits

Ukraine's highest profile combat unit is seeking English-speaking recruits at a time when the impending presidency of Donald Trump means that Kyiv is expected to come under intense pressure on the battlefield.

2 mins

Pride, love and grief 15 Britons who lost their lives on frontline

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, 15 Britons are known to have died in the conflict. The Guardian looks at those who have lost their lives on the frontline.

5 mins

Top actors warn cash crisis may cut access to drama schools

World-leading drama schools in England face a financial crisis that threatens to shut down opportunities for talented young people from diverse and less privileged backgrounds, according to leading figures in the arts.

2 mins

Glimmers of hope Even in difficult times, Our readers show remarkable generosity

Few weeks ago we launched our appeal in aid of victims of war and conflict in a mood of both gloom and optimism: despair at the terrible scale of human suffering in the world this year, but hope generated by the inspiring work of our partner charities.

2 mins

Past updated Teachers encouraged to enter into conflict

Half a million students studied GCSE or A-Level history in the UK last year, but only 2,000 of them tackled the origins of the conflict raging in the Middle East. Why?

3 mins

New rules 'could be a disaster' for UK visa system

The UK's already burdened immigration services could be overwhelmed this summer after a new visa waiver system comes into force for European business travellers and tourists, a leading law firm has said.

2 mins

Almost 900 weapons seized at young offender institution

Almost 900 weapons were seized in one year from children detained in a young offender institution in West Yorkshire, a prisons watchdog said yesterday.

1 min

Hi-fi connection The rise of listening bars where music is top of the menu

Paul Noble was working as a radio producer and sound engineer when his frequent travels to Tokyo sparked the idea for a change of career.

2 mins

Bet the Zuck and his $1m watch don't worry about his no-claims discount

The AFSCA (Belgium's federal agency for ensuring food supply chain safety - but of course you knew that) has been forced to issue a warning to the good people of Poirot's homeland not to eat their Christmas trees.

4 mins

Parched patch in New Zealand crowned world's ugliest lawn

A sun-scorched patch of lawn near Christchurch, New Zealand, has been crowned the ugliest in the world.

2 mins

'Nature can recover' Quiet optimism at return of wildlife to North Sea coast

From the outside, the Tunny Club looks like any other seaside fish and chip shop. A short walk from Scarborough harbour, only the photos of John Wayne and Errol Flynn on the wall betray the shop's fleeting history as a global centre for big-game fishing.

3 mins

'We need more Oslos' City transformed by quiet, low-emission construction

afseer Ali felt no need to raise his voice as the pair of diggers lumbered past him, their treads weighing heavy on the rock and asphalt. Quiet electric machines like these make it easy to work in the city centre, the construction manager said - and keep the neighbours happy. \"If they have less noise, we get fewer complaints.\"

3 mins

Analysis A slap on the wrist - and part of the blame lies with Biden

At his campaign rallies last year, Donald Trump would sometimes gaze up at the heavens and wonder what his late mother and father would have thought of their son standing trial as an accused criminal.

3 mins

No punishment for Trump in historic hush-money case on eve of new term

Donald Trump will avoid jail time for his felony conviction in the New York hush-money case, a judge determined yesterday, marking both a dramatic and anti-climactic development in the historic criminal proceedings before he returns to the White House.

2 mins

'Ultimate nightmare' Europe fears outcome of friendly fire from the US

Europe fears outcome of friendly fire from the US

4 mins

Libya forcibly deports hundreds of Nigeriens across Sahara desert

More than 600 people have been forcibly deported from Libya on a \"dangerous and traumatising\" journey across the Sahara, in what is thought to be one of the largest expulsions from the north African country to date.

1 min

Maduro sworn in for third time after 'fraudulent' election win

Nicolás Maduro has been sworn in for a third term as Venezuela's president, despite domestic outrage and international condemnation of his alleged theft of last year's election.

2 mins

South African Police Rescue 26 Naked Men Held by People Traffickers

South African police have rescued 26 Ethiopians from a suspected human trafficking ring holding them naked in a house in Johannesburg.

1 min

Celibate gay men to be allowed to train as Roman Catholic priests

Gay men will be allowed to train as priests in Roman Catholic seminaries so long as they observe celibacy, according to guidelines announced by the Italian bishops conference yesterday.

1 min

France's love affair with the cinema helps homegrown films to flourish

The most-watched films in French cinemas last year were a feelgood comedy featuring a cast of non-professional actors with disabilities and a swashbuckling three-hour costume drama based on a 1,500-page novel first published in 1844.

3 mins

Myanmar Army Blamed for Air Attack on Village That Killed 40 Civilians

An airstrike by Myanmar's army on a village under the control of an armed minority ethnic group killed about 40 people and injured at least 20 others, the group and a local charity said.

2 mins

Woman who thought vows were a stunt for Instagram has marriage annulled

A Melbourne couple's marriage has been annulled after the bride told a court she had thought their wedding was a social media stunt to boost his Instagram following.

1 min

Sand grab On the frontline of the battle for shade on Australia's best beach spots

Emerging from the water at Victoria's Safety Beach, Virginia Mamakis settles on the sand under her family's orange-striped cabana.

5 mins

A risk to life and limb' Politicians reject calls to ban killer firework bombs

Politicians reject calls to ban killer firework bombs

3 mins

Earls Court Plans for £10bn renewal await green light

On a damp winter's day, there are few signs of activity on the huge, empty triangle of land in west London that was once home to the Earls Court exhibition centre with its distinctive art deco facade.

3 mins

Tax changes will inflate food prices, says Sainsbury's chief

Changes to employers' national insurance contributions announced in the government's October budget will drive inflation, particularly on fresh food, according to the chief executive of Sainsbury's as he announced a 5% pay rise for workers.

3 mins

Strikes every Sunday until May to disrupt Avanti services

Passengers have been warned of disruption to Avanti West Coast rail services every Sunday from tomorrow until the end of May.

1 min

Zuckerberg 'let Meta train AI models on pirated books'

Mark Zuckerberg approved Meta's use of \"pirated\" versions of copyright-protected books to train the company's artificial intelligence models, a group of authors has alleged in a US court filing.

1 min

Mega-trial £2.1bn fight over planes stranded in Russia

Sitting in a nondescript building near the high court in Dublin, about 40 cloaked barristers have gathered almost daily since June last year.

2 mins

Tax returns Expert tips on getting self-assessment right

With the online deadline just days away, Rupert Jones asks for advice on avoiding the pitfalls and making the most of what you can claim

6 mins

Lifetime Isas Is popular savings scheme no longer fit for purpose?

It appears to be proving a hit with millennials and generation Z but has also come under fire for the \"unfair\" sting in its tail.

3 mins

The Filter Slow cookers for easy and low-cost cooking

Coming home to a warm meal made with very little effort - is a real treat in the cold and dark months.

2 mins

Money hacks Annuities are back in vogue - here's how to get best value

'The stability of a guaranteed income gives retirees peace of mind their money won't run out, even if they live past 100'

4 mins

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