Prime minister says oligarch must commit funds from sale of London football club or face court action * Europe live – latest updates * UK politics live – latest updates The UK will formally issue instructions to transfer £2.5bn from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea FC to humanitarian causes in Ukraine, telling the billionaire to commit the funds or face court action. Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the funds from the oligarch, who is subject to UK sanctions, would be converted in to a new foundation for Ukraine and that the issuing of a licence for the transfer was the last chance Abramovich would have to comply before legal action was taken. Continue reading...

If not, academics say, people will continue to get sick and die while schools close and hospitals are overwhelmed With flu cases rising and resident doctors on strike from Wednesday, the NHS is under considerable pressure. But experts say lessons from the Covid pandemic could help ease the situation. A trio of UK-based academics say a three-pronged approach of increasing uptake of flu vaccines, boosting support so people can stay home when unwell, and increasing ventilation and air quality would help to protect people from influenza. Continue reading...

Cranberries contain compounds that may help prevent urinary tract infections and support heart and brain health, but supplements are not always the best option.

Trump’s chief of staff confirms Trump is in the Epstein files as she torches Bondi

Mayoral candidate Chris Parry had previously said the deputy prime minister should ‘go home’ to the Caribbean Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, has published a green paper on BBC charter renewal. It includes a consultation on options for the future. On funding, the document says the government has an “open mind” on how the licence fee system may be reformed to stop fewer households paying every year. It suggests there might be a new type of licence fee for people who say they don’t watch BBC TV, but who do use the BBC’s website, or BBC Sounds. In addition to BBC saving and efficiency programmes, we also want to explore wider reforms that could help address the funding challenges the BBC faces. We have not ruled out keeping the current licence fee in place with its current structure. However, given the sustainability challenges it is facing, we are also reviewing the scope of services for which the licence fee is required and considering differential rates for specific types of users, to make it more sustainable for the long-term, along with increasing commercial revenue to ease the burden on the public. This would aim to reverse the trend of fewer households paying every year and declining overall income, which risks the BBC declining if it is not addressed. Any reform of the licence fee must be proportionate and reflect the cost-of-living burden on the public. As the licence fee is a tried and tested public funding model, we are not considering replacing it with alternative forms of public funding, such as a new tax on households, funding through general taxation, or introducing a levy on the revenues of streaming services to fund the BBC … My aims for the charter review are clear. The BBC must remain fiercely independent, accountable and be able to command public trust. It must reflect the whole of the UK, remain an engine for economic growth and be funded in a way that is sustainable and fair for audiences. Continue reading...

Jobs market slowdown likely to become policy focus and will also have impact on interest rates decision

Trust takes Trump to court over ‘damaging’ $300 million White House makeover plan

US says talks with Ukraine in Berlin have resolved 90% of difficult issues – but no sign Putin willing to compromise * Europe live – latest updates Volodymyr Zelenskyy says proposals negotiated with US officials on a peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine could be finalised within days, after which American envoys will present them to the Kremlin. After two days of talks in Berlin, US officials said on Monday they had resolved “90%” of the problematic issues between Russia and Ukraine, but despite the positive spin it is not clear that an end to the war is any closer, particularly as the Russian side is absent from the current talks. Continue reading...

An anomaly identified by National Highways caused thousands of incorrect speed camera activations.

He seeks punitive damages of at least $10bn

A vital institution. A community in action. A future worth protecting. Stand with us to save the vet school.

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions takes a quizzical look at human nature. Why hasn’t it advanced along with other forms of progress? Or has it?

The president announces non-existent emergencies to invoke extraordinary powers – and neutralizes the opposition

Pupils from schools with differing demographics meet and play under charity scheme set up after city’s 2001 riots