All news by author James Smith

1010
Superbug, doctor shortages, and neonatal unit failures at Lucy Letby hospital revealed
As the Thirwall hearings approach, the Guardian has discovered concerns were repeatedly raised about alarming shortcomings at Countess of Chester
822
A royal insider has issued a 15-word update on King Charles’ health, addressing his rumored cancer battle
A royal source has provided an update on King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, ahead of his planned tour of Australia and Samoa later this year with Camilla.
968
Ticketmaster is under investigation by a watchdog over the dynamic pricing of Oasis tickets
Investigators will check if buyers were given clear and timely information, whether consumer protection law was breached, and whether fans were pressured to buy tickets in a short period of time - at an inflated price.
850
An urgent search is underway for a 10-month-old girl who has gone missing with her father
Merseyside Police have appealed for help from the public to find Layla Rose Wheeler, who was last seen in the area of Wallasey Village on the Wirral.
956
A US firm is threatening legal action against a Brixton-based company for using "Brixton" in its name
A London business and ‘community hub’ is raising money to try and fight legal action from an American company over its name.
833
A Royal Navy serviceman has died after a Merlin helicopter crashed into the English Channel
The Royal Navy has confirmed a crew member has died after a Merlin Mk4 helicopter ditched in the sea during a night flying exercise from the HMS Queen Elizabeth
631
The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped indecent assault charges in the UK against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein
Indecent assault charges in the UK against disgraced Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein have been discontinued.
985
An armed man was shot dead by police outside the Israeli embassy in Munich
German Police have shot and killed a ‘suspicious person’ near Munich’s Nazi doumentation centre and the Israeli Consulate after he was spotted carrying a ‘long firearm’.
833
Swinney’s slimmed-down plans prompt criticism of ‘managed decline’
First minister makes eradicating child poverty his top priority while Scottish Labour says he had ‘no vision’
671
Intense fire breaks out in London tower block on day of Grenfell report
A 12-storey tower block caught fire in London just after a report into Grenfell was released.
920
Steward gave controversial consultants an interest in Malta Company at heart of Huge Graft Scandal
Shaukat Ali, a Pakistani businessman who helped U.S.-based Steward Health Care secure a massive public contract in Malta, says he and his son were paid only normal consulting fees for their work. Leaked documents show they were promised much more.
941
Nigeria sees a surge in violence: 7,500 abducted and 1,056 killed in a year
Over the past year, 7,568 people were abducted in Nigeria, with kidnappers demanding the equivalent of over US$6 million in ransom, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence, a Nigerian consulting firm. Experts blame unemployment and corruption for the dramatic spike in kidnapping incidents.
1161
Map shows where sneaky new cameras are being installed to catch out bad drivers
New AI cameras which can detect drivers using their phone at the wheel are being rolled out this week.
922
Five children have been arrested in connection with the murder of an 80-year-old man in Leicestershire
Three girls and two boys held on suspicion of murder after alleged serious assault in Braunstone Town park
1084
Russian missile strike kills 41 people in Ukraine’s Poltava
At least 41 people were killed and more than 180 wounded on Tuesday when Russia hit a military institute in the central town of Poltava, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, in one of the deadliest single strikes of the war.
993
A Venezuelan judge has issued an arrest warrant for the opposition’s former presidential candidate
A Venezuelan judge on Monday issued an arrest warrant for the opposition’s former presidential candidate Edmundo González as part of a criminal investigation into the results of the highly anticipated July election that both the ruling party and its opponents claim to have won.
940
Desperate 999 call made after a group, including a pregnant woman, got trapped in a lorry’s freezer
A group of people trapped inside a refrigerator lorry for hours called emergency services after fearing they would freeze to death.
807
Harry Potter fans boo as Back to Hogwarts event at King’s Cross ends in disappointment
Fans turned up to the London station - famous as being the home of platform nine and three-quarters - despite Warner Brothers saying last week the annual event would not happen this year.
927
A former Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with rape and sexual assault of a woman he allegedly met while on duty
Mark Tyrrell, 55, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. It is claimed he met the alleged victim during the course of his policing duties.
812
Former Premier League star John Paintsil hospitalized following a serious car accident
John Paintsil was travelling with Addo and goalkeeping coach Fatawu Dauda back to the capital city of Accra after watching a cup final on Saturday when in the terrifying accident occured
875
Cheating controversy at the Paralympics as Italian rower loses medal for breaking the rules
Italian rower Giacomo Perini finished third in the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event before being stripped of his bronze medal following an investigation after breaking race rules
873
War on ‘scourge of vaping’ announced by minister as Labour intensifies plans to ban outdoor smoking
A cabinet minister has doubled down on Labour’s plans to ban smoking in beer gardens and said the government will have a war on ‘the scourge of vaping’
738
Pensioners forced to fill out 243-question DWP form to keep £300 Winter Fuel Payment
Winter Fuel Payments used to be available to every household where someone is over state pension age, but now only those claiming means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit, can get it
1012
Evacuation plans for the vulnerable in London are a ‘dangerous postcode lottery’
Firefighter, disability and Grenfell groups criticise ‘inconsistent rollout’ of emergency guidance
789
Fatman Scoop dies at 53 after on-stage emergency
Legendary musician Fatman Scoop has died aged 53 after he collapsed during a performance in front of adoring fans