Survey of 24 city authorities finds two in five plan to sell off assets and reduce services Local authority leaders say they are having to drain their financial reserves to keep services afloat and avoid effective bankruptcy. A survey of the mid-tier group of English city councils, which includes Southampton, […]

Yahya Sinwar and at least five others accused by US justice department of planning and orchestrating the deadly attacks in which 1,200 people were killed See all our coverage of the Israel-Gaza war The United States has announced criminal charges against Hamas’ top leaders over their roles in planning, supporting […]

Foreign Office says review found ‘clear risk’ UK arms may be used in violation of humanitarian law The UK has broken with the Biden administration on a significant part of their tightly coordinated policy towards Israel by announcing it is suspending some arms export licences to Israel because of a […]

Far-reaching reforms aim to support most vulnerable children and ‘recognise growing challenges facing education’ Schools in England will be judged on how well they deal with post-Covid behaviour, absenteeism and special educational needs as part of far-reaching reforms to Ofsted aimed at better supporting the most vulnerable children and easing […]

Survey says refugee women are subjected to voyeurism and sexual harassment by male staff at hotels Women who have fled rape, forced marriage and sexual exploitation are being subjected to coercion and control by Home Office contractors in hotels, according to new research. The charity Women for Refugee Women has […]

100 local authorities say council housing finance model is ‘broken’ and more money is needed to build new homes An “unprecedented coalition” of councils in England has called for an emergency injection of £644m from the government to stabilise their housing accounts and prevent investment in new homes being delayed […]