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Legendary illusionist Siegfried Fischbacher dies aged 81

Legendary illusionist Siegfried Fischbacher dies aged 81 at home in Vegas after battle with pancreatic cancer - less than a year after partner Roy passed.

Scale and pace of Covid-19 cases ‘well beyond’ what was predicted – Taoiseach

Micheal Martin said restrictions would remain in place for some time.

Uganda's Museveni takes early election lead as rival alleges fraud

Long-time leader Yoweri Museveni took an early lead in Uganda's presidential election according to preliminary results on Friday, though his main rival said there had been widespread fraud and his supporters had the right to protest. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor tells us more.

Freight group warns Irish Government of huge post-Brexit disruption

The Freight Transport Association of Ireland said stockpiling prior to Christmas had masked some of the effect of Brexit so far.

Man charged with ‘fake Covid-19 vaccination’ scam on 92-year-old pensioner

A man accused of swindling a 92-year-old woman out of £160 by administering a fake Covid-19 vaccine has appeared in court to deny the charges. David Chambers, 33, allegedly turned up on the pensioner’s doorstep offering to vaccinate her against coronavirus in exchange for payment. It is said he “pressed” an object on to the woman’s wrist in a bid to simulate a vaccination, before being handed a £160 fee. Chambers is accused of carrying out the...

Best Apple Watch bands 2021: Pick up a stylish strap or band

Best Apple Watch bands 2021: Pick up a stylish strap or band

10 Reasons why 10 Republicans in Congress favor impeachment of Trump

Police hunt man who tried to snatch five-year-old boy in London park

A man who tried to snatch a five-year-old boy from a park in west London is being hunted by police.

How Sydney's bold cycleway plans are helping shed its anti-bike stigma

For years Sydney had earned a reputation as an anti-cycling city. Long-running disagreements between the City of Sydney council and the NSW government slowed cycleway construction, and in 2015 the separated bike path along College Street in the city centre was ripped up. But now attitudes are changing and the pace of building has rapidly increased, hastened by the Covid lockdown in 2020. Ambitious plans for a striking new path down the middle of Oxford Street highlight how the city is embracing the increased demand for cycling and mark a hopeful new era for cycling in the harbour city.

Swipe at Scottish Labour as Blair says ex-Tory leader was SNP’s only opposition

The brutal assessment comes as Scottish Labour searches for a fifth leader in seven years just months out from key elections.

R rate remains steady as infections appear to decline in London and south east

UK’s R number is estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.3.

Andrew Yang announces his run for NYC Mayor

Andrew Yang Announces His Run For NYC Mayor. Yang announced his campaign for NYC mayor in a video posted on Twitter.

James Naismith: Google Doodle honours gym teacher who created basketball

Google is celebrating the anniversary of the day professor, doctor, and coach Dr James Naismith published the rules to the game he had invented, basketball. Born on 6 November 1861 in Ontario, Canada, Naismith showed an interest in sports and physical education early on. The interest would carry him to college at McGill University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1888, and where he would also begin his career as a...

Free school meals: ‘Access to food is becoming a postcode lottery’ says MP

A London MP has warned that children’s access to food is becoming a “postcode lottery” as Marcus Rashford launched his latest drive to overhaul the government’s free school meals policy. Celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Tom Kerridge have joined forces with the football star by writing to Boris Johnson asking him to “fix” the system. It comes after a scandal over photographs shared by parents of meagre food parcels...

UK coronavirus LIVE: 30% of Londoners ‘have already had Covid’ as Boris Johnson to lead briefing at 5pm

London has passed the peak of the second coronavirus wave, new figures suggest, but the capital is far from being out of the woods. Covid-19 cases dropped in 22 boroughs, according to the latest weekly figures, while researchers at Cambridge University estimate that up to 36 per cent of Londoners may already have had the virus. However, the city’s public health chief Professor Kevin Fenton warned that case rates “remain extremely high” and “we...

Government mistakes provided the breeding ground for the mutant virus, which it is now using as an alibi for its failures

The coastal town of Margate in east Kent is the place where the fast-spreading variant of Covid-19 first mutated before it swept through the rest of Britain. Scientists identified Kent last month as the county where the mutant virus developed, but a source with knowledge of research into its origins tells me that the earliest case of a person being infected with it was in Margate on the Isle of Thanet. The new virus mutated during the second...

Nikki Haley launches push to support conservative candidates ahead of rumoured 2024 presidential bid

Former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Hale, has launched a political action committee (PAC) to support conservative candidates, amid speculation that she will run for president in 2024. The committee, named the Stand for America PAC, has been formed to help conservative candidates get elected to Congress in the 2022 midterm elections. In an email to supporters, Ms Haley, 48, said the PAC is “laser-focused on the 2022 midterms and...

Tech & Science Daily: Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra the first step to phasing out the Note?

Samsung have unveiled the Galaxy S flagship smartphone - that works with its stylus for the first time. The firm revealed a trio of new phones in their Galaxy S21 series, which will go on sale on January 29. In other tech news, a report reveals Apple’s plans of a major redesign of its Macbook Pro this year. There also may be the return of the MagSafe magnetic charging connector. Google has completed a $2 billion takeover of fitness wearable...

Trump impeachment news - live: President ‘furious’ over Nixon comparison amid report Bannon is back as adviser

Donald Trump is said to be furious at White House staffers for talking about Richard Nixon – the only president ever to resign – as his own administration ends in history-making ignominy. He has banned all mention of the disgraced 37th commander-in-chief following an offhand comparison by an aide, a report claims. Meanwhile, a separate report claimed Mr Trump had been back in touch with his former adviser Steve Bannon.

NI records highest number of daily Covid-19 deaths since beginning of pandemic

Northern Ireland has recorded its highest number of Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.

Covid: UK infection R rate sticks between 1.2 and 1.3 and new variant ‘growing much faster’, says Sage

The R value of coronavirus transmission in the UK is currently between 1.2 and 1.3, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has said. This figure, which is based on data up to the 11 January, is in line with last week’s estimated R rate of between 1 and 1.4. At the current rate of transmission, every 10 people infected will pass the disease on to another 12 or 13 people. The virus’ daily growth rate, provided by the Scientific...

Cherry blossoms are blooming earlier and earlier in Tokyo due to warmer winters

Tokyo’s cherry blossom trees are expected to begin blooming three days earlier than average due to warmer temperatures, continuing a trend that has been observed over the last nine years. The iconic trees in the prefectures of Kochi and Fukuoka are forecasted to begin flowering at the same time as those in Tokyo – 23 March – making them the joint first in the country, according to predictions by weather forecasters at the Japan Meteorological...

Most of us are sticking to the lockdown rules, so why do we blame one another?

There is a paradox at the heart of this pandemic. Since before England’s first lockdown, politicians, media pundits and government advisers have voiced concerns that the public would be the weak link in controlling infections. There have been numerous claims that adherence to restrictions is slipping and resilience fraying. Judging by polling and social media posts decrying lockdown violations and “covidiots”, the public also share this concern....

Britain must prove to be successful for any EU return, says ex-PM Blair

Britain must prove to be successful for any EU return, says ex-PM Blair

Jewish private school hit by Government action for teaching creationism in science

A letter sent by education minister Baroness Berridge – seen by i – confirms Bnois Jerusalem Girls School has been served with a ‘statutory notice’

Heartwarming moment strangers push hearse up a hill after it got stuck in snow

Watch: Strangers help a stuck hearse up a hill Heartwarming footage shows a group of strangers braving snowy conditions to help a hearse up a hill when it got stuck. The vehicle was taking a coffin to Rotherham Crematorium but was unable to get over the rise near its destination. Yorkshire has been blanketed by snow in the last week week, causing more difficulties for ambulances as they deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Michelle Mulcahy, 40,...

Chasing the elusive platypus in Brisbane's suburban waterways

Guardian environment reporter Graham Readfearn heads out in search of the elusive platypus. Researchers tracking the DNA of the egg-laying mammals believe platypuses have likely gone from Kedron Brook and four other greater Brisbane waterways: the Bremer River, Scrubby Creek, Slacks Creek and Enoggera Creek. They believe the threats to the animals' habitat are so severe that the Australian government should list the platypus as a vulnerable species.

Evening Standard Comment: Pandemic is pushing children into crisis | Checkpoint Chigwell | Well done, London

The next pandemic may already be upon us. An Evening Standard investigation has revealed a surge in mental health cases among the young. Half a million under-18s, who had no diagnosable mental health problem prior to the pandemic, will require mental health care as a result of the economic, health and family impact caused by Covid-19. And data from NHS Digital shows that diagnoses of “probable mental disorder” among children, having held steady...

Make Britain Great Again: How Ukip tried to ride the Trump wave – and it ended in disaster

It was founded in the 1990s as a party for Eurosceptics, but after the Brexit referendum Ukip was without purpose and, after the exit of Nigel Farage as leader, without its frontman. What came next was a chaotic decline that saw the party take inspiration from across the Atlantic, trying to harness the Donald Trump’s populist message in the UK. As Ukip, which now uses the slogan “Save Britain”, faced fresh accusations of pandering to the extreme...

Evening Standard launches an investigation into the hidden mental health crisis

Holyrood candidate quits Scottish Tories after labelling food bank users ‘fat’

The party said Craig Ross ‘left before he was pushed’, after he was suspended for the comments.

Deliveroo driver who refused to deliver to Jewish customers jailed for four months in France

A Deliveroo driver has been jailed by a French court on charges of discrimination after he refused to deliver meals from two Jewish restaurants in the eastern city of Strasbourg. Police in Strasbourg said on Monday that two Jewish restaurant owners in the area had filed complaints of racism against the food delivery company. Following a police investigation, a court convicted the 19-year-old Algerian man on Thursday on an antisemitism charge for...

Grime artist has sentence increased to 30 years for rape and imprisonment

A grime artist who was serving 24 years in jail for imprisoning and repeatedly raping four women has had his sentence increased by six years.

Stars out in force at inauguration when Joe Biden takes reins of power

A host of A-listers will perform in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s event four years ago.

Shapps details South American travel ban

Boris Johnson plots workers' rights 'wrecking ball' - all the times he said they were safe

Fury is mounting as the 48-hour working week, rules on breaks and holiday pay look to be up for grabs after Brexit - despite Boris Johnson's promises

Military called in to help NHS hospital with ‘significant’ staff sickness levels

Medical director Erika Denton said Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has three times as many Covid patients as at the height of the first wave.

UK’s Covid-19 R number estimated at 1.2-1.3...but falls in London

The UK’s coronavirus R rate has narrowed to between 1.2 and 1.3, it was revealed on Friday. The reproduction rate was last week estimated to be between one and 1.4. London is now doing relatively well compared with the rest of the UK. The capital’s coronavirus reproduction rate is now estimated to be between 0.9 and 1.2, with a growth rate between minus two per cent and plus three per cent. Last week the estimate for the capital was between 1.1...

German Covid vaccine officials forced to guess people's ages from names

German toddlers called Fritz or Adele could be invited for a Covid-19 vaccination while octogenarian Peters and Brigittes will not, as an overzealous interpretation of data privacy laws in one state has forced officials to guess people’s ages from their first names. Authorities in the northern German state of Lower Saxony claim legal hurdles blocked them from accessing official records when trying to send a written invitation for a vaccination...

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says he’s the ‘last person’ public should take travel advice from

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said he’s the last person the public should listen to for travel advice after he was forced to scramble home from his summer holiday due to Covid restrictions. Mr Shapps was on holiday in Spain when he was forced to close the travel corridor between the country and the UK - a move which meant he was forced to quarantine himself when he returned. The Cabinet minister raised the incident on Friday morning when...

Trump impeachment timeline: What happens next?

The House has voted for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, in reaction to his incitement of the Capitol riots last week. A mob of pro-Trump supporters breached the US Capitol on Wednesday 6 January during the confirmation of electoral college votes, putting a hold to the process to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory for several hours. The rioters attacked the Capitol after attending a rally led by Mr Trump, who urged supporters...

Joe Biden should pardon Donald Trump, it would help heal the nation

Surely, the inauguration of the new president isn’t the moment for gloating and revenge? In 1974, President Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor Richard Nixon, a move much derided at the time, but in hindsight, an action of wisdom and courage, which spared America the consequences of a lengthy impeachment and trial. If Joe Biden did the same it would be a quantum leap in the healing of the nation. One cannot pardon the innocent, so Trump’s guilt...

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

The Hubble Space Telescope spotted a growing, gaseous supernova remnant, known as 1E 0102.2-7219, from a supernova explosion that occurred 1,700 years ago during the fall of the Roman Empire.

Brexit news – live: Government denies plan to scrap 48-hour week and DUP in ‘buffoon’ jibe at Johnson

Boris Johnson’s government has denied claims ministers are planning to “lower” workers’ rights after Brexit, amid reports they are preparing to tear up key protections enshrined in EU law. The 48-hour working week could be scrapped under government plans for a post-Brexit overhaul of employment laws, the FT reports. Labour described the reported plan as a “disgrace” and warned it would fight any such moves “tooth and nail”. Meanwhile, a DUP MP...

Christine Connor: ‘We responded to a call from what appeared to be a distressed victim - when our officers arrived explosive devices were thrown at them’

Police have welcomed the decision to increase the sentence for a woman who attempted to murder officers by luring them into a trap with a hoax domestic violence call.

Capitol riot arrests: The MAGA mob leaders arrested so far

More than 120 people have been arrested since the storming of the Capitol by rioters loyal to Donald Trump who disrupted the verification of the electoral college vote by Congress. Five people died during the violent insurrection, including a Capitol Police officer who was reportedly hit on the head with a fire extinguisher, and a rioter who was shot by law enforcement as the mob attempted to get close to the House chamber. Three more people...

French govt tightens Covid-19 border controls to fight virus

France will strengthen border controls and bring forward its night curfew by two hours to 6 p.m. as it tries to slow the spread of coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday.

Boris Johnson asks people to 'think twice before leaving the house' this weekend

Mr Johnson said the UK would eventually beat the coronavirus 'jab by jab', but suggested people should stay home this weekend in a bid to do their bit to fight the spread

These are the 15 areas in England with the highest Covid infection rates right now

Arctic Ocean has ‘pervasive spread’ of microplastics linked to laundry

Microplastics are widespread in the Arctic including the North Pole, according to the most comprehensive study on the environmental pollution ever undertaken. Researchers analyzed seawater from dozens of locations across the European and North American Arctic, and found microplastics in virtually every sample. Some 92 per cent of microplastic pollution, found in samples from near the ocean surface, were made up of synthetic fibers. Roughly...