News 23/07/25

A US judge has rejected a request from the justice department to unseal grand jury materials linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

The former financier died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. The government argued the transcripts should be made public, but grand jury materials in the US are typically kept secret unless strict exceptions apply. In this case, District Judge Robin Rosenberg ruled that none of those exceptions were met.

The head of the World Health Organization says Gaza is facing what he calls “man-made mass starvation.”

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus blamed the humanitarian crisis on an Israeli blockade that has severely limited the flow of aid. He said people in Gaza are now battling starvation in addition to war. The WHO says at least 21 children have died this year from malnutrition, warning that number is likely to be much higher. Many treatment centres, it says, are overwhelmed and under-resourced.

A Slough restaurant fined £90,000 for employing illegal workers may now lose its licence to sell alcohol.

Exotic Karahi on Farnham Road was raided by immigration officers last year. One of the workers, whose visa expired back in 2011, claimed she was only using the kitchen to cook food for herself. The penalty was handed down in November, and Slough Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee is due to consider revoking the venue’s licence at a meeting on Monday.

An M&S advert has been banned after a watchdog ruled it made the model appear unhealthily thin.

The Advertising Standards Authority said the way she posed, combined with her clothing and pointed shoes, highlighted her slender frame in a way it called irresponsible. Marks & Spencer has since withdrawn the image and says it promotes inclusive fashion. The ASA has ordered the ad must not appear again in its current form.

A man who murdered four University of Idaho students has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Bryan Kohberger, 30, had denied the 2022 killings but later pleaded guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. The former criminology student broke into a house near the university and stabbed Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. His motive remains unclear, and two other roommates in the home were left unharmed.

Essex Police have hit back at Nigel Farage’s claims they helped left-wing protesters attend a migrant hotel demonstration in Epping.

The Reform UK leader posted a video online accusing the force of “bussing” counter-demonstrators to the scene and called for the chief constable to resign. Farage said people were transported in a police van to the Bell Hotel, which is being used to house asylum seekers. Police strongly deny the allegation.

India and the UK are poised to sign a major free trade agreement, but not everyone is welcoming the news.

While the Indian cabinet has approved the deal, some industries on both sides are voicing concerns, saying it doesn’t offer a level playing field. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected in the UK soon to sign the pact with his British counterpart, Sir Keir Starmer.

The agreement — formally known as a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement — still needs to be ratified by the British Parliament, a process that could take months.

It’s being billed as the most significant bilateral trade deal the UK has struck since leaving the EU, with the government estimating a long-term boost of £4.8 billion to the economy and £2.2 billion in annual wages.

A Fife councillor has been found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage girl.

David Graham, who is 43, was convicted at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court following a trial. He had already been suspended by the Labour Party two years ago, when the allegations first came to light.

The offences involved sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15, and happened at multiple locations across Fife and Edinburgh between February and August last year.

Two people have died and two others are seriously injured following a shooting in County Fermanagh.

Police were called to the village of Maguiresbridge, about 75 miles southwest of Belfast. The area has been cordoned off and investigations are underway. The Police Service of Northern Ireland says there is no ongoing risk to the public. No motive for the shooting has been confirmed.

The BBC has confirmed the next series of MasterChef will air as planned, despite the recent sacking of hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.

The episodes were recorded before their dismissal, and the BBC says the decision to broadcast them was made after consulting with contestants. MasterChef, they said, remains a life-changing competition focused on amateur chefs’ skill and journeys. No decision has yet been made about the celebrity series and Christmas special, which were also filmed before the change.

The son of a woman killed in last month’s Air India crash says there were remains of others in her casket.

Miten Patel, who also lost his father in the crash, told the BBC that the coroner informed him the remains had been mixed. The revelation has raised questions about the repatriation process, with reports of multiple families receiving the wrong bodies. India’s foreign ministry insists all remains were handled professionally and says it is working closely with UK officials to resolve concerns.

Two former traders jailed for manipulating interest rates have had their convictions overturned.

Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo were found guilty of rigging benchmark rates, including Libor, in separate trials. But the Supreme Court has now ruled they did not act dishonestly under the law at the time, effectively clearing their names. Hayes was the first person in the world jailed for Libor manipulation.

Lidl is closing in on Morrisons to become the UK’s fifth-biggest supermarket.

The discounter has reached a record market share of 8.3%, just 0.1% behind Morrisons. In the last three months alone, more than half a million extra shoppers have chosen Lidl, as price-conscious consumers continue to seek savings. Sales are up over 11% compared to this time last year.

The government is considering new limits on social media use for children in a bid to curb what it calls “compulsive” screen time.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle says he’s concerned not just about the content children are exposed to, but also the sheer amount of time they spend on apps.

A two-hour daily cap per platform is being seriously looked at, along with possible curfews during school hours or overnight.

Under the proposals, children would be blocked from using apps like TikTok or Snapchat once their time is up, rather than simply receiving a reminder.

Police have been monitoring a protest outside a hotel in east London that’s reportedly set to house asylum seekers.

Demonstrators gathered on Tuesday outside the four-star Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, which Tower Hamlets Council says is being prepared as temporary accommodation.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers were on the scene and said a policing plan is in place. They added that they will continue to monitor the situation.

The head of Goldman Sachs has warned that London’s position as a global financial leader is “fragile” as the UK faces ongoing economic challenges.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with the prime minister, CEO David Solomon raised concerns over tax and regulation during an interview for Sky News’ The Master Investor podcast.

He urged ministers to avoid policies that risk driving people and businesses away, saying rivals across Europe are becoming increasingly attractive for investment and growth.