News 02/04/26

The Pentagon has confirmed that General Randy George will retire from his position with immediate effect.

Reports in the United States, including from NBC News, had suggested the defence secretary moved to remove him. Officials say he had been expected to remain in the role until at least the summer. The announcement follows speculation circulating in the media over the past hour about his future in the position.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been sacked, according to White House officials.

Donald Trump’s decision follows growing frustration over her handling of the Epstein files while serving as the country’s top law enforcement official and head of the Department of Justice. Posting on his Truth Social platform, the president described her as a loyal friend and said she is leaving for what he called a much needed and important new job in the private sector.

The BBC’s outgoing director general Tim Davie says it became very clear that former Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills had to be dismissed after new information emerged.

The corporation learned the alleged victim in a police investigation involving Mills was under sixteen. Speaking during an all staff call, Davie said the decision followed recent developments and that the organisation was trying to act fairly. The presenter’s departure was announced earlier this week after he lost his job at the BBC.

Police have released an e fit image as part of a sexual assault investigation in Slough.

The incident happened at around 7pm on Friday the thirteenth of February on the High Street. An 18 year old woman reported being approached by a man who touched her inappropriately. The suspect is described as an Asian man in his late twenties or early thirties, with a small, thin face and short black hair. Officers are appealing for information. [Pause(1)]

The Speaker of Iran’s parliament has issued a message on social media following Donald Trump’s overnight address.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said a powerful national campaign has seen around seven million Iranians declare they are ready to take up arms in defence of their country. He wrote that Iranians do not just talk about defending their nation but are prepared to act, adding they have done so before and are ready to do it again.

A funeral director has pleaded guilty to thirty counts of preventing a lawful burial after remains were discovered at a site in Hull.

Dozens of bodies and ashes were recovered in March 2024, with some left in varying states of decay for nearly a year. Families believed their relatives had been buried or cremated. Robert Bush had denied the charges but changed his plea at Hull Crown Court to admit preventing the lawful and decent burial of thirty bodies.

Storm Dave has been named and is expected to bring severe gales and blizzards to parts of the north of the UK over the Easter weekend.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for wind and snow from Saturday night into Sunday. A deep area of low pressure is forecast to move across the north west, with damage, power cuts and travel disruption likely. The storm forms part of a mixed Easter outlook with heavy downpours and some sunshine.

The housing spokesperson for Reform has been sacked following comments about the Grenfell disaster.

Simon Dudley described the fire as a tragedy but said everyone dies in the end. In an interview he also criticised building safety regulations introduced after the 2017 fire. A group representing the bereaved has described his remarks as ignorant and callous. Dudley had joined Reform earlier this year after previous roles in housing organisations.

A blind runner plans to complete a marathon using technology that allows sighted volunteers to see what he sees and give him directions in real time.

Clarke Reynolds, 45, is a creator who turns braille into artwork to raise awareness of sight loss. He says running gives him “another opportunity to spread the word.” He previously finished the London Marathon with a physical guide runner but intends to run his next with the help of a worldwide network of virtual volunteers.

Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel following Donald Trump’s address to the nation.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, jumped from $99 to $106 after the speech. Trump blamed the rise on Iran, saying it was “entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighbouring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict.” He added the spike in energy prices would be short term.

The UK will pursue closer economic ties with the European Union in light of the war in Iran, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The prime minister told a news conference he would use a summit later this year to seek greater cooperation on the economy and security. Relations between the UK and the United States have been strained by his refusal to be drawn further into the conflict. Sir Keir warned the war would impact the UK but said the government was taking action to ease the cost of living.

The government has withdrawn an offer to create one thousand additional doctor training posts in England after the British Medical Association refused to call off a planned six day strike.

The posts were part of wider proposals to resolve the long running dispute with resident doctors. Sir Keir Starmer had set a forty eight hour deadline for the walkout to be cancelled if the union wanted to keep the offer. The strike was announced after talks over pay and job shortages broke down.

Petrol and diesel prices in the UK rose more in March than in any previous single month, according to the RAC.

Higher wholesale energy costs linked to the US Israel war with Iran have led to record increases per litre. Petrol rose by twenty pence and diesel by forty pence since the conflict began. The rises follow sharp increases in crude oil prices after disruption to production and transportation through the Strait of Hormuz.

New government rules aim to protect consumers from falling into subscription traps.

People will be reminded before free or discounted trials end, and before contracts of twelve months or more automatically renew. Companies will also be required to make it easier for customers to cancel subscriptions online rather than face delays on phone lines. The measures are expected to come into force next year.

Teachers are calling for an end to censorship in school libraries, warning it should raise concerns.

The National Education Union says the issue follows claims a school in Salford removed dozens of classic titles. Reports say more than one hundred and thirty books were targeted, including well known works, and that the librarian involved later resigned.