
The cardinal will oversee the Vatican until a new pontiff is elected.
Francis did what he had always done, receiving visitors and meeting people from every walk of life.
Pope Francis visited the US, Mexico and Canada on different occasions before his death at the age of 88.
The informal Pope aimed to shift influence from Rome into hands of the faithful, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool writes.
African Catholics, who are becoming more important in the Church, remember a man who spoke for them.
The presenter is stepping down from the football show, but will still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.
The president amps up attack against US central bank boss calling him "a major loser" for not lowering interest rates.
Air raid alerts are issued for Kyiv and other regions as blasts are reported in Mykolaiv, a southern city.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators suggest a truce of up to seven years and a permanent end to the war.
The mission will explore new ways of reducing the cost of feeding an astronaut.
A man is arrested on suspicion of murder after 45-year-old Pamela Munro was stabbed to death.
The suit is part of a feud that escalated when the institution rejected a list of demands from the Trump administration.
An Israeli military report said "professional failures" led to the killing of the 15 rescue workers.
The FTC accused Uber of charging people for its Uber One subscription service without getting their consent.
The private messaging group included the US defence secretary's wife, brother and personal lawyer, sources tell US media.
The talks are likely to focus on fast-tracking a trade deal, earlier expected to conclude by the end of 2025.
Aurora was due to depart Southampton on Monday afternoon on a three-day trip to Zeebrugge.
Amid tariff threats from the US, energy and economic security are key issues in Canada's federal election.
The death of Pope Francis, aged 88, dominates the front pages of the major UK papers.
Scientists are investigating for the first time how dangerous the island's next big one could be.
The 30-hour "Easter truce" and the reported violations underscore the difficulty in securing even a brief pause in fighting.
Nursery places can difficult to find, particularly in certain areas - so why have successive governments not yet found a solution?
Top stories, breaking news, live reporting, and follow news topics that match your interests
Vatican says Pope Francis died of stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure.
His death at 88 follows a lengthy illness
Nottingham Forest could become the first side in Premier League history to finish in the top four with less than 40% average possession.
Scott Parker celebrates a third promotion to the Premier League with Burnley's season built on a near-impenetrable defence.
Mark Allen and Zhao Xintong complete comfortable first-round victories at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
Leeds United are promoted back to the Premier League after two years in the Championship.
Emma Raducanu pauses the search for a new full-time coach, saying she is happy to "keep things informal" in her partnership with Mark Petchey.
Championship club West Bromwich Albion sack head coach Tony Mowbray after defeat by Derby County.
England's Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Sophie Ecclestone are among Wisden's five cricketers of the year, with India's Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana the world choices.
Suzanne Cherry died four days after being struck by a van which had been pursued by police.
Championship club West Bromwich Albion sack head coach Tony Mowbray after defeat by Derby County.
Church leaders and the community react to the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88.
Crews remain at the scene after the fire on Sunday morning.
Trains are expected to be "very busy" with "limited" services in place, says Chiltern Railways.
Emma Chetwynd Jarvis is running the London Marathon to raise money for the Guide Dogs charity.
Take a look at some of your best images from across the West Midlands over the past week.
Birmingham City Council has temporarily suspended charging residents for rat control treatments.
The long-running dispute, now in its sixth week, has seen uncollected waste pile up in some areas.
At the heart of the dispute are the Waste Recycling and Collection Officers, who were paid more than some other bin workers.
The BBC answers some of the most-asked questions about the ongoing strike.
The Unite union had claimed the authority would not resume discussions until Wednesday.
The leader of Birmingham City Council says refuse collectors need not lose a penny.
Bin workers remain in a stand-off with the council after an all-out strike started on 11 March.
A group of volunteer litter-pickers in Birmingham say they are desperate for a resolution.
The comedian says he is at the tip "more regularly than most" to offload dirty nappies and wipes.
The government says office-based military experts will help because of the "public health risk".
The Deputy Prime Minister says striking Birmingham bin workers should accept an improved offer.
A strike by hundreds of Birmingham refuse workers has seen rubbish piled high on streets.
Lichfield District Council says it will help clear the rubbish that has accumulated on the streets of Birmingham.
Walsall surgeon Matt Green says the procedure prevented pre-cancerous changes developing into breast cancer.
Sixty-five poems are read out before being attached to trees in the writer's memory.
Tania Pomroy shares her journey with grief on her TikTok and has created a community on the app.
Much of the abuse is targeted against traffic officers setting up roadblocks after accidents.
The league with "the biggest field of players" has hundreds, decades after the sport's 1980s boom.
West Midlands Police says five officers were injured in the clash with Legia Warsaw fans.
Championship club West Bromwich Albion sack head coach Tony Mowbray after defeat by Derby County.
Warwickshire cling on in weather-hit final day to deny Notts victory.
Exploring how Pebble Mill became a place for pioneering day-time TV.
Steve Cram CBE won Gold at the World Championships in Helsinki back in 1983.
Stores, pubs & restaurants at The Square shopping centre closed suddenly this week.
Brit award winning musician Jorja Smith has got people talking about her accent.
The Corsican pine fell into the garden of Peter Scarrott during Storm Darragh.
1. How to be successful. Leadership isn’t just about vision and charisma - it’s about habits, mindset, and how you show up every day. Whether you’re leading a team, a project, or simply yourself, success leaves clues. Here are 10 timeless essentials that drive success - not just in leadership, but in life, too. READ MORE 2. Tariffs, Turmoil, and Trump. US stock markets rose after Donald Trump hinted that electronics, including smartphones and semiconductors, could be temporarily exempt from new tariffs on Chinese goods - easing fears of price hikes. However, Trump quickly backtracked, warning fresh levies may still come. The reversal followed a sharp sell-off in US government bonds, likened by commentators to Liz Truss’s market crash in the UK. Critics say Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies are destabilising and being dictated by financial markets rather than strategy. While his base still largely supports him, consumer confidence is falling. Analysts warn tariffs remain near century-high levels, with growing risks of a US recession. Editorials argue his trade war could accelerate America’s decline and benefit other countries embracing global trade. Still, the UK may gain from Trump’s apparent fondness for Britain, with a potential trade deal and a possible pause in 25% car tariffs. For now, uncertainty looms over US policy and global markets. Editor 3. Defence in decline. Britain’s Armed Forces are facing a crisis after years of underfunding, with concerns intensifying since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the uncertain future of US support under a Trump presidency. The Army is set to fall below 70,000 personnel - its smallest size since 1793 - while the total force has shrunk to 136,000, down from over 500,000 in 1960. Equipment shortages are severe: the RAF lacks jets and pilots, the Army is low on tanks and ammunition, and the Royal Navy [in which I served for almost 30 years] has too few operational warships. Though Britain retains advanced capabilities and a sizeable defence budget, its ability to sustain military operations is in doubt. Recruitment has consistently missed targets, with poor housing and low morale blamed. Procurement is also plagued by waste and delays. While Labour plans to increase spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, experts warn this may only cover current shortfalls. A forthcoming Strategic Defence Review aims to address these mounting challenges. Editor 4. The price of a posh postcode. Postcode snobbery isn’t just alive and well - it’s thriving and hiking your house price. Once merely a middle-class parlour game (“L postcode? Oh, you poor thing”), it’s now serious business. Just ask those Wirral residents who petitioned the Royal Mail to swap their shameful Liverpool ‘L’ for the swanky Cheshire ‘CH’. Turns out, they were onto something. According to new research from Savills, 28 of the top 30 postcode districts have house prices at least double those of their less fortunate postal siblings. Same house, same street, but if your postcode screams “budget bin” instead of “boutique wine bar,” you’re losing thousands. It’s not about where you live, but what your letters and numbers say about where you live. When the postcode is doing more heavy lifting than your kitchen extension, you know it’s time to start eyeing your neighbour’s mail for clues. Financial Times 5. In times of global uncertainty, what’s the most important role a business leader should play? During these periods, strong and steady leadership becomes more important than ever. Business leaders are expected to guide their teams through rapid change, make tough strategic decisions, maintain clear communication, and inspire trust and resilience. But which leadership role truly matters most when the stakes are high? Please share your thoughts in this week’s poll. VOTE HERE |
6. The Easter recycling dilemma. Most Britons (65%) are shaking their heads at the “excessive” packaging on Easter eggs, with over a third (34%) completely baffled about which bits can actually be recycled. A survey of 2,000 adults by packaging company DS Smith found that while 89% dutifully recycle the cardboard outer box (because who doesn’t love a good cardboard box?), 36% simply toss the shiny foil into the trash, and 17% do the same with the plastic mould. The kicker? Both the foil and the plastic are often recyclable - so basically, we’re all turning Easter egg packaging into an unsolvable puzzle. The lesson here: just because it’s shiny and complicated doesn’t mean it’s not good for the planet! Editor 7. Weekend warriors win big. Packing all your weekly exercise into one or two weekend sessions may be just as beneficial as spreading it out, according to a new study. Researchers analysed data from 93,409 UK adults aged 37 to 73, who wore accelerometers for a week to track activity. Participants were grouped as “active regulars” (150+ minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise across the week), “weekend warriors” (same amount in one or two days), and “inactives” (less than 150 minutes). Over eight years, 3,965 participants died — including 667 from heart disease and 1,780 from cancer. The weekend warriors were 32% less likely to die from any cause, 31% less likely to die from heart disease, and 21% less likely to die from cancer compared to inactive individuals. Crucially, regular exercisers saw no greater benefit than weekend warriors, suggesting that total exercise time matters more than how it’s distributed. Journal of the American Heart Association 8. A pet equals a happy marriage. Owning a pet brings as much happiness as being married or earning an extra £70,000 annually, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Kent analysed data from a national survey of 2,500 British households, measuring overall life satisfaction. They found that pet ownership - whether a cat or a dog - added three to four points on a satisfaction scale from one (completely dissatisfied) to seven (completely satisfied). Using an economic model that assigns cash values to life factors like green space, researchers calculated the uplift as equivalent to a £70,000 salary increase. Though the figure sounds high, it aligns with previous studies showing similar emotional value from regular social interactions, like seeing friends weekly. So, in terms of emotional wellbeing, a furry companion might be one of life’s most rewarding investments. The Times 9. When my tennis racket knew when to quit. Last week, while playing tennis, I had an unexpected leadership lesson. During a particularly tough match, my racket seemed determined to sabotage me. Every time I tried for a perfect shot, it bounced awkwardly or missed the mark entirely. Frustrated, I couldn’t help but think, “Why can’t this racket just cooperate?” And then it clicked - sometimes in leadership, it’s not about forcing things to work, just like it’s not about trying to perfect every shot. Sometimes, it’s better to recognise when something’s not working and adjust your approach. Whether it’s in tennis or leadership, knowing when to recalibrate can make all the difference. Moral of the story? Just like in tennis, it’s okay to let go of what’s not working and focus on finding your winning strategy. Editor 10. The bottom line. Inflation fell more than expected to 2.6% in March, down from 2.8% in February, driven in part by a drop in the prices of petrol, toys, games and hobbies. Petrol prices fell 1.6p to 137.5p a litre. But inflation could rise again in April due to higher taxes, a rise in energy bills and the impact of US tariffs, analysts warn. BBC |
We have yet to hear of the ‘Silver Curtain’ two stage armistice solution to the Ukrainian conflict. It is very simple and non-violent and can be applied at any stage of any war.
Stage one:. When a violent incursion occurs a silver curtain of total predetermined economic, sporting and political sanctions drops down between the aggressor nation and the rest of the law abiding world.
Stage two: When the aggressor retreats to the previously defined border the curtain is raised. The lifting of the Silver curtain could also be subject to the full payment of reparations and any outstand war crime cases being heard in The Hague
Crucially the sanctions are applied unilaterally by the free world and would not be linked to any peace negotiations which may or may not be equitably to either party.
What is different from the present sanctions? Putin does not know that the Silver Curtain sanctions would continue into the peace and last until he retreats. Potentially this could go on decades or until the Russian people weary of him or them.
Surely war must never be allowed to pay. Aggressive expansionist nations such a Russia and China have to know that they cannot win a war in the long term.
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