Form Time News

Current BBC News stories to read and discuss with your tutor group.

Friday
19th April 2024

Around the world

US calls for calm after officials say Israeli missile hit Iran

Antony Blinken says Washington was not involved in any offensive operation, as Iran downplays reports of attack.

Bowen: Crisis shows how badly Iran and Israel understand each other

After decades of rivalry, the rival Middle East powers have both miscalculated, writes Jeremy Bowen.

In the UK

Police looking at allegations against MP Menzies

Mark Menzies strongly disputes claims he asked a party activist for £5,000 to pay "bad people".

No charges for Bloody Sunday soldiers accused of giving false evidence

The Public Prosecution Service has been investigating fifteen former soldiers and an alleged former member of the IRA.

Politics

Police looking at allegations against MP Menzies

Mark Menzies strongly disputes claims he asked a party activist for £5,000 to pay "bad people".

100 MPs to stand down at the next election

More than 60 are Conservatives and they include former prime minister Theresa May.

Education

DfE says 85,000 more free childcare places needed

The Department for Education estimates about 40,000 staff are also needed in England by September 2025.

Almost a quarter of kids aged 5-7 have smartphones

The regulator calls the data a "wake up call", and says parents and industry need to do more.

Health

Children used as 'guinea pigs' in clinical trials

They were given infected blood products in trials without their knowledge, the BBC has found.

Ketamine addict: 'I can't walk 50m without weeing'

Specialist clinics are helping increasing numbers of young ketamine users with damaged bladders.

Business

Oil price eases as Iran downplays attack

Reports of a retaliatory strike by Israel raise commodity prices and fears over inflation.

Post Office lawyer 'missed' key Horizon finding

A top lawyer says he and others missed a finding in 2014 that the software could be accessed remotely.

Science

Chinese cities sinking under their own weight

Extracting ground water for growing urban populations causes half of China's big cities to sink.

Deadly Africa heat caused by human-induced warming

Extreme heat linked to the deaths of hundreds of people would not have happened without global warming.

Technology

Influential women's tech network shuts down unexpectedly

Women Who Code, which had hundreds of thousands of members globally, has dissolved after a board vote.

Tesla recalls Cybertrucks over accelerator crash risk

The electric car company, run by Elon Musk, is recalling thousands of what is its latest vehicle.

Entertainment

Everything we know about Quentin Tarantino's 10th and final film

The influential director has reportedly scrapped the idea for his 10th film and gone back to the drawing board.

Taylor Swift is vulnerable but vicious on new album

The star's 11th album is much more than a break-up record, and may even mark the end of an era.