Drivers Representation & Advocacy (DRA), founded by Yaseen Aslam, the lead claimant in the landmark UK Supreme Court case Uber BV v Aslam [2021] UKSC 5, has issued a statement in solidarity with Australian Uber drivers as a major employment status trial begins in Sydney on Monday 9 February 2026. The Australian case, brought by the Rideshare Drivers Network (RDN), mirrors arguments long rejected by UK courts, where Uber was found to have deliberately mischaracterised its relationship with drivers in order to deny them basic statutory rights. "The UK case showed that Uber’s model was built on legal fiction. What Australian drivers are facing is part of the same global pattern.”Since 2015, Yaseen Aslam has been at the forefront of organising app-based drivers across borders, helping to build international coordination among driver-led movements worldwide. Both organisations represent app-based drivers, including Uber drivers, and share the same objective: securing dignity, fair pay, and basic employment protections for platform workers.

Mr McSweeney quit as Sir Keir’s chief of staff on Sunday, saying he was taking “full responsibility” for giving the Prime Minister advice that resulted in the “wrong” appointment. Labour veteran Baroness Smith rejected reports that Sir Keir is considering resigning and said he is “determined” to continue with his agenda for change. She told Times Radio: “The Prime Minister is taking responsibility. The Guardian, citing a well-placed source, said they would show the Cabinet Office had warned about the grave reputational risk of handing Lord Mandelson the ambassadorship. Dame Emily Thornberry insisted Sir Keir is a “good leader” but said he must “step up a bit more than he has” to ensure clear leadership.

It is the first time the views of William and Kate have been known about the crisis, that has engulfed the monarchy and Westminster, and their thoughts “remain focused on the victims”. Prince William is heading to Saudi Arabia to begin a three-day tour of the Middle East country, and will spend the first day with Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ahead of the visit, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “I can confirm that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continued revelations. Much of the work of the royal family in recent weeks has been overshadowed by the ongoing Epstein scandal, reignited when a huge tranche of millions of documents associated with Epstein were released by US authorities. The latest allegation is that Andrew shared confidential reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore in his role as the UK’s trade envoy.

A ‘FRANKENSTEIN’ drug thought to be 500 times stronger than heroin is linked to hundreds of deaths a year in the UK. Using data from UK National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM), scientists examined drug deaths in Birmingham in 2023, where “nitazenes were particularly prevalent”. They identified a 33 per cent excess in drug deaths. It typically takes around a month for blood samples to be analysed by toxicologists. Dr Copeland said: “If nitazenes are degrading in post-mortem blood samples, then we are almost certainly undercounting the true number of deaths that they are causing.

Dr. Robert Hightower, a man whose life was defined by strength, tenacity and perseverance, transitioned home to be with his heavenly father Jan. 12. Dr. Hightower was 95. Born Aug. 3, 1930, in Yelvington, Florida, Dr. Hightower was raised in Ormond Beach with his seven siblings. Dr. Hightower was a trailblazer with an anointing to start and plant churches. Beyond his ministerial accomplishments, Dr. Hightower was a successful real estate broker for more than 50 years, working for Century 21 and his own company, Hightower Reality.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 08, 2026 in Liverpool, England. Liverpool came out much stronger in the second half, piling on more and more pressure until a Dominik Szoboszlai broke the deadlock. Beyond the absolute world class goal, Szobo yet again put in a ridiculous shift from the right back spot. Against Manchester City, the Reds again were slow starters but absolutely ramped it up in the second half after they exposed the visitors flaws time after time. As we have sadly seen too many times this year, however, any dice roll just seemed to not go Liverpool’s way.

They bring fresh ideas, a diverse cultural and social perspective, and extensive global networks, all of which benefit UK students and communities. They deepen expertise in the UK of how the Chinese government operates, which is invaluable to the UK’s national interest. The debate about China in the UK can make our Chinese students, staff and partners feel unwelcome and prevent them from fully taking part in UK society. Some of UCL’s most impactful work with Chinese partners has been on tackling ill health and climate change. ADVERTISEMENTIn stamping out a culture of fear and Sinophobia, we live up to the best values of British society and ensure that the UK benefits from the many advantages that our Chinese students, colleagues, partners and friends bring to the UK.

Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.

Frank Gehry would have none of it. The boy developed a passion for fish and fish art from his grandmother, who prepared and cooked gefilte fish weekly. After winning the coveted Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1991, Gehry’s awe-inspiring masterstroke in design came in 1997 with Spain’s Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Frank Gehry was at last accepted, and reached the pinnacle of his architectural world. Frank Gehry, Twenty-first Century Books, 2008.https://archive.org/details/frankgehry0000lazo/page/n3/mode/2up“Obituary: Frank O. Gehry,” Society of Architectural Historians.

‌And the Tunisian star says the freedom afforded by manager Martin O’Neill can help him reach his heights and deliver even more as he develops at Parkhead. ‌Tounekti is adamant he’s not yet reached the levels he can as he said: “No, no, no. I feel like I could improve a lot and I feel like I have the ability to do that. Wingers can suffer even more than most with inconsistency, but Tounekti said: “No, I think it’s a good point. When you play for a team like Celtic, you have to win every game and you have to play well every game.

TLDRIran has sentenced Nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi to over seven more years in prison, according to her lawyer, as Tehran cracks down on dissent. Mohammadi, a women’s and human rights activist, has been on a hunger strike since February 2, following her arrest in December at a memorial ceremony. She has been sentenced to six years for 'gathering and collusion' and one and a half years for propaganda, along with a two-year travel ban and two years of internal exile.

• Why to watch movie:Peak pop culture access. • Real-time relevanceThe film engages with pop fame as it’s actively unfolding, making it feel current rather than reflective or nostalgic. What Movie Trend Is Followed: Pop Culture Watching Itself in Real TimeThe Moment sits inside a fast-growing trend where pop culture stops waiting for hindsight and turns the camera on itself mid-cycle. Insights: When pop culture documents itself in real time, relevance replaces legacy and tension replaces polish. It captures how fame feels when it’s still being managed, monetized, and defended.

The value of parent-infant relationships in the UKCherri Blissett, James Turner, and Alex RoundSecure parent–infant relationships underpin a baby’s emotional regulation, resilience, and healthy development, bringing lifelong benefits. Parent–infant teams are specialised services that provide intensive, relationship-focused support for parents and babies, helping babies be safer, happier and healthier. Why babies’ first relationships matter finds that this specialised early support reduces demand for statutory services, improves child and parent wellbeing, and delivers strong social and economic returns. Investment in early relationships and infant mental health is both an effective preventative strategy and a robust economic decision. The report estimates the value of specialised support to each child across their whole lifetime of over £40,000 per child.

The Australian reports the latest Newspoll surpasses the recent RedBridge Group/Accent Research poll as the Coalition’s worst and One Nation’s best result to date. Labor is up a point to 33%, and the Greens are steady on 12%. As a result of One Nation’s dominance over the Liberals, “Newspoll has not generated a two-party-preferred calculation”. Anthony Albanese is up a point on approval to 43% and steady on disapproval at 53%. The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday, a change from recent practice when polling was conducted mostly during the week, from a sample of 1234.

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY (to me)As I start my sixth year as the roving reporter for the Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda and celebrate my fifth Gotcha Day, I am filled with such incredible gratitude for all the things I have in my life. I am in Alameda today only because of John Lipp, former executive director of Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter—FAAS for short. So every year, I visit the shelter on my Gotcha Day to thank them and share a piece of cake with the staff. You may have noticed two new guests at my Gotcha Day party. So, on my fifth Gotcha Day, I hope you will check out FAAS to see all the available animals for adoption and fostering.