News

The greatest democracy on earth had a troubled and divisive 2015. Unarmed African-Americans were killed by police with shocking frequency, a leading presidential candidate brought racism and bigotry into the political mainstream and America's influence abroad was further eroded by crises partly of the country's own making. America starts 2016 with the news that an armed white militia has taken over a government facility (it's a building on a wild life preserve in Oregon). The group, calling themselves patriots, demand...

Well, that was quick. One minute you’re draping the tinsel over the whiteboard, amazed that, remarkably, you’ve made it to the end of term with at least a few of your faculties still roughly in working order; the next, you’re back in the staff room wondering what happened to those 2 weeks off you were looking forward to. Such is the life of a teacher returning to work after the season of goodwill…and we are left under no illusions that...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor More countries have followed Saudi Arabia in closing off diplomatic relations with Iran following the row over the execution of a Shia cleric after a decision by the Saudi courts. Bahrain and Sudan have told Iranian diplomats to leave within 48 hours. The execution has provoked a great deal of condemnation across the world, but Saudi Arabia's closest allies have come out in support. Bahrain demanded Iranian officials left Manama in 48 hours and the Sudanese...

The stock markets have made a panicked start to 2016 with more than £34 billion wiped off the FTSE within an hour on the first day of trading in 2016. There were similar falls across other major European and Asian indices as concerns over China's slowdown hit again. Shanghai’s stock market had to be suspended earlier in the day having lost almost seven per cent of its value thanks to weak manufacturing data.Markets were also affected by the uncertainty being triggered by...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor East London's rapid growth had been reflected by TFL who have rezoned numerous stations in that part of the capital, due to London's "shifting economic map". Eight stations including West Ham and Stratford are now Zone 2/3 rather than 3 saving passengers money on their journeys. Stations will be regarded in Zone 2 or 3 depending on which way the passenger is travelling, giving the cheapest travel option for the journey. Boris Johnson hopes 100,000 people...

A map released by the Environment Agency during the recent floods in Leeds highlighting 'severely affected' areas runs an almost identical course to the proposed HS2 route, raising questions about the feasibility of the multi-billion pound project. Phase 2 plans for the high speed railway follow parts of the Aire and Calder Navigation on approach to Leeds train station, but most of the proposed land for development was under water this weekend as the river overflowed. Pictures from Woodlesford Lock show...

From the outset, 2015 shouldn't have been a momentous year. "Yet for many and varied reasons, most of them unpleasant", writes Martin Hannan in The Scotsman, "it will be remembered for decades to come". Looking through the TLE archives from 2015 the breaking news stories are a reminder of the testing times we face as ideological warfare simmers and boils to the point of eruption. Attacks on Charlie Hebdo at the start of the year were followed by the heartbreaking terrorist...

Callum Towler, Stephen Adams and Owen Black chat about the the outcome of the Paris climate summit, exploring the inability for a lot of people to care about something so seemingly far into the future, how we consume and whether the prevailing political model can ever achieve sustainability.

British military personnel have been deployed to Afghanistan just three days before Christmas. Reports suggest that the Taliban is close to taking the town of Sangin in Helmand province just months after British forces withdrew all combat troops. The MOD has said that a small number of personnel has been sent to Camp Shorabak in Helmand but will not be deployed outside of the camp. Apparently the troops will only be providing an "advisory role" to the Afghan National Army...