Such a picture has emerged in the politics of Uttar Pradesh, after which political movements have intensified. Amidst the preparations for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections and Panchayat elections in UP, Jaunpur’s strong leader Dhananjay Singh’s wife and Jaunpur District Panchayat President Srikala Reddy has written to the CM. Yogi Adityanath Have met. During this, BJP MLC Brijesh Singh ‘Prinsu’ was present with him.
Dhananjay Singh’s wife Srikala Reddy with BJP MLC Brijesh Singh ‘Prinsu’ Lucknow I have met Chief Minister Yogi. This is the first time that she has come to meet CM Yogi, after which speculations about new equations have started increasing in the state. If sources are to be believed, Brijesh Singh has arranged this meeting of Shrikala with CM Yogi.
Dhananjay Singh’s wife met CM Yogi
Pictures of CM Yogi’s meeting with Jaunpur District Panchayat President Shrikala have also surfaced on social media. In which Brijesh Singh is also seen meeting with him. This meeting is also being linked to the UP Assembly elections 2027 and Panchayat elections. If political experts are to be believed, BJP can solve its political equations in Jaunpur through him.
Dhananjay Singh is seen as a big strong leader of Jaunpur. His family has considerable influence in this area. In 2009, he had also been an MP from Bahujan Samaj Party. Srikala Reddy is the third wife of Dhananjay Singh and belongs to the political family of Telangana. In the 2021 Panchayat elections, she became the District Panchayat member from Ward 45 of Jaunpur, after which she became the District Panchayat President.
BSP supremo Mayawati had given ticket to Srikala Reddy in the 2024 elections but later withdrew it. However, during this time there was also talk that Srikala had returned the ticket. After this, Dhananjay Singh’s closeness with BJP was seen and now Srikala Reddy’s meeting with CM Yogi is indicating a new political alliance in Jaunpur.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is on a tour of Delhi these days. Here his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah is proposed. Before this meeting, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Satpal Sharma has made a big claim. He has given a statement in the context of giving full state status to the Union Territory.
BJP MP Satpal Sharma said, ‘The Chief Minister can meet whenever he wants. He is the Chief Minister – It is a big thing to be the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. It is not a big deal for a Chief Minister to meet the Home Minister or the Prime Minister. But every time, the issue of statehood is raised through these meetings. Today, what is needed in the current situation is development. There is negligence in the matter of development.
He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah It has been made clear that full statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored at the appropriate time. Let that right time come. The MP said that we also want to get the status of a full state but will wait for the right time.
The PM and the Home Minister have never said no for this. But every time they go and raise the same issue. Let’s add 4 more agendas. The MP alleged that after the government came to power, the promises made in the manifesto at the time of elections were not being fulfilled. He said that the CM goes to Delhi and asks for funds. The funds we are getting are sufficient for Jammu and Kashmir.
Current administrative structure ‘worst form of governance’ – Omar
Let us tell you that recently, terming the current administrative structure of Jammu and Kashmir as ‘the worst form of governance’, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had stressed on immediate restoration of full statehood. However, he also acknowledged that significant progress has been made in reducing differences with the Center over rules of functioning. The Chief Minister also hit out at the alleged vested interests trying to create a political rift between Jammu and Srinagar, saying that ‘they have failed and will continue to fail.’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently appealed to the people of India to save gold, petrol-diesel, edible oil and fertilizers and avoid traveling abroad amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Due to this appeal made by PM Modi to the public in Hyderabad, the political temperature has now become high. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi himself opposed this request of PM Modi and said that these are not suggestions of the public but are evidence of the failure of the government.
Now Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reacted to Rahul Gandhi opposing PM Modi’s speech. He hit back and said that Rahul Gandhi is a ‘rejected product’.
Talking to the media, Devendra Fadnavis said, “See, Rahul Gandhi is the most rejected product of Indian politics – ‘Rejected by all’. He has been rejected by the people of every state. I feel that he is a product rejected by the people, in a democracy, what people accept is important.”
Speaking in support of PM Modi, Devendra Fadnavis said, “We do not give importance to rejected leaders like Rahul Gandhi. The country stands with PM Modi, stands behind him. The country blesses PM Modi again and again.”
Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says, “Rahul Gandhi is the most ‘rejected maal’ in Indian politics. Rejected by all, rejected always, and rejected in every state… The country stands with PM Modi; the country stands behind PM Modi. The country repeatedly… pic.twitter.com/x01N2NIHsY
In fact, by posting on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi opposed PM Modi’s appeal to reduce gold and petrol and called it a failure of the policies of the central government. It was written in Rahul Gandhi’s post that PM Modi has asked the public to make sacrifices – less gold, less foreign travel, less petrol, less fertilizer and edible oil… take the metro and work from home. These are not sermons, rather they are evidence of failure.
Rahul Gandhi says that in 12 years, the BJP led central government has brought the country to such a level that now restrictions have to be imposed on the public. What people buy, what not to buy, where to go and where not to go. The responsibility for everything is put on the public. The Leader of Opposition also claimed that running the country is no longer in the power of a ‘compromised PM’. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, angry over this statement of Rahul Gandhi, has called him a ‘rejected leader’.
A Pennsylvania man is accused of setting a home on fire after police said he became upset when a woman at the residence rejected him, killing an Army veteran and seriously injuring two others.
Robert Shane Zimmerman, 40, was arrested after allegedly starting a fire at a home in Lewistown around 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday, the Lewistown Police Department wrote on Facebook.
When officers arrived at the scene, several residents said the fire was intentionally set and that people were trapped inside the home, which was rented out to several subletters.
A man suffered significant facial injuries after jumping from the second floor of the home and was flown to a burn trauma center with internal burns to his throat. He informed authorities that his girlfriend was still inside.
Robert Shane Zimmerman allegedly set a home on fire after a woman at the residence rejected his advances.(Lewistown Police Department )
A woman also sustained serious injuries after passing out from smoke inhalation and falling onto a concrete sidewalk below, according to police. She was also transported to a trauma center for treatment.
Another victim, identified as Brandy Phillippe, 44, was found dead inside the home after authorities said she appeared to have attempted to escape but became trapped in the residence, according to the Mifflin County Coroner’s Office.
Multiple witnesses reported Zimmerman was at the home to profess his love for a woman living in the attic, police said. The fire was later confirmed to be arson by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal.
“It was reported that Zimmerman became upset when he was rejected by the female and he began setting several items on fire on the first floor of the residence,” police said, adding that the woman was later taken into custody for a prothonotary warrant issued in February.
During the investigation, witnesses reported hearing Zimmerman admit to starting the fire. They also said they saw him standing in a nearby alley watching the residence burn.
Surveillance images appeared to corroborate the witnesses’ statements, police said.
Zimmerman was later taken into custody at his home on an outstanding warrant, as well as for questioning related to the house fire, with police saying he smelled like ash and smoke.
A woman was killed and two other victims were seriously injured in the fire.(City Hook & Ladder #14 – Lewistown, PA)
After being taken into custody, Zimmerman said he had just ingested fentanyl and displayed signs of an opioid overdose. He was transported to a hospital for evaluation. Several hours later, medical staff cleared him, and he was transported to the police department for questioning in connection with the fire.
During questioning, Zimmerman made “several incriminating statements,” police said.
Zimmerman claimed he could not recall any details from the exact time the fire began, but he was able to make several statements about events immediately before and after the fire started, according to police.
When he was informed someone in the residence had died as a result of the fire, police said Zimmerman had a “strong emotional response.”
Zimmerman is being held at the Mifflin County Correctional Facility on multiple charges, including arson, police told the Lewistown Sentinel.
Fox News Digital has reached out to police for additional information.
It was not immediately clear whether Zimmerman had legal representation.
Robert Shane Zimmerman is being held at the Mifflin County Correctional Facility on multiple charges, including arson.(City Hook & Ladder #14 – Lewistown, PA)
Phillippe’s death is being investigated as a homicide, according to the coroner’s office.
According to her obituary, Phillippe was a “woman of many talents” who had a background in culinary arts and attended flight attendant school.
“She was a proud Army veteran who specialized in Patriot missiles during her service. Later in life, she achieved her CDL and worked as a professional truck driver,” the obituary reads.
“She had a passion for cats and loved many over the years,” it continued.
Starmer to say ‘incremental change won’t cut it’ in major make-or-break speech to avert leadership challenge
Good morning. The news this morning is full of speculation about whether or not there will be a Labour leadership contest. A better way of explaining the situation might be to say that a leadership contest is already under way; Angela Rayner issued what was in effect her manifesto late yesterday afternoon (although she also hinted she would be happy for it to be delivered by Andy Burnham as leader), and Keir Starmer delivers what you could see as a hustings speech this morning.
Leaders can survive challenges. In 1995 John Major was widely seen as doomed, but Michael Portillo postponed a decision to stand against him, Major easily saw off a challenge from John Redwood (the Catherine West of his day, in some respects), and Major survived another two years. In 2016 the vast majority of Labour MPs voted no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn, but he survived (because he was adored by Labour members, a benefit that Starmer does not enjoy). In 2006 Tony Blair accepted he would have to go. But he was allowed to work his notice for a year; Gordon Brown and his allies were powerful enough to force him out, but not to force him out quickly.
No one knows where this will end up. It could end up fatal for Starmer, but that is not a certainty.
In his speech this morning, Starmer will say “incremental change won’t cut it”. According to extracts released in advance, he will say:
To meet the challenges that our country faces, incremental change won’t cut it.
On growth, defence, Europe, energy – we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times.
Strength through fairness. It’s a core Labour argument. And you will see those values writ large in the king’s speech. And you will see hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on.
The problem Starmer faces is that for many people, including Labour MPs (like Josh Simons, who addressed this exact point in an article published yesterday), “incremental change” sounds like a definition of Starmerism.
12.30pm: Angela Rayner, the former deputy PM, is due to speak at the CWU conference in Bournemouth.
Around lunchtime: Catherine West, the former minister, is expected to give her response to the Starmer speech. If she is not persuaded he can turn things around, she will formally start the process of trying to get the 81 names she needs to launch a leadership challenge.
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.
If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.
I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.
Now this matter is gaining political significance after Dalit oppression came to light after conflict between two parties in a land dispute in village Lalwala of Deoband police station area in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. In this matter, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president Mayawati has also commented and demanded fair action and has also expressed concern for the injured people from the Dalit class.
The BSP supremo wrote on her “No, rather solve it through legal means only.”
Let us tell you that earlier, Nagina MP, who was going to meet the victims in Lalwala village, was placed under house arrest by the local police administration in his residence located at Chhutmal. He was not allowed to leave the house for about eight hours. Police officials argued that his departure could worsen the situation. Whereas Chandrashekhar Azad expressed his displeasure regarding this. After this, he inquired about the well-being of the injured admitted in the district hospital and criticized the doctors and staff for their negligence.
heavy police force deployed
In view of the tense situation in the village, the police administration has converted the entire village into a cantonment. The police are not allowing anyone to enter the village as a precautionary measure. On the other hand, a lot of police force is still deployed outside Chandrashekhar Azad’s house. So that no unpleasant situation arises, people have also been appealed for restraint.
Pakistan’s military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has once again given a statement against India. In the program organized on the completion of one year of Operation Sindoor, he said that India had taken action against Pakistan without any provocation. He also tried to warn India. This program was organized at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf were also present in it.
Asim Munir said that on the night of 6 and 7 May, India had violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and Pakistan responded with full force. He said that if any such action is taken against Pakistan in future, its impact will be huge and painful. Munir also said that Marka-e-Haq was not just a war between two countries, but it was a battle of ideologies. He claimed that Pakistan won this battle. Along with this, he described India’s action after 2001 Parliament attack, 2008 Mumbai attack, 2016 Uri attack and 2019 Pulwama attack as false flag operation. He alleged that India tries to put pressure on Pakistan by making false allegations.
India has already made it clear that action against Pakistan-backed terrorism will continue. last year Pahalgam After the terrorist attack, India operation vermilion Had started. 26 people lost their lives in this attack. In response to this, on May 7, India carried out air strikes on 9 major terrorist bases in PoK. There was news of more than 100 terrorists being killed in the Indian action. After this, there were attacks from Pakistan also, but in retaliation, India targeted many military bases, airbases and radar sites of Pakistan. By May 10, the situation had become such that Pakistan appealed for ceasefire, which was accepted by India.
Good morning. This is Michael Segalov – as of today, I’ll be popping up into your inboxes from time to time.
There’ll be no shortage of infighting, intrigue and briefing in Westminster this week, as the dust settles on the government’s disastrous election results. We’ll be bringing you the latest on backbench MP Catherine West’s (likely futile) attempt to topple Keir Starmer, alongside the rest of the fallout.
Today, though, we kick off with something else … the race to contain a rare, deadly virus.
On 2 May, the outbreak of a lethal hantavirus strain onboard a luxury cruise liner was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). As of this morning, nine probable cases have been identified, with three fatalities. It has left experts scrambling to conduct a track-and-trace exercise of global proportions. While 149 passengers and crew remained on the ship once the virus had been identified, at least 29 passengers of 12 nationalities had already disembarked. Seven of them were British.
For today’s First Edition, I spoke to infectious diseases epidemiologist Dr Charlotte Hammer, and our reporter Robyn Vinter who is on the ground in Tenerife where the ship has been evacuated. But first, the headlines.
Five big stories
UK politics | Keir Starmer faces a fight for his political life in the next 24 hours as potential Labour leadership rivals from Wes Streeting to Angela Rayner position themselves for a contest.
Iran conflict | Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian response to a US peace proposal as “totally unacceptable”, on a day the ceasefire showed signs of fraying as drone strikes were reported around the region and Benjamin Netanyahu warned the war was “not over”.
UK news | Labour has accused Nigel Farage of attempting to dodge scrutiny as the Reform leader continued to face questions over the £5m gift he received from a crypto billionaire shortly before the last general election.
Business | The full nationalisation of British Steel is expected to be announced in the king’s speech this week, a year after the government took over the daily running of the loss-making business from its Chinese owner.
Health news | Experts have called for a four-day week in the UK as research suggests those who work longer hours are more likely to be obese.
In depth: ‘You follow and monitor anyone who may have been exposed to the virus’
Every precaution is being taken with the remaining passengers and crew of the MV Hondius. Photograph: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images
Departing Argentina on 1 April, passengers onboard the MV Hondius embarked on an Atlantic adventure to Cape Verde, via some of the world’s most remote locations. A dream holiday turned into the stuff of nightmares when a deadly pathogen found its way on to the ship.
Within days, symptoms were showing: fever and gastrointestinal issues, pneumonia and breathing difficulties. On 11 April, a 70-year-old Dutch man died onboard, while his 69-year-old wife died two weeks later in Johannesburg, having travelled to South Africa. A third passenger, a German woman, died on 2 May. Currently, there are at least a further six probable or confirmed cases from this outbreak, including the ship’s doctor and one of its guides. Three of those patients are British.
When the ship arrived in Cape Verde, authorities refused to let it dock. On 6 May, it headed to the Canary Islands. Anchored beyond the shores of Tenerife, the first tranche of passengers disembarked yesterday, under tightly controlled conditions. The remaining 22 British nationals onboard (19 passengers, three crew) were taken to shore, with 20 of them transferred to a Merseyside hospital to isolate.
What is hantavirus?
Dr Charlotte Hammer leads an infectious disease research team at Cambridge University, and previously worked on the frontline in public health, investigating outbreaks just like this one. “All the evidence suggests this is a known strain of hantavirus,” says Hammer, “which makes the mission to contain it far easier”.
First identified in the mid-twentieth century, hantaviruses are zoonotic – primarily infecting rodents and occasionally transmitting to humans.
The specific strain onboard is known as the Andes hantavirus. It can cause a severe and often fatal lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. “It’s transmitted from specific species of rodent,” says Hammer, “and we already have evidence of it transmitting from human to human. But being on a boat with 20 plus nationalities represented makes it a challenge in both epidemiology and international coordination.”
The disease detectives
Once the WHO identified and confirmed the outbreak, Hammer says, attention turned to the patients’ stories. “Hypotheses developed to establish how transmission happened,” says Hammer. “Systematically, you eliminate all incorrect options. Simultaneously, we are studying published reports and studies on this strain of virus. Past and present evidence come together to form a coherent picture. It’s why we call these experts ‘disease detectives’.”
As the ship is flagged to the Netherlands, Dutch authorities were involved early. “En route to the Canary islands, Spanish authorities also stepped in. The WHO leads the international coordination, with all countries affected or with nationals onboard contributing. There’ll be a rolling team working 24/7.”
Currently, says Hammer, the most likely scenario “is that one or two people caught the virus while travelling in South America prior to embarking, and they brought it on to the ship, with limited person-to-person transmission on the ship itself”.
Anatomy of an outbreak
From that point on, containment is key. “You follow and monitor anyone who may have been exposed to the virus,” says Hammer. “As a precautionary measure, that includes everyone who embarked on the cruise.”
While utterly miserable for the passengers themselves, the outbreak occurring onboard a cruise ship is a massive benefit for public health. “Cabins are tight and small with limited air circulation,” says Hammer. “Passengers remain in close, sustained contact for extended periods of time.” But, once the outbreak was identified, keeping the remaining passengers onboard until their tightly choreographed departure was organised was relatively straightforward.
Slightly trickier was the task of tracking down the 29 passengers who disembarked early. “But thanks to the isolated nature of the locations where they departed the ship,” Hammer says, “all will have had some sort of traceable ticket. Plus, they have a rather pressing motivation to identify themselves to the authorities – it’s a scary disease. And given how much attention this story has received globally, the chances they’ll be unaware are low.”
Crisis Averted
In short, says Hammer, there’s little risk posed to the public. “This type of virus requires significant close contact for human-to-human transmission to occur.” And while there is a short, initial period of milder symptoms, the onset of serious illness is rapid. “If this was a virus like Covid – with relatively easy pre-symptomatic transmission in transient contexts – it would be close to impossible to control by this point.”
Overnight, two more passengers displayed symptoms of the virus and another tested positive. One French national showed symptoms while on a chartered flight to Paris, leading all five nationals onboard to be placed in “strict isolation”. US authorities said that of the 17 Americans returning home, one has tested positive but does not have symptoms, while another has mild symptoms. Both were “travelling in the plane’s biocontainment units out of an abundance of caution,” the US Department of Health and Human Services said.
Robyn Vinter has been on the ground in Tenerife all weekend. “Throughout Sunday, dozens of people were brought to shore in blue plastic ponchos and face coverings,” Robyn tells me. “From where I was standing, it was hard to gauge their expressions. But their body language portrayed exhausted, even bewildered, people. By early evening, flights had taken off bound for several countries, including the UK. Today, the process will happen all over again for passengers from the US and Australia, who will be the last passengers to leave. After that, the seas are due to get too rough, and the ship will return to the Netherlands.”
The experts stress there is no need to panic about this specific outbreak. This virus has been known for decades. And while rare, it is not uncommon. “Argentina sees50-100 cases annually,” says Hammer, “even if we aren’t used to dealing with hantaviruses of this type in Europe. I would be surprised if any of this was a massive challenge for the authorities beyond the practical logistics.” The WHO has repeatedly made clear this is not the start of a pandemic, with risks to public health “absolutely low”.
Still, this scare should offer a moment for reflection. “Another pandemic is certainly likely,” says Hammer, “even if the timescale remains unknown.” Much like this incident, she believes “it will probably originate from a zoonotic virus through human-to-animal contact, and through some sort of major transport hub.” A global, coordinated response will prove vital. Meanwhile, the United States has slashed funding for infectious disease research under Trump, and quit the WHO. Last year, Argentina followed suit. This relatively contained drama feels like a rather ominous warning.
Your election questions, answered
Keir Starmer is under immense pressure to stand down. Photograph: Maja Smiejkowska/PA
From 10am today, Guardian political journalists Jessica Elgot and Peter Walker will be answering your questions about the fallout from last week’s elections in an AMA over on Reddit’s r/ukpolitics forum. It’s not too late to get your questions in by heading here. (And if you have any questions you’d like First Edition to dig into in more detail hit reply on this email, or contact us on First.Edition@theguardian.com).
What else we’ve been reading
The celebration of ‘half-birthdays’. Photograph: shironagasukujira/Getty Images
If you share your birthday with another significant date – Christmas Day, Valentine’s, St Patrick’s day – celebrating a half birthday might be just the ticket. What has led to the rise of this new special event? Katy Vans, newsletters team
Spend your morning salivating over this colossal collection of sandwich-based stories (egg and cress, anyone?). Michael
As someone trying to learn Welsh, a language legislated against for centuries before being added to the school curriculum in the 1990s, I found this piece by Sophie Smith Galer on what it means to lose a language, a must-read. Katy
In schools and universities across the globe, educators are confronting the presence of AI. This account from one professor dealing with students producing “words without work” is fascinating. Michael
It is the 25th anniversary of BalletBoyz, formed the same year as smash hit film Billy Elliot brought male dancing to the masses. Despite this there is still some stigma around men dancing on stage with other men. Katy
Sport
Arsenal led 1-0 through Leandro Trossard’s 83rd -minute goal. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Football | Arsenal kept control of the title race with a 1-0 win but West Ham had an added-time equaliser ruled out for a foul on David Raya amid penalty area wrestling.
Football | Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres fired Barcelona to the La Liga title with their 2-0 victory at home to Real Madrid in the clásico.
Women’s cricket | England’s biggest summer got off to an underwhelming start at Chester-le-Street, as they limped to a one-wicket win in the first one-day international against New Zealand.
The front pages
Guardian front page 11 May 2026 Photograph: Guardian
“Labour leadership rivals circle as Starmer tries to cling to power”, is the Guardian’s splash today. The Times goes with “PM fights to save his skin after Rayner ultimatum”, and the FT says “Starmer fights for his survival as threat of leadership challenge mounts”.
The Telegraph has “Streeting: I’m ready to be PM”. The i Paper leads with “Today or never to save your job, Labour MPs tells Starmer”, the Mail says “Streeting and Rayner ready for Starmer’s fall” and the Mirror’s headline on the same topic is “Change … before it’s too late”. “Fight or go, challenger tells Starmer”, is the Metro’s front page. The Express leads with “How dare he, PM plots to rip up Brexit.” The Sun deviates from politics with: “Strictly: it’s Emma”
Today in Focus
Zac Brettler was found dead on the riverbank in central London. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock
The mysterious death of the teenager who posed as a Russian billionaire
The journalist Patrick Radden Keefe tells Nosheen Iqbal how he tried to unravel the double life and tragic death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler – and what it tells us about London’s dark underbelly.
Cartoon of the day | Tom Gauld
A cartoon about a child kidding their father about reading now being called booksmaxxing. Illustration: Tom Gauld
The Upside
A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad
Tilton’s electric car club allows residents to hire vehicles by the hour or the day. Photograph: Green Fox Community Energy
Tilton, a small village in Leicestershire, launched a community electric car‑sharing scheme after residents struggled with transport access. The club offers two shared EVs and volunteer drivers, improving mobility for locals. Miriam Stoate, a local regenerative farmer, worked with other volunteers and community energy organisation Green Fox to set up this new scheme.
In the UK transport is the largest source of carbon emissions, and despite rising EV sales, experts warn progress is too slow. Even if the government invests heavily in rail and buses, they won’t meet climate goals without reducing overall car use. Shared EV fleets and community‑led solutions are essential to cutting emissions and congestion.
Says Stoate: “We now have a viable transport option that everyone can use without buying more and more cars – and it has helped to build our community, too.”
Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday
Bored at work?
And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
Silver Prices rose 1.21 per cent to ₹2.56 lakh per kg in the futures trade on Monday, amid uncertainty over West Asia peace deal.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the white metal for July delivery increased by ₹3,068, or 1.21 per cent, to ₹2,56,333 per kilogram in a business turnover of 2,150 lots.
Fresh positions built up by participants led to a rise in silver prices, analysts said.
In the overseas market, Comex silver futures increased 0.27 per cent to $80.55 per ounce.
A body found next to an abandoned ute 50km north-west of Lake Cargelligo is believed to be a gunman suspected of killing his pregnant former partner in remote New South Wales.
A large-scale manhunt for Julian Ingram, 37, has been under way since January when he allegedly shot Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend and her aunt in Lake Cargelligo, about 450km west of Sydney. He was on bail at the time for alleged domestic violence related offices against Quinn.
Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, was last seen driving a Ford Ranger ute with council signage from the town on 22 January.
The police said in a statement that a man’s body, understood to be Ingram, was discovered beside an abandoned ute 50km north-west of Lake Cargelligo. The body is yet to be formally identified.
Ingram is accused of murdering Quinn, 25, and her unborn child; John Harris, 32; and Nerida Quinn, 50. A 19-year-old man was also allegedly seriously injured in the attack.
In March, police offered a $250,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of Julian Ingram. At that point, police had scoured 60,000 acres of land in the search for Ingram and said there were another 600,000 acres to be covered.
During the same press conference announcing the reward, assistant commissioner Andrew Holland said “we believe he is being supported by someone in the community”.
Police are facing scrutiny over the decision to grant Ingram bail for allegedly assaulting Quinn two months before allegedly murdering her.
Police have repeatedly said a risk assessment found he did not pose an unacceptable risk and that Ingram had previously complied with court orders.
