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The money we earn by selling our milk does not cover our costs

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The money we earn by selling our milk does not cover our costs

BBC Farmer Adam Johnstone, wearing a black gilet and black hat, and Lucy Johnstone, wearing a green fleece and black gilet, stand in front of a cowshed, with Lucy holding her 5-month-old son and her 4-year-old son standing between them. BBC

The Johnstone family say they will be forced to sell their farm if they don’t find a way to make their milk production profitable

When Adam and Lucy Johnstone took over a dairy farm in the southwest of Scotland two years ago, they were able to turn a comfortable profit on the milk produced from their herd of 60 cows.

But in the last three months the price they get for each litre of milk from dairy giant Arla has fallen 25% below the cost of production.

They are now considering selling their milk directly to local customers in nearby Moffat or abandoning the farm.

This is an issue that is affecting dairy farmers across Scotland. The National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) said the sector is accustomed to price fluctuations, but the recent decline is “unprecedented” in both speed and scale.

Arla blames the price decline on a global oversupply of milk. Meanwhile, demand for milk and dairy products like cheese and curd has remained stable.

Johnstones say it costs them 38.5p to produce a litre of milk.

but they are currently getting 35.7p a litre from Arla.

This means that if they produce 35,000 litres per month, they will be paid £12,495 – which is around £1,000 less than it costs to look after their herd.

Lucy said that although farmers are resilient, the pressures they face are not sustainable.

“As an industry, we have become used to taking losses, and that’s OK because at other times of the year, we make a little more money,” he said.

“I find it difficult to make it okay for us not to cover the costs it costs us to produce the food we are feeding the country.”

Four cows, colored brown, black and white, poking their heads into the red pillars inside their dairy shed
For many in the dairy industry, milk production costs are exceeding the prices paid per litre.

The couple are now exploring the option of selling milk directly to customers in addition to their existing contract with Arla.

He said the support shown by local residents, hoteliers and businesses reminds him that the country’s farmers are appreciated, but ongoing tensions have forced him to consider leaving the industry.

Adam said, “It’s soul-destroying, to be honest. There are many benefits of farming that are not financial – we have a great lifestyle and we get to spend a lot of time with the children.

“But the financial pressures persist day after day and don’t go away when you go to sleep. We have talked many times about getting out of farming.

Milk production in Britain is expected to exceed 13 billion litres for the first time this year.

Meanwhile, prices for mild cheddar, butter and skimmed milk powder are hitting their lowest level in five years, according to NFUS.

Big dairy processors, such as Arla, Muller, and First Milk, have been cutting the price they pay farmers for their milk for several months, saying it is in response to global markets.

They are facing pressure to collect, process and sell excess milk that far exceeds consumer demand.

An Arla spokesperson said, “Global milk production has increased so there is a high supply of milk around the world. Therefore, this is having a negative impact on global commodity markets, resulting in lower prices.

“As a co-operative owned by the same farmers who supply our milk, Arla’s profits go directly back to our farmers as payment for their milk and to support the future of dairy production.”

A herd of dairy cows peek out from the red pillars inside an open-sided shed. The cows are a mix of black and white and brown and white and some of the fodder covers the exterior of the shed floor
There are approximately 182,000 dairy cows in 750 herds in Scotland.

Muller confirmed that their “daily milk collection volume is still much higher than last year.”

Mike Hindle, communications director for First Milk, said the dairy industry’s challenges were complex.

“We make a lot of cheese and some of it is exported,” he said.

“There has been a change in trade flows in the global cheese market, with more cheese coming from the US and New Zealand to the UK and Europe.

“They are producing at lower prices for various reasons and hence there is value loss in those markets as well.”

NFUS is demanding trust, transparency and fairness throughout the supply chain.

Committee chairman Bruce McKee said: “Processors must communicate clearly and fairly with suppliers.” Farmers deserve transparency and trust at such a critical time.”

The dairy industry has recently attracted some significant investment, such as Arla’s £144 million Upgrade your processing plant in Lockerbie.

NFUS vice president Robert Neal said it reflected a long-term commitment to the industry, but more help was urgently needed to stabilise the situation.

“This is about more than milk – it’s about rural jobs, local food security and the future of our communities,” he said.

“The supply chain must share the risk, not just the reward.”

Farmer Adam Johnstone, wearing black wool, gilet and hat, stood with a sad face in front of a herd of cows in a dairy shed
Farmer Adam Johnstone said the current situation is devastating

Meanwhile, the Johnstones say they are in “survival mode”.

Adam is a former Marine and is disabled. He wears a prosthetic leg and regularly has his doctor advise him to rest when he has pain.

However, Lucy said that financial pressures mean Adam is struggling with pain and it is now impacting family life.

“We’ve got two young kids he loves to hang out with and he’s giving everything he has to that farm right now,” she said.

“It’s not to pay us well; it’s to keep us afloat. It’s a way to survive and it’s not fair to him.”

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The Yemeni government is now focussing on the Houthis in the north as a result of the renewed momentum. news about conflicts

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The Yemeni government is now focussing on the Houthis in the north as a result of the renewed momentum. news about conflicts

Sanaa, Yemen – Naef has been a government soldier in southern Yemen for nine years. When he joined government forces in 2016—at just 19—he thought the Yemeni government’s war against the Houthi rebel group would be brief. A decade has passed, and the conflict remains volatile, with the Houthis remaining in Sanaa.

Neff was clear about the reason for the government’s failure – a lack of unity and a clear command structure. For years, government troops and other anti-Houthi fighters have been pursuing conflicting agendas across the country, with many fighters in the south supporting the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). A solution to that divide, Neff thought, was a long way off.

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However, recently, things have changed. The STC’s decision to attempt to take over all of southern and eastern Yemen backfired, and Saudi Arabia supported pro-government troops in pushing the group back. The STC has now split, with one leader fleeing and others announcing that the group has been disbanded.

Yemen’s UN-recognised authority, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), led by President Rashad al-Alimi, seized the initiative and, on January 10, established the Supreme Military Committee (SMC), with the goal of overseeing all anti-Houthi military units and integrating them into the official Yemeni military under one command.

Al-Alimi said the SMC would ultimately be a means to defeat the Houthis and reclaim all of Yemen.

SMC’s announcement marks a dramatic turn in a decade-long war, and Naef is now – finally – hopeful.

“I am optimistic today because the government has revived some of its power in southern Yemen,” he told Al Jazeera. “The formation of an inclusive military committee boosts our morale and is a prelude to the return of a powerful government.”

Sainik believes that, after years of inertia, the situation has finally changed for the government. After nine years of experience on multiple fronts, Neff now thinks the government – ​​with Saudi Arabia’s support – is capable of making incursions into Houthi-controlled northern Yemen if negotiations fail.

Neff said, “The PLC, with the support of the Saudi leadership, has achieved remarkable success in the south over the past few weeks. It has once again proven to be an indispensable party in the conflict. Whether this success will be short-lived or permanent remains to be seen.”

interactive_yemen_control_map_January14_2026_revised
[Al Jazeera]

Concerns and Disobedience

The formation of the SMC has created a sense of anxiety among Houthi supporters in northern Yemen.

Hamza Abdu, a 24-year-old Houthi supporter in Sanaa, describes the new military committee as “an attempt to organise a proxy in the south”.

Hamzah said, “This committee may end the friction between terrorist groups in the south, but it will deepen the subordination of the south to Saudi Arabia.” The Houthis have often framed their opponents as proxies controlled by foreign powers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Iran itself supports them.

In light of the developments, Hamza shared one concern: the resumption of war between the Houthis and their opponents, which has been largely stalled since 2022.

He said, “If this Military Committee succeeds in uniting the armies in the South, it may tempt them to attack the North.” “A new devastating war will begin, and humanitarian hardships will increase.”

Like many civilians, Hamza now fears that the war will start again. But Houthi leaders – warning that their forces must remain vigilant – are still confident, saying the formation of the SMC will not affect their power or weaken their control.

Pro-Houthi military expert Aziz Rashid believes that the SMC will not change the status quo, arguing that any future confrontation with the Houthis “will only serve the agenda and plans of the United States-backed Zionist entity [Israel].”.

Rashid indicated that Houthi forces in Sanaa “faced international and powerful military forces, including the United States, Britain and Israel, and stood firm against “Rashid stated that Houthi forces in Sanaa “faced international and powerful military forces, including the United States, Britain, and Israel, and stood firm against them during the last 10 years.”

Rashid said the only solution for Yemen is a political settlement.

The Iran-backed Houthis captured Sanaa in September 2014 and overthrew the UN-recognised government in February 2015. They say they are the only legitimate authority ruling Yemen.

The Houthis have faced attacks from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel since 2023, when the Yemeni group began attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Israel after the Houthis declared solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

a terrible message.

Defeating the Houthis may be easier said than done, given the failure of the Saudi-backed coalition with overwhelming air power in the early years of the war and the group’s now extensive combat experience and possession of advanced weaponry, including drones and missiles.

But if the Yemeni army truly reorganises itself and integrates the various anti-Houthi forces on the ground, an opportunity may exist.

Adel Dashella, a Yemeni researcher and non-resident fellow at the MESA Global Academy, said that if the SMC is able to provide security and stability in the area under its control, it may also be able to improve the lives of Yemenis living there – and put itself in a stronger position in any negotiations with the Houthis.

Dashelaa told Al Jazeera, “The next step is the beginning of a political process to reach an agreement with the Houthi group. If the peaceful option fails, military action becomes necessary.”

Abdussalam Mohammed, head of the Yemeni Abad Study and Research Center, believes that recent events – both inside and outside Yemen – provide a perfect opportunity for the government to confront the Houthis.

“A limited military operation destroyed the UAE-backed STC within days,” Mohammed said. “What happened to the STC in the south sent a terrible message to the Houthis in the north. The Houthis are not invincible.”

According to Mohammed, certain factors have currently increased the Houthis’ vulnerability.

“Iran is going through a major crisis, and this could weaken Tehran’s Houthi proxy. Given the economic and governance issues in the areas under their control, popular muted anger against the group is growing. Moreover, the UAE’s exit from the south will help the Yemeni government shift the fight against the Houthis to the north,” he said.

desperate for orders

Armed groups have grown rapidly in Yemen in the last decade. The result is a weak government and prolonged war. Amid the chaos, the population has suffered the brunt.

Fawaz Ahmed, a 33-year-old resident of the southern city of Aden, hopes that the establishment of a military committee will end the presence of armed groups in Aden and other southern cities.

Fawaz hopes that the formation of the SMC will bring two immediate benefits to Aden: an end to illegal wealth accumulation by militias and the disappearance of infighting between competing armed units.

He recalled an incident in Aden’s Khormaksar district last August, when two military units clashed at the headquarters of the Immigration and Passport Authority, causing the facility to be closed for several days.

Fawaz said, “Commanders of armed groups issued conflicting instructions and soldiers opened fire on each other. This clearly points to the absence of united leadership. Therefore, the declared military committee will prevent such confrontations.”

“We are desperate for law and order,” Fawaz said. We are desperate for a city that is free from an unnecessary military presence. This is a collective dream in Aden. Only a united military leadership can achieve this.”



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The tribunal ruled that Darlington hospital violated the dignity of nurses who filed a trans complaint.

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The tribunal ruled that Darlington hospital violated the dignity of nurses who filed a trans complaint.
The tribunal ruled that Darlington hospital violated the dignity of nurses who filed a trans complaint.

PA Media Five women stand outside the court building. They stand on stairs and, as a result, appear to be at different heights. Two are fair, three have black hair and all of their hair is about shoulder length. They are all fabulously dressed – four are wearing jackets (navy, cream, pink and grey) and one is wearing a black and white floral blouse.PA media
Darlington Memorial Hospital nurses launch employment tribunal proceedings against NHS bosses

An employment tribunal has found hospital bosses breached the dignity of a group of female nurses who complained about their changing room being used by a transgender woman.

Darlington Memorial Hospital claimed it.

Eight nurses from Darlington Memorial Hospital claimed that manager Rose Henderson, a biological man who identifies as a woman, “punished” them for objecting to the use of a single-sex space.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust claimed the nurses had “demonised” their colleagues and that the policy was in line with guidelines at the time.

In a partial victory for the nurses, the employment panel said the trust created a “hostile environment,” but other elements of their claim were unfounded.

Christian Concern supported the nurses in their claim, describing the decision as a “massive endorsement” and a “victory for common sense”.

The tribunal, held in Newcastle in October and November, heard that Rose, an operating department practitioner, who will be referred to by first name in the proceedings, had used the changing rooms since 2019.

Female nurses from the Day Surgery Unit (DSU) initially lodged the complaints in August 2023.

Rose Henderson arrives at the tribunal. Rose has long blonde hair, glasses and wears a black and white striped dress. What looks like a black jacket or cardigan over that but the image is blurry so it's not clear.
Rose Henderson’s use of women-only changing rooms has drawn objections from nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Changes to the Trust’s workplace policy allowed a person to use a single-gender space that corresponded to their gender identity, and anyone of that gender who objected could change elsewhere.

Around 26 nurses signed a letter complaining about Rose’s use and conduct in the changing rooms. Rose told the tribunal that the allegations, which included accusations of staring at naked women, were “false”.

In its 134-page judgment, the three-person panel chaired by employment judge Seamus Sweeney said the trust harassed and discriminated against nurses by requiring them to share changing rooms with a “biological male trans woman” and then not taking their concerns seriously.

Lisa Lockey (L) and Bethany Hutchison (R) say organizations need to listen to women

But the panel found the nurse’s allegations about Rose Henderson’s conduct in the changing rooms to be “not well founded” and rejected them, along with claims that the women were victimised.

The judgement said the trust’s policy had a “commendable and noble purpose” but had the effect of “violating the dignity” of nurses and “creating a hostile, humiliating and humiliating environment for them”.

PA Media Two pairs of women embrace and a fifth one looks on. The nearest couple are both wearing cream coats and have blonde hair. Next to him are two men wearing maroon coats and black hair. The woman standing nearby has dyed red hair and is wearing black clothes. They are all smiling happily.PA media
Nurses said they are pleased with the decision

When nurses raised their concerns, they “really felt that they were not being taken seriously” and “were being despised by senior management and seen as troublemakers,”, the panel said.

No one in management or the trust’s human resources department ever “seriously considered” how their policy “might give rise to any form of discrimination against female employees,” the judgement said.

The panel also concluded that the nurses were “correct in their belief” that management was “not going to address the main issue”, which was the use of women’s changing rooms by “biological male trans women”.

David Robinson/Geograph In the center stands a long, wide building with many windows, with ambulances outside the entrance, a sign reading 'Darlington Memorial Hospital'. There is a park in front. David Robinson/Geograph
All those involved in the tribunal worked at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Similarly, asking Rose to change elsewhere was “never in the plan” for managers, even though the “grim numerical reality” was that approximately 300 women used the changing rooms and Rose was the only trans person.

The panel said it would have been “reasonable and practicable” to ask Rose to replace him elsewhere.

Instead, a small room adjacent to the meeting room was converted into a changing room for those who complained.

Additionally, a human resources manager told nurses to “broaden their thinking”, which “made nurses feel they were not being taken seriously” and “reinforced the feeling that they were seen as transphobic or bigoted”, the panel said.

The tribunal said the nurses were “entitled to a remedy” and encouraged all parties to agree on one without the need for further hearings.

In view of this, the Trust’s policy was withdrawn by the Supreme Court decision The panel said the legal definition of ‘woman’ should be based on biological sex.

Six women are sitting at a long table with microphones in front of them. Behind them is a banner with the words
The nurses held a press conference in which they said they felt innocent

Speaking after the verdict was released, one of the nurses, Bethany Hutchison, said it was a “victory for common sense” and a “turning point”.

She said women were entitled to access single-sex spaces “without fear or intimidation” and that the trust’s policy had been “abusive” and “dangerous”.

Ms Hutchison said she was “absolutely delighted” with the verdict, which was a “massive vindication”, and that the verdict “showed we were right the whole time”.

Her colleague Lisa Lockie said organisations needed to “listen to women”.

We have experienced such silence; we were not allowed to complain and our trust was gaslighted,” she said.

She said she was made to feel like a “horrible person” for “having the audacity to complain”.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said the organisation was “taking time to review the decision” and would comment further “once we have had the opportunity to consider it in full”.

Rose has been contacted for comment.

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Britain’s economy grew 0.3% in November, better than forecasts

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Britain’s economy grew 0.3% in November, better than forecasts

The UK economy grew a faster-than-expected 0.3% in November after a rebound in car production and a boost to the services sector.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the growth was driven by an increase in industrial output, helped by the return of production at Jaguar Land Rover facilities following a cyber attack on the carmaker.

Following the budget on November 26, activities such as accounting and tax consultancy drove an increase in services.

Economists said they expect to see moderately positive economic growth in the last three months of 2025 and the new year.

November’s growth figure was stronger than analysts’ expectations of a 0.1% increase.

Businesses in the construction, industrial production and services sectors told the ONS in November that they were waiting to see the results of the autumn budget before making a decision.

Monthly GDP figures are more volatile than three consecutive months of figures, which are considered to give a better underlying picture of growth.

The ONS said the economy grew.

The ONS said the economy grew 0.1% in the three months to November compared with the previous three months.

Suren Thiru, economics director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, said the “unexpectedly positive” November data showed most sectors had “shaken off the pre-budget uncertainty.”

“The November surge means it is inevitable that the UK economy will grow modestly in the final quarter of 2025 and reduced post-budget uncertainty is likely to support growth in December, with the ‘super flu’ disrupting activity in sectors such as education,” he said.

Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK, said the data showed economic activity had picked up despite budget uncertainty.

Despite “relatively low consumer sentiment”, he said there were tentative signs of an increase in household spending.

“With the worst of the uncertainty behind businesses, we expect the growth momentum to continue in the coming months,” Selfin said.

KPMG expects the UK economy to expand in the last three months of 2025, and Selfin said it looks like there will be positive growth in the first three months of this year “driven mainly by business investment and government spending”.

Construction output fell 1.3% in November, and the ONS said the sector also recorded “its biggest three-month decline in almost three years”.

Ruth Gregory, deputy chief economist at Capital Economics, said the decline in construction was likely due to “unseasonably wet weather” and was likely to increase again in December.

However, Gregory said the increase in services output was “a little more than a reversal of the big decline over the past few months”.

“So we think the November strength is more likely to be a rebound rather than a sign that the economy is fundamentally stronger than we thought,” he said.

Deutsche Bank chief UK economist Sanjay Raja said the economic data should “raise the bar” for the Bank of England to cut interest rates in February.

“The economy is now in a stronger position than expected and the pace of rate cuts is likely to slow,” he said.

Part of the rebound came from continued growth in production at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which led to a 25.5% increase in motor vehicle output in November.

JLR was forced to halt production at its plants across the UK for the whole of September following the cyberattack. Production resumed in a phased manner in October.

A Treasury spokesperson said the government was making the economy “work for working people” through “reversing years of underinvestment” in infrastructure, as well as planning reform.

The spokesperson said the government was working to reduce bills and inflation but admitted there was still more to be done to tackle the cost of living.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said the figures showed economic growth was “still stagnant”.

He said, “The Chancellor promised growth as his number one mission, but the failure to hold down benefit bills – and taxing them instead – is taking a toll on business and the economy.”

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Millions of people will see their local council elections delayed

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Millions of people will see their local council elections delayed

Getty Images The Market Cross in Chichester city centre, West Sussex,getty images
West Sussex is one of the councils requesting an election delay

More than a third of eligible councils in England have asked to postpone their elections due in May, affecting more than 2.5 million voters.

The government is making large-scale changes to local government structures.

Twenty-four councils want to postpone their ballots to help with that restructure – but opposition parties say Labour is “scared” of voters.

Most of those seeking a delay are Labour-led, but two are Conservative-led and one is a Liberal Democrat. Some of the councils that have sought a delay are run by more than one party or independents.

Last month ministers told 63 local authorities they would allow a delay in elections if there were “genuine concerns” about the government holding elections alongside radical changes to local government.

So far, 24 have requested a delay, 33 have not, and six have yet to confirm their status.

The elections, expected to be held in 2027, will be postponed by a year.

The minister is expected to approve the requests in the coming days.

The BBC contacted the 63 councils that could request a delay to the elections in May for their decision.

A map of county councils that have requested to postpone their elections to May 2026. The map also includes those who turned down the opportunity and also includes areas where elections are going on normally. At this stage there are two authorities who are requesting an adjournment and four who have not requested an adjournment

The change of government in local government will replace the two-tier system of district and county councils that exists in many parts of England with new ‘unitary’ councils that will be responsible for providing all council services in their area.

This means that some councils up for election this year will be converted into new unitary councils in 2027 or 2028, so councillors will only be able to hold office for one year.

Ministers say their restructuring of local councils will be the biggest in a generation, removing duplication and simplifying local government.

Writing for The Times, Local Government Secretary Steve Reid said, “Running a series of elections for short-term zombie councils would be expensive and time-consuming and would take scarce resources away from front-line services like fixing potholes and social care.”

Both the Conservatives and Lib Dems have criticised Labour’s decision to allow the election to be postponed, while Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, told the BBC that officials seeking a delay were “terrified” that his party would win.

The Conservative shadow local government secretary accused Labour of being “afraid of voters” as the government struggled in the polls.

He said, “We are clear that these elections must take place. Ministers must treat voters with respect rather than contempt, stop undermining our democratic system and let the people of this country make their own decisions.”

A map of district, borough and unitary authorities in England that have requested to postpone their elections to May 2026. The map also includes those who turned down the opportunity and also includes areas where elections are being held normally. At this stage there are 22 authorities who are requesting postponement, 29 who have not requested postponement and 72 who have not been given the option to postpone and the elections are proceeding as normal.

Council’s opposition

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who has previously suggested delaying the election, violated human rights by calling for changes to the law that would prevent ministers from delaying elections at their discretion.

He said, “Both Labour and the Conservatives are afraid of voters allowing councillors to serve up to seven years without a democratic mandate.”

Despite the official status of their parties, the Conservative leaders and Liberal Democrats controlled West Sussex and East Sussex County Councils. Cheltenham Borough Council is one of the councils requesting a delay.

Protests erupt in some councils over decisions demanding delay the police were called At a meeting in Redditch, where the Labour-run district council in Worcestershire discussed the demand for a moratorium.

Some councils have not yet made their decisions public.

The Conservative leader of Essex County Council told the government that there was “enormous pressure on our system” on top of the planned restructuring.

But he said it was up to the government whether elections would be held this year or not and added that he would not ask for a delay.

Here is the full list of councils that have said they want to postpone their elections.

  • Adoor Borough Council
  • Basildon Borough Council
  • Blackburn with Darwen Council
  • Burnley Borough Council
  • Cheltenham Borough Council
  • Chorley Borough Council
  • Crawley Borough Council
  • East Sussex County Council
  • Exeter City Council
  • Hastings Borough Council
  • Hyndburn Borough Council
  • Ipswich Borough Council
  • Norwich City Council
  • Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
  • Pendle Borough Council
  • Peterborough City Council
  • Preston City Council
  • Redditch Borough Council
  • rugby borough council
  • Stevenage Borough Council
  • Tamworth Borough Council
  • Thurrock Council
  • West Sussex County Council
  • Worthing Borough Council

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When ‘baseball’ intent meets conservatism: England’s Ashes post-mortem | cricket news

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When ‘baseball’ intent meets conservatism: England’s Ashes post-mortem | cricket news

When 'baseball' intent meets conservatism: England's Ashes post-mortem
England’s Ben Stokes leaves the stage following an interview about England’s defeat.
This occurred during the fifth day of the fifth Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series between Australia and England at the SCG on January 08, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)

Baseball came to Australia promoting fearlessness and fun but left Australian shores in tatters.

After nearly four years of planning, England lost the Ashes in just 11 days and the series 4–1.

With an arsenal of raw pace bowlers, Ben Stokes’ England and their thousands of travelling fans arrived Down Under with optimism and hopes of returning the pitcher to Australia after 15 years. Instead, the bowlers were beaten.

India vs New Zealand ODI preview: Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer in focus

Mitchell Starc, emulating Ian Botham, led Australia to unprecedented success throughout the series with 31 wickets and two half-centuries.

Travis Head became the first Australian opener to score more than 600 runs in a series since Michael Slater’s 623 in the 1994-95 Ashes

Led by Starc and Scott Boland, who claimed 20 wickets, the Australian bowling attack was outstanding even without Josh Hazlewood in five tests.

Pat Cummins in four out of five matches and Nathan Lyon in three. England,

The England team has struggled to keep its bowlers fit.

In contrast, England has struggled to keep their bowlers fit and has made minimal adjustments in their selection to address this issue.

. England came closest to victory in the series opener in Perth and the fourth match of the series in Melbourne before winning the Boxing Day Test.

Guess how many quick bowlers have played there? Four. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood and Braydon Kars. With Wood ruled out of the second Test injured,

England did not bring in fast bowler Josh Tong but opted for batting all-rounder Will Jacks, who also bowls off-spin, at

The Gabba. With a first-class bowling average of 43.47, slightly better than Joe Root, Jacks was at best a batsman who could bowl and not the other way around.

It was a poor selection, made with the intention of shortening England’s tail rather than taking Australia’s wickets.

England did not rectify this mistake throughout the series and did not play four fast bowlers together in a match except in the Perth Test.

In the four tests he played, Jacks took six wickets and bowled just 65.4 overs.

In contrast, Josh Tongue took 18 wickets in three tests and bowled 97.2 overs.

Interestingly, England’s only spinner Shoaib Bashir, who was backed by the current management for 19 Tests,

did not play a single game in the five-match series. Replacing a wicket-taking fast bowler with a batsman who can provide some off-spin,

Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes effectively increased the workload and pressure on England’s fast-bowling attack led by Jofra Archer.

England’s eccentric selection allowed Australia’s lower order to add valuable runs and failed to fully capitalise on Australia’s own injury concerns.

Joe Root and Ben Stokes lift the Australia Ashes crystal statue after losing the fifth Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 08, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)

Down Under matches India’s defeat

When India toured Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024-25, they employed a somewhat similar strategy and lost 3-1.

Between Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, they had five frontline quick bowlers in their squad for the India series.

However, these five bowlers never played together in any of the four matches. Nitish Kumar Reddy has effectively worked as India’s fourth fast bowler in all five tests.

He bowled just 44 overs in the series, taking five wickets and giving away runs at an economy of 4.31.

With defensive selection throughout the series, the team management repeatedly pressed Siraj and Bumrah.

The selection not only broke Bumrah in the fifth Test but also reduced India’s chances of winning the match.

With three quick bowlers, Nitish Reddy and a spinner, sometimes even two, India’s primary problem throughout the series was the lack of consistent threats suited to the situation.

Between 2018 and 2022, India played four fast bowlers in 14 Tests outside Asia, winning six and losing seven.

At the same time, when they chose three quick bowlers in 18 tests, they won five and lost ten.

Using long-tail strategies in army conditions yielded better results than prioritising batting over bowling power.

Two defensive coaches

Although they exude an aggressive personality and hunger for results, both McCullum and Gautam

Gambhir has often pursued respectable scores rather than maximising their chances of taking 20 wickets in test matches.

In their respective tours of Australia, both communicated effectively by choosing to play an extra batsman or all-rounder instead of a frontline quick bowler to strengthen their playing eleven.

That is negative thinking. An extra bowler contributes much more to the bowling attack than an extra batter in the batting unit.

The lack of threat makes life difficult for the batsmen, as the opposition can attack for longer periods.

selection was aimed at providing an extra batting cushion in the event of a collapse rather than increasing their chances of taking 20 wickets in the lower order.

This does not mean that England would have won the series if they had selected a fourth frontline quick bowler.

They needed better catches (17 chances dropped) and more disciplined batting.

However, it would significantly improve Australia’s chances of getting out twice in a Test match and competing for a win.

Winning Test matches in SENA countries is never easy for visiting teams.

It also becomes difficult when teams reduce their bowling due to lack of faith in their batting. India learnt that lesson last year, and England learnt it again the hard way.

As seen during India’s tour of England in 2025, unless both sides adopt similar conservatism, this approach rarely succeeds.

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Only 1 in 10 people now trusts the chief of West Midlands Police.

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Only 1 in 10 people now trusts the chief of West Midlands Police.

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford of West Midlands Police in a passing out parade, wearing full uniform and medal on the chest. He faces two young officers West Midlands Police
Chief Constable Craig Guildford has apologized for providing false evidence to MPs in the Commons

Downing Street has said it no longer has confidence in West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford, echoing comments made by the Home Secretary in the Commons on Wednesday.

Other senior members of the Cabinet have called on Guildford to resign or be sacked, increasing pressure on the senior official after Israeli football fans were banned from a match against Aston Villa.

It comes after Guildford apologised for providing false evidence to MPs, including twice denying that AI was used in a report that led to the ban.

In the apology, the force said it had not deliberately distorted the evidence which Birmingham’s security advisory group used to investigate the 6 November game.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that he has lost confidence in the chief constable, following an update on the “damaging” review of the chief inspector of constabulary and what he called a “failure of leadership”.

A Number 10 spokesman said, “We have made our position clear; we no longer have confidence in the Chief Constable. The Home Secretary was very clear.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting also said he thought it was “completely extraordinary” that the chief constable had not yet resigned.

Wes Streeting: “I would be very surprised if Guildford did not resign today.”

The senior officer remained in post but faced a meeting on 27 January to be questioned by Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, who has the power to remove them.

Asked whether Foster should sack the chief constable, Streeting said, “He’s got a process to follow and he’s got to do the right thing in the right way.”

But he added, “There are two things I find absolutely extraordinary about this situation.

“First and foremost, a chief constable misled Parliament and misled the public.

“And secondly, he did not think to act with the required integrity at that time, having lost the confidence of the Home Secretary in the terms he presented to Parliament yesterday – to tender his resignation, or at least to offer it.”

“I find it absolutely extraordinary.”

Chief Constable of the House of Commons Craig Guildford sat before the select committee in the House of Commons. He is joined by other officials who are facing eight MPs around an oval table. House of Commons
The Chief Constable has provided evidence twice to the Home Affairs Select Committee

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said it was “astonishing” that Guildford still held the post of Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.

Nandy told the House of Commons that he hoped the matter would be “seriously considered”.

He said these incidents had a “chilling effect” on the Jewish community and “everyone who needs to rely on our police services across the country.”

House of Commons Conservative MP Nick Timothy is standing in the House of Commons. He has a beard and wears a blue suit and tie with a white shirt. He has a bundle of white papers in his hand. House of Commons
Conservative MP Nick Timothy has been named shadow justice secretary.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has named Conservative MP Nick Timothy, a vocal critic of West Midlands Police, as shadow justice secretary.

Timothy, an Aston Villa fan, also told the chief constable he was about to lose his job over the force’s security advice regarding the Maccabi match.

In a post on

it follows Dismissing former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick over claims that he was plotting to secede from the Conservative Party.

PA Media Maccabi Tel Aviv players in green tracksuits and Aston Villa in light blue tracksuits stand on the field with the mascots. Behind them is a stand that is filled with home fans on one side but empty on the left where there could have been away fans before the ban. pa media
A report found that West Midlands Police provided a number of “inaccuracies” to Birmingham’s security advisory group before the decision was made

An initial review of the force’s intelligence by the police watchdog found that “confirmation bias” influenced a decision to bar supporters of the Israeli football team from attending Villa Park in November.

Chief Inspector of Her Majesty’s Constabulary Sir Andy Cook.

Chief Inspector of Her Majesty’s Constabulary Sir Andy Cook said that a number of “inaccuracies” had been included in a report given by West Midlands Police to Birmingham’s security advisory group, including a reference to a non-existent fixture between Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham.

In evidence to MPs, Guildford initially suggested the misinformation was identified through a Google search or social media but said in a letter to the Home Affairs Committee (HAC) published on Wednesday that it was the result of using Microsoft Copilot, an AI tool.

‘There is no lack of fairness.’

Heather Murray, founder of training company AI for Non-Techies, said it was “astonishing” that authorities were allowed to use both Google and Microsoft Copilot to gather intelligence.

“None of these sources are reliable,” he said.

“Certainly they should be getting their intelligence from really good, reliable, well-researched sources.”

Independent MP Ayub Khan, whose Birmingham Perry Barr constituency includes Aston Villa’s stadium Villa Park, reiterated his call for chief constables to remain in their jobs.

At the time of the match, Khan supported plans to cancel or move it.

“Andy Cook’s report makes clear there was no political interference, and having said that, there is no evidence of anti-Semitism, and there is no lack of impartiality,” the MP said.

In his letter to Dame Karen Bradley, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Guildford said, “I would like to offer my deepest apologies to the committee for this error.”

“I understood and was advised that the match was identified through a Google search in preparation for attending the HAC.

“I believe the disclosure was a matter of sincerity and there was no intention to mislead the committee.”

The force has also apologised after details of Sir Andy’s findings emerged and said it would “work tirelessly to restore trust”.

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Building collapses due to massive explosion in Utrecht; victims feared trapped

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Building collapses due to massive explosion in Utrecht; victims feared trapped

Massive explosions have caused buildings to collapse and be on fire in the Dutch city of Utrecht, leaving four people injured and others feared buried under debris.

19:06, 15 January 2026 Updated 19:18, 15 January 2026

At least four people have been injured and there are fears that others may be trapped under debris after a massive explosion that collapsed several buildings.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a series of explosions in the centre of the Dutch city of Utrecht that caused a fire at around 3 p.m. today. People ran to nearby shopping streets for safety, while firefighters attempted to tackle the flames in Vischersteeg.

Footage showed massive flames rising from buildings on the street amid the explosions, while a giant plume of smoke covered the city centre and debris was scattered across the streets.

Fire fighters control the fire in Utrecht

Firefighters control the fire in Utrecht (Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Read more: Iran has tightened security after American air strikes; Donald Trump has made a concerning threat of using military force against US citizens protesting against ICE.

Structural damage to the buildings meant they became unstable as cracks emerged following the explosions and meant firefighters were not able to enter, and fires were being extinguished from outside with drones used to assist. Fire crews are expected to have the fire under control overnight.

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A special emergency response team from Alphen aan den Rijn has been deployed to help investigate any further victims in the partially collapsed buildings.

Emergency services spokesman Sajak Hasnoot said four injured people were taken to waiting ambulances and that more people may be buried under the debris. The severity of the four reported injuries remains unknown.

Fire fighters control the fire in Utrecht

Firefighters are unable to enter buildings (Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images). )

“At the moment it is very difficult to say how many victims are under the debris,” Hasnoot said. “The fire department cannot enter the building because it is still unstable.”

Officials have asked people to stay away from the area. “The fire department is currently investigating how to safely search the collapsed and damaged buildings to determine if anyone is still inside,” a statement from emergency services said. “Extensive damage has been reported in the surrounding area.”

“I knew immediately it was bad,” Margot Schrövers, an eyewitness who felt the explosions, told NOS. “The ground was shaking.”

Fire fighters control the fire in Utrecht

Explosions could be heard before the fire broke out (Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images). )

The Utrecht security region said there was heavy smoke in the area, causing “limited visibility”, hampering emergency services. It added, “The fire department is responding where safe and focusing on searching for and investigating people in the affected buildings.”

Each section of the building is being evaluated separately to determine whether emergency responders can safely enter the affected area if the gas is shut off. Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma told reporters that police were investigating the incident, adding that the cause of the explosion was not yet known.

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The US will cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods following an investment pledge.

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The US will cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods following an investment pledge.

 

Bloomberg via Getty Images Workers wearing cleanroom suits walk beneath Automated Material Handling System (AMHS) vehicle robots moving along tracks on the roof inside the GlobalFoundries semiconductor manufacturing facility in Malta, New York, U.S., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Bloomberg via Getty Images
America is placing a strong emphasis on building its semiconductor industry.

The United States said it has agreed to cut tariffs on goods from Taiwan by 15% in exchange for hundreds of billions of dollars in investment aimed at boosting domestic production of semiconductors.

The Commerce Department said the island’s semiconductor and technology enterprises have committed to “new, direct investment” of at least $250bn (£187bn).

The deal also provides tariff relief for Taiwanese.

The deal also provides tariff relief for Taiwanese semiconductor companies investing in the US.

Boosting US production of semiconductor chips, which are found in machines ranging from cars to smartphones, has been a priority for the US, as shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted supply chain risks.

In an interview on CNBC, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the agreement would make the US “self-reliant.”

“We’re going to bring it all the way,” he said.

The US has devoted hundreds of billions of dollars in government subsidies to the semiconductor industry recently, helping it secure investment and expansion from TSMC, the Taiwanese manufacturing giant that dominates the industry.

As part of its earnings update on Thursday, the company said it was accelerating its investments in the US, where it plans to open a plant in 2024.

The factory in Arizona, which now makes chips for Nvidia, Apple, AMD, and other major US tech companies, was built with $40 billion in US government subsidies passed during the Biden administration.

Lutnick said the latest trade deal could allow the company to expand and is aimed at further developing the supply chain, which could also persuade smaller businesses to relocate to the US.

According to the Commerce Department, the Taiwan government will provide $250 billion in financing to support companies, along with direct investment from companies.

Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by China, had been pushing to reach a deal with the Trump administration over tariffs on its exports entering the U.S., which were set at 20% last year.

But it has been wary of demands to transfer its expertise, which some see as a safeguard against military action.

The new 15% tariff rate matches the rates the US currently charges for goods from major trading partners, such as Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.

Those rates were agreed upon in deals resulting from tariffs first announced by Trump last April, which he said were aimed at addressing trade imbalances.

The Supreme Court is currently considering requests from businesses and states in the US to eliminate the duties they claim were imposed in violation of the President’s power.

The Trump administration had previously threatened separate, sweeping tariffs on the semiconductor industry in the name of national security.

It has so far put the proposal on hold, which has drawn widespread concern from import-dependent US companies, including some in the sector.

The announcement comes as TSMC rival US chipmaker Intel has struggled to make advanced chips designed for artificial intelligence.

In a surprise move last year, the US government took a 10% stake in Intel, but the company is about to cut thousands more US positions, on top of cuts already made recently.

Overall, the semiconductor manufacturing sector cut more than 17,000 jobs last year, according to the latest data, despite government efforts to boost the industry.



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The Southeast water supply crisis is a familiar story for customers. money news

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The Southeast water supply crisis is a familiar story for customers. money news

When South East Water (SEW) is in the news, the headlines don’t usually make for comfortable reading.

Despite the challenges faced by the water and sewerage industry and its regulators, the sole water supplier, currently facing nationalisation demands, is demonstrating resilience in the face of supply chaos.

It comes like this: 23,000 properties affected by supply issues in Kent and Sussex, and a major incident declared in two counties.

People entered the fifth day without water after storm Goreti caused power outages and burst pipes on Friday and Saturday last week. This was followed in December by a “water quality issue” which meant 24,000 people in Tunbridge Wells went several days without water.

“We are deeply sorry to all of our customers who have been affected,” SEW said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We know and understand how difficult it is to live without water for such a long time and how difficult it makes everyday life.”

Here, Sky News examines what has gone wrong at the Kent and Sussex water supplier over many years and why its leadership team is facing such harsh criticism amid allegations of continued reward for failure.

Who owns South East Water?

The company, which is responsible for supplying 2.3 million homes, has been owned for almost 20 years by a consortium of mainly foreign investment and pension funds known as HDF Holdings.

It has long faced criticism over paying dividends to shareholders while struggling with high debts, culminating in a fresh £200m cash injection a year ago to keep SEW running, pending inflation-fighting bill increases agreed by water regulator Ofwat.

The 20% increase in the 2025-30 settlement (which is still subject to appeal by the company) was to allow greater investment in neglected supply infrastructure.

Lender NatWest’s pension fund also has a 25% stake in SEW.

No water in 25,000 houses

Contacted by Sky News, the NatWest Group Pension Fund said, “We are extremely concerned about the impact these incidents are having on households, businesses and other users who rely on SEW for water services.

“NatWest Group Pension Fund will use its influence as a minority shareholder to direct SEW’s board to ensure that these issues are fully addressed.”

Why is SEW not working?

A water industry source told Sky News that SEW was not fit for purpose, describing it as “a huge failure”.

“The company is not as flexible as it should be,” he said.

“This is a small company that has been cobbled together. They don’t have the interconnectivity to move water around their networks like other companies. They will point to the need for greater investment in resilience and their appeal is now to the CMA, but I don’t think that’s the whole picture. You can see this is a failed company.”

The company’s latest financial data for the 2024 to 2025 financial year shows it recorded a loss before tax of £19.8m, down from a loss of £36.7m a year earlier.

Why is SEW’s boss facing particular criticism?

SEW chief executive David Hinton has faced direct criticism from local and national politicians as well as Kent residents in recent months.

Following last week’s appearance before MPs’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee, where Mr Hinton again suggested that working from home was partly to blame for water supply issues, he and senior leadership have been recalled to give evidence.

Mr Hinton suggested to explain the hosepipe ban that an increase in the number of people working from home in the commuter sector has led to increased supply pressure, as he did in 2023.

The chair of the EFRA committee announced the recall because he was “deeply sceptical about the company’s version of events so far and its board’s track record of holding it accountable.”

Mr Hinton’s salary increased last year. His annual bonus rose to £115,231 from £112,560 a year earlier, while his basic salary rose to £307,274 from £294,042.

What did the regulator do?

Perhaps we should be grateful that SEW doesn’t handle storm drains, as sewage spills have been hit with huge fines more widely by Ofwat in recent years.

We have heard little since 2023, when Ofwat launched an investigation into SEW over the reliability of supply after 23 consecutive days of disruptions.

However, it has long faced criticism over leaks and has had to pay a price for it.

The most recent penalty came in 2023/4 when Ofwat announced an £8m fine for failure to meet targets. This came in addition to additional charges of £3.2 million for supply disruption.

SEW has been contacted for comment.

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