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| | EU agrees compromise deal over partial ban on Russian oil imports | |  | | | | | | | | | It's nearly a month since European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen trumpeted a total ban on oil imports from Russia to the EU. The proposal came up against opposition from Hungary and others highly dependent on Russian supplies. But after weeks of wrangling, EU leaders have reached a compromise deal, immediately banning Russian oil from being transported into the bloc by sea. That accounts for two-thirds of the total imported, while there's a temporary exemption for oil pumped through pipelines.
Ms von der Leyen said in practice the ban would account for 90% of imports by the end of the year, because Germany and Poland have volunteered to wind down their own pipeline imports, with the remainder supplying Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It is part of a sixth package of sanctions targeting Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, approved by all 27 member states at a Brussels summit. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky had dialled in, urging EU countries to stop internal "quarrels," stating they only helped Moscow. European Council chief Charles Michel says the deal cuts off "a huge source of financing" for Russia's war effort. The EU has also agreed measures targeting Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, and three state-owned broadcasters, he adds. | | | | | |
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| | Give more pupils free school meals - teachers | | | | | | | | | About one in every five schoolchildren in England - 1.7 million in total - already gets free school meals. But teaching unions say that should be extended to all children from families in receipt of universal credit. In a letter to the chancellor and education secretary, they argue: "We see the devastating reality of children coming to school unable to afford to buy lunch, because their family circumstances means they fall outside the restrictive free school meal eligibility criteria." In England, pupils up to Year Two can get free school meals during term time. Older children from households on income-related benefits are also eligible, provided annual income does not exceed £7,400 after tax. In Northern Ireland the cap is £14,000. Scotland and Wales have committed to roll out free meals to all primary pupils. The government says it recognises the struggle for millions of households and spends tens of billions on targeted support, such as holiday activity and food programmes, and funding for essentials. | | | | | |
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| | Primark 'regrets' raising prices - executive | | | | | | | | | The price of just about everything seems to be going up, with many High Street chains warning of further hikes. And while budget fashion retailer Primark has promised its spring and summer collection won't get any dearer, parent company AB Foods admits there will be "selective price increases" across some of its autumn and winter stock. Finance director John Bason tells us he regrets the move but calls it "a reflection of the scale of the inflation" that recently hit a 40-year high and says the company remains committed to affordability. Mr Bason doesn't say how much prices will rise but accepts some people might shop with the store less as a result. | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Former attorney general Jeremy Wright's lengthy statement clearly isn't a knee-jerk reaction to the Sue Gray report [on Downing Street parties that broke coronavirus rules]. Stretching to more than 2,000 words, the statement seems at pains to make clear he has considered his position before calling on the prime minister to quit.
He says in his view there is not yet enough evidence to conclude the prime minister deliberately misled parliament about parties - which is perhaps one of the most serious charges he faces in the eyes of many Tory MPs. However, Mr Wright says the whole saga has done such damage to the government's reputation that it could hinder its ability to respond to the country's challenges. That's ultimately what might prove most dangerous for the prime minister. | | | | | | | | | | | | Alex Forsyth | | Political correspondent | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | "Wish we weren't here," is the Metro's twist on a holiday postcard, as it sums up the "misery" for millions travelling this half-term. Some are having to queue for hours and sleep on airport floors amid staff shortages, it says. Others were told flights were cancelled at the last minute, says the Daily Express, calling the situation "carnage". A government source tells the Times the aviation sector is to blame for overcutting staff during the pandemic, when "billions of pounds of aid - including furlough... was meant to protect those very jobs". The Unite union - quoted by the Daily Mirror - agrees, saying: "This is a crisis of [airline chiefs'] own making." Read the newspaper review. | | | | | |
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| | | | | P&O Government scraps contract over mass sackings | | | | | | | | | | | Rape Stop treating victims as suspects, says data watchdog | | | | | | | Body fat Best exercise time differs for men and women - study | | | | | | |
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| | If you watch one thing today | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | If you scroll through one thing today | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | If you read one thing today | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | Need Something Different? | | | | | | | | | It's not quite a once-in-a-lifetime experience but once in 20 years is still pretty special. So if you're in the vicinity of Corby, in Northamptonshire, on Friday, it might just be worth popping along to its Pole Fair. No-one seems to know exactly when it got started, or why. But it could date back to the 13th Century, or it might be tied to townsfolk rescuing Elizabeth I from a bog. Whatever its origins, this year's event will definitely involve a pole and some dignitaries being "wafted" on chairs. Read all about it.
And there's plenty more old-fashioned fun on offer across the county, where Wicksteed Park claims to have introduced the world's oldest swing into its heritage playground. The Kettering amusement park says the swing was discovered in the garden of a house that belonged to the family of the park's founder, Charles Wicksteed. The century-old seat joins a 1921 slide, a rocking horse dating back 80 years and a recreation of a conical swing nicknamed the "Witch's Hat". | | | | | |
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| | | Let us know what you think of this newsletter by emailing bbcnewsdaily@bbc.co.uk. If you’d like to recommend it to a friend, forward this email. New subscribers can sign up here. | | | | | |
