A West Yorkshire town with industrial roots and modern institutions
Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder in London after a retrial. He was arrested in Huddersfield with two guns, 19 rounds, and cash, and was recruited by the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish group linked to the Iranian regime. The probe shows he acted for money in a plot targeting an unidentified victim in Britain.
A series of trials and court filings have laid out allegations that Iranian-backed groups have recruited individuals in Europe to target journalists connected to Iran International and other outlets. The trials describe plans to carry out violence for money, with suspects found in the UK possessing weapons and mounting surveillance operations.
Twenty-five years after Peter Falconio’s murder in the Australian outback, police have released new images and reopened evidence boxes in a bid to locate his remains. Bradley Murdoch, who was convicted of the crime, died last year without naming the burial site. NT police say the investigation remains open.
The government has announced a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England from April next year, excluding the very largest venues. The move is funded by reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not contribute positively to local communities and by cracking down on online marketplaces that avoid VAT. The policy aims to support hospitality on high streets as part of a broader cost-of-living package.