The Week 1516

What happened Thousands of people displaced from southern Lebanon began returning to their homes on Wednesday, after a fragile ceasefire deal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah came into force at 4am local time. The Iran-backed militia had fired hundreds of drones at Tel Aviv in the days before the agreement, and Israeli air strikes had pummelled Beirut on Tuesday. But the Lebanese capital was peaceful on Wednesday, as cars loaded with families, bags and mattresses joined the long queues on major roads leading to the south. About 1.2 million people have been displaced since Israel invaded southern Lebanon in October; and 70,000 Israelis have fled their homes since Hezbollah began bombarding northern Israel with missiles and drones after last year’s 7 October massacres. The fighting in Lebanon…

What happened The Government announced a package of measures this week designed to “get Britain working” and reverse the spiralling costs of the benefits system. It followed the release of official forecasts suggesting that more than four million people could be claiming long-term sickness benefits by the end of the decade, up from 2.5 million in 2019. The measures – unveiled by Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary – include plans to revamp job centres and improve mental health support. Young people who refuse to take up work or training could lose benefits. On Monday, Rachel Reeves addressed the CBI conference, where she faced criticism from business leaders over her increases to employer national insurance contributions. The body’s chairman, Rupert Soames, warned that making it more expensive to hire…

A Greek octogenarian has resumed his secondary education, seven decades after he last attended school, aged 12. “I left to help my father in the fields,” explained Vasillis Panagiotaropoulos. “But in my mind and soul I’ve always had a yearning to go back.” He is now catching up on the school curriculum at a night class in Athens, with a view to obtaining the equivalent of a high-school diploma in the summer. “My favourite lessons are ancient Greek language and maths.” Alf Ramsey’s “master plan” for World Cup victory in 1966 has been found in an old suitcase. The papers, not seen for more than 50 years, include letters, scouting reports and detailed training notes. Ramsey had listed what foods the side would eat, and he even decided the activities…

It may be “innocently” called Oreshnik – “hazel tree” – but the Kremlin’s latest hypersonic ballistic missile is “one of its most dangerous”, said James Kilner in The Daily Telegraph. Russian forces test-fired it for the first time in combat last Thursday. It flew from Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea at more than ten times the speed of sound to hit targets in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, where its multiple warheads rained down “in deadly synchronisation”. Coming days after Ukraine’s forces had fired American and British missiles into Russian territory for the first time, the Oreshnik was a warning, specifically to Britain. Vladimir Putin boasted that the missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, had been designed for a “decisive” strike on the UK. He warned that Russia’s enemies should…

A series of glowing reviews have been posted for the five remaining restaurants in the Angus Steakhouse chain in London, raising suspicion that tourists are being pranked by locals. One review urges diners to arrive at “this amazing hidden gem” an hour before it opens to be sure of getting a table; another says that “even for vegetarians like me, Angus Steakhouse is the absolute best destination restaurant in London”. As if the delivery riders in UK cities were not busy enough, Deliveroo has teamed up with the clothes-rental company HURR to offer same-day dress deliveries. Customers in London can order clothes and accessories from leading brands, and have them delivered to their door in as little as 20 minutes.…

William Hague, who was announced as the new chancellor of Oxford University. The former leader of the Conservative Party, Lord Hague of Richmond becomes the 160th holder of the role. He replaces Lord Patten, who retired in February after two decades in the position, which is normally held for life. Other finalists had included Lord Mandelson and Lady Elish Angiolini. Cinemas, with reports that “Glicked” — the release of Gladiator II and Wicked — is proving the biggest thing for the box office since the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon in the summer of 2023.…