We take a look at some of his most shocking moments.

Advertisement

Paul Ferris has lived a turbulent life of chaos, violence and crime.

The former Glasgow gangster-turned author is perhaps one of the most recognisable figures from Scotland’s modern true-crime history. From enforcing for “Godfather” Arthur Thompson to an intense feud with rival kingpin Tam McGraw, his life has taken dark twists and turns with stints in jail and involvement with firearms.

We take a look at some of his most shocking moments.

Early Revenge Knife Attacks

Growing up in Glasgow’s notorious Blackhill estate, Ferris endured years of physical bullying by a local criminal family, the Welshes. But by his late teens, he decided to stop hiding.

He launched a series of extreme, calculated knife attacks against his former tormentors, which led to his arrest at the age of 17. His teenage knife assaults resulted in his first stretch at a Young Offenders Institution.

This sudden and ferocious pivot to violence completely shifted his reputation, instantly drawing the attention of the city’s ruling underworld.

Advertisement

Becoming the “Robot” Enforcer

By 19, Ferris was recruited as debt collector and enforcer for Glasgow’s undisputed crime lord Arthur “The Godfather” Thompson.

Ferris earned nicknames like “The Robot” because of his cold-blooded and detached precision when he carried out his duties.

His daily “business” operations on behalf of the Thompson family involved orchestrating or directly executing violence. “The Godfather” and had links to London mobsters, the Kray twins.

The Murder of Arthur “Fat Boy” Thompson Jr

By the late 1980s, Ferris believed the Thompson family had betrayed him to the police, sparking a vicious turf war. On 17 August 1991, Arthur Thompson Jr was shot dead outside his father’s home.

Ferris was immediately pinned as the prime suspect, accused of executing the son of his former mentor in a direct challenge to the Godfather’s crown. But Ferris was found not guilty of the murder after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow in 1992.

At the time, it became Scotland’s longest murder trial.

The case remains officially unsolved.

The MI5 Gun-Running Bust

In 1997, Ferris’s criminal career came to an abrupt halt following a massive, two-year joint surveillance operation by MI5 and Special Branch.

He was ambushed and arrested in London while transporting submachine guns, Uzi magazines, silencers, and live ammunition hidden inside an Opal Fruits sweet box. MI5 spent six months on Ferris’s trail, using all their skills in human and electronic surveillance to help police track his every move.

And they got their reward in May 1997 after Ferris made a call to a London gun dealer – on a tapped mobile phone. Ferris was the first gangster MI5 had ever gone after. The service usually focused on fighting threats to Britain’s security.

He was sentenced to ten years at the Old Bailey.

Feud with Tam McGraw

The feud between Paul Ferris and Tam “The Licensee” McGraw was one of the most toxic power struggles in Scottish true-crime history. Initially allies under Arthur ‘Godfather’ Thompson, the two became bitter adversaries, turning the streets of Glasgow into a warzone.

The feud broke out after Ferris’ conviction that McGraw was a police informant. McGraw earned the moniker “The Licensee” because rival criminals believed the police gave him a literal “license” to build a drug empire without fear of arrest, in exchange for intelligence on other gangsters.

While serving a prison sentence in the late 1990s, Ferris penned his first autobiography. He used the book to very publicly humiliate McGraw, explicitly naming him as a police grass and stating that McGraw should “fear the onslaught that will follow.”

In May 2002, a violent altercation occurred involving Ferris and McGraw, where McGraw was slashed and Ferris suffered knife wounds.

Following the knife attack, a meeting involving Ferris caught on police surveillance led to Ferris having his parole revoked and being sent back to prison. McGraw subsequently spent time living in Ireland and Spain to avoid the underworld backlash sparked by the feud.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

Lindsay Sykes, Richmondshire deputy district lead volunteer, has been nominated for the Defence Inclusivity Award at the Soldiering On Awards, which celebrate individuals and organisations supporting the Armed Forces community.

The award recognises her “outstanding commitment” to fostering inclusion, equality, and opportunity within both scouting and the wider community through her “dedication, leadership, and determination.”

A spokesman for Richmondshire Scouting said: “Lindsay has been a passionate advocate for creating environments where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive.

“Her work has helped to strengthen community connections, encourage participation and ensure that Scouting remains open and accessible to all.”

Ms Sykes has earned praise from colleagues and volunteers across the district for her “unwavering commitment to the values of service, respect and teamwork.”

Her ability to “inspire others, champion inclusivity and support those around her has earned her admiration throughout the Scouting movement and beyond.”

The Soldiering On Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and organisations who “support and strengthen the Armed Forces community.”

Being shortlisted for the Defence Inclusivity Award is a “significant national achievement” and reflects the “positive difference Lindsay has made through her work and leadership.”

The spokesman said: “Everyone at Richmondshire Scouting District is immensely proud of Lindsay’s nomination and the recognition it brings.

“Her dedication to helping others, fostering inclusive communities and embodying the values of Scouting makes this honour thoroughly deserved.

“As the awards ceremony approaches in September, volunteers, young people and supporters across Richmondshire will be cheering Lindsay on and wishing her every success.”

The Soldiering On Awards ceremony will take place later this year in September.

The young men, both 22, were left with serious injuries in the incident.

Two students who were stabbed in a terrifying ‘anti-muslim knife attack’ have spoken out on the heartbreak of their ordeal.

The young men, both 22, were left with serious injuries in the incident, which took place at Sighthill Park in Edinburgh moments after they had left evening prayers at a city mosque at around 8.50pm on June 19.

Lewis Hawkes, 36, has since appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with five counts of attempted murder aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection after three other men aged 24, 27 and 29, were also later injured in incidents in the Telford Road and Leith Walk areas of the city.

The students, who arrived in the capital from India to study masters degrees just four weeks ago, say they are now to scared to leave their homes after the horror incident Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said appeared to be motivated by “anti-Muslim hatred”.

One suffered seven stab wounds across his body and face and required 35 stitches, while the other sustained five stab wounds and needed 17 stitches.

They told the Record they came to Scotland expecting to be welcomed into a safe and inclusive country, but have now been left unable to sleep, eat or speak to loved ones back home as they struggle to come to terms with their trauma.

Speaking publicly for the first time, one of the students, who have asked not to be named, said: “It’s hard to comprehend what happened.

“Coming to Scotland is the worst decision I have ever made.

“Before we arrived, I’d heard a lot about this being a safe country and a beautiful place.

“That’s why I picked Edinburgh when I was deciding where to study.

“Now I am thinking, is this what happens here?

“I can’t even describe the pain I’m in.

“I can’t eat or sleep and I’m finding it hard to speak to anyone about it.

“I can’t talk to my friends because I’m unable to tell them what happened to me.

“No one back home in India knows what happened to me either, because I don’t want to tell them.

“I’m afraid to go out now and I don’t know when I will be able to.”

The second student added: “I’m traumatised and I don’t want to leave my room. I’m so afraid.

“I could never have expected that a terrible incident like this would happen here.”

Advertisement

The men are being cared for by their friend Syed Tajammul Hussain, who told how he was the first witness at the scene.

He said: “I was the first person they called and I rushed there quickly.

“All I could see was blood on the ground and my brothers were crying. It was horrific.

“I called the police and the ambulance immediately but every minute felt like an hour until they got there.

“We are all very traumatised and physically they are in a lot of pain.

“Physically there’s a lot of damage, but they have also been damaged mentally.

“I don’t know if they will recover.”

Advertisement

Counter-terrorism officers were called in to investigate after the five men were injured during the series of incidents across Edinburgh last Friday.

Footage posted online showed a bare-chested white man roaming the streets of Edinburgh with a large weapon.

Another video appeared to show a topless man on the ground shouting that he was “protecting the country” as he was held down by an officer.

Advertisement

Syed said it had been devastating to watch two young men who arrived in Edinburgh excited to begin a new chapter in their lives struggle to recover from their ordeal.

“I don’t know how other Muslims are feeling here now, but I don’t personally feel safe,” he said.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe and for everyone to be kind to each other.

“That’s what we expect from people – but it didn’t turn out like that for my friends here.”

First Minister John Swinney met the two students privately this week and later described them as “traumatised” by what had happened.

Swinney said he was “deeply concerned” by the incidents and insisted there was “no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country”.

He later said he wanted to send a message of “solidarity and sympathy and empathy” to those affected and to the wider Muslim community in Scotland.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “horrified” by news of the attacks and said there was “no place for hatred and violence against Muslims”.

Superintendent Neil Wilson, of Police Scotland, made clear that “there is no place for violence, hatred, or intimidation in our communities” in light of Friday’s incidents.

Officers have has spoken to more than 90 multi-faith organisations since.

The Muslim Council for Scotland said they welcomed the engagement of Police Scotland as well as politicians.

They said: “Edinburgh’s Muslim community will not be cowed by those who seek to sow fear and division. We are deeply grateful for the many messages of solidarity and support from people of all faiths and backgrounds.”

There are strong winds on the Britannia Bridge in north Wales this morning. The bridge remains open, but a speed restriction is in place.

According to traffic monitoring service Inrix: “Strong winds on A55 Britannia Bridge in both directions between J9 A487 (Treborth) and J8 A5 (Llanfair P.G.). Matrix sign set to 30 mph. The bridge remains open to all traffic but extra care is required.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that people may still qualify for a Blue Badge even if they do not receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or other disability benefits

Advertisement

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that individuals may still be eligible for a Blue Badge even if they do not receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or other disability benefits containing a mobility component.

Many people presume that a Blue Badge is exclusively available to those with physical mobility difficulties or those claiming PIP or Adult Disability Payment (ADP). However, following a rule change in 2019, local councils across Scotland, England and Wales are permitted to award a Blue Badge based on an individual assessment – even where no disability benefit is currently being received.

The change means that people with hidden conditions, including autism, dementia and severe anxiety, may qualify for a Blue Badge if travelling causes overwhelming psychological distress or poses serious safety risks.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms clarified in a written response to Lib Dem MP Will Forster that “eligibility for a Blue Badge is not limited to benefit awards”.

He further stated: “While some people qualify automatically through certain mobility payments, others can apply directly through their local council and be assessed on how their condition affects their ability to make a journey.”

With upwards of three million Blue Badges currently in circulation across England and Wales, plus more than 235,700 in Scotland, awareness of the non-benefit route remains surprisingly low, leaving many families unaware that they could be entitled to this vital support.

There are two ways to qualify for a Blue Badge: automatic eligibility and further assessment Blue Badge automatic qualification.

You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you:

• are under 16 and have a letter confirming your eligibility from your visual impairment care team
• are 16 or over and registered or certified as severely sight impaired
• get the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• get PIP or ADP and scored 8 points or more in the ‘moving around’ area of your assessment
• get PIP or ADP and scored 12 points in the ‘planning and following a journey’ area of your assessment
• get PIP or ADP and used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA on an indefinite or lifetime basis
• get PIP or ADP, used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, and your PIP or ADP decision is being appealed
• get ADP and have been awarded either 8 points or more in the moving around activity or 12 points in the planning and following a journey activity or enhanced rate mobility without reference to points
• get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment
• get War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• got a lump sum payment from tariffs 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability

If travelling causes overwhelming distress, panic or serious safety risks, you may still be eligible even if you do not claim disability benefits.

If you are not automatically eligible, you may be able to get a Blue Badge in certain circumstances, if you:

• have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you cannot walk at all
• have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you’re virtually unable to walk
• regularly drive and cannot use parking meters because of a severe disability in both arms
• are responsible for a child under 3 years old who needs to be kept close to a vehicle for medical treatment
• are responsible for a child under 3 years old who uses bulky medical equipment that cannot be carried around
• have a mental health condition that means you lack awareness about the danger of traffic when making journeys.

Kriss Brining, 32, made his professional debut for the York Knights in 2011 aged just 17, rising through the club’s scholarship system. He spent six seasons with the Knights, and by the end of the 2016 season, he earned a move to Betfred Super League side Salford Red Devils.

However, a serious neck injury during his time at Salford prompted Kriss to consider his future beyond rugby. With a PGCE in primary teaching already under his belt, returning to education was his initial thought. But after speaking with career advisers and reflecting on his long-standing interest in financial services, Kriss decided to pursue a new direction.

A LinkedIn job post advertising an apprenticeship at PenLife Associates proved to be the turning point. Although overqualified for an entry-level position, PenLife recognised Kriss’s potential and offered him a tailored fast-track route into financial planning.

RECOMMENDED READING:
York City Knights hooker Kriss Brining announces retirement

When his contract with Salford concluded at the end of 2018, Kriss returned to York both to rejoin the York Knights and to begin his new journey with PenLife. Signing with the Knights he said aligned perfectly with his start at the firm, allowing him to pursue both passions side by side.

In 2021, Kriss qualified as an Independent Financial Planner, an achievement he credits in large part to PenLife’s supportive culture.

He said: “PenLife has given me the space to grow both personally and professionally. The team works closely together, shares knowledge openly, and genuinely cares. It’s a fantastic environment to learn and continually improve.”

Following another injury in 2022, Kriss decided to hang up his boots to spend more time with his family and enjoy his career as a Financial Planner. As for the role, Kriss says he has found it to be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.

Kris Brining has a successful new career as an independent financial planner (Image: York Press)

Kriss explained: “I love meeting different people and helping them work toward what matters most to them. Understanding their goals, building a plan around those goals, and seeing it deliver real results is incredibly rewarding. Supporting clients throughout life’s different stages is what makes the job so interesting.”

PenLife Director, Deb Jacobs, praised Kriss’s contribution.

She added: “Kriss brings a combination of discipline, empathy, and determination to his work. His journey from professional sport to financial planning is inspiring, and his commitment to clients reflects the values we stand for at PenLife. We are incredibly proud of everything he has achieved and everything still to come.”

IT is a truth universally acknowledged that a day tripper on a visit to Whitby must be in want of fish and chips.

And not just any old fish and chips.

No, they will be wanting some from arguably one of the most famous and best fish and chips cafes in the UK – the much-celebrated The Magpie.

Jane Austen may not have visited the imposing harbourside restaurant (unless she time travelled into the future; The Magpie is old, but not that old).

However, plenty of famous stomachs have filled up on a fish tea at this charmingly old-fashioned cafe, not least North Yorkshire’s very own celebrity chef James Martin who recommends a large haddock and chips from The Magpie as one of his top three things to do on a visit to Yorkshire.

Easily identified by its striking and traditional black and white frontage and queues of eager diners snaking down its entrance stairs and along the pavement, The Magpie has been part of what makes Whitby so special for decades.

The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

First opening around 1939, the actual building dates from 1750. Its original purpose was to house a rich merchant, but it later became a shipping office.

Depending on your luck, diners may get a table facing the quayside and two of Whitby’s iconic landmarks, St Mary’s Church and the gothic abbey ruins (the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula).

In my almost 30 years of living in North Yorkshire, Whitby has become my favourite place to visit on the coast.

It’s got everything you could possibly want from a day out at the seaside – from a long, leisurely beach walk to neighbouring Sandsend to the kiss-me-quick vibes of a traditional British holiday resort (who can resist losing a pocketful of pennies in the amusement arcades and filling up on candyfloss and ice-cream?).

And, of course, it has fish and chips.

Now, as they might say on the Beeb, other brands are available, but when most people think of fish and chips and Whitby, only one name comes to mind.

Haddock and chips at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

And so it was that our weekend trip to the harbour town led us straight to its door – having worked up an appetite on the hour-long beach walk from Sandsend, where a day’s car parking on the beach road costs just over £8.

It was around 3pm when we arrived at The Magpie; the sun was out with pre-heatwave temperatures hovering in the mid-70s. Perhaps more amazing than a June visit to the seaside coinciding with sunny weather was the fact that there was NO QUEUE at The Magpie.

I almost had to pinch myself that we were able to climb its entrance steps and go straight in, with only a short delay as the waitress located a free table for us inside the sprawling restaurant spread over two warren-like floors.

The cafe also takes bookings and has a take-away service located on site with a serving hatch at pavement level.

There were four of us, and for reviewing purposes, we all agreed to order separate dishes.

The Magpie might be best-known for its f&c, but it also boasts a blockbuster menu with pages of choices covering all manners of fish and seafood. There is a large specials board too.

Our waitress quickly took our drinks orders – two bottles of Fentimans Ginger Beer, an Appletiser (all at £3.75 each), and an apple juice (£2.75) – and brought us a jug of cold tap water, which was most welcome, as we waited for our food.

Choices were as follows: mussels with chips (£19.50); fishcakes and chips (£16); grilled sea bass with chips (£19.50), and a regular haddock and chips (£18.50), with one small side of garden peas (£2).

Moules at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

While ordering was swift, we did wait a bit longer than we were expecting for our food – and watched enviously as plate after plate of delicious-looking dinners filed past us.

And just as tummies started rumbling, our food arrived.

It was a squeeze to get everything on our round table for four – but we managed it.

My daughter had picked the mussels which were served in a large, lidded pan alongside some crusty bread for soaking up the gorgeous creamy sauce, generously laced with wine and garlic. Perfectly cooked and bursting with the flavour of the sea, on reflection she said a starter portion would have been enough to eat, especially given the meal came with chips too.

Our other guest felt the same about her fishcakes – two were served as a main, and she struggled to finish both given how hearty they were. Packed with fish rather than just potato, they had a satisfying crunchy coating that got the thumbs up.

Fishcake and chips at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

Less of a winner was the sea bass; the small duo of slightly dried-out fillets looked rather lacklustre and forlorn sitting upon the large white plate.

In retrospect, my husband wished he’d ordered the fish and chips, especially after he sneaked a forkful of mine .If you normally go for cod and chips, take my advice and try the haddock. Cooked with its skin on, the flavour volume is maximised.

Sea bass at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

The super-crispy, golden orange batter, ripped away to reveal the most beautiful, glistening white fish that just melted in the mouth. If I had one regret, it was that I hadn’t ordered the large portion (as James Martin recommends), because I just could not get enough of it.

As for the chips. Well they were among the best I’d ever tasted, and that is some compliment coming from a Scots lass who grew up with regular chippy teas.

Undoubtedly this is because the chips are fried in the traditional way, in beef dripping, which delivers an off-the-scale moreishness forcing you to eat every last one.

More food reviews:

And on account of this, we were all full up after our meals, with no room for dessert. Although we did enjoy the bespoke Whitby rock mints which came with our bill.

Nice touch – a farewell Magpie Cafe mint on Whitby rock. Photo NQ

But we were not quite done. About an hour later, after we’d walked off our Magpie feast by climbing the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, it was time for ice-cream.

After the descent, we treated ourselves at the ice-cream kiosk at the bottom of the abbey steps, which serves delicious varieties from local company Beacon Farm – at the bargain price of £2.75 for a single scoop in a waffle cone (which might be the cheapest ice-cream in Whitby if not the whole of North Yorkshire).

I went for a novel flavour – blackcurrant and liquorice and it was so good I’d go back to Whitby just to have it again.

Oh, and a large haddock and chips at The Magpie.

James Martin was right – if there is one thing you must do on a visit to this corner of Yorkshire, it is to get fish and chips at this legendary local cafe.

Long live The Magpie.

Reviews are independent and meals paid for by The Press

Fact file

The Magpie Cafe, Pier Road, Whitby

T: 01947 602058

W: magpiecafe.co.uk

Verdict:

Food – Haddock and chips is the dish to go for, don’t regret it!

Service – Friendly but can be bit slow, patience is a must

Ambience – Busy cafe, lucky diners can get picturesque views

Value – Bit on the pricey side, but portions are filling and it’s a must-do in Whitby

Clarkson’s Farm star Hannah Bourne-Taylor has responded to viewer criticism following her appearance on the Prime Video show with a humorous bird-naming challenge video

Clarkson’s Farm has returned with its fifth series, documenting another year of former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson managing his Cotswolds farm, in what’s been described as the most ‘personal’ series yet.

Among the fresh faces on the programme was Hannah Bourne-Taylor, whom Jeremy invited to the farm after voicing concerns about the absence of common farmland birds on his property. Jeremy revealed himself to be a passionate bird enthusiast, eager to enhance the farm’s protection of its avian inhabitants.

Hannah’s devotion to birds was instantly apparent as she reacted with visible delight upon spotting and hearing some uncommon species.She also left Jeremy completely gobsmacked when she revealed she’d permitted a bird to nest in her hair for 84 days.

Yet Hannah quickly found herself at odds with farmhand Kaleb Cooper, following the discovery that endangered nesting birds and their young would perish if they proceeded with ploughing the field earmarked for harvest, reports Gloucestershire Live.

The programme showed Jeremy weighing up both perspectives on the matter, with Kaleb arguing they couldn’t afford to delay several weeks for the birds to vacate their nests. Eventually they reached a compromise, enabling them to protect the birds while still harvesting the fields.

Nevertheless, some viewers weren’t impressed by Hannah, taking to social media to suggest she’d been ‘rude’ to Kaleb while explaining why he couldn’t harvest the field that day. Taking to Reddit, one user commented: “I just thought she came across as genuinely quite rude, and there were points i thought she was going to storm off set.

“She’s literally just met these people, who are doing their best for their farm animals, and she acted like they were wanton idiots killing baby birds for fun,” they continued.

The comments section quickly filled with people weighing in, as numerous users began speculating about whether Hannah might be neurodivergent, interpreting her enthusiasm for birds as potential evidence of autism, despite her never having disclosed any such information publicly.

Nevertheless, it appears Hannah has now addressed the ‘allegations’ as another Reddit user shared a link to one of her Instagram posts, writing: “She has responded to the allegations. What a gem.”

In the clip, Hannah can be seen standing in a field dressed in denim shorts and a red plaid shirt tied round her waist. She stated: “So the internet has diagnosed me with autism, so this is my impression of of Rain Man in light of hitting 100,000 followers, I am going to try to say 100 birds.”

She proceeded to reel off various bird names, beginning with tits, including blue tits and great tits. She moved on to seabirds, such as puffins, razorbills, and different gull species.

She then listed farm birds, which had become a major talking point during her Clarkson’s Farm appearance, before rattling off every other bird species that came to mind. The video’s comment section was quickly flooded with glowing responses, with one admirer writing: “You star Hannah”.

Another viewer also chimed in, adding: “All I know is, I now stand in my garden with my Merlin app hearing things I have missed for 50 years, so thank you for that, it’s amazing.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat,Instagram, Twitter,Facebook,YouTube andThreads.

Older buildings, substandard construction and geography left many neighborhoods in Venezuela vulnerable to strong earthquakes like the ones that struck the country this week.

Engineers and other experts said the back-to-back earthquakes on Wednesday were among the most intense to hit the country in more than a century, leveling buildings and leaving more than 900 dead with the number expected to rise. Videos and satellite imagery from the disaster zone reviewed by The Associated Press reveal scores of multistory buildings had collapsed.

Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab analyzed satellite imagery of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state, one of the hardest hit cities along the Caribbean coast. Using AI-based damage assessment models, Microsoft determined that about a third of the city’s nearly 30,000 structures were damaged.

Among the factors that left so many structures at risk: Some housing complexes in northern Venezuela were constructed quickly during recent oil booms, and builders may not have adhered to best practices that mitigate the risks of serious seismic activity, according to experts.

Engineers said that older housing erected in the 1950s and 1960s — before modern earthquake standards were adopted — may not have been retrofitted to survive such violent shaking. And many buildings were constructed on geography and soft soils that compound the danger of the earthquakes, the experts said.

Tall buildings and older concrete contributed to damage

David Cocke, a structural engineer in California and former president of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, said that a combination of soft soils, tall towers and older concrete structures contributed to the widespread damage, particularly when buildings pancaked, or collapsed floor-by-floor.

“They just don’t have the more modern reinforcing steel connections that we put in those kinds of buildings today,” said Cocke.

Since the 1970s, engineers have known that concrete buildings are particularly susceptible to earthquakes and seek to reinforce new construction with steel. While many rich nations have forced property owners to retrofit or tear down dangerous buildings, many poorer or middle income countries have lagged in enforcing upgrades as they battled more immediate woes.

“Some of the more advanced countries like Japan and New Zealand and the U.S. have made those changes, but some of the other countries have not,” Cocke said. “It’s a very typical kind of construction all over the world.”

‘Soft stories’ and soft soil played a role

Other experts noted that a number of buildings that collapsed also had non-structural walls comprised of heavy bricks, or they had “soft stories” in which their ground floors consisted of garages or similar open spaces. Such construction increases the risk of pancaking, they said.

“Soft stories are a huge problem everywhere in the world,” said Eduardo Miranda, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. “And in Venezuela, they are particularly prevalent, and if you combine softer soils with a soft story, buildings can collapse.”

Marcos Ferreira, a geophysicist and researcher at the Geological Survey of Brazil, said the destruction in Venezuela was compounded by the back-to-back quakes, known as a doublet. A similar incident took place in Turkey and Syria in 2023, killing almost 60,000 people.

“It is as if I am screaming and then someone starts screaming, too,” Ferreira said. “That amplifies the vibration and adds to the potential hazard.”

Newer buildings also collapsed

Venezuelan government officials took steps following a deadly 1967 quake to update building codes. But it is unclear how many buildings were retrofitted to comply with those rules.

In late 1999, former President Hugo Chávez’s first year in office, floods and landslides destroyed housing, including in coastal northern Venezuela. The government went on a building spree to replaced the demolished structures and to house so many displaced people, said Juan Carlos Vielma, a Venezuelan civil engineer who is head of academic affairs of the civil engineering school at Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Chile.

The team at the nursery “do not agree with the inspector’s judgement”, a spokesperson said

A nursery in Cambridgeshire will challenge Ofsted after the regulator rated it as ‘needs attention’ in several areas. Lilliput Day Nursery in Peterborough, has been told it needs to improve in four areas.

A spokesperson for the nursery said they “do not believe [the Ofsted report] accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection”.

The areas that ‘needs attention’, according to Ofsted, include achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion and leadership and governance.

The report, which was published on Friday, June 19, said that staff implementation of the curriculum is “not yet consistent”. It said this means “children do not always receive the right opportunities to develop their skills in preparation for their next stage in learning”.

The Lincoln Road nursery offers full time and part time places for children aged up to five years old. The nursery received an overall grade of ‘requires improvement’ in its previous inspection in 2025.

The team at the nursery said they are disappointed with the report and plan to challenge the findings. A spokesperson said they believe they have “identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report”.

The report added: “Additionally, staff do not always correctly identify the barriers children face to their learning. For example, where children lack speech and language skills, staff do not always address the underlying cause, such as children’s confidence.”

Safeguarding standards were met. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, and children’s welfare and wellbeing were graded at ‘expected standard’.

The report also recognised that “children appear happy at the setting” and “demonstrate strong relationships with staff”. It added: “Children develop relationships with staff and look to them for comfort when they are feeling tired.

“This is particularly important for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities who look for reassurance. They cuddle up with staff, helping them to feel safe in their environment.”

The report found that children who speak English as an additional language are “not always supported well-enough to learn new words effectively”. In an example, inspectors said “they do not always hear clear, basic English and develop their understanding and English vocabulary”.

However, teaching of mathematics is “effective” and staff use “every opportunity to incorporate mathematical language”. The inspection determined that leaders are aware of “inconsistencies in the implementation of the curriculum, but the action taken is not yet enough to support staff effectively”.

Ofsted praised the staff for prioritising personal, social, emotional, and physical development. According to the report, staff support social interactions and turn taking skills throughout learning opportunities.

A spokesperson for Lilliput Day Nursery said: “Whilst we are extremely disappointed with this outcome, we do not agree with the inspector’s judgement. We have identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report and do not believe it accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection. We are therefore challenging these findings.”