The DWP has the power to deduct money from Universal Credit payments for a number of reasons, including to pay for rent arrears or benefits overpayments

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published the complete list of 27 grounds for imposing Universal Credit benefit sanctions.

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit that was initially launched in the UK to supersede the previous benefits system in 2013. By 2018, all new claimants were obliged to apply for UC, while those already receiving legacy benefits continued to receive their existing awards.

The DWP holds the authority to reduce Universal Credit payments for various reasons, including to recover rent arrears or benefits overpayments. According to the DWP website, money can be deducted from your Universal Credit payments to cover things such as:

• Child maintenance
• Court fines
• Rent arrears
• Overpayments or arrears from tax credits, Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Utility debts, like electricity, gas and water

However, deductions cannot be made from elements such as your child allowance, childcare and housing costs, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Government department outlines 27 grounds for reducing Universal Credit payments specifically through benefit sanctions.

This occurs when the DWP believes you have not fulfilled everything you committed to do as part of your ‘claimant commitments’ – resulting in a reduction to your payment.

Examples of why a claimant might face sanctions include missing an interview, voluntarily leaving employment and not applying for jobs.

On the GOV.UK website, it confirms that claimants must ensure they fully understand all the requirements they must meet to receive Universal Credit, and the consequences if they fail to complete one or more of their work-related activities. It also states that ensuring your claimant commitment remains current by reporting any changes to your circumstances is essential.

Below is the complete list of 27 reasons for Universal Credit benefit sanctions from May 2016 to the present day, along with the number of sanctions issued for each reason.

Full list of 27 reasons for Universal Credit benefit sanctions

• Failure to Attend or Participate in a Mandatory Interview: 578,758
• Failed to comply with an interview requirement: 567,776
• Availability for Work: 32,264
• Employment Programmes: 22,053
• Failed to participate in an employment programme: 21,917
• Failed to undertake all work search action: 21,639
• Reason for leaving previous employment: 9,538
• Failed to comply with a work focused interview requirement: 8,738
• Left work voluntarily: 5,968
• Failed to undertake particular specific work preparation action: 5,436
• Lost work because of misconduct: 3,563
• Failed to apply for a job: 3,519
• Failed to comply with an interview requirement self employed: 2,243
• Other: 1,429
• Failed to undertake particular specific work search action: 1,099
• Lost pay voluntarily: 726
• Loss of pay through misconduct: 437
• Failed to accept an offer of paid work: 300
• Failed to maintain a CV: 238
• Failed to be available to take up work: 182
• Failed to attend skills assessment: 90
• Failed to participate in training: 81
• Failed to participate in work experience or work placement: 52
• Failed to comply with requirement to provide evidence or confirm compliance: 21
• Failed to comply with requirement to report specified change in circumstances relevant to work related requirements: 8
• Failed to improve personal presentation: 7
• Unknown: 5

Conor McGregor will return to action for the first time in five years when he faces Max Holloway in a welterweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on 11 July.

The 37-year-old Irishman has not fought since breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier in 2021.

He was scheduled to return against American Michael Chandler in 2024 but pulled out just over two weeks prior to the bout after breaking his toe.

The fight with Holloway is a rematch of their featherweight bout in 2013, which McGregor won on points.

Holloway, 34, is a difficult return opponent for McGregor as the Hawaiian has consistently competed at the highest level at lightweight in recent years.

One of the biggest MMA stars in history, McGregor has 22 wins and six defeats since making his debut in 2008.

McGregor was the UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion after winning titles at featherweight in 2015 and lightweight in 2016 but his career has been dogged by controversy in recent years.

Last year he accepted an 18-month ban for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy after missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period in 2024.

The ban, which was backdated to the date of the third missed test in September 2024, concluded in March.

McGregor has been tested eleven times, external by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) this year, which is more than any other fighter on the UFC’s roster.

Expert evidence was heard at Preston Crown Court in the trial of high school teacher Jamie Varley, 37, who adopted Preston Davey along with his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.

Dr Joanne Gifford, an expert in child sexual abuse and clinical lead for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told the jury that Preston had sustained multiple injuries during the four months he lived with the couple.

She said: “The injuries are clinical signs of sexual abuse, more than one occasion.”

Her 173-page report detailed around 40 trauma injuries, including internal and external injuries including tears and lacerations, with “in excess” of 30 bruises across his body.

Preston was born on June 16, 2022, and taken into care by Oldham Council. He was placed with foster parents at five days old.

In April 2023, when he was 10 months old, he was adopted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.

It is alleged Preston was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him and was sexually abused and physically assaulted.

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley deny all charges.

The court heard that Preston was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times before his death.

He died after being taken to A&E at around 6.30pm on July 27, 2023.

Varley told police he left Preston in the bath for three or four minutes and returned to find him submerged.

Despite nearly an hour of resuscitation attempts, Preston could not be saved.

Dr Alison Armour, a Home Office pathologist, ruled out drowning as the cause of death.

She concluded the cause of death was an upper airway obstruction, leading to Preston’s collapse by a deliberate act of smothering, or an object or objects inserted into his mouth.

Dr Gifford said there had been three previous “near miss” episodes where Preston was in critical condition.

The court heard of a 29-second video allegedly found on Varley’s phone, showing Preston in distress and struggling to breathe.

Another video allegedly from the same phone, recorded about 90 minutes before Preston was taken to hospital, showed him in a babygrow on a bed, displaying what Dr Gifford described as “extreme respiratory distress.”

She told the court: “Clinically I watched that and I wanted to resuscitate him immediately, he looks terminal in that video.

“There are parts of not breathing. Gasping. I would describe as agonal gasp.

“He’s a child in that video who needs to be resuscitated.”

Dr Gifford identified nine facial bruises and one on Preston’s chin prior to his death.

Dr Gifford said the sheer number of bruises and the fact they often appeared in clusters and patterns suggestive of “grip-type” marks was indicative of physical abuse.

Dr Gifford told the jury it was not “clinically remotely plausible” they could be accidental.

She also discussed a video where Varley “jump scared” Preston by shouting “Boo!” as the child was falling asleep. Other footage reportedly showed the child left alone in a bath for 14 minutes.

“They are hard videos to watch,” she said, “They are a child having unpleasant experiences.”

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The trial has been adjourned until Monday next week.

Running from June 6 to June 14, Tadcaster Creates will transform public spaces with exhibitions, workshops and performances designed to make art accessible to all.

The programme includes displays in shop windows, open studios, hands-on sessions and pop-up performances.

Beth Elsdon, of Beth Elsdon Art, said: “There is such a vibrant creative community in Tadcaster and giving people a platform to showcase their work is so important.

“Raising the profile of our high street and business community is vital for its survival, even more so in difficult economic times.”

A key feature of the festival is a strand led by Tadcrafters, a community interest company celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Tadcrafters repurpose donated materials into items for charity and will host an exhibition at 43 Kirkgate along with practical workshops and skills-sharing sessions during the festival.

Su Morgan, founder of Tadcrafters, said: “We’ve been lobbying for an Arts Centre in Tadcaster for some time, and it’s still yet to happen.

“In the meantime, we’ve taken matters into our own hands – and made the whole town our arts centre.”

Maldivian authorities on Saturday suspended the search for the bodies of four Italian divers believed to be deep inside an underwater cave, after a military diver died during a perilous mission to try to reach them.

The group of five Italian divers is thought to have perished on Thursday after exploring a cave at a depth of approximately 50m (160ft) in Vaavu Atoll, according to Italy’s Foreign Ministry. This depth significantly exceeds the Maldives’ recreational diving limit of 30m.

One body – belonging to instructor Gianluca Benedetti – has already been recovered.

Mohamed Mahudhee, a member of the Maldivian National Defence Force, succumbed to underwater decompression sickness. He was transferred to a hospital in the capital, where he later died, Maldives presidential spokesperson Mohammed Hussain Shareef confirmed.

“The death goes to show the difficulty of the mission,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Shareef said the searchers had prepared a plan based on their progress exploring the cave on Friday. Mahudhee was part of the group that briefed Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on the rescue plan when he visited the search site on Friday.

Rough weather has repeatedly hampered rescue efforts.

Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home. His ministry stated it was coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specialist diving organization, to support recovery operations and the repatriation of the bodies. The cause of the deaths remains under investigation.

The victims have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Benedetti, according to the Maldivian government.

Benedetti’s body was recovered on Thursday.

Montefalcone and Oddenino were in the Maldives on an official scientific mission to monitor marine environments and study the effects of climate change on tropical biodiversity, the University of Genoa said in a statement Friday. However, the scuba diving activity during which the deadly accident occurred was not part of the planned research and was “undertaken privately,” it said.

The statement also said the two other victims – student Sommacal and recent graduate Gualtieri – were not involved in the scientific mission.

Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity that requires specialised training, equipment and strict safety protocols. Risks increase sharply in environments where divers cannot head straight up and at depth, particularly when conditions are poor. Experts say it’s easy to become disoriented or lost inside caves, particularly as sediment clouds can sharply reduce visibility.

Diving at 50m also exceeds the maximum depth recommended for recreational divers by most major established scuba certifying agencies, with depths beyond 40m considered technical diving and requiring specialized training and equipment.

Mr Shareef said Benedetti’s body was found near the mouth of the cave and authorities believed the remaining four had entered the cave.

Two Italians, a deep-sea rescue expert and a cave diving expert, are expected to join the recovery effort, Mr Shareef said.

Italian officials said that around 20 other Italians on the same expedition aboard the vessel “Duke of York” were safe. Italy’s embassy in Colombo was providing assistance to those onboard and had contacted the Red Crescent, which offered to deploy volunteers to help provide psychological aid.

The Maldives tourism ministry said it has suspended the operating license of the “Duke of York” pending an investigation.

The Italian foreign ministry said the cave is divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages. Recovery teams explored two of the three chambers on Friday, but the search was limited due to considerations over oxygen and decompression.

On Saturday, they will explore the third chamber, the ministry added.

Italian officials and the honorary consul are in contact with the victims’ families to provide assistance.

Sir John Major, the former prime minister, agreed with Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live, that voters wanted quick and easy answers to complicated problems. “I’m afraid we do, and that is because nobody is telling us we can’t have that,” he said. “Governments have lost the capacity, it seems, to say no. And part of the job of politics is to say, no.”

It’s a symptom of modern life for many people

A surgeon has shared one of the worst things you can do for your joints every day. When people think about protecting their joints, they often assume the answer is extreme exercise, strict diets or expensive supplements.

But according to cartilage and joint preservation specialist Professor Paul Lee, one of the worst things many people are doing to their joints every day is sitting still for hours at a time. Modern office life, long commutes and working from home have dramatically changed how people move throughout the day.

Many now spend eight, 10 or even 12 hours largely stationary, often without realising the effect this can quietly have on their joints over time. Professor Lee said the issue is not about blaming people or calling them lazy – he believes that kind of messaging is completely unhelpful.

He added: “We should not make people feel guilty for modern working patterns. Humans were simply not designed to stay still for 10 hours a day. Modern office life may be starving our joints quietly. Not because people are lazy, but because the body evolved around regular low-level movement.”

Unlike muscles, cartilage behaves very differently biologically.

Professor Lee continued: “Cartilage has no direct blood supply; it feeds from joint fluid. If we sit still all day, that fluid circulation slows down.

“Cartilage behaves more like a sponge than a muscle. Movement helps compress and release the joint, allowing nutrients to circulate.”

This means joints rely heavily on regular and gentle movement to stay biologically active and healthy. Professor Lee stressed that this does not mean people suddenly need to become fitness fanatics.

He added: “You do not need to become a marathon runner. But your joints do need movement to stay biologically active.”

In many cases, simply standing up more regularly throughout the day could help.

Professor Lee continued: “Your joints are biologically designed for gentle movement. Standing up regularly may help ‘feed’ the cartilage cells fresh nutrients and energy.”

The message around joint health has become too extreme and overly simplistic, he added. Many people assume they are either “healthy” because they exercise intensely a few times a week or “unhealthy” because they sit at a desk job.

But joint biology is often more subtle than that. Sitting at your desk all day is not necessarily damaging in itself and, in some cases, may even temporarily protect cartilage from excessive physical stress or impact.

The problem is prolonged stillness without enough low-level movement throughout the day. Professor Lee said people should stop thinking about exercise only in terms of gym sessions and instead focus more on how regularly they move.

He added: “The body responds very well to small, consistent movement. The issue is not whether somebody runs marathons. The issue is whether the joints are being stimulated often enough to maintain healthy biological function.”

Indie game Mixtape has become one of the most talked about games of the year, but a reader agues that while it doesn’t deserve the hate it’s had it is a flawed experience.

After completing Mixtape I’ve got mixed feelings about it, feelings that convey the critics’ adulation of it and feelings representative of the hateful audience reaction towards it. Here I’ll impart my feelings for people to chew over in the comments.

When I first saw the trailer for Mixtape, I was excited about what it offered because to me it looked like a rad and indie skating adventure, and I was eager to see what it was all about. I think Mixtape has cool vibes, and I think those vibes are nailed beautifully in the game. I also commend how Mixtape expresses itself and it does it in a freeing and existentialist way.

Obviously, no spoilers here, but there are happenings and activities in Mixtape you’ll never see in modern triple-A games, and I really appreciate the effort the game makes to be relaxing and expressive, and that its art style and animation carry its motif along seamlessly.

Sure, some will bemoan that Mixtape doesn’t have a lot of game inside of itself, but Mixtape is designed to tell a story with quirky interactive segments interspersed along the way. Mixtape is a tad like 2021’s Last Stop, from Variable State and Annapurna Interactive, and that was similarly derided for not containing much gameplay – but it was still enjoyable.

Furthermore, the gameplay bits are very imaginative too, they’re very dreamy and hallucinogenic, and some parts are legitimately enjoyable and unexpected.

The selection of tunes in Mixtape underpins the vibes of each gameplay segment very well. I like the soundtrack despite not knowing many of the tunes in the game. In fact, I only knew about two songs when they were introduced, but Mixtape has introduced me to more great hits from yesteryear, and that’s a neat thing to appreciate.

As for what I don’t like, well it involves tone and how I feel its softness counteracts the subversiveness of the game somewhat, and that its lead characters don’t convince me that they are hoodlums enough.

As far as the music is concerned, I do like the songs, but Mixtape can fall into the trap of nostalgia bait, not only because of how it pushes its retro soundtrack on you, but in the way it pushes loads of retro gadgets and attitudes that were prevalent in the 90s in front of you, like a school kid showing you all their new toys in an attempt to make you jealous.

In addition, I can’t take the three main characters seriously as rebels. I think the devs were trying to strike a balance between teenaged rebelliousness with a gentleness and understanding, but it can seem a bit camp whilst at the same time trying to be cool. They do come up with some cool jokes though, which shows they do have some moxie.

I give kudos to the developers for making the game they wanted to make despite the hate and backlash. Frankly, it is oxymoronic to point out that a game full of love is incurring so much hate from parts of the gaming community, but the haters won’t stop these kinds of games from getting made. We could do with games that are as expressive as Mixtape, but maybe with more of an edge. Love it or hate it, Mixtape leaves an impression, and people are talking about it, so it’s definitely doing something right.

By reader James Davie

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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Airports in Japan, China, India, the UAE, Singapore and Thailand have all been impacted, with major airlines cancelling 366 flights and delaying a further 2,949 services.

Hundreds of flights have been axed this weekend as severe weather, airspace chaos and growing operational strain cause widespread disruption.

Airports across Japan, China, India, the UAE, Singapore and Thailand have all been hit, with airlines scrapping 366 flights and delaying a further 2,949 services, according to aviation tracking data reported by Travel and Tour World.

Major carriers affected include China Eastern Airlines, IndiGo, AirAsia and Etihad Airways, with the disruption centred on major transit hubs such as Tokyo Haneda Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport and Zayed International Airport.

Industry experts say the chaos is being fuelled by a mix of heavy storms battering parts of Asia, congestion at key airports and the ongoing impact of Middle East airspace restrictions, which have forced airlines to reroute planes and shoulder significantly higher fuel bills.

The broader aviation sector is also grappling with the fallout from geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, which has resulted in airspace closures and extended flight times on major Europe-Asia routes.

It has been reported this week that a number of carriers have already started cutting back international schedules due to spiralling operating costs. Air India has confirmed temporary reductions to several long-haul services between June and August, attributing the move to fuel pressures and operational challenges stemming from diversions around restricted airspace.

Despite the turbulence affecting much of the region, Singapore Airlines has revealed plans to boost capacity on certain routes as passengers increasingly opt for direct Asia-Europe flights that bypass Middle Eastern stopovers.

Australian government travel guidance has also cautioned travellers to anticipate continued disruption related to the conflict, including cancellations, delays and fuel supply problems impacting global aviation networks.

Passengers flying through major Asian hubs this week have been advised to verify flight status updates before departing for the airport, with airlines cautioning that additional schedule alterations remain likely should weather patterns and geopolitical disruption persist.

Here’s how the city and county keep turning up in murder mysteries and gritty detective series – often without being named on screen.

Durham has quietly become a go‑to location for crime drama producers looking for atmospheric streets, river views and dramatic skylines.

Its cathedral and castle, tight back lanes and old bridges give directors instant depth for everything from moody detective walk‑and‑talks to big set‑piece confrontations.

Beyond the city, County Durham’s villages, old industrial sites, moorland and coast offer the kind of varied landscapes crime series love for body finds, chase scenes and tense stand‑offs.

Crime dramas that have filmed in and around Durham

Inspector George Gently

BBC drama Inspector George Gently is one of the clearest examples of a crime series using Durham itself on screen.

Filming took place at Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and across the city, including locations such as Crossgate, Prebends Bridge, Allergate and Old Elvet Bridge, to recreate a 1960s North East setting.

Those familiar streets and river views helped tell stories about changing communities, policing and crime, even when individual locations were given fictional names.

(Image: ARCHIVE)

Vera

ITV’s long‑running crime drama Vera roams across the North East, and County Durham has featured alongside Northumberland and Tyneside.

The series has used real North East towns and coastal spots, with County Durham locations appearing as part of the patch DCI Vera Stanhope investigates.

Market squares, estates and stretches of the Durham Heritage Coast have stood in for fictional communities dealing with murders and long‑buried secrets.

Why producers keep coming back to Durham for crime dramas. (Image: ITV)

Wire in the Blood

Psychological crime series Wire in the Blood was set in a fictional northern city but filmed extensively in the North East.

North East itineraries and film‑location guides list it alongside other productions that have used regional streets, industrial backdrops and rural landscapes to create its unsettling atmosphere.

For viewers, that means flashes of recognisable bridges, lanes and countryside in among its darker storylines.

(Image: PA MEDIA)

I Fought the Law

Newer BBC crime drama I Fought the Law is part of a wave of productions backed in the North East, with filming of the dramatisation of the true story of Ann Ming taking place across the region.

Promotional material highlights North East locations and companies involved in bringing the story to screen.

While individual scenes may move between different towns and cities, the overall look is rooted in the landscapes and streets of the region.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Durham city: cathedrals, cobbles and riverside scenes

Crime dramas love Durham’s mix of grandeur and grit.

Cathedral courtyards, palace greens and narrow streets leading down towards the river make striking backdrops when detectives are hunting suspects or piecing together clues.

Wide shots from the bridges or opposite banks give immediately recognisable skylines that establish a “northern city” feel in a single frame.

Productions also use ordinary streets, ginnels and residential areas away from the historic core when they need believable homes, student digs or witness addresses.

Because everything is close together, crews can film scenes that feel like they’re in several different places without moving far, which makes the city attractive when budgets and schedules are tight.

(Image: UGC)

County Durham landscapes in crime stories

The wider county gives crime dramas a huge range of looks within a short drive of the city.

Former mining villages, small market towns, industrial estates and rural lanes have all been used as stand‑ins for fictional communities dealing with serious crimes.

Moorland, forests and rivers are ideal for body‑discovery scenes, search parties and tense confrontations away from the city lights.

Coastal stretches and clifftops within County Durham also turn up when series want dramatic viewpoints or brooding seascapes.

These locations help writers and directors balance intimate, character‑driven scenes with sweeping shots that show the wider world their stories sit in.

Why crime dramas keep coming back to Durham

For producers, Durham offers a lot of variety in a compact space.

They can film everything from police station exteriors and suspects’ homes to posh dinner scenes and quiet back‑street meetings without leaving the city and its immediate surroundings.

The combination of historic buildings, lived‑in housing and nearby countryside means a single shoot can cover multiple fictional settings.

Over time, positive word‑of‑mouth between production teams has helped cement Durham and County Durham as reliable filming spots.

Local authorities, cathedral staff and location managers have gained experience in working with drama crews, which makes it easier for new series to choose the area for key episodes.

How to spot Durham in your favourite crime series

If you’re watching a crime drama set “somewhere in the North” and think it looks familiar, there are a few signs it might be Durham.

Look out for cathedral towers, cloisters and palace greens in the background of interviews and emotional scenes, or for steep streets and bridges over a winding river.

In the countryside, keep an eye open for stone‑built villages, viaducts and moorland that match places you know from days out.

End credits sometimes thank local councils, cathedrals or location offices, which is another clue that scenes were shot in the city or nearby.

Fan sites and social media groups often share behind‑the‑scenes pictures when crews have been spotted, helping viewers connect particular episodes to real streets and landmarks.