by Peter Walker Deputy political editor on (#6FTXT)
Equality and Human Rights Commission calls halt after review of process into how complaints against Kishwer Falkner were handledThe equalities watchdog has closed an investigation into a series of internal complaints against its chair after the equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, ordered a review of the process.The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said that following the review of how complaints against Kishwer Falkner had been dealt with, it had decided to close the investigation against her. Continue reading...
by Yohannes Lowe (now) ; Charlie Moloney , Rachel Hal on (#6FTD5)
Ukrainian president says military pressure will continue, during video address in Prague that was marred by possible hack attack, says Czech parliamentThe Kremlin has rejected speculation about Vladimir Putin's health, saying the president is fit and well.In a regular call with reporters, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, , also denied suggestions that the Russian leader was using body doubles, calling them an absurd hoax". Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#6FTT6)
Sir Michael Wilshaw says Ofsted's headline judgments provide parents with false comfort'The former chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw has poured scorn on Ofsted's judgment that almost nine out of 10 state schools in England are good", describing it as complete nonsense".According to the latest official statistics, 88% of schools were judged to be either good" or outstanding" by the schools inspectorate as of the end of last December, but Wilshaw told MPs that having visited some of those awarded a good" rating by Ofsted, he did not agree. Continue reading...
Tens of thousands of women and non-binary people across Iceland, including prime minister, stopped workDozens of women joined an extremely brisk walk around Tjornin lake in Reykjavik to kick off a day of action.I met pre-school teachers, students, municipal workers, activists and women who took part in the first strike of 1975. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Social media users report receiving priority' vaccine letters for relatives who died years agoThe NHS has launched an investigation after it sent priority" letters to people who died years ago, in some cases decades, urging them to book flu and Covid-19 jabs to reduce their risk of serious illness.The health service is asking eligible patients to arrange appointments for both vaccines to avoid a potential twindemic" of flu and coronavirus this winter, which would pile further pressure on hospitals and GP surgeries. Continue reading...
by Nicola Slawson (now); Sammy Gecsoyler (earlier) on (#6FTEY)
Foreign secretary says it is not his role to assess events unfolding as we speak' as MPs ask questions in Commons on Israel and Gaza conflictNo British aid money goes directly to the Palestinian Authority, James Cleverly has said, as a Tory backbencher condemned the payment of so-called martyr salaries".The Conservative MP Chris Clarkson told the Commons:It's been reported that the Palestinian Authority is to pay up to three million dollars a month in so-called martyr salaries to the families of dead and captured Hamas terrorists.Will [the foreign secretary] join me in condemning these payments to rapists, torturers, murderers, some of whom have killed Brits? And will he also use his good offices to ensure that no British aid money has gone towards this filthy practice?I can reassure him that we always ensure that UK aid money is protected from misappropriation, and I can confirm to him and the House that no British aid money goes directly to the Palestinian Authority.We have raised this very issue with the Palestinian Authority and highlighted our belief that this is not conducive to good relations and a future two-state solution.To clarify, as I think the minister did herself later on, we can confirm at least 12 British nationals were tragically killed in last week's terrorist attacks.A further five British nationals are missing. Continue reading...
Band pay tribute to singularly brilliant and eccentric talent' whose death comes months after he confirmed cancer diagnosisBritish band Massive Attack have led the tributes to the brilliant and eccentric" guitarist Angelo Bruschini, who has died aged 62.Bruschini, who helped develop the Bristol trip-hop collective's distinctive sound as well as playing guitar in the city's art rock band The Blue Aeroplanes, revealed in the summer that he had cancer. Continue reading...
Defence minister, Li Shangfu, sacked and ex-foreign minister Qin Gang removed from cabinetChina has removed the defence minister, Li Shangfu, and ousted ex-foreign minister Qin Gang from its cabinet, according to state media, in a major reshuffle of top leadership.The news came after months of speculation about the country's cabinet, including confusion over the abrupt removal of Qin from office in July without explanation and the months-long absence of Li from public view. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspon on (#6FTKP)
Ita O'Brien says producers initially questioned need for her role in staging of Antony and CleopatraLove, lust and power pulsate through Shakespeare's tale of Antony and Cleopatra. Now, in what is believed to be a first for Spain, so will the concept of consent as Barcelona's main opera house prepares to stage an adaptation of the tragedy.The operatic version, due to open this week at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, is among the first in Europe to have worked with an intimacy coordinator in an effort to ensure performers are comfortable as they tackle scenes that include everything from touching to kissing and caressing. Continue reading...
Impact statements read out at sentencing hearing for Lewis Edwards, who had contact with some of victims while on dutyA serving police officer who incited more than 200 girls to send him explicit videos and images was in contact with some of his victims while he was on duty, a court has heard.Lewis Edwards, 24, also got in touch with one of the girls he targeted via Snapchat after first meeting her in person during the course of his police work, Cardiff crown court was told. Continue reading...
States that still allow the procedure performed 116,790 more abortions than expected, says newly released dataThe average number of abortions performed each month in the US rose in the year after the supreme court overturned Roe v Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to ban the procedure, according to data released Tuesday from a research group backed by the Society of Family Planning.This stunning finding masks a deep divide in abortion access in the US. The number of abortions performed in states with near-total or six-week abortion bans plummeted, with providers in those states performing 114,590 fewer abortions than they would have if Roe had not been overturned, according to data collected by the research group, WeCount. Continue reading...
ONS uses alternative' figures for three months to end of August, with jobs market appearing to coolUnemployment is up in the UK, according to new experimental official data, rising 0.2% in the three months to the end of August to 4.2% when compared with the previous quarter.Over the same period, the number of people in work fell by 0.3 percentage points to 75.7%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, suggesting that Britain's jobs market is cooling. Vacancies fell below 1m to 988,000, a drop of 43,000 and the 15th consecutive quarterly fall, the ONS said. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Javier Milei was expected to top the first round of voting in the presidential election, but the country picked the centrist candidate Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Today we're heading to Buenos Aires, where left-wing and centrist Argentinians have taken to the streets celebrating that the country may be about to avoid electing a far-right president described by some as a mashup of Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and The X-Men's Wolverine - who describes himself as anarcho-capitalist".Until the results of the first round of Argentina's presidential election trickled out early yesterday morning, the polls and the pundits had predicted that eccentric far-right populist Javier Milei - whose signature mop of untamed hair and long sideburns is a professionally designed homage to Elvis and the aforementioned superhero - would probably become the country's next president.Israel-Hamas war | The US has said now is not the time for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as the UN reports that some Palestinians who fled their homes in the north of Gaza have returned due to a lack of food and shelter in the south. On Monday, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told CNN that Israel still had work to do to go after Hamas leadership", echoing comments from the US president, Joe Biden, that any discussions of a ceasefire could only take place if Hamas freed all its hostages in Gaza.Technology | Government officials are using artificial intelligence and algorithms to help decide everything from who gets benefits to who should have their marriage licence approved, according to a Guardian investigation. Kiran Stacey reports on the findings that shed light on the often uncontrolled ways cutting-edge technology is being used across Whitehall.Protest | Downing Street has argued that police already have extensive powers" to take action against demonstrators who chanted about jihad" in London at the weekend, as Keir Starmer said ministers should plug any gaps in the law.Crime | Lewis Edwards, a 24-year-old former police officer, incited more than 200 girls as young as 10 to share explicit images and videos of themselves with him via Snapchat, a court has heard.Policing | A Metropolitan police officer is under criminal investigation over alleged racially aggravated assault after a woman was wrongly arrested for evading a bus fare. The incident was filmed and widely seen on social media. Continue reading...
Foreign ministry says bots posted conspiracy theories, lies and abuse as comments on feeds including that of prime minister Justin TrudeauThe Canadian government has said it has detected a China-linked campaign that involved bots posting disinformation and propaganda as comments on the social media feeds of members of parliament, including the prime minister, Justin Trudeau.The spamouflage" campaign, using networks of new and hijacked social media accounts to post bulk messages, took place in August and September, and targeted dozens of lawmakers from across the political spectrum, Canada's foreign ministry announced. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European Community affairs correspon on (#6FTAT)
Exclusive: Commissioner condemns incidents targeting Jews but supports basic right' to protestGermany's antisemitism commissioner has condemned the country's recent increase in anti-Jewish violence, warning that it risks transporting the country back to its most horrific times".In an interview with the Guardian, however, Felix Klein said he was also worried about an erosion of basic rights as officials sought to crack down on expressions of support for the Palestinian people. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6FTAV)
Severe material hardship no longer a rarity, as study reveals impact of benefit cuts and cost of living crisisMore than 1 million children experienced destitution last year - meaning their families could not afford to adequately feed, clothe or clean them, or keep them warm - according to a major study which reveals an explosion of extreme poverty in the UK.Severe material hardship was no longer a rare occurrence", the study found, with rates of destitution more than doubling in the last five years as a result of benefit cuts and cost of living pressures, leaving struggling households increasingly reliant on regular charity handouts.Adults reported a frequent inability to afford more than one meal a day, often going without to ensure their children could eat. Nearly two-thirds (61%) said they had gone hungry in the past month. There was heavy reliance on food banks or relatives for groceries.More than half of destitute adults (51%) regularly went without toiletries such as shampoo and toothpaste, as well as hygiene and cleaning products, often relying on food banks for these items. One respondent had to borrow money to buy incontinence pads for her disabled daughter.New clothing and footwear were essential items that people simply did not buy at all", the study concluded, with many adult respondents wearing worn-out clothes, and only buying new clothes - such as school uniforms and trainers - for their children. Continue reading...
by Elias Visontay Transport and urban affairs reporte on (#6FTAX)
Interim rail chief reveals during budget estimates that planning for Sydney-Newcastle line hasn't started as MPs compare situation to episode of Utopia
Cars covered with loudspeakers blasting remixes of singer's ballads angers residents of PoriruaA small city in New Zealand plagued by siren battles" - cars decked out in loudspeakers commonly used in emergency warning systems and often blaring Celine Dion hits - is calling on authorities to step in and end the noise.The battles are part of a New Zealand subculture where music enthusiasts cover their cars in up to dozens of industrial speakers, loudhailers and sirens, then compete to have the loudest and clearest sounds. Continue reading...
Exclusive: AFP tells Senate estimates it is now aware the PimEyes and FaceCheck.ID platforms may have been tested for operational purposes on around 10 occasions
Musee Grevin says it is improving' wax figure of Fast and Furious star after it attracted widespread ridicule on social mediaA wax museum in Paris that was criticised for whitewashing" a statue of Dwayne The Rock" Johnson says it will give the waxwork a do-over.The Musee Grevin, which is modelled on London's Madame Tussauds, unveiled the wax figure of the professional wrestler turned actor last week, but it swiftly attracted widespread ridicule on social media, as well as from the Fast and Furious star himself. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#6FT7M)
Chancellor calls scheme involving 20 of UK's largest funds a huge win' for the countryA group of leading UK venture capital funds managing more than 25bn have signed an agreement backed by the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, to boost investment in high growth companies across the country.In a government drive to drum up private investment in Britain before the chancellor's autumn statement, Hunt said the scheme involving 20 of the UK's largest funds was a huge win" for the country. Continue reading...
The half a million workers whose employers pay the voluntary real living wage will earn 3,000 a year above the minimum wageAlmost half a million workers in the UK whose employers are signed up to pay the voluntary real living wage are in line for a pay rise to at least 12 an hour, taking their annual wage to 3,000 a year above the government's minimum wage.The Living Wage Foundation said employers in London that are part of the scheme will pay an enhanced rate of 13.15 an hour to cope with the extra costs of living in the capital. Continue reading...
Assistance comes ahead of Israel's anticipated ground assault into Gaza but advisers will not engage in fighting, says US officialThe Pentagon is sending military advisers and sophisticated air defense systems to Israel ahead of an anticipated ground assault into Gaza by Israel's military.One of the officers leading the assistance is Marine Corps Lt Gen James Glynn, who previously helped lead special operations forces against the Islamic State and served a high-profile role during intense combat in Falluja, one of the bloodiest and most controversial centers of battle for US forces during the war in Iraq. Continue reading...
Ex-SNP leader says she passed first time but the challenge of learning took her well out of her comfort zoneNicola Sturgeon has announced on social media she has passed her driving test at the age of 53.The former first minister of Scotland said she was successful on her first attempt. She posted a photograph of herself and Andy McFarlane, her driving instructor, on Instagram on Monday. Continue reading...
Soft-spoken Sergio Massa's campaigning strategy pays off while voters seem to pull back from libertarian rival - but who will win the runoff?After a disastrous showing in Argentina's open primaries in August, Argentina's Peronist party made a resounding comeback this week. In the latest chapter in a rollercoaster presidential election, the soft-spoken economy minister, Sergio Massa, snatched what seemed like a sure victory from the jaws of the libertarian Javier Milei, winning 36.6% of the vote against only 29.9% for Milei.The broad margin was still not enough to avoid a runoff on 19 November between the two most dissimilar contenders imaginable. Although beset by soaring price inflation and a 40% poverty rate, Massa trounced Milei, whose promise to dollarize the economy and legalize the organ trade had catapulted him to surprise victory in August. Continue reading...
The PM, just back in the Commons after meeting Netanyahu, had only vain hopes to offer in the search for peace between Israel and HamasCall it war fatigue. So soon. Last week it was standing room only on both sides of the house for Rishi Sunak's statement on Israel and Gaza. For the update on Monday there were plenty of gaps on the green benches. Especially on the Tory side. Already the Middle East has been filed under something too difficult, too unbearable and too far away. Most Conservatives no longer have the bandwidth for the conflict. They are too busy contemplating their own more immediate eternity. Losing the next general election.Many of Sunak's opening remarks were more or less a reprise of what he had said last week. Horror at the 7 October attacks on Israel by Hamas. A commitment to stand with Israel and a reaffirmation of its right to defend itself and to retrieve its hostages. An acknowledgment that the Palestinians are also victims of Hamas. Their need for humanitarian aid and for Israel to respond within international law. Hard to argue with any of that. Continue reading...
Sahra Wagenknecht joined by nine other MPs in migration-sceptical party which will court unhappy voters on left and rightA leading German radical-left politician who has questioned the green transition and blamed the west for Russia's war on Ukraine has left her party to set up a new one, in a move likely to cost the far right votes and further fragment the nation's politics.Sahra Wagenknecht, the charismatic former co-leader of the far-left Die Linke, said on Monday that the new association - named after herself - would court unhappy voters on the left and right, starting with next June's European parliament elections. Continue reading...
Commons hears how Labour's Mohammad Yasin was taken aside at Heathrow and Toronto despite travelling on official businessAn MP was stopped from boarding a flight to Canada with other members of parliament because his name was Mohammad", the Commons heard on Monday.Mohammad Yasin, Labour's MP for Bedford, was due to fly to Canada with other MPs from the Commons levelling up, housing and communities committee when he was delayed for questioning for a considerable period" at airports in both countries last week. Continue reading...
Erdoan signs protocol and sends it to Turkish parliament after agreeing to Sweden's membership at Nato summit in JulyTurkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, has removed one of the final hurdles blocking Sweden from joining Nato by submitting a bill approving membership to parliament for ratification.The move on Monday was in line with a commitment Erdoan made to Nato at its summit in July when he said he would send the bill to parliament for ratification when parliament restarted in October. Continue reading...
Prime minister briefs parliament after his trip last week to Israel, Egypt and Saudi ArabiaKeir Starmer has said he had productive" talks during a visit to Tata Steel's giant Port Talbot plant in south Wales.The Labour leader told broadcasters:We have ambitious plans for the steel industry. We see this as the future, not the past. That requires strategic thinking about our economy. We want to go to clean power, that will bring down energy costs.If we are able to put in place our mission for clean power by 2030, that will require more steel - and therefore we want the demand for steel to go up. Of course, we need to transition to green steel. But we must do this transition very carefully, protecting the jobs and the skills and the history that we have here in south Wales. Connecting and bridging that to the future, which is green steel.So, we have been having productive discussions this morning about what I think will be a very bright future for steel. But only with strategic thinking around it.They're really living in a situation that my mother-in-law describes as torture.The whole night there will be missiles, rocket fire, drones - they don't know whether they are going to make it from one night to the next. Continue reading...
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