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Civilian proportion of deaths is higher than that in all world conflicts in 20th century, Haaretz newspaper says

Furore over the controversial Rwanda scheme labelled far from helpful' as Britain seeks to fulfil role in the international forumTensions between the Home Office and Foreign Office are said to be strained" before the largest international gathering in years on the refugee crisis, with the UK's contribution overshadowed by the row over Rwanda.Headed by development minister Andrew Mitchell, the UK delegation at this week's UN Global Refugee Forum will unveil what it describes as an ambitious package" that includes delivering schooling to hundreds of thousands of refugee children. Continue reading...

Actor was prescribed controversial high-strength drug to prevent loss of muscle after complex fractures of leg, hip and pelvis sustained on stageStephen Fry was given the controversial painkiller OxyContin to help him to move again during his recovery from a serious fall.Now walking without a stick for the first time since the accident in September, Fry has revealed he was a reluctant user of the drug. He took it on the advice of his surgeon, after being warned that if he waited until the pain subsided his leg muscles would weaken. Continue reading...

Visa changes may cut numbers of students and skilled workers who enjoy public support while Rwanda plan won't address concerns over small boatsIf you don't fix immigration, immigration will fix you." This was new foreign secretary David Cameron's stern warning to US senators, but it could equally have been addressed to parliamentary colleagues back home.Last week saw the latest in a series of immigration reform packages, yet nearly a year on from Rishi Sunak's pledge to stop the boats" his government seems no closer to a fix which satisfies his party or its supporters. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereRussian police have put the prominent Russian American journalist and author Masha Gessen on a wanted list after opening a criminal case against them on charges of spreading false information about the Russian army.The independent Russian news outlet Mediazona was the first to report on Friday that Gessen's profile has appeared on the online wanted list of Russia's interior ministry, and the Associated Press was able to confirm that it was. It was not clear from the profile when exactly Gessen was added to the list. Continue reading...

The Refugee Council is welcoming those who fled the Taliban and providing legal advice on resettlement in the UK Donate to our charity appeal hereTwo years on from their arrival in South Yorkshire, young footballers Elaha Safdari, Najma Arifi and Narges Mayeli are still baffled by the array of regional accents in the UK. I'm always like, Pardon? Can you please repeat? What did you say?'" laughs Arifi, now 20.This barrier is only a minor hurdle for the trio, who were forced to flee for their lives when the west pulled out of Afghanistan and the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Continue reading...

For the Jewish community in York, as elsewhere, fears and distress over the war in Gaza haunt this year's festival of lightOn Thursday evening, the small progressive Jewish community in York will gather at Jewbury, the city's medieval Jewish cemetery, to light memorial candles and say prayers for 150 people who died in a 12th-century pogrom at Clifford's Tower.The flames will then be used to light the eighth and final candle on menorahs, or special candelabra, brought to the ceremony by members of the community, marking the end of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light that began last Thursday. Continue reading...

Singer, who reportedly bought $58m property last year, says she also gets left alone in Los AngelesAdele has said she is likely to stick around in Los Angeles because the sunny weather helps her stave off seasonal depression.In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she said the California city's sunny weather was good for me". Los Angeles has an average of about 263 sunny days in the year. Continue reading...

The London mayor fears most voters are unaware of the change to a first past the post system that may boost the Tory candidateSadiq Khan has warned progressive voters that they risk handing the London mayoralty to an increasingly rightwing" Tory party unless they back Labour, amid concern in his camp that most Londoners are unaware of a complete overhaul of the voting system.The battle for control of City Hall next May will be the first mayoral contest to switch to the first past the post voting system. It comes after a legal change last year that appears to be largely unknown among the capital's voters. The previous system allowed voters to pick their second preference. Continue reading...

Retail push months in advance means last-minute shoppers may risk missing out on gifts - and leads to demands for rulesWhen the Denbigh branch of Home Bargains put up its festive display in August it made headlines. Bah, humbug! Christmas comes too early for north Wales shoppers," said the Guardian, while the Daily Mail claimed the store was facing a backlash" over its move. Indeed, shoppers did complain it was too soon" and some suggested there should be rules on when retailers were allowed to start promoting their festive ranges.But it turns out it wasn't just Home Bargains that was getting in the Christmas spirit months in advance of the big day. Other retailers began quietly opening their festive offerings in late summer and early autumn and the tutting householders who spoke to the Mail in Wales were not necessarily speaking for everyone. One in five shoppers told a Post Office survey that they were planning to start early this year. Continue reading...

Education consultants say headteachers approaching in record numbers, after inspection ruled a factor in Ruth Perry's suicideThe number of schools in England filing complaints to Ofsted about bullying inspectors has risen to ridiculous" levels, education leaders warned this weekend.Delivering her verdict on Thursday, coroner Heidi Connor concluded that a rude and intimidating" Ofsted inspection was a contributory factor in the suicide of Reading headteacher Ruth Perry in January this year. In 2022-23, a total of 747 schools made formal complaints about Ofsted inspections, up from 454 the previous year, Ofsted's annual report says. Continue reading...

Prime minister is facing an appearance at the Covid inquiry and a vote on emergency Rwanda legislationRishi is heading for Theresa territory," says one Conservative backbencher, after a week in which Sunak appeared to lose control of his party.A managerial prime minister squeezed by warring Tory factions, mired in a parliamentary battle and haunted by the missteps of their predecessor: Sunak will be wary of how May was ousted after struggling to get her flagship policy through the House of Commons. Continue reading...

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Data shows increase in infections and experts advise vaccination for pregnant women, babies and young childrenWhooping cough might sound like a disease of the Victorian era, but according to new data from public health bodies, it is on the rise in the UK.Looking at 2023 until late November, data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revealed there were 1,141 suspected cases in England and Wales, compared with 450 for the same period of 2022 and 454 for that period in 2021 - about a 250% increase. Continue reading...

Overhaul follows once-in-a-generation review which found immigration system badly broken'

Former immigration minister says Rwanda bill will fail to end legal challenges to policy of removing people who cross Channel in small boatsRobert Jenrick has accused the prime minister of failing to keep his word to do whatever it takes" to stop the boats".The former immigration minister quit his role on Wednesday just hours after Rishi Sunak tabled a bill to save his Rwanda deportation policy. Continue reading...

Scotland Yard looking at possible hate crime after footage of incident in north London widely circulated onlineThe Metropolitan police are investigating a possible hate crime after a young Jewish woman was violently assaulted and robbed" in London.Footage of the incident circulated online after it was tweeted by the neighbourhood watch group Shomrim. Continue reading...

UN officials including secretary general describe humanitarian breakdown in territory as they plead for immediate ceasefire

US vetoes resolution despite pleas from secretary general and Arab allies, saying ceasefire would only plant the seeds of the next war'

Samuel Paty had shown pupils caricatures of the prophet Muhammad during a class on freedom of expressionSix teenagers have been convicted in connection with events leading to the beheading of their teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, in a case that horrified France.One, a 13-year-old girl at the time, was convicted of making false accusations. Five others, who had been aged between 14 and 15, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy with intent to cause violence. Continue reading...

Jamie Arnold, 33, made racist remarks and gestures at former England defender, who was working as a TV pundit, court heardA football fan who racially abused the former England international Rio Ferdinand has been jailed for six months and banned from watching live matches for seven years.Jamie Arnold, 33, uttered racist remarks and made monkey gestures at the former Manchester United defender, who was working as a pundit for BT Sport, a court heard. Continue reading...

International Federation of Journalists says 68 killed covering Israel-Hamas war, more than in any other conflict in over 30 yearsA leading organisation representing journalists worldwide has expressed deep concern at the number of media professionals killed around the globe doing their jobs in 2023, with more journalists killed during Israel's war with Hamas than in any other conflict in more than 30 years.In its annual count of media worker deaths, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said 94 journalists had been killed so far this year and almost 400 others had been imprisoned. Continue reading...

Tributes pour in for one of the leaders of a young generation of writers in Gaza who chose to tell their stories in English

People say they are disheartened by the court's ruling but hopes remain that the case can continueThe court of session ruling upholding the UK government's veto on Scotland's gender recognition reforms contributed to a sense of exhaustion" in the trans community, said Jennie Kermode, a writer, film-maker and adviser for Trans Media Watch, based near Glasgow.People are still hopeful that this case can proceed further but there is a sense of exhaustion that there is always this waiting, which is the case for all trans people whether it's gender recognition or waiting lists which are so long even to get psychological help." Continue reading...

The claim comes after it was revealed the cost of the scheme had almost doubedThe government currently has a working majority of 56 and as yet no Conservative MPs are publicly saying they intend to vote against the Rwanda bill on Tuesday next week, and so at the moment the risk of government defeat seems extremely small.But Tory MPs on both wings of the party - the rightwingers who want the government to ignore the European convention on human rights on migration policy, and moderates" who fear the government has already gone too far - have concerns about it, and some of them may be more inclined to abstain than to vote against.I'm encouraged by some of my friends' legal advice, which is that by leaving in section four of the Human Rights Act, that does overturn some of the more worrying aspects. But I think what I want to do, and what a lot of my friends want to do, is have the chance to look at it really carefully over the weekend and then make a decision on Monday. Continue reading...

New power to allow importers to sever ties would help to end Europe's reliance on Russian suppliesEU countries may soon be able to halt their last remaining Russian gas imports under plans to ban Russian energy companies from their pipelines and terminals.The European Council and parliament have agreed new rules that could empower the EU's member states to crack down on companies from Russia and Belarus that have continued to import Russian gas into Europe since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine by buying import capacity at key EU import terminals and pipelines. Continue reading...

The star's career-spanning tour sold over 4.3m tickets this year and is estimated to make another $1bn in 2024 salesTaylor Swift's Eras tour is the first tour to cross the billion-dollar mark, according to Pollstar's 2023 year-end charts.Not only was Swift's landmark Eras Tour the number one tour both worldwide and in North America, but she also brought in $1.04bn with 4.35m tickets sold across 60 tour dates, the concert trade publication found. Continue reading...

Some of those whose personal and professional lives were put under particular strain have harsh words for the ex-PM

This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereHungary's Viktor Orban, who has worked over the past few years to build relationships with other far-right figures across the globe, will be attending the inauguration of Argentina's Javier Milei this weekend.Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has congratulated Nadia Calvino, who is set to become the first woman to lead the European Investment Bank Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereVladimir Putin has said he will run for re-election in the March 2024 presidential poll, moving the longtime Russian leader a step closer to a fifth term in office.The announcement was widely expected and there is little question about the outcome. Continue reading...

Decision brings to an end the police investigations into alleged breaches of UK lockdown regulationsNo individuals will receive a penalty from the Metropolitan police regarding a gathering in parliament in December 2020, the force has said.The gathering was said to have been arranged by the Commons deputy speaker, Dame Eleanor Laing, to celebrate the birthdays of the Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie and the peer Lady Jenkin while London was under tier 2 measures that restricted indoor socialising. Continue reading...

Staggering act of cultural vandalism' is part of proposals to cut degree courses in modern languagesMany of Scotland's best-known folk music stars have joined protests by Gaelic scholars, lecturers and politicians over plans by the University of Aberdeen to axe its languages courses.Award-winning Gaelic and Doric singers such as Iona Fyfe, Mary Ann Kennedy and Julie Fowlis have described the university's proposals as a staggering act of cultural vandalism", with protests now escalating among students and teaching staff. Continue reading...

Experts say alteration to holiday rights is one of the most significant erosions of employment protections since UK left EUMinisters are cutting holiday allocations and pay for irregular and part-time workers, at a cost to staff of up to 248m a year.The government is changing how holiday days and pay are calculated for people who do not work full-time throughout the year, such as shift-workers, school employees and those on zero-hours contracts. Continue reading...

Data shows cost of borrowing still falling from highs of summer, with five-year fix also down

Police investigation of Anthony Odiong began Wednesday after 2019 complaint to archdiocese spurred little actionA recently dismissed south-east Louisiana Catholic priest is under law enforcement investigation after facing allegations of clerical misconduct with multiple women as well as claims of financial improprieties, according to officials.The archdiocese of New Orleans on Wednesday reported Anthony Odiong in connection with at least one of those complaints to the sheriff's office of St Charles parish, Louisiana, the agency confirmed. Continue reading...

Tens of thousands who have evacuated to the safe zone' face lack of food, water and shelter and fear further bomb strikesAfter a short gasp, Shahd al-Modallal states flatly: Oh, there's a bomb." An explosion follows. An airstrike has targeted Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town and the most recent destination for the Palestinian enclave's displaced people.Tens of thousands of people have arrived in Rafah over the past week since the end of a temporary pause on fighting in Gaza. People are sleeping in the streets, in public buildings and any other available empty space. Schools and evacuation shelters are already full. Continue reading...

Party's X account uses picture of presenter raising middle finger to deride Labour, winning both condemnation and praiseConservative divisions over immigration have deepened further after the party posted an attack on Labour using an image of a BBC presenter with her middle finger raised, prompting jubilation from some Tory MPs and anger from others.The official Conservative account on X, formerly Twitter, posted an image on Thursday night of the presenter getting caught on camera jokingly raising her middle finger, accompanied by the caption: Labour when you ask for their plans to tackle illegal migration." Continue reading...

Unite union says average wages have been cut by 21% in real terms since 2018Hundreds of Oxfam workers are to go on strike from Friday for the first time in the charity's 81-year history.Members of the union Unite, who rejected the charity's latest pay offer, will take action on 17 days throughout December, including the last few shopping days before Christmas. The union said the strike of almost 500 workers would affect offices and 200 Oxfam shops. Continue reading...

Ministers criticised after civil servant tells MPs payment was made in April after 140m had already been sentUK ministers have been accused of using cloak and dagger" tactics after a leading civil servant revealed in a letter that they had paid Rwanda a further 100m to send asylum seekers there.Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office's top civil servant, told MPs the payment was made in April after 140m had already been sent. He added that a further payment of 50m was expected next year. Continue reading...

Heavy rain and winds expected across large areas of Qld from Monday as category 4 cyclone continues towards coast

Exclusive: Matts Floderus says he is deeply worried about son Johan, who has been in detention for 600 daysThe father of a 33-year-old Swedish citizen and EU diplomat held in captivity in Iran for the past 18 months has revealed the levels of hell" his son has experienced, as his family and employers step up their fight for his release.Johan Floderus, who on Friday will have been incarcerated for 600 days in Tehran's Evin prison with no routine consular visits or phone calls, has been on hunger strike at least five times, his father said. Continue reading...

Paul Nowak calls new law spiteful' and says TUC will defend any worker who exercises their right to strikeRishi Sunak's spiteful" new anti-strike laws have created a galvanising moment" for the UK's trade union movement, the TUC general secretary has said.Speaking before a special congress of union leaders on Saturday about how to respond to the Strikes Act, Paul Nowak promised the TUC would throw its weight behind any worker hit by the new law. Continue reading...

Tarrin-Macen O'Sullivan's mother charged with murder more than two years after son found dead in back yard pool in Munbura near Mackay

This week, Joe Biden admitted that he probably would not be running for re-election if Donald Trump was not likely to be the Republican candidate. The thoughts of a rehashed presidential race in 2024 has many Americans dreading next year, and some are looking to third-party or independent candidates as potential alternatives.So why hasn't an outsider been more successful in the past? Is running independently of the Democrat and Republican parties a legitimate offer to voters, or nothing more than an election spoiler? And if the answer is the latter, why should the president be the one to worry?This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Nitish Pahwa of Slate about why Democrats are worried that Biden could suffer the same fate as Hilary Clinton in 2016Archive: CNN, CSPAN, CBS News, AP News Continue reading...

Chinese military aircraft including 12 fighter jets also detected in Taiwan's air defence zone in past 24 hoursTaiwan's defence ministry has said that a Chinese balloon crossed the Taiwan Strait median line on Thursday, about a month before Taiwan's presidential election.The ministry of national defence (MND) earlier described it as a surveillance balloon" but the defence minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng later told reporters at parliament: our initial understanding is that it was a sounding balloon". Continue reading...

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Strike action will place lives at risk', NSW health minister says, as paramedics reject offer to increase wages by 19% on average

Faulty electric cables cause hours of disruption for passengers and many people are still trapped onboard trainsHundreds of passengers have been stuck on cold, dark trains in west London for hours as travellers suffered significant delays due to damaged overhead electric cables.All trains have been stopped between London Paddington and Reading, Network Rail Western confirmed. Great Western Railway said disruption was expected on the London Paddington to Reading line until the end of Thursday. The disruption also affects the Elizabeth line. Continue reading...

Winning ham is just $8 a kilo, while worst rated option in consumer group taste test is also one of the most expensive

Campaigner Justin Gutmann alleges EE, Vodafone, Three and O2 have systematically exploited millions of loyal customers'The UK's biggest mobile phone companies face a 3.3bn class action lawsuit alleging that long-standing customers are being ripped off by loyalty penalties", under which the same services are offered to new customers at a better price to lure them from rivals.The legal action, which has been brought by the campaigner Justin Gutmann and the law firm Charles Lyndon, targets BT-owned EE, Vodafone, Three and O2, which is part of Virgin Media O2. Continue reading...