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Oliver Jordan Schulz, who is accused of murder over the shooting of a young Afghan, applied for his bail conditions to be loosened

This blog has now closed. You can see our full report on the drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan here and our report on western countries' decision to cut funding to UNRWA here. And see all coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and Middle East crisis here.The Israeli army on Sunday said special forces were continuing to engage in intensive battles" in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Younis, where it claimed troops eliminated terrorists and located large quantities of weapons".Strikes were also carried out in central and northern Gaza, it added. Continue reading...

SA government seeks legal advice on whether new laws criminalising concealing or interfering with human remains could keep inmate in jail

CQC will conduct review into Nottinghamshire Healthcare in tandem with mental health homicide reviewA troubled NHS trust that treated Valdo Calocane for paranoid schizophrenia before he killed three people in Nottingham last year is to be the subject of a special review.Ministers said the review into Nottinghamshire Healthcare foundation trust would help provide answers to the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates, who were killed by Calocane last June. Continue reading...

Piano especially associated with improved mental processes in those over 40, Exeter University research findsPlaying a musical instrument or joining a choir is linked to better memory and thinking skills in older age, research has found.The piano was especially associated with a better brain in those over 40 in the study from Exeter University, which reviewed data from more than a thousand adults and looked at how much experience the people had in participating in music. Continue reading...

Committee calls on government to heed widespread concern and consider a more nuanced inspection systemThe government should stop the use of single-word judgments such as inadequate" or outstanding" in Ofsted's headline grades of schools in England, a committee of MPs has urged.MPs on the education committee said relations between Ofsted and teachers had become extremely strained", with trust in the watchdog worryingly low" in the wake of the headteacher Ruth Perry's suicide last year after a traumatic inspection. Continue reading...

Draft of former speaker's final speech said prime ministers should not give peerages to friends or people with fat bank accounts'Betty Boothroyd wanted to use her valedictory speech in the House of Lords to criticise prime ministers for giving too many peerages to friends and those with fat bank accounts" who had bankrolled the party in power.The former speaker of the House of Commons planned her final speech, in which she also said there was no longer a place for hereditary peers, but was too ill to deliver it. Continue reading...

Plans to make vaping less appealing also to include restricting fruity flavours and introducing plain packagingMinisters are to ban disposable vapes as part of a UK-wide drive to curb youth vaping.The government is also seeking to make vaping less appealing to children by restricting sweet and fruity flavours, introducing plain packaging and making displays less visible in shops, under newly announced powers. The changes are expected to come into effect towards the end of this year or early 2025. Continue reading...

Liberal Green party is a close second and goes through to second round, while far-right Finns have been knocked outFinland's former prime minister Alexander Stubb and the country's former foreign minister Pekka Haavisto have progressed through to the second round of the presidential elections, knocking out a rightwing populist candidate.With all votes counted, Stubb, of the centre-right National Coalition party, had won 27.2% of votes, while the liberal candidate Haavisto, a member of the Green party who is running as an independent, had secured 25.8%, election officials said. Continue reading...

Teenager in custody after incident' in seaside town of Littlehampton, as police appeal for informationA 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 51-year-old man was found dead in a street in Littlehampton, West Sussex.Sussex police said an incident" was reported in the seaside town at about 6am on Sunday. The victim, who was from Littlehampton, was pronounced dead at the scene on Gladonian Road, the force said. Continue reading...

Party investigating MP for Edmonton after she said Gaza should be remembered as genocide on memorial dayThe Labour MP Kate Osamor has had the whip suspended while she is investigated for saying Gaza should be remembered as a genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day.The MP for Edmonton in north London is due to meet party whips on Monday after issuing an apology over the message she sent on the eve of the day marking the murder of 6 million Jews during the second world war. Continue reading...

District runoff in Thuringia closely watched to gauge whether huge protests against party have dented supportThe far-right populist Alternative fur Deutschland party has been narrowly beaten in its first electoral test since revelations came to light of its involvement in a plan for the mass deportation of foreigners that has sparked huge protests across Germany. Its candidate lost against a conservative rival in a district administrative election the importance of which resonated far beyond the local area.In a tight second-round runoff in the district of Saale-Orla in the south-eastern state of Thuringia, the AfD candidate, Uwe Thrum, had victory snatched from him by his Christian Democrat (CDU) rival Christian Herrgott by 4.6 percentage points. Continue reading...

US, Qatari, Israeli and Egyptian officials met in Paris and will continue to discuss options

Temperature recorded on Sunday in Kinlochewe in north-west Highlands has provisionally beaten previous record of 18.3CA village in Scotland has provisionally set the UK record for the warmest temperature in January after hitting 19.6C, the Met Office said.The balmy temperature in Kinlochewe in the north-west Highlands was recorded on Sunday. It is likely to have surpassed the previous record of 18.3C in 2003 recorded in the villages Inchmarlo and Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, and Aber, Ceredigion in Wales, which reached the same temperature in 1958 and 1971. Continue reading...

Teenagers were attacked at about 11.20pm on Saturday in Knowle West area, Avon and Somerset police sayA murder investigation has been launched after two teenage boys were killed in a stabbing attack in Bristol that may have been witnessed by passengers on a bus.The boys, aged 15 and 16, were fatally stabbed in Ilminster Avenue in Knowle West, south Bristol, at about 11.20pm on Saturday, Avon and Somerset police said. Continue reading...

Officers confirm there were no casualties reported in incident on Fox Street as they appeal for informationA police investigation is under way to determine the cause of a huge fire in Liverpool city centre.A major incident was declared on Saturday amid fears a disused four-storey building on Fox Street could collapse. Merseyside fire and rescue service (MFRS) said 12 engines helped to tackle the blaze, which had been mostly extinguished by 5pm. Continue reading...

Countries defunding UNRWA, the main aid distributer in Gaza, accused of collectively punishing more than 2.2 million PalestiniansThe Gaza Strip is facing inevitable famine" because of the decision by western countries to pause funding for the UN's agency for Palestinian affairs after Israeli accusations that 12 of the group's employees took part in the Hamas attack on 7 October last year.Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, said famine was imminent" and inevitable", in a comment following the news that the US and nine other countries were suspending additional funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). Continue reading...

British warship HMS Diamond targeted by Houthis, but no injuries or serious damage sustained

Exclusive: Rhianon Bragg, of north Wales, says forewarned is forearmed' as Gareth Wyn Jones is due to be freedA woman who was stalked and held hostage at gunpoint by her ex-partner has warned other women to beware of him as he is about to be released from prison.Rhianon Bragg, who has become a campaigner on domestic violence and gun crime, expressed sadness that she felt she had yet not done enough to protect women from offenders like her, former partner, Gareth Wyn Jones, who was sentenced in 2020. Continue reading...

Labour criticises government dithering', after Vishay deal last autumn to buy chip maker Newport Wafer Fab stalls, putting jobs at riskLabour has criticised dither and delay" from the government over a decision on a proposed takeover of the UK's largest semiconductor facility by a US company, warning that it could lead to further job cuts at the Welsh factory.The fate of Newport Wafer Fab in south Wales has been unclear for nearly two years since the UK government first indicated it had concerns over a 2021 takeover by the Chinese-owned Nexperia firm. The national security concerns related to the ownership of semiconductor technology by a company with links to China. Continue reading...

There have been 220 attacks on Russian military enlistment offices since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

Claims that overseas students are admitted with lower entry requirements than domestic students deniedUniversities have rejected claims that British students are being squeezed out" by international applicants, including allegations that overseas students are admitted with lower entry requirements than those required for domestic students.University leaders said the claims were mendacious" because the reporting by the Sunday Times ignored figures showing rising numbers of UK students enrolled at Russell Group universities, and unfairly compared entry requirements on non-degree courses with those of mainstream undergraduate courses. Continue reading...

In 2011, no one believed councils would be left to swallow the rising cost of social care unaided. But after funding cuts of 40%, their plight looks increasingly bleak

Exclusive: Labour under no illusions' about mess party stands to inherit, as council leaders warn more will go bust next year

Nearly 90% of Australia better off under new plan, with taxpayers in remote and regional communities to gain the most, ANU analysis shows

Three-month scheme to try to tempt back passengers since Covid lockdowns will begin in MarchTransport for London will trial lower, off-peak fares on Fridays on the tube and rail services in the capital to try to tempt back passengers who have stayed at home since the pandemic lockdowns.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said the trial would begin in March and last for three months. Continue reading...

Two ministry of defence officials among those arrested over contract for mortar shells that never arrived

All presidential candidates champion independence and country's new role in Nato as relations with Moscow deteriorate

Study finds that lockdowns and cuts to local services are partly to blameProgress on tackling youth violence in Scotland is slowing as young people struggle to access safe spaces", according to a new report.The study, by researchers at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Open University, examined the past, present and future of violence reduction in Scotland and found that while incidences of serious violence had dramatically decreased over the last two decades, the reduction has slowed in recent years following Covid-19 lockdowns and cuts to local services. Continue reading...

Move by several countries comes after allegations that UNRWA staff took part in attacks on Israel last year

Motoring association criticises data quality and say Australia has no credible plan' to reduce incidents as nation records 677 deaths since July 2023

More than 23,000 residents without electricity days after category-three storm lashed coast on Thursday

South Korean military says it is analysing the launch along with US intelligence authoritiesNorth Korea has fired multiple cruise missiles off an eastern military port, South Korea's joint chiefs of staff have said.The missiles were launched about 8am (2300 GMT Saturday) and were being analysed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities, South Korea said, without specifying how many missiles were fired. Continue reading...

The two names also held the top spots together in 2021, highlighting the ongoing popularity of both names with Queensland parents

Man declared dead at the scene in Mount Louisa on Sunday, with ethical standards command to investigate the death

The prime minister says he is very confident' Labor's new tax plan will pass parliament

The blog is now closed, but please see more coverage of the situation in the Middle East here:

With the area routinely 10C hotter than the city's east, the demand for swimming facilities is red hot

Exclusive: daughters of 79-year-old allegedly assaulted in virtual ward' care system say their complaints were dismissed by staff

Four-storey building showing signs of collapse' with smoke plumes visible across cityA major incident was declared on Saturday after a large fire broke out in a building in Liverpool city centre.The fire service said neighbouring properties had been evacuated as the building was in danger of collapsing. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereA Russian team shot and killed a brother and sister from the Khotin community of the Sumy oblast this morning, the regional military administration said.The brother and sister were living in the village of Andriivka, which is located in the 5-km border zone. Continue reading...

Arthur Shelby actor found with crack cocaine, amphetamines and prescription drugs on Boxing DayThe Peaky Blinders actor Paul Anderson has been fined for possession of drugs, including crack cocaine, after being found with that and other substances on Boxing Day.Anderson, who plays Arthur Shelby in the programme - the hell-raising brother who resorts to drug use - was reportedly said by his lawyer to sometimes slip into character to please fans who recognise him. Continue reading...

Reports of at least a dozen cases of femicide since start of year prompt protests across the countryProtests against femicide have taken place across Kenya after a rise in killings this month.Reports of at least a dozen cases of femicide since the start of the year have prompted public outrage, debate and demonstrations across the country, including in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa. Continue reading...

Wrestling mogul is accused of physical and emotional abuse and sexual assault and trafficking by former employeeWorld Wrestling Entertainment founder Vince McMahon resigned from his post with the organization and its parent company on Friday amid sexual misconduct allegations against him by a former employee. He has denied the allegations.WWE's president, Nick Khan, wrote in an email to employees announcing the 78-year-old's departure, noting he'd be resigning from his roles as TKO executive chairman and on the TKO board of directors and that he'd no longer have a role with WWE, per NBC News. (Last year, TKO Group Holdings was put together when WWE merged with Endeavor's Ultimate Fighting Championship.) Continue reading...

US military confirms Houthi attack on Marlin Luanda in Gulf of Aden

Four-year-old dog named Efruz loves the sea', according to his owner, and often perches on a surfboard to ride wavesClad in a yellow vest, little Efruz balances himself on the front of the surfboard as waves foam around him and his companion as they skim over the Pacific waters off Peru.Efruz is a four-year-old Jack Russell terrier and he is a common sight these hot days of the southern hemisphere summer. Continue reading...

Ministers consider measures to lessen appeal as data suggests one in five children have tried vapingVapes could be limited to just four flavours as ministers consider ways to stop children becoming addicted to nicotine.The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has repeatedly voiced concerns about the marketing and design of e-cigarettes, with colourful packaging and sweeteners that can appeal to young people. Continue reading...

Emma Webber describes fury' at sentence received by Valdo Calocane for deadly rampage last JuneThe mother of one of the students stabbed to death in Nottingham has called for an inquiry into any failings that led to the knife attacks.Emma Webber told the Times that her family fully support" calls for a public inquiry, which also has the backing of the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, into the killings of her son Barnaby Webber, fellow University of Nottingham student Grace O'Malley-Kumar and the 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates. Continue reading...

War has led to a crisis in relations in Lod - the town that both Arab and Jewish residents call homeFrom a distance the market looks like a scene of communal harmony. Jewish and Arab Israelis inspect the piles of pomegranates, oranges, pears and carrots. Israeli flags flap in the winter breeze from the balconies of shabby apartment blocks. A hundred metres away, a synagogue, mosque and Greek Orthodox church share acar park.The reality is very different. The tension in Lod, a town of 80,000 in the centre of Israel, is palpable. Other than at prayer time, the mosque bolts its metal gates shut. So too do the synagogue and the church. Everybody in the town, which is home to both Jewish and Arab Israelis, is very aware of what might happen if the growing anger, fear and grief among both communities prompted by events of the last four months get out of hand. Continue reading...

Increasing preference said to be driven by desire to be healthier and is fuelling trend for 100ml taster bottlesAs the adage goes: good things come in small packages. According to alcohol industry experts British consumers are increasingly choosing to enjoy their beverages in smaller portions, but of higher quality - fuelling a trend for 100ml taster bottles.The shift comes from a desire to be healthier, experts say, with drinking among UK teenagers and young people falling. In June 2023, Tesco sold 25% more low- and non-alcoholic beer than in dry January. Continue reading...