People's Republic is granted immunity from paying cleaning, rubbish removal and key cutting tab after diplomat vacated Wellington houseA landlord in New Zealand has run up against an unusual problem while trying to make his tenant pay $900 for rubbish removal: diplomatic immunity.Chandler Investments Limited claimed its tenant, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, left a rented mews house in the capital, Wellington, without covering costs for cleaning, rubbish removal and key cutting. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6FPG0)
Force apologised for incident where boy was handcuffed and which his mother said left him brokenThe Metropolitan police have admitted that a 13-year-old boy playing with a water pistol was rammed off his bike by armed police, knocked to the ground and officers pointed their submachine guns at him.The Met has apologised for the incident, in which the boy was also handcuffed, which happened in broad daylight in Hackney, east London, in July. Continue reading...
Singer, whose music has been linked to crime gangs, and his wife are among 27 held in police raids targeting the Di Lauro clanBefore announcing his retirement from singing in 2020, Antonio Tony" Colombo was arguably the most acclaimed singer of neomelodico, an Italian pop genre that resonates strongly within mafia strongholds in the southern regions of Italy.His songs were so highly praised among the underworld that when he married Tina Rispoli, the widow of the slain Neapolitan mafia boss Gaetano Marino, in 2019, dozens of members of the Camorra attended their wedding. Continue reading...
Best known as Rocky Balboa's friend Paulie Pennino, Young mainly played Italian-Americans in hundreds of roles spanning film and televisionBurt Young, the veteran character actor best known and Oscar-nominated for his role as Rocky Balboa's best friend, Paulie, in the Rocky films, has died aged 83.Young passed away on 8 October in Los Angeles, his daughter, Anne Morea Steingieser, told the New York Times on Wednesday. No cause of death was given. Continue reading...
City of Bissau, which has a population of more than 490,000, had no electricity for one-and-a-half daysPower returned to Guinea-Bissau's capital on Wednesday afternoon after the west African country's government resumed payments to Turkish company Karpowership, which had plunged the city into darkness due to an unpaid debt of $17m.Karpowership said it cut off electricity supplies to the city of Bissau - which has a population of more than 490,000 - for one and a half days when fuel suppliers paused work after a protracted period of non-payment. Continue reading...
Unemployment rate was 3.6% in September compared with reported 3.7% in August, the Australian Bureau of Statistics saysAustralia's jobless rate fell last month even as employers shed almost 40,000 full-time positions, sending mixed signals as to the need for another Reserve Bank interest rate rise to cool the economy.The unemployment rate was 3.6% in September compared with a reported 3.7% in August, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. Economists had forecast the jobless level would remain unchanged at 3.7%. Continue reading...
Putin calls delivery of ATACMS long-range missiles another mistake' by US; Russian foreign minister arrives in North Korea ahead of expected Putin trip
David and Celia Barlow were married in South Africa on Saturday and were killed by a group linked to Islamic StateTributes have been paid to a couple who were killed on their honeymoon in Uganda in a cowardly terrorist attack".A British businessman, David Barlow, his wife Celia, a South African-born hotel executive, and their Ugandan guide were driving through the Queen Elizabeth national park on Tuesday when they were attacked and killed by a group linked to Islamic State. Continue reading...
Tolerance never more vital than at times of international turmoil', king saysKing Charles has stressed the importance of mutual understanding in religious faiths and the space to think and speak freely, saying it is never more vital than at times of international turmoil and heartbreaking loss of life".In a speech at Mansion House in the City of London, against the backdrop of the Hamas-Israel conflict, Charles stressed that tolerance and civility were among the virtues that Britain could draw on. Continue reading...
by Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent on (#6FP3H)
Appeal court rules that distress displayed by complainers to witnesses can be used to corroborate rape claimsScotland's most senior law officer has hailed as transformative" a decision by appeal court judges about the way sexual assaults are prosecuted in the country.The lord advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, spoke on Wednesday after seven appeal judges ruled that the distress displayed by a complainer to a witness can be used to corroborate whether a rape took place. Continue reading...
by Yohannes Lowe (now) and Mabel Banfield-Nwachi (ear on (#6FNKA)
Russian president says decision to supply army tactical missile systems shows US is wading deeper into the conflictSpeaking at a televised news conference in Beijing, Vladimir Putin said that US deliveries of long-range Atacms missiles to Ukraine were a mistake" that would create additional threats to Russian forces.The Russian president said, however, that they would not significantly change the situation on the front. Continue reading...
Singer tells fans at Vegas residency she misses alcohol so much' after giving up drinking a few months agoAdele has quit drinking, she told fans in attendance at her Vegas residency, having been a borderline alcoholic" in her 20s.Performing at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Saturday (14 October), Adele, 35, said: I stopped drinking maybe like three-and-a-half months ago. It's boring. I mean, I was literally borderline alcoholic for quite a lot of my 20s, but I miss it so much." Continue reading...
Simon Parry followed the former education secretary on two days this year but was cleared of impersonating a police officerA man has been found guilty of stalking the former education secretary Gavin Williamson.The Conservative MP, who has also served as defence secretary, said he felt incredibly threatened" by Simon Parry who persistently followed" him on 24 May and 14 June. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam, Kate Connolly in Berlin and agencie on (#6FNZK)
Germany's chancellor expresses outrage after two molotov cocktails hurled at buildingGermany's chancellor has vowed to step up the fight against antisemitism after assailants hurled two molotov cocktails at a Jewish synagogue in central Berlin.Speaking in Egypt on Wednesday, Olaf Scholz said he was outraged" by what police called a suspected serious attempted arson" that took place in the early hours of Wednesday in the Mitte district of the city. Continue reading...
Letter from Labour leader stresses his concern for international law and sympathy with the plight of the Palestinian peopleRishi Sunak will be taking PMQs shortly. It will be his first exchange with Keir Starmer since the party conferences.Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.We were the victims of an inside job by someone, we believe, who over a long period of time was stealing from the museum and the museum put trust in.There are lots of lessons to be learnt as a result of that, the member of staff has been dismissed by us. The objects have started to be recovered ... We have changed our whistleblowing code, changed our policy on thefts ... tightened up security on thefts.If someone is entrusted by an organisation to look after something and they are the person removing those objects, that is hard for any organisation, and it was hard for the museum, where there is a trusting culture.If that trust is completely abused and as I think will become clear in the coming months quite a lot of steps were taken to conceal that, it wasn't just that things were taken, records were altered and the like, it's hard to spot.We are intending to put on display the objects we have recovered, there is a lot of public interest in these objects.350 have now been recovered and titles have been transferred to us so we have the makings of a good exhibition that was not previously planned. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh in Palo Alto, California on (#6FNZM)
Intelligence summit told terror groups or hostile states may seek to use AI to build bombs or disrupt electionsArtificial intelligence could be harnessed by terrorists or hostile states seeking to build bombs, spread propaganda or disrupt elections, according to the heads of MI5 and the FBI.Ken McCallum, the director general of MI5, and Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, said their organisations were monitoring developments and needed to cooperate with experts in the private sector to tackle emerging threats. Continue reading...
Former butcher Andrew Miller claimed he acted in a motherly way' but later admitted sexual assaultA former butcher who sexually abused a primary school pupil over 27 hours in a nauseating" attack has been jailed for 20 years.Andrew Miller, who also uses the name Amy George, was dressed as a woman when he offered the girl - whom he had never seen before - a lift in February. Continue reading...
IOPC says 11 current or former officers and one staff member being investigated over handling of allegations against CarrickTwelve police employees, including serving officers, are under investigation for misconduct over the handling of allegations against the serial rapist and former Metropolitan police officer David Carrick.Carrick, 48, a former armed officer, pleaded guilty in January to 85 serious offences including 48 rapes between 2003 and 2020, making him one of the worst sexual offenders in modern British criminal history. Continue reading...
Just Stop Oil says its cofounders Indigo Rumbelow and Roger Hallam were also arrested on WednesdayGreta Thunberg has been charged with a public order offence after she was arrested while taking part in a protest against a conference in London described as the Oscars of oil".The Swedish environmental campaigner, 20, was one of 29 arrested during a protest trying to stop delegates entering the Energy Intelligence Forum at the InterContinental London Park Lane in Mayfair. Continue reading...
by Lisa O'Carroll in Brussels and Lorenzo Tondo in Pa on (#6FNS7)
Questions raised about how attacker slipped through net to attack two football fans heading to Euro 2024 qualifierThe Swedish and Belgian prime ministers have paid tribute to two Swedish men shot dead by a gunman in Brussels on Monday night, as authorities scrambled to work out how the attacker had slipped through the net.In Brussels on Wednesday, the Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, and his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, took part in a brief ceremony for the victims, laying wreaths and a Swedish football scarf and jersey among bouquets of flowers. Continue reading...
Andrew Cooper defends sharing of Facebook post condemning people who cannot feed their children and pay for phone contractA Conservative byelection candidate has defended sharing a Facebook post telling jobless parents who cannot feed their children to fuck off" if they still pay a 30 phone bill.Andrew Cooper is seeking to replace the former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher as MP for Tamworth in one of two byelections on Thursday. Continue reading...
Singer laments the deaths of children during war, as well as the Palestinian-American child to alleged hate crime in ChicagoMadonna has addressed the Israel-Hamas war in a long statement during a concert at London's O2 Arena.At the third date of her Celebration tour, she lamented the deaths of children in the conflict as well as alleged hate crimes related to it, expanding on comments she had made about the war at earlier concerts. Continue reading...
Jury member replaced after judge catches him snoring during prosecutor's opening speechA juror has been discharged after he fell asleep and started snoring during the opening of a people-smuggling trial in Birmingham.The panel member was replaced on Tuesday, less than an hour into the crown's opening speech. Continue reading...
Journey Castillo's parents say she is the youngest person to have gone to every one of the country's national parksA three-year-old girl has visited all 63 US national parks to complete a goal her family set only weeks after she was born.The aptly-named Journey Castillo's parents, Eric and Valerie Castillo, have also staked the claim that their daughter is the youngest person known to have gone to every one of the country's national parks. The couple from San Antonio, Texas, has said they want to inspire other families to get outdoors together and savor the sights and sounds that the world has to offer. Continue reading...
Repairs to footbridge mean straw must be dangled to warn oncoming shipping of work going on beneathWorkers on London's Millennium Bridge are hanging a bale of straw under the structure after triggering an ancient bylaw.Repair works to the footbridge mean straw must be dangled to warn oncoming boats of the work going on beneath it. Continue reading...
Former Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes posted picture on LinkedInThe boss of AirAsia, Tony Fernandes, has faced a backlash for posting a picture of himself receiving a topless massage during a management meeting.The former owner of Queens Park Rangers football club shared the image in a LinkedIn post, which has since been deleted. Continue reading...
Hewa Rahimpur, 30, was ringleader of gang thought to have smuggled up to 10,000 people from France to Kent coastOne of the most notorious smugglers of people in small boats across the Channel has been sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Belgian court after his extradition from the UK.Prosecutors said Hewa Rahimpur, 30, an Iranian Kurd who was granted leave to remain in the UK in 2020, was the ringleader of a gang that smuggled up to 10,000 people from northern France to the Kent coast. Continue reading...
Wong under investigation for sedition over book that was banned by Malaysian government three years agoAn Australian-based journalist has been briefly detained and is under investigation for sedition in Malaysia after editing a book that was later banned by the Malaysian government.Kean Wong is a Malaysian citizen but a permanent resident of Australia, where he has lived and worked for about 30 years. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: From allegedly lost WhatsApp messages to Sir Patrick Vallance's frank lockdown diary, revelations only get more intriguing Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning, and welcome to Dorland House, a one-time hotel in west London where former high court judge Baroness Hallett is chairing the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.It is here that we have heard heartbreaking stories from the families of some of the 229,765 people who died from Covid, and seen the release of shockingly frank WhatsApp messages between ministers and their advisers.Israel-Hamas war | A deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza City has upended US diplomatic efforts aimed at fending off the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and thrown a dark shadow over President Joe Biden's imminent visit to the region. The hospital explosion has become a lightning rod for anger and sparked protests across the Middle East.UK news | The UK's infrastructure needs a big cash injection, with public transport, home heating and water networks all in dire need of renewal, independent government advisers have said. The investments, of about 30bn a year from the taxpayer and 40bn to 50bn a year from the private sector, would result in savings to the average household of at least 1,000 a year, higher economic productivity, and a better quality of life in the future.Belgium | The man suspected to have killed two Swedish football fans in Brussels has been shot dead by police. Police said they opened fire during the arrest outside a cafe in the city centre and found a weapon and bag of clothes. The suspect was a 45-year-old of Tunisian origin and is said to have been inspired by Islamic State.Charity | The family of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised 38.9m for the NHS, has defended building an oversized spa-pool complex in their home stating it has rehabilitation purposes for elderly people in the local area. Central Bedfordshire council have ordered the family to demolish the spa pool as it was unauthorised.Politics | The prime minister and the Conservative party chair have been accused by charity Full Fact of spreading disinformation regarding Labour's immigration plans. The pair have claimed Labour pledge to open up UK borders to 100,000 people a year which Full Fact warn could mislead voters in the next general election. Continue reading...
Union and workers say waiting staff in some cases lose hundreds of pounds a month in incomeMiller & Carter, the steakhouse chain owned by the nationwide pub group Mitchells & Butlers, has been criticised for taking payments from waiting staff worth up to 2% of the sales they serve up, cutting their income during the cost of living crisis.The payments are intended as a way for waiting staff to share tips with chefs and other back of house workers. Continue reading...
Spectres of Nadine Dorries and Chris Pincher haunt Conservatives in Mid Beds and Tamworth, as Labour claims momentum going its wayAlistair Strathern hates the photo chosen to be splashed across his advertising boards. Good poster", shouts a schoolboy between mouthfuls of crisps at the gently blushing Labour candidate across Dunstable Street in the centre of Ampthill, one of the 48 towns and villages that make up the constituency of Mid Bedfordshire. I look smug," Strathern explains of his discomfort. Maybe you think I always look smug but I don't think I look that smug."It's a shame that Strathern feels this way as his boards are absolutely everywhere. Like a constituency-sized Where's Wally?", Strathern's face pops up from out of hedges, emerges smiling from behind trees and stares back from front gardens just daring a chastened voter to have the gall not to back Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party. Continue reading...
Vladimir Putin lauded the success of our Chinese friends' at global forum, while Xi Jinping spoke out against international sanctions and decoupling'Xi Jinping met his internationally isolated Russian counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday against the backdrop of China's biggest diplomatic event of the year, underlining the close relationship between two leaders amid the war in Ukraine.The Chinese president, addressing delegates at the belt and road initiative (BRI) forum, spoke out against international sanctions during his opening speech. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Malkinson was convicted with no DNA evidence and says police must be compelled to disclose whyAndrew Malkinson believes an inquiry into how he was wrongfully convicted of rape must be made statutory to ensure Greater Manchester police do not hide evidence.Malkinson, 57, was convicted of raping a stranger in 2003 in Greater Manchester, despite no DNA evidence. The court of appeal overturned his conviction in July after forensic testing linked another man to the crime. Continue reading...
Official at Finnish intelligence service says espionage attempts have increased since Ukraine invasionFinland has had increased online espionage attempts from Russia since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, security services have said.Supo, the Finnish security and intelligence service, said the country faced various threats from Russia, including cyberattacks and disinformation. Continue reading...
Letters To a Young Generation: Aspiring School Leaders book aims to encourage Black teachers to pursue leadership positionsBlack headteachers from across the UK have written letters to the next generation of school leaders, urging them to become role models for students who are crying out for people who look like them".The letters are compiled in a book by Amanda Wilson, a headteacher at a primary school in Greenwich, south-east London, which is aimed at encouraging black teachers to pursue leadership positions to combat their current under-representation in the sector. Continue reading...
by Helen Sullivan (now); Léonie Chao-Fong, Richard L on (#6FMGV)
This blog is now closed. You can find all of our coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here.Japan will provide $10 million in emergency aid for civilians in Gaza, foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa said on Tuesday.
World news | The Guardian