Politicians from across spectrum pay tribute, with Gordon Brown describing him as a statesman of unimpeachable integrity'

Chair of governors and two deputy heads say inadequate' rating brought about deterioration in Perry's mental healthThere was a direct link" between Ruth Perry's death and the Ofsted inspection that rated her school inadequate, the chair of the board of governors has told an inquest.The school's two deputy headteachers also told the inquest in Reading there was absolutely" a link between the inspection and Perry's subsequent mental deterioration and death earlier this year.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Hongchi Xiao accused of manslaughter by gross negligence of Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, who was seeking help for diabetesA man has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence after a 71-year-old woman died during slapping therapy" at a country hotel.Danielle Carr-Gomm died while taking part in the session at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, on 20 October 2016. Continue reading...

Hearing to start in January in case of journalist shot in the street in 2021 who was adviser to a witness in trial of a Dutch drug baronNine men suspected of the murder of prominent Dutch crime reporter Peter R de Vries will go on trial in January, a Dutch court has announced, with a verdict expected by the summer.De Vries was gunned down on a busy Amsterdam street on 6 July 2021, shortly after leaving a TV studio where he had appeared as a guest on a programme. Continue reading...

Philippe Lazzarini urges Israel to think of consequences of offensive if truce is not further extendedAn Israeli military assault into the south of Gaza may lead to 1 million refugees, the head of the UN's Palestine relief agency UNRWA has warned.After a second overnight visit to Gaza where he met overwhelmed Palestinians, Philippe Lazzarini urged Israel to think through the consequences of an offensive in the south if the temporary truce in the fighting is not extended. Continue reading...

Overwhelming vote in favour marks end in part to rail dispute but drivers' strikes to continue

Ursula von der Leyen hopes young people can drive a rapprochement but polls show they have other things on their mindsWe goofed it up, you have to fix it," the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Tuesday in a message to the younger generation about Brexit.Fixing it would be the direction of travel" with regard to the UK rejoining the EU, she told an audience in Brussels. But as the fourth anniversary of Brexit approaches, is it likely that Britain's millennials and generation Z will demand a rapprochement? Continue reading...

Rights activists say marriage of Maya Gurung, a transgender woman, and Surendra Pandey is historic day'An LGBTQ couple in Nepal said they wanted to scream to the world that we are husband and wife at last" after becoming the first in south Asia to have their marriage legally recognised.Maya Gurung, 38, a transgender woman, and Surendra Pandey, 27, were given a legal certificate in Nepal's Lamjung district on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Tears and joy as 17 Thai nationals who were seized in Hamas attacks on Israel land in Bangkok

Human rights activists say supreme court's vague wording provides wide scope for persecutionRussia's supreme court has outlawed what it called an international LGBT public movement" as extremist, in a landmark ruling that representatives of gay and transgender people warn will lead to arrests and prosecutions of the already repressed LGBTQ+ community.The ruling in effect outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in a country growing increasingly conservative since the start of the war in Ukraine. The extremist" label could mean that gay, lesbian, transgender or queer people living in Russia could receive lengthy prison sentences if deemed by the authorities to be part of the so called international LGBT public movement". Continue reading...

PC Jonathan Broadhead used stun gun on girl holding garden shears after responding to 999 call in south-west LondonA police officer who fired a Taser at a 10-year-old girl who was holding garden shears has been cleared of gross misconduct.Jonathan Broadhead, a Metropolitan police constable, faced the charge after using the weapon on the child twice within a few seconds of entering her home. He and a colleague were responding to the mother's 999 call, made after the girl threatened her with a hammer and the shears. Continue reading...

Sullivan described as a British soap icon' after role as popular character on Channel 4 show set in LiverpoolThe actor and director Dean Sullivan, who starred in Brookside, has died aged 68.Sullivan, who was born and educated in Liverpool, played Jimmy Corkhill in the Mersey TV soap, which at its peak regularly drew in audiences of 8 million. Continue reading...

In court filing, Daryl Hall alleges surreptitious' plan by John Oates to sell song catalogue, with Oates calling the claims inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate'More details have emerged in the spat between pop duo Hall & Oates, after Daryl Hall filed a lawsuit and restraining order against John Oates last week.The initial lawsuit was sealed, and only scant details were revealed days later, showing that it concerned a dispute over Oates's reported plan to sell his share of the pair's publishing to Primary Wave Music, the company that has acquired numerous song catalogues in recent years by artists including Prince, Stevie Nicks, Burt Bacharach and many more. Continue reading...

Anthony Hurndall, whose son was shot by the IDF in 2003, has called on governments to challenge Israeli claims about deaths of women and childrenWestern governments are actively encourag[ing] the killing of women and children" in Gaza, because they are not willing to challenge Israeli accounts of the war there, the father of a British peace activist killed by an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) sniper has warned.Anthony Hurndall's son, Tom Hurndall, was shot in the head in April 2003 in Rafah, while he was helping Palestinian children. Continue reading...

Third apology issued for cancellation of Wednesday's performance of The Seagull as foundation member Alex Schuman's departure is confirmed

Procter & Gamble, maker of 30-Minute Miracle and Fairy, and Finish Ultimate Plus manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser engaged in misleading conduct, the federal court ruled

Higgins tells court it wasn't my primary concern where my dress was' during alleged rape as she faces questions under cross-examination

Announcement comes after revelation Infosys had 46 meetings with lobbyist Scott Briggs to discuss bid for IT work

IDF and Hamas agree at last minute to extend truce into seventh day as Antony Blinken arrives in Israel as part of diplomatic efforts to avoid a return to fighting in devastated Gaza Strip

This blog is now closed. A warning for readers: this blog contains graphic details of allegations of sexual assault.

Committee recommends standalone agency that would give consumers and digital platforms a central place to direct complaints

Federal court rules that the definition of suicide' under criminal law applies to VAD

Tsai Ing-wen says economic, financial and political challenges overwhelm Xi Jinping's government, with international pressure also a deterrentTaiwan's president has said China is unlikely to attempt an invasion any time soon because it is overwhelmed" by domestic problems.Tsai Ing-wen made the remarks in an interview at the New York Times Dealbook Summit. Continue reading...

About 20 pro-Palestinian protesters walked into Crowne Plaza lobby with signs and megaphone, which Israeli embassy says made delegation feel unsafe'

Exclusive: Legislation hailed as big step towards providing fair access to terminations across state

Parliamentary inquiry established by Albanese government declares full marketisation' of $9.5bn system has failed'

State government to contribute $245m to Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, which is set to be operational by 2025

Four Thais were released late on Wednesday after two on Tuesday, having spent seven weeks in captivity

Creed actor accused by then girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, of slapping her across the face, twisting her arm, and throwing her into a carThe trial of the actor Jonathan Majors for assault and harassment against a former girlfriend following an alleged domestic dispute kicked off on Wednesday.Jury selection began in the morning for the highly publicized case, according to Deadline, with Majors appearing in the courtroom. The 34-year-old actor, known for his role in the Creed movie franchise, Lovecraft Country and several current and forthcoming Marvel projects, faces several assault and harassment misdemeanours. He has pled not guilty to all counts; if found guilty he faces up to a year in prison. Continue reading...

Hiring from red-list' nations risks destabilising healthcare overseas, warns Royal College of NursingThe NHS has been accused of unethical" behaviour after it emerged that it has been recruiting record numbers of nurses and midwives from countries which have serious staffing shortages.Bringing in staff from red-list" countries risked destabilising those nations' healthcare systems and breaching government guidelines, said hospital employers and the Royal College of Nursing. Continue reading...

Khalil relishes time outdoors after decade living in a cemetery' but says visa conditions are unfair

Document details events leading up to the assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist, adding weight to Justin Trudeau's claims of India's involvement

Police are said to be investigating former martial arts star's social media posts before and during violenceThe former mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has accused Irish authorities of making him a scapegoat" for the riot in Dublin last week amid reports police are investigating his social media posts before and during the violence.McGregor on Wednesday accused the government of trying to deflect attention from a stabbing attack on children that triggered anti-immigrant protests and anarchy in Ireland's capital on 23 November. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Cushion' for carmakers facing looming tariff under deal for vehicles traded between EU and UK from start of 2024The European Commission has hatched confidential Plan B proposals to cushion" the impact of a looming 10% tariff on imports and exports of electric vehicles, the Guardian has learned.The proposal was presented to member states on Monday in response to pressure from carmakers to amend some of the conditions imposed when the UK left the EU in January 2021. Continue reading...

Infant was kidnapped alongside his brother, Ariel, and their mother, Shiri, who the group say have also diedA 10-month-old baby who was the youngest hostage kidnapped and taken to Gaza has reportedly been killed in an Israeli bombing alongside his mother and brother, Hamas has claimed.Kfir Bibas was taken from the Nir Oz kibbutz along with his four-year-old brother, Ariel, and their mother, Shiri. His father, Yarden, was also abducted during the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage. Continue reading...

Study says young people can be happy to stay at home - but being driven there by a lack of affordable rental options is problematic'

Pay gap remains when factors such as occupation, qualifications, geography, age and sex taken into accountThe UK's ethnicity pay gap has persisted over the past decade, when factors like occupation, qualifications, geography, age and sex are taken into account, according to statistics released on Wednesday.Among UK-born workers, black employees had the biggest pay gap, earning 5.6% less than white employees. Continue reading...

Jury hears messages in which girl said she had been learning about killer known as the night stalker'

This live blog is now closed, you can read more from today's Covid inquiry hereBack at the home affairs committee, Tim Loughton (Con) has just had another go at getting answers about the number of asylum applications that have been withdrawn. (See 10.38am.)He said, when he said earlier 95% of withdrawn applications were categorised as withdrawn for other" reasons (and not because the claims were not substantiated), he was quoting figures for the last quarter.Whilst the prospect is perhaps what none of us would wish to plan for, I believe the reality will be that we will need to discharge Covid-19 positive patients into residential care settings for the reason you have noted.This will be entirely clinically appropriate because the NHS will triage those to retain in acute settings who can benefit from that sector's care. Continue reading...

Knowles posted an Instagram statement saying that reports following her daughter's recent red carpet appearance made her blood boil'Tina Knowles has defended her daughter Beyonce on social media against allegations that she lightened her skin for the premiere of her new concert film.On 25 November, the 42-year-old pop star attended the opening of Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce on the chrome carpet" in an all-silver outfit with platinum blond hair. Soon after photos circulated on social media, some users accused Beyonce of lightening her skin and hair to appear more white". Continue reading...

The campaign by Publishers for Palestine will offer more than 30 free ebooks of poetry, fiction and nonfiction as an act of solidarity'A group of publishers has launched a week-long initiative encouraging people to read books by Palestinian authors and about Palestinian history by offering free ebooks.#ReadPalestine begins on Wednesday and runs until 5 December. The campaign was created by Publishers for Palestine, a group that published a statement of solidarity with Palestine in early November. The letter, which called for an end to all violence against Palestinian people", was signed by more than 40 UK publishers including Verso Books. Continue reading...

Wang Gang accused of deliberately pushing tutorial around anniversary of death of Mao AnyingA Chinese celebrity chef has apologised after he was accused of insulting the memory of Mao Zedong's son by posting a video about how to cook egg fried rice.Wang Gang, who has more than 3.3 million followers on Weibo and more than 2 million on YouTube, faced a torrent of criticism by viewers who accused him of deliberately publishing his cooking tutorial around the anniversary of the death of Mao Anying as an act of mockery. Continue reading...

British prime minister cancelled a bilateral meeting with his Greek counterpart in London

This live blog is now closedSweden's foreign minister said he is grateful" for US support, as the country continues to wait to join Nato.The Finnish president's office told Reuters today the presidents of Finland and Poland did not discuss military cooperation regarding Finland's border with Russia during a meeting last week. Continue reading...

Bistro Greggs to reimagine favourites such as the steak bake with Parisian inspiration' - and price hike to matchYou've eaten the sausage roll and possibly bought the Primark T-shirt but now the formerly no-frills baker Greggs has upped the ante with its guerrilla marketing this Christmas by debuting a fine dining" offering.Bistro Greggs is marketing itself as a high-end restaurant where steak bakes will be served under silver cloches and you can sip 9.50 cocktails inspired by jam doughnuts. Continue reading...

Rolling coverage of business as US revises up GDP growth in third quarter to fastest pace of 2023At lunchtime in the UK and western Europe markets are fairly flat all around.The UK's benchmark FTSE 100 has barely moved, although grocery delivery company Ocado is the top gainer, up 4.8%. (An Ocado director buying shares may have helped.) Trainer retailer JD Sports was the second biggest, up 4.5%.These allegations are false, not true, incorrect, are not accurate. And it's an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency,I promise you, never ever did I see these talking points that they refer to or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions. Continue reading...

The dry weather probably panicked a lot of people who flooded the markets with cattle, but now things are changing, says one breeder

Status of five other personnel aboard Osprey aircraft not known after incident off Yakushima island, off southern Kyushu coastA crew member who was recovered from the ocean after a US military Osprey aircraft carrying six people crashed Wednesday off southern Japan has been pronounced dead, coast guard officials said.The cause of the crash and the status of the five others on the aircraft were not immediately known, coast guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said. Initial reports said the aircraft was carrying eight people, but the US military later revised the number to six, he said. Continue reading...

Singer is teaming up with Ellie Costello and says it'll be a joy to join the GB News family'The singer, former I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! contestant and Miss World host Peter Andre will co-host a new show on GB News throughout December, it has been announced.The Mysterious Girl singer, 50, will present Saturday Morning Live with Ellie Costello from 10am to 12pm from this Saturday. Continue reading...

Provisional cause of death of Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, was drowning, inquests toldFour teenagers drowned after the vehicle they were travelling in left a road in north Wales, a coroner has said.The inquests into the deaths of Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, all from the Shropshire area, were opened and adjourned on Wednesday. Continue reading...