David Harewood and Doreen Lawrence among those expressing alarm at impact on shows aimed at BAME audiencesProminent black and Asian Britons have warned that the BBC’s local radio cuts could result in the loss of airtime for shows aimed at BAME audiences.David Harewood, Adrian Lester, Diane Abbott, and Doreen Lawrence are among those who have signed the open letter in the Voice. They warned the BBC’s current plans to axe weekend and evening shows on English local radio would “disproportionately impact Black media professionals and journalism across the UK”. Continue reading...

Police accused of gender-based rights violations against women and LGBTQ+ people as they cracked down on protests in 2021Colombian police used sexual harassment, torture and forced nudity to target women and LGBTIQ+ people as they cracked down on a nationwide wave of protests in 2021, a report by Amnesty International has found.National and anti-riot police units committed hundreds of acts of gender-based human rights violations in its response to protests, the Amnesty investigation revealed. Continue reading...

Ngozi Fulani says Buckingham Palace yet to reach out to her since incident with royal aide at receptionA black British charity leader has said she felt she was being forced to denounce her citizenship when she was “interrogated” by the late queen’s lady-in-waiting about where she “really came from”.Ngozi Fulani, who founded the domestic abuse charity Sistah Space, was questioned repeatedly about her background by the royal aide Susan Hussey at a Buckingham Palace reception. Continue reading...

Incendiary devices sent to PM’s residence, defence ministry, arms firm, airbase and US embassy over past seven days, with one exploding at Ukraine embassy

Children’s author who spent 48 days in hospital with virus calls NHS ‘a brilliant and wonderful invention’Michael Rosen doesn’t remember much of his 48 days in an intensive care ward when he was struck down with Covid-19 two years ago. But thanks to a patient diary diligently kept by his nurses, the poet and former children’s laureate knows how faithfully and compassionately he was cared for.“They were wonderful. In the diary they tell me how they held my hand, talked to me, sang to me, kept me awake when they were worried that my blood pressure was dipping dangerously low, shaving me, turning me over,” he said. Continue reading...

Initial DfE figures show just under 29,000 graduates have signed up this year, a 20% fall on last year

France is first major western country to publicly support proposal for special court to try for crime of aggression

Gordon Jackson KC, representing three police officers, alleged to have started watching match as evidence was givenOne of Scotland’s most senior lawyers has been accused of showing contempt for an inquiry into the death of a man in police custody after he allegedly began watching a World Cup football match during the proceedings.Gordon Jackson KC who is representing three of the six police officers involved in the arrest of Sheku Bayoh at an inquiry into his death, is alleged to have started watching the game on his phone during an evidence session on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Gasps from public gallery as jury convicts Mark Brown of killing both Leah Ware and Alexandra MorganA builder who described himself as a “psychopath with a conscience” has been found guilty of murdering two women, one of whom he kept semi-captive in a shipping container.Mark Brown, 41, killed Leah Ware, 33, and Alexandra Morgan, 34, six months apart last year at a remote farm near St Leonards in East Sussex, a jury at Hove crown court found. Continue reading...

Teaser shows images of Meghan apparently in tears and Harry talking of protecting his familyAn emotionally charged trailer of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s forthcoming Netflix documentary series has been released, as Buckingham Palace reels from a racism incident and during a key visit to the US by the Prince and Princess of Wales.In the 1 min 12 sec “teaser”, Harry and Meghan share previously unseen intimate photographs, some showing the duchess apparently crying, with one scene showing Harry’s head tilted back as his wife appears to wipe away tears with both hands. Continue reading...

Gautam Adani’s takeover of NDTV is ‘serious threat to democracy’ in India, says news anchorOne of India’s few remaining news channels known for independent reporting is about to be taken over by a billionaire ally of the prime minister, Narendra Modi.In recent years, NDTV (New Delhi Television) has earned a reputation as one of the last bastions of independent journalism in India’s mainstream media, which has increasingly been suppressed and pressured to tow the government line under the Modi administration, which came to power in 2014. Continue reading...

Sun Chunlan says Omicron less pathogenic as Beijing appears to respond to zero-Covid protests by relaxing some measures

South Africa’s political crisis deepens after panel says president should face scrutiny over ability to stay in officeThe government of Cyril Ramaphosa has plunged further into crisis, a day after an an independent panel appointed by parliament said there was evidence suggesting the South African president committed “serious misconduct” after millions of dollars in cash were reportedly stolen from his private game ranch almost three years ago.Ramaphosa was expected to answer questions in South Africa’s parliament on Thursday but postponed his appearance, saying he needed time to consider the panel’s timing. The deputy president, David Mabuza, cancelled a keynote address at a World Aids Day commemoration event, while key spokespeople failed to hold regular briefings. Continue reading...

Former rugby league player, who has motor neurone disease, will use eye-controlled computerThe former rugby league player Rob Burrow will become the first non-verbal person to read a bedtime story on the BBC this weekend.Burrow, who used to play for Leeds Rhinos, will use an eye-controlled computer to read a story on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Continue reading...

Officials from 53 cities convene in Greece to seek ‘creative solutions’ to counter rise in anti-Jewish hateMayors from around world have flown into Athens to focus minds – and efforts – on combatting antisemitism amid a worrying resurgence of near daily hate crimes against Jews.Local officials from 53 cities in 23 countries will convene in the Greek capital from Thursday with the aim of not only debating shared challenges and experiences but also finding “creative solutions” to counter the alarming rise in incidents of bigotry and hate globally. Continue reading...

Trio were arrested in Bridgend at the weekend on suspicion of concealing the birth of a childThree people have been bailed in connection with the discovery of the bodies of two babies found dead in a house in Bridgend.Two men, aged 37 and 47, and a 29-year-old woman were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of concealing the birth of a child after the discovery in Wildmill, a 55-year-old Radburn estate on the outskirts of the Welsh town. Continue reading...

A bipartisan push in the upper house means the ACT and Northern Territory are free to legislate on euthanasia after a 25-year ban

Magpies implement 14 recommendations of Do Better review with four in progress as president Jeff Browne says new systems will build inclusive club

Disparity between rural and urban areas uncovered by Lib Dem FoI requests to 10 ambulance trustsPatients in some rural areas wait almost three times longer for emergency ambulances than those in towns and cities, while people with potential heart attacks or strokes now face a one hour 40-minute average wait in one area, statistics have shown.The disparities were uncovered by freedom of information requests by the Liberal Democrats to England’s 10 ambulance trusts, which in turn covered waiting times for 227 areas across the country. Continue reading...

The former Coalition minister denies he influenced government contracts, declaring in parliament he had ‘zero involvement’

Staff cuts at Chicago’s Howard Brown Health could squeeze care as attacks on LGBTQ+ and trans healthcare have escalatedHoward Brown Health, a nonprofit community health center in Chicago that is the largest provider of health and wellness care for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV in the US midwest, has announced it wants to lay off at least 100 employees, or about 15% of staff.The layoffs were proposed as voluntary in the first instance, but the company says “a reduction in workforce is required”, suggesting that if 100 volunteers are not found then layoffs will be compulsory. Continue reading...

Hong Kong’s immigration department withheld Timothy Owen KC’s application for an extension of his work visa on ThursdayHong Kong has temporarily blocked a top British human rights lawyer from representing jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, in a trial stymied by delays and calls for an intervention from Beijing.British King’s Counsel Timothy Owen was set to represent Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, who has been in jail on protest-related offences since his high-profile arrest in 2020. Continue reading...

Report finds women from black and ethnic minority backgrounds in England and Wales disproportionately dismissedDomestic abuse victims are reporting abuse to the police several times before appropriate action is taken, with those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds disproportionately dismissed and sidelined, according to new research.The research has been carried out by the charity Victim Support – the country’s biggest provider of domestic abuse services. More than 1,000 women (1,004) who have experienced domestic abuse were polled, at least 150 of them women of colour.More than half of all respondents – 53% – reported an instance of domestic abuse at least twice before they felt appropriate action was taken by the police.Nearly a quarter – 24% – reported an instance of domestic abuse to the police three times or more before appropriate action was taken.More than one in 10 – 12% – said that they do not feel appropriate action was ever taken.When reporting domestic abuse, almost half – 48% – of black and ethnic minority respondents felt that the police treated them differently from other people because of their ethnic background or heritage. Continue reading...

Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra had the coldest spring weather in 30 years, while Sydney did not reach 30C for first time in three decades

US secretary of state says Beijing’s ties with Moscow also discussed at alliance meeting after the two countries sent bombers into South Korean airspaceNato allies are concerned about China’s rapid and opaque military buildup and its cooperation with Russia, and discussed concrete ways to address the challenges posed by Beijing, US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said.“The members of our alliance remain concerned by the PRC’s [People’s Republic of China] coercive policies, by its use of disinformation, by its rapid, opaque military buildup, including its cooperation with Russia,” Blinken told a news conference on Wednesday after a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the defence alliance. Continue reading...

Six-week Los Angeles trial wrapping up after graphic testimony from four women accusing ex-producer of rape and sexual assaultClosing arguments began on Wednesday in the Los Angeles rape trial of Harvey Weinstein, following weeks of emotional testimony that saw multiple women take the stand, including the wife of California’s governor.Marlene Martinez, a prosecutor in the case, began her final arguments with a photograph of Weinstein smirking at the camera, at the height of his power as a “titan of the film industry”. Seated in the courtroom, Weinstein, looking shrunken and pale as a corpse, stared at the photograph of himself on the screen. Continue reading...

Family say Yusuf Mahmud Nazir died from pneumonia due to a lack of beds at Rotherham general hospitalAn independent investigation is being launched into the death of a five-year-old boy whose family say he died from pneumonia after he was sent home from hospital because there were “no beds”.Yusuf Mahmud Nazir died on 23 November after an infection reportedly spread to his lungs and caused multiple organ failure, resulting in several cardiac arrests. Continue reading...

Australia’s 1-0 win sends them through for first time since 2006, as Mat Leckie’s 60th-minute goal proves decisive in Qatar

PinkPantheress wins the best female act award, while Central Cee takes best male act in a ceremony that paid tribute to the late SBTV founder Jamal EdwardsCentral Cee, PinkPantheress, Knucks and Little Simz have taken top prizes at this year’s Mobo awards, the annual ceremony celebrating the best in Black musical talent from Britain and abroad. Little Simz and Knucks were crowned joint winners for the album of the year prize, for their albums Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and Alpha Place, respectively; Central Cee won the award for best male act, as well as video of the year for his song Doja, while PinkPantheress won best female act. Also winning two awards was Nigerian afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, who took home trophies for best international act and best African music act.Little Simz’s win for album of the year comes a year after her first Mobo win, for best female act, and is the capstone to a year that has seen her win the Mercury prize as well as – somewhat controversially – the Brit award for best new act. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is her fourth album. Continue reading...

Mehran Samak was killed by security forces after honking car horn in celebration of Iran’s defeat to US, human rights groups sayAn Iranian man was shot dead by security forces after Iran’s national team lost to the US and exited the World Cup, as anti-government demonstrations took place inside and outside the stadium in Qatar and across Iran.Mehran Samak, 27, was shot dead after honking his car horn in Bandar Anzali, a city on the Caspian Sea coast, north-west of Tehran, according to human rights activists. Continue reading...

White House welcomes news of Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi’s deathThe Islamic State jihadist group said its leader has been killed in battle, the third head of the violent extremist faction to have met a violent death.A spokesperson for the group said Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, an Iraqi, was killed “in combat with enemies of God”, without elaborating on the date of his death or the circumstances. Continue reading...

Harem Ahmed Abwbaker is accused of being complicit in crossing that resulted in deaths of more than 20 peopleAn alleged “right-hand man” in a people-trafficking gang offered money to the families of migrants who drowned trying to cross the Channel in a dinghy to stay silent, a court has heard.Harem Ahmed Abwbaker, 32, was alleged to be one of two main figures in an organised criminal gang thought to be connected to the crossing which resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people last winter. Continue reading...

Five metro mayors meet transport secretary saying action needed to avoid ‘Christmas chaos’Mayors in the north of England have called for immediate government action to tackle continuing rail misery, warning time is running out to avoid a Christmas of chaos.The five metro mayors for Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and North of Tyne met Mark Harper, the transport secretary, in offices near to Manchester Piccadilly station on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Prisons minister writes to police chiefs to establish Operation Safeguard due to lack of space in men’s prisons

The Oscar-winning director’s 32-year-old son has been training for three years for the roleAng Lee has cast his son Mason Lee as Bruce Lee in a new biopic.The Oscar-winning film-maker of Life of Pi and Brokeback Mountain has taken on a project that has already seen four writers deliver different versions of the script. The latest rewrite will come from the Oscar-nominated Capote screenwriter Dan Futterman. Continue reading...

One can only imagine how many Commonwealth countries must view what allegedly passes for small talk at a receptionThe resignation of Lady Susan Hussey after making “unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments” to a black female guest at a Buckingham Palace reception will undoubtedly cast a gloomy shadow over the beginning of the king’s reign.No matter that Lady Hussey, 83, who served six long loyal decades as lady-in-waiting to the late Queen – and who was nicknamed “No 1 Head Girl” by royal staff – is not a key aide in the king’s private office. She is a close friend of Charles, who made her a godmother to his eldest son, William. Continue reading...

Proposed buyout of collapsed supplier gets go-ahead despite judicial reviews lodged by rivals E.ON, Centrica and Scottish PowerThe takeover of the collapsed energy supplier Bulb in a deal which would create the UK’s third largest gas and electricity provider has been approved in a London court.Octopus Energy agreed last month to buy Bulb out of a government-handled administration process which has lasted for nearly a year. Continue reading...

Employee at Ukrainian embassy in Spain injured handling a letter; UK targets 22 Russians including deputy PM Denis Manturov

Pair urge president to withdraw military support to Netanyahu’s coalition government if Palestinians are expelled or land annexedTwo former senior US diplomats have made a highly unusual call for the Biden administration to cut weapons supplies to Israel if the incoming far-right government uses them to annex Palestinian land, expel Arabs or finally kill off the diminishing possibility of a Palestinian state.Daniel Kurtzer, a former US ambassador to Israel under George W Bush, and Aaron David Miller, a US Middle East peace negotiator during several administrations, have called for what they described as an “unprecedented and controversial” break from America’s largely unconditional military and diplomatic support for Israel if “the most extreme government in the history of the state” pursues the stated aims of some of its members. Continue reading...

Damian Hinds says acute increase in prison population means he has requested temporary use of up to 400 police cellsEngland’s poorest students will be more than £1,000 worse off this academic year than the last, according to a new analysis that warns of “significant hardship for many this winter”. My colleague Sally Weale has the story here.Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, has said she expects the government’s delayed nature and pollution targets to be published before Christmas.My main focus frankly in the next three months is getting the environmental targets out and the environmental improvement plan, as well as the preparation for the most important conference of the year which is actually the CBD [Convention on Biological Diversity] in Montreal next month.I really hope so, that’s my intention. I’ll be very disappointed if they aren’t. Continue reading...

The £574m payout is thought to be highest annual amount ever paid to one person in BritainThe billionaire hedge fund manager Sir Chris Hohn paid himself a record-breaking $690m (£574m) this year after his Children’s Investment (TCI) fund recorded a a surge in profits.The payout from the Mayfair-based hedge fund, where the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, worked between 2006 and 2009, is the biggest ever collected by Hohn and believed to be the highest annual amount ever paid to one person in Britain. It equates to more than £1.5m a day. Continue reading...

Former lady-in-waiting to queen issues apology after Ngozi Fulani questioned over where her ‘people’ came fromThe late queen’s lady-in-waiting has resigned and apologised after a black guest at a reception hosted by the queen consort was left feeling traumatised and violated after she questioned her repeatedly about where she “really came from”.Ngozi Fulani, the founder of the charity Sistah Space, claimed Susan Hussey moved her hair to reveal her name badge and persistently questioned her over where her “people” came from, despite having been told she was a British national. Continue reading...

Chair of Charity Commission says voluntary sector faces ‘existential crisis’ as incomes of top 1% rise but philanthropy fallsThe head of England’s charity watchdog has berated the super-rich for failing to give enough money to good causes, saying the voluntary sector faces an “existential crisis” amid the social and economic turmoil facing the UK.The chair of the Charity Commission, Orlando Fraser, said the UK’s top 1% of earners were giving less to charity than they were a decade ago, despite enjoying significant increases in their personal wealth over the same period. Continue reading...

Staff member sustained light injuries in blast that occurred while he was handling letter, say police

Ofcom warns lower socio-economic viewers feel ‘persistently underserved’ by broadcasterThe BBC will redirect its television budget to make “lighter” dramas and comedies in the belief they will appeal to Britons from poorer backgrounds.The broadcaster also said it would try to attract viewers from lower socio-economic groups by making sports documentaries and crime shows, after criticism from Ofcom that these audiences are more likely to watch commercial outlets such as ITV. Continue reading...

Donya Prioleau says company should have acted on the shooter’s pattern of disturbing behavior in the Virginia storeA Walmart employee injured in a mass shooting at a Virginia store last week has filed a $50m lawsuit against the company, alleging the gunman exhibited threatening behavior months before he killed six people.Donya Prioleau, an employee of the Walmart in Chesapeake, said in the lawsuit, filed on Thursday, the store should have been aware of problems with Andre Bing’s behavior given numerous reports including a formal complaint filed by Prioleau on 10 September, NBC News reported. Continue reading...

European Council’s ‘rapid reaction visit’ followed reports of diphtheria outbreak and squalid conditionsConditions for small boat arrivals at the Manston reception centre in Kent have sparked international concern and triggered a “rapid reaction” visit from European torture monitors in the last few days.A seven-strong delegation from the Council of Europe’s Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Committee carried out a the visit to Manston from 25-28 November due to concerns over conditions there. Continue reading...

Salah Abdeslam, who was convicted in separate trial over 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, among accusedBelgium has launched its biggest criminal trial with the prosecution of alleged jihadists accused of directing or aiding suicide bombings on the Brussels metro and airport that killed 32 people in 2016.The prime suspect in the dock, Abdeslam Salah, 33, an electrical mechanic, confirmed his identity and occupation. Salah, who is French, was convicted in a separate trial in France for his role in attacks in Paris in 2015 that killed 130 people. Continue reading...

Warnings of heavy road congestion, with action by Abellio and Metroline staff likely to coincide with rail stoppagesPassengers have been warned to expect disruption as strikes by thousands of bus drivers in London will affect routes for seven days in December.Drivers in the Unite union at two employers, Abellio and Metroline, will strike for three days from Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 December in disputes over pay. Continue reading...

Police arrested woman on suspicion of attempted murder after forcing entry into propertyTwo 10-year-old boys were stabbed and a 39-year-old woman was arrested after an eight-hour police standoff at a property in Lincolnshire.Police officers made a forced entry into the property at about 1am on Wednesday and found the boys with stab wounds. Both boys were taken to hospital but neither is believed to have life-threatening injuries. Continue reading...