Policy change means group’s stores will have no new fur products on shelves from next autumnThe owner of House of Fraser, Flannels and Sports Direct has said it will stop buying fur products with immediate effect after lobbying from the Humane Society.Frasers Group said the change in policy meant it would no longer have new fur products on its shelves from next autumn. The company has not yet given a date from which consumers can be assured Frasers Group’s stores will be free of fur, however. Continue reading...
University and student leaders say they are seeing signs of students unable to cope with cost of living crisisUniversities in England and Wales are doubling or tripling their hardship funds in anticipation of “unprecedented” demand from students struggling with the cost of living, amid fears of widespread dropouts unless ministers offer more support.Just days into the new academic year, university and student leaders said they were already seeing signs of students being unable to cope, including not affording books for their courses, working 40-hour weeks, and being at risk of homelessness. Continue reading...
Measures are expected to stifle Palestinian economy and cause problems for families with dual nationalityIsrael has implemented strict rules limiting the ability of foreigners to enter and stay in the occupied West Bank despite international criticism of the measures, which include the compulsory declaration of romantic relationships.A 97-page ordinance replacing the previous four-page document came into effect on Thursday for a two-year pilot period. It is expected to stifle the Palestinian economy and academia, the work of aid agencies, and create complications for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian families with dual nationality already struggling to navigate a convoluted permit system. Continue reading...
Further proposals to be put before lower house next month after first attempt rejected in senateThe French government has said it supports making the country the first in the world to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right, after the right-dominated senate voted down the left’s first attempt at a proposal.Several political parties in France, from the left to the centrist lawmakers of Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, began pushing for abortion rights to be written into the constitution after the US supreme court’s decision in June to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade ruling, which recognised a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion and legalised it nationwide. Continue reading...
Gas and electricity company that pulled out of auction for Bulb last year could gazump bid by OctopusThe gas and electricity supplier Ovo has revived its interest in snapping up nationalised rival Bulb, potentially gazumping a bid by Octopus Energy.Ovo has written to Bulb’s special administrator to inform it that it is again considering a purchase. Ovo originally submitted an offer to buy Bulb shortly after it collapsed in November last year, but later pulled out of the auction, during which several bidders have fallen away. Continue reading...
Some thought it the ‘tip of the iceberg’, while others tried interesting ways of quantifying the PM’s tenureWith an unlikely war cry of “Lettuce! Lettuce! Lettuce!”, social media users set about the aftermath of Liz Truss’s resignation with gusto. The Daily Star’s live stream of whether a lettuce could outlast her time in office was a strong cue for jokes.The lettuce pretty much overshadowed everything. Continue reading...
The actor says she and Ramona Agruma were yet to tell some family members they were a couple when a planned news article forced her to announce itRebel Wilson has broken her silence on being forced to reveal a same-sex relationship before she was ready by a gossip columnist.Speaking to The Australian on Thursday, Rebel Wilson spoke of the “grubby” episode, saying she and girlfriend Ramona Agruma were yet to tell some family members they were a couple. Continue reading...
Country investigating 206 cases of kidney injury that could be linked to ingredients in liquid medicinesIndonesia has banned the sale of all syrup medicines as it investigates the deaths this year of nearly 100 children, warning that they may contain ingredients linked to fatal kidney injuries.The move comes just weeks after the World Health Organization issued an alert over four Indian-made cough syrups that it said were potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and the deaths of 70 children in the Gambia. Continue reading...
At just 45 days, Truss has had the shortest UK premiership, but she at least outstrips some other leaders• Truss resigns - live news updates• Liz Truss resigns as PMCoup, assassination, abdication, suicide and illness – all have contributed to history’s shortest serving leaderships though none, in the literal sense at least, can be said to apply to Liz Truss.But at just 45 days, she faces the ignominy of being the UK’s shortest-serving prime minister by some degree. Continue reading...
Police declare major incident as islanders warned it could take days for full services to be restoredIslanders on Shetland have lost nearly all landline telephone and internet services and some mobile services after a crucial subsea cable link with the mainland was damaged.Police on Shetland have declared a major incident and are patrolling the island to reassure residents, but have warned it could take several days for full services to be restored. Engineers are working to reroute some services using other networks. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England correspondent on (#64Y64)
UK government facing growing criticism over ‘weak’ response after democracy campaigner attackedBritish ministers have been urged to immediately expel a senior Chinese diplomat who admitted being involved in violence against protesters in Manchester, as the government faced growing criticism over its “weak and supine” response.Zheng Xiyuan, the Chinese consul general, said it was his “duty” to grab the hair of a pro-democracy campaigner who was badly injured after being dragged inside the consulate grounds on Sunday. Continue reading...
One in three people surveyed had eaten food past its use-by date in past month to save moneyThe food safety watchdog has warned consumers against eating food past its use-by date or switching off their fridge and freezer to save money.The Food Standards Agency (FSA), whose remit covers England, Northern Ireland and Wales, said people were taking risks because of financial pressures caused by rising energy bills and the cost of living crisis. Continue reading...
British defence secretary Ben Wallace tells MPs of incident in international airspace on 29 SeptemberThe UK defence secretary has revealed that a Russian fighter jet recently “released a missile” in the vicinity of a British aircraft over the Black Sea.Ben Wallace told the Commons the incident occurred in “international airspace over the Black Sea” on 29 September, adding that an “unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint” plane was “interacted with” by two Russian Su-27s, one of which “released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range”. Continue reading...
Flagship news programmes faced impossible task of distilling day’s events into succinct and punchy curtain raiserAbsolute abject chaos. A government in its death spiral. Utter turmoil. Chaos on all fronts.Extraordinary opening remarks from the nation’s broadcasters on yet another extraordinary day in British politics.It has been a night of astonishing scenes at Westminster with reports of jostling, manhandling, bullying and shouting outside the parliamentary lobbies in a supposed vote of confidence in the government.The deputy chief whip was reported to have left the scene saying, ‘I’m absolutely F-ing furious, I just don’t F-ing care any more’, before he resigned along with the chief whip. But we’ve just been told they have now officially unresigned. The home secretary has, however, definitely gone.Tonight at 10, chaos on all fronts for Liz Truss. The home secretary resigns and party discipline breaks down in the Commons.Suella Braverman is out as home secretary. She admits breaking the rules on official communications but she also criticises Liz Truss. In her resignation letter, she accuses the government of losing direction and of breaking promises to voters.A weak prime minister flailing from one crisis to the next and a big blunt question tonight: is this a government in its death spiral?Another day of utter turmoil for the government. The home secretary’s resigned and more cabinet ministers are on resignation watch. There was chaos over a fracking vote. And the prime minister was forced to make another promise, this time on pensions. So is it nearly all over for Liz Truss? Continue reading...
Shuttling police officers for Queen’s funeral also helped coach firm as revenue leaps 33%National Express has reported a further rebound in passengers and a rise in revenues after it stepped up services during rail strikes and helped shuttle police during the Queen’s funeral.The coach and bus operator said revenues rose by 33% in the three months to the end of September and were now above 2019 levels, thanks in part to strong growth in its UK and Spanish coach business. Continue reading...
Line across northern England to be out of service for several days after carriages of cement come off trackA rail line across northern England will be closed for several days after a freight train derailed.Network Rail said carriages carrying cement came off the track near Carlisle, Cumbria, shortly after 8pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Unemployment has come in at 3.5% for the second month in a row. That’s good news for economic growth – if people have jobs, they’re more likely to spend
Ex-wife of Amazon founder continues to ‘empty the safe’ after 2019 divorce that netted her $38bnThe Girl Scouts has received the largest monetary donation in its history, from novelist and billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who was once married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.An announcement from the Girl Scouts of the USA on Tuesday thanked Scott for her gift of $84.5m, which the organization pledged to use toward helping its recovery from various shutdowns associated with controlling the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading...
World Health Organization welcomes country’s ‘crucial step’ in backing use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA)Zimbabwe has become the first country in Africa and the third in the world to approve an HIV prevention drug recently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).Regulators in Australia and the US have already given their backing to use the long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), and the WHO welcomed the move by Zimbabwe. Continue reading...
by Lisa O'Carroll Brexit correspondent on (#64XY0)
Economic and Social Research Institute analysis found ‘substantial reduction in number of products traded’Trade from the UK to the EU is down 16% on the levels anticipated had Brexit not happened, a new report has found.Meanwhile trade from the EU to the UK has dropped even further, by 20%, relative to a scenario in which Brexit had not occurred, according to research published on Wednesday by the Economic and Social Research Institute. Continue reading...
by Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent on (#64XXZ)
Producer says trial asked questions about boundaries between privacy and celebrity and what it is to be a WagA play about the “Wagatha Christie” trial is to be staged in the West End by the producers behind Agatha Christie’s seminal drama Witness for the Prosecution.Vardy v Rooney: the Wagatha Christie Trial, adapted from the original high court transcripts by Liv Hennessy and directed by Lisa Spirling, brings the legal battle between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney to life for one night only this autumn. Continue reading...
Three prison staff and five visitors died after the bombs hit a crowd queuing to drop off parcels for inmates at prison housing political detaineesAt least eight people have been killed in explosions at Myanmar’s main prison for political detainees after two bombs exploded on Wednesday morning.Three prison staff and five visitors, including a 10-year-old girl, died after the bombs hit a crowd queueing to drop off parcels for inmates at Insein Prison, junta authorities said in a statement. Continue reading...
Truss, who became Britain’s PM last month but has already overseen two major departures from her cabinet and several policy u-turns, is facing calls to resign
The UK newspaper front pages cover a tumultuous day in politics with accusations of bullying in the Commons and the home secretary’s resignationA highly chaotic day in parliament and the resignation of home secretary Suella Braverman dominate UK front pages on Thursday.The Guardian says “Braverman’s bombshell puts Truss on the brink”, after a “chaotic fracking vote brings fresh revolt from mutinous Tories”. Continue reading...
New bill means minimum service level must be in place or unions will lose legal protections from damagesLiz Truss has published controversial plans to make sure transport workers provide a minimum service level when they strike, ahead of a speech by Keir Starmer pledging to repeal all the Tories’ new anti-trade union laws.As the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union warned of a new wave of rail strikes all winter, Truss brought forward a new bill to ensure that transport services keep running during strike action. Continue reading...
Bob Chan backs calls for UK government to expel any Chinese officials involved in peaceful protestA pro-democracy protester who appeared to be beaten up by men from China’s consulate in Manchester has condemned the attack as “barbaric” and backed calls for the UK government to expel any Chinese officials involved.Speaking for the first time since the incident, which was captured on video, Bob Chan said: “I’m shocked and hurt by this unprovoked attack,” adding he had been taking part in a “peaceful protest”. Continue reading...
Canada’s foreign minister Melanie Joly said they will meet to discuss protests ignited by the death of Mahsa AminiCanada is to host a virtual meeting of female foreign ministers to discuss Iran’s “brutal” crackdown on protests ignited by the death of a young woman who was detained by morality police for “improper” use of the hijab.Canada’s foreign minister, Melanie Joly, said she and 14 others will meet virtually on Thursday to discuss the state of women’s and human rights in Iran, Joly’s office said, adding that it would give them an opportunity to coordinate efforts and discuss “ways to increase their collective support for the Iranian people”. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian