by Justin McCurry in Tokyo and agencies on (#5TNNW)
Regime conducts first such launch of the year, with South Korea’s military saying the missile appears to have landed in the seaNorth Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile early on Wednesday, the first such test by Pyongyang of the new year, drawing condemnation from Japan and calls for talks from South Korea.The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Japanese coast guard said the projectile “appears” to be a ballistic missile, with South Korea saying it landed in the East Sea. Continue reading...
Bangladesh praised for taking in nearly a million Rohingya refugees, but destruction of shops that serve communities has attracted criticismBangladesh authorities have bulldozed more than 3,000 Rohingya-run shops since last month, a government official confirmed on Tuesday, as struggling refugee families voiced their dismay at the demolitions.About 850,000 members of the stateless Muslim minority are packed into overcrowded displacement camps in Bangladesh, most having fled neighbouring Myanmar after a 2017 military clampdown that prompted an international genocide investigation. Continue reading...
Academics gather online to explore the philosophical underpinnings of a movie about a baby who is also a bossIn the middle of a question and answer session at an academic symposium, an audience member wearing a Boss Baby shirt showed off the Boss Baby lunchbox he takes to work every day.“Obviously I eat cookies for lunch,” he explained, “because that’s what Boss Baby fans do.” Continue reading...
Half of total to be offered in compensation to 200,000 individuals and families who suffered from discriminatory systemA C$40bn agreement-in-principle has been reached in Canada to reform the child welfare system for First Nations people and compensate more than 200,000 individuals and families who suffered because of it.At the heart of the deal is a legacy of discrimination in child welfare systems that saw many children removed from their homes and placed in state care, and others who were denied adequate medical care and social services because of their Indigenous identity. Continue reading...
French racing driver Philippe Boutron was seriously injured in blast in Saudi city of JeddahFrench prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation after a car participating in the Dakar rally was hit by an explosion in Saudi Arabia last week that badly wounded its driver.After the 30 December attack in the city of Jeddah, the driver, Philippe Boutron, underwent surgery in Saudi Arabia for serious leg injuries before returning to France. Continue reading...
Alexander Tekle was second of four Eritrean asylum seekers to kill themselves within 16-month periodAn Eritrean asylum seeker who killed himself shortly after his 18th birthday was worried about his application to remain in the UK and was traumatised by the recent suicide of a close friend, another Eritrean asylum seeker, an inquest has heard.The examination of the circumstances leading to the death of Alexander Tekle is the fourth inquest to be heard into the suicides of four Eritreans within a 16-month period. Collectively, the inquests have put a spotlight on how young, unaccompanied asylum seekers are looked after by local authorities on arrival in the UK.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...
John Sillett allegedly abused victim over a seven-year period, starting when she was aged between 12 and 13A former Olympic showjumping coach raped and sexually abused a teenage girl over a seven-year period, a court has heard.John Sillett, 55, faces three charges of rape, four counts of assault by penetration and two sexual assaults. The alleged assaults against the same girl started when she was aged between 12 and 13, Winchester crown court was told by a prosecutor. Continue reading...
Dog kept man warm and safe until rescuers found himA dog saved a hiker injured in the Croatian mountains by lying on top of him for 13 hours until they were rescued, according to local media.The dog, called North, kept Grga Brkic warm after he fell while out hiking and was unable to move. The other two hikers with him were unable to reach them, so they raised the alarm. Continue reading...
In closing speeches, defence for four accused of damaging slave trader memorial say judgement will reverberate around worldA jury has been urged to “be on the right side of history” by acquitting four defendants accused of criminal damage over the toppling of the statue of the slave trader Edward Colston.In closing speeches at Bristol crown court on Tuesday, barristers for the accused argued that the statue, which stood over the multicultural south-west city for 125 years, was so indecent and potentially abusive that it constituted a crime. Continue reading...
Government accused of failing those at risk of falling back into traffickers’ hands in home countriesOnly 7% of confirmed victims of trafficking from overseas have been granted leave to remain in the last five years according to new data disclosed to the Guardian.A Home Office data shows that 447 out of 6,066 confirmed trafficking victims who requested leave to remain between April 2016 and June 2021 were granted it – 7%. Continue reading...
Eurostat report puts UK third for robbery but 2021 data show most crimes plummeting across regionSpain and Belgium have almost treble Europe’s average number of robberies, topping its robbery league, according to a Eurostat report.The figures, compiled from 2016-2019, before the pandemic, show robberies fell in Europe by 11% over the period, with an average of approximately 55 for every 100,000 people. Continue reading...
Suspected remanded in custody to appear at Old Bailey over death of Ionut Elvis Tacu in HillingdonA 16-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of another boy who was London’s record 30th teenage homicide victim last year.The victim, named by police as Ionut Elvis Tacu, died of stab wounds following the attack at Philpot’s Farm open space, close to Heather Lane in Yiewsley, Hillingdon, west London, shortly after 7.30pm on Thursday. Continue reading...
by Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent on (#5TMYD)
Rocco Ritchie, 21, has been selling his paintings for up to five figures under the mysterious pseudonym RhedHe is a mysterious, up-and-coming artist whose work has been championed by the likes of Madonna and sells for up to five figures.But there were raised eyebrows when it was revealed that “Rhed” was none other than the singer’s eldest son, Rocco Ritchie. Continue reading...
Júlio Lancellotti is an outspoken champion of homeless people – a cause that makes him unpopular with Brazil’s authoritiesIn 2017, most Brazilians were still unfamiliar with the name Jair Bolsonaro. But for Júlio Lancellotti, there was already cause for concern in the reactionary rhetoric of the man who would be elected president two years later under the slogan: “Brazil above everything, God above everyone.”“I am astonished that a homophobic person like Bolsonaro appears on the presidential ballot,” said the priest during mass on 7 March of that year at St Michael the Archangel parish in São Paulo’s East Zone. The sermon, in which he also preached against rape culture and sexism, was typical of the man who has devoted his life to fighting injustice, often finding himself targeted by conservative politicians as a result. Continue reading...
The near-mint condition copy of the first Hulk story, in which the hero is depicted as grey not green, is the most expensive ever soldA 60-year-old comic featuring the Incredible Hulk – in which the superhero is depicted in his original grey, rather than his signature green – has been sold for almost half a million dollars.The rare copy of Incredible Hulk #1, which was published in 1962, was bought by a private collector for $490,000 (£360,000). Comic Connect, an auction site which handled the sale, said it was the most expensive copy of the first Hulk story ever sold. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England correspondent on (#5TMT4)
Volunteers urge people to check forecasts and equipment after a record-breaking year for call-outsMountain rescue has urged day trippers to the Lake District to properly plan their walks after an “absolutely chaotic” Christmas period and warnings of blizzards on the way.The rescue group said there were 11 call-outs during Christmas week, including one that involved 75 people looking for a man and his 11-year-old son on Scafell Pike. Continue reading...
Women say website aims to punish journalists, academics and artists drawing attention to hate speechPolice in India have detained a woman accused of organising a fake online auction in which hundreds of prominent female Muslims were put up “for sale” on a website.There were shock waves of anger and disgust in India after it emerged that a website calling itself Bulli Bai, an offensive term for Muslims, had set up a pretend auction of more than 100 Muslim women, including journalists, academics, activists, scholars and artists, where they were to be “sold” as servants for negligible sums. Continue reading...
Sverre Breivik took a lead in Angels in America while crafting masterfully melodramatic music, and this omnivorous new talent is now set on creating the perfect gigWhen Norwegian pop star Metteson was 18, he had an experience at a festival that made him understand the visceral impact music can have. While Emeli Sandé was performing Heaven, he kissed the boy he’d had a crush on for ages.“I wasn’t on drugs but I was as high as I’ve ever been and I had what was sort of my first sexual experience,” he says. “But the day after, I got brutally dumped when he told me that he was in love with someone else. The picture of the night before exploded and cracked.” Continue reading...
The Observer’s pop critic joined a kayaking club thinking she’d be able to glide along with moorhens, but soon found herself practising sprints and turns for her racing debutFor as long as I have run, I have hoofed unathletically alongside canals and rivers – I come out in hives if I breathe too hard near roads. And for as long as I have been a towpath user, I have looked enviously at the people in canoes and kayaks, slicing through the water, eye level with the moorhens.One day, I might give kayaking a go, I thought, vaguely. Sit-on-top kayaks always made for a far better day at the beach on holiday. Rowing itself never seemed remotely attractive – too much ruling class baggage, too much shouting. But in a kayak, I thought, you might wander pacifically about in nature, maybe spot some riverbank wildlife you don’t normally see and, almost as an afterthought, perhaps build a little upper body strength. Continue reading...
Met Office warns of bitter cold and localised blizzards as UK’s mild weather comes to an endWinter weather conditions have returned to the UK with warnings of bitterly cold temperatures, localised blizzards and snow and ice in parts of northern England and northern Scotland.The Met Office on Tuesday issued a yellow weather warning of icy patches for northern England. In northern Scotland, a yellow warning was given for snow showers and ice, while “very strong winds” in the far north were expected to bring travel delays and short-term power cuts. Continue reading...
Plaintiff Spencer Elden, who appeared as a naked baby on the album cover, claimed he was the victim of child sexual exploitationA judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Nirvana made by Spencer Elden, who appeared as a naked baby on the cover of the band’s classic 1991 album Nevermind, Spin magazine reports.In California District Court on Monday, Judge Fernando M Olguin dismissed the case “with leave to amend”. Lawyers for Elden missed the deadline to file an opposition to the Nirvana estate’s request to dismiss the case made in December. His team have until 13 January to refile. Continue reading...
China’s second-biggest developer halted trading after it was was told to demolish 39 buildings in HainanShares in the embattled Chinese property developer Evergrande rose on Tuesday after they resumed trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange following a suspension.China’s second-biggest developer halted trading on Monday after receiving an order from authorities at Danzhou city in Hainan on 30 December telling it to demolish 39 under-construction buildings at the Ocean Flower Island project. Continue reading...
Festival board issues new statement as protest against it grows, with program thrown into chaos two days before opening nightMore than 20 acts have pulled out of the 2022 Sydney festival, just 48 hours before opening night, boycotting the festival over a sponsorship deal with the Israeli embassy.The comedian Tom Ballard, the Belvoir theatre production of Black Brass, former NSW politician Meredith Burgmann, First Nations dance company Marrugeku and commentator Yumi Stynes are just some of the festival participants who have either cancelled or distanced themselves in protest, joining a growing number of Arab, pro-Palestinian, First Nations and Greens groups spearheading the call for a boycott. Continue reading...
‘It feels like they’re actively not wanting us to get tested,’ says one frustrated resident, while another who queued for hours said: ‘It’s not like we couldn’t logistically plan for this’
As awards season heats up, there are a number of deserving performers who haven’t been making the cutWith the most recent Oscar ceremony having taken place abnormally late in April, it feels like we barely had a break before the machinery of awards season started cranking up again. It began at the Venice film festival at the tail end of summer and is now in full cry, with major critics’ groups and more dubious collectives like the Golden Globes having already weighed in – and a gaggle of apparent frontrunners establishing themselves in major categories. In the acting fields, we’re already pondering the likelihood of victories for stars like Kristen Stewart, Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Smith and Rita Moreno – though there’s still plenty of wiggle room for surprises. Last year’s extra-long season yielded an almost entirely unforeseen nomination for Lakeith Stanfield and an against-the-odds win for Anthony Hopkins: never make the mistake of taking the pundits’ word as gospel.With that in mind, we’re highlighting a few outlying performances that ought to be in the mix, but haven’t yet generated the buzz they deserve. Some of them are just outside the perceived top tier of contenders, others are long shots that we can merely dream about. But there’s still a long way to go – Oscar nomination ballots only go out toward the end of January, for one thing. And the season would be more interesting for having all these names invited to the party. Continue reading...
How does it feel to fight off a predator in the wild? And what effect does it have on your life? Five people, who lived to tell the tale, explainAlthough, mercifully, still rare, there are signs that wild animal attacks on humans are increasing. Research from the scientific journal Nature found that, as our urban areas further expand into the territories of carnivorous animals, attacks on pets, livestock and sometimes humans have been on the rise. In Kashmir, local wildlife departments have been reporting a marked increase in attacks, with almost 200 people killed and more than 2,000 others wounded in man-animal conflict in the region since 2011.From a British citizen attacked by otters in Singapore, to monkey attacks in Thailand, squirrel attacks in New York, and a man who fought off a crocodile with a pocket knife in Queensland, these encounters capture our imaginations. But how does it feel to survive such an ordeal – and how does it affect your life? Continue reading...
by Jason Burke in Thembokwezi, Graaff-Reinet and Fran on (#5TMCG)
Struggling even before Covid, communities are taking it upon themselves to try to fill the gaps left by the governmentOne evening a week, Natasha Msweswe and Zanele Madasi leave their children at home and set out to patrol the streets of Thembokwezi. They return at midnight. This is potentially very dangerous but they feel they have little choice.“It can be scary but we want to protect our community,” said Madasi, 31. “We want to make a difference.” Continue reading...
Refugee charities want change of approach from government after 28,300 people crossed Channel in 2021Refugee charities are urging the government to open safe routes or risk a new wave of fatalities in the Channel after the number of people who travelled to the UK by small boats trebled last year.Data released on Tuesday shows that more than 28,300 people crossed the Channel in 2021, three times the number for 2020. The record number came despite tens of millions of pounds being spent by the home secretary, Priti Patel, on new measures to discourage the journeys. Continue reading...
More woes for property giant as it is told to tear down the buildings in the lavish Ocean Flower Island development in Hainan provinceShares in China’s Evergrande Group have been suspended from trading after the embattled property developer was told to demolish 39 buildings in a huge resort-style development in the southern province of Hainan.After initially giving no reason for the share halt, Evergrande confirmed late on Monday that it had received an order from authorities at Danzhou city in Hainan on 30 December telling it to demolish 39 under-construction buildings at the Ocean Flower Island project. Continue reading...
by Iliesa Tora in Nuku'alofa and Bernadette Carreon i on (#5TM0S)
Arnold Latu was found dead in his berth – one of numerous deaths of monitors who ensure fishing boats follow the rulesOn the morning of Monday 27 September, a crew member on board the Hsinlong 1 fishing vessel went to fetch his friend Arnold Latu for breakfast.Latu, in his mid-30s, was the monitoring officer of the Chinese-owned, Fiji-flagged vessel, employed by the Tongan government to check that the amount of fish caught on its three-week voyage was legal and correctly recorded. Continue reading...
Flames break out as man charged with arson day after fire extensively damages national assembly buildingSouth African firefighters are struggling to extinguish another fire at the complex housing the country’s parliament in Cape Town, a day after a blaze swept through the buildings.Police have charged a 49-year-old man with arson and other offences including theft. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. The speaker of the national assembly said arson, if confirmed, would represent an attack on South Africa’s democracy. Continue reading...
by Reported and presented by Laura Murphy-Oates, prod on (#5TKV7)
One of Full Story’s best episodes in 2021 was about Isaiah. As a kid, Isaiah couldn’t escape the police. He went on to spend his teenage years in and out of youth detention. Now this young Dunghutti man is trying to change how our justice system treats Indigenous childrenThis episode is part of the childhood in custody series, you can read the feature on Isaiah here. Continue reading...
Leader reported same symptoms as earlier admission following stabbing at 2018 campaign eventThe Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been taken to hospital with an intestinal blockage and may need to undergo surgery, in the latest complication from a 2018 stabbing.Bolsonaro said he started feeling unwell on Sunday afternoon after lunch and was taken to hospital early on Monday. Continue reading...
Vigil held over weekend for 15-year-old Zaian, one of two boys killed in stabbings in London on ThursdayA teenager has been charged with the murder of 15-year-old Zaian Aimable-Lina, one of two boys to be killed within about an hour of each other in separate stabbing incidents in London on Thursday evening.The suspect, who is also aged 15 and whom police have not named because of his age, was arrested on Saturday and is due to appear at Bromley magistrates court in south London on Tuesday. Continue reading...
Seoul defence ministry says it is in the process of verifying facts about incident at the weekendA man observed crossing the heavily fortified border from South Korea into North Korea last week is believed to be a North Korean who previously defected to the South in 2020 in the same area, Seoul’s defence ministry has said.South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff (JCS) said it carried out a search operation after detecting the person on Saturday on the eastern side of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two countries. Continue reading...
Government accused of remaining ‘scandalously’ silent on grim start to the year for women and girlsFeminist campaigners in France are calling for tougher government action to combat violence against women and girls after three women were allegedly killed by their current or former partner on the first day of 2022.The body of a 28-year-old military recruit who had been stabbed to death was found near Saumur in western France on Saturday. The local prosecutor, Alexandra Verron, said a 21-year-old man, also a soldier, had been arrested and investigators were looking into a possible femicide – the killing of a woman by her partner or ex-partner. Continue reading...
Senior white executives are accused of discriminating against BAME Kenyan-born staffThe British Council has launched an inquiry into allegations from black current and former staff members in Kenya who claim they were subjected to systemic racism.Senior white executives at the organisation, which is the British government’s cultural arm abroad, have been accused of discriminating against BAME Kenyan-born staff, particularly as they were selected and assessed for redundancy.A programme manager who worked at the British Council from August 2014 to 2019 who claimed they were put at risk of redundancy without adequate explanation.Another complainant claimed they resigned as a senior official of the Kenyan office’s welfare association after a white executive frustrated efforts to channel staff concerns to the senior leadership team. “Staff have no confidence raising concerns through HR … for fear of being victimised,” the complainant said.A manager for the professional skills centre in Kenya who claimed they were among a number of black employees who were unfairly targeted for redundancy. Continue reading...
Mary, 62, and Roy, 70, met in Michigan after she accidentally crashed her bike into his – and broke her jaw. They’re now married and live in St LouisWhen Mary moved from Bedfordshire in the UK to Michigan in the US on a Fulbright scholarship in 1985, she wasn’t expecting to find love. Her mind was focused on the nutrition course she had enrolled on and her plans for a future career. In the spring of 1986, she was cycling home from a meeting with her tutor when she approached a fence covered in ivy. Roy, who had been pushing his bike, emerged from behind the fence before she had the chance to stop. “I hit his wheel and, because my hands were cold and I was wearing a backpack, I went sailing over the handlebars,” she remembers. “I landed on my chin and broke my jaw on the concrete.”In typical British fashion, she told him she was “absolutely fine”, but Roy says it was clear she was badly hurt. “My apartment was pretty close by so I got my roommate to drive her to the university health centre,” he says. The next day, Mary had to have her jaw wired shut, meaning she couldn’t eat solid food for three months. “Roy came to my apartment with some juice to suck through a straw. He said that when my jaw was unwired he would make me dinner,” she recalls. Although it was an accident, Roy felt “terrible” about what happened. “I was really concerned about her,” he says.Want to share your story? Tell us a little about yourself, your partner and how you got together by filling in the form here. Continue reading...
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