by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#70E0X)
BBC's Panorama to broadcast allegations about Charing Cross station after sending evidence to police chiefsThe Metropolitan police are braced for an undercover documentary showing officers and staff allegedly being supportive of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, making anti-Muslim comments and using excessive force against suspects in custody.The allegations, which centre on Charing Cross police station in central London, are contained in a BBC Panorama documentary airing on Wednesday evening. Continue reading...
Prime minister lambasts Nigel Farage and the politics of Reform in combative Labour conference speechKeir Starmer has warned that Britain faces an era-defining choice between Labour and the populist right, as he launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage, saying the Reform leader neither liked or believed in Britain".In a speech that drew the battle lines for the next general election, the prime minister said the UK stood at a fork in the road where we can choose decency, we can choose division, renewal or decline". Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#70DZF)
Children not allowed out partly because their exercise - playing - looked too much like fun', says campaignerChildren were stopped from playing outside during Covid partly because it looked like fun" and did not fit with the seriousness of the restrictions, the UK's inquiry has heard.Alice Ferguson, the founding director of Playing Out, which campaigns for children's freedom to play outside, told the inquiry that play was fundamental for children's health and wellbeing, especially play outside with other children. Continue reading...
Military court convicts Kabila of war crimes, treason and other offences in verdict that could fuel enduring tensionsA military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has sentenced the country's former president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes, treason and crimes against humanity.The case stems from his alleged role in backing the advance of M23 rebels supported by Rwanda in DRC's volatile eastern provinces. Kabila, who led the country from 2001 to 2019, has denied wrongdoing and said the judiciary had been politicised. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#70DYA)
Exclusive: Guidance says members of staff group must not engage in activities that could be construed to be political'Police chiefs want to prevent officers of colour from speaking out through guidance changes that would create a damaging double standard", the National Black Police Association has alleged.New draft rules seen by the Guardian aim to stop any public statements construed to be political" being made by staff associations. The NBPA said that could include statements on stop and search policy, rules on police use of force and even the effects of a future Reform government on policing and race. Continue reading...
Recommendation comes ahead of Combs's sentencing after found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitutionFederal prosecutors urged a judge on Tuesday to sentence Sean Diddy" Combs to 11 years and three months in prison after he was found guilty this summer on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.The sentencing recommendation was filed shortly after midnight early on Tuesday, and just several days ahead of Combs's sentencing, which is scheduled for Friday. Continue reading...
PM says Reform's migration plan makes it enemy of national renewal', while Farage accuses Labour of endangering his party's politicians and activists with its language. This live blog is closedWes Streeting, the health secretary, has said that Tony Blair could play a positive role in Gaza helping to lead the administration there proposed under Donald Trump's peace plan.In an interview on LBC, Streeting said that Blair's decision to involve the UK in the Iraq war was a catastrophic error" that had devasting consequences". He said that he personally opposed it at the time.I also think about Tony Blair's other legacy, great legacy, which is Northern Ireland, and there he showed that he could bring together sworn enemies to broker a lasting peace.So if Tony Blair can put those skills to use, if he's got the confidence of both the Israelis, the Palestinians, and the regional players, as seems to be the case, then great. If he can make that contribution, and that can be another legacy, a positive legacy under his belt, then so much the better. Continue reading...
The PM's challenge is to make vocational options as attractive to parents and young people as higher eductionKeir Starmer has joined a long line of ministers and prime ministers who have called time on Tony Blair's ambition for half of the nation's young people to go on to higher education.Rishi Sunak, Gavin Williamson and now Starmer have all declared an end to Blair's famous 1999 pledge as a policy priority, and done so on the grounds that the focus on universities has come at the expense of vocational education and training such as apprenticeships. Continue reading...
Keith Kellogg tells Warsaw Security Forum that war in Ukraine is unwinnable' for Putin. This live blog is closedIf you are keen to understand the dynamics between the US and Belarus a bit better (10:08), here's a brilliant story from our own Pjotr Sauer, who recently visited Minsk.Since Trump took office, Lukashenko, an authoritarian strongman who has ruled Belarus since 1994, has been edging out of the diplomatic freeze, cautiously probing for space beyond Moscow, which sees Belarus as both its closest ally and a vital buffer.Sensing a political opening with the new Trump administration, Lukashenko has regularly met US officials and even held a call with the US president, who has floated the idea of a direct meeting. Continue reading...
Instability of building in East Java town hampers search but 99 boys and school staff known to have survivedParents were desperately searching for scores of missing teenage boys feared trapped under huge piles of concrete on Tuesday after a building at an Islamic boarding school collapsed in Indonesia.Authorities said 91 people were listed as missing at Al Khoziny school after the collapse as pupils held late-afternoon prayers in a mosque housed on a lower floor of a building whose upper floors were under construction. Continue reading...
Uncommon instance of cooperation between the two countries reportedly came after months of talksThe US has deported 120 Iranians under an expulsion campaign that raises fears over the potential persecution of returnees.As many as 400 Iranians are being sent back to their home country, according to Hossein Noushabadi, a foreign affairs official. Continue reading...
Singer who now goes by Yusuf Islam was set to tour in support of his book, Cat on the Road to Findout, out in the US in OctoberCat Stevens, who now goes by Yusuf Islam, has postponed the North American leg of his book tour due to unspecified visa issues, the singer announced on social media Monday.The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member was set to tour in support of his book, Cat on the Road to Findout, which will release in the US on 7 October and was made available in the UK earlier in September. The book release won't be impacted, Islam wrote, noting that books don't need visas!" Continue reading...
His poetry often explored love and relationships and he wrote books for children including Gargling With JellyBrian Patten, who made his name in the 1960s as one of the most prominent Liverpool poets, has died, his agent has confirmed. Patten was 79.His poetry often featured lyrical explorations of love and relationships and he also wrote books for children. Continue reading...
Three men had fled in taxi after allegedly piloting vessel carrying 3.65 tonnes of cocaine to Galicia, Spanish police sayPolice in Spain have arrested three men thought to have piloted a narco-submarine" carrying more than 3.6 tonnes of cocaine from South America to the north-western region of Galicia, after the trio's wet clothes, accents and claims to be pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago raised suspicions.The investigation, which has led to a total of 14 arrests, began in August after Policia Nacional officers, working with the US Drug Enforcement Agency, detected an alleged drug-smuggling gang based in the Galician town of Outes that was said to be concealing its activities by posing as a company selling and repairing nautical equipment. Continue reading...
British companies are trialling no-shoes policies as a way to improve focus, comfort and morale - but not everyone is convincedSlippers, socks and the occasional novelty toe warmer are fast becoming part of the office dress code for startups hoping to ease stress and boost creativity.It might sound like a gimmick conjured up during a yoga retreat, but asking staff to leave their shoes at the door taps into something more serious: how to make the workplace feel a little less like work. Continue reading...
The Israeli PM threatens to finish the job' if Hamas does not agree. Plus, do AI actors' pose an existential threat to their human counterparts?Good morning.President Donald Trump and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have given Hamas an ultimatum, warning the militant group to accept their 20-point peace plan or face the consequences.What does the plan call for? A ceasefire, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament and a transitional government led by an international body.Head to our live blog for the latest updates.What healthcare provisions are Democrats demanding? An extension of subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans, which expire at the end of the year, and a reversal of Medicaid cuts.How would a shutdown be received? 45% of voters would blame congressional Republicans for a shutdown, while 32% would blame Democrats, according to polling from Morning Consult. Continue reading...
Thames Valley police say any speculation is unfounded and unhelpful as they investigate weekend attackThere is no information to link the rape of a woman by a group of men in a Banbury churchyard to migrant accommodation, police have said as they attempt to quell online speculation.The woman, who is in her 30s, was raped by a group of men in the grounds of St Mary's church and the surrounding area of Banbury town centre overnight on Saturday, Thames Valley police said. Continue reading...
Vietnamese authorities said the typhoon was the most devastating storm to hit the country this yearThe death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in south-east Asia has risen to more than 30, as heavy rains continued to lash the region.In Vietnam, authorities said 19 people had been killed, with 21 still missing, making it the most devastating storm to hit the country this year. Heavy rains on Tuesday raised the risk of more flooding and landslides in northern regions. Continue reading...
National cyber security centre raises alert level to caution' as technicians race to restore government systems after battery fire sparked nationwide chaosSouth Korea's intelligence agency has raised the national cyber threat level, amid concerns that hackers could take advantage of the chaos caused by a fire at a government datacentre that paralysed critical digital infrastructure across the country.The national cybersecurity centre, operating under the intelligence service, elevated the alert from attention" to caution" on Monday, citing fears hackers could exploit vulnerabilities as recovery work continues. Continue reading...
In a combative speech, the prime minister will pledge to raise living standards and face down' threats of a volatile worldKeir Starmer will attempt to brush aside critics of his economic strategy by insisting it can be the antidote to division" being sown by the populist right.Under pressure to be more radical, the prime minister will tell the Labour party on Tuesday that economic growth can either build a nation or it can it pull it apart" depending on who and which parts of the country might benefit. Continue reading...
The US president has won regional backing, but Hamas's response and Israel's intentions leave the outcome in doubtAt first glance, the 20-point plan outlined by President Trump and agreed by Benjamin Netanyahu appears more likely to end the two-year conflict in Gaza than anything we have seen so far. Trump has sunk a lot of political capital in bringing peace to the Middle East after thousands of years", as he put it. There is apparent deep and wide regional support and, seemingly, that of the Israeli prime minister.But this is less a detailed roadmap than a rough back of an envelope sketch that allows an equal chance of getting badly lost as reaching the desired destination. Continue reading...
Organization earlier this year came to the tech mogul's aid over his widely criticized salutes at Trump's inaugurationElon Musk has accused the Anti-Defamation League, one of the most prominent Jewish organizations in the US, of being a hate group" against Christians, suggesting that it encourages murder.The ADL hates Christians, therefore it is is [sic] a hate group," Musk responded on Sunday night to an X account that posts anti-immigrant content. Continue reading...
by Guardian staff and agencies in Antananarivo on (#70D1M)
Demonstrations over water and power cuts inspired by gen-Z' protests elsewhere have left at least 22 dead, says UNMadagascar's president, Andry Rajoelina, has dissolved the government after youth-led protests over water and power cuts in which the UN says at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured.Inspired by the gen Z" protests in Kenya and Nepal, the three days of demonstrations are the largest the Indian Ocean island has seen in years, and the most serious challenge Rajoelina has faced since his re-election in 2023. Continue reading...
Canadian government accuses the Lawrence Bishnoi gang of being involved in murder of prominent Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near VancouverCanada's federal government has announced that a powerful and ruthless Indian gang which uses murder, shootings and arson" to extort and intimidate diaspora communities - and has alleged links to India's ruling government - has been designated as a terrorist entity.Canada has accused the Lawrence Bishnoi gang of possible involvement in the murder of prominent Sikh activist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. Continue reading...
Mayor of Greater Manchester says he would have to be wrenched' out of city and says he wants UK to rejoin EUIn her Today interview Rachel Reeves was asked about a FT report saying she will urge business leaders to highlight the risks of a Reform UK government in her speech later.The FT say Reeves will tell the Labour conference.Who is standing up for Britain's stability. A Labour government that is resolute in cutting interest rates and borrowing or a Reform party that cheered on Liz Truss' mini-budget?Who is standing up for Britain's businesses? A Labour government that is forging a closer relationship with our nearest trading partners or a Reform party that talks Britain down and is hungry to cut us off from the world? Continue reading...
A third of Etosha national park has been burned despite efforts of volunteers, who say troops were sent in too lateWildfires that raged through one of Africa's largest national parks have been brought under control, Namibia's government has said, amid criticisms over the response mechanism and limited resources.The fire broke out in Etosha national park, in the arid desert nation's north, on 22 September. The government said it suspected charcoal production next to the park, which is home to 114 mammal species including the critically endangered black rhino, was to blame. Continue reading...
Yasmeen Ali, 43, accused of killing seven-year-old Fares Bash, three-year-old Joury Bash and nine-month-old Mohammed BashA woman has been charged with murder after three siblings, including a baby, were found dead at a house in Bristol.Yasmeen Ali, 43, is accused of murdering seven-year-old Fares Bash, three-year-old Joury Bash and nine-month-old Mohammed Bash. Continue reading...
Telecoms disrupted nationwide after authorities cut fibre-optic connections in several provinces to prevent vice'A huge communications blackout has hit Afghanistan after Taliban authorities began severing fibre-optic connections in several provinces to prevent vice".A nationwide telecoms blackout is now in effect," said Netblocks, a watchdog organisation that monitors cybersecurity and internet governance. Continue reading...
Men removed from US by Ice say they were held near Accra then taken over border and left without passports or IDWest Africans deported by the US to Ghana are now fending for themselves in Togo after being dumped in the country without documents, according to lawyers and deportees.The latest chapter in Donald Trump's deportation programme, their saga became public earlier this month when the Ghanaian president, John Mahama, disclosed that his country had struck a deal to accept deportees from the region. Continue reading...
Performance of the once controversial poem was planned for its 40th anniversary but will now double as a tribute to writer who died last weekTony Harrison's state-of-the-nation poem V is to be performed in the Leeds cemetery that directly inspired the Yorkshire writer, who died last week.The seeds of V, first printed in the London Review of Books (LRB) in 1985, were sown when Harrison visited his parents' graves at Holbeck cemetery in Beeston and found the graveyard to be vandalised and daubed with racist graffiti. In the poem Harrison used this location of the family plot", where he envisions his own epitaph, to represent a divided and dejected society, juxtaposing the inscriptions on tombstones with spray-painted expletives. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England editor on (#70CNQ)
Protesters aged between 21 and 83 held on suspicion of supporting proscribed terror group at rally in LiverpoolPolice have arrested 66 people, including an 83-year-old, on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action at a rally outside the Labour party conference in Liverpool.Dozens of protesters gathered outside the venue on Sunday, many holding signs that read: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." Continue reading...
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