Nine members of Force 100 investigated over allegations of sexual assaulting prisoner at Sde Teiman detention campAn Israeli military unit that has been accused of human rights abuses against Palestinian detainees is reportedly under investigation by the US state department in a move that could lead to it being barred from receiving assistance.The inquiry into the activities of Force 100 was instigated following a spate of allegations that Palestinians held under its guard at a detention centre have been subject to torture and brutal mistreatment, including sexual assault, Axios reported on Monday. Continue reading...
Review ordered amid prisons overcrowding crisis will look at punishing thousands more offenders within communityJudges could be given powers to impose a punishment of house arrest on criminals under a comprehensive overhaul of sentences to be launched on Tuesday.The review, which will be chaired by the former Conservative justice minister David Gauke, will also reassess the jail time handed to offenders found guilty of crimes against women and girls, including those connected to domestic abuse. Continue reading...
Grand jury declined to indict eight officers who fired 94 bullets at 25-year-old Black man in 2022The family of Jayland Walker, a Black man killed when eight police officers fired 94 bullets at him after he shot at least one round out his car window, will receive a $4.8m settlement from the city of Akron, the mayor's office said on Monday.A grand jury declined to indict the officers last year, but Walker's family accused the officers in a federal lawsuit of using excessive force and participating in a culture of violence and racism" within Akron's police department. Continue reading...
Incident involving portrait of former DUP lord mayor was reported to PSNI, adding to pressure on Sinn FeinA Sinn Fein assembly employee in Northern Ireland has resigned after admitting involvement in an incident where a portrait of a former DUP mayor was taken off the wall at Belfast City Hall and damaged.The party, which has been rocked by a number of recent controversies north and south of the border in Ireland, said police had been informed and the staffer suspended. It later said they had resigned. Continue reading...
Rules targeting fruit drinks, chips and artificial pork rinds come as UN calls child obesity in country an emergencySchools in Mexico have six months to implement a government-sponsored ban on junk food or face heavy fines, officials said on Monday, as authorities confront what they call the worst childhood obesity problem in the world.The new rules target products that have become staples for two or three generations of Mexican school kids: sugary fruit drinks, chips, artificial pork rinds and soy-encased, salty peanuts with chili. Continue reading...
SFO inquiry follows two reports ordered by union's boss, Sharon Graham, into conference complex valued at 29mThe Serious Fraud Office is investigating the construction of a hotel and conference centre owned by one of the UK's biggest trade unions, the Guardian understands.Unite spent 112m of its members' money under its previous leadership on the project in Birmingham, which has since been valued at just 29m. Continue reading...
The Tory leadership hopeful believes that if he shouts the same things a bit louder, everyone will eventually come round to his way of thinkingYou can only conclude that some politicians are simply untreatable. Their egotism and self-delusion so deeply engrained that reality never gets a look in. I give you Robert Jenrick. Exhibit A. He is a worthy successor to Liz Truss as one of the dimmest solipsists you could hope to meet.After trailing in a distant second in last week's televised Q&A, you'd have thought Honest Bob might have taken a day or two to regroup. After all, if the most Tory-friendly audience imaginable at GB News doesn't much like you then most people would reasonably conclude they had a problem. If you can't connect with the few remaining diehard Tory members, then your chances of appealing to the rest of the country are vanishingly small.Taking the Lead by John Crace is published by Little, Brown (18.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.A year in Westminster: John Crace, Marina Hyde and Pippa Crerar. On Tuesday 3 December, join Crace, Hyde and Crerar as they look back at a political year like no other, live at the Barbican in London and livestreamed globally. Book tickets here or at guardian.live. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England editor on (#6RMNN)
Karen Rees tells Thirlwall inquiry she had never been so relieved' as when police were eventually calledA nursing boss has described how she pleaded" with a hospital executive to contact police over allegations Lucy Letby was harming babies.Karen Rees, the head of nursing in urgent care at the Countess of Chester hospital, said she wanted a criminal investigation because other reviews were getting nowhere" and relationships were breaking down all over the place". Continue reading...
Suspect being questioned over death of 57-year-old who was found with head injuries after going for walk in JulyA 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Anita Rose in Suffolk, police have said.The 57-year-old left her house in Brantham to take her dog for a walk at about 5am on Wednesday 24 July. She was found unconscious with serious head injuries near Rectory Lane at about 6.25am and died four days later. Continue reading...
by Shah Meer Baloch in Islamabad and Hannah Ellis-Pet on (#6RMJE)
Coalition will now be able to hire and fire judges but faces accusations it bribed and abducted lawmakers to get its wayPakistan's government has passed a controversial amendment to the constitution that has been accused of weakening the power and independence of the judiciary, throwing the country's democracy into further crisis.The 26th constitutional amendment was passed in a clandestine, late-night parliamentary session that was clouded in secrecy and marred by allegations of abductions and intimidation of parliamentarians to force them to vote in favour of the bill. Continue reading...
UK PM says monarch is doing a fantastic job' after protest by senator in Australian parliamentKing Charles is doing a fantastic job", particularly in the context of his health challenges", the prime minister has said after the royal was heckled by the Indigenous Australian senator Lidia Thorpe.Charles had just finished addressing MPs and senators at Parliament House in Canberra, as part of his five-day tour of Australia with Camilla, when he was approached by Thorpe, who yelled: This is not your country." Continue reading...
Final result sees yes' vote scrape ahead by 13,000 votes, narrowly avoiding shock setback for pro-western presidentMoldovans have voted by a razor-thin majority in favour of joining the EU after a pivotal referendum clouded by allegations of Russian interference.On Sunday, Moldova held key votes in a presidential election and a referendum on EU membership, marking a critical moment in the continuing struggle between Russia and the west for control over the small, landlocked nation in eastern Europe, home to 2.5 million people. Continue reading...
Eleanor Brown, 24, given three-year sentence for vindictive, selfish and vengeful offending' against womanA woman who posted sexual images of her father's former lover on an escort site has been jailed for three years by a judge who described it as vindictive, selfish and vengeful offending".Eleanor Brown, 24, had held a deep-seated grudge against the victim after her father had a short-lived affair with the woman in 2012, Leeds crown court heard. Continue reading...
Affected items produced by FGS Ingredients include Domino's BBQ Dip, seasonings and meat productsMore than 20 dips and seasonings, including Domino's Pizza's BBQ dip, have been recalled over fears that may they contain undeclared peanuts, the food watchdog has said.The Food Standards Authority (FSA) has called on consumers to return a range of dips, curry powders and seasonings produced by the company FGS Ingredients over concerns that they may contain the allergen when it was not listed on their labels. Continue reading...
LPs will be available in 80 high street shops across the UK to attract seasoned fans and new listeners alike'When CD sales took off in the late 80s, many believed it sounded the death knell for the old-fashioned vinyl album.Fast forward 40 years and records are the in thing again, so much so that high street retailer WH Smith is bringing them back after a three-decade hiatus. Continue reading...
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, also admits criminal damage in relation to dousing Reform UK leader while he campaigned in ClactonA woman has pleaded guilty to assault by beating after throwing a milkshake over the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, outside a pub in Clacton-on-Sea during the general election campaign.Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, also admitted criminal damage after causing 17.50-worth of damage to a jacket belonging to Farage's security officer James Woolfenden. Continue reading...
Authorities yet to uncover source and motive of surge in fake bomb threats, as dozens of planes forced to rerouteA reported 90 hoax bomb threats have been made against Indian airlines in the past week, provoking international travel chaos as planes were grounded, diverted and flown to safety by fighter jet escorts.The unprecedented surge in fake bomb threats against multiple Indian and international airlines has caused severe disruption to India's aviation industry and created a growing sense of panic among air passengers. Continue reading...
Performing in Los Angeles, the singer encouraged US citizens to get out and vote' - and played rarely heard political songs such as Dog Eat DogJoni Mitchell has made her voice heard in the upcoming US election, responding: Fuck Donald Trump!" to an audience member who yelled an insult about the Republican presidential candidate.I love that song," Mitchell continued - presumably a reference to the 2016 YG song FDT. Continue reading...
Currently, many states require people to divest themselves of assets to poverty levels to qualify for aidA new proposal for at home Medicare" by the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, could help ease the burden of the cost of elder care for many families, experts say.However, Republicans have already criticized the proposal as too expensive, a reminder of the political difficulties of enacting healthcare expansions in the US. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#6RM7H)
Former Tory minister says Vine being derided over leaked email was one of most painful moments of his political careerMichael Gove has said that the most hurtful part of his political career was the attacks on his former wife, Sarah Vine.In extracts of a new BBC podcast about politics hosted by Gove, the former Tory minister and MP said this was particularly the case when an email in 2016 from Vine offering advice to her then-husband was accidentally sent to other recipients and leaked to the media. Continue reading...
Industry bodies say over-ordering is eroding profitability as big sellers clamp down on practiceShoppers with a habit of returning goods bought online to retailers will send back 1,400 of products each this year, totalling 6.6bn, a UK report has found.Serial returners account for 11% of shoppers, but are on course to account for almost a quarter of the 27bn forecast returns this year, according to the report by the return logistics company ZigZag and the research company Retail Economics. Continue reading...
The Indigenous senator's outburst is her highest-profile protest yet, bringing her face to face with her long-term adversary: the British monarchyThe Australian federal senator who interrupted a parliamentary reception for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Monday has a history of activism and protest for progressive causes and Indigenous rights, courting controversy with a series of prominent public demonstrations through her political career.Lidia Thorpe, a senator for the state of Victoria, yelled give us our land back", fuck the colony" and you are not my king" during an event in Parliament House on the royals' Australian tour. Continue reading...
FOI request reveals then home secretary spent 9,803.20 on catering for flight to Kigali to sign deportation deal that never deported a single personThe in-flight catering for James Cleverly's one-day round trip to Rwanda last December, while he was home secretary, cost 655 a head.Cleverly spent 165,561 chartering a private jet for his 11-hour visit to Kigali to sign Rishi Sunak's deportation deal after the supreme court's finding that Rwanda was an unsafe country". Continue reading...
Dunedin airport boss says the move is designed to keep traffic flowing in drop-off zones and enable others to have hugs'Hugging your loved ones goodbye could land you in trouble at a New Zealand airport should your embrace linger too long.The international airport in Dunedin, a city in the South Island, has introduced a three minute cap on cuddles, as part of a broader effort to improve safety and keep traffic flowing at its drop-off zone. Continue reading...
by Anna Bawden Health and social affairs corresponden on (#6RM42)
Exclusive: 10-year study finds menopausal women of Chinese and black African backgrounds about 80% less likely to get HRTMenopausal women of Chinese and black African backgrounds are about 80% less likely to receive hormone replacement therapy than white women, according to a large-scale study.HRT is one of the most common treatments for menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, poor sleep and vaginal dryness. It can also help maintain muscle strength and prevent osteoporosis. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#6RM43)
Sweden and Finland plan to withdraw funding to safeguard nine languages defined as threatened by UnescoThe Indigenous parliaments of Sweden, Finland and Norway have warned that some Sami languages could disappear if Stockholm and Helsinki press ahead with plans to withdraw funding that could hit a critical preservation body.Sami Giellagaldu was created to safeguard, promote and strengthen the use of the nine Sami languages across the Nordics, including North Sami, which is spoken by an estimated 20,000 people across Norway, Sweden and Finland and classified by Unesco as endangered, and the much smaller Pite Sami and Ute Sami, which have less than 50 speakers each. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6RM44)
Five Labour MPs call on PM and foreign secretary to address issue of reparatory justice for slavery and colonialismKeir Starmer is under pressure from Labour MPs and Caribbean governments to open the door to reparatory justice when he travels to Samoa this week.The UK prime minister is due to visit the small Pacific island state for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm), which starts on Monday. Continue reading...
Police are searching for the remains of Colleen Walker-Craig, 16, who vanished in 1990 - the same year Evelyn Greenup, four, and Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16, were killed
by Helen Livingstone (now); Maya Yang, Yohannes Lowe on (#6RKMS)
This blog is closing now. You can read our full report on the latest Israeli attacks on Lebanon here and our report on the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza here.At least 42,603 Palestinian people have been killed and 99,795 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Sunday.Of those, 84 Palestinians were killed in the latest 24-hour reporting period, according to the ministry, which has said in the past that thousands of other dead people are most likely lost in the rubble of the territory. Continue reading...
Doctors say president sustained great' trauma to head and slight brain bleed, with long-haul travel cancelled as a precaution but is otherwise fit for dutyThe Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Sunday cancelled his trip to Russia for the Brics summit after a fall at home caused a minor brain haemorrhage.In a statement, the presidential office said Lula, 78, would participate via videoconference after receiving medical advice to temporarily avoid long-haul flights. He was initially scheduled to depart at 5pm on Sunday. Continue reading...
Pro-western leader Maia Sandu spoke as pivotal referendum on EU membership remained too close to callMoldova's pro-western president, Maia Sandu, blamed an unprecedented assault on our country's freedom and democracy" by foreign forces" on Sunday night, as a pivotal referendum on EU membership remained too close to call with most votes counted.Moldovans went to the polls earlier in the day to cast their vote in a presidential election and an EU referendum that marked a key moment in the tug-of-war between Russia and the west over the future of the small, landlocked south-east European country with a population of about 2.5 million people. Continue reading...
by Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent on (#6RM1C)
Study by Royal Society for Public Health shows current system could further exacerbate health inequalitiesAlmost half of the UK workforce lack access to workplace health support including winter flu vaccinations and checks for cardiovascular diseases, a report has found.The analysis, by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), looked at data from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS) and found that more than 10 million UK workers lack access to services including basic health checks, vaccinations, and smoking or weight loss support, provided by their employer. Continue reading...
The biennial competition that counts Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Nicola Benedetti as previous victors was won by the 17-year-old Canadian for his performance of Rachmaninov's second piano concertoThe 2024 BBC Young Musician competition has been won tonight by 17-year-old pianist, Ryan Wang.Three musicians competed in the final, in which each played a concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Ben Gernon before an audience at Bristol Beacon. Joining Wang was another pianist, Jacky Zhang (also a category finalist in 2022's competition), and violinist Shlomi Shahaf. Shahaf performed Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto; both pianists chose Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto - the first time in the competition's 46-year history that the same work has featured in the final. Continue reading...
US officials say documents appear to be legitimate and House speaker says leak is very concerningThe US government is investigating an unauthorised release of classified documents that assess Israel's plans to attack Iran.The US House speaker, Mike Johnson, confirmed the investigation in remarks to CNN's State of the Union programme on Sunday, saying the leak was very concerning. Continue reading...
Shooting at Albany State University was one of two in US during weekend that shattered homecoming-related activitiesA mass shooting during homecoming weekend at Georgia's Albany State University left one person dead and five others wounded on Saturday night, according to school officials.Earlier Saturday in Mississippi, authorities said three people were killed and eight others were injured near Lexington, Mississippi, when at least two people fired guns at a group of several hundred people who were at an outdoor trail celebrating a high school football team's homecoming game victory.The Associated Press contributed reporting Continue reading...
by Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondent on (#6RKW2)
One Direction star died on Wednesday after falling from a third-floor hotel room in Buenos AiresOutside St Peter's church in Wolverhampton, people gathered on Sunday to look at the balloons, bouquets and candles left in tribute to the One Direction star Liam Payne, whose home town was part of a worldwide outpouring of grief arranged by fans over the weekend.Fans came together in Munich, Paris, Glasgow, Madrid, Sydney and New York - as well as in the Philippines and Colombia - to pay their respects after directioners, the name given to supporters of the X Factor-formed band, organised the vigils on social media. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Starmer, then DPP, said it was not in public interest to prosecute Dr Michael Irwin after arrest in 2009A doctor who was spared from criminal charges over assisted dying by Keir Starmer when he was director of public prosecutions has said he is sure the prime minister wants a change to the ridiculous" laws on the issue.Dr Michael Irwin was arrested in 2009 after reports that he had travelled to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland with a terminally ill man and given him 1,500 towards the cost of ending his life. Continue reading...