Nika Gvaramia among numerous other opposition members to be arrested on Wednesday as police raid homes and officesGeorgian police have raided the offices of an opposition party and arrested its leader in an apparent attempt to quash a wave of mass protests triggered by the governing party's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union.Protesters on Wednesday night gathered for a seventh consecutive night of protests, facing off against riot police who have used water cannon and teargas to disperse them on previous nights. Protesters have thrown fireworks at police officers and built barricades on the Georgian capital's central boulevard. Continue reading...
Rebels within kilometres on three sides' of city, seen as crucial to Assad regime's defence of the capital, DamascusSyrian rebels encircled the key central city of Hama from three sides" on Wednesday, a war monitor said, despite a counteroffensive launched by government forces to retain control of the city.Hama is strategically located in central Syria and, for the army of Bashar al-Assad, is crucial to safeguarding the capital and seat of power, Damascus. The fighting around Hama follows a lightning offensive by Islamist-led rebels who in a matter of days wrested swathes of territory, most significantly Syria's second city, Aleppo, from the president's grasp. Continue reading...
Report highlights shocking' example of man left unable to swallow after waiting over two days mostly on a bed in a corridor without regular medicationAn elderly man was left unable to swallow after waiting over two days in A&E without being given regular medication, and died four weeks later.In a shocking" case that has raised fresh concerns over the state of urgent NHS care, the 85-year-old was sent to a hospital emergency department after a routine appointment. Amid massive delays, his A&E wait went into a third day, with most of it spent on a bed in the corridor. Continue reading...
Michel Barnier to present resignation to president after being ousted in record time by vote of no confidenceThe French prime minister, Michel Barnier, is expected to resign on Thursday, a day after his government became the first to be toppled by a no-confidence vote in more than 60 years and just three months after it took office - a record ouster.Barnier is due to present President Emmanuel Macron with his government's resignation on Thursday morning. The president would address the nation on Thursday evening, the Elysee said. Continue reading...
Allegations of violence against Hindus prompt mass protests in India and attack on Bangladeshi consulateGrowing tensions between India and Bangladesh have erupted amid accusations of attacks on Bangladesh's Hindu minority, which have prompted mass protests and assault on a Bangladeshi consulate in India.The relationship between the two countries has soured since August, when a popular uprising - now widely termed the monsoon revolution" - toppled Bangladesh's authoritarian prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Continue reading...
Human rights group says Israel brazenly, continuously and with total impunity ... unleashed hell' on strip's 2.3m populationA report from Amnesty International alleges that Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip constitutes the crime of genocide under international law, the first such determination by a major human rights organisation in the 14-month-old conflict.The 32-page report examining events in Gaza between October 2023 to July 2024, published on Thursday, found that Israel had brazenly, continuously and with total impunity ... unleashed hell" on the strip's 2.3 million population, noting that the atrocity crimes" against Israelis by Hamas on 7 October 2023, which triggered the war, do not justify genocide".The unprecedented scale and magnitude of the military offensive, which has caused death and destruction at a speed and level unmatched in any other 21st-century conflict;Intent to destroy, after considering and discounting arguments such as Israeli recklessness and callous disregard for civilian life in the pursuit of Hamas;Killing and causing serious bodily or mental harm in repeated direct attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, or deliberately indiscriminate attacks; andInflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction, such as destroying medical infrastructure, the obstruction of aid, and repeated use of arbitrary and sweeping evacuation orders" for 90% of the population to unsuitable areas. Continue reading...
After a rocky start, PM sets out next phase' covering economic growth, NHS backlogs, energy, and a bobby on every beat'Keir Starmer will attempt to reset his premiership with a series of pledges to show he is delivering change", including 13,000 extra neighbourhood police and a named bobby on every beat".In a speech Labour hopes will set out the next phase" of government, the prime minister will detail half a dozen milestone" targets covering living standards, NHS backlogs, secure energy, housebuilding and children's readiness for school. Continue reading...
Soldiers and marines discover drugs in Sinaloa, while separately authorities arrest more than 5,200 migrantsMexican security forces have impounded more than a ton of fentanyl pills in what officials have called the biggest seizure of the synthetic opioid in the country's history.Soldiers and marines found the fentanyl at two properties in the northern state of Sinaloa, late on Tuesday - exactly a week after Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico unless the two neighbouring countries cracked down on the flow of immigrants and drugs across their borders with the US. Continue reading...
The blockbuster musical was named best movie while Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman picked up key acting prizesBlockbuster musical Wicked has launched into this year's Oscar race with a major win from the National Board of Review.The adaptation of the Broadway hit was named best movie by the group whose picks are seen as a major indicator of Oscar success. Wicked represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences," said the NBR president, Annie Schulhof. Every detail is beautifully crafted and designed, the actors are all exceptional and the music is second-to-none - together it adds up to a transporting experience like no other." Continue reading...
Minority coalition of PM Michel Barnier falls after three months, the shortest of any administration of France's Fifth RepublicFrance has been plunged into political crisis after a no-confidence vote brought down the government, ending the beleaguered minority coalition of the rightwing prime minister Michel Barnier after only three months.The no-confidence motion brought by an alliance of left-wing parties was supported by MPs from Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration, far-right, National Rally. A total of 331 lawmakers - a clear majority - voted on Wednesday night to bring down the government. Continue reading...
Losses quadruple from a year earlier after decision to end primary steelmaking in south Wales with loss of 2,500 jobsLosses at Tata Steel's UK operations ballooned to 1.12bn due to the cost of closing Port Talbot's two blast furnaces.Accounts for the Indian-owned company show that pre-tax losses quadrupled from 279m to 1.12bn in the year to the end of March due to restructuring costs associated with the closure of its blast furnaces and coke ovens at the site in south Wales. Continue reading...
More than 500 officers participated in the operation, which was co-ordinated with British, French and European agenciesPolice have carried out dawn raids in several cities in Germany and France in an internationally coordinated operation to smash a network accused of smuggling migrants to Britain in small boats.Coordinated with Europol, the French security service and British police after months of intelligence-gathering, the raids on Wednesday concentrated on western German cities where gangs are believed to have procured small boats and found migrants wanting to be taken to the UK from France across the English Channel. Continue reading...
Czech foreign minister says Europe needs to send a strong signal to Moscow that this won't be tolerated'A senior European diplomat said that up to 100 suspicious incidents" in Europe this year could be attributed to Russia, as western officials grapple with how to respond to suspected Russian sabotage attempts.Speaking ahead of a meeting with Nato counterparts in Brussels, the Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, stressed that Europe needs to send a strong signal to Moscow that this won't be tolerated". Continue reading...
Hong Kong carrier removes episode from entertainment system after social media complaint that it might breach national security lawsHong Kong's flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, has apologised over the inclusion of a Family Guy episode in its inflight entertainment system that features a scene depicting Tiananmen Square.The airline told the South China Morning Post it had apologised to customers after a complaint was raised on social media that the episode might breach Hong Kong's national security laws. Continue reading...
Nelson and hip-hop star had a rocky relationship, widely known through song lyrics and two defamation lawsuitsDebbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem, whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, has died. She was 69.Eminem's longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson's death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. Continue reading...
Forty-eight-hour strike, first at Guardian in more than 50 years, to take place on Wednesday and ThursdayJournalists at the Guardian and the Observer are holding a 48-hour strike in protest at the proposed sale of the Observer newspaper to Tortoise Media.The strike, the first at the Guardian in more than 50 years, is due to take place on Wednesday 4 December and Thursday 5 December. Continue reading...
Police confirm serial killer nurse is being interviewed about cases at a second centre, Liverpool Women's hospitalCheshire police have interviewed Lucy Letby in prison under caution over the alleged murders of more babies she cared for.Letby, a former neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester hospital was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others, with two attempts on the life of one of her victims, in August 2023. Continue reading...
Administration of Michel Barnier likely to fall after far-left and far-right opponents table motionsFrance is staring into the unknown as the minority government of the prime minister, Michel Barnier, faces near-certain defeat in a no-confidence vote that could dramatically intensify the political crisis in one of the EU's key member states.If the vote on Wednesday is carried, Barnier's administration, which took office only in September, would be the first in France to be ousted with a motion of no confidence since 1962. Its fall, at the hands of the far-right and leftwing parties, would be a significant blow to Europe weeks before Donald Trump returns to the White House. Continue reading...
Staff, walking out on day with big impact on operations as outlet releases trademark lists, says firm dragging its feet'The Forbes editorial staff, represented by the Forbes Union, organized a walkout on Tuesday amid ongoing negotiations between the union and Forbes management over raises and salaries.Notably, the walkout was arranged on a day that would have an impact on Forbes operations: the day the business outlet giant plans on releasing its trademark 30 Under 30 lists. The release includes 20 lists of 30 influential people under 30 years old who are recognized for their achievements across several industries. Continue reading...
by Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent on (#6SP27)
The competition's youngest contestant scoops the award for animating everyday objects to reflect the pluralities of identity and communityJasleen Kaur has won the 2024 Turner prize for her work animating everyday objects to reflect the pluralities of identity and community.Kaur, 38, the youngest artist on this year's shortlist, was nominated for her exhibition Alter Altar, at Tramway in Glasgow, which featured a range of sculptures and soundscapes. Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6SNZ5)
Tommy Banks had appealed for the pies bearing his name to be given to people in needA van that which was stolen containing 2,500 pies has been found abandoned and its cargo too damaged to eat.The Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks had appealed to thieves to do the right thing" and give the van's contents, which also included custard and gravy, to people in need. Continue reading...
Lawyers and campaigners hail removal of 47 people from remote Indian Ocean island as a big day for justice'Dozens of people stranded in hellish conditions for more than three years on the remote Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia have arrived in the UK and told of their relief that their journey is over.Lawyers and campaigners hailed the arrival of 47 Sri Lankan Tamils on Monday night as a big day for justice", with a further eight arriving on Tuesday morning from Rwanda, where they had been receiving medical treatment. Twelve children were among them. Continue reading...
Jokes ranging from political puns to Britpop gags were collated by U&Gold in keeping with tradition of lame one-linersWhat do you get if you mix Keir Starmer, Thames Water, and a weight-loss-drug-taking Father Christmas? The top 10 best Christmas cracker jokes of 2024, as voted for by the British public.The jokes were written by members of the public and then posted online, where they were filtered into a shortlist by a panel of judges before being put to an anonymous vote of 2,000 people.Why are pensioners bulk buying-brussels sprouts this Christmas? It's the only way they'll keep the gas flowing this yearWhy is Rachel Reeves in the Nativity this year? She's collecting inn-heritance tax.Why is Santa worried about being stalked? He's surrounded by baby reindeerWho's Santa's favourite member of Oasis? NoelWhy does Father Christmas find going down chimneys easier this year? He's on Ho Ho hozempic.Why aren't there more jokes about receiving Oasis tickets for Christmas? Most people won't get them.What do you call a Belgian reselling tickets at inflated prices? - a Brussels tout.What's the Thames Water advent calendar like? It's full of number 2s.Why did Gareth Southgate get into difficulty with the Christmas Club money? He was always late with his subs. Continue reading...
by Martin Belam (now) and Sammy Gecsoyler (earlier) on (#6SNJ5)
Israel Katz says Israel will no longer offer Lebanon an exemption and will enforce maximum impact and zero tolerance'Israeli media reports that the cabinet is set to meet in the coastal city of Nahariya on Tuesday, a symbolic show of renewed security in the north after the ceasefire deal with Lebanon came into effect.The move has received some criticism, however, with Hebrew news site Ynet reporting that the heads of local authorities in the north of Israel are angry that they have not been invited to participate. Continue reading...
Company says it hopes sunflower lanyard will help people embrace diversity, value inclusivity and remove stigma'Lego is introducing several characters who wear sunflower lanyards to its brick universe for the first time to raise awareness of a badge worn to indicate someone has a hidden disability such as autism.The world's biggest toymaker is keen to make its brick world better reflect reality and in recent years has added characters of different skin tones and cultures, as well as physical and non-visible disabilities. Figures with limb differences, Down's syndrome, anxiety and vitiligo have also been warmly received by children. Continue reading...
Further cracks appear in street as hole that opened up in village in Merthyr Tydfil continues to expandPeople who have been evacuated from homes perched precariously close to a large - and growing - sinkhole in south Wales that appeared in the wake of Storm Bert fear they may not get back by Christmas.The sinkhole opened up in a cul-de-sac in the village of Pant, Merthyr Tydfil after the collapse of a culvert, a structure that allows water to flow under roads and railways, and led to residents from 29 homes being told to flee. Continue reading...
Only seven spade-tooth whales have ever been documented, now work is beginning on a specimen that washed ashore in New Zealand in JulyA spade-tooth whale - thought to be the world's rarest whale species - is undergoing dissection in New Zealand, in the first ever examination of a complete specimen.Spade-toothed whales are a type of beaked whale named for their teeth resembling the spade-like flensing" blade once used to strip whales of their blubber. Just seven have been documented since the 1800s, with all but one found in New Zealand. Continue reading...
Police said 86cm stainless steel blade - mounted on a wooden plaque and sold in the hundreds - contravened Japan's firearms and sword control lawFull-size replica swords sold as souvenirs at a popular Harry Potter exhibition in Tokyo have fallen foul of Japan's strict weapons control law and been recalled.The 86cm stainless steel blade, which comes mounted on a wooden plaque, is described on the Warner Bros website that promotes the event as an authentic recreation of Godric Gryffindor's sword". Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6SNB8)
Exclusive: Tom Hayhoe, ex-Tory cabinet adviser, will examine an estimated 7.6bn of Covid-related fraudRachel Reeves is to appoint a health service and regulatory veteran, Tom Hayhoe, a former Conservative cabinet adviser, as her Covid corruption commissioner with the remit of clawing back billions in fraudulent contracts.The chancellor is understood to believe the Treasury can recoup 2.6bn from waste, fraud and flawed contracts signed during the pandemic. Continue reading...
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