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UK market rose to all-time high of 12.4bn last year, with NHS paying for nearly 3.5bn of procedures to ease backlogThe value of the UK's private healthcare market rose to a record 12.4bn last year as long NHS waiting lists fuelled demand from individuals and the health service paid for nearly 3.5bn of procedures to help ease the care backlog.As private medical insurance boomed, total revenues generated in the independent healthcare sector hit an all-time high in real terms pegged to 2003 prices, research revealed. Continue reading...

East Riding council promised to store Robert Bracewell's possessions after his disappearance, but disposed of themA council destroyed the belongings of a tenant who went missing, after banning his family from entering his flat.Robert Bracegirdle, 75, disappeared from his home in Goole in 2020 after struggling with mental health issues. A police search failed to find him and a coroner later ruled that he had died by drowning in the nearby River Ouse. Continue reading...

Traditional Britain Group's London conference includes speaker from Germany's AfD party and far-right activistsA group that emerged out of a faction of the Conservative party has become a forum for Britain's splintered far right.A private conference hosted earlier this month by the Traditional Britain Group (TBG) was attended by figures from the Homeland party, an extreme nationalist group, as well as rivals from other groups such as Patriotic Alternative. Continue reading...

US only nation likely to be able to persuade Netanyahu to drop plan condemned by 123 member statesWorsening relations between the United Nations and Israel appear to have reached a nadir with the imminent passage of a bill in the Israeli Knesset designed to make it impossible for the UN relief and works agency for Palestinians (Unrwa) to operate in Gaza and West Bank.Unrwa has long been a target of Israel, predating its claims that up to 12 members of the group's staff took part in the 7 October attacks , but the move to ban the agency altogether signals a fresh polarisation that may take years to reverse. Continue reading...

Opposition leader adds caveat to campaign vow on eve of Queensland election day as polls tighten

The man had pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleged to have occurred over a six-year period against five women on separate occasions

French-born goalkeeping coach Sebastien Bechaud to spend at least 20 months behind bars over 2021 assault

Some leaders had hoped Charles might use his speech at Chogm in Samoa as an opportunity to apologise for Britain's colonial pastKing Charles acknowledged painful aspects" of Britain's past while sidestepping calls to directly address reparations for slavery at the summit of Commonwealth leaders, saying none of us can change the past, but we can commit ... to learning its lessons".Charles was speaking to leaders representing 56 Commonwealth nations at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in the Pacific nation of Samoa, his first time attending the summit since taking the throne. In his speech, the king also addressed the climate crisis, development challenges and paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth. Continue reading...

Appen says nearly one-third of the company's contractors were left without pay on time as a result of issue with payment processing integration

In a visit to the region, secretary of state Antony Blinken said the US was working to progress ceasefire talks for Gaza and LebanonIsraeli strikes hit Beirut on Thursday evening, after the US warned against Israel being led into a protracted" campaign in Lebanon and efforts got under way to hold renewed talks over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza.Lebanese state media said several strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday, about half an hour after Israel issued evacuation warnings for the Hezbollah bastion after intense strikes the night before. Continue reading...

Police say the vehicle veered off the Princes Highway and crashed into home near Warrnambool on Friday morning

This blog has now closed. You can read our full coverage of the continuing conflict in the region here.Warning sirens have again sounded in northern Israel.Lebanon's National News Agency reports that later today India will deliver 33 tons of medical aid to Lebanon. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Government spooked' by warnings of job losses and pub closures if it added ban to tobacco and vapes billDowning Street is blocking moves to include a ban on smoking outdoors in the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes bill amid fierce opposition by the hospitality trade.No 10 officials privately believe that banning people from lighting up in pub gardens is an unserious" policy and is not backed by good evidence showing that it harms non-smokers. Continue reading...

Rachel Reeves to encourage import of raw materials from Commonwealth countries to counter China's grip on marketBusinesses that import critical minerals to the UK will be given access to state-backed loans in a move to counter China's dominance in the market.The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to announce extra government support to encourage the import of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite and cobalt in her budget next week. Companies that bring supplies of critical minerals into the UK will be able to access state-backed loans under the UK export finance mechanism. Continue reading...

Watchdog found 40% rise in alleged bad behaviour, including sexual harassment and bullying, last yearCity firms are only rarely docking pay and bonuses in cases of bad behaviour including sexual harassment, bullying and drug use, according to the industry's watchdog, which recorded a 40% rise in complaints about non-financial misconduct last year.The findings are the result of the City regulator's first survey looking at the issue, which was launched in the wake of high-profile allegations of sexual harassment, including those against individuals at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) lobby group. Continue reading...

Premier Chris Minns praises changes to laws, which require landlords to give reasonable reasons to end lease and make it easier for tenants to keep pets

Prime minister trying to secure tournament's future at Commonwealth summit in SamoaKeir Starmer will try to find a host country for the 2030 Commonwealth Games this week as ministers try to shore up the tournament's future.The prime minister's spokesperson said Starmer wanted to see a successful Commonwealth Games from 2030" and would spend time at this week talking to partners about who may be interested in taking that forward". Continue reading...

Special investigation unit seized hard drives and camera footage on orders from the public prosecutor's officeArgentinian police have raided the Buenos Aires hotel where ex-One Direction singer Liam Payne stayed before dying last week after falling from a third-floor balcony.A police special investigations unit went to the Casa Sur hotel late on Wednesday on orders from the public prosecutor's office. Officers seized items including computer hard drives and footage from hotel cameras, said a government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Continue reading...

Batches of the vegetable produced in Colorado, where many people fell ill after eating Quarter Pounders, were recalledFresh onions are the probable source of an E coli outbreak at McDonald's restaurants that has sickened 49 people and killed one, the US Department of Agriculture said, alarming fast food chains using the ingredient.Taylor Farms, a supplier for McDonald's, the biggest US burger chain, recalled several batches of yellow onions produced in a Colorado facility, according to a memo on Wednesday by US Foods, one of the largest suppliers of food service operations in the country. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer open to debating UK's role in slave trade at Commonwealth summit after pressure from Caribbean countriesKeir Starmer has opened the door to non-financial reparations for the UK's role in the transatlantic enslavement, as he came under pressure from Commonwealth leaders to engage in a meaningful, truthful and respectful" conversation about Britain's past.While Downing Street insists that the wider issue of reparations is not on the agenda" of this week's Commonwealth heads of government (Chogm) gathering in Samoa, No 10 has accepted it is likely to be referenced in the end-of-summit communique. Continue reading...

Lawmakers and residents speak out against Parkview after the Guardian investigated the hospital chain for high costsLast fall, Doug Allen, the president of a plastic molding firm in Brimfield, Indiana, was forced into a difficult decision.Since 2007, the costs of his employees' health insurance had shot up around 275%, expenditures that were eating into his profit margins and far outpacing the rate of inflation, according to his records. But Allen didn't blame his small local insurer. Continue reading...

President's comments at Brics summit are ambiguous, however, US says it has evidence of movement of troops who could fight in UkraineVladimir Putin has sidestepped claims that North Korea has sent soldiers to Russia, insisting that it was up to Moscow how to run its mutual defence clause with Pyongyang.Speaking at the close of the Brics summit in Kazan on Thursday, he accused the west of escalating the Ukraine war and said it was living an illusion" if it thought it could inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. Continue reading...

Legal action after fire that killed man at overcrowded flat in Shadwell thought to be the first of its kind involving ebikesTwelve survivors of an ebike battery fire that killed a man have launched legal action against their landlords and the battery's manufacturer.The 12 managed to escape in the early hours of 5 March 2023, after an overcrowded flat they were living in - in Maddocks House in Shadwell, east London - caught fire due to an explosion found by a coroner to have been caused by a faulty ebike battery. Mizanur Rahman, a 41-year-old father-of-two, died in the fire. Continue reading...

Conference convened by French president raises $800m in humanitarian aid and $200m to strengthen Lebanese army

Frelimo presidential candidate Daniel Chapo is said to have received 70% of vote, after claims of riggingThe candidate of Mozambique's ruling party has won the presidential election with a thumping majority, after two opposition figures were killed by unknown gunmen and amid allegations that the results were rigged.Daniel Chapo, the candidate of Frelimo, received 70.7% of the vote, the election commission said on Thursday, comfortably clearing the 50% mark needed to avoid a second round. Continue reading...

Deaths in central Gaza come as Al Jazeera accuses Israel of targeting its journalists working in the war zone

John Burke-Monerville and Richard Adams give evidence at undercover policing inquiry about impact of intrusionTwo grieving fathers have criticised police for using undercover officers to spy on their campaigns to secure justice for their sons.At the undercover policing inquiry on Thursday, they accused the police of racism for spying on them instead of helping them find out what happened to their sons. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Conservative forces pose genuine threats to the protections women have fought for and won', Victoria's premier says

Protective cover on acclaimed artist's famous painting an effective palette for this radical protest', great-granddaughter says

Experts warn that setting KPIs could create perverse incentives rather than improving outcomes

The Australian founder has seen his reputation and fortune hammered by claims including sex in exchange for investment and houses bought for lovers

Government to consider allowing property owners to subdivide or build two homes on one plot without a permit

Opposition leader blames termination of former home affairs chief's honour on government trying to seek retribution'

Police say specialists headhunted for lucrative missions, sometimes delivering several kilograms at a timeGangs are headhunting highly skilled drone pilots to make Amazon Prime-style deliveries of drugs, weapons and even condiments such as tomato ketchup to prison cell windows.Police said organised crime groups were recruiting specialist aircraft operators to fly the highly lucrative missions, sometimes transporting several kilograms of contraband at a time. Continue reading...

Chris Taylor, the chief of policy at Australia Banking Association, says reducing 3% serviceability buffer could help first home buyers enter property market

Co-owner of Nomad held sign mirroring Israeli flag but with swastika in place of Star of David and the words Stop Nazi Israel'

This live blog is now closed. You can read the latest report from our correspondent in the region here.In a statement on its official Telegram channel, Israel's military has claimed that overnight it struck at weapons storage facilities in Beirut in Lebanon.In the message, the IDF said the targets were manufacturing facilities and command centres belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization which were located within civilian infrastructure." Continue reading...

Disgruntled members of Liberal party give Canadian leader deadline of 28 October to step down before likely electoral drubbingDisgruntled members of Canada's Liberal party have given Justin Trudeau an ultimatum: decide early next week if you want to stay on as leader, or face the prospects of a caucus revolt.The prime minister met with Liberal lawmakers in a closed-door caucus meeting on Wednesday where 20 MPs - none of them cabinet members - called on their leader to resign before a likely electoral drubbing in the next election. Continue reading...

Recep Tayyip Erdoan condemns heinous' attack after large explosion and reports of gunfire at Tusa HQ near AnkaraTurkey's interior minister has blamed a terrorist attack" for an explosion and assault at the headquarters of the national aerospace company, Tusa, outside Ankara that has killed four people and wounded 14 others.The large blast happened outside the building at 4pm on Wednesday, and there were reports that gunfire was also heard in the vicinity. Continue reading...

Woman who was raped by her husband and allegedly abused by 50 other men says she is driven by determination to change society'

Airport says operations returning to normal' after flights grounded and passengers told to stay awayBirmingham airport is returning to normal" after flights were grounded and the site evacuated while police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle.In a statement, the airport said: Following a police investigation, operations are now returning to normal. Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our No 1 priority as we worked through this incident with police partners." Continue reading...

Woman at centre of mass rape trial in France gives testimony in court

NSW premier Chris Minns says state's far west let down by privatisation after region's only working large-scale emergency generator failed

Greens MP says number of mortalities is enormous' and most likely the result of overstocking'

Home secretary says new rules in England and Wales will mean armed officers stay anonymous unless convicted

London concerts drive travellers to airport, which may reinstate dividend for first time in four yearsTaylor Swift fans and Olympic visitors helped push record-breaking numbers of passengers to travel through Heathrow between June and September, prompting the airport to consider reinstating its dividend for the first time in four years.The UK's biggest airport said there were multiple consecutive weeks with record passenger numbers during the school holidays, with 30.7 million travellers passing through from June to September - bringing the total for the first nine months of the year to 63.1 million. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Aneez Esmail says treating dying man in extreme pain six years ago changed his mind on helping terminally ill patients die

Woman at centre of France's mass rape trial says will and determination to change society' is what keeps her going in face of evidence heard