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Murderer Luay Sako has high risk of reoffending, forensic psychiatrist tells Victorian supreme court

As all Northern and TransPennine Express services stop, passengers in the region have been warned not to try to travel by rail on WednesdayRail passengers in the north of England face major disruption on Wednesday as strikes by train drivers stop all Northern and TransPennine Express (TPE) services.The 24-hour strike is the second in a series of rolling stoppages over a week by members of Aslef, the drivers' union, in the long-running pay dispute. Continue reading...

Taro Aso, vice-president of ruling LDP, said Yoko Kamikawa not that good looking', got her name wrong, used ageist jibe and mixed up her place in historyA Japanese former prime minister and vice-president of the ruling Liberal Democratic party has been accused of sexism after making insulting comments about the foreign minister's appearance and age.She's not that good looking," Taro Aso, who has a long history of inappropriate remarks, said of Yoko Kamikawa during a recent speech, before awkwardly praising her abilities as a politician. But she speaks with dignity, speaks properly in English and makes appointments with people she needs to see on her own, without help from diplomats." Continue reading...

Australia's aspirations to profit from global demand for electric vehicles are taking a hit thanks to a price crash for crucial battery minerals, such as lithium and nickel

UMG said it will remove all songs from TikTok after it accused the social media platform of trying to bully' them into a bad deal' over music rights feesUniversal Music Group's agreement with TikTok is set to expire in the next 24 hours after the companies failed to agree on issues including artist compensation and AI, meaning some of the world's most popular music - including Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and newly viral hit Murder on the Dancefloor - will be removed from TikTok's library.In a blistering open letter titled Why we must call Time Out on TikTok" published on Tuesday, UMG, the biggest music company in the world, accused TikTok of attempting to bully" and intimidate" them into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth". Continue reading...

Lawyer argues Walter Sofronoff's phone calls to Janet Albrechtsen show an apprehension of bias' against former ACT director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold

Consumers advised to stop using seven supplements taken for sexual enhancement, including Tantra Jelly and Bullblood tablets

CPI came in at 4.1% in the December quarter, easing from the September quarter pace of 5.4%

Nature-based solutions such as parks and ponds are recommended - as is giving heatwaves namesThe UK urgently needs a plan to prevent thousands of heatwave deaths a year as the climate continues to warm, a cross-party committee of MPs has warned.More than 4,500 people died in heatwaves in 2022, the MPs' report said, and this number could rise to 10,000 a year by 2050 without action. Heatwaves are silent killers", the MPs said, pushing up heart rate and blood pressure, with those over 65 and with existing health problems most at risk. Continue reading...

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says national early warning score should be used to assess severity of illnessPeople who are severely ill with suspected sepsis should promptly be given life-saving access to antibiotics to prevent unnecessary deaths, according to updated guidance from a health watchdog.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has said that the national early warning score should be used to assess people with suspected sepsis aged 16 and over, who are not and have not recently been pregnant, and are in an acute hospital setting or ambulance. Continue reading...

Guild of Fine Food fears European suppliers of specialist produce will stop supplying UK because of red tapeThousands of delicatessens and other specialist food shops have said new border rules that come in from Wednesday are likely to mean reduced choice of products for consumers.The Guild of Fine Food (GFF), which represents 12,000 businesses, has raised fears that European suppliers of specialist foods such as cheeses and meats will stop supplying the UK as a result of the additional red tape for imported goods. Continue reading...

Internal emails reveal he also said his ethnicity and working-class background helped to make him a targetMartin Bashir blamed professional jealousy" and his background and ethnicity after allegations that he used deceit to secure an interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, it has been revealed.The BBC has released about 3,000 internal emails relating to the scandal over the 1995 interview with Diana, following a court order issued last December. Continue reading...

Hungarian ambassador summoned amid national uproar at treatment of Ilaria Salis, accused of attacking neo-NazisItaly's government has said that authorities in Hungary went too far" in putting in chains an Italian woman who is awaiting trial for allegedly attacking neo-Nazis.Italian ministers summoned Budapest's ambassador in protest on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Constitutional change could face fight in Senate after national assembly approves measure by 493 votes to 30France's lower house of parliament has overwhelmingly approved a measure to inscribe abortion as a guaranteed freedom" in the constitution, a pledge made by the president, Emmanuel Macron, last year.But the controversial plan now goes to the upper-house Senate, where it faces resistance from the conservative Republicans and the far-right National Rally. Continue reading...

France and UK also agree to deploy more drones and sea barriers to stop small boats crossing ChannelUK security experts will help France to protect the Paris Olympics in a sign of closer cooperation, the Home Office has said.Both governments also plan to deploy more drones and sea barriers to prevent small boats carrying asylum seekers from crossing the Channel. Continue reading...

Officers allegedly joked about sex with wrongly arrested woman, while student officer claims he was dismissed for reporting misconduct

Government plans for fishery closures are window dressing' in face of appalling record' on meeting targets, experts warnMinisters are window dressing" with nature policies announced to cover up" the government's failings on environmental targets, wildlife groups have said.The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) found earlier this month that nature in England is at risk of falling into an irreversible spiral of decline" because of the government's failures to meet its legally binding targets on species abundance and water quality. Continue reading...

Tehran warns Washington but regime unsure of degree of support for interventionist foreign policy

Tory peer Kulveer Ranger incorrectly identified as Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh DhesiA Conservative peer and a Labour MP have criticised GB News after the rightwing television channel confused the two Sikh politicians in a social media post.In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, to promote an interview with the Tory peer Kulveer Ranger on the government's Rwanda bill, the peer was incorrectly identified as the Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi. Continue reading...

French president says future security architecture of Europe could no longer be settled by the US and RussiaThe European Union has to make bold decisions to defend Ukraine, pre-empting any US decision to withhold or reduce its military support, Emmanuel Macron has said.In a speech in Sweden, which hopes to be the next country to join Nato, the French president also said the future security architecture of Europe, including arms control agreements covering European territory, could no longer be settled simply by the US and Russia, and Europe had to have a right to determine its own future. Continue reading...

Report shows Labour move to scrap many rules and processes as party denies plan will dilute consumer protections

Videos reveal fear and chaos after officers responded to reports of man trying to force entry to a homeVideos captured scenes of fear and chaos as a man clad in body armour and armed with two crossbows, a sword and a knife burst into a property in south London before being shot dead by police.The Metropolitan police said they were called by people inside the home at 4.55am to reports of a man trying to break in, at Bywater Place, Southwark. Continue reading...

The highly transmissible disease was found in north-east states in recent weeks and is likely to spread to the midwest and west coastThough measles had been eradicated in the US in 2000, the disease is expected to continue a nationwide spread primarily because of vaccine skepticism, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.Measles, one of the most transmissible diseases, has been found in recent weeks in some north-eastern US states, according to the CDC. Continue reading...

Redundancies will come mainly from workers who install equipment in homesSky is to cut about 1,000 jobs as customers move away from traditional satellite pay-TV to streaming-based services, in the latest round of redundancies to hit the UK media industry.The company, which employs about 26,000 staff in the UK, is seeking to reduce its workforce by about 4% this year. Continue reading...

Party prepares to claim Northern Ireland first minister post for first time with power sharing set to resumeSinn Fein has said a united Ireland is within touching distance" as the party prepares to claim the post of Northern Ireland first minister for the first time.Mary Lou McDonald said on Tuesday the expected restoration of power sharing in the wake of a deal between the Democratic Unionist party and the UK government came amid a historical turning of the wheel" that would unite the island. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story herePeople with close connections" to the UK and their local area are to be favoured for social housing in England under a new government consultation, PA Media reports. PA says:Applicants will be required to demonstrate a connection to the UK for at least 10 years and their local area for at least two years in an overhaul" of the system.Those with unspent criminal convictions or certain civil sanctions for antisocial behaviour could be banned from social housing for up to five years.Social housing is designed to support those in the greatest need. Government data shows that 90% of new social housing lettings go to UK nationals, with long waiting lists in all areas. Imposing extended qualification periods before people can even get on the housing register is likely to force more people into homelessness. If the government's main concern is to increase the availability of social lettings, it could achieve this far more effectively by building more social housing. Continue reading...

Counter-terrorism officers enter Jenin's Ibn Sina hospital wearing doctors' scrubs and women's clothes

Judge refuses application after considering case documents relating to the murders of seven babiesThe child serial killer Lucy Letby has had an initial attempt to challenge her convictions refused by the court of appeal.The nurse lodged an application for permission to appeal against all of her convictions in September. Continue reading...

West Yorkshire police say mother of baby, thought to have been stillborn, has been identifiedThe mother of a newborn girl found dead in a pub toilet has been identified and is receiving care and support, police have said.The baby girl, believed by authorities to have been stillborn in a toilet cubicle, was found on Sunday afternoon at the Three Horse Shoes pub in Oulton, Leeds. Continue reading...

Michael Allen, 32, died while trying to act as peacemaker' when fight broke out outside Bodmin nightclubA man fatally stabbed a peacemaker" who was trying to break up fighting and injured five other people when he went on a knife rampage outside a Cornish nightclub, a jury has been told.Jake Hill, 24, had hidden a hunting knife with a serrated edge in a hedge before he went into the club and used it when disorder broke out as the nightspot shut, the court was told. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Critics warn of a fire sale' of public assets under plans being explored by levelling up department

Gabriel Attal says agriculture is France's strength and pride' after Emmanuel Macron calls for measures for Ukraine imports. This live blog is closed

UAE-backed deal could be disastrous for UK government and freedom of press, opponents say

Barriers to emergency contraception should be removed, says Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive HealthcareWomen should be given full control of their contraceptive needs by being allowed to buy the morning-after pill in supermarkets and petrol stations in the UK, a coalition of healthcare bodies has said.The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) said it was high time the barriers to emergency contraception were removed by reclassifying the morning-after pill under the general sales list, meaning it could be bought in shops. Continue reading...

Attorney general orders review into decision by prosectors to accept manslaughter pleas after criticism from victims' familiesProsecutors are to be investigated for their handling of the Valdo Calocane case, including their decision to accept his manslaughter pleas, the attorney general has announced.Victoria Prentis said the review would look at the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to accept Calocane's guilty pleas to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, and whether the CPS met its duties to consult the families before accepting the pleas. Continue reading...

Seven fire engines attend extremely challenging' blaze on MondayTwo women have died and a baby was treated to hospital following a fire in a flat in Aberdeen.Emergency services were called to the scene on Back Hilton Road, at about 6pm on Monday. Continue reading...

Ministerial posts could be filled within days after DUP's decision to end boycott of power sharing

Haniyeh says he is considering proposal but group stands firm on aim to end Israel's offensive and secure withdrawal of its forces

Artworks and Beatles ephemera including an incomplete novel about Lennon among work by visual artist and bass player who died aged 21The archive of Stuart Sutcliffe, the original bassist with the Beatles, is up for sale, featuring more than 400 paintings and drawings - plus astonishing Beatles ephemera including an unfinished novel about John Lennon.Sutcliffe was a galvanising force in the Beatles, who met John Lennon when the pair were art students in Liverpool - after joining Paul McCartney and George Harrison in skiffle group the Quarrymen, it was Sutcliffe and Lennon who spliced a reference to Beat poets with a nod to Buddy Holly's band the Crickets, thus creating the Beatles' band name.This comprehensive archive comprises over 400 poetic artworks, several amid prior exhibits in prestigious galleries and museums. Complimenting the art includes 200 documents: letters, poems, essays, and an incomplete novel about John Lennon. It weaves a captivating visual narrative, featuring 37 original photographs chronicling the band's formative days in England and Germany. Within these treasures lie poignant letters exchanged between Sutcliffe, Lennon, and their inner circle, unveiling the depth of their relationships and the fervent creativity igniting their iconic artistic journey. Continue reading...

More than 150 officers and staff found guilty in year to April 2023 - a 70% rise on previous yearMore than 150 police officers and staff in England and Wales were found guilty of crimes last year after a complaint or misconduct investigation - up 70% compared with the year before.Home Office figures show that, in the year to April 2023, 115 officers and 43 staff were found guilty of crimes including sexual offences and violence against the person - up from 68 and 25 the year before. Continue reading...

Spanish government also looking into reports their applications to join municipal register in Ripoll held upThe European Commission and the Spanish government are looking into claims that a far-right town council in Catalonia is preventing immigrants from accessing basic public services by making it hard for them to join the municipal register.The register, known as empadronamiento, is open to everyone in Spain, regardless of immigration status, and is the point of access for public healthcare, education and other vital services. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary says move would help to make two-state solution an irreversible' process

Regulator says bank failed to properly implement Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Transparency International index positions nation at 14th, as head of group talks of reducing big money's influence on politics and whistleblower protections

Former Pakistan prime minister and one of his party deputies each sentenced to 10 years in prisonA Pakistani court has sentenced the former prime minister Imran Khan and one of his party deputies to 10 years in prison each after finding them guilty of revealing official secrets.According to Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spokesperson for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, the court announced the verdict at a prison in the city of Rawalpindi. Continue reading...

Roads are cut off, more than 20 schools closed and a town flooded after heavy rainfall inundated south-east Queensland, sparking multiple rescues

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In today's newsletter: how the DUP finally brought two-year boycott of Stormont assembly to an end Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. It took 726 days, and a fraught five hour meeting that ended at one o'clock this morning - but at last, it looks like power-sharing is back on in Northern Ireland.At a press conference after a meeting at a remote venue in County Down a few hours ago, Democratic Unionist party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said that his party would finally end its boycott of the Stormont assembly. He told journalists: The result was clear, the DUP has been decisive, I have been mandated to move forward." That means that the Northern Ireland executive is likely to return before an 8 February deadline for forming an administration. Barring any drama in the next week, Sinn Fein will hold the symbolic first minister position for the first time - and something like normal business will resume.Middle East | Joe Biden's defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has vowed the US will take all necessary actions" to defend its troops after Iran-backed militants killed three and wounded dozens more in a drone attack in Jordan. Qatar's prime minister said on Monday he hoped any US retaliation would not undercut progress toward a new Israel-Hamas hostage release deal in weekend talks.Local government | Households across England are facing an inflation-busting 2bn council tax raid this spring despite Rishi Sunak's promise of pre-election giveaways. After an announcement last week of an extra 600m in local government funding in England, council bosses have been told that the government expects the maximum 4.99% increase in council tax - about 100 extra on a typical band D bill. Read an analysis of the state of council budgets.Conservatives | Kemi Badenoch is a member of a Conservative WhatsApp group called Evil Plotters" despite telling party rebels to get behind Rishi Sunak, the Guardian can reveal. The business secretary has criticised party colleagues for stirring" up suggestions that she could replace the prime minister - but is part of a group rallying round her longer-term ambitions.Health | Alzheimer's can be spread from human to human through rare medical accidents, research suggests, although experts stress there is no evidence the disease can be passed between people through everyday activities or routine care.UK news | The actor and rightwing activist Laurence Fox has lost a high court libel battle with two men he baselessly called paedophiles after they said he was a racist. A judge dismissed Fox's own claim that the allegations of racism were defamatory and said that damages would be discussed at a later date. Continue reading...

Inability of staff to inspect cabinet records means they were were not released to the national archives, as was usual

PwC says it expects to close 54 stores during voluntary administration resulting in almost 200 job losses in effort to keep business afloat