Civil liberty campaigners warn Chris Philp's plans to integrate databases are an Orwellian nightmare'Britain's passport database could be used to catch shoplifters, burglars and other criminals under urgent plans to curb crime, the policing minister has said.Chris Philp said he plans to integrate data from the police national database (PND), the Passport Office and other national databases to help police find a match with the click of one button". Continue reading...
Cost of living crisis, rising unemployment and extended NHS waiting times will determine government's chances in general electionThe economy is doing well and anybody who says differently subscribes to declinism. That was Jeremy Hunt's message to the Conservative party conference on Monday as he attempted to chart a course between persistent calls by Liz Truss and her supporters for tax cuts and warnings against another round of austerity measures.In a spirited speech that portrayed the economy in rude health, Hunt said: It's time to roll up our sleeves, take on the declinists and watch the British economy prove the doubters wrong." Continue reading...
The prime minister's rivals are shoring up support at the Conservative conference in case of polling defeatRishi Sunak has not given up on the next election but it appears many of his closest colleagues are now intensely focused on what may well be a race to replace him next year if he loses the election.If the Conservatives are booted out of office after 14 years in power, the party is going to be split over which direction to take next, with ideological differences widening between the party's various wings. The choice will be whether to retreat to its core vote comfort zone on the right - as it did in the wilderness years of the late 90s and early 2000s - or shift to a more centrist outlook similar to that of David Cameron. Continue reading...
Couple have not yet been identified and bear demonstrating aggressive behavior' was killed by park rangersTwo people and their dog have been killed in a rare grizzly bear attack in Canada's Banff national park, and the bear was later killed by park rangers.The couple have not yet been identified but loved the outdoors and were inseparable", a family member said in a statement. Continue reading...
Gynaecologist won the Nobel peace prize in 2018 for his campaign against sexual violenceThe Nobel peace prize-winning gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, renowned for helping victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has announced plans to run for president in December.Mukwege, who won the award in 2018 for his nearly two-decade campaign against sexual violence, made the announcement to a jubilant crowd of supporters at a conference centre in DRC's capital, Kinshasa.In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support for rape and sexual abuse on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...
Forecasters warne that smoke from fires will bring a visible haze as city reports elevated levels on the Air Quality IndexNew York City residents are facing lower air quality Monday due to Canadian wildfires, another such advisory as the community continues to recover from intense rainfall and flooding last week.Forecasters have warned that smoke from the wildfires in Canada will bring a visible haze. Continue reading...
Three-time former prime minister, who promised to end military aid to Ukraine, expected to seek deal with two other partiesSlovakia's president has asked Robert Fico, a populist, pro-Russian three-time former prime minister who campaigned on a promise to end military aid to Ukraine, to try to form a coalition government after his party came top in weekend elections.President Zuzana aputova stressed on Monday that the new government would have to be one which will serve all citizens", saying the coming days would be a time of political negotiation" not just between parties but between her and party leaders. Continue reading...
Group of 67 claim they were fitted with an IUD between 1966 and 1970 without consent or knowledgeDozens of Greenlandic women who say they were fitted with the contraceptive coil without their consent or knowledge are planning to sue the Danish state.The group of 67 women, some of whom were as young as 12 when they say they were fitted with an IUD by Danish doctors in an attempt to reduce Greenland's population, are among the 4,500 women and girls affected between 1966 and 1970. Continue reading...
Emad al-Swealmeen, who died after detonating homemade device inside taxi, had been rejected for asylumA man who detonated a bomb outside a hospital had a grievance against the British state because his asylum claim was rejected, a police investigation has found.Emad al-Swealmeen, 32, detonated the device, which he had made himself, while in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's hospital just before 11am on 14 November 2021. Continue reading...
Khalifa was one of Syria's most acclaimed contemporary novelists, though his six novels were banned in the countrySyrian author, poet and screenwriter Khaled Khalifa, whose novels set in Aleppo memorialised a city ruined by civil war, has died aged 59.The writer died from cardiac arrest at his home in Damascus, a close friend told the French news agency AFP. Continue reading...
No 10 does not deny reports PM is planning to announce axing of multibillion-pound project at Tory conferenceRishi Sunak is set to confirm he is scrapping the northern leg of HS2 to Manchester at the Conservative conference in the city despite a furious response and Tory fears it will fatally undermine the party's commitment to levelling up.Downing Street did not deny reports that the prime minister was planning to axe the multibillion-pound project and reallocate some of the funding to transport projects across the north. Continue reading...
Dale Houghton admits public order offence after he mocked death of Sunderland mascot Bradley LoweryA man has admitted the utterly deplorable" mocking of Bradley Lowery, a young football mascot who died of a rare form of childhood cancer, at a football match against his favourite team.Dale Houghton, 31, pleaded guilty to a public order offence at Sheffield magistrates court after an incident at Sheffield Wednesday's clash with Sunderland on Friday. Continue reading...
Leadership of populist three-time PM could have ramifications for Ukraine, EU and Slovakia's rule of lawSlovakia's president, Zuzana Caputova, will on Monday hand the country's former prime minister Robert Fico a mandate to start negotiations to form a coalition government after his Smer-SD party won almost 23% of the vote in weekend elections.If he succeeds, the populist, pro-Russian leader's fourth term as prime minister could have significant ramifications for Slovakia's military support for Ukraine, EU unity and cohesion, and the rule of law in the central European country. Continue reading...
Former president and frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination delivered the odd remarks during a speech in IowaFaced with a litany of criminal charges, Donald Trump on Sunday told a campaign rally in Iowa that he would prefer to die by electrocution rather than be eaten by a shark if he ever found himself on a rapidly sinking, electrically powered boat.The former president and frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination delivered the bizarre remarks during a speech in the community of Ottuma. He was pontificating over batteries for electric powered boats while recounting a conversation he claimed to have with a boat manufacturer in South Carolina. Continue reading...
August searches of Marion County Record's office and homes of its publisher and a city council member have been sharply criticizedThe police chief who led a highly criticized raid of a small Kansas newspaper has been suspended, the mayor confirmed to the Associated Press this weekend.Marion mayor Dave Mayfield in a text said he suspended chief Gideon Cody on Thursday. He declined to discuss his decision further and did not say whether Cody was still being paid. Continue reading...
Comic book author and graphic novelist wants to spend time in the role tackling industry's lack of diversityThe comic book author and graphic novelist Bobby Joseph has become the first person of colour to be appointed the UK's comics laureate.Joseph, who was one of the first authors to create a British comic with black characters, was appointed to the role at the Lakes international comic art festival (LICAF) in Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District on Saturday. Continue reading...
French actor says in open letter never, ever have I abused a woman' and says he has been subject of lynching'The French actor Gerard Depardieu has written for the first time about allegations of rape and sexual assault against him, saying in Le Figaro that he was the victim of a lynching orchestrated by a media court".In an open letter written in a literary style, he wrote: Never, ever have I abused a woman." Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England correspondent on (#6F7T3)
Exclusive: Campaigners concerned that opposition from Tory MPs is delaying legal protections for rentersMillions of people living in damp and run-down properties are suffering worsening mental and physical health due to delays passing crucial reforms into law, research suggests.A survey by the homelessness charity Shelter found that about 40% of people in rented homes had experienced poor health as a result of their living conditions in the last year - amounting to almost 3 million people in England. Continue reading...
by Sam Jones in Madrid and Helen Livingstone on (#6F7R9)
Thirteen bodies found after fire tore through three adjoining clubs in Murcia but police fear number could riseThe death toll from a fire that tore through three adjoining nightclubs in south-eastern Spain, killing at least 13 people, could rise as rescuers continue to search through the wreckage, police have said.The blaze in the city of Murcia broke out at about 6am on Sunday morning in the La Fonda club, before spreading to the neighbouring Teatre and Golden clubs, officials said. Continue reading...
A new trailer teases footage from behind the scenes of her stunning sellout spectacle, live performances and time with Jay-Z and their children, including rehearsals with daughter Blue IvyBeyonce has announced a new concert film based on this year's massive tour for her 2022 album Renaissance.When I am performing, I am nothing but free," the musician, 42, says in the trailer for Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce. My goal for this tour was to create a place where everyone is free and no one is judged." Continue reading...
Raising money from business leaders and wooing megadonors for cash is a big game at party conferenceLunch with Rishi Sunak and the chance to hobnob with senior ministers? That will set you back 3,300 a person at the Conservatives' conference business day this year.Raising money from business leaders and wooing donors for more cash is a big game at the annual gathering, which is a profit-making endeavour for the party. Corporate leaders will be gathering for special closed sessions and policy roundtables on Monday with ministers, the events including Jeremy Hunt in conversation with the managing director of Barclays, CS Venkatakrishnan. Continue reading...
by Harriet Sherwood Arts and culture correspondent on (#6F7PX)
Just for One Day to tell stories around 1985 fundraising concert during two-month run next yearBob Geldof, the musician who harnessed the power of rock and pop to save lives, has issued a characteristic warning to the Old Vic over its plans for a musical about the 1985 Live Aid concert.It better not be shit," Geldof said, while giving his approval for the London theatre's production. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Eleven people have died since the start of September in a spate of shootings and bombings - this is how the country is managing Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGod morgon. The prime minister of Sweden is calling in the army to help tackle an unprecedented" epidemic of gang violence and terrorist-like" attacks that has seen a record 11 people die in shootings in September alone and a wave of bomb attacks - including four within a single hour.It might not be what we in Britain expect in Scandinavia, but maybe we should have seen it coming - the issue has dominated Swedish politics for the last few years and partly led to the country last year electing the most far-right government in its history.Conservatives | Tory MPs should get over their excess of doom and gloom" about their electoral prospects and get behind" Rishi Sunak, international development minister Andrew Mitchell has said. Mitchell suggested that rival groups of Conservative MPs at the party conference in Manchester should be more disciplined before the election.Brexit | The government has admitted it will cost businesses 330m each year in additional charges when new post-Brexit border controls on animal and plant products imported from the European Union are implemented next year.Cost of living | Families are eating less healthily and turning to ready meals and processed foods due to the cost of living crisis, a study has found. More than two-thirds of people (69%) said they considered themselves to be healthy eaters but 28% said they were eating less nutritious food because it is too expensive, according to the BBC Good Food Nation survey.Climate crisis | Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland and Switzerland have all experienced their hottest Septembers on record, with unseasonably high temperatures set to continue into October, in a year likely to be the warmest in human history.Jake Abraham | The actor Jake Abraham, best known for his role in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, has died aged 56. Abraham, who played Dean in the British gangster film, revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in July and said he was receiving palliative care. Continue reading...
Swift western pressure on Serbia to step back from conflict does not resolve the chronic problems of Kosovo's nationhoodThe signs this weekend suggest that the immediate crisis over Kosovo has been defused. Some Serbian troops are pulling back from the border, and the threat of a return to armed conflict has receded for now.The Biden administration acted decisively on Friday, drawing on some of the lessons from the run-up to the Ukraine invasion, going public with US intelligence on Serbian troops movements, and calling Belgrade to threaten sanctions and ostracism. The Nato peacekeeping force, Kfor, was immediately reinforced by the transfer of command of a battalion of British troops who were in the region for training. Continue reading...
International development minister warns colleagues jostling for position not to be self-indulgent'Tory MPs should get over their excess of doom and gloom" about their electoral prospects and get behind" Rishi Sunak, a cabinet minister has said, with a veiled warning to colleagues jostling for position not to be self-indulgent".The international development minister, Andrew Mitchell, suggested on Sunday that rival groups of Conservative MPs, who have been proposing an array of policy ideas at the party conference in Manchester, should be more disciplined before the election. Continue reading...
Musee d'Orsay adds AI and VR to display of artist's last works, never previously seen togetherFor a man who died in 1890, Vincent van Gogh seemed remarkably au fait with 21st-century parlance.Asked why he had cut off his left ear, the artist replied that this was a misconception and he had in fact only cut off part of my earlobe". So why did he shoot himself in the chest with a revolver, causing injuries from which he died two days later? Continue reading...
The Old Oak, about tensions in a former mining village when refugees arrive, has touched a nerve more raw now than when filming beganThe veteran film-maker Ken Loach is famous for storylines that depict life's bleakest injustices. But his latest film has touched a political nerve that is more raw now than when it was conceived before the pandemic.Loach, now 87, has said that The Old Oak, which opened in cinemas on Friday, will be his last in a career spanning more than six decades. The six-week shoot was challenging, he says, but plays down the difficulties of making a big film at his age with the sight in one eye almost gone. Continue reading...
A structural failure' during Sunday service trapped dozens in Santa Cruz church in Gulf coast city of Ciudad MaderoThe roof of a church has collapsed in northern Mexico during a Sunday mass, killing at least nine people and injuring about 50, authorities said as searchers probed the wreckage late into the night looking for survivors and other victims.Approximately 30 parishioners were believed to have been trapped in the rubble when the roof caved in, officials said. Searchers crawled under the roof slabs and officials brought in dogs to help search for possible survivors. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Defence and trade affected by poor post-Merkel rapport, says chair of foreign affairs committeePoor relations between France and Germany are slowing down key decisions in the EU including deals on defence in Ukraine and trade, an influential German MEP has claimed.David McAllister, chair of the European parliament's foreign affairs committee and a key figure in the opposition Christian Democrats party, says he is concerned that the lack of contact between the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, is causing delays on key decisions on battle tanks and fighter jets, and a future trade deal with Latin America. Continue reading...
Jeremy Rockcliff's administration is teetering on the edge of collapse after Elise Archer quit as attorney general amid a leaked messages scandal. Here's the state of play
Joe Biden urges Congress to swiftly approve Ukraine aid left out of US government funding bill; Rishi Sunak rows back on defence minister's suggestion that British troops could carry out training in Ukraine
Comments from the UK prime minister come after his defence secretary, Grant Shapps, said soldiers could be deployed to Ukraine to carry out trainingThere are no immediate plans to deploy military instructors to Ukraine, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday, rowing back from comments by his defence minister who had suggested troops could carry out training in the country.To date, Britain and its allies have avoided a formal military presence in Ukraine to reduce the risk of a direct conflict with Russia. Continue reading...
Refugee Council study suggests asylum claims by three out of four crossing Channel would be grantedSuella Braverman's claim that most asylum seekers are economic migrants has been challenged by an analysis which suggests that three out of four people crossing the English Channel in small boats this year would be granted asylum if their claims were processed.Using Home Office statistics on Channel crossings, the Refugee Council said that 74% of arrivals in 2023 would be recognised as asylum seekers, an increase from 65% last year. Continue reading...
LSE research suggests faith-based admissions requirements deter disadvantaged childrenChurch of England and Roman Catholic primary schools take fewer pupils with disabilities or special needs than other local schools in England, according to research that suggests faith-based admissions requirements deter pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.The findings led the author, Dr Tammy Campbell of the London School of Economics, to conclude that faith schools serve as hubs of relative advantage" for children from more affluent families who were less likely to have special needs. Continue reading...
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