The portable unit, comprising mini cubes of medical equipment, enables surgeons to be operating within an hour, designers claimIndia has designed and built a flatpack" field hospital that can be flown to a disaster area by helicopter and assembled faster than an Ikea bookcase.The hospital is contained in 72 small waterproof cubes, each weighing under 15kg and measuring 38cm x 38cm x 38cm (15 x 15 x 15in). They are packed with tents and specially designed medical equipment. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6GZXD)
Inspection in England and Wales criticises pace of change since child abuse scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale came to lightPolice are still blaming child victims of sexual grooming gangs for the attacks they suffer, an official report has found.The inquiry by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) comes more than a decade after scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale came to light, revealing failings by the authorities that left gangs of men free to attack vulnerable young girls. Continue reading...
Atmospheric rivers have pummeled the region, resulting in the deaths of two people in rushing floodwatersTorrential rains that pummeled the Pacific north-west this week will begin to slow on Thursday, as the region examines the damage left in the wake of severe storms across Washington and Oregon.The atmospheric river systems brought heavy rain, flooding and unseasonably warm temperatures to the region, forcing closures of schools and roads as authorities rescued people from raging rivers and submerged streets. Officials reported the death of two men whose bodies were recovered from rushing waters. Continue reading...
Inquest examined watchdog's role in Ruth Perry's decline after Reading primary school's rating was downgradedThe family of Ruth Perry have spoken out against the brutal inhumanity" of Ofsted inspections after a coroner ruled that it was a contributory factor in the headteacher's death by suicide.
US and Britain express support for Guyana over Maduro threat to seize a third of its territory while Brazil calls for peaceful solutionThe United States has said it would conduct flight operations within Guyana that build on its routine engagement, as Britain and Brazil expressed concerns about growing border tensions between Guyana and Venezuela.The long-running spat over the oil-rich Essequibo region, which is being heard by the international court of justice (ICJ), escalated over the weekend when voters in Venezuela rejected the ICJ's jurisdiction and backed the creation of a new Venezuelan state. Continue reading...
MPs say plans for corporate public ownership disclosure in Britain's overseas territories must be revivedBritain will remain the global centre of dirty money" unless ministers revive stalled plans for public registers of who owns companies based in offshore havens such as the British Virgin Islands (BVIs) and Jersey, campaigners and senior MPs have said.Veteran anti-corruption campaigner Dame Margaret Hodge MP said it was a matter of national security" to do away with the secrecy offered by the 10 inhabited overseas territories and three crown dependencies. Continue reading...
Suella Braverman earlier denied plotting to bring the PM down over the Rwanda bill. This live blog is closedRishi Sunak says he is holding this press conference to explain why the government is publishing its Rwanda bill.He says he is the child of immigrants. He understands why people want to come to the UK. Continue reading...
Turkish leader says his visit to Athens hailed the start of a new era between the two countriesHungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, cannot be allowed to blackmail" the rest of the EU by threatening to block Ukraine membership talks unless it releases withheld funds to Hungary, centre-left MEPs have said.This is a make or break moment for the EU," said Pedro Marques, vice chair of the Socialist and Democratic group in the European parliament.At a moment in which the US Congress has just outvoted a proposal by Joe Biden to continue to support Ukraine, we cannot put ourselves in a situation where the Ukrainians see that we are also not capable of continuing to assist them.It also not acceptable, from my point of view, that anyone gets the perception that at the end of next week, Orban got his way and got his 30bn in exchange for allowing the EU to continue to assist Ukraine.Ministers of the two countries will have constructive meetings. We'll discuss what steps we can take on all issues. Preparations have been made by ministers ... I believe it will be better for the future of both sides to speak seeing the glass half full. Continue reading...
Day's friends had shot dead two police who came to their Queensland property. The FBI was taking no such chancesDonald Day Jr claimed he was armed to the teeth" and would kill any law enforcement officers who came to his remote property in northern Arizona, a US indictment alleges.The devils come for us, they fucking die," he allegedly posted online last year. It's just that simple. We are free people, We are owned by no one." Continue reading...
Cost of living crisis partly responsible but total sales at Mike Ashley's company riseMike Ashley's Frasers Group has warned of softening in the global luxury market" as underlying sales at its upmarket division, which includes the House of Fraser department stores and the Flannels chain, dived more than 11%.The fall in underlying sales, which does not take into account acquisitions, came as the group closed two more House of Frasers stores in the half-year, taking the total to 29, half the number the group bought out of administration in 2018. Continue reading...
Nikita Irvine also says Brittany Higgins seemed sad' and told her about alleged assault in Parliament HouseBruce Lehrmann's former colleague, an aide-de-camp for senator Linda Reynolds, has told the federal court she had bad vibes" about him based on her women's intuition".The army major, Nikita Irvine, also said she discussed Brittany Higgins' allegation of sexual assault against Lehrmann with both Reynolds and her chief of staff Fiona Brown. Continue reading...
by Justin McCurry in Tokyo and agencies on (#6GYZX)
Shinji Aoba has admitted starting fire but has pleaded not guilty, saying a psychological disorder makes him incapable of distinguishing between right and wrongProsecutors in Japan are seeking the death penalty for the suspect in an arson attack in 2019 that killed 36 people in one of the country's deadliest crimes for decades.Shinji Aoba, who was not arrested until he had recovered from the burns he sustained in the attack on an animation studio in Kyoto, admitted in court in September 2023 to starting the fire. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The former prime minister attempted to shape his legacy during hours of intense questioning. Pippa Crerar explains key takeaways from his testimony Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.For about six hours yesterday, Boris Johnson finally had a chance to defend his record against the blistering criticism levelled against him over the course of the Covid inquiry since it started in June 2022. Evidence handed over to the inquiry has revealed that senior figures in his administration had significant doubts about Johnson's ability to lead and govern, creating an image of chaos, disorganisation and dysfunction during an unprecedented global health crisis.Robert Jenrick | Rishi Sunak's government was plunged into crisis after his immigration minister quit just hours after the prime minister tabled a bill to save his Rwanda deportation policy. Robert Jenrick said the bill was a triumph of hope over experience" and would mean that the policy will be challenged again in the courts.Israel-Hamas war | UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has said that he expects public order to completely break down" in Gaza amid Israel's continuing bombardment, rendering even limited humanitarian assistance impossible."Hillsborough disaster | Ministers have rejected the Hillsborough law" reforms that are central to a campaign by families of the 97 people killed in the 1989 disaster to prevent future police cover-ups. Instead the government has signed a charter" that states a commitment by departments to openness and transparency after public tragedies.Cop28 | The head of the International Monetary Fund has said that carbon pricing, a way to put an implicit price on carbon emissions, would generate the vast amounts of cash needed to tackle the climate crisis. It is a traditionally unpopular policy as in practice it can hit poorer people hardest if it is badly applied.Energy | A toxic culture" of bullying, sexual harassment and drug-taking risks compromising the safety of Europe's most hazardous nuclear site, multiple employees at Sellafield have claimed. Continue reading...
In a lengthy interview, Swift says Kim Kardashian feud took me down psychologically', and criticises music industry over treatment of young starsTaylor Swift has spoken of the psychological damage of her feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, and lambasted the music industry over its treatments of young pop stars, in a new interview with Time, which has named her their person of the year.After a year in which she has been at the centre of cultural conversations for her massively lucrative Eras tour, Swift spoke damningly of what she sees as a short-termist approach by record labels to replace, rather than nurture its stars. By the time an artist is mature enough to psychologically deal with the job, they throw you out at 29, typically," she says. In the 90s and 00s, it seems like the music industry just said: OK, let's take a bunch of teenagers, throw them into a fire, and watch what happens. By the time they've accumulated enough wisdom to do their job effectively, we'll find new teenagers.'" She said her solution was to change style with each new album project: I realised every record label was actively working to try to replace me. I thought instead, I'd replace myself first with a new me. It's harder to hit a moving target." Continue reading...
The staunch anti-communist, at first supportive of her brothers' efforts, became disillusioned with the Cuban governmentJuanita Castro, the sister of Cuban rulers Fidel and Raul Castro who worked with the CIA against their communist government, has died in Miami at 90. Florida had been her home since shortly after fleeing the island nearly 60 years ago.Journalist Maria Antonieta Collins, who co-wrote Juanita Castro's 2009 book, Fidel and Raul, My Brothers. The Secret History, wrote on Instagram that she died on Monday. Continue reading...
The 85-year-old was pictured leaving prison in Lima where he was serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abusesAlberto Fujimori, Peru's former strongman leader, was freed from jail after a ruling from the country's highest court granted him a humanitarian pardon, despite a request from the regional Inter-American Court of Human Rights to delay his release.Looking frail and wearing a face mask, the 85-year-old was received by his lawyer, two of his children Kenji and Keiko Fujimori - his political heiress and three-time presidential candidate - and helped into a waiting vehicle amid cheers from his supporters, who waved banners, honked horns and chanted Fujimori Libertad", or Fujimori freedom". Continue reading...
by Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on (#6GYTD)
UK charity says government must tighten consumer protections to stop rogue traders' taking advantageHouseholds could be at risk of net zero scammers" amid a surge in green home upgrades unless the government tightens consumer protections, Citizens Advice has warned.The charity said that if the government does not tighten consumer protections to keep pace with the work required to decarbonise Britain's homes, rogue traders" could take advantage of households and erode trust in the UK's climate agenda. Continue reading...
Ruling defies international court, which has said that Fujimori cannot be pardoned due to his conviction for human rights crimesPeru risks being ranked alongside authoritarian states like Venezuela and Nicaragua, lawyers have warned, if it flouts international law by freeing former president Alberto Fujimori from jail after its highest court ordered his immediate release".In the latest chapter of a drawn-out legal saga, Peru's constitutional court ruled on Tuesday to free the former authoritarian leader who, since 2009, has been serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and ordering massacres committed by an army death squad in the early 1990s. Continue reading...
by Amy Hawkins Senior China corresponden on (#6GYET)
Calls for legislation after dozens of brands identified as being at risk of sourcing materials linked to China's transfer programmesA substantial volume" of clothing tainted by the use of Uyghur forced labour is entering the European Union market, according to a report, as campaigners say the EU's checks are not doing enough to weed out coercive work from large supply chains.Dozens of well-known brands including H&M and Zara are identified as being at high risk of sourcing materials, particularly cotton and PVC, made by Uyghurs compelled to participate in state-imposed labour transfer programmes, according to a report from Uyghur Rights Monitor, Sheffield Hallam University and the Uyghur Centre for Democracy and Human Rights. Continue reading...
Request for help came after Venezuelan president announced series of measures to formalize a referendum Sunday eveningGuyana has appealed for help from the United Nations and the United States as the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, announced a series of measures intended to advance its annexation of two-thirds of the tiny South American nation's territory.I have spoken to the Secretary General of the United Nations and several leaders, alerting them of these dangerous developments and the desperate actions of President Maduro," Irfaan Ali, president of Guyana, said in a television broadcast late on Tuesday, as he informed the nation of 800,000 of Maduro's latest steps intended to create a new Venezuelan state in Guyana. Continue reading...
by Mark BrownNorth of England correspondent on (#6GYAS)
Famous tree was cut down from its spot on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland in SeptemberSalvaged seeds and cuttings from the felled Sycamore Gap tree are showing positive signs of being able to grow and provide new descendants", the National Trust has said.The world famous tree was cut down from its spot on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland in late September. Police continue to investigate the felling. A man in his 60s and two men in their 30s, who were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, remain on bail. Continue reading...
by Alexandra Topping, Jamie Grierson and Kiran Stacey on (#6GYAT)
Veteran TV executive to replace Richard Sharp, who resigned after breaching rules over loan to Boris JohnsonThe veteran TV executive Samir Shah is set to be appointed as the next chair of the BBC.Shah, 71, who has previously served as a non-executive director at the broadcaster and was the co-author of the government's controversial racial disparities report in 2021, has been announced as the culture secretary's preferred candidate" for the three-days-a-week position, which pays a salary of 160,000. Continue reading...
Gen Sir Mark Carleton-Smith will support work on opportunities arising from Aukus defence pactA former head of the British army has joined a lobbying firm run by the veteran Conservative party strategist Sir Lynton Crosby as it seeks to capitalise on business deals in the defence industry.Gen Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, who until last year was one of the UK's most senior military officers, will work as an adviser at Crosby's influential Anglo-Australian consultancy, CT Group. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6GY0Y)
Grim forecast comes after Nottingham city council became fourth authority in the past 12 months to declare insolvencyThe financial crisis engulfing English local authorities will trigger an unprecedented increase in town hall bankruptcies in the coming months, local government leaders have warned, as they prepare to increase council tax bills and impose a fresh round of cuts to services.The grim forecast, endorsed by council leaders of all political colours, comes days after Labour-run Nottingham city council issued a Section 114 notice to become the fourth authority in the past 12 months - and the eighth in six years - to declare effective insolvency. Continue reading...
Atsushi Ozawa accused of using car to kill common pigeon, which vets said died of traumatic shockTo some, they are another species of feathered friend; to others, they are rats with wings whose droppings deface historic buildings.But in Japan, pigeons may have become the victims of crime, after police arrested a Tokyo taxi driver on suspicion of deliberately driving into a flock of the birds, killing one of them. Continue reading...
Nearly a month after agreement, 78% of union's 160,000 members sign off on deal, marking end of a challenging period in HollywoodThe Sag-Aftra union has ratified its contract with Hollywood studios, nearly one month after the parties reached an agreement that put an end to the historic strike that had upended the film and television industry.Actors won pay increases, protections around the use of artificial intelligence, and streaming-based bonuses in the deal, which the union said was valued at more than $1bn and hailed for its extraordinary scope". Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian