Church observers allege further irregularities after difficult polling day, but main opposition leader declines to join call for re-runVoters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been left with more questions over the credibility of this week's presidential election, amid fresh accusations of irregularities, as voting came to an end on an unplanned second day of balloting.An observer mission formed by two church bodies, the Episcopal Conference of the Congo and the Church of Christ in the Congo, reported that 11% of voting machines had been set up at military schools, contrary to election law, according to reports from the local news site Actualite.cd. Continue reading...
Program - under scrutiny after imprisonment of Canadians in China - said to lack safeguards to protect officers overseasA controversial intelligence-gathering program run by Canada's foreign affairs ministry operates in a distinctly grey zone", puts its officers at risk and breaches global diplomatic conventions, says a damning watchdog report.Canada's global security reporting program (GSRP), a critical part of the foreign ministry's security and intelligence footprint overseas, places officers in countries with poor human rights records" including Ethiopia, India, Egypt, Turkey, Israel and China. Continue reading...
Annual results show it holds only 244m for payments to wrongly convicted branch managers, after fewer appeals than expectedThe Post Office has almost halved the amount set aside for payments to branch managers wrongly convicted in the Horizon IT scandal as fewer than expected have won or brought appeals.The scandal, frequently described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history", resulted in more than 700 post office operators being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 for theft, fraud and false accounting because of faulty accounting software installed in the late 1990s. Continue reading...
Adam Bodnar is determined to reverse damage to judicial system inflicted by defeated PiS, which led to clashes with EUPoland's new justice minister has vowed to find any niche in the legal system" that will allow him to push through reforms, as he starts work to reverse the rule of law breaches carried out under the previous government.Adam Bodnar, a law professor and former human rights ombudsman, was elected to Poland's upper house of parliament in the October election and became justice minister last Wednesday, part of a new government led by prime minister Donald Tusk. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6HAGC)
Last-minute Eurotunnel strike by French unions in Calais halts services as Storm Pia causes travel problems across countryPassengers are suffering fresh disruption in the Christmas getaway after severe weather left rail lines blocked around Britain, while a strike by French Eurotunnel workers has halted Eurostar trains and cross-Channel shuttle services.Strong winds from Storm Pia, including gusts of up to 80mph in northern Britain, have blown down trees on tracks around the country. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler, Sammy Gecsoyler and Michael Goodie on (#6HAD1)
Measure, introduced in August, in effect gave people granted leave to remain just seven days' notice to move onMinisters have quietly reversed an administrative change made in the summer that resulted in refugees being evicted from hostels with just seven days' notice, triggering a surge in street homelessness.The Home Office admitted that it had abandoned the measure, introduced in August, which in effect reduced the notice-to-quit period from 28 days to just a week, giving refugees awarded leave to remain little time to find alternative housing and get social security support. Continue reading...
Victoria Atkins had claimed many junior doctors were unhappy about the BMA's decision to call strikes for this weekNHS Employers has said hospital staffing levels seen during this week's junior doctors' strike in England will not be sustainable" when they stage the longest walkout the health service has ever seen next month.Danny Mortimer, the chief executive of NHS Employers, which is part of the NHS Confederation, made the point in a letter to the BMA seen by PA Media. In it Mortimer said January would be when the NHS faced greatest pressure on services and teams, each and every year".In a system already facing enormous demand, it is the week that most teams dread as it is likely to be the busiest for emergency care.Your joint letter with NHS England makes clear that in relation to the December action that the staff recall and derogations process remains largely the same as the previous strikes.I recognise that there are countless examples where our colleagues are not able to do their very best for their patients, but the first fortnight in January is one of the times when this risk dramatically increases.I would urge the leadership of the BMA to not therefore make this position worse during strike action in January. Continue reading...
Migration through the treacherous Darien gap is slowing as less restrictive air routes open up between South and Central AmericaTwo children from the west African nation of Guinea who were abandoned in Bogota's airport have been taken into government custody after spending several days on their own in the international departures terminal.Colombia's national immigration department said the children, aged 10 and 13, had been travelling with separate groups and were left in the airport by their relatives earlier this month for reasons that have not been clarified. Continue reading...
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereUkraine has received the final 1.5bn (1.3bn) tranche of the 18bn package from the EU, the prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, has said.He posted on X:Today we have received the last 1.5bn of the 18bn financial aid package. Hope for continued unwavering support from the EU. Continue reading...
by Kiran Stacey Political correspondent on (#6HAAD)
The lawyer who joined as a socialist firebrand is proud of his record as head of the Crown Prosecution Service - though decisions under his tenure are fodder for opponents
Met says a 41-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after incident in HackneyA four-year-old boy has died after suffering knife injuries at an address in Hackney, east London, the Metropolitan police have said.A murder investigation has been launched and a 41-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder, the force said. Continue reading...
Joshua Jacques convicted of drug-fuelled stabbing attack that created bloodbath' at house in BermondseyA man has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend and three of her family members in a drug- and alcohol-fuelled knife attack at their home in south London.Joshua Jacques, 29, stabbed his girlfriend Samantha Drummonds, 27, her mother Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, her grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Hill's husband, Denton Burke, 58, in Bermondsey early on 25 April last year. Continue reading...
Jails are routinely severely overcrowded with a lack of access to basic medical facilitiesCalls for reform of Liberia's notorious prison system have intensified after more than 200 inmates held a protest at a facility in the northern Nimba County earlier this month over what they described as the government's failure to provide them with adequate food and medication.Complaints about the west African country's prisons are longstanding. Prisons are routinely severely overcrowded and inmates suffer from a lack of access to basic medical facilities, sanitary items and uniforms. Continue reading...
Only one other party with a significant number of seats is willing to enter formal agreement with Wilders' PVVA month after Geert Wilders emerged as the shock winner of the Dutch election, closed-door talks between his Freedom party (PVV) and three others have begun - but with no certainty of agreement, still less on the shape of an eventual coalition.The far-right PVV took nearly a quarter of the vote in the 22 November ballot, winning 37 seats in the 150-seat parliament. But with 15 other parties also winning seats, it needs at least two partners to form a coalition government that is sure of a majority. Continue reading...
Activists say the review of 113,000 missing people in Mexico is a ploy to reduce the number ahead of the presidential electionWhen the Mexican government announced it would review the official register of disappeared" people, it was presented as an effort to eliminate false entries. But with little transparency over how it was being done, activists suspected a ploy to reduce the number ahead of the 2024 election.The government has now announced it was able to confirm just 12,377 of the more than 113,000 cases of disappeared people. Continue reading...
Global media giants reportedly looking at tie-up to compete with Disney+ and NetflixWarner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global are reportedly in early stage talks about a merger that could bring two of the world's largest media firms under one roof with a combined market value of $38bn (30bn).It is understood that Warner Bros' chief executive, David Zaslav, discussed a potential merger - that could bring together HBO and CNN with CBS News and the hit Mission: Impossible films - while having lunch with his counterpart ,Bob Bakish, at Paramount's offices in New York this week. Continue reading...
by Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent on (#6HA4N)
School leaders fear ministerial advice on pupil transitioning could spark court actionSchools in England could face legal action if they follow new guidance on how to treat transgender children, ministers' own lawyers have reportedly warned.Advice issued prior to the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, and the equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, publishing draft guidance to schools and colleges which said they had no duty to allow students to socially transition", warns of significant legal risks if they follow it. Continue reading...
Defence lawyer called former Liberal staffer fundamentally dishonest' as judge said some of Lehrmann's and Brittany Higgins' evidence can't be accepted'Defence lawyers in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial have used their closing arguments to describe the former Liberal staffer as a fundamentally dishonest man", suggesting his repeated mistruths about the events of March 2019 suggest he might be a compulsive liar".Lisa Wilkinson's lawyer also told the court there can't be any doubt in anyone's mind that there was sex" on the night Brittany Higgins was allegedly raped. Continue reading...
MPs say children will still face bombardment' of gambling promotions elsewhere when watching footballThe Premier League's pledge to scrap betting adverts on football shirts will not protect children from a bombardment" of gambling advertising, according to a report by MPs that also raises concerns about the pace of reform to the industry.MPs on the select committee for culture, media and sport criticised the government for failing to take a more precautionary approach" to gambling promotion, setting out their concerns in a 76-page report published on Thursday. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Patients across the UK have been warned of serious disruption as junior doctors begin one of the most devastating strikes in NHS history Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.The colder months are always more challenging for the NHS. More people get sick, there are fewer staff over the Christmas holiday period and many NHS services such as GP surgeries are shut, piling the pressure on A&Es and hospital wards. This year the annual crisis is coinciding with a junior doctor strike.Israel-Gaza war | The US said very serious" negotiations were taking place in Egypt on a new Gaza ceasefire and release of more Israeli hostages, but prospects for a deal remained uncertain as Hamas reportedly insisted it would not discuss anything less than a complete end to Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territory.UK news | Two 16-year-olds have been found guilty of murdering Brianna Ghey, a unique, and truly unforgettable" transgender girl who was stabbed 28 times in a Warrington park this year.Immigration and asylum | A total of 23 asylum seekers are thought to have killed themselves in Home Office accommodation between 2020 and so far in 2023, more than double the total in the previous four years, the Guardian has learned.Privacy | The police will be able to run facial recognition searches on a database containing images of Britain's 50 million driving licence holders under a law change being quietly introduced by the government. Privacy campaigners have warned that the move, contained in a single clause in a new criminal justice bill, could put every driver in the country in a permanent police lineup.Covid inquiry | Boris Johnson's Downing Street was so macho and egotistical" that women's voices were heard for as little as 10 minutes in five hours of meetings during a key week of coronavirus policy, the Covid inquiry has heard. Continue reading...
A total of 23 people are thought to have killed themselves since 2020, with 176 deaths from all causesA total of 23 asylum seekers are thought to have killed themselves in Home Office accommodation in the last four years, more than double the total in the previous four years, the Guardian has learned.According to research shared with the Guardian, 23 people are confirmed or suspected to have died by suicide between 2020 and so far in 2023. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6HA2A)
Traffic congestion, peaking on Friday, will add to delays, while fewer trains run over festive periodDrivers have been warned to be very cautious" on Britain's roads after forecasts of strong winds and rain that threaten to cause long delays at the start of the Christmas getaway.The worst of the weather will occur Thursday afternoon, shortly after term time finishes for many schools in the south of England, with traffic on the roads expected to increase and peak on Friday. Continue reading...
French president says he is great admirer' of Depardieu and that actor makes France proud'French President Emmanuel Macron has said film icon Gerard Depardieu, accused of rape, has become the target of a manhunt", as the actor faces fresh scrutiny over sexist comments.You will never see me participate in a manhunt," Macron told the France 5 broadcaster when asked about possibly stripping the actor of a state award. I hate that kind of thing," he said, adding that you don't strip someone of a Legion of Honour based on a report". Continue reading...
by Adam Fulton and (earlier) Léonie Chao-Fong, Tom A on (#6H957)
This blog is now closed. See all our Israel-Gaza war coverage hereIntensive Qatari and Egyptian-mediated talks are under way for a possible second Gaza truce under which Hamas would return some hostages in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.While the number of people slated to go free was still being discussed, Israel is insisting that women and infirm male hostages be included, said the source, adding that Palestinians jailed for serious offences could also be on the roster. Continue reading...
by Kaamil Ahmed and agencies in Kinshasa on (#6H99M)
Opposition complains of obviously planned electoral fraud' as vote is plagued by administrative chaos, delays and closed polling stationsFive Congolese opposition presidential candidates have jointly called for a rerun of the country's general elections, saying a decision by the election commission to extend the ballot was unconstitutional.After a day plagued by administrative chaos, delays and closed polling stations, electoral authorities said late on Wednesday that voting would continue on the following day in areas where voters could not cast ballots. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent and Julia on (#6H9T5)
Ten Americans were released in the deal, but critics say the US release of Alex Saab shows that corrupt Venezuelan officials enjoy impunityVenezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, has managed to free a key collaborator from US custody after agreeing to release 10 Americans and 20 Venezuelan citizens from jail.The Colombian-born businessman Alex Saab - a close Maduro ally whom US prosecutors accused of pilfering hundreds of millions of dollars from Venezuelan social programs as part of a massive money-laundering scheme - was extradited to the US in 2021 after being detained while transiting through Cape Verde. Continue reading...
French president defends law on prime time TV, saying it has not sparked a political crisis following health minister's resignationA combative Emmanuel Macron has defended his controversial immigration bill, including the measures supported by the far right.The French president appeared on a prime time news discussion programme to answer questions about the bill and denied the law passed by MPs on Tuesday had provoked a political crisis in his centrist government, despite the resignation of a high-profile minister. Continue reading...
Murder-obsessed 16-year-olds convicted of killing girl who was stabbed 28 times in Warrington parkTwo 16-year-olds have been found guilty of the senseless" murder of Brianna Ghey, a witty, funny and fearless" transgender girl who was stabbed 28 times in a Warrington park this year.The murder-obsessed teenagers, known as Girl X and Boy Y to protect their identities, were found guilty unanimously by a jury at Manchester crown court on Wednesday after it deliberated for four hours and 40 minutes. Continue reading...
Recall of MP Peter Bone opens up Brexit-leaning former safe seat where defections from Tories in any direction could help Labour winThe public's dissatisfaction with Rishi Sunak's government runs deep. In his first year in No 10, the prime minister led the Conservatives to six byelection defeats - though many Tories believed they never stood a chance with the vote in West Lancashire.On paper the results show that national polling, which puts the Labour party ahead of the Conservatives with a 20-point lead, is pretty accurate. Labour figures believe the anti-Tory sentiment that is radiating from the polls is very reflective of the mood in Wellingborough - which will become the latest site for a byelection showdown. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray Midlands correspondent on (#6H9KY)
Jonathan Ashworth, out campaigning for byelection, said Rishi Sunak is being pushed around' by rightwingersJonathan Ashworth has accused the Conservative party of being weak in its handling of disgraced former MP Peter Bone and said the prime minister is being pushed around" by members of his party, as he campaigned in Wellingborough before the upcoming byelection.The Labour frontbencher was in the Northamptonshire seat after a byelection was triggered on Tuesday when 13% of the electorate signed a recall petition against Bone, who was found to have engaged in bullying and sexual misconduct against a former staff member. Continue reading...
Esther Ghey thanked jurors for making the right decision' and urged compassion' for the parents of her killersThe mother of Brianna Ghey said her daughter's killers have not shown an ounce of remorse" but urged some empathy and compassion" for their parents, who wept in court on Wednesday as the guilty verdicts were announced.The 16-year-old was stabbed 28 times in a park in Warrington in February. Two teenagers, known as Girl X and Boy Y to protect their identities, were found guilty unanimously by a jury on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Paul Whelan tells BBC he feels betrayed by his country after being imprisoned on espionage chargesFormer US marine Paul Whelan says he feels abandoned" and betrayed by his country after being imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges, the BBC reported in an interview published on Wednesday.Whelan, 53, has been behind bars since 2018 and is serving a 16-year sentence for spying, a charge the US government says is without merit. Continue reading...
Commission's proposal to downgrade animal's strictly protected' status not based on scientific evidence, say conservationistsWolves could be hunted again across western Europe after the European Commission proposed to reduce their protection, in what lawyers said was an ominous move against effective environmental laws.The commission has proposed that EU member states downgrade the wolf's status under the Berne convention from strictly protected" to protected" after two decades in which the species has returned to many countries from which it has been extinct for decades, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. Continue reading...
Idea is quietly shelved after Tory splits over Rwanda bill, while Home Office is accused of fiddling the figures' on asylum claimsNo 10 has dropped a proposal for an end-of-year immigration update from Rishi Sunak amid concern that key policies that are meant to stop the boats" are running into trouble.The prime minister had been expected to make a statement in December outlining progress on the Rwanda deportation scheme and plans to house asylum seekers in ships such as the Bibby Stockholm and in former barracks, Whitehall sources said. Continue reading...
The women and equalities minister defends the guidance, but also claims telling children they are born in the wrong body is harmful'Michelle Mone is facing legal action after her admission that she lied to the media over her links to a PPE firm that won controversial government contracts during Covid.The businesswoman and peer told the BBC at the weekend that she repeatedly denied being connected to PPE Medpro because she wanted to protect her family from press attention and she declared: That's not a crime."We were forced to spend several thousand pounds of costs in legal fees responding to her mendacious threats. We want our money back.More than that, we want to establish a future deterrent against wealthy individuals willing to lie to stymie honest reporting. We look forward to seeing Mone in court in the new year.The law must not allow itself to become a tool whereby those with money can bully and silence those with none. We aim to create further jeopardy for those who engage in these kinds of egregious breaches.I think it's clear that people across Wellingborough, they want a fresh start. They know it's time for a change.And after 13 years, now going on 14 years, of the Conservatives, when people are paying more in tax, they're paying more on their mortgage thanks to decisions by the Conservative government, they are paying more on their energy bills, they're paying more in the shops, families are struggling and they know that there can be a better way. Continue reading...
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereUkrainian agriculture businesses have received 41.3bn hryvnias (870m) in state loans since the beginning of 2023.10,300 agricultural enterprises were financed under the state programme Affordable Credits 5-7-9%". Continue reading...
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