Boss of rising singer's former music label has denied any involvement in unexplained deathPolice in Nigeria have detained the Afrobeats star and record label boss Naira Marley for questioning over the death of the fast-rising singer MohBad last month.MohBad death's in unexplained circumstances on 12 September at the age of 27 led to an outpouring of grief among his fans and sent ripples through the multibillion-dollar Afrobeats music genre. Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6F9KB)
Man arrested on suspicion of murder after death of 54-year-old who witnesses say sustained throat injuriesA murder investigation has been launched after a man was fatally injured in Wearside by a dog believed to be an American XL bully.Northumbria police said said they received a report of an attack at about 6.55pm on Tuesday evening at an address in Shiney Row near Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, and a man aged 54 was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. Continue reading...
Advocacy group said Elizabeth Polanco de los Santos, 21, accused of assaulting and insulting' contact, faced up to year in prisonElizabeth Polanco de los Santos, a New York college student, arrived in Dubai in July meaning to take only an hours-long layover during an international trip. But because she allegedly touched an airport security officer's arm, she was detained there for more than two months and endured the threat of spending more than a year in prison before she was cleared to return home Tuesday, according to an advocacy group which supported her.Polanco's nightmare stay in Dubai began as she traveled back to New York City from Istanbul with a friend on 14 July when her ordeal began. The 21-year-old, a business arts major at Lehman College in the Bronx, had stopped there for a connecting flight when airport customs officers told her to take off a waist compression device she was wearing after having surgery. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6F9KD)
Council says without help it may be forced to make drastic cuts to local services to avoid bankruptcyOne of the UK's largest Conservative-run councils has warned it faces financial meltdown" and has called on ministers to fix the broken" local government funding system to avoid it and many other authorities plunging into effective bankruptcy.Hampshire county council said without a major overhaul of council finances in England - which it admitted was unlikely to come in time to prevent further cuts - it would be forced to push ahead with drastic reductions to local services over the next 18 months. Continue reading...
Knock-on effect forecast to turn many countries from net financial receivers into net contributorsExpanding the size of the EU to include nine new countries including Ukraine would cost the existing members more than 256bn (220bn), internal calculations have revealed.The knock-on effect would be to turn many countries that currently enjoy net financial benefits of the EU into net contributors. Continue reading...
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck experienced intense period of unwelcome behaviour', inquiry findsA 19-year-old soldier is believed to have taken her own life after sexual harassment from her boss, according to an internal army inquiry report.Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021 after experiencing an intense period of unwelcome behaviour", the inquiry report said, according to the BBC.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...
by Josh Butler and Sarah Basford Canales on (#6F9HZ)
Peter Dutton claims Anthony Albanese was hanging out on the red carpet with Alan Joyce' and did not change voice wording as former Qantas boss told him not to
Average 12% reduction comes as more affordable own-brand products introduced in Express storesTesco says food inflation has fallen in the past six months, with the grocer cutting prices on 2,500 products, including bread and broccoli, by an average of 12%.The supermarket also revealed a 14% rise in adjusted operating profit and said it expected the pace of prices rises to continue slowing for the rest of the year. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: From dithering on HS2 to playing the culture war hits, the Conservative conference is all out of ideas Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Today in Manchester, Rishi Sunak is expected to stand in front of a lectern reading LONG-TERM DECISIONS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE" and announce the scrapping of the HS2 rail link to that very city - and with it a key plank of his promise to level up the north.The Conservative party conference - which closes today and is likely the last before a general election in 2024 - has been completely dominated by the prime minister's repeated refusal to confirm whether or not the 100bn high speed line will continue as planned.US | Kevin McCarthy has been abruptly removed from his role as House speaker, ousted by hard-right members of his own Republican party less than a year after his election. It is the first time in US history the speaker has been dismissed, and came after he led a bipartisan effort that avoided a government shutdown.Italy | At least 21 people died and 18 were injured when a tourist coach crashed off an overpass near Venice, falling 30 metres on to power lines and catching fire. Those on board included Ukrainians, German and French citizens, said Venice prefect Michele Di Bari, adding the bus was totally crushed".Transport | Two planned strikes by London Underground workers this week have been called off, the RMT union announced. Its members had been due to strike on Wednesday and Friday, closing the tube over plans to reduce staff numbers by up to 600 posts to save costs.Health | Trans hospital patients in England will be banned from being treated in female- and male-only wards, under plans announced by the health secretary. Steve Barclay also said patient requests to have intimate care provided by someone of the same biological sex would be respected.Diplomacy | India has told Canada it must remove 41 diplomats from its embassy in Delhi as the diplomatic spat continues between the two countries. The Indian foreign ministry has given Canada a week to repatriate two-thirds of its diplomats stationed in India, reducing the number to 21. Continue reading...
Ruling party portrays opposition leader Donald Tusk as subservient to Berlin in run-up to 15 October electionAs campaign videos go, it's arguably one of the less sophisticated. To the booming soundtrack of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, a man with a strong foreign accent makes a phone call from the German embassy in Warsaw. His request: to arrange a call between Germany's chancellor and Jarosaw Kaczyski, the leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party (PiS).Asked if he would like to speak with Olaf Scholz about Poland's retirement age, raised under Donald Tusk, Poland's former prime minister and the current opposition leader, Kaczyski refuses. Tusk has gone; these customs have changed," he says, and hangs up. An economically resurgent Poland, implies the video, will not dance to Berlin's tune, all thanks to the firm nationalist leadership of the PiS. Continue reading...
Joe Biden said this week he expected the speaker to keep a commitment to secure support needed for Ukraine, but with McCarthy ousted, the outlook is less clearThe historic ousting of House speaker Kevin McCarthy adds further uncertainty to the outlook for US aid to Ukraine, after support for Kyiv was excluded from the recent US government funding bill, leaving Joe Biden to rely on the Republican speaker for a separate deal.The president said at the weekend that US support for Ukraine could not be interrupted under any circumstances" and that he fully expected McCarthy to keep his commitment to secure the passage and support needed to help Ukraine as they defend themselves against aggression and brutality". Continue reading...
by Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspon on (#6F9CM)
Henry Puna's intervention comes after Vanuatu's ex-foreign minister said a no win on 14 October would be a blow to Australia's relationships with region
Diesel up by more than 8p to 163p in September and petrol by 4.5p to 152p amid global oil production cutsThe price of diesel in the UK has shot up at one of its fastest rates in more than 20 years - while retailers have been accused of charging unjustifiably" high petrol prices.Diesel prices rose by more than 8p a litre to 163p in September, the fifth biggest monthly rise since 2000, and on top of another 8p rise the previous month, the RAC said. Petrol prices rose by 4.5p a litre to 152p, the fourth consecutive monthly increase. Continue reading...
Chief scientific adviser in 2020 found the ex-PM completely inconsistent' in his evidence to the Covid inquiryBoris Johnson's decision-making during the coronavirus pandemic was described as bipolar" and completely inconsistent" by Sir Patrick Vallance, the Covid inquiry has heard.The government's then chief scientific adviser acknowledged his frustration in his diary entries, which he has submitted to the panel as evidence, at the chaos" in Downing Street and Johnson's flip-flopping" when making decisions about restrictions. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Without action, a generation of young people' could be addicted to gambling, says independent MP pushing for government to urgently intervene
Female, black, Asian or less well-off patients are less likely to receive the life-saving procedure in EnglandPatients who are female, black, Asian or less well-off are significantly less likely to be offered heart valve surgery on the NHS in England, according to a report that experts say is deeply concerning".People develop aortic stenosis when their aortic valve narrows as a result of calcium buildup, impeding normal blood flow. This causes shortness of breath, light headedness and chest pain. Continue reading...
Research by NHS trust found simple blood test could help people avoid complications from type 2 diabetesThousands of people unaware they have type 2 diabetes could be diagnosed and avoid serious complications if screening was introduced in emergency departments, a study suggests.The prevalence of the disease has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels in the last three decades, according to the World Health Organization. More than 400 million people have been diagnosed, but millions more are estimated to be in the dark about the fact they have the condition. Continue reading...
Intimidating behaviour beside procession of worshippers seen as another sign of victimisation and was condemned by NetanyahuA video of ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting on the ground beside a procession of foreign Christian worshippers carrying a wooden cross in the holy city of Jerusalem has ignited intense outrage and a flurry of condemnation in the Holy Land.The spitting incident, which the city's minority Christian community lamented as the latest in an alarming surge of religiously motivated attacks, drew rare outrage on Tuesday from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other senior figures. Continue reading...
Butler becomes only the third Black female senator in history, following the death of Feinstein last week at age 90In a unique and historic moment on Capitol Hill, former union leader and Democratic strategist Laphonza Butler was sworn in by Kamala Harris on Tuesday as the newest member of the Senate, replacing California Senator Dianne Feinstein after her death last week and becoming only the third Black female senator in history.Butler, 44, was appointed by California's governor, Gavin Newsom, on Sunday, just two days after Feinstein died at her home in Washington DC. Butler is a longtime fundraiser and strategist in California's Democratic circles and was the head of Emily's List, a national organization that raises money for female candidates who support abortion rights. Continue reading...
Cause unclear as coach veers off road and falls near railway lines in Mestre outside VeniceAt least 20 people have died after a coach crashed off an overpass near Venice in northern Italy, the city's mayor told Italian newspaper la Repubblica.The coach veered off the road and fell close to railway lines in the district of Mestre, which is connected to Venice by a bridge, Italian news agencies and television reported, but the cause of the accident was still unclear. Continue reading...
Maria Rooney's action against Leicester city council is first tribunal case to consider the symptoms as a disabilityA former children's social worker has told an employment tribunal that she felt colluded against" by the council she worked for due to suffering symptoms of menopause.Maria Rooney initiated legal action against Leicester city council in the first tribunal case to consider the symptoms as a disability. She has alleged she was constructively dismissed after discrimination over suffering menopause symptoms. Continue reading...
The second day of Trump's trial got off to another combative start after Trump branded the case a fraud' and scam'The judge overseeing Donald Trump's civil fraud trial issued a gag order on Tuesday after the former president made comments about the judge's clerk.Consider this statement a gag order forbidding all parties from posting, emailing or speaking publicly about any of my staff," the judge, Arthur Engoron, said on Tuesday afternoon. Personal attacks on members of my court staff are unacceptable, inappropriate and I will not tolerate them in any circumstances. Continue reading...
Louis Feutren joined a nationalist group in occupied France and went on to teach at a prestigious Dublin schoolThere was never any mystery about the fact that Louis Feutren, a French teacher at St Conleth's school in south Dublin, was a Nazi collaborator.He had a taste for violent punishments and bizarre humiliations that terrorised pupils. He liked to reminisce about the second world war, when he had joined a Breton nationalist group that fought on the side of Germany. And he showed pictures of himself in uniform. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6F930)
Half-baked' plan unveiled at Tory conference is a sign of failure to tackle problem of overcrowding, say Labour and reformersThe UK will seek to rent prison space from foreign countries to combat the shortage of domestic jail places, under plans announced at the Conservative party conference.The Tories said that they have already begun exploratory discussions with possible partners in Europe, with plans that would be introduced when parliamentary time permits. Continue reading...
by Yohannes Lowe, Tom Ambrose and Jordyn Beazley on (#6F8JE)
UK and Nato says suppliers must ramp up production; General Oleksander Tarnavskyi says Russian forces sustaining losses in south. This live blog is closedVeterinary and sanitary controls of Ukrainian agricultural cargo bound for the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda will in the next two days be transferred from the Polish-Ukrainian border directly to Klaipeda under a deal reached by Kyiv, Warsaw and Vilnius, the Ukrainian farm ministry said on Tuesday.A ministry statement quoted agriculture minister Mykola Solsky as saying the move was aimed at speeding up transit. Continue reading...
Low-tax scheme launched during financial crisis has stoked housing inflation that has drawn protests across countryTax breaks for foreign residents in Portugal are no longer justified", the prime minister, Antonio Costa, has declared, promising to close the scheme for new applicants in 2024 after it stoked housing prices in one of western Europe's poorest nations.Launched in 2009, the scheme allows people who become residents by spending more than 183 days a year in the country to benefit from a special 20% tax rate on Portuguese-sourced income derived from high value-added activities", such as doctors and university teachers. Continue reading...
Home secretary uses populist speech at Tory conference to attack Human Rights Act and luxury beliefs' of liberal-leaning votersSuella Braverman has warned of a hurricane" of mass migration and attacked the luxury beliefs" of liberal-leaning people in a populist speech aimed at cementing her position as a standard bearer of the Conservative right.In a claim that will anger lawyers, judges and some within her own party, the home secretary told delegates at the Tory party conference that the Human Rights Act should be renamed the Criminal Rights Act". Continue reading...
Head of campaigning group says criticism of Emmanuel Macron's government for Islamophobia is reason for forced return to BritainThe UK director of the campaign group Cage has claimed that he has been deported from Poland at the behest of the French authorities because he criticised Emmanuel Macron's government for Islamophobia.Muhammad Rabbani, who heads a group that campaigns on behalf of those affected by the war on terror", was due to give a speech this week at an international security conference in Warsaw that would have been critical of France's handling of anti-government protests. Continue reading...
Test by Federal Emergency Management Agency scheduled for 2.20pm eastern timeA test for the US emergency alert system will be conducted on Wednesday, but it is already being met with internet conspiracy theories.The nationwide test is scheduled for 2.20pm ET and will play on US cellphones, TV, and radio stations. Continue reading...
Kosovo deputy prime minister says incident on 24 September was open act of aggression' and says it represents risk to entire regionThe French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, who is visiting Armenia today, welcomed the country's ratification of the international criminal court's founding statute.The fight against impunity for crimes is a condition for peace and stability," she wrote on social media. Continue reading...
by Hannah Ellis-Petersen South Asia correspondent on (#6F8WB)
Search also carried out on office of news website under investigation for allegedly receiving funds from ChinaPolice have carried out early morning raids on a news portal office and the homes of almost 50 journalists, activists and comedians across India under anti-terrorism laws, deepening concerns over a crackdown on freedom of expression in the country.Delhi police carried out the searches on numerous locations on Tuesday morning. Several journalists were detained, with their phones and laptops confiscated, and some were taken in for questioning. Delhi police confirmed that two journalists had been arrested in the case. Continue reading...
Incident puts country back on edge a year after mass protests erupted over death in custody of Mahsa AminiThe hospitalisation of a 16-year-old girl in Tehran has led to accusations by a rights group and activists that she was beaten into a coma by Iran's feared morality police", putting the country back on edge a year after mass protests erupted over the treatment of women.Footage of the incident showed a girl being carried off a train by other girls at a metro station and placed on the platform, where she stays still, apparently unconscious. Continue reading...
Acting prime minister has until 27 November to put candidacy before MPs after conservative rival's failure to take officeSpain's acting prime minister, the socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, has been invited to try to form a government two months after July's inconclusive snap general election, and four days after the leader of the conservative People's party (PP) failed in his bid to take office.King Felipe on Tuesday formally nominated Sanchez to attempt to secure congress's backing to form a new coalition administration with the leftwing Sumar alliance. Continue reading...
Jury finds failures in police custody and in prison contributed to death of Jack Zarrop at Wormwood Scrubs in 2021An inquest report has warned that prisoners are at risk of death" due to failures in the healthcare system, after a man took his own life at Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London 48 hours after arriving there.A jury at the inquest into the death at the prison of Jack Zarrop, 23, on 20 March 2021, found that a number of failures contributed to his death, both while he was in police custody and after he was taken to Wormwood Scrubs on remand. Continue reading...
Fast fashion retailer expects annual sales to fall by between 12% and 17% as buyers return to high streetBoohoo has warned that sales will fall by more than expected this year as shoppers buy fewer items than hoped for amid heavy competition from the Chinese rival Shein and the revival of high street shopping.The online fast fashion specialist said it expected annual sales to fall by between 12% and 17%, a dive from the maximum 5% drop previously forecast, as analysts said the group had lost market share despite price cuts. Continue reading...
RMT industrial action on Wednesday and Friday will not take place, but Aslef train strike will go aheadPlanned strikes by London Underground workers on Wednesday and Friday have been called off, the RMT union announced.Its members had been due to strike, closing the tube over plans to reduce staff numbers by up to 600 posts to save costs. Continue reading...
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