Protesters call on Biden to demand ceasefire in Israel-Gaza conflict and end military aid to IsraelTens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through downtown Washington DC on Saturday in what organizers hoped was the largest US demonstration of its kind since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza after Hamas attacked the country last month.The crowd waved Palestinian flags, carried posters and chanted slogans during the National March on Washington: Free Palestine, which took place alongside similar events across the US and elsewhere in the world. Continue reading...
British-Iranian imprisoned in Iran for six years speaks of slow recovery from captivity and severance from her Iranian familyNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has spoken of her constant worry" about her family in Iran, saying she cannot return to the country where she was imprisoned for six years.The British-Iranian also revealed how it had been very hard to adjust" since returning to the UK in March 2022. Continue reading...
by Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Mark Townsend on (#6G4AE)
Leaked documents spark furious backlash from groups who fear freedom of expression could be suppressedGovernment officials have drawn up deeply controversial proposals to broaden the definition of extremism to include anyone who undermines" the country's institutions and its values, according to documents seen by the Observer.The new definition, prepared by civil servants working for cabinet minister Michael Gove, is fiercely opposed by a cohort of officials who fear legitimate groups and individuals will be branded extremists. Continue reading...
Former junta leader back in jail hours after commando raid his lawyer says was an abductionThe former head of Guinea's 2008 military junta has been recaptured and returned to prison hours after an apparent jailbreak led by a heavily armed commando, the army and his lawyer said.At least two other former officials on trial alongside Moussa Dadis Camara over a 2009 massacre during his presidency were taken in the earlier operation that sparked heavy gunfire in the capital Conakry, a minister and lawyers said. Continue reading...
Senior Conservative says home secretary should not discuss complex issue in such terms and advised her to use wiser' languageSuella Braverman has been rebuked by a senior Tory campaigner on homelessness after the home secretary provoked outrage by describing rough sleeping as a lifestyle choice."Bob Blackman MP, head of the all-party parliamentary group for ending homelessness, said Braverman was wrong to discuss a complex and serious issue in such terms and advised her to use wiser" language. Continue reading...
74-year-old Michael Whitbread was arrested on Wednesday after Michele Faiers found dead in CasoliA 74-year-old man has appeared in court for extradition proceedings in relation to the murder of a 66-year-old woman in Italy.Michael Whitbread was arrested in England on suspicion of murder on Wednesday night after Michele Faiers was found dead at her home near the Italian town of Casoli that morning. Continue reading...
The over-fat' ewe, named Fiona, was hauled up from her solitary spot on a remote Scottish beach by farmersA ewe that was hailed Britain's loneliest sheep has been rescued by a group of farmers from a remote shingle beach in the Scottish Highlands.The sheep, called Fiona and wearing a huge fleece, had been stranded at the foot of cliffs on the Cromarty Firth for at least two years, with an animal welfare charity having deemed rescue attempts incredibly complex". Continue reading...
Home secretary criticised for tweets vowing to restrict use of tents by homeless people, many of them from abroad'The home secretary, Suella Braverman, has described rough sleeping as a lifestyle choice" while defending her decision to restrict the use of tents by homeless people on the streets of Britain.According to Whitehall insiders, Braverman plans to crack down on tents that cause a nuisance in urban areas such as high streets - amid growing numbers of rough sleepers and what the government considers a rise in antisocial behaviour. Continue reading...
Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, from West Northamptonshire, charged hours before game against WalesA rugby player has appeared in court charged with sexual assault, hours before he was due to play for the Barbarians against Wales in Cardiff.Api Ratuniyarawa, a 37-year-old Fiji international from West Northamptonshire, had been due to be on the Barbarians bench for the match at the Principality Stadium, and Wales international Aaron Shingler was called up to replace him. Continue reading...
This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereAFP has just posted a report from near the war-battered town of Bakhmut - which Ukraine is attempting to retake - quoting a Ukrainian soldier with a grim assessment of the conflict.I've been saying that for some time now already. Step by step we're losing the war," the serviceman, who uses the call sign Mudryi" (Wise), told AFP. The longer this static war continues, the worse it is for us." Continue reading...
Member for Beckenham to surrender whip while he appeals against conviction, government sources sayBob Stewart has surrendered the Tory whip while he appeals against his conviction for a racially aggravated public order offence, a government source has said.Stewart, the MP for Beckenham, was found guilty at Westminster magistrates court on Friday of racially abusing an activist by telling him to go back to Bahrain" during a confrontation in central London. Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#6G442)
All children of this land deserve a better future', says chief executive of Max Rayne Hand in Hand schoolA school in Jerusalem where students from Jewish and Arab backgrounds learn alongside one another has been awarded an international education prize for its success in overcoming adversity".The Max Rayne Hand in Hand school, founded in 1998, is Israel's only bilingual, fully integrated Jewish-Arab school and is seen by many as a beacon of hope in an otherwise deeply divided society. Continue reading...
Rescue workers reach area near epicentre of 5.8-magnitude quake in Karnali province in country's worst earthquake since 2015Rescue workers in Nepal began digging through the rubble of collapsed houses with their bare hands on Saturday, searching for survivors after the country's worst earthquake in eight years killed 157 people and shook buildings as far away as Delhi.The 5.6-magnitude quake hit the far west of the Himalayan country late on Friday and was measured by the US Geological Survey at just 18km (11 miles) deep. Continue reading...
Kate Bush and Soul Train creator Don Cornelius were also inducted, with Missy Elliott closing the ceremony with roof-shaking setSheryl Crow and Olivia Rodrigo kicked off the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday night and Missy Elliott closed the show more than four hours later with a roof-shaking set, as the hall celebrated a strong representation of women and Black artists.Chaka Khan, Kate Bush, Soul Train creator Don Cornelius, the Spinners and DJ Kool Herc were also inducted in a celebration of funk, art-rock, R&B and hip-hop, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Continue reading...
Farah Naz extremely disappointed' by decision to cut Jordan McSweeney's minimum prison term from 38 years to 33The aunt of Zara Aleena has called for the law to be changed after her niece's murderer won an appeal to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence.Farah Naz said her family were extremely disappointed" by the court of appeal's decision to reduce Jordan McSweeney's minimum prison term from 38 to 33 years and questioned why the sentencing judge had been overruled by review judges. Continue reading...
Man and woman arrested and dog seized by police in Nottinghamshire after reports dog had attacked peopleA man and woman have been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a suspected attack by an American XL bully dog.Nottinghamshire police seized a dog after reports it had attacked a number of people on Friday night. Continue reading...
Met Office issues yellow weather warning as heavy rain forecast to fall on already saturated groundHeavy rain is forecast across south and south-west of England, with 38 flood warnings and 160 flooding alerts in place days after Storm Ciaran hit the UK.Although Storm Ciaran has largely eased, the Met Office issued a yellow weather notice on Saturday to last until 11.59pm - stretching from Kent to Cornwall. Continue reading...
by Aaron Walawalkar, Harriet Clugston and Mark Townse on (#6G41N)
Investigation finds evidence that many calls received prior to 2021 Channel disaster were treated as less urgentUK coastguards downgraded 999 calls from refugees pleading for help as they headed to England days before the worst Channel disaster for decades, new internal documents reveal.HM Coastguard potentially breached its own policy by categorising 999 calls from distressed passengers on as many as four small boats carrying 155 people as not in need of urgent rescue, according to analysis of incident logs obtained by the Observer and Liberty Investigates. Continue reading...
Network's EU roaming package has risen from 10 to 25 in the space of a few monthsEE mobile phone customers have accused the company of ripping them off after the provider increased the cost of its EU roaming package from 10 to 25 a month in the space of only a few months.While Tesco, Giffgaff, O2 and Virgin have allowed their customers to carry on using their phones in mainland Europe at no extra cost, EE has pushed through a staggering 150% increase to its popular roaming package that has left customers furious, and threatening to leave. Continue reading...
Lawsuit brought in state court under New York's Adult Survivors Act is connected to alleged assault on set of 2011 film ArthurRussell Brand has been accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a film extra on the New York City set of the 2011 romantic comedy Arthur.The lawsuit, filed on Friday, was brought in state court under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which gives accusers a one-year window to sue over alleged non-recent sexual abuse, even if statutes of limitations have expired. Continue reading...
Berglas, one of whose tricks was regarded as holy grail of magic effects, was first magician to have his own show on British TVDavid Berglas, one of the most influential magicians and mentalists of the 20th century, has died aged 97.The Magic Circle, touted as the most famous magic society in the world, confirmed Berglas had died in London on Friday night. Continue reading...
by Kiran Stacey Political correspondent on (#6G3ZH)
Exclusive: Measure in planned bill stopping sale of new properties under leasehold in England and Wales likely to only cover housesTory MPs are preparing to force the government to toughen up its planned leasehold reforms in England and Wales, with Downing Street expected to launch a bill that falls short of campaigners' demands.Conservative backbenchers say they are ready to bring amendments to the long-awaited leasehold reform bill, which will be one of the centrepieces of next week's king's speech but will not end leasehold on the majority of properties. Continue reading...
New series, Archie, screened in English hometown of Hollywood legend many think of as being wholly AmericanHe is better known as a debonaire habitue of sun-splashed Californian beauty spots and glamorous New York nightclubs, but a flurry of screenings and special events this month will focus attention on a sometimes overlooked aspect of Cary Grant's life - his very modest roots in Bristol, England.A preview of a biopic of Grant called Archie - with Jason Isaacs taking on the tough task of playing one of the most famous of all film stars - is being screened in Bristol ahead of its showing on ITVX, and a new guided walk through Grant's former haunts in the West Country city is being launched. Continue reading...
The former senior figures had been accused of leaking state secrets about intelligence partnership with the USDenmark's former defence minister and ex-spy chief have spoken of their relief after prosecutors dramatically dropped criminal charges accusing them of leaking state secrets.Prosecutors said this week they would withdraw the cases after Denmark's highest court made a series of rulings preventing the prosecution from holding the trials in secret. Continue reading...
Science minister Michelle Donelan requests UKRI cuts links with two members of panel she accuses of promoting extremist viewsThe UK's independent research funding body has become embroiled in a fight with ministers over free speech and diversity initiatives, with the body's chief executive saying she is fully committed" to defending her organisation.Prof Ottoline Leyser, the chief executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has been criticised for her response to demands by the science minister, Michelle Donelan, that UKRI cut its links with two academics that Donelan accused of promoting extremist views" on the Israel-Gaza war. Continue reading...
Ex-PM in written evidence to Covid inquiry admits being torn over first lockdown due to the economic harm it would cause the UKBoris Johnson has defended himself against accusations of indecision during the pandemic, telling the Covid inquiry in evidence that it was his duty to consider whether lockdown did more harm than good.In his written submission to the inquiry, Johnson explains how torn he was in March 2020 about forcing people to stay at home to save lives. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6G3J7)
Pair accused of terrorism offences after incident at protest on 14 October in WhitehallTwo women pictured at a pro-Palestinian march in London with photos of paragliders have been charged with terrorism offences.The incident happened on 14 October, in Whitehall, and the march came after the 7 October attack on Israel when Hamas used paragliders to cross the border between Gaza and Israel. Continue reading...
Heavy rain falling on saturated ground is expected to lead to swollen rivers over weekendThe clear-up is under way after the record-breaking Storm Ciaran caused widespread damage in parts of the UK, with a conservation charity estimating the combination of wind, rain and powerful waves caused five years' worth of erosion in one day at cliffs on the south coast of England.Householders and businesses were warned to prepare for possible flooding after heavy rain fell on already saturated ground, which is expected to lead to river levels rising rapidly in some areas in the coming days. Continue reading...
by Angela Giuffrida in Rome and Jon Henley on (#6G368)
Tuscany is in a state of emergency and three people died when their sailing boat capsized off PortugalAt least six people have died in severe flooding in Tuscany, central Italy and three in Portugal, bringing to 15 the provisional death toll across western Europe from the torrential rain and record winds brought by Storm Ciaran.Eugenio Giani, the president of Tuscany, announced a state of emergency on Friday, describing the situation as really very serious". It had been a long and complex night for the entire regional civil protection system", he said. Continue reading...
Exhibition features objects never before seen in Europe and draws lessons from Mongol empire relevant to todayIt was a major cultural row between France and China, prompting a history museum to pull the plug on one of its most important exhibitions of the decade accusing the Beijing authorities of interference and trying to rewrite history.But now the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne history museum in Nantes has finally opened its blockbuster exhibition on Genghis Khan and the Mongol empire, with large crowds queueing to see hundreds of objects that have never been shown in Europe, some dug up by archaeologists only three years ago. It is part of a new modern reading of the geopolitical importance of the vast continental empire. Continue reading...
Joshua Hunt, 32, receives sexual risk order after police linked him to 25 Somerset gimp' incidentsA man has been banned for five years from wearing a mask and dressing in an all-black suit in public at night and crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground" after police linked him to 25 incidents committed by the so-called Somerset gimp".Joshua Hunt, 32, has been given a sexual risk order after police argued there was a sexual motivation to the incidents.Wearing any type of mask or face covering, including improvised mask or face coverings that cover all or part of the face, in any public place, including whilst in a vehicle in a public place, unless officially required for medical purposes or by law.Being in possession of any type of mask or face covering, including improvised masks or face coverings that cover all or part of the face, in a public place, including whilst in a vehicle in a public place, between the hours of 9pm and 6am unless officially required for medical purposes or by law.Wearing or being in possession of black all-in-one garments or any combination of full-length black-coloured top and black-coloured bottom clothing which has the appearance of an all-in-one garment, in a public place, including in a vehicle in a public place between the hours of 9pm and 6am.Crawling, wriggling or writhing on the ground in a public place whilst wearing a full-body covering, clothing that appears like a full-body covering and/or mask/full-face covering. Continue reading...
Security guard attacked by Matthew White in 2015 said he told him there had been no consequences for killing Stephen', BBC reportsA man unmasked earlier this year as the sixth suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence reportedly claimed he had killed before as he attempted to stab a black security guard, according to a report.Lawrence was murdered by a group of five or six racist attackers in south-east London in 1993, but only two of his killers have faced justice - Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for life in 2012. Continue reading...
by Martin Belam, Guardian staff and agencies on (#6G31P)
Ukraine claims to have shot down 24 drones but in Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv are struck; Russia dismisses latest US sanctions as in vain'
Academics express unease over government ambition to replace once-a-decade snapshot with other sources of data'The first official census in Britain was conducted at a time of great national insecurity. Amid failing harvests and a war with France, MPs were concerned that the country could run out of bread to feed its population. The problem was, nobody knew how big that population actually was.And so, on 10 March 1801, the first census of England and Wales was held (it counted 8.9 million people, roughly equivalent to the current population of London). Census questions may have changed somewhat in the interim - no longer are respondents asked if they are a lunatic, imbecile or idiot", as was the case in 1871 - but every 10 years since, with only one wartime interruption in 1941, a similar survey has been conducted to take a snapshot of the nation. Continue reading...
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