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Police euthanise the animal after being called to an incident at a property in Townsville

Assessment finds detention unit is subjecting families to unnecessary suffering' amid lengthy Home Office delaysYoung children are being traumatised while held at a Gatwick airport deportation centre that should be closed down, a watchdog has found.The independent monitoring board (IMB) also said the children's parents were being subjected to callous treatment and unnecessary suffering" because of the Home Office's lengthy decision-making process over removals.Children are witnessing or overhearing their parents' considerable distress" at their expected deportation, despite staff efforts to shield them.Children are being asked by staff to translate for their distraught parents, despite having been taken from their homes and facing removal to a country they may know very little about.The use of the Family PDA may prolong or add to trauma already experienced, particularly for children. Continue reading...

Conservation trust says Boki not out of the woods' yet but doing well after operation to drain buildup of fluidA brown bear that underwent brain surgery in the first operation of its kind in the UK is doing well but is not out of the woods" yet, a charity has said.Boki went under the knife on Wednesday after an MRI scan revealed he had hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. Continue reading...

BMJ case report reveals potential overuse injury after man in his 30s has surgery to remove large lump on his headGoing breakdancing today? If so, maybe go easy on the headspins. Unless you want to end up with a cone-head", that is.Breakdancing's extreme physical demands mean it is known to involve a high risk of injury: everything from hair loss to sprains and damage to almost every part of the anatomy. Continue reading...

Police discovered much-loved' Martin Forgie dead at property in Ellon on WednesdayA 44-year-old man has been arrested after the death of a much loved" 36-year-old man in Aberdeenshire.At about 8.35pm on Wednesday, police were called to a property on Gordon Place, Ellon, where Martin Forgie was found dead. Continue reading...

Industry bosses to meet prime minister before government's international investment summit next weekThe leaders of the world's biggest green energy companies have promised more than 24bn of new private investment across Great Britain ahead of a meeting with the prime minister on Friday.Keir Starmer is expected to meet the green energy bosses on the sidelines of the first Council of Nations and Regions in Edinburgh to discuss the multibillion-pound projects just days before the government's international investment summit next week. Continue reading...

PM will convene Friday's summit of devolved nations and English mayors without Gray by his side, No 10 saysKeir Starmer's inaugural gathering of the council of nations and regions, intended to reset relationships and boost growth in every part of the UK, risks being overshadowed by the absence of his new envoy Sue Gray.The summit follows a Labour manifesto promise to restructure government by bringing the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland together with regional mayors in England. Starmer will convene it without Gray by his side. Continue reading...

After complaints over pay and life in government, Labour's special advisers seem placated by Morgan McSweeney's more conciliatory toneClashes between powerful figures inside Downing Street and special advisers are nothing new. Dominic Cummings - Boris Johnson's right-hand man inside No 10 - had several high-profile bust-ups with spads, as they're known, which even led to the departure of a cabinet minister.Theresa May's pugilistic chiefs of staff Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill became known for their confrontational style. Hill, in particular, made herself unpopular with ministers, Tory MPs and advisers alike with her blunt text messages. Continue reading...

Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who is still in jail in Egypt despite completing his five-year sentence, was selected by PEN Pinter winner Arundhati RoyBritish-Egyptian writer, software developer and activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been named this year's PEN writer of courage. The 42-year-old is still in prison in Egypt, despite having completed his five-year sentence for allegedly spreading false news".Let's remember that this is an innocent man who has committed no crime, but even so, he will have served his time on 29 September," Abd el-Fattah's sister, Sanaa Seif, said last month. Continue reading...

Director of only major hospital in north of strip still offering specialist care says it cannot evacuate all its patients

Downing Street indicates no change in position on Ukraine's request to fire Storm Shadow weapons into Russia

Kent and Essex police unit says files are being submitted to CPS in relation to hundreds of deaths up until 2000Police have identified 24 suspects in their investigation into the deaths of hundreds of patients at Gosport War Memorial hospital, one of the biggest care scandals in NHS history.Detectives said 21 people were suspected of committing gross negligence manslaughter and the other three of breaking the Health and Safety at Work Act. Continue reading...

Bill will give new rights to millions of workers including protection from third-party harassment

Exclusive: Private message from whips aims to crack down on dissent, telling MPs to speak with one voice'

Far-right trolls spout baseless theory that storm is a simulation' as Republicans jump on conspiracy train

Russian president's spokesperson confirms tests were sent by Trump at a time there were shortages in the USThe Kremlin has confirmed that Donald Trump sent Vladimir Putin Covid tests when they were scarce during the early stages of the pandemic, as reported this week in a book by veteran US political journalist Bob Woodward.The Russian president's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov largely confirmed the account of Woodward, whose book reveals how Trump secretly sent tests to the Russian president for his personal use, despite US shortages. Continue reading...

Tory Reform Group declines to endorse either leadership candidate amid fears lurch to the right could split party

Vice-president raised same amount in 80 days as Biden's entire 2020 campaign but Democrats worry about polls

Corrective services will electronically monitor whereabouts of people released from custody while charged with serious offences

Police association boss says vast majority of officers at weekend rally were doing user-pay or cancelled rest day' shifts

Australia's interest rate is forecast to fall from 4.35% to 3.6% by this time next year, prompting seven lenders to cut their rates this week

Young people would be offered series of reliefs starting with 100% exemption in first year of workPortugal is proposing a novel way of stemming the country's brain drain: a decade of progressive tax breaks for young people including paying nothing at all in their first year of work.The centre-right minority government of Luis Montenegro is ditching a proposed 15% cap on income tax for 18- to 35-year-olds and replacing it with a progressive scheme similar to one supported by the opposition Socialists. Continue reading...

French energy firm has reportedly approached investors to help cover ballooning cost of constructing nuclear plantFrench energy company EDF is reportedly in talks with investors to raise up to 4bn to finish the delayed Hinkley Point C project in Somerset, Britain's first new nuclear reactor in a generation.The utilities company, owned by the French state, has approached investors to help cover the ballooning cost of constructing the nuclear plant, which is understood to have reached almost 50bn due in part to supply chain issues and struggles securing skilled engineers, according to Bloomberg. Continue reading...

Steel tycoon faces enforcement action from UK business regulator, which could lead to fine or disqualificationThe steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta is being prosecuted by Companies House for failing to file accounts for more than 70 companies listed in Britain.Gupta, who was once described as the saviour of steel" when he began rescuing failing British steelworks in 2017, is facing enforcement action from the UK's business register for the late filing, which could result in a fine or being disqualified as a director. Continue reading...

Proposal to commemorate TV series on historic tenement raises concerns about increase in selfie-tourism in cityHeritage campaigners have protested about a proposal from Netflix to erect a plaque commemorating its hit show One Day on a historic tenement in Edinburgh.Netflix has applied to Edinburgh city council for permission to fit the red plaque at the foot of steps on Vennel, a path beside the city's medieval wall which offers an Instagrammable view of the Grassmarket and the castle. Continue reading...

Pennsylvania candidate David McCormick led Bridgewater, which managed millions in Russian funds, documents showDavid McCormick, the Republican candidate for US Senate in Pennsylvania, led the largest hedge fund in the world while it managed and advised funds holding hundreds of millions of dollars in Russian debt, documents obtained by the Guardian show.Filings with the US Department of Labor, known as form 5500s, show that from 2017 to 2021, Bridgewater Associates managed funds holding as much as $415m in Russian sovereign bonds. Since 2019 these types of investment have been subject to increasingly stringent US sanctions, in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Steve Sailer to appear alongside a proponent of scientific racism' and a law professor suspended for racist' remarksA rightwing activist who last month trained poll workers for the Republican National Committee will speak in Washington DC on Thursday night alongside an extremist writer who is a proponent of scientific racism" and a law professor who was suspended after allegedly making racist, sexist and homophobic" remarks and inviting a white nationalist to address her class.Jack Posobiec, Steve Sailer and Amy Wax will appear together at the event, which will take place at the presidential suite at Washington DC's Union Station, according to ticketing information obtained by the Guardian. Continue reading...

Alexandria diocese plans to file prearranged chapter 11' after settlement with victims to avoid lengthy delays'A Roman Catholic diocese in north-west Louisiana appears ready to join 40 other organizations of its kind in the US by filing for federal bankruptcy protection as the church's worldwide clergy molestation scandal continues reverberating, according to a letter obtained by the Guardian.But the diocese in question - that of Alexandria, Louisiana - is first aiming to reach a global settlement with those who already have pending clergy abuse claims demanding damages from the institution before it then files what it called a prearranged chapter 11" financial reorganization. As the letter authored by local attorneys for the Alexandria church put it, the purpose of the strategy is to avoid the lengthy delays and huge professional fees" incurred by the May 2020 bankruptcy filed by Louisiana's archdiocese of New Orleans. Continue reading...

Feeding America thanks Swift for major donation in response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, following her previous philanthropy for tornado relief in TennesseeTaylor Swift has donated $5m to relief efforts connected to hurricanes Helene and Milton.The charity Feeding America thanked Swift, saying it was incredibly grateful ... This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms." Continue reading...

BBC says 37 of the women worked at Harrods, and earliest accusation of abuse dates back to 1977A further 65 women have come forward to the BBC with allegations of abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed going as far back as 1977.Since the broadcast of the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, in which five women claimed to have been raped by the billionaire, more women have come forward with claims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape, the BBC reported. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Letter from union leaders and renters' groups urges government to tackle root cause of unaffordable rentsUnions are calling on ministers to undo years of damage to the housing sector" by the previous Conservative government and honour its pledge to tackle the housing emergency by introducing a form of rent cap.Steve North, the president of Unison, the UK's largest union; Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), and Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, are among seven major union leaders and 19 signatories, including thinktanks, renters' groups and an estate agency firm, to back the calls. Continue reading...

Reports say Georges Elhedery's plans part of restructure that would lead to merging global and commercial unitsThe new boss of HSBC is reportedly readying to axe some of the bank's most expensive senior bankers in a move that could save as much as $300m (229m) in costs.Georges Elhedery, who took over as chief executive last month, is planning to remove a layer of senior bankers as part of a restructure that would result in the bank's global banking and commercial banking units merging. Continue reading...

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Legal professional used software to generate a case citation list, but did not use documents that had undergone human verification

Online publication takes out two out of three nominations for digital media innovation, including interactive based around messages between friends in Gaza and US

Three in four teachers put a pupil's psychological needs before teaching at least once a week, UK survey revealsTeachers are picking up the pieces of the deepening crisis in children and young people's mental health, with many regularly helping pupils in distress on top of their classroom duties.Teachers say they are playing an important role in supporting pupils' often fragile mental wellbeing because so many who need help from the NHS are not receiving it, a UK-wide survey found.78% of teachers say pupils' mental health has got worse since they joined the profession.76% say only half or fewer of the pupils who they believe need help with their mental health receive it.74% say poor mental health support is damaging pupils' ability to learn. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Conservative MPs have whittled down the candidates to Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. What does that say about the direction of the party? Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Well that was unexpected ...It took them a full three months, but yesterday, Conservative MPs finally whittled down the candidates to succeed Rishi Sunak to two: Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.US news | A weakening but still tremendously powerful Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida's west coast on Wednesday night as a category 3 storm, leaving more than 2 million homes without power while bringing catastrophic" winds likely to cause significant property damage.Middle East | At least 400,000 civilians in Gaza remain trapped by the latest Israeli offensive centred on Jabaliya refugee camp, according to UN agencies and human rights groups.Economy | Keir Starmer's promise to end austerity and rebuild public services will require tax increases of 25bn a year in the coming budget even if debt rules are changed to provide scope for extra investment spending, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said.United Nations | Saudi Arabia narrowly failed in its bid to win a seat on the UN human rights council, a blow to Riyadh's efforts to boost the country's rights reputation abroad, four years after it was rejected in a 2020 bid to join the 47-member body.Politics | Rogue employers will be targeted by the Fair Work Agency, a beefed-up new enforcement authority, to protect sweeping changes to rights at work for millions of Britons set to be outlined in a watershed" bill published on Friday. Continue reading...

Victim-survivors in England and Wales cross-examined about alcohol consumption and what they were wearing, charity Victim Support findsThree-quarters of survivors of sexual violence are subjected to rape myths during cross-examination, such as being asked what they were wearing or if they were out for revenge, according to research.A report by the charity Victim Support said the court process was re-traumatising victims, with one telling researchers: You're a piece of meat being pulled through the court system."One-third of victims were asked what they did to stop the offence while it was happening.One-third faced accusations that pursuing justice was a way of seeking revenge.One-third experienced questions about their alcohol consumption or substance use.15% faced questions about what they were wearing.12% faced accusations that the incident was just regretful or bad sex.Half of the cases analysed were adjourned, some up to four times, often at the last minute, with no explanation.Lengthy waits of up to 11 months persisted at sentencing and, even when there was a guilty verdict, offenders who lived close to survivors were sometimes not remanded in custody. Continue reading...

Rail users say exceptions to rules that allow some peak-time use of railcards are confusingThe train operator Northern has been criticised for prosecuting young people, leaving some facing bills of hundreds of pounds, after they have used their railcards to save just a few pounds on morning journeys.Restrictions on a 16-25 railcard, which can also be bought by full-time students, mean that discounts can only be applied to an anytime" ticket before 10am if the fare is 12 or more, requiring cardholders to pay full fare for cheaper tickets. Continue reading...

Exclusive: photos of burnt belongings - including documents needed to apply for asylum - are the latest alleged evidence of brutality on EU bordersCroatia's border police force appear to be burning clothing, mobile phones and passports seized from asylum seekers attempting to cross into the European Union before pushing them back to Bosnia.A report with photographs of burnt belongings, along with testimonies of sexual assault and beatings meted out by the police, shared with the Guardian by the humanitarian organisation No Name Kitchen (NNK), are the latest alleged evidence of brutality against people migrating at EU borders. Continue reading...

Sector has hired 185,000 foreign recruits in last two years, figures show, more than offsetting drop in British workersOne in five care workers in England are now men, the highest level on record, according to new figures showing immigration is reducing the social care staffing crisis.Care work traditionally has been female-dominated but men now make up 21% of the workforce in England, the first time they have represented more than a fifth of care workers since records began. Continue reading...

Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will be the next leader of the Conservatives, after MPs selected the pair to go to a final vote before party members. But who will survive the rough and tumble of Tory hustings? Plus, Morgan McSweeney is now all-powerful in Keir Starmer's top team - but is this reset enough to stop the chaos in government? John Harris is joined by the Guardian's political correspondent Kiran Stacey to explore these issuesSupport the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod Continue reading...

Woman taken to hospital in a critical condition after being attacked by the dogs

Former Beaumaris primary school student will receive biggest known payout by a state government to a sexual abuse survivor in Australia

Guardian US's chief reporter, Ed Pilkington, explores Donald Trump's plans for a second term as president if he wins next month's election, and how they would give him unprecedented powerBy the time Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021, he was frustrated by the limits of his office.As Guardian US's chief reporter, Ed Pilkington, explains to Michael Safi, Trump felt he had been held back as president not by the standard checks and balances of a democracy, but by a shadowy deep state". Continue reading...

The country had faced a campaign from rights groups who accused it of being unfit to serve on the Human Rights Council'Saudi Arabia narrowly failed in its bid to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, a blow to Riyadh's efforts to boost the country's rights reputation abroad, four years after it was rejected in a 2020 bid to join the 47-member body.Saudi Arabia is spending billions to transform its global image from a country known for strict religious restrictions and human rights abuses into a tourism and entertainment hub under a plan its Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, launched known as Vision 2030. Continue reading...

Raid centred on Jabaliya camp is worsening hunger and threatening polio vaccine campaign, says Philippe LazzariniHundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza remain trapped by the latest Israeli offensive centred on Jabaliya refugee camp, according to UN agencies and human rights groups.At least 400,000 people are trapped in the area," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, posted on X on Wednesday, amid witness accounts of bodies lying uncollected in the streets because of the renewed fighting. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. You can read our latest report on the Israel-Gaza war here and all our Middle East coverage here.We have more reports coming in of deadly Israeli attacks on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza (see post at 07.54) and Bureij refugee camp, which is located nearby.Two Israeli airstrikes hit tents for displaced people in the camps earlier, the Associated Press reports. The bodies of nine people, including three children, were brought to the al-Aqsa martyrs hospital in the nearby town of Deir al-Balah. Continue reading...

Judge says offending by Aran Sherani, who pledged allegiance to terrorist organisation, must be denounced'

Blake Wilson was killed when aircraft on unauthorised flight' struck roof of DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in August