Prosecutors say Moroccan suspect had previously been convicted of rape and ordered to leave FranceFrance's new rightwing interior minister has said there will be consequences after a Moroccan man suspected of murdering a 19-year-old university student and leaving her body in a forest was arrested in Switzerland.A source close to the case said the alleged attacker was a 22-year-old man of Moroccan nationality. Prosecutors have said the suspect had been previously convicted of rape and had been the subject of an order to leave France. Continue reading...
Lebanese minister says only Washington can help end the fighting. Plus, Missouri executes Marcellus Khaliifah' WilliamsGood morning.Israel began a third day of strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, as Lebanon's foreign minister said only Washington could help end the fighting.The conflict is growing out of control: Up to half a million people are estimated to have been displaced by Israel's attacks, according to Lebanese officials, as displaced families slept in makeshift shelters, cars, parks or along the seaside. Israel said attacks would continue.World leaders are pleading for restraint: The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said: Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon - the people of Israel - and the people of the world - cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza." President Joe Biden said a diplomatic solution was still possible.But Lebanon's foreign minister said only the US could pressure Israel into de-escalation: Abdallah Bou Habib said the US - Israel's strongest ally and biggest arms supplier - was the only country that can really make a difference in the Middle East".Follow our live blog here. Continue reading...
Former ITV presenter will appear in Channel 5 show Cast Away, which follows a celebrity stranded off MadagascarPhillip Schofield is returning to television 16 months after quitting This Morning over what he called an unwise, but not illegal" affair.The 62-year-old, who stepped down from presenting the ITV daytime show in May 2023 after 21 years, will appear in a Channel 5 special called Cast Away, which follows a celebrity stranded on an island off the coast of Madagascar for nearly two weeks. Continue reading...
Australian company says it is frustrated that UK property website has refused to engage over a dealRightmove has rejected a third bid from Rupert Murdoch's REA Group and said the offer was unattractive" and under values the UK's largest online property portal.On Wednesday Rightmove confirmed that its board had unanimously rejected" the non-binding cash-and-shares offer put forward on Monday, which valued the company at 6.1bn. Continue reading...
Zhu Hengpeng, who worked for an influential government thinktank, has reportedly not been seen in public since making disparaging remarks on WeChatA leading Chinese economist at a government thinktank has reportedly disappeared after being disciplined for criticising Xi Jinping in a private chat group.Zhu Hengpeng, 55, is believed to have made disparaging remarks about China's economy, and potentially about the Chinese leader specifically, in a private WeChat group. Zhu was subsequently detained in April and put under investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal which cited anonymous sources. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6QZXM)
Exclusive: Education secretary to launch callout for empty classrooms to be converted as part of free childcare planThree hundred new state nurseries will open in England's schools by next September, the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has promised, as the government hurries to find places before the introduction of free childcare.Phillipson's department is under extraordinary pressure before next September, when 30 hours of free childcare begins for eligible parents of children from the age of nine months. Labour has said it would fulfil the promise by the previous government, despite warnings about the demands on staff and nursery places. Continue reading...
Daytime service will take about eight hours and will complement the night route that launched last yearA new high-speed train linking Paris and Berlin is to launch in December, operators have announced.The daytime service will complement a popular night train route between the two capital cities that relaunched last year to much fanfare but has since been beset by technical problems. Continue reading...
Whiteness', low youth engagement and lukewarm pro-Europeanism in some states risks eroding bloc's founding values, expert saysVoting patterns and polling data from the past year suggest the EU is moving towards a more ethnic, closed-minded and xenophobic understanding of Europeanness" that could ultimately challenge the European project, according to a major report.The report, by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the European Cultural Foundation (ECF), identifies three key blind spots" across the bloc and argues their intersection risks eroding or radically altering EU sentiment. Continue reading...
The narrow-nosed spookfish is also found in Australian waters and is distinctive for its elongated snout and whip-like tailA new species of ghost shark, with an unusually long nose and a whip-like tail, has been discovered in the inky depths of New Zealand waters.Scientists at New Zealand's National Institute for Water and Atmospherics (Niwa) initially believed the creature was part of an existing species found around the world, but further investigation revealed it was new, genetically distinct, species. Continue reading...
by Helen Livingstone (now), Léonie Chao-Fong, Joanna on (#6QZ1P)
This blog is now closing. You can read our full report on Israel's attack on Lebanon here. We'll be back soon with the latest live updates.Charbel Massaad, an independent Maronite MP in Lebanon, has described Israel's airstrikes as an attack not only on geography, but also on dignity, on rights and on the future of our generations."In a message to the Lebanese people carried by the state National News Agency, Massaad said:In these difficult times that our beloved country Lebanon is going through, and with the continued brutal Israeli aggression on our land, I find myself compelled to address you. The Israeli aggression that brutally targets our people, our homes, our villages and our cities is an attack not only on geography, but also on dignity, on rights and on the future of our generations.But we, as a people accustomed to steadfastness and we will steadfastly face all challenges. This critical moment requires all of us, regardless of any political or sectarian affiliation, to stand as one. Our unity is our strength. Israel seeks to sow fear and division among us, but we know very well how to confront such conspiracies. Just as we were victorious in the past, we will be victorious today, because we are right, and right always triumphs, and the will to live among the Lebanese is stronger than any aggression or conspiracy. Continue reading...
Leading health figures in UK blame misconception that the number one killer of women is a man's disease'Thousands of women are dying from heart disease worldwide because of the misconception that it is a man's disease", doctors and scientists say.Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the number one killer" of women but, despite significant progress in its medical management, many were dying unnecessarily" because they were underdiagnosed, undertreated and under-represented in clinical trials, the experts said. Continue reading...
PM to give speech on international issues as team hopes to set up talks with both presidential candidatesKeir Starmer is heading to the US for his third trip in three months, with aides pressing for meetings with the presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Fresh from his speech at the Labour conference, the prime minister headed to the United Nations general assembly in New York where the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will be pushing for a deal on the use of Storm Shadow missiles against Russia. Continue reading...
Avon and Somerset police say disappearance of Michael Wheeler, 37, is being treated as a murder inquiryFive men have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance of a man who has been missing for a month.Michael Wheeler, 37, from Yeovil, has not been seen since 24 August and his car was found abandoned in the Somerset town last week. He has not contacted family or friends and has missed several regular appointments. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6QZNR)
Tribunal hears John Apter, since suspended, said he wanted to comfort' widow of officer killed on dutyThe former leader of the Police Federation made a sexual remark about the widow of an officer killed while on duty shortly before meeting her, a discipline tribunal has heard.John Apter is alleged to have said he would like to comfort" the widow of PC Andrew Harper in his hotel room. The remarks were alleged to have been made just months after PC Harper's death and shortly before his widow, Lissie, was due to collect a posthumous award on behalf of her late husband. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray Midlands correspondent on (#6QZMC)
Comedian Joe Lycett declares United States of Birmingham with 10 US towns and cities that share the nameResidents of Birmingham often admit the city is not accustomed to blowing its own trumpet - still maligned and mocked by others, it tends to favour self-deprecating humour.So the launch of the inaugural International Day of Birmingham (IDOB), celebrated with cheerleaders, confetti cannon and actual trumpets, is not what you would expect to see on a walk through the city centre on a Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6QZH7)
Proposals will require financial institutions to share data that may help identify scammersLabour has promised to crack down on benefit fraud by reintroducing snooper's charter" proposals mooted under the last government that would allow welfare officials to request information from claimants' bank accounts.A fraud, error and debt bill will require banks and other financial institutions to share data that may help identify benefit fraud as part of a package of measures designed to catch fraudsters faster" and save 1.6bn over five years. Continue reading...
Sunnah Khan, 12, and Joe Abbess, 17, drowned in May 2023 after they were caught in a rip tideThe family of a 12-year-old girl who drowned off Bournemouth beach have told an inquest that they questioned the conduct of the very young" and panicked" lifeguards who took 50 minutes to find her in shallow water.Sunnah Khan, 12, and Joe Abbess, 17, drowned last May, and eight other people were treated by paramedics, after they were caught in a rip tide next to the pier at the Dorset seaside resort. Continue reading...
Amaga pseudobama was first spotted in 2020 in North Carolina and has now spread to Florida and GeorgiaA new species of invasive flatworm has been discovered in the United States and has been found in several states in the south, according to a new paper.The species, named Amaga pseudobama, was discovered by an international team of researchers and first spotted in 2020 in North Carolina. It is thought to be native to South America. Continue reading...
by Robyn Vinter, North of England correspondent on (#6QZFX)
Officers not looking for anyone in relation to discovery of bodies of Martina Karos and disabled daughter Eleni Edwards, eightA mother and daughter found dead in a house in Salford in a suspected murder suicide have been named as Martina Karos and eight-year-old Eleni Edwards.The bodies of Karos, 40, and her disabled daughter were discovered on Monday morning after emergency services were called. Continue reading...
Criminal case opened after Sarco capsule - which releases nitrogen gas at the touch of a button - used in MerishausenSwiss police have said they have opened a criminal investigation and arrested several people after the suspected death of a woman in a so-called suicide capsule.According to local reports, the capsule, named the Sarco Pod by its inventor, was used for the first time on Monday afternoon in a forest close to the German border in the Swiss town of Merishausen.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org and Open Counseling Continue reading...
Suspects aged 52 and 18 being held after 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell stabbed in Woolwich, south-east LondonTwo men have been arrested on suspicion of stabbing to death a schoolboy with a zombie knife in south-east London, police said.The suspects, aged 52 and 18, are being questioned over the murder of 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell who cried out, I'm 15, don't let me die", as a local woman tried to save his life. Continue reading...
Shabana Mahmood tells conference she wants more help in community for offenders and fewer cases going to courtShabana Mahmood, the lord chancellor, has declared that prison isn't working" for women as she announced a package of measures to reduce the number of females in the prison estate.Plans to treat more women in the community, resolve cases involving women before they get to court and drive down the number of young women self-harming will be drawn up by a new body of experts, the justice secretary said in a conference speech on Tuesday. Continue reading...
by Yohannes Lowe (now) and Lili Bayer (earlier) on (#6QZ35)
Ukraine president expected to reiterate plea to use western weapons deep inside Russia when he meets Joe BidenRussia plans to maintain defence spending at an historic high in 2025, Bloomberg News reports, suggesting that the Kremlin intend to continue its invasion of Ukraine for the foreseeable future.The Kremlin is increasing up the spending as its forces slowly advance in eastern Ukraine. The Russian government has raised personal and corporate taxes to plug holes in the budget.Draft three-year budget proposals seen by Bloomberg News show the government intends to increase defense spending to 13.2tn rubles ($142bn) in 2025 from 10.4tn rubles projected for this year, putting it at 6.2% of gross domestic product.Military expenditure is planned to decline to 5.6% of GDP in 2026 and 5.1% in 2027, according to Bloomberg calculations based on the draft data. Continue reading...
Storm intensified to category 3 hurricane before weakening as NHC warns slow pace could cause severe flash floodingTwo people have died after former hurricane John barreled into Mexico's southern Pacific coast, blowing tin roofs off houses, triggering mudslides and toppling scores of trees.It came ashore near the town of Punta Maldonado late on Monday as a category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120mph (190km/h). It weakened back to tropical storm status early on Tuesday with maximum sustained wind speeds of 50mph (85km/h) and was expected to weaken rapidly. Continue reading...
Study finds highest yearly number of prosecutions related to pregnancy - and experts say that is likely an undercountIn the year Roe v Wade was overturned, at least 200 people in the US were prosecuted for conduct relating to their pregnancies - the highest number of cases in a single year ever recorded, according to a new report released on Tuesday.The report, compiled by the advocacy group Pregnancy Justice, is the first comprehensive accounting of pregnancy-related criminal charges between June 2022 and June 2023, but researchers warn that it is still likely an undercount. Continue reading...
The anti-immigration Freedom party leads in the polls but the centre-right OVP looks likely to be kingmakerAustrians head to the polls on Sunday for parliamentary elections that polling suggests are likely to be won, for the first time in the country's postwar history, by the far-right, anti-immigration Freedom party (FPO).The FPO is unlikely to secure an outright majority in the 183-seat Nationalrat (National Council), the lower house of the parliament, however, and so would need to negotiate an agreement with a coalition partner to form a government, which may not be easy. Continue reading...
Mediaset condemned by fellow broadcasters for airing interview with suspect it came across by chanceThe broadcast of a TV interview in which a man confessed to a news reporter that he had murdered his mother has caused a row over media ethics in Italy.Lorenzo Carbone, 50, made the confession outside his home in Spezzano di Fiorano, a town in the province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region, during the interview aired on the Mediaset talkshow Pomeriggio5 on Monday afternoon. Continue reading...
by Neha Gohil Community affairs correspondent on (#6QZ6K)
The long career of the actor who plays EastEnders' Patrick Trueman spans cultural changes on and off screenFor the past two decades, Rudolph Walker has been a familiar face in the homes of millions of Britons, making nightly appearances as Patrick Trueman, the lovable rogue of Albert Square.During his time on EastEnders, Walker's character has taken on complex and prominent storylines featuring depictions of ill health and the sexual assault of his on-screen wife. Continue reading...
by Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington and Reyes Ma on (#6QZ3E)
Revealed: former colleagues claim Kevin Roberts told them he killed a neighbor's pit bull around 2004The man behind Project 2025, the rightwing policy manifesto that includes calls for a sharp increase in immigrant deportations if Donald Trump is elected, told university colleagues about two decades ago that he had killed a neighborhood dog with a shovel because it was barking and disturbing his family, according to former colleagues who spoke to the Guardian.Kevin Roberts, now the president of the Heritage Foundation, is alleged to have told colleagues and dinner guests that he killed a neighbor's pit bull around 2004 while he was working as a still relatively unknown history professor at New Mexico State University. Continue reading...
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