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Forbes braced for second inundation in a fortnight as woman’s body found in Eugowra flood waters after ‘wall of water’ decimates NSW town

French president believes China can help push Russia to de-escalate Ukraine war

Nick Jones says he will transition from CEO to founder to do ‘more of what I love’ after cancer recoveryNick Jones, the founder of Soho House, is stepping down as chief executive of the private members’ club and hotel empire he founded 27 years ago after revealing a prostate cancer diagnosis.Jones announced on Wednesday that he was “transitioning from CEO to my original role as founder”. The 59-year-old transformed Soho House from a single private members’ club in the central London district to a global network of 38 “houses”, spas, co-working spaces and luxury hotels. Continue reading...

Ademola Adedeji convicted in July of conspiring against those believed responsible for death of friendA youth leader who addressed MPs in parliament has been denied permission to appeal against the eight-year sentence he was given for sending text messages as part of a violent conspiracy.Ademola Adedeji, 19, from Moston in north Manchester, was one of 10 young black men imprisoned this year after using the Telegram messaging app to conspire to murder or seriously harm those they believed responsible for killing one of their friends, an aspiring rapper called John Soyoye. Continue reading...

The former culture secretary and author of 16 novels reportedly has the working title, The Political Assassination of Boris JohnsonNadine Dorries is writing a book about Boris Johnson’s “dramatic downfall”, her agent Piers Blofeld has said.The former culture secretary will publish the book next year, according to the Evening Standard. It is expected to be a further demonstration of Dorries’ loyalty to Johnson, and comes after reports that she is among a group of the former prime minister’s allies that are due to be rewarded with seats in the House of Lords. The working title of the book is The Political Assassination of Boris Johnson, suggesting that it will take aim at Rishi Sunak and others who encouraged the former prime minister to resign. Continue reading...

Doctors and aid workers describe race against time to keep patients alive in northern Ethiopian regionConvoys carrying desperately needed food aid entered Tigray on Wednesday, as humanitarian groups gained access to the war-torn northern Ethiopian region for the first time since a ceasefire agreement was signed two-week ago.Doctors and aid workers in Tigray have described a race against time to keep sick or malnourished patients alive as they wait for humanitarian assistance. Continue reading...

Seaside towns of Scarborough and Whitby will be among first in England to double tax under levelling up billThe seaside towns of Whitby and Scarborough will be among the first in England to double council tax on second homes to tackle the “blight” of holiday lets.Councillors said the rise of Airbnb and other rental sites was “tearing the heart out of communities”, as they voted to introduce a 100% premium on owners of second homes in North Yorkshire. Continue reading...

Customers whose personal details – but not medical information – were posted online have been left in the dark by health insurer

Ken McCallum says MI5 has blocked over 100 attempts by Kremlin to insert suspected spies into UK since Salisbury poisoningsBritain will have to tackle Russian aggression for years to come, said the MI5 chief on Wednesday, adding that his agency had blocked more than 100 attempts by the Kremlin to insert suspected spies into the UK since the Salisbury poisonings.Ken McCallum, giving an annual threat update, said state-based threats were increasing and said the UK also faced a heightened direct threat from Iran, which had threatened “to kidnap or even kill” 10 people based in Britain in the past year. Continue reading...

Turkish president raises hopes over pact to allow exports via Black Sea, bringing relief to world’s poorest countries

UK prime minister confident of agreement with EU over Northern Ireland protocol

In annual review, agency says it expects a ‘soft landing’ for the nation’s economy with risks ‘skewed to the downside’

Food delivery company says it is no longer accepting orders through its app and has entered voluntary administration

The incident near Ukraine-Poland border derailed opening hours of G20 summit as leaders from G7 gathered early to assess information

Local Government Association says any attempt to patch up budgets by raising council tax is doomed to failLocal authorities have warned they face an “existential crisis” caused by massive funding shortfalls and any attempt by ministers to patch up budgets by allowing increased council tax is doomed to failure.The multibillion “black hole” in England’s municipal finances – which has pushed a number of councils to the brink of bankruptcy – could not be fixed by local ratepayers alone, who would face unrealistic council tax increases of up to 20%, the Local Government Association (LGA) said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Care England calls for Ofgem investigation into suppliers’ practices in letter seen by the GuardianEnergy suppliers have been accused of profiteering by charging “horrendous and financially crippling rates” to care homes facing huge bills this winter.The chief executive of Care England, the largest body representing independent providers of adult care, has accused gas suppliers of being “unduly onerous” in their practices. Continue reading...

Publishers praised UK city’s arts scene and gastronomic diversity as it makes the list of 30 best places to goLonely Planet has chosen Manchester as one of its must-visit destinations for 2023, the only UK destination to make the guidebook’s annual Best in Travel list.The city is described as “one of the best – if not the best – cities in the UK, with something for everyone” in a roll of honour that includes Sydney, Lima, Montevideo, Marseille and Dresden. Continue reading...

Questions about cyber-attack dominate meeting as company says it is contacting 480,000 customers whose health claims were stolen

Constable who shot Kumanjayi Walker objects to 14 categories of questions arguing his answers could lead to disciplinary proceedings by NT police force

Disgraced movie mogul’s lawyer conducts grueling cross-examination as judge drops four of 11 countsHarvey Weinstein’s most prominent accuser faced a grueling cross-examination on Tuesday, as Weinstein’s defense attorney hammered her on details, casting doubt on her memory and demanding clarification on the most graphic details of the alleged rape.It was the second day of testimony from Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary film-maker and the wife of California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, and the most high profile woman so far to take the stand against the Hollywood producer. Continue reading...

The likely successor to Daniel Andrews as party leader says it’s committed to overhauling women’s health statewide – but there’s always more to do

Poland’s PM convenes urgent national security meeting after stray missiles feared to have crossed into Nato member country

Millions of fans try to snap up presale tickets to singer’s 2023 Eras tour in the US, with Ticketmaster’s website facing ‘historically unprecedented demand’Millions of Taylor Swift fans swarmed Live Nation’s Ticketmaster website on Tuesday to try to score seats for her first tour in five years, causing periodic outages and long online waits as some tickets were quickly posted for resale for thousands of dollars.The ticket-selling site said in a statement that “historically unprecedented demand” for Swift’s 52-date United States tour had seen millions of people attempt to buy presale tickets, which had caused “intermittent issues” that the company was “urgently” working to resolve. Continue reading...

Transport department says software bug in power assist steering could increase risk of ‘an accident causing serious injury or death’

Two farmers killed near border with Ukraine by what Poland has claimed were Russian-made weapons

Player says he is ‘now happy with who I am’ in social media video as his team and NBL share messages of supportIsaac Humphries, a Melbourne United player, has been lauded for his courage after publicly coming out and becoming the only openly gay male professional basketball player currently playing in a top tier league, anywhere in the world.In a social media video shot in the locker room in front of his teammates and through a statement released by his club on Wednesday morning, the 24-year-old centre announced he is gay, saying he had been through “extremely dark times” on his journey but is “now happy with who I am”. Continue reading...

Prime minister says UK should not sacrifice quality for speed as he seeks to improve terms at G20 talksRishi Sunak has hinted he will slow down progress on the India trade deal to improve its terms, saying the UK should not “sacrifice quality for speed”.The comments, which preceded talks with the UK prime minister’s Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, at the G20 on Wednesday, suggested a marked change of approach from Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, who prioritised speed and hard deadlines, having pledged a “deal for Diwali” that did not materialise. Continue reading...

Canadian prime minister met China’s president at G20 summit in Bali amid tensions over aggressive interventions by BeijingJustin Trudeau has raised “serious concerns” over suspected domestic interference by China in his first talks with President Xi Jinping in more than three years, amid growing frustration over increasingly aggressive interventions by Beijing.Trudeau discussed his concerns about Chinese “interference activities” in Canada on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali, a government source told AFP. Continue reading...

In the UK’s only dedicated awards for LGBTQ+ literature, Adam Smith’s history of poppers and children’s book Nen and the Lonely Fisherman were also honouredSpoken word poet Joelle Taylor has won the Polari book prize for her collection which “defends our right to walk without fear, wear what we choose, be who we uniquely are”.C+nto & Othered Poems, which explores the UK’s underground lesbian culture, was named the winner of the £2,000 prize, which is the top award in the UK’s only dedicated awards for LGBTQ+ literature. It is the second major award for the book, which won the TS Eliot prize earlier this year. Continue reading...

Two men now in custody on suspicion of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder after incident in Houghton RegisA second man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering two men and the attempted murder of a third after a triple stabbing in Bedfordshire on Sunday.Bedfordshire police said a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder on Tuesday. It came after police arrested another man, who remains in custody, on suspicion of the same offences on Monday. Continue reading...

Human rights council makes more than 300 recommendations, with many coming from less well-off countries

Awaab Ishak died in 2020, eight days after his second birthday, following ‘chronic exposure’ in RochdaleA coroner has said the death of an “engaging, lively, endearing” two-year-old from prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s flat should be a “defining moment” for the UK’s housing sector.Awaab Ishak died in 2020, eight days after his second birthday, as a direct result of black mould in the flat he lived in. Continue reading...

Rising carbon dioxide and the slump in the pound have been frequently graphed. Now we’ve turned the data and graphs into audio

University and College Union expresses concern at what it says appear to be intimidatory tacticsThe University and College Union has condemned University College London’s use of agency workers to cover gaps left by security guards striking for better pay.The UCU, which represents academics and support staff, has written to UCL’s provost and president, Dr Michael Spence, expressing concern at what it says appear to be intimidatory and strike-breaking tactics. Continue reading...

Nnamdi Kanu was unlawfully detained and tortured in Kenya before being taken to Nigeria, high court toldThree British foreign secretaries have failed to call for the release of a British national being held in Nigeria after falling victim to a “brazen and violent” act of extraordinary rendition, the high court has heard.Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), a prominent separatist movement proscribed in Nigeria, was abducted, unlawfully detained and tortured in Kenya in June last year before being flown blindfolded on a private plane to Nigeria, the court was told on Monday. Continue reading...

PM says he is not aware of any formal complaints about deputy but does not deny there have been informal allegations

Chain apologises and settles racial discrimination claim brought by group ejected from venue in LondonThe pub chain Greene King has paid thousands of pounds in compensation and apologised after admitting that 12 people were removed from one of its venues for being Irish Travellers.The pubgoers were planning to watch the “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury’s WBC world heavyweight bout against Dillian Whyte in a north-east London pub in April. But the six members of the party who arrived first were told to leave, and the others not to bother turning up, because they would not be served. Continue reading...

Freeing of prisoners hailed as acts of benevolence by Assad regime still leave estimated 136,000 people in jailPrisoner amnesties decreed by the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, during the country’s 10-year war have freed less than 6% of detainees, with an estimated 136,000 people remaining in state prisons, a report has revealed.The amnesties, which were hailed as acts of benevolence by officials and Assad, have put barely a dent in the huge numbers still held in the regime’s infamous prison systems, some for years after their sentences had expired. Continue reading...

Banner saying ‘Covid bereaved say get out of here!’ flown on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice

Inquest is shown body cam footage of Neal Saunders being held down by five officersA man who died after being restrained by several police officers had repeatedly said “I can’t even breathe” during the incident, body cam footage played at an inquest into his death has shown.Neal Saunders, 39, died on 3 September 2020 after he was restrained by Thames Valley police officers at his father’s home in Langley in Berkshire. Continue reading...

Some say the former head of the Christian Democrats may have ‘mellowed’ over time – but the 88-year-old says he hasn’t changed his views

Authorities shoot 18-year-old dead after knife and car attack in territory occupied by IsraelA Palestinian man killed two Israeli people and wounded four others in an attack at a settlement in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday before he was shot and killed by Israeli security personnel, Israeli paramedics and Palestinian officials said.The Magen David Adom paramedic service said the two were killed in the settlement of Ariel. The four wounded were taken to hospital in a serious condition. Continue reading...

PM rejects former cabinet colleague’s view that politicians can use series to connect with the public

Company’s 18 million UK mobile customers face 14% rise in mid-contract increases next springVodafone has warned of price rises for UK customers and job cuts as the telecoms company launched a €1bn-plus (£879m) cost cutting plan to cope with soaring energy bills and inflation.It said consumers would have to accept higher bills as it could not cover all its cost increases through a new multi-year cuts plan. It also lowered annual profit guidance in light of a €300m year on year rise in energy costs across the business. Continue reading...

Australian prime minister raised trade and human rights concerns at ‘very constructive’ meeting as Chinese president said improving ties was important for regionAnthony Albanese has told the Chinese president Australia will continue to assert its values and principles, but he’s made it clear his government wants to steady the fractured relationship with Beijing and move forward constructively.Significant steps towards stabilising the relationship after years of open hostility and diplomatic rancour came on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Bali, with the first face-to-face meeting between Albanese and Xi Jinping. Continue reading...

Defence minister calls investigation into Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing by Israeli army ‘interference in internal affairs’Israel has said it will not cooperate with an FBI investigation into the killing of the Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli army.Israel’s defence minister, Benny Gantz, denounced the inquiry as “interference in Israel’s internal affairs” and said he “made it clear to the American representatives that we stand behind the IDF [Israel defence forces] soldiers, that we will not cooperate with any external investigation”. Continue reading...

Increase in sexual activity among older people and popularity of chemsex are driving trend, say researchersThe growing number of sexually transmitted infections among over-65s, the rise of “chemsex” and popularity of dating apps are driving record demand for sexual health advice, a report has revealed.Specialist advisers provided just over 4m appointments last year in England to people suffering from an STI such as syphilis or needing help with their contraception. Continue reading...

Government using six-year-old data while crime goes largely unchallenged, says National Audit OfficeThe Home Office has an incomplete and out-of-date grasp of the cost of fraud in the UK and a poor understanding of who commits the crime, a public spending watchdog has found.The National Audit Office (NAO) said the current estimate of the cost of fraud to individuals being used by the government is based on data and prices from six years ago. Continue reading...

Cold front brings more rain with low-level flood emergency warnings in place for several rivers in Tasmania’s south