Palestinian doctors hope ceasefire revives Gaza’s devastated hospitals
Hospital staff in Gaza say truce will go a long way in restoring medical services and vital supplies.
Killer of teenager Jimmy Mizen is now rapper promoted by BBC, reports say
Parents of murdered schoolboy say prison rehabilitation does not seem to have made any difference to Jake Fahri
The parents of murdered schoolboy Jimmy Mizen have said prison does not “seem to have made a blind bit of difference” to their son’s killer, who is reportedly now a rapper whose songs have been promoted by the BBC.
Jake Fahri, then 19, was given a life sentence in 2009 with a minimum term of 14 years for killing Mizen by throwing an oven dish at him. The glass dish shattered and severed blood vessels in the 16-year-old’s neck in a south London bakery.
Continue reading...UK government announces new local inquiries into child sex abuse
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says government will also undertake a 'rapid' review of child sexual abuse in the UK.
Britain must build own vaccine manufacturing capability, says Matt Hancock
Former health secretary told Covid inquiry an onshore facility was ‘critical’ in preparation for future pandemic
Britain must build its own vaccine manufacturing capability as a “critical” part of preparing for a future pandemic, the former health secretary Matt Hancock has told the Covid inquiry.
Hancock, a central figure in the UK’s response to the crisis, said the pandemic demonstrated the “vital need” for a sovereign onshore facility to ensure the country was able to produce and distribute vaccine doses as soon as regulators gave the green light.
Continue reading...KemiKaze’s ‘relaunch’ speech reveals a Tory leader already out of ideas | John Crace
Kemi Badenoch says she’s sorry not sorry for the mess left by 14 years of the Tories, but offers no clue of how to dig us out of it
Seeing is not always believing. Fair to say that Kemi Badenoch’s time as leader of the Tory party has not got off to the best of starts. Hopeless at prime minister’s questions and seemingly already out of ideas, many in the party are already looking around for possible successors. Even Robert Jenrick. Things really are that desperate.
Even so, 10 weeks in feels a little premature for a relaunch. If that’s what it was. Hard to know really as no one was much the wiser after Kemi had finished what had been billed as an “important” speech at the Institute of Directors in central London. No one does pointlessness quite like KemiKaze. She is the queen of futility.
Continue reading...US sanctions Sudan army chief Burhan over civilian deaths
The army under Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is accused of committing lethal attacks on civilians.
David Lynch, Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive director, dies aged 78
Film-maker who specialised in surreal, noir style mysteries made a string of influential, critically acclaimed works including Wild at Heart and Eraserhead
- David Lynch: the great American surrealist who made experimentalism mainstream
- David Lynch – a life in pictures
David Lynch, the maverick American director who sustained a successful mainstream career while also probing the bizarre, the radical and the experimental, has died aged 78.
“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” read a Facebook post. “We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, “Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.” It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
Continue reading...Ghanaian music legend who founded Afro-rock band Osibisa dies
Osibisa was one of the first African bands to gain international recognition, in the 1970s.
Arab states urge Israel and US to let Palestinian Authority oversee Gaza recovery
Arab diplomats fear political vacuum and say PA should work in conjunction with UN relief agency Unrwa
Israel and the incoming Trump administration are being urged by Arab states to avoid a dangerous political vacuum in Gaza and allow the Palestinian Authority (PA), in conjunction with the UN Palestinian relief agency Unrwa, to oversee the territory’s recovery.
The future governance of Gaza is due to be discussed at the start of negotiations on the second stage of the deal 16 days after a ceasefire begins. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has refused to broach the subject since the war began, regarding any discussions on the “day after” as likely to open destabilising internal political divisions inside his coalition.
Continue reading...UK leader Starmer signs ‘100-year partnership’ agreement with Ukraine during trip to Kyiv – The Associated Press
- UK leader Starmer signs ‘100-year partnership’ agreement with Ukraine during trip to Kyiv The Associated Press
- Ukraine war briefing: Gravehawk revealed as new air defence system pledged by Starmer The Guardian
- What has the UK promised Ukraine in Starmer’s 100-year deal? Al Jazeera English
- British PM caps a week of frenzied diplomacy, as Ukraine’s European allies try to strengthen its hand CNN
- Starmer and Zelenskyy sign ‘100-year partnership’ agreement between UK and Ukraine PBS NewsHour
Donald Trump reportedly weighing up TikTok ban delay
President-elect ‘has warm spot’ for platform and wants political solution to ‘preserve app but protect data’
Donald Trump is considering suspending a TikTok ban in the US with an executive order when he enters the White House on 20 January, according to a report.
The president-elect is exploring an executive order that would postpone enforcement of a sale-or-ban law due to come into force on 19 January, said the Washington Post. The report added, however, that Trump’s legal grounds for suspending a law passed by Congress are questionable.
Continue reading...Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan out of danger after being stabbed
Khan was stabbed by an intruder at his home in the Indian city of Mumbai early on Thursday.
Trump will ‘put measures in place’ to stop TikTok ban, top adviser says
Incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says the law allows a 90-day grace period for the app's Chinese owner.
Venezuela releases prominent rights advocate Carlos Correa from detention
The free-speech advocate was among several activists detained ahead of President Nicolas Maduro's swearing-in last week.
Strong winds weaken in LA, giving respite to weary firefighters
The two largest fires are still burning after more than a week - but gusts that fanned the flames have eased.
How will Trump handle protesters? Critics point to his 2017 inauguration
The 'J20' prosecutions set a dangerous precedent for future crackdowns on dissent, advocates warn.
Islamist groups in Middle East will emerge from Gaza war weakened
Hamas, Hezbollah and other militia are enfeebled – but Palestine is likely to stay at forefront of global politics
The ceasefire due to come into force on Sunday, barring a major last-minute problem, will cement massive and rapid changes across the Middle East and may seal a significant defeat for the Islamist militant groups that have been powerful actors in the region for years.
Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and assorted Shia Muslim militia in Iraq and Syria will all emerge from the conflict considerably weakened. Only the Houthis in Yemen are stronger – though this may not last. The Islamic State remains a shadow of its former self.
Continue reading...‘Mammoth task’ to identify South Africa mine victims, police say
At least 78 bodies and more than 240 survivors have been pulled out of a mine since Monday.
Israeli air strikes continue in Gaza after ceasefire deal announced – BBC.com
Brazil court rejects Jair Bolsonaro’s bid to attend Trump’s inauguration
Judge rules former president’s passport will not be returned in case he uses it to flee abroad amid coup investigation
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro – who is under investigation for allegedly plotting a coup – has seen his hopes of attending Donald Trump’s inauguration dashed after a judge ruled his confiscated passport would not be returned in case the disgraced politician used it to flee abroad.
Bolsonaro’s travel document was seized by federal police last February as investigators deepened their inquiries into what they call a sprawling conspiracy to dismantle Brazil’s 40-year-old democracy.
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