‘From reef to retail’: experts warn global marine aquarium fish trade relies heavily on wild populations

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New research finds 90% of marine fish sold by major US retailers are wild-caught, including threatened or endangered species

The global trade in marine aquarium fish relies heavily on fish sourced directly from wild populations, with many consumers unaware of the practice due to murky supply chains.

New research has revealed the scale of the issue, finding most marine aquarium fish sold online in the US were wild-caught, mainly from the western Pacific and Indian oceans.

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Legal experts question reasoning behind CPS dropping China ‘spies’ case

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Ex-DPP Ken Macdonald says prosecutors may have been ‘over-fussy’ in seeking further assurances from government

Legal experts have questioned the explanation given by the Crown Prosecution Service for its sudden decision to drop charges against two Britons accused of spying for China amid a political row over who was responsible.

The expert lawyers expressed surprise that the CPS thought it needed further assurance from the government that China was an enemy insofar as it posed “a current threat to national security” before the trial of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry could go ahead.

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Ex-FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty on lying to Congress charge

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Case marks significant step in Trump’s efforts to politicize the justice department and punish political enemies

The former FBI director James Comey pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday in connection with federal charges that he lied to Congress in 2020.

Comey entered the federal courthouse shortly before 10am through a private entrance. He was joined in court by his legal team, as well as his wife and daughter, Maurene, who was fired last month as a federal prosecutor in the southern district of New York. Troy Edwards Jr, Comey’s son-in-law who resigned as a prosecutor in the eastern district of Virginia immediately after Comey was indicted, was also seen at the courthouse.

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Trump calls for jailing of Chicago mayor and Illinois governor as national guard arrives in city

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President accused Brandon Johnson and JB Pritzker of failing to protect Ice officers as troops deploy to Chicago

Donald Trump on Wednesday called for the imprisonment of Brandon Johnson, Chicago’s mayor, and JB Pritzker, the Illinois governor, accusing them of failing to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officers.

“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday morning. “Governor Pritzker also!”

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Gaza ceasefire talks resume in Egypt as Israel intercepts another aid flotilla – live updates – CNN

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  1. Gaza ceasefire talks resume in Egypt as Israel intercepts another aid flotilla - live updates  CNN
  2. Mideast Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner Set to Attend Gaza Ceasefire Talks in Egypt Today  Democracy Now!
  3. Gaza talks: Witkoff, Kushner join; Hamas says hostage, prisoner lists exchanged with Israel  NBC News
  4. A decolonised alternative to Trump’s Gaza peace plan  Al Jazeera
  5. Cautious optimism at Gaza talks as Hamas hands over lists of names for swap deal  Reuters
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UK opens up more driving test slots to help reduce backlog

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Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency says learners booking tests earlier has contributed to rising demand

More driving test slots are being made available to tackle a severe backlog as figures show a 15% increase in learner drivers with future tests booked compared with this time last year.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures show 668,128 people had a practical driving test booked in Britain at the end of September, up from 579,138 a year earlier.

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