Category C and women’s prisons could be upgraded to ease overcrowding

Posted on by

Exclusive: Ministers explore diverting male prisoners serving short terms or on remand away from tougher jails

Ministers are examining a possible upgrade of security at men’s category C and women’s prisons to deal with an overcrowding crisis across the England and Wales estate, the Guardian understands.

Officials have explored diverting prisoners on remand or serving short sentences away from category B “reception” prisons such as HMPs Liverpool, Manchester and Pentonville in north London.

Continue reading...

Australia’s largest aluminium smelter to run on renewables by 2033 after Rio Tinto strikes $2.5bn taxpayer bailout deal

Posted on by

Rio Tinto makes power supply deal with federal and NSW government to cut emissions and decarbonise, preventing potential closure

Resources giant Rio Tinto says Australia’s largest aluminium smelter will run entirely on renewable energy by 2033 after it struck a $2.5bn subsidy deal with the federal and New South Wales governments to prevent a potential closure.

The deal – announced by Anthony Albanese and the NSW premier, Chris Minns, at the Tomago smelter near Newcastle on Thursday – is for a 10-year below-market power supply guarantee that begins after the facility’s existing coal-focused electricity contract with AGL ends in December 2028.

Continue reading...

Students shun calls to stay in school as anti-Hanson protesters gather across Australia

Posted on by

High schoolers join university walkouts in major cities and several smaller locations amid urge to ‘stand up against the far right’

Calls for striking students to stay in school are unlikely to deter thousands across the country preparing to take part in a major walkout in protest against Pauline Hanson.

High schoolers have begun joining the coordinated university union protests taking place in every major city and several smaller locations across the country on Thursday afternoon.

Continue reading...

Over 150 civilians killed in US strikes on Houthis, Pentagon says – Euronews.com

Posted on by
  1. Over 150 civilians killed in US strikes on Houthis, Pentagon says  Euronews.com
  2. Pentagon report reveals steep civilian toll of Trump’s Yemen campaign  The Washington Post
  3. US strikes targeting Houthis killed 153 civilians in Yemen last year, Pentagon review says  AP News
  4. U.S. military operations killed 153 civilians last year, Pentagon says  CBS News
  5. Pentagon tells Congress US military airstrikes in Yemen resulted in 153 civilians killed  The Hill
Posted in Uncategorized

Search efforts in Colombia enter ‘final phase’ as quake toll reaches 265 – Al Jazeera

Posted on by
  1. Search efforts in Colombia enter ‘final phase’ as quake toll reaches 265  Al Jazeera
  2. A Bright Spot in Colombia as Rescuers Free Quake Victim  The New York Times
  3. Colombia earthquake search for survivors enters "final phase"  CBS News
  4. Colombia’s earthquake is déjà vu for Venezuelans. The government response is anything but  AP News
  5. Race to find mother of 3-month-old baby rescued from rubble of Colombia earthquake  CNN
Posted in Uncategorized

Afghanistan’s Unhappy Anniversary – The New York Times

Posted on by
  1. Afghanistan’s Unhappy Anniversary  The New York Times
  2. The Taliban are vile. Democracies must still engage with them  The Economist
  3. A Silver Lining in Afghanistan  The Atlantic
  4. Five years on, the world must deliver on its promises to Afghan civilians  Islamic Relief Worldwide
  5. Five years on, international limitations weigh on Taliban-run Afghanistan as rights concerns persist  The New Humanitarian
Posted in Uncategorized

Russian Strikes on Dozens of Grain Ships Threaten Global Food Supplies – The New York Times

Posted on by
  1. Russian Strikes on Dozens of Grain Ships Threaten Global Food Supplies  The New York Times
  2. World in Brief: Russia and Ukraine against the grain; South Korea’s bull run  The Economist
  3. Ukraine attacks Russian grain export terminals in Black Sea, prompting warning about food markets  CNBC
  4. Major Russian grain export terminals hit in Ukraine Black Sea port attack  BBC
  5. An overnight Ukrainian blitz damages Russia’s Black Sea naval stronghold, Zelenskyy says  AP News
Posted in Uncategorized

Zambia elections haunted by ghost of incumbent president’s arch-rival

Posted on by

Hakainde Hichilema is bidding for second term, but feud between him and family of Edgar Lungu, who died in 2025, continues

As Zambians go to the polls, the ghost of the current president’s predecessor hangs over the elections.

Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after defeating his arch-rival Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021.

Continue reading...

Colombia earthquake deaths climb to 239; hundreds remain missing – The Washington Post

Posted on by
  1. Colombia earthquake deaths climb to 239; hundreds remain missing  The Washington Post
  2. A big earthquake reveals two very different Colombias  The Economist
  3. Colombia limits foreign rescue teams as earthquake survival window narrows  CNN
  4. A Bright Spot in Colombia as Rescuers Free Quake Victim  The New York Times
  5. King Charles 'dreadfully saddened' as he shares emotional message with Queen Camilla about 'most difficult of times'  Currently.com
Posted in Uncategorized