Labour taking Diane Abbott’s latest comments on racism ‘incredibly seriously’ pred 1 dnevom, 11 urami in 8 minutami MP says she does not regret earlier comments that led to year-long suspension from partyUK politics live – latest updatesThe Labour party has said it is looking “incredibly seriously” at an interview in which Diane Abbott said she had no regrets about comments on racism that led to her year-long suspension from the party.The veteran Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was disciplined for writing a letter to the Observer in April 2023 arguing that people of colour experienced racism “all their lives” and in a different way to Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Fire at newly opened Iraqi shopping centre kills 61 people pred 1 dnevom, 11 urami in 11 minutami Survivor says blaze at mall in eastern city of Kut started after air conditioner unit explodedA fire has torn through a shopping mall in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut, killing at least 60 people, as desperate people searched for missing relatives.Officials have launched an investigation into the blaze, the latest in a country where safety regulations are frequently neglected. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Albanese says Coalition failed to have call with Beijing for years as opposition criticises ‘indulgent’ China trip pred 1 dnevom, 11 urami in 57 minutami James Paterson questioned if the six-day trip had ‘tangible outcomes’ while prime minister retorted, saying opposition should sort ‘themselves out’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese has sniped back at the opposition’s criticism of his “indulgent” six-day visit to China, pointing out the former Coalition government failed to hold a single phone call with the major trading partner for years.The prime minister has spent this week touring the country with stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu amid a period of geopolitical instability and escalating trade hostilities between the US and its trading partners.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Restaurant in China criticised for putting baby lion cuddles on menu pred 1 dnevom in 13 urami Diners jump at chance to snuggle with cubs but wildlife experts accuse firm of ‘exploiting wild animals for selfies’A restaurant in northern China has been criticised by animal welfare groups for offering an unusual item on the menu: lion cub cuddles.According to a screenshot of a menu circulating on social media, Wanhui – a restaurant in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province – has a four-course set afternoon menu costing 1,192 yuan ($166/£124) that includes playtime with the in-house animals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rise in UK unemployment and slowing wage growth add new pressure for interest rate cut pred 1 dnevom, 13 urami in 30 minutami ONS data shows jobless rate climbing to highest rate since June 2021 with growth in average earnings slowing to 5%.Business live – updatesUnemployment climbed and wage growth fell in the three months to May, according to official figures that will put pressure on the Bank of England to cut interest rates next moth.Data from the Office for National Statistics, released on Thursday, showed that Britain’s official unemployment rate rose to 4.7% in the three months to May, up 0.1% from April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour backbench MPs push for tough, wholesale changes to gambling regulation pred 1 dnevom in 14 urami Large and growing group fear ministers may pull their punches when drafting new legislation to appease donorsThe embattled Labour leadership is facing a challenge from backbench MPs pushing for wholesale reform of gambling regulation, putting Keir Starmer on a potential collision course with some of the party’s largest donors.The Guardian understands that a large and growing group of backbenchers are concerned that ministers may pull punches on further regulation of the UK’s betting and gaming sector, which took a record £11.5bn from punters last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Armed police threatened to arrest Kent protester for holding Palestinian flag pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 1 minuto Officers accused Laura Murton who also had a sign saying ‘Free Gaza’ of supporting a proscribed organisationArmed police threatened a peaceful protester with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and having signs saying “Free Gaza” and “Israel is committing genocide”, accusing her of supporting a proscribed organisation.Officers told Laura Murton, 42, that her demonstration in Canterbury, Kent, on Monday evening expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, which was banned under terrorism legislation earlier this month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sudan’s children face growing threat of deadly infectious diseases as vaccination rates halve pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 1 minuto The country, beset by war, has the world’s lowest rates of vaccination, says the World Health Organization, as global immunisation drive also stallsChildren in Sudan, caught up in what aid organisations have called the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and threatened by rising levels of violence, are increasingly vulnerable to deadly infectious diseases as vaccinations in the country plummet.In 2022, more than 90% of young children in Sudan received their routine vaccinations. But that figure has nearly halved to 48%, the lowest in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Resident doctors accused of ‘greedy’ pay demands before Streeting talks pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 1 minuto Hospital chiefs warn next week’s strike in England will cause ‘chaos’ in NHS, as BMA pushes for 29% rise on top of last year’s 22% dealResident doctors have been accused of being “very greedy” over their 29% pay demand, before talks with Wes Streeting on Thursday and a planned five-day strike next week.The Guardian spoke to hospital trust bosses and senior medics, all of whom criticised the walkout in England and warned that it will cause “absolute chaos” in the NHS. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police race action plan for England and Wales could be sidelined, monitor says pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 1 minuto Concern raised that end of central funding and of monitor’s oversight could lead to post-BLM plan being deprioritisedA police race action plan for England and Wales, which was partly a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, is at risk of being deprioritised when central funding finishes, a monitoring group has said.The Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board (ISOB) fears that local forces have not been adequately prepared to take over responsibility for the plan when central police funding and oversight ends at the end of March next year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
