After Russia’s foreign minister delivered a speech, James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, said that we have since heard additional “distortions, dishonesty, and disinformation” from Russia.
At a UN Security Council meeting, Mr. Cleverly said: “President Putin invaded Ukraine illegally and without justification. He ignored the resounding pleas for peace I heard in this council on 17 February”.
He adds that Russia has tried to “lay the blame on those imposing sanctions” for Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
“Every day, the devastating consequences of Russia’s invasion become more clear,” he added.
“We see the mounting evidence of Russian atrocities against civilians, including indiscriminate shelling and targeted attacks on more than 200 medical facilities and 40 educational institutions – and horrific acts of sexual violence.”
Mr Cleverly then went on to talk about food security.
On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilization that may call up to 300,000 individuals to fight.
The Kremlin says reports of fighting-age men fleeing are exaggerated.
But on the border with Georgia, miles-long queues of vehicles have formed including men trying to escape the war.
One man, who did not want to be named, told the BBC’s Rayhan Demytrie he had grabbed his passport and headed to the border, without packing anything else, immediately after President Putin’s announcement – because he fell into the group that could potentially be sent to the war.
Some witnesses estimated the queue of cars at the Upper Lars checkpoint to be some 5km (3 miles) long, while another group said it had taken seven hours to get across the border. Video from the scene showed some drivers leaving their cars or trucks temporarily in standstill traffic.
Georgia is one of the few neighboring countries that Russians can enter without needing a apply for a visa. Finland, which shares a 1,300km (800 miles) border with Russia, does require a visa for travel, and also reported an increase in traffic overnight – but said it was at a manageable level.
Other destinations reachable by air – such as Istanbul, Belgrade, or Dubai – have seen ticket prices skyrocket immediately after the military call-up was announced, with some destinations sold out completely. Turkish mediahave reported a largespike in one-way ticket sales while remaining flights to non-visa destinations can cost thousands of euros.
After a 17-day search following an earthquake in southwest China, a man was found alive in the mountains.
On September5, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Sichuan province killed 93 people and injured over 400 others.
Gan Yu stayed behind to help others at the hydropower plant where he was on duty, but then struggled to escape through the rough terrain as he had lost his glasses, local media reported.
He was found alive but injured by a local villager on Wednesday.
Mr Gan and his colleague Luo Yong stayed behind at the Wandong hydropower plant on 5 September to give first aid to injured colleagues and to help prevent flooding by releasing water from a dam.
They then attempted to leave, walking for about 20km (12 miles) in the mountains aroundthe plant.
But Mr Gan, who is severely short-sighted and had lost his glasses in the quake, struggled to navigate the terrain, state-owned China National Radio (CNR) reported.
Rescuers were searching the area for survivors, and the two men tried unsuccessfully to signal for help.
“We took our clothes off, strung them on tree branches, and waved them around,” Mr Luo told CNR.
Eventually, Mr Luo went to look for help, leaving Mr Gan with a makeshift bed of moss and bamboo leaves and some wild fruit and bamboo shoots to eat.
Mr Luo was found on 8 September after using fire to attract the rescuers’ attention. But by the time his former companion’s shelter was found three days later, Mr Gan was no longer there.
Rescuers discovered only discarded clothing and believed he may have died of hypothermia.
This week a farmer who lives near the plant joined the search, using his local knowledge. After a few hours, he heard Mr Gan’s cries and found him under trees.
Rescuers later reached the scene and flew Mr Gan to a hospital, where he was treated for broken bones.
A Briton, Shaun Pinnerwas freed as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine,and he has since been reunited with his family.
In April, Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine arrested Mr. Pinner, 48, who was later found guilty of “mercenary actions” and given the death penalty.
Our correspondent Emma Birchley spoke to him at his mother and stepfather’s home near Sandy in Bedfordshire.
“It’s good to be home,” he said. “I’m looking forward to a steak dinner tonight!”
For Mr Pinner’s mother, Debbie Price, the relief is overwhelming.
“It’s been a really, really hard time,” she said. “We are just so happy to have him home. It’s hugely emotional.”
The first hint Mr Pinner had that something was happening was after lunch on Tuesday.
“They said you have to roll your stuff up. They said you’re going on a long journey,” he said.
“We were moved to another location. We didn’t have any idea what was happening.”
He was later flown with other released captives to Saudi Arabia.
At 5.30 pm UK time yesterday, Mr Pinner was able to speak to his mother on the phone, from the Middle Eastern country.
“It’s very emotional, as you can imagine,” he said. “I really want to say thank you to everyone who helped us get out from the government of Saudi Arabia and also Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
“The Saudis gave us a full MOT. Their hospitality was great,” he said.
“Our thoughts go out to those who hope to be exchangedsoon,” he said, referring to the prisoner swap which resulted in his release.
He added that he has many friends still in Ukraine, as well as his wife. Today is their second wedding anniversary.
It’s hoped she will be able to get a visa to also come to the UK.
Mr Pinner’s sister Cassandra said she can’t believe how much changed in just 24 hours and described the feeling as “surreal”.
She knew something was up when her mother phoned her at work, after being contacted by the Foreign Office at just before midday yesterday.
Mr Pinner is yet to be fully debriefed by the Foreign Office and Intelligence Services.
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng,has announced that the National Insurance increase from April will be repealed starting on November 6.
The 1.25% increase was put in place by the former chancellor Rishi Sunak, but Liz Truss promised to reverse it during the Tory leadership race.
Mr Kwarteng made the announcement ahead of a “mini-budget” on Friday.
He said: “Taxing our way to prosperity has never worked.
“To raise living standards for all, we need to be unapologetic about growing our economy. Cutting tax is crucial to this.”
The Treasury said most employees will receive a cut to their national insurance contribution directly via their employer’s payroll in their November pay, although some may be delayed to December or January.
They calculate that almost 28 million people will keep an extra £330 of their money on average next year, whilst 920,000 businesses are set to save almost £10,000 on average next year thanks to the change
In a tweet, Mr Kwarteng called it a “tax cut for workers”.
I can confirm that this year’s 1.25% point rise in National Insurance will be reversed on 6th November.
Its replacement – the Health and Social Care Levy planned for April 23 – will be cancelled.
The tax hike was put in place to help fix the NHS backlog and fund social care sector improvements. It was due to raise around £13bn per year.
However, Ms Truss argued it was wrong of her party to break its 2019 manifesto commitment not to raise taxes and said the extra funds can be raised through general taxation.
The chancellor confirmed today that the funding for health and social care services will be maintained at the same level as if the levy was in place.
MPs are expected to vote on repealing the health and social care levy once they return from party conferences in October.
“This is delivering on a commitment the PM made on the (Tory leadership) campaign trail,” a No 10 spokeswoman said.
The move comes ahead of Chancellor Kwarteng’s “fiscal event” on Friday when he will set out more details of the government’s plans to cut taxes, including scrapping a planned rise in corporation tax.
In what officials described as a “ransomware-style” cyber campaign, the US Justice Department on Wednesday unsealed a criminal indictment charging three Iranian nationals of hacking the networks of hundreds of victims in the US and abroad.
Although the indictment does notallege the hackers acted on behalf of the Iranian government, U.S. law enforcement agencies released a joint advisory warning about “continued malicious cyber activity” by actors affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while the Treasury Department blacklisted bitcoin addresses tied to two of the defendants.
The cybersecurity advisory was issued jointly by U.S., Australian, British, and Canadian law enforcement agencies.
In a video statement, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the advisory underscored the “broader threat” posed by Iranian cyber actors.
“To these sorts of actors, nothing is off limits, not even, for example, Boston Children’s Hospital, which they set their sights on in the summer of 2021,” Wray said in a video statement.
The three Iranian nationals — identified as Mansour Ahmadi, Ahmad Khatibi Aghda, and Amir Hossein Nickaein Ravari — are accused of carrying out “computer intrusions and ransomware-style extortion” between October 2020 and August 2022, according to a 30-page indictment unsealed Wednesday.
The men remain at large and are believed to be in Iran, according to U.S. law enforcement officials.
The State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about the three.
Although the charging document does not accuse the Iranian government of sponsoring their activity, the Treasury Department said in a statement that all three defendants were affiliated with the IRGC, a branch of the Iranian military that operates a number of cyber threat actors tracked by the FBI.
“These IRGC-affiliated actors are actively targeting a broad range of entities across multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, as well as organizations in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom,” a senior FBI official said during a background call with reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
This is not the first time Iranian hackers have been charged in a broad cybercrime conspiracy. But the indictment comes as the Biden administration has mounted a whole-of-government effort over the past year to combat what is widely seen as a growing threat to U.S. national security: cybercriminals targeting critical infrastructure and services in what are known as “ransomware attacks.”
In a ransomware attack, cybercriminals encrypt a victim’s computer files and then demand payments in cryptocurrency in exchange for decrypting them.
U.S. law enforcement officials described the Iranian campaign of hacking and extortion as a “ransom-related cyberattack.”
Among the victims were a New Jersey township, two accounting firms, two power companies, a housing authority in Washington state, and a domestic violence shelter in Pennsylvania.
Wray said many of the victims of the hacking campaign “offer critical services we all rely on every day.”
“I’m talking about health care facilities, power companies, local governments in communities across the United States and around the globe,” he said.
In some cases, the hackers demanded hundreds of thousands of dollars in payment, a Justice Department official said. Some victims made ransom payments. The domestic violence shelter paid $13,000 to restore access to its systems and data, according to the indictment.
Law enforcement officials said the victims were “targets of opportunity,” identified because of vulnerabilities in their computer systems.
In addition to targeting victims in the U.S., the hackers targeted companies and organizations in the United Kingdom, Iran, Israel, and Russia.
“No form of cyberattack is acceptable, but ransomware attacks that target critical infrastructure services, such as health care facilities and government agencies, are a threat to our national security,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey.
According to a statement from the ministry, the liberated inmates included citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Morocco, and Sweden. It further stated that a plane transporting the convicts had landed in the kingdom.
“The relevant Saudi authorities received and transferred them from Russia to the kingdom and are facilitating procedures for their respective countries,” the statement said.
The ministry did not identify the prisoners. A Saudi official said they were five Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, a Moroccan, and a Swedish national.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss hailed the release of the British nationals on Twitter as “hugely welcome news” after “months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.”
British lawmaker Robert Jenrick said Aiden Aslin was among those released. He was captured earlier this year and then sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), one of Russia’s proxies in eastern Ukraine.
Russia also released U.S. citizens Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, a family representative told Reuters on Wednesday.
The pair, both from Alabama, were captured in June while fighting in eastern Ukraine where they went to support Ukrainian troops resisting Russia’s invasion.
Large numbers of foreigners have traveled to Ukraine to fight since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion. Some of them have been caught by Russian forces, along with other foreigners in the country who say they were not fighters.
Reuters could not immediately establish if the released group included Britons Shaun Pinner and Morocco-born Brahim Saadoun who were also captured and sentenced to death in Donetsk.
A Swedish citizen, captured at the port city of Mariupol and facing a possible death sentence under the laws of the DPR, was among those released, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde confirmed.
“I can confirm that the Swede who in May was taken into custody by Russian forces is free and on his way to Sweden,” Linde told Swedish news agency TT on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Prince Mohammed has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including within the framework of the OPEC+ oil producers group, despite heavy pressure from Washington, Riyadh’s traditional ally, to isolate Russia.
Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have captured hundreds of enemy fighters since thestart of the conflict, with a handful of prisoner exchanges having taken place.
The head of the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said earlier this month that Russia was not allowing access to prisoners of war, adding that the U.N. had evidence that some had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment that could amount to war crimes.
Russia denies torture or other forms of maltreatment of POWs.
In an effort to draw attention to the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while in the custody of the Tehran police on Wednesday, a group of Iranian residents of Istanbul and residents of Turkey assembled in front of the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul.
The activity was observed from a distance by Istanbul police, who on Tuesday repeatedly dispersed groups assembled in Taksim Square.
During the demonstration, at least three women cut their hair to protest the treatment of Amini, who was detained by Iran’s morality police because she didn’t wear her headscarf correctly and therefore her hair was showing. She later died while in custody.
Protesters shouted slogans in Persian, Turkish and Kurdish. The Turkish chants included, “We do not keep silent, we do not fear, we do not obey,” and “My body, my decision.”
The Persian and Kurdish slogans included, “Women live freely” and “We do not want a mullah regime.”
Banners carried by the group of about 300 people included harsh criticism against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the Iranian regime.
Mahdi Sağlar, one of the Iranians who participated in the protest, has been living and working in Turkey for 20 years.
“They beat a girl to death because her hair was showing,” Sağlar told VOA Turkish. “Their own children dress as they want in Europe and America, they behave as they want, but in Iran, they arrested her because her hair is out, and they killed her by causing a brain hemorrhage with a blow to the brain at the police station. We are here to protest this. Our citizens in Iran are protesting here on the street as well.”
Gelare Abdi, another Iranian protester, said that although she loves her homeland very much, she can’t live in her country due to heavy pressure.
“I need freedom,” she said. “But I have no freedom in Iran. I have been here in Turkey for two years out of necessity. … They killed Mahsa because her hair was showing a small forelock. She was just 22 years old. I am also a woman and I want freedom.”
Two streams of videoMolly Russell watched earlier in her use of the platform and in the weeks leading up to her death were shown at the inquest. The later stream of materials concentrated on despair and self-harm, while the previous stream covered a wide range of topics.
Molly Russell, a schoolgirl, was able to access self-harm-related content on Pinterest, according to Pinterest’s head of community operations, who has expressed his regret.
Two streams of video Molly Russell watched earlier in her use of the platform and in the weeks leading up to her death were shown at the inquest. The later stream of materials concentrated on despair and self-harm, while the previous stream covered a wide range of topics.
Molly Russell, a schoolgirl, was able to access self-harm-related content on Pinterest, according to Pinterest’s head of community operations, who has expressed his regret.
Two streams of the 14-year-old content were displayed before North London Coroners’ Court on Thursday, contrasting the information she watched earlier in her use of the platform and in the months leading up to her death.
Molly, from Harrow, north-west London, was found dead in her bedroom in November 2017 after viewing online content that promoted self-harm.
She was an active user of Pinterest, with more than 15,000 engagements, including 3,000 saves, in the last six months of her life.
Since her death, Molly’s family has campaigned for better internet safety.
Judson Hoffman, head of Pinterest’s community operations, was asked by the lawyer representing Molly’s family at her inquest if he agreed the type of content had changed.
Mr Hoffman said: “I do and it’s important to note, and I deeply regret that she was able to access some of the content shown.”
Mr Oliver Sanders KC asked: “You’ve said you regret it, are you sorry it happened?”
Mr Hoffman replied: “I am sorry it happened.”
The court heard the social media giant sent emails to the teenager with headings such as “10 depression pins you might like” and “depression recovery, depressed girl and more pins trending on Pinterest”.
The emails also contained images. The family’s lawyer asked Mr Hoffman whether he believed they were “safe for children to see”.
Mr Hoffman replied: “So, I want to be careful here because of the guidance that we have seen.
“I will say that this is the type of content that wewouldn’t like anyone spending a lot of time with.”
Mr Sanders KC said “particularly children” would find it “very difficult… to make sense” of the material – to which Mr Hoffman replied: “Yes.”
Mr Hoffman said he was “not able to answer” how children could agree to potentially being exposed to content inappropriate for a child.
In the platform’s terms of service, displayed to the hearing, the court was told users were asked to report “bad stuff” if they saw it on the site.
The terms of service from November 2016 said users may be exposed to material that was “inappropriate to children”.
Mr Sanders KC asked: “Bearing in mind it might be children who are opening the account… when a user opens an account they have to agree there may be content that’s inappropriate for a child.
“If the user is a child, how can they agree to that?”
“I’m sorry, I’m not able to answer that,” Mr Hoffman said.
People over the age of 13 can use the platform and Coroner Andrew Walker asked if the firm distinguished between children and adults when accounts are set up.
“No, we do not,” Mr Hoffman replied.
On Wednesday, Molly’s father Ian Russell urged action at her inquest to“prevent such a young life from being wasted again”.
“No one is immune from such tragedy, it is closer to all of us than we would care to think, and breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health, self-harm and suicide is literally vital,” he said.
A rights advocate fromChad, Nodjigoto Charbonnel, has received the 2022 Rafto Prize in recognition of his efforts on behalf of torture victims.
His Youth for Peace organization (AJPNV), which works to prevent torture in Chad and care for its victims, received a commendation from the Norwegian fund for its efforts.
Last year his organization treated 575 survivors of torture.
Mr Charbonnel, who’s been imprisoned three times by the Chadian authorities, began his work in 2000 after his father was tortured.
The Rafto Foundation lamented the high rates of such abuse in Chadand urged the self-proclaimed head of state, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, the son of the previous leader, Idriss Déby to prosecute those responsibly.
Four previous winners of the Rafto Prize have subsequently been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; its 2022 winner will be announced next month.
Although the UN’s chief cannot direct its members to implement windfall taxes, his remarks do send an “important signal”.
All wealthy nations are being urged to impose awindfall tax on fossil fuelcompanies by the head of the United Nations.
The industry is “feasting on hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies and windfall profits while household budgets shrink and our planet burns”, Antonio Guterres told world leaders in New York.
Money raised should be used to help people struggling with rising food and energy bills, as well as to compensate countries suffering the most severe effects of climate change, the secretary-general told the United Nations General Assembly, which is expected to be dominated by discussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In spite of demanding “polluters must pay”, Mr Guterres cannot mandate action from developed countries, many of which are grappling with extreme weather, high food and energy prices, and the Ukraine war.
But Antony Froggatt, from international affairs, think tank Chatham House, said the statement “is an important signal” and highlights the “unequal nature of the current crisis, with some countries, companies, and citizens benefiting hugely”.
But Mr Guterres has previously urged an end to funding for more oil and gas exploration and production, “which has not stopped these taking place”, Mr Froggatt added.
The European Union plans to raise about €140bn (£121bn) by imposing windfall taxes on energy companies’ “abnormally high profits”, a move that could put pressure on Prime Minister Liz Truss
The Liberal Democrats have weighed in despite Downing Street’s refusal to speak on the topic, claiming it is “a matter for the independent Bank of England.”
‘Homeowners are being punished’
The party’s Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney said the interest rate rise would be a “hammer blow to struggling homeowners who are being punishedby the government’s failure to control inflation”.
“This monster rate rise could have been avoided if Conservative ministers bothered to take action sooner on energy bills and the rising cost of living,” she added.
‘This will dampen consumer confidence’
There was sympathy from the British Chambers of Commerce, which said the Bank faced “an increasingly tricky balancing act”.
“The interest rate is a very blunt instrument to control inflationary pressures that are largely driven by rocketing energy costs and global supply chain disruption,” said its head of research David Bharier
“The Bank’s decision to raise rates will increase the risk for individuals and organizations exposed to debt burdens and rising mortgage costs – dampening consumer confidence.”
“Against the backdrop of stubbornly high inflation, another hefty rise in interest rates was largely expected,” said lead economist Alpesh Paleja.
“With signs of an economic downturn coming down the track, firms will be looking to the fiscal statement to help perk up confidence and get more firms investing and growing.”
Indigenous protestors demonstrated against the monarch and the effects of British colonialism on Thursday, as Australia observed a national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy, and Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, commended Elizabeth for her commitment and service during a formal ceremony in Canberra.
However, crowds have gathered across the country for ‘abolish the monarchy’ protests.
To many Australians, the Queen was a symbol of constancy and dedication, but to indigenous Australians, she represented brutal colonization that stole their land when British settlers arrived in 1788.
Hundreds of anti-monarchists have expressed their opinions on the streets of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.
“The Crown has blood on their hands,” a demonstrator said. “Our people are still dying in this country every single day!”
Protesters burned Australian and British flags as they rallied “against racist colonial imperialism.”
“We don’t get time off for our mourning whereas they have set a public holiday for the Queen. I think that the government could consider more about what goes on in Aboriginal communities,” said a protester.
Governor-general David Hurley, the British monarch’s official representative in Australia, has acknowledged the pain and anguish felt by Indigenous people.
“In considering the unifying role that Her Majesty played, I acknowledge that her passing has prompted different reactions from some of our community. I’m conscious and respect that the response of many First Nations Australians is shaped by our colonial history and broader reconciliation journey. That is a journey we as a nation must complete,” he said.
But many Australians have celebrated Elizabeth’s long service as their head of state at events, large and small, across the country.
Speaking at a national day of mourning ceremony in Canberra,Prime minister Anthony Albanese, praised Elizabeth’s dedication.
“This national day of mourning salutes a sovereign who served our whole nation and sought to know it, too. It is fitting that today’s commemorations in our national capital will be mirrored in communities across our country as Australians express their own affection and respect and celebrate the Queen’s part in their own stories,” he said.
Albanese has ruled out holding another referendum on Australia becoming a republic until at least 2025, preferring instead to focus on enshrining indigenous rights in the constitution.
Australia’s rejected severing its constitutional ties to the British monarchy in a referendum in 1999.
The Bank of England hikes interest rates as it indicates the UK is already in recession; government hints energy support for schools, hospitals, and care homes could continue beyond six months; submit your cost of living dilemma to personal finance expert Gemma Godfrey using the form below.
What is a recession?
It is a significant decline in economic activity, lasting months or even years.
Economists usually define a recession as two consecutive quarters where GDP has fallen.
Why do recessions happen?
There are a number of common causes for recession, including:
A sudden economic shock – such as the COVID pandemic or the war in Ukraine
Excessive debt
Asset bubbles – when investors become too optimistic and inflate the stock market or real estate bubbles, before the bubble bursts and panic selling ensues
Many people will also remember the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009 – the UK’s worst in modern history.
This was largely due to the mortgage crisis in the US impacting the British banking sector, and the subsequent “credit crunch”.
The UK also saw a recession between 1990 and 1991, caused by rapid economic expansion under Margaret Thatcher and Britain’s plans to maintain membership of the Exchange Rate Mechanism.
How will a recession affect you?
Unemployment levels will rise, so more people will be at risk of losing their jobs.
People who keep their jobs may see cuts to pay and benefits, or struggle to negotiate future pay rises.
Meanwhile, investments can lose money and savings can be reduced, upsetting some people’s plans for retirement or for large expenses such as buying homes or getting married.
Businesses make fewer sales during a recession, and mortgage lenders can also tighten standards for mortgages, car loans and other types of financing – meaning you may need a better credit score or larger down payment.
The striking university lecturers inNigeria say they would challenge the arbitration court’s decision ordering them to call off their seven-month strike and report to work.
The National Industrial Court gave the order on Wednesday while it considered a government suit challenging the strike.
But the Academic Staff Union of Universities said its lawyers were already filing an appeal and urged its members to “remain calm”.
The government approached the court to stop the lecturers from continuing their strike after both parties failed to resolve their differences. It said the strike would result in irreparable damage to Nigerian students and to the country if not suspended.
For the past seven months, public university lecturers have suspended classes across the country due to pay disagreements with the government.
The lecturers accused the government of failing to fulfill some of the agreements reached with the union 10 years ago.
The umbrella body of university students in Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Students (Nans),had earlier welcomed the court order, describing it as a win-win situation for all the stakeholders in the matter.
The students’ union however urged the government not to see the ruling as a victory over the lecturers.
The reported deployment of Eritrean forces into the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, according to the European Union, will only help to intensify the conflict.
“The EU urges once again all parties to forget about any military solution and join efforts for the benefit of their populations,” said Josep Borrell, EU’s foreign affairs and security policy chief.
It comes amid a reported full-scale offensive by Eritrean troops along the Eritrea-Tigray border.
The Tigrayan forces spokesman, Getachew Reda,said the Eritreans were fighting alongside Ethiopian federal forces and regional militia.
But neither the Eritrean nor the Ethiopian governments have spoken about the reported entry of Eritrean forces.
An American envoy on Tuesdaycondemned the fighting, noting that the US was aware of Eritrean troops crossing into Tigray.
Eritrea has been allied with Ethiopian government soldiers in their almost two-year-long war against Tigrayan rebels.
Thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced in the conflict.
A former Facebook contentmoderator is suing the parent company of the American social networking giant, Meta, for alleged unfavourable working conditions, and a Kenyan court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case.
Samasource Kenya EPZ, also known as Sama, is a local outsourcing company that has been the target of a petition alleging that its employees who moderate Facebook content are subjected to unfavorable working conditions, including low pay, insufficient mental health support, and invasions of privacy and dignity.
The court will determine if Meta can be tried in Kenya since the 12 petitioners were working for a third-party firm that it had outsourced for moderation services.
Meta made an application in June seeking to have the case thrown out arguing that the court had no jurisdiction to determine it – since the company is not based in Kenya.
Daniel Motaung’ is seeking financial compensation on behalf of current and former employees.
He also wants Meta and Sama to provide mental health support for moderators who spend hours reviewing graphic content.
The suit also seeks to compel third-party contractors to have the same benefits as Meta employees.
Meta has denied wrongdoing saying it takes seriously its responsibility to people who review content for the firm.
According to court papers, Sama hosts the largest content moderation location in Africa with more than 200 staff.
In 2020, Facebook agreed to pay $52m (£46m) to content moderators based in the US after they filed a class-action lawsuit for being exposed repeatedly to graphic content such as beheadings, child and sexual abuse, terrorism, and animal cruelty.
Update: This case has been adjourned until 25 October
Despite a 12% decline in the species’ global population over the previous four years, the number of white rhinos that were transported to a sanctuary in Rwanda last year is growing.
The 30 white rhinos were sent from South Africa to Akagera National Park in Rwanda, where they became the first of their kind to live there.
They are now “thriving well” and their numbers have grown to around 35 after new calves were born recently, said Drew Bantlin, an official at the park.
“All calves are growing and healthy. They are starting to move widely with their mothers and are showing normal behaviours,” he added.
The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) says the global white rhino population continues to decline under pressure from poaching.
Due to the hundreds of beer cans that had covered the road following a multi-vehicle crash, a Florida highway had to be temporarily closed.
The semi-trailer had been carrying cases of Coors Light when it crashed and spilled its load all over the busy road.
All lanes of Interstate 75, which is around 30 miles north of Tampa, had to close following the collision, which also included other trailers and a pickup truck.
The pileup began when one semi-trailer clipped another while changing lanes, causing other semis to brake, officials said.
But the one filled with cases of the Silver Bullet beer failed to come to a stop and collided with a pickup truck and another trailer.
People inside the pickup truck suffered minor injuries, and the highway opened sometime later on Wednesday.
The inside shoulder and travel lanes were opened to traffic around two and a half hours after the crash, but it was six hours after, at around 12 pm, that the rest of the road was reopened.
In her first public address as prime ministeron a world platform, Ms. Truss called the Russian president’s threat to use “all means at our disposal” to defend his nation “sabre rattling.”
Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats are part of a desperate attempt to justify his “catastrophic” failure in Ukraine, Liz Truss has said.
In her first speech on the world stage as prime minister, Ms Truss accused the Russian president of “sabre rattling” after he said that his country would use “all the means at our disposal” to protect itself.
The comments appeared to suggest the conflict in Ukraine could spiral into a nuclear crisis.
Ms Truss said Mr Putin was “desperately trying to justify his catastrophic failures” in her address to the United Nations General Assembly (Unga) in New York.
“He is doubling down by sending even more reservists to a terrible fate,” she said.
“He is desperately trying to claim the mantle of democracy for a regime without human rights or freedoms.
“And he is making yet more bogus claims and saber-rattling threats.”
Ms Truss praised the “strength of collective purpose” in response to Mr Putin’s invasion so far, but said that aid for Ukraine must not wane.
And she told other world leaders that the UK will spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, repeating a promise she made when she campaigned to become Tory leader.
She added: “In the face of rising aggression we have shown we have the power to act and the resolve to see it through. But this must not be a one-off.
“This must be a new era in which we commit to ourselves, our citizens, and this institution that we will do whatever it takes – whatever it takes to deliver for our people and defend our values.”
Catholics currently outnumber Protestants inNorthern Ireland, which might be used to strengthen aspirations for a united Ireland.
According to the statistics for 2021, Catholics make up 45.7% of the population, while Protestants make up 43.5%.
A decade ago the census showed Protestants outnumbered Catholics by 48% to 45%, after falling below 50% for the first time. The shift could drive support moves for a united Ireland.
Last year’s figures also showed that 9.3% of the population belonged to no religion, up from 5.6% in 2011.
Northern Ireland was established in 1921 to maintain a pro-British Protestant “unionist” majority as a counterweight to the newly independent and predominantly Catholic Irish state in the south.
At the time the population split was roughly two-thirds Protestant and one-third Catholic.
The census also asked about people’s sense of national identity, with 31.9% saying they were British only and 8% saying they were British and Northern Irish.
The proportion saying they were Irish only was 29.1%, and 19.8% were Northern Irish only.
In the 2011 census, 40% said they were British only, 25% were Irish only and 21% were Northern Irish only.
Colum Eastwood, the leader of the SDLP, the moderate Irish nationalist party, said the shift was “a seminal moment in the history of modern Ireland” that should not be played down.
Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said that “historic change is happening”.
The census also showed a 63.5% increase in the number of people in Northern Ireland with an Irish passport and Brexit is undoubtedly a factor.
The government has reportedly violated a manifesto pledge not to allow the controversial method unless research demonstrated that it could be done “categorically” safely by lifting the ban on fracking for shale gas.
Business and energy secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said strengthening the UK’s energy security is “an absolute priority” in light of “Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and weaponization of energy”.
In a bid to make the UK a net energy exporter by 2040, the country must explore “all avenues available to us through solar, wind, oil and gas production – so it’s right that we’ve lifted the pause to realise any potential sources of domestic gas,” he said.
The government claims the gas could start flowing within six months, but experts say it could take a decade, doing little to enhance energy security or lower bills. Its climate advisors have warned of the risk of locking the country into fossil fuel infrastructure when it should be transitioning to green energy.
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng said in February as then business secretary that additional UK gas production would not affect gas prices, which are set internationally.
“UK producers won’t sell shale gas to UK consumers below the market price. They’re not charities,” he said at the time.
The government has also confirmed plans for a new oil and gas licensing round, launching in October, paving the way for more than 100 new licences for exploration, which could involve fracking.
Ed Miliband, the shadow climate change and net zero secretary, called fracking a “dangerous fantasy”.
“It costs far more than renewables, it is unsafe and it is deeply unpopular with the public,” he said.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to allow fracking “where there is local support” – previous attempts were met with fierce opposition from residents.
The most recent government polling found just 17% of the public supported fracking in autumn 2021, compared with 87% who backed renewable energy.
Mr Miliband accused the Conservatives of breaking a 2019 manifesto commitment that pledged not to support fracking “unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely”.
In April the government commissioned the British Geological Survey (BGS)to assess whether there had been any progress in techniques to “reduce the risk and magnitude of seismic events” from the shale gas extraction method, which involves drilling into the earth and firing a high-pressure mixture at the rock in order to release the gas inside.
The peer-reviewed report, which has been with the business and energy department since July but was published today, admitted that projecting the occurrence and magnitude of large earthquakes “remains a scientific challenge for the geoscience community”.
It acknowledged some new analysis techniques that “could help to manage the risk,” but said they need development before they could be incorporated into any risk assessments.
Durham University’s honorary professor of earth sciences Andrew Aplin said the report shows “our ability to predict the magnitude of fracking-induced earth tremors has barely changed”.
He urged leaders to focus on reducing the demand for gas rather than increasing supply.
The government has resisted calls to address demand through measures such as retrofitting homes with insulation, which numerous think tanks say would also lower bills.
However, Prime Minister Liz Truss has pledged to freeze energy bills at an average of £2,500 a year, which will be paid for by borrowing.
The former justice minister of ChinaFu Zhenghua, who led multiple anti-corruption campaigns, has been imprisoned for bribery.
In July, Fu pleaded guilty to collecting 117 million yuan ($14.7 million; $16.5 million) in gifts and cash.
Chinese media reported he’d received a suspended death sentence to be commuted to a life sentence in two years.
His conviction comes amid a sudden crackdown on officials ahead of a key Communist Party congress next month.
China’s ruling party holds the event once every five years and this time President Xi Jinping is expected to be given a historic third term and consolidate his hold on power.
Fu’s jailing follows the sentencing of three former police chiefs this week. All four men are not only accused of corruption but also of being disloyal to Mr Xi.
They are all alleged to have been part of a corrupt political circle led by another ex-security figurehead, Sun Lijun, who is currently awaiting his sentence.
Fu was China’s justice minister from 2018 to 2020, after a career where he worked his way up from being a policeman to the deputy head of China’s Ministry of Public Security.
He led several high-profile investigations into corrupt politicians – including a probe that broughtdown Zhou Yongkang, one of the most powerful officials in recent years to be convicted of bribery.
In October last year, the party’s internal watchdog announced it was investigating Fu for “serious violations of discipline and national laws”.
He was dismissed from public office and then in March this year expelled from the Community Party. He was arrested a month later on corruption charges.
Prosecutors said he took advantage of his authority to seek gains for others and himself on business contracts, official positions, and even legal cases.
The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by Iran’s so-called morality police has sparked angry protests, with women burning their headscarves in a defiant act of resistance against the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code and those enforcing it.
The Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrols) are special police units taskedwith ensuring the respect of Islamic morals and detaining people who are perceived to be “improperly” dressed.
Under Iranian law, which is based on the country’s interpretation of Sharia, women are obliged to cover their hair with a hijab (headscarf) and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figures.
Ms Amini allegedly had some hair visible under her headscarf when she was arrested by morality police in Tehran on 13 September. She fell into a coma shortly after collapsing at a detention centre and died three days later in hospital. The force denied reports that officers beat her head with a baton and banged it against one of their vehicles.
In a rare interview, one morality police officer spoke anonymously to the BBC about his experience working in the force.
“They told us the reason we are working for the morality police units is to protect women,” he said. “Because if they do not dress properly, then men could get provoked and harm them.”
He said they worked in teams of six, comprising four men and two women, and focused on areas with high foot traffic and where crowds gather.
“It’s weird, because if we are just going to guide people why do we need to pick somewhere busy that potentially means we could arrest more people?”
“It’s like we are going out for a hunt.”
The officer added that his commander would tell him off or say he was not working properly if he did not identify enough people violating the dress code, and that he found it particularly difficult when people resisted arrest.
“They expect us to force them inside the van. Do you know how many times I was in tears while doing it?”
“I want to tell them I am not one of them. Most of us are ordinary soldiers going through our mandatory military service. I feel so bad.”
Post-revolutionary decree
The Iranian authorities’ fight against “bad hijab” – wearing a headscarf or other mandatory clothing incorrectly – began soon after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a major aim of which was to make women dress modestly.
While many women were doing so at the time, miniskirts and uncovered hair were not uncommon sights on the streets of Tehran before the pro-Western Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown. His wife Farah, who often wore Western clothing, was held up as an example of a modern woman.
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, The anti-hijab protests that erupted in Iran in March 1979 carried on for several days
Within months of the founding of the Islamic Republic, the laws protecting women’s rights that had been established under the Shah began to be repealed.
“It didn’t happen overnight, it was a step-by-step process,” said Mehrangiz Kar, 78, a human rights lawyer and activist who helped organise the first anti-hijab protest.
“Right after the revolution there were men and women on the streets offering out free headscarves to women wrapped in gift paper.”
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Women were waving headscarves in the air in resistance in the earlier anti-hijab protests of the 1980s
On 7 March 1979, the leader of the revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, decreed that hijabs would be mandatory for all women in their workplaces and that he considered uncovered women to be “naked”.
“That speech was received by many revolutionaries as an order to force the hijab on women’s heads,” said Mrs Kar, who is now based in Washington DC. “Many thought this was going to happen overnight, so women started resisting.”
They responded immediately. More than 100,000 people, mostly women, gathered in the streets of Tehran the following day – International Women’s Day – to protest.
‘We got creative’
Despite Ayatollah’s Khomeini’s decree, it took some time for authorities to decide what was considered “proper” clothing for women.
“There were no clear instructions, so [they] came up with posters and banners showing models, which were hung on office walls. They said women should follow these instructions [about wearing a hijab] or they cannot enter,” explained Mrs Kar.
IMAGE SOURCE,BBC PERSIAN Image caption, Pictures posted after Mahsa Amini’s death showed women taking off their headscarves in a nod to the earlier protests
By 1981, women and girls were legally required to wear modest “Islamic” clothing. In practice this meant wearing a chador – a full-body cloak, often accompanied by a smaller headscarf underneath – or a headscarf and a manteau (overcoat) covering their arms.
“But the fight against the mandatory hijab continued on individual levels. We were creative in wearing the headscarf or not covering our hair properly,” Mrs Kar said.
“Every single time they were stopping us, we were fighting.”
In 1983, parliament decided that women who did not cover their hair in public could be punished with 74 lashes. More recently, it added the punishment of up to 60 days in prison.
Authorities have nevertheless struggled to enforce the laws since then, and women of all ages are frequently seen pushing the boundaries in public by wearing tight-fitting, thigh-length coats and brightly coloured headscarves pushed back to expose plenty of hair.
Heavy-handed approach
The extent to which these rules have been enforced and the severity of punishments handed down have varied over the years according to which president has been in power.
The ultra-conservative then-mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sought to appear more progressive on the issue when he was campaigning for the presidency in 2004. “People have different tastes, and we have to serve them all,” he said in a television interview.
IMAGE SOURCE,AFP Image caption, Gasht-e Ershad officers have been accused of verbally and physically harassing women
But soon after his election victory the following year, the Gasht-e Ershad were formally established. Until then, the dress codes had been policed informally by other law enforcement and paramilitary units.
The morality police are often criticised by the public for their heavy-handed approach, and women are frequently detained and only released when a relative appears to provide assurances they will adhere to the rules in the future.
“I was arrested with my daughter when we were stopped becauseof our lipstick,” one woman from the central city of Isfahan told the BBC.
“They took us to the police station and asked my husband to come and sign a piece of paper that he would not let us out without a hijab.”
IMAGE SOURCE,WANA NEWS AGENCY Image caption, Questions about Mahsa Amini’s death dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Sunday
Another woman, from Tehran, told the BBC that a female officer said her boots could be “too erotic” for men and detained her.
“I called my husband and asked him to bring me a pair of shoes,” she said.
“I then signed a paper admitting I was wearing inappropriate clothing and I now have a criminal record.”
Other reports of experiences with the morality police, which have been shared with the BBC, include beatings and more cruel and unusual punishments.
One woman said the police threatened to put cockroaches on her body during one of her arrests.
New crackdown
President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line cleric who was elected last year, signed an order on 15 August to enforce a new list of restrictions.
They included the introduction of surveillance cameras to monitor and fine unveiled women or refer them for “counselling”, and a mandatory prison sentence for any Iranian who questioned or posted content against the hijab rules online.
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, President Ebrahim Raisi issued a decree in August further curtailing women’s freedom of dress
The restrictions led to an increase in arrests but also sparked a surge in women posting photos and videos of themselves without headscarves on social media – something that has only intensified in the days following Ms Amini’s death.
Masih Alinejad, a journalist and activist now based in the US, says the protests which have erupted since the death of Ms Amini feel deeply personal.
Over the years, she has run several viral campaigns against the hijab laws, including #mystealthyprotest and many, including the government, see her as an instrumental force behind the current unrest.
Women began removing their headscarves and waving them in the air at Ms Amini’s funeral in western city of Saqez on Saturday.
The European Union has condemned Russia’s plans to hold referenda in parts of Ukraine and has said the outcomes will not be recognized.
In a statement, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said: “The European Union strongly condemns these planned illegal “referenda” which go against the legal and democratically elected Ukrainian authorities, are in violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and in blatant breach of international law.”
Mr Borrell said those involved with these “referenda” will be held accountable and additional restrictive measures against Russia would be considered.
Moscow-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine are set to hold referenda on becoming parts of Russia, which could give the Kremlin the pretext for a wider war because Vladimir Putin would be able to claim parts of his state were being attacked.
The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has welcomed the safe release of five British citizens who had been held as POWs in eastern Ukraine by forces backed by Russia.
“This brings to an end many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families, at the hands of Russia,” he said.
He said that was “tragically” not the case for British man Paul Ureywho was captured by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine and died in detention in July.
“I would like to express my gratitude to President Zelensky and his team for their efforts to secure their release, and to HRH Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman and his team, for their assistance.”
He reiterated a call on Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and not exploit prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political purposes.
The Australian Football League is investigating claims Aboriginal players at one of its most successful clubs were bullied by the senior coaching staff.
Hawthorn Football Club players were reportedly isolated from family, told to leave their partners and one alleges he was ordered to end a pregnancy.
One of the coaches implicated has taken leave as the league investigates the “disturbing” claims.
They were uncovered by a review of the team’s treatment of Indigenous people.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) published details of the confidential report on Wednesday, as the league prepares for the grand final on Saturday.
ABC interviewed three unnamed players who were at the Melbourne club – also known as the Hawks – between 2005 and 2021. During that time, they say they were forced to choose between their careers and their families.
One said the coaching staff had “demanded that I needed to get rid of my unborn child and my partner”.
“I was then manipulated and convinced to remove my SIM card from my phone so there was no further contact between my family and me. They told me I’d be living with one of the other coaches from that night onward,” he said.
His partner did not go through with an abortion and the couple reconciled within months. But when she became pregnant again soon after the birth of their first child, the woman told the ABC she felt she needed to end that pregnancy to avoid a repeat ordeal.
Another player told the ABC Hawthorn reacted similarly when they learned his partner was pregnant. He said he was forced to break up with her and cut off contact. She later miscarried.
A third player – who was from another state – told the investigation the club had actively tried to stop his young family from relocating to Melbourne to be with him.
All three couples spoke about their mental health struggles since the incidents.
Hawthorn said they received the report detailing the allegations two weeks ago, and they passed it on to Australian Football League (AFL) officials.
But AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has told media that the ABC investigation contained previously unknown details, adding that it made for “a challenging, harrowing and disturbing read”.
“It’s hard to find more serious allegations,” he said.
An independent panel, to be led by an eminent lawyer, will be appointed to investigate them, he said.
Ex-coach hits out at report
Brisbane Lion coach Chris Fagan – who was at the Hawks during the period in question – has announced he will take leave while the investigation takes place.
Former head coach Alastair Clarkson said he was “shocked by the extremely serious allegations”, according to a statement released on Wednesday and carried by Australian broadcaster 9News.
Mr Clarkson hit out at the report, saying he was not “interviewed by the authors of the report, nor provided with a copy… [and] not afforded any due process.”
He added that the players’ welfare was always his “highest priorities”, adding that he “refuted any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct”.
Mr Clarkson, who led Hawthorn to four Australian Football League (AFL) championships from 2008 to 2015, left the club last year after 17 seasons as head coach.
He was recently appointed to coach North Melbourne, where he was due to start work on 1 November.
But North Melbourne said in a statement on Wednesday that Mr Clarkson would delay the start of his tenure to allow time to fully participate in the AFL’s investigation.
One other senior coaching staff member mentioned in the ABC report has yet to respond.
Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves on Wednesday said the allegations were “heartbreaking”, but insisted current players feel “culturally safe”.
“But like so many institutions, I think we have to face our history and our past,” he added.
Asked if the club had a cultural problem, he responded: “I think Australia has a culture problem.”
Several star players from multiple AFL teams have complained of racist abuse from stadium crowds and poor support from club officials in recent years.
Indigenous AFL legend Adam Goodes says years of abuse from rival fans left him “heartbroken” and led to him retiring in 2015.
And a review into a separate Melbourne club – Collingwood – last year found it was guilty of “systemic racism”.
Slots, roulette, and dice games are the focus of a partial gambling restriction that Twitch has announced.
The Amazon-owned live streaming platform will bar videos of gambling sites not licensed in the US or “other jurisdictions that provide sufficient consumer protection”.
The ban includes cryptocurrency gambling sites such as Stake.com, based on the Caribbean island of Curacao.
It will take effect on 18 October 2022.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Twitch said: “While we prohibit sharing links or referral codes to all sites that include slots, roulette or dice games, we’ve seen some people circumvent those rules and expose our community to potential harm.”
Stake.com, Rollbit.com, Duelbits.com, and Roobet.com would be banned – and it may exclude others in the future.
But it would not ban sports betting, fantasy sports such as fantasy football, or poker.
Prominent streamers
At the time of writing, there are more people watching Twitch streamers gambling on virtual slot machines than playing Minecraft – with TwitchTracker estimating slots are the 10th most popular type of content on the platform.
Promoting gambling websites can be particularly lucrative for streamers, with Tyler “Trainwreckstv” Niknam, who has more than 2.1 million followers, claiming one such site gives him more than $1m (£881,000) each month to gamble with.
He has yet to respond to Twitch’s announcement.
Gambling videos have proved contentious on Twitch since they first appeared – but in recent months, prominent streamers have been vocally critical, with some even threatening to organize a strike.
Took action
Devin Nash, who says he left Twitch over its gambling streams, called them “horrible for the platform”.
“Gambling is damaging to young Twitch users, bad for legitimate advertisers, and brings down the quality of thewhole site,” he said in a series of tweets.
Matthew “Mizkif” Rinaudo and Imane “Pokimane” Anys, who have millions of followers between them, were among those discussing ways prominent streamers could temporarily leave the platform for a week this Christmas unless Twitch took action against gambling streams.
And after Twitch announced its ban on certain types of gambling, Pokimane was among those celebrating.
Authorities have reported that a 15-year-old boy who was attacked outside a Huddersfield school is in severe condition atthe hospital.
At 14:45 BST on Wednesday, emergency personnel were summoned to Woodhouse Hill in response to allegations that a youngster had been attacked and critically injured.
The incident happened near the entrance to North Huddersfield Trust School.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said, “inquiries are underway to establish the circumstances”.
The force said a cordon remained in place as investigations were carried out in the area.
At the scene – Andrew Jackson, BBC Yorkshire
At the cordon which stretches across Woodhouse Hill, people approach police officers and quietly ask for information about the condition of the young man.
The scene is just meters away from the end of the drive which takes you to North Huddersfield Trust School, a secondary with about 900 pupils.
Aiden Aslin, a 28-year-old British national who was detained by Russian policeand charged with “mercenary operations,” has been freed.
A Russian stand-in court executed Mr. Aslin for participating in hostilities in Ukraine after he was apprehended in Mariupol in April.
Mr Aslin’s local MP, Robert Jenrick, tweeted: “Aiden’s return brings to an end months of agonizing uncertainty for Aiden’s loving family in Newark who suffered every day of Aiden’s sham trial but never lost hope. As they are united as a family once more, they can finally be at peace”.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed the return of the prisoners of war and said it “brings to an end many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families, at the hands of Russia”.
He added: “Tragically that was not the case for one of those detained and our thoughts remain with the family of Paul Urey”.
Mr Urey died in July after he was charged with committing “mercenary activities” in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine.
Russia claims he died due to “illnesses” and “stress”.
Earlier this month Ukraine’s foreign minister said Russia had returned his body which showed “signs of possible unspeakable torture”.
Five British nationals are among them, with other prisoners from America, Sweden, Croatia, and Morocco.
قامت الجهات المعنية في المملكة باستلامهم ونقلهم من روسيا إلى المملكة، والعمل على تسهيل إجراءات عودتهم إلى بلدانهم؛ وهي الولايات المتحدة والمغرب والمملكة المتحدة والسويد وكرواتيا.#واس
After learning of the diagnosis on Tuesday night, Queen Margrethe II canceled her appointments for this week.
The 82-year-old monarch was one of 2,000 guests who attended Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on Monday.
She is Europe’s longest-serving head of state following the British monarch’s death.
She and Queen Elizabeth were third cousins, both being descended from Queen Victoria.
Queen Margrethe has been vaccinated against Covid and last tested positive in February this year when she presented mild symptoms.
In a statement on the palace website, a spokesperson said she would be recovering at Fredensborg Palace, north of Copenhagen.
Her son and heir, Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife Mary, the Crown Princess, will take her place in hosting members of the government, the Danish parliament, and Danish members of the European Parliament at a reception on Friday in Copenhagen.
In recent days, Queen Margrethe was pictured at several events in London to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
At Westminster Hall on Sunday, on the eve of the late Queen’s funeral, she joined the crown prince to pay her respects at the lying-in-state.
At Westminster Abbey the following day, she sat in the same section as monarchs from other European nations, including King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and King Philippe of Belgium.
In a letter of condolence to King Charles on the death of his mother, she wrote: “She was a towering figure among European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all.”
She became queen in 1972 at the age of 32 after the death of her father, King Frederick IX.
The predicament of the Moroccan guy who was given a death sentence in Ukraine has received little attention says his sister.
A Russian proxy court tried Brahim Saaudun, 21, and two Britons who were arrested while fighting with the Ukrainian army as mercenaries.
The British and Ukrainian governments have condemned the trial but Morocco is yet to comment.
Iman Saaudun told the BBC he had been “left aside” as attention focused on the other men.
“At first, when they captured all of them, then it was like different news about every person,” she told the BBC.
“There wasn’t much attention on my brother… Maybe it’s because of my government, they are not doing much about it, they are literally silent.”
The BBC has contacted the Moroccan government for a response.
Like many countries in Africa and the Middle East, Morocco has avoided taking sides in the conflict in Ukraine, calling instead for a peaceful resolution to the war which started with Russia’s invasion of the country in February this year.
On 13 June, Morocco’s king underlined his country’s “solid friendship” with Russia in a message to President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia’s National Day, without mentioning Mr Saaudun’s case.
He moved to Ukraine to study and received Ukrainian nationality in 2020 after undergoing military training required to access aerospace technology studies at a university in Kyiv, his father Tahar Saaudun said in an email to the Reuters news agency.
IMAGE SOURCE, PA MEDIA Image caption, Brahim (L) moved to Ukraine to study and his friends in Kyiv are campaigning for his release
After his capture alongside Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, all three were tried by a proxy court in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a pro-Russian breakaway region in eastern Ukraine. They were tried as mercenaries rather than being treated as prisoners of war, whose rights are protected under the Geneva Convention.
The court is not recognized internationally, but Russia’s foreign minister has defended the death sentences it gave the men.
Iman said she feared that her brother did not know that people were trying to help him.
“I just want to tell him you’re loved. I just want to tell him, like, things will be OK. Don’t be scared. He’s my little brother. That’s what a big sister should do, but I could not do that. I cannot do that,” she said.
Earlier we reported that 10 foreign prisoners who were caught in Ukraine, were released following mediation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi foreign ministry.
Prime Minister Liz Truss revealed that five Britonsare among those released.
Ms Truss tweeted: “Hugely welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine are being safely returned, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families”.
She thanked Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Saudi Arabia for their efforts to secure their release.
People are out on the streets after Putingave a partial mobilization announcement earlier today, according to Sky news’ Diana Magnay’s reports from the city.
“We haven’t seen protests in cities for the last five or six months, people have been so scared of the fact that they will be detained and that is clearly what is happening.
“But this mobilisation announcement has brought people out onto the streets here in Moscow and in various other cities across the country.
“I’m not saying everybody in this country is against this partial mobilization, I’ve been out on the streets talking to people today and some people, especially the older generation, are saying, ‘this is what we have to do, we have to save the people of Donbas’, and they soak up Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric.
“But there are people here who don’t agree with this, who are worried about this escalation, who don’t want to go and have to fight.
“This is something that the Kremlin has avoided, they have said this entire duration, that they are not considering a partial or full mobilisation, and just two weeks after that counteroffensive, president Putin makes that announcement.”
The pair released a joint statement after meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “They strongly condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and agreed that Putin’s recent calls to mobilise parts of the population were a sign that Russia’s invasion is failing. It is a statement of weakness.”
Earlier today, the Russian president announced a partial military mobilisation, with 300,000 reservists set to be called up as the Kremlin attempts to regain ground in the face of a counter-attack by Ukraine’s forces.
The spokesperson added that Ms Truss and Ms Von der Leyen “underscored their joint commitment to sustaining supportfor Ukraine in its struggle as long as it takes”.
The pair also discussed UK-EU relations including energy, food security, and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
A decision by Vladimir Putinto raise the stakes even higher over Ukraine is a sign that his war is going badly, but it is also a signal that the Russian president cannot give up, writes Sky’s security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes.
A partial mobilization; the holding of referendums to turn four Ukrainian regions “Russian”; and the spectre once more of nuclear confrontation mark a serious moment of escalation and a new test for the Ukrainian government with its Western backers.
It comes in response to a significant counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces over the past three weeks, which has seized back swathes of territory in the northeastern Kharkiv region, forcing Russian troops into retreat and giving the Ukrainian side the momentum.
Analysts have said from the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion that Putin cannot afford to lose this war as it would almost certainly mean the end of his presidency.
But Ukraine has made clear it will not stop fighting until all Ukrainian territory is recaptured, meaning escalation will continue until either side blinks.
It is interesting, therefore, to consider how the position – and risk appetite – of the UK, the US, and other western allies has evolved over the past nearly seven months of the war.
There has been an unwavering desire to support Ukraine, but this support was initially constrained by a desire to avoid giving so much weaponry that it would be seen by Moscow as an escalatory step drawing Russia closer into direct confrontation with the West.
But as the war has drawn on and Russian forces have resorted to exploiting their greater stockpiles of long-range artillery to smash Ukrainian positions, the West’s appetite has grown to gift Ukraine more powerful weapons – such as long-range multiple-launch rocket systems, tanks, and aircraft – regardless of the escalatory potential.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Following Vladimir Putin’s announcementof a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine, a large number of Russians have hurried to reserve one-way tickets out of the country.
The cost of flights scheduled to depart Moscow in the next several days has reportedly increased due to concerns that Russia’s borders may soon close or that a wider call-up may send many Russian men of fighting age to the front lines of the war.
Tickets for the Moscow-Belgrade flights operated by Air Serbia, the only European carrier besides Turkish Airlines to maintain flights to Russia despite a European Union flight embargo, have sold out for the next several days.
The price for flights from Moscow to Istanbul or Dubai increased within minutes before jumping again, reaching 9,200 euros (£8,037) for a one-way economy class fare.
Defense minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised interview that 300,000 reservists with relevant combat and service experience would initially be mobilized.
Up to 50,000 Russians have fled to Serbia since Russia invaded Ukraine and many have opened businesses, especially in the IT sector.
At an event to mark the 1,160th year of Russia’s statehood, he said the country would not lose its sovereignty and would not give in to “blackmail and intimidation”.
Western officials would likely argue that they have not threatened the sovereignty of Russia, and it is instead Moscow that is endangering Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Hours after Mr Putin ordered partial mobilization to boost troops in Ukraine, he also lauded the Russian military.
He claimed it was fighting to save people in Ukraine’s easternDonbas region, where Moscow has alleged Russian citizens are being persecuted.
But Ukraine has forcefully denied the accusations and has aimed to push Russian forces out of its territory.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, he said Russia has made “irresponsible nuclear threats” and that “a nuclear war cannot be won and can never be fought”.
His comments come just hours after Vladimir Putin warned the West he was not bluffing about the potential use of nuclear weapons.
Mr Biden said Russia has “attempted to erase a sovereign state from the map”, adding that the war is about “extinguishing Ukraine’s right to exist as a state, plain and simple”.
“Wherever you are, that should make your blood run cold.”
Since the birth of Andrew (in 1960), when Lady Susan entered the royal household to assist with responding to a steady stream of letters, she had been by the late Queen Elizabeth II’s side. Lady Susan was a member of a small inner circle of ladies-in-waiting. One of the most trusted individuals that aided the Queen in her later years, she is reputedly affectionately referred to as “Number One Head Girl” in the office.
THE QUEEN, WITH LADY SUSAN HUSSEY IN THE STATE BENTLEY, DURING THE CEREMONIAL FUNERAL PROCESSION OF PRINCE PHILIPLEON NEAL / AFP via Getty Images
A Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order – the highest rank personally granted by the sovereign, also bestowed upon the late Prince Philip, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex – Lady Susan is the youngest daughter of the 12th Earl of Waldegrave and the sister of former Tory Cabinet minister, William Waldegrave. As a widow of Marmaduke Hussey, the former chairman of the BBC, she will have been able to relate to the Queen’s loss of a devoted partner.
Close to the Prince of Wales and a godmother to the Duke of Cambridge, photographed with the family at his confirmation, her steady influence has reportedly been felt across generations of the Royal Family. Her exceptional knowledge of the workings of the palace has seen her show newcomers to royal life – including Lady Diana Spencer and the Duchess of Sussex – the ropes. She is said to have recommended Tiggy Legge-Bourke, the nanny of Princes William and Harry, for the job. The late Marmaduke Hussey, who died in 2006, was BBC chairman when Diana, Princess of Wales gave her 1995 Panorama interview.
KING CONSTANTINE, LADY SUSAN HUSSEY, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, THE DUCHESS OF WESTMINSTER, LORD ROMSEY, PRINCE HARRY, PRINCESS DIANA, PRINCE WILLIAM, PRINCE CHARLES AND THE QUEEN AFTER THE CONFIRMATION OF PRINCE WILLIAM, 1997
While her presence has largely been unremarked upon, aside from on Saturday’s outing as a confidante of the Queen, she has often been present through all aspects of Royal Life.
From accompanying Pippa Middleton to church at Sandringham in 2017 to being the friendly face greeting incoming and outgoing Prime Ministers during their trips to the palace. As a part of the royal household since 1960, she is a regular in the Court Circular, often representing the Queen at funerals and events when the monarch has obligations elsewhere.
On top of her Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, which she was awarded in the Queen’s 2013 Birthday Honours, she has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Version of the Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal with 30, 40, 50 and 60-year bars.
Like other ladies-in-waiting, she is not paid for the role and continues to serve out of personal loyalty to the Queen.
THE QUEEN ACCOMPANIED BY HER LADY-IN-WAITING LADY SUSAN HUSSEY DEPARTING AFTER ATTENDING THE GOLD SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS CEREMONY FROM CLARIDGE’S, 2016Max Mumby / Indigo / Getty Images
Adrien Quatennens of France Unbowed (LFI) resigned from his position as party coordinator on Sunday after admitting to assaulting his wife.
After being accused of psychologically abusing his ex-partner, Green MP Julien Bayou was relegated to co-leader of his party’s parliamentary caucus and suspended a few days later.
The charges are being looked into by his party.
The left-wing alliance has been accused of “total hypocrisy” by the far-right National Rally (RN) for its stance on gender-based violence.
The two parties form part of an alliance of far-left, left, and green parties which came together to form the New Ecological and Social Popular Union (Nupes) and secured more than a quarter of the votes in June’s parliamentary elections, depriving President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government of its majority in the National Assembly.
Mr Mélenchon’s response to the allegations against his colleague has sparked anger. He saluted the “dignity and courage” of Mr Quatennens in a social media post on Sunday, saying the MP had his “confidence and affection”. Only later did he expressly acknowledge the experiences of his wife, saying in a subsequent post that a slap was unacceptable in all cases.
The allegations against Mr Bayou first emerged in July, but he was only suspended from his leadership role in the Greens after his party colleague Sandrine Rousseau was asked about them in a television appearance on Monday. Women’s rights activists had taken to Twitter to demand that action be taken.
She said Mr Bayou’s ex-partner had been very depressed and referred to behavior that would be likely to “break” the mental health of a woman.
Another Green MP, Sandra Regol, said it had been a collective decision by the party in response to “legitimate questions” from women, feminists, and victims.
Both parties came under fire from their political opponents. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said in response to Mr Mélenchon’s comments that it was “extremely shocking” to have someone minimizing domestic violence, while Jordan Bardella of the far-right RN criticized the left for “setting itself up as a model of virtue” while being caught up in such allegations.
IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS Image caption, Julien Bayou has stepped back from his leadership role within the French Greens
Under a significant government support programme, energy bills for UK firmswill be reduced by around half this winter from their anticipated level.
In an effort to prevent businesses experiencing skyrocketing costs from going out of business, the programme will stabilize gas and electricity prices for businesses for six months starting on October 1.
According to the administration, hospitals, schools, and charities would also receive assistance.
It follows the announcement by ministers of a £150 billion plan to assist homeowners with their skyrocketing costs for two years.
Industry groups welcomed the package but warned further support may be needed after the winter.
It is understood the scheme will be reviewed after three months with an option to extend support for “vulnerable businesses” – but it is not known what sectors come under the category.
Wholesale prices are expected to be fixed for all non-domestic energy customers at £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas.
Companies do not need to contact suppliers as the discount will automatically be applied to bills, with savings seen from October but received from November.
Independent analysts Cornwall Insight said the support was “substantial”, representing a 45% discount on wholesale energy prices at the end of last week.
“The support effectively reverts the market back to where it was price-wise in the Spring of 2022,” said Robert Buckley, its head of relationship development.
Prime Minister Liz Truss said the government understood the “huge pressure businesses, charities, and public sector organizations are facing with their energy bills”.
“As we are doing for consumers, our new scheme will keep their energy bills down from October, providing certainty and peace of mind,” she said.
“At the same time, we are boosting Britain’s homegrown energy supply so we fix the root cause of the issues we are facing and ensure greater energy security for us all.”
The support will apply to all non-domestic energy customers in England, Scotland and Wales. A parallel scheme, based on the same criteria and offering comparable support, will be established in Northern Ireland.
Officials have not said how much the package will cost the taxpayer, as it will depend on what happens to wholesale market prices between October and April when the support expires.
However, Cornwall Insight estimates the cost at around £25bn.
IMAGE SOURCE, MONTY RAKUSEN Image caption, Steel manufacturing requires a lot of energy
Energy-intensive industries such as steel manufacturers have raised concerns about their energy costs, which have surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Unlike households, businesses are not covered by an energy price cap, which is the maximum amount a supplier can charge per unit of energy. It means non-domestic bills have soared even higher.
The government announced earlier this month that household bills would be limited to £2,500 annually until 2024 under a separate scheme.
The government also said it would provide an additional £100 payment to households not able to receive support for their heating costs, such as those not served by the gas grid.
The big problem with this support for business is its shelf life. Few businesses plan with only a six-month time horizon and there will be some whose plans to cut production, close premises, and let staff go will not change as a result of this intervention.
But many others – particularly those in retail and hospitality – may see this as giving them a fighting chance over the commercially crucial Christmas trading period.
The government has thrown an emergency blanket over the economy this winter, but longer-term, more fundamental reform to the energy supply market, its pricing, and mechanics will be needed.
Developing more cheap renewables, securing foreign supplies of liquid gas, drilling for more domestic fossil fuels, breaking the link between gas prices and electricity, and pushing ahead with hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and small and large-scale nuclear have been part of the government’s plan for nearly two years.
What’s new is the pressure applied by Vladimir Putin to do it as fast as possible.
‘Welcome but more to be done’
Stephen Phipson of Make UK, which represents UK manufacturers, said businesses would “warmly welcome” the government support.
“Government has delivered a scheme which is simple to understand, giving reassurance to the business sector and making immediately available the much-needed help companies have been calling for across the board at a time energy costs were spiraling out of control.”
However, Mr Phipson warned that energy prices were likely to remain high for more than the six-month duration of the scheme and firms may need “support for a longer period if we are to protect jobs and remain competitive”.
Director General of UK Steel, Gareth Stace, said the price cap would give steel makers “the chance to get through the winter”. But he called on the government to “rapidly reform the energy market to ensure longer-term competitive prices beyond the current price”.
Smaller businesses have also been struggling with rising bills, with brewery bosses warningpubs and restaurants across the UK will be forced to close due to energy costs soaring by as much as 300%.
A landlord of one pub in Essex told the BBC his energy bill had risen from about £13,000 a year to £35,000.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said the industry was “relieved” by the support ahead of the busy Christmas trading period.
“The inclusiveness of the support announced today – covering businesses small and large – will be extremely beneficial to the sector… A sector that provides a huge number of jobs, many of which are now more secure.”
President Vladimir Putinissued an order to mobilize soldiers, stepping up Moscow’s apparent military operation in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a “partial mobilization” that would call up 300,000 Russian citizens who were in the military reserves to serve in Ukraine.
The incident came a day after a series of synchronized actions towards annexation referendums in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, and it signaled a dramatic uptick in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
Putin spoke in Russian in the televised address. The quotes below have been translated into English.
Partial mobilization
“In such a situation, I consider it necessary to make the following decision, which is fully appropriate to threats we face. Namely, in order to protect our motherland, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and to ensure the safety of our people and people in the liberated territories, I consider it necessary to support the proposal of the defense ministry and the General Staff to conduct a partial mobilization in the Russian Federation.”
“We are talking about partial mobilization. That is, only citizens who are currently in the reserves and, above all, those who have served in the armed forces, have military skills and relevant experience. Only they will be subject to conscription.”
Fighting the West
“Today our armed forces are operating across a front line that exceeds 1,000 km, opposing not only neo-Nazi formations but the entire military machine of the collective West.”
“NATO is conducting reconnaissance across the south of Russia. Washington, London, and Brussels are directly pushing Kyiv to move military action to our country. They are openly saying that Russia should be defeated on the battlefield by any means.”
Nuclear weapons
“Nuclear blackmail has also been used. We are talking not only about the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – encouraged by the West – which threatens to cause a nuclear catastrophe but also about statements from senior representatives of NATO countries about the possibility and permissibility of using weapons of mass destruction against Russia: nuclear weapons.
“I would like to remind those who make such statements about Russia that our country also possesses various means of destruction, and in some cases, they are more modern than those of NATO countries. When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we, of course, will use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people.
“This is not a bluff. And those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the weathervane can turn and point towards them.”
“Citizens of Russia can be convinced that our territorial independence and freedom will be provided, and I emphasize this one more time, with all means that we have at our disposal.”
Referendums
“Parliaments in the People’s Republics of the Donbas as well as the civil-military administrations in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions have decided to hold referendums on the future of the territories and have appealed to Russia to support such a step. We will do everything to ensure safe conditions to hold the referendums so that people can express their will.
“We will support the decision on their future, which will be made by the majority of residents in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.”
West trying to ‘destroy’ Russia
“In its aggressive anti-Russian policy, the West has crossed every line. We constantly hear threats against our country and our people.”
“The purpose of this West is to weaken, divide and ultimately destroy our country. They are already saying that in 1991 they were able to break up the Soviet Union, and now the time has come for Russia itself that it should disintegrate. And they have been planning it for a long time.”
“The West is not interested in a peaceful solution and making compromises; they just want to break all negotiations.”
In an ancient Israelite burial site, there was proof of the drug opium’s use as early as 5,000 years ago.
Archaeologists found traces in pottery containers at the compound in Yehud, which is located roughly 11 kilometers (7 miles) southeast of Tel Aviv.
The containers, which, according to them, date back 3,400 years, were reportedly utilized in traditional local burial practices.
The site was used by inhabitants during the period when the land was known as Canaan.
The vessels had been unearthed in 2012 when the site was excavated by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), but the latest findings are the result of a new study by the IAA, Tel Aviv University, and The Weizmann Institute of Science.
It is believed the opium was grown in what is modern-day Turkey and brought to Yehud via Cyprus. The receptacles themselves were made in Cyprus, the report says. Described as Base-Ring juglets, they were part of a number of pottery vessels thought to have been given to accompany the dead into the afterlife.
They are shaped like inverted closed poppy flowers, which had long ago given rise to the hypothesis that such vessels were used in rituals for the drug. The discovery at Tel Yehud marks the first time actual traces have been found in this type of jug.
“It may be that during these ceremonies, conducted by family members or by a priest on their behalf, participants attempted to raise the spirits of their dead relatives in order to express a request, and would enter an ecstatic state by using opium,” said Dr Ron Beeri of the IAA.
“Alternatively, it is possible that the opium, which was placed next to the body, was intended to help the person’s spirit rise from the grave in preparation for the meeting with their relatives in the next life.”
Two years ago, researchers identified as cannabis a substance found in a 2,700-year-old temple in Tel Arad in south-east Israel. They said it might have been used in religious rituals by ancient Israelites.
The affected workers will be consulted, and Buckingham Palace said it hopes that life in the Household may carry on largely unaltered under the new monarch.
Staff who assisted the late Queen personally have been informed that some of their careers may be in jeopardy under King Charles III.
The letter, from Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, says: “I am sure you can appreciate that these are sensitive and challenging times.”
He adds that work is underway to support staff and ensure there are “good communications” over the coming weeks.
The letter says: “Consistent with continuity, the approach on Accession is essential that the requirements and the purpose of the Household continue unchanged following demise.
“While it is too early to confirm the position definitively, it is anticipated that only a very small minority of employees (fewer than 20) who provided personal services to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth will see their posts affected by Her Majesty’s death.
“We will be consulting with you and those affected in relation to these anticipated changes after the State Funeral. Those affected are being written to.”
Last week it was disclosed that up to 100 employees at the King’s former official residence, Clarence House, had been notified that they could lose their jobs.
Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents a number of employees in the royal households, said staff had worked for the Queen for a number of years and felt “let down” after receiving the letter.
“Our members are disappointed and saddened by this development,” he said.
Meetings are being held with those affected and staff is being told they can contact Employee Assistance providers in the coming weeks.
The contentious Northern Ireland protocol will be covered at a postponed meeting between the US presidentand the prime minister on Wednesday in New York.
The Northern Ireland Protocol must be resolved by negotiation, Joe Biden will say to Liz Truss when they meet later today, according to the White House.
In a meeting on Tuesday, Ms. Truss declined to discuss the protocol with French President Emmanuel Macron, and No. 10 did not indicate whether she will bring it up with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
But US national security adviser Jake Sullivan made it clear President Biden will discuss it “in some detail” with Ms Truss.
Mr Sullivan told reporters the president “will encourage the UK and the European Union to work out an effective outcome that ensures there is no threat to the fundamental principles of the Good Friday Agreement”.
“And he will speak in some detail to her about that,” he added.
The adviser said Mr Biden will “communicate his strong view that the Good Friday Agreement – which is the touchstone of peace and stability in Northern Ireland – must be protected.
“And we must collectively take steps – the US, the UK, the parties in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland – to ensure that it is protected,” he added.
Unilateral action
The UK and EU remain in dispute over the trading arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the UK insisting physical checks on farm produce and other goods are removed.
The UK has insisted it will act unilaterally if a solution cannot be found and has drawn up legislation to enable the UK to tear up part of the protocol – the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.
The EU and other critics say it will breach international law by effectively ditching key parts of the Brexit deal signed by Boris Johnson and the EU in 2019.
The bill was tabled by Ms Truss this summer and is expected to reach the Lords in mid-October, and threatens to further escalate tensions between the EU and potentially the US as well.
Mr Biden, who has Irish heritage, has previously raised concerns about Brexit’s threat to the peace process.
Lord Darroch, who served as the UK ambassador to the US under Ms Truss’ three predecessors, told Sky News it is “stone cold certain” that the lack of progress in striking a free trade deal with the US is related to that.
He said: “The Democrat administration has made this clear in briefings, there is going to be no trade deal unless wecan sort out the protocol in a way that the EU and particularly the Irish government is happywith, and no unilateral rewriting of it.”
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, he said there are “clearly tensions under the surface” – pointing to both the protocol bill and President Biden’s recent comments about “trickle-down economics”.
Sky News has reported that cannabis candies marketed and promoted on social media platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok are packaged to resemble packages of Haribo and Skittles.
On Telegram, one dealer is promoting a variety of cannabis candies in colorful packages with false branding.
At least six children have been sent to the hospital aftereating cannabis sweets, according to the police, who claim that the packaging makes them appealing to kids. One kid was only eight years old.
There are also concerns that drugs are used to lure children into trafficking drugs by county lines gangs, which are based in big cities but use youngsters to deliver and sell drugs to users in towns and rural areas. Police in the east of England said that a third of people arrested in relation to cannabis edibles are under the age of 18.
The sweets are routinely promoted and sold alongside class A drugs including heroin, cocaine, and LSD, as well as large quantities of marijuana.
Image: One Telegram channel posted images of large bags of marijuana above boxes of gummies, as well as sheets of the Class A drug LSD
Sky News found dealers are operating openly on the five most popular social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Snapchat. They are also using the messaging services Whatsapp and Telegram, and the latter is the most popular platform for dealers to provide prices and initiate sales.
The story came to light after a dealer added a Sky News journalist on Instagram to anaccount selling cannabis sweets.
The sweets are known as gummies and have no connection to the legitimate brands named on some of the packagings.
Some dealers are adding illegal substances to the sweets themselves
Some products using CBD, a chemical found in cannabis, are on sale legitimately in shops across the country, but these sweets are illegal and contain high levels of THC – which is the chemical that gives a user a high.
Many appear to have been brought into the UK from California, where drug laws are different.
Ordering in bulk is encouraged, and dealers offer discounts on big orders of gummies and harder drugs.
Image: This seller is advertising class A drugs like heroin and offering bulk discounts on other hard drugs, while also offering ‘gummies’ elsewhere in the channel. The chat appears under searches for ‘uk gummies’. Pic: Telegram
Searching on Telegram for the word “gummies” brings up many groups where the sweets can be bought for just £5. One group has 62,000 subscribers and two others have almost 30,000 and 16,000 subscribers each.
Typing in the word “edibles” on the Facebook marketplace in the UK resulted brought up items containing drugs. Around a third of the first 40 results were advertised as containing cannabis.
Those looking for “gummies uk” on TikTok were shown results mostly showing legal sweets but the app offers suggestions that point users to sweets offered by dealers.
These suggestions include searching “how to get ediblegummies uk” and “telegrampluguk” (plug being a term for a dealer or someone who can connect you to a dealer) and “gummies with htc uk” (htc being a spelling variation of THC).
Image: TikTok’s suggested searches pointed users to other drug content. Pic: TikTok
A network of dealers appears to be operating on some of the social sites. For example on Instagram, looking at the accounts following or being followed by a seller leads you to discover more sellers.
Cannabis sweets are a problem for police forces across the UK. Almost all police forces in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have had an issue with the sweets in their area, and 80% issued a statement or confirmed this to Sky News.
Image: One dealer’s Instagram page
The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) has a unit that manages the threat of serious and organized crime across eastern England and covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, and Essex.
Intelligence from ERSOU shared with Sky News suggests boys and girls under 18 are consuming cannabis edibles, primarily those of secondary school age.
A third of those arrested in relation to cannabis edibles in the eastern region are under the age of 18.
Image: The likeness of some big name brands are used by dealers to market their edibles
Detective Chief Inspector Rob Burns, from ERSOU, says that cannabis edibles are illegal and have side effects, such as loss of consciousness.
He said: “The way they are branded to look like sweets suggests they are being marketed at children, but worryingly also means that they could easily fall into the wrong hands.
“We also know that gangs involved in county lines will use an array of tactics to target vulnerable young people, and reporting suggests social media is used to advertise the sale of cannabis edibles, potentially to appeal to younger people who are using multiple social media platforms.”
He added that anyone with information on the sale of these items or who thinks a child is being exploited to sell them should contact the police.
The social media companies mentioned in this article all told Sky News they have strict policies prohibiting the buying or selling of any drugs, including sweets containing THC. They say they actively monitor this issue on their platforms using a mix of both technology and humans to review content.
Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp,said it removed 98% of this content proactively in the last quarter and that it was working with the police and youth organizations to improve their moderation.
Image: Accounts selling gummies were also found on Twitter
Most of the accounts and search terms flagged during the Sky News investigation have now been banned.
The companies behind the sweets and snacks whose branding is copied by drug makers have previously spoken out against the look-a-like packaging, and some took legal action.
Sky News has blurred the names of accounts to avoid giving publicity to the sellers.
