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Iran: deadly crush at Qassem Suleimani burial procession - latest updates Mourners are crushed in city of Kerman during procession for general killed by US drone strikeFull report: dozens dead in crush at Suleimani processionFuture of US military presence in Iraq in doubtNato chief holds back from endorsing Suleimani killing 11.39am GMTThe killing of Suleimani by the United States was an act of state terrorism and Iran will respond proportionately, Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has told CNN. He said: “This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionately.” “He has no respect for international law. That he is prepared to commit war crimes, because attacking ...

Teenager admits killing PC Andrew Harper Henry Long, 18, denies murdering officer in August last year but admits manslaughterA teenager has admitted killing a Thames Valley police officer.Newlywed Andrew Harper, 28, died from multiple injuries after being dragged under a van on 15 August last year. The Thames Valley police officer had been on duty when he was killed near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour leadership: Long Bailey adopts pro-immigration stance in first campaign interview - live news Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happenLong Bailey defends Corbyn’s legacy as she launches leadership bidLong Bailey’s Today interview - Summary 11.38am GMTLast night the Labour MP Alison McGovern posted this on Twitter.Message to all who would lead Labour. Define yourself by what you believe, not what you reject in others. Find what is good about progressive politics, and show us how you would win over the sceptic. I don't care what you think about the past. I want to win our country's future.For the last four years hard right wingers like you have undermined the Labour Party at every turn.The Labour right wing lost Labour the 2017 and 201...

Cyprus rape case: British teenager given suspended sentence Nineteen-year-old woman convicted of lying will not go to prison and can return to UKA British teenager who was convicted of lying about being gang-raped has been sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for three years. She was also fined €140 (£119) but is free to return home.The 19-year-old student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was ruled to have “wilfully indulged in public mischief” by claiming she was raped by a group of male Israeli tourists while on holiday in Ayia Napa last July. Continue reading... Go to Source

China mystery illness: travellers checked as officials fear lunar new year could spread bug Pneumonia-like illness in Wuhan is unclear in origin, with officials racing to contain outbreak before people travel for new yearChina has been battling what may be a new strain of pneumonia after 59 people contracted a mysterious respiratory illness in central China, prompting fears of another Sars outbreak.Health officials are worried about the upcoming Spring Festival in late January, when China celebrates lunar new year and millions of people will be travelling across the country to go home. Authorities have warned citizens to be on the lookout for symptoms like fever, difficulty breathing or body ache. Continue reading... Go to Source

Future of US military presence in Iraq in question amid confusion in Washington US letter said troops would begin ‘onward movement’ from Iraq, but defense secretary insists no decision was made to evacuate The future of the US military presence in Iraq is in question amid scenes of confusion in Washington, as the Trump administration scrambled to respond to Iraqi demands for the troops to leave after last week’s assassination in Baghdad of Iran’s top general, Qassem Suleimani.The US-led coalition taskforce fighting Isis in Iraq delivered a letter to the Iraqi defence ministry on Monday saying preparations would begin right away “to ensure that movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Rebecca Long Bailey launches Labour leadership bid Shadow business secretary secretary criticises the party’s strategy in last month’s disastrous electionRebecca Long Bailey has announced that she is standing to become leader of the Labour party with a stout defence of Jeremy Corbyn’s political programme in the general election.Widely seen as the favoured candidate of the left of the party, the MP for Salford and Eccles announced her candidacy on Monday night with a piece criticising the party’s election strategy and lack of narrative. She promised to defend policies within the party’s current socialist programme with “unwavering determination” in the article for Tribune magazine. Continue reading... Go to Source

Reynhard Sinaga jailed for life for raping dozens of men in Manchester Reynhard Sinaga is believed to have lured nearly 200 victims to his flat and attacked themReynhard Sinaga: the ‘Peter Pan’ student who raped scores of menHow serial rapist posed as a good samaritan to lure victimsA man described as “Britain’s most prolific rapist” will never be safe to be released, a court has heard, as he was jailed for a minimum of 30 years after being found guilty of raping or sexually assaulting 48 young men in Manchester. Reynhard Sinaga, 36, a mature student from Indonesia, is thought by police to have abused at least 195 men over two-and-a-half years after luring them to his flat under the guise of being a “good samaritan”, drugging his victims and t...

Labour supporters given 48 hours to sign up for leadership vote New leader and deputy leader will be announced at special conference on 4 AprilLabour leadership – live updatesLabour’s new leader and deputy leader will be announced at a special conference on 4 April, with prospective supporters given a 48-hour window next week to sign up if they want to have their say.The party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) decided at a three-hour meeting on Monday that the framework for the contest would stick closely to that set out in the party’s rulebook. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK would not back US bombing of Iran cultural sites – No 10 Downing Street says such military action would break international treaties in implicit rebuke to TrumpUK politics latest – live updatesDowning Street has said targeting cultural sites in Iran would breach international warfare conventions in an implicit rebuke to Donald Trump for threatening to bomb protected heritage sites.Boris Johnson’s official spokesman refused to criticise Trump directly but made clear the UK government would not support such a course of action, after the US president said he could target 52 Iranian sites if Iran retaliated over the assassination of Qassem Suleimani – “some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture”. Continue reading... Go to Sour...

Northern Ireland firms could seek £100m Brexit compensation Business leaders say they should not have to pay extra costs due to policy ‘people here did not vote for’Politics latest – liveBoris Johnson is facing demands for cash compensation that could run to more than £100m for any disruption caused by Brexit to Northern Ireland’s businesses.Leading entrepreneurs who met political leaders in a local summit on Friday, fear the trade barrier down the Irish Sea will mean higher costs for consumers and businesses. Continue reading... Go to Source

Protesters in London call for Cyprus boycott on eve of sentencing Activists shout ‘we believe her’ in solidarity with woman convicted of lying about rapeProtesters gathered outside the Cypriot high commission before marching through London chanting “we believe her”, on the eve of the sentencing of a 19-year-old woman convicted of lying about being gang-raped in Ayia Napa.A judge last week ruled the teenager from Derbyshire wilfully indulged in public mischief in claiming she was raped by a group of 12 Israelis over the summer, then retracting her allegations 10 days later. Continue reading... Go to Source

Iran mourns Suleimani as fallout intensifies over US strike - live updates Follow the latest developments as huge crowds pack streets of Tehran in memory of Iranian general 11.54am GMTDowning Street has insisted Britain’s security partnership with the US remains “very close” despite Donald Trump not informing the UK of its plans to assassinate Suleimani, PA reports. The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We have a very close security partnership with the United States, we are in regular dialogue at every level.” “States have a right to take action such as this in self defence and the US have been clear that Suleimani was plotting imminent attacks on American diplomats and military personnel.” 11.32am GMTThe scale of the crowds m...

Labour leadership: Jess Phillips clarifies Brexit stance, saying party won't back rejoin at next election - live news Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen 10.46am GMTThis is from ITV’s Paul Brand.Labour's NEC meets at 12 to decide leadership rules:- Rebecca Long-Bailey not taking her seat on NEC to keep powder dry, confirming she intends to stand- Which also begs Q... will Ian Lavery go?- NEC insiders tell me they have one line agenda, nobody knows how long it'll last 10.37am GMTThese are from Alice Perry, a local government representative on Labour’s national executive committee. One of the key issues to be decided at today’s NEC meeting is what the arrangements will be for registered supporters to vote in the leadership contest....

Suleimani killing: Donald Trump defends threat to hit cultural sites in Iran US president a vows ‘major retaliation’ if Tehran takes revenge over US killing of General Qassem SuleimaniDonald Trump has defended his threat to target Iranian cultural sites – widely seen as a war crime – if Tehran retaliates for the killing of General Qassem Suleimani.On bellicose form, the US president also lashed out at Iraq following its parliament’s demand for American troops to be expelled from that country, and vowed to respond with crippling sanctions. Continue reading... Go to Source

Top FTSE bosses paid typical worker's annual salary in just 33 hours High Pay Centre figures should be ‘source of national shame’, say unionsSenior executives in the UK’s top 100 companies took just 33 hours to be paid more than the typical worker’s annual salary, according to data that unions say should be a “source of national shame”.Figures released by the High Pay Centre thinktank showed that the typical FTSE 100 chief executive is paid 117 times more than the median worker, at £901.30 an hour or £3.46m a year. Continue reading... Go to Source

Golden Globes 2020: 1917 and Fleabag lead British invasion with major wins The first big awards show of the year saw British victories across the board, including for Olivia Colman, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sam MendesIt was a night of stratospherically high star-wattage – Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Elton John, the list goes on – and big wins for British productions at the 77th Golden Globes, a night overstuffed with largely unsurprising awards, host Ricky Gervais’s apathy toward award shows, and calls to vote in 2020. Related: Ricky Gervais targets Apple, Epstein and Cats in Golden Globes monologue Continue reading... Go to Source

Anti-abortion activists increasingly targeting UK university students NUS reports rise in anti-abortion societies in students’ unions and demonstrations nationwideAnti-abortion campaigners are increasingly targeting students at UK universities, where there has been a rise in the number of anti-abortion societies on campus and demonstrations by outside groups displaying graphic imagery.The campaign has gathered momentum on the back of a continuing debate about freedom of speech in universities. Some student unions have been threatened with legal action if they attempt to prevent anti-abortion groups opening on campus. Continue reading... Go to Source

Pompeo scrambles to defend Trump claim killing Suleimani will save US lives Secretary of state attempts to defend legality of air strikePete Buttigieg: ‘Pompeo did not prove strike prevented attack’The Trump administration was scrambling on Sunday to justify its claim that the killing of Iran’s most powerful general was about stopping a war rather than starting one, as tensions spiralled by the hour. Related: Trump vows to hit 52 sites 'very hard' if Iran retaliates over Suleimani killing Continue reading... Go to Source

Anti-Isis coalition suspends operations as Iraqi MPs vote to expel US troops Group to focus on protecting its forces after US killing of Iranian general Qassem SuleimaniThe international coalition fighting Islamic State has suspended operations against the terrorist group so its forces can concentrate on protecting US, UK and other troops at bases in Iraq following the killing of Qassem Suleimani.The announcement came minutes before the Iraqi parliament passed a motion calling for the expulsion of US troops, in the aftermath of the assassination by the US of the Iranian general and the leader of Iraq’s Hezbollah militia outside Baghdad airport on Friday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump vows to hit 52 sites 'very hard' if Iran retaliates for Suleimani killing As general’s body is returned to Iran, president says targets represent the 52 US hostages taken by Iran in 1979 Donald Trump has threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets in retaliation for the drone strike that killed the Iranian military commander Qassem Suleimani and an Iraqi militia leader.The US president made the threat in a tweet hours before Suleimani’s body arrived in Iran for burial and ramifications of the killings were reverberating across a nervous region, where many believe the aftermath could spark a new era of bloodletting and instability. Continue reading... Go to Source

Britain 'on same page' as US over Suleimani killing, says Raab Foreign secretary says UK sympathetic to Washington and focused on restoring calmDominic Raab has said Britain is “on the same page” as the US in relation to Friday’s assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.Amid continuing questions about the legal justification for US actions, Raab said the UK government was “sympathetic” to Washington’s situation. Continue reading... Go to Source

Making of a martyr: how Qassem Suleimani was hunted down The drone strike on Iran’s enforcer could radically transform the Middle EastFor Qassem Suleimani, the 62-year-old head of Iran’s Quds Force, and one of the most powerful men in the Middle East, the short flight from Damascus to Baghdad late on Thursday was routine. Travelling by private charter, the architect of Tehran’s strategic efforts from Lebanon through Syria and Iraq to Yemen would have avoided all formalities at one of the world’s most securely guarded airports.As his plane touched down just after midnight on Friday morning after reportedly disappearing from commercial flight trackers shortly before landing, two cars were waiting to greet the burly general at the aircraft steps. Continue reading....

Labour leadership: Jess Phillips says party could argue to rejoin EU Birmingham Yardley MP opens up divide with fellow contender Keir Starmer, who wants party to move onThe Labour leadership contender Jess Phillips has said she would be prepared to argue for Britain to re-enter the European Union at the next general election, opening a divide with the shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, who has insisted Labour must move on.Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill cleared its first parliamentary hurdle before Christmas, and the prime minister is expected to use his comfortable majority to carry it through parliament in time for Britain to leave the EU at the end of this month. Continue reading... Go to Source

Rebel alliance ready to put a halt to the ‘disneyfication’ of Edinburgh Some residents fear the city’s public spaces are being sacrificed to tourismFor 800 years or so the castle that keeps watch above Scotland’s capital has borne witness to the bloody rise and fall of kingdoms and nations. Now, the war is one of ideas, with Edinburgh’s eternal soul on the line.On one side is Underbelly, the London events company which claims to have taken Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations to another level. It is backed by a city council which has gleefully watched the numbers rise in those indexes that confer tourism superstardom: unique-users, profits and exposure. Continue reading... Go to Source

Doubts grow over US case for Suleimani assassination as Iran urges revenge Rockets crash close to US embassy compound in Baghdad while huge crowds mourn Iranian generalHuge crowds joined funeral processions for Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad and Tehran on Saturday as calls to avenge the Iranian general’s death mounted and the US case for ordering his assassination was increasingly called into question. Related: After Suleimani, Iran will hit back hard – possibly on multiple fronts Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson’s silence on Suleimani assassination is ‘deafening’ say critics Politicians attack the prime minister for not addressing the Middle East crisis from his holiday on MustiqueBoris Johnson was facing growing criticism on Saturday night for failing to cut short his Caribbean holiday as the Middle East faced one of the gravest crises since the Iraq war in 2003. Related: I have no confidence Boris Johnson will keep us out of a quagmire in Iran Continue reading... Go to Source

Qassem Suleimani: tears mix with vows of vengeance at Iranian general's funeral Mourners weep and beat chests as coffins of those killed in US drone strike pass through BaghdadIn a wide Baghdad street shaded by tall eucalyptus trees, thousands of weeping, chanting mourners thronged pick-up trucks and ambulances bearing the coffins of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and his close Iraqi associates, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and others, killed in a US drone strike that threatens to remake the region.Grief mingled with rage in the crowd, borne along by chants of “Oh Suleimani your blood won’t be shed in vain”, and the rhythms of a slow funeral march struck by a military band. An honour guard in long red tunics and white pith helmets escorted the dead; beyond them thousa...

Pompeo: European response to Suleimani killing 'not helpful enough' US secretary of state unfavourably compares European reaction with ‘partners in the region’Mike Pompeo has expressed disappointment with European reaction to the US killing of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, suggesting that the UK, France and Germany had not been sufficiently supportive.The US secretary of state compared the European response unfavourably with US “partners in the region”, a likely reference to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which Pompeo had consulted after the Suleimani assassination. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump campaigns with patriotism after airstrike – but election is still far off Killing of Suleimani will help Trump among his supporters, but it could hurt him at the ballot box after promises of ‘America first’America’s long, grim line of assassination attempts“We have God on our side.” They have long been some of the most chilling words in the English language. Perhaps never more so than when uttered by Donald Trump in a re-election campaign.The president made the claim at an Evangelicals for Trump rally at a megachurch in Miami on Friday night, a day after taking America to the brink of war with the killing in Baghdad of Qassem Suleimani, Iran’s top general and potential future leader. Continue reading... Go to Source