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Malta gets new PM after Muscat departs over Daphne Caruana Galizia murder Robert Abela elected as Labour leader after PM Joseph Muscat resigned amid controversy surrounding investigation of journalist’s deathOutsider Robert Abela is set to become Malta’s new prime minister after the downfall of previous leader Joseph Muscat over the investigation into the murder of an investigative journalist.Abela, who is seen as representing continuity, was elected leader of the Labour party on Sunday, meaning he automatically takes the role of prime minister. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour leadership: Keir Starmer slams free market as divisions grow on left Party should not ‘trash’ the Corbyn years, says Labour leadership favouriteKeir Starmer appealed to the Labour left to back his bid for the leadership on Saturday as he denounced the “free-market model” as a failure and backed higher taxes on the wealthiest to pay for better public services. Related: Keir Starmer’s team are confident – but expect a rival’s surge Continue reading... Go to Source

UK weather: warnings for gales and large waves as Storm Brendan sweeps in Seafronts may take a battering and travel disruption is predicted, with winds reaching up to 80mphStrong gales of up to 80mph are set to sweep across parts of the UK on Monday.The Met Office has warned coastal routes and communities could be particularly affected by Storm Brendan as large waves batter seafronts. Continue reading... Go to Source

Iran's admission of guilt over plane crash sparks unrest in Tehran Protesters speak out against supreme leader in response to deaths of Iranians in disasterIran’s embattled regime was shaken by a wave of international condemnation and domestic criticism on Saturday night after admitting its forces shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane with 176 people on board and lied in a bid to cover up its role in the tragedy.Facing possibly the biggest crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution, senior clerical, political and military leaders scrambled to contain the fallout from what President Hassan Rouhani termed a “disastrous mistake”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Harry and Meghan: Queen calls senior royals to crisis summit The Queen, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex to meet at Sandringham on MondayThe Queen has summoned senior royals to an emergency summit at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Monday to discuss the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.The meeting, to be attended by the Queen, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex, will be the first time the four have met since the Sussex crisis exploded on Wednesday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Keir Starmer slams free market as divisions grow on left Party should not ‘trash’ the Corbyn years, says Labour leadership favouriteKeir Starmer appealed to the Labour left to back his bid for the leadership on Saturday as he denounced the “free-market model” as a failure and backed higher taxes on the wealthiest to pay for better public services. Related: Keir Starmer’s team are confident – but expect a rival’s surge Continue reading... Go to Source

Revealed: 10,000 child refugees risked their lives to enter Britain The vast majority of arrivals hid illegally in lorries rather than using safe schemes backed by governmentMore than 10,000 unaccompanied children are believed to have entered the UK over the past decade using dangerous methods such as hiding in the back of a lorry according to new analysis that raises fresh scrutiny over the Home Office’s approach towards helping young refugees.Although the Home Office cites the volume of arrivals as proof of its compassion, lawyers accuse it of being disingenuous and say that in reality 90% of the minors have illegally entered the UK and done so by risking their lives. Continue reading... Go to Source

Keir Starmer: Labour has a mountain to climb to win back power Shadow Brexit secretary formally launches Labour leadership campaign with call for unitySir Keir Starmer has called on Labour members to end factionalism and promote a unity, as he formally launched his leadership campaign at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester on Saturday afternoon.Speaking at the birthplace of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Starmer said: “We need to fight to regain our heartland seats, not just those lost in this election but the ones lost in previous elections. But we have got do more than that because if we just re-win our heartland seats we will lose the next election. Continue reading... Go to Source

Extinction Rebellion could sue police over extremist ideology listing Group threatens action after being named in guide designed to help prevent terrorismExtinction Rebellion is threatening legal action against counter-terrorism police for what it said was the illegal listing of the group as an extremist ideology in a guide designed to help stop terrorist violence.The Guardian revealed on Friday that counter-terrorism police had placed the non-violent protest group on a list of extremist ideologies that should be reported to the authorities running the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme. Police now say that was an error. Continue reading... Go to Source

Iran's admission it shot down airliner is 'important first step', says Boris Johnson – live news Tehran says its military unintentionally shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight 752, killing all 176 people onboardFull report: Iran admits shooting down Ukrainian airliner ‘unintentionally’Plane crash admission triggers international calls for full investigation 5.19pm GMTIn related news, German chancellor Angela Merkel repeated a call for all parties to respect the Iranian nuclear accord, despite Iran’s decision to intensify its enrichment of uranium and moves by the United States to impose economic sanctions, PA reports.Under a deal brokered in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed with China, France, Germany, Russia, the U...

Northern Ireland assembly reopens three years after collapse Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill stress need for unity as they take up senior rolesThe Northern Ireland assembly has reopened for business three years almost to the day after it and the power-sharing executive in the region collapsed.At an unprecedented Saturday sitting of the regional parliament, assembly members elected Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey as the chamber’s speaker, the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader, Arlene Foster, as first minister and Sinn Féin’s deputy leader, Michelle O’Neill, as deputy first minister. Continue reading... Go to Source

Iran admits shooting down Ukrainian airliner 'unintentionally' ‘Human error’ blamed as admission comes after initial denials were contradicted by western allies’ intelligenceIran has admitted that its military “unintentionally” shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 people onboard, after days of rejecting western intelligence reports that pointed to Tehran being responsible.A military statement came on Saturday morning via state TV, with “human error” blamed for the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 on Wednesday. It was followed by an apology from Iran’s president. Continue reading... Go to Source

Sultan of Oman dies and is succeeded by cousin Reports say Haitham bin Tariq al-Said will replace Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who had no children and, under protocol, no publicly named successorOman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said died on Friday evening, state media has announced. Reports early on Saturday said his cousin, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, was being sworn in as the new sultan.Western-backed Qaboos, 79, had ruled the Gulf Arab state since he took over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of Oman’s former colonial power Britain. Continue reading... Go to Source