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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

Terrorism police list Extinction Rebellion as extremist ideology Exclusive: Police scramble to recall guide issued to teachers putting climate activists alongside far-right groupsCounter-terrorism police placed the non-violent group Extinction Rebellion (XR) on a list of extremist ideologies that should be reported to the authorities running the Prevent programme, which aims to catch those at risk of committing atrocities, the Guardian has learned.The climate emergency campaign group was included in a 12-page guide produced by counter-terrorism police in the south-east called “Safeguarding young people and adults from ideological extremism”, which is marked as “official”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Samira Ahmed wins sex discrimination equal pay claim against BBC Presenter’s victory leaves broadcaster potentially facing huge bill for similar claimsSamira Ahmed has won a sex discrimination pay claim against the BBC in a landmark case that leaves the BBC facing the prospect of a huge bill for similar claims.In a judgment published on Friday, after the tribunal ended in early November, judges were damning of the broadcaster’s argument that Ahmed’s job as presenter of the audience feedback show Newswatch was significantly different to Jeremy Vine’s as a presenter of Points of View. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Serious concerns' raised over integrity of Iran plane crash site Experts express shock at Iran’s conduct, amid fears Tehran is trying to destroy evidence Visual guide to the Iran plane crashAir crash experts have raised serious concerns over the handling of the crash site of a Ukrainian airliner suspected to have been accidentally shot down by Iranian missiles, as fears grow that Tehran has sought to eliminate evidence from the area.Graham Braithwaite, professor of safety and accident investigation at Cranfield University, said the Iranian handling of the crash site, including the apparent quick removal of evidence, raised “serious concerns over the integrity of the investigation”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Northern Ireland: parties back power-sharing deal Sinn Féin announces support for British-Irish plan while DUP signals that it will also sign upNorthern Ireland’s political parties have agreed to a deal that will lead to the restoration of the power-sharing government in the region following its collapse three years ago.On Friday evening, Sinn Féin confirmed it would back a deal promoted by the British and Irish governments which included plans to put Gaelic on a par with English, its leader, Mary Lou McDonald, announced. Continue reading... Go to Source

Meghan returns to Canada as Queen calls for 'workable solution' Fallout continues over royal couple’s decision to ‘step back’ from monarchyThe Duchess of Sussex has flown back to Canada, leaving senior royals to hammer out a way forward for her and Prince Harry to operate as “hybrid” royals.As Meghan returned to Vancouver, and the embrace of supportive friends, top royal aides were in unprecedented talks with government officials in the UK and Canada to seek a solution to end the latest crisis to engulf the monarchy. Continue reading... Go to Source