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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

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