4 h. ago Attempts to ‘undermine’ strengthening of workers’ rights rejected by MPs

Concerns over a weakening of the legislation had been raised by unions following Angela Rayner’s departure as deputy prime minister.

Politics

3 d. ago Baroness Falkner issues impassioned plea against Assisted Dying Bill as she tearfully reveals 'glimpsing the grim reaper' after ovarian cancer diagnosis

Baroness Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, urged the House of Lords to reject the 'flawed' assisted dying Bill - despite previously supporting the principle.

Science

4 d. ago Hong Kong criticised for rejecting bill giving ‘bare minimum’ rights to same

Legislative council voted down a bill that was introduced to comply with an order from the city’s top courtHuman rights groups have accused the Hong Kong government of failing to provide the “bare minimum” of rights to same-sex couples after it rejected a bill that was introduced to comply with an order by the city’s top court.The city’s unicameral legislative council (LegCo), on Wednesday rejected the bill by a vote of 71-14 after the second reading, following months of debate in the city between opponents who said it threatened family values and advocates who said the government was out of line with the majority of residents who supported same-sex relationships. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Ursula von der Leyen calls for suspension of EU trade with Israel

Commission president cites illegal West Bank settlement plans, Gaza and attempts to ‘undermine two-state solution’The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for a suspension of trade with Israel, as she spoke of Europe’s “painful” inability to respond to the war on Gaza and ensuring humanitarian disaster.In her most extended condemnation yet of the Israeli government, von der Leyen criticised plans for illegal settlements that would split the occupied West Bank in half, as well as incitement of violence by extremist Israeli ministers, as a “clear attempt to undermine the two-state solution”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Ursula von der Leyen calls for suspension of EU free trade with Israel

Commission president cites illegal West Bank settlement plans, Gaza and attempts to ‘undermine two-state solution’The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for a suspension of free trade with Israel, as she spoke of Europe’s “painful” inability to respond to the war on Gaza and ensuing humanitarian disaster.In her most extended condemnation yet of the Israeli government, von der Leyen criticised plans for illegal settlements that would split the occupied West Bank in half, as well as incitement of violence by extremist Israeli ministers, as a “clear attempt to undermine the two-state solution”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Hong Kong rejects bill that would have given limited rights to same

Only 14 of 86 lawmakers supported the bill, which would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples who married or entered civil unions overseas

Politics

1 week ago Afghanistan's former health minister who fled Taliban after standing up for women's rights has UK asylum bid rejected while staying at migrant hotel

Feroz Ferozuddin, who has been recognised internationally for his work as a trauma surgeon, fled his homeland for fear of being tortured by the militant group in 2021.

Politics

2 w. ago Gunk by Saba Sams audiobook review – messy nights and motherhood

The first novel from the Send Nudes author moves from a Brighton club to baby feedingGunk opens with new divorcee Jules sitting at home cradling a baby who is 24 hours and 17 minutes old, feeding him colostrum from a syringe. After being fed, the baby cries, which Jules interprets as a howl of rejection: “He has no language to tell me I’m not right for him.” We learn that Jules isn’t the child’s biological parent; the birth mother is Nim who, shortly after being stitched up, left the hospital ward and seemingly vanished. Concerned for her wellbeing, the hospital called the police who questioned Jules. “Nim has run away before,” she told them. “And she’s good at hiding.”Set in Brighton, this is Saba Sams’s first novel, the follow-up to her much-admired short story collection Send Nudes. Where that book examined the lives of girls coming of age, Gunk has an older heroine in Jules, who is desperate to have a child. Her alcoholic ex-husband, Leon, who ran a student nightclub and with wh...

Politics

3 w. ago Germany's chancellor set to strip failed asylum seekers of access to lawyers in new anti

Germany is set to strip rejected asylum seekers of their automatic right to a lawyer in a bid to speed up deportations. 

Events