33 m. ago ‘A move towards an authoritarian state’: what those with trial experience think of removing juries

David Lammy’s plans to cut the the number of jury trials in England and Wales. A defendant, a victim, a barrister, a KC, a judge and a juror have concernsThis week the justice secretary, David Lammy, announced sweeping changes to the criminal justice system that will significantly reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales. Under the radical plans, jury trials will be reserved for cases in “indictable-only” offences such as murder or rape, and “either-way” offences (those where the defendant can currently decide whether they will be tried by a jury or magistrates), with a likely sentence of more than three years in prison.While Lammy backed down on plans to remove jury trials for all cases involving a maximum jail term of five years, the move has led to an outcry from MPs, lawyers and campaigners. The Guardian spoke to a range of people who have seen juries’ work close up about their experiences and the proposals. Continue reading...

Events

92 m. ago SNP's 'delusional climate gamble' as carbon capture failure risks tearing hole in net zero plan

SNP ministers expect technologies such as carbon capture to clean up one third of climate pollution in Scotland.

Events

93 m. ago ‘What choice do we have?’: no end in sight for Ukraine’s war

As peace hopes falter, infantry soldiers face more long deployments risking their lives against Russian attacksFor almost all of their 62-day deployment on the frontline west of Pokrovske, Bohdan and Ivan hid – first in a village shop, then, after a deadly firefight with Russian soldiers, in a tiny basement where the infantrymen from Ukraine’s 31st Brigade had to survive seven more weeks.Food, water, cigarettes and other supplies were airlifted in by a friendly drone, their toilet was their 3 sq metre room, their nearest comrades 200 metres or so away. Their only hope was to remain underground, because they knew if they were detected a Russian drone could kill them all. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago From a water filter that removes microplastics to a toothbrush that cleans with an energy beam, your essential super

Our selection of some of the best gifts to give this Christmas, for the health-conscious.

Politics

6 h. ago George Clooney landed his wife Amal in hot water with joke about her 'work for Muslim Brotherhood'

On a US chat show, Clooney said his first date with now wife Amal Alamuddin was in London after her 'meeting at the Muslim Brotherhood' to 're-do' the Egyptian constitution.

Politics

7 h. ago I tested three cream cleansers at all price points – £7.50 option is my favourite and even got rid of eczema

CREAM cleansers are your friend for removing make-up in winter, especially if you have dry, sensitive or mature skin. They clean without stripping and help hydrate. Here are three I tried. Budget Oat Milk Cream Cleanser by Q+A, 125ml £7.50 – hollandandbarrett.com This, without doubt, is my favourite. Described as a gentle, moisturising cleanser, it...

Economics

10 h. ago Fury as prison bosses splurge £700 on giant chess set despite Govt pledging to crackdown on spending

PRISON bosses bought inmates a giant £700 outdoor chess set. The purchase was revealed after the Government pledged a crackdown on spending. Other departments splurged on designer water bottles, staff trophies and presentation courses. The chess set, with 2ft high pieces, was bought off Amazon by the Ministry of Justice and delivered to the Isle...

Economics

11 h. ago Spurs’ Yves Bissouma faces axe after he’s filmed inhaling laughing gas AGAIN as he deletes club mentions from socials

SPURS ace Yves Bissouma is facing the axe after he was filmed inhaling laughing gas — a year after being suspended for the same thing. The Premier League side last night confirmed they had launched a probe after footage emerged of the midfielder using a nitrous oxide balloon at a party. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old has removed all reference...

Society

12 h. ago Funding for historic Welsh canal secured after fears it would run dry

Investment of around £2.5 million will be spent on water supply for the canal over the next five years

Politics

12 h. ago Asteroid Bennu racing toward Earth teeming with 'building blocks of life'

A popular science TikToker explained discoveries on the asteroid Bennu after NASA brought samples back to Earth from 39 million miles away - finding 'building blocks' essential for life

Events

12 h. ago Louisiana inmates on the run after removing concrete and using sheets in jailbreak

Three-person escape is second for state in a year, after 10 people crawled through a wall at a different prisonTwo inmates accused of violent crimes, including second-degree attempted murder, are on the run after escaping from a south-western Louisiana jail on Wednesday by removing pieces of a deteriorating interior wall and using sheets to scale another outside wall, officials said.A third inmate who joined in the breakout died by suicide after he was tracked down. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Sheriff hunting for the last of 3 inmates who escaped from a Louisiana jail

Authorities are hunting for the last of three inmates who escaped from a Louisiana jail after removing concrete blocks from a deteriorating wall

Events

13 h. ago Five ways microplastics can harm your brain and fuel diseases

Study estimated humans consume 250g of microplastics, the size of a dinner plate, every year

Politics

15 h. ago Major River Hull search launched after two men enter water during police chase

Police are extremely concerned for two men who were seen entering the River Hull in East Yorkshire last night (December 5) after a short pursuit involving their vehicle

Events

16 h. ago Bombed Chernobyl protective dome no longer blocking radiation after Russian drone attack amid fears of catastrophic leak

A GIANT dome at the Chornobyl nuclear plant that was built to contain radiation is no longer functioning after a drone attack by the Russians. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the protective cover, which was built to shield the infamous Reactor 4 following the 1986 Chornobyl explosion, can no longer perform its...

Events

18 h. ago 'I was nearly kicked off flight after Turkey bum lift – Karens kept complaining'

Saffron said she was almost removed from her flight after getting Brazilian butt lift surgery in Turkey, sparking debate online about what she was doing on the plane

Politics

19 h. ago Young actress says it is 'crazy' her arm tattoo ended up under her tongue

Harriet Trewhitt, 21, had a painful mouth ulcer for months before she discovered it was cancer. Now surgeons have skillfully removed it and reconstructed her tongue using skin from her arm

Politics

19 h. ago Gen Z office survival guide: how to overcome telephobia and get up early

Experts advise younger workers to practice phone calls with friends and embrace adventure of small talkIf you are a millennial, part of gen X or a boomer, you probably do not give a second thought to picking up the phone to talk to someone or chit-chatting beside the office water cooler. But for gen Z, those common workplace moments are a huge source of anxiety.According to a study released this week, early mornings, working with older colleagues and making small talk are just some of the things employees born between 1997 and 2012 dread. Continue reading...

Events

20 h. ago 'I was in there with a bunch of a*******s': I'm A Celeb's Iain Lee reveals he returned to drugs after stint on ITV show

The writer and comedian, 52, finished in third place on the 2017 series of the ITV show, which also featured the likes of Rebekah Vardy, Georgia Toffolo, Jamie Lomas and Stanley Johnson.

Events

20 h. ago ‘I climbed a building to get this shot of Egyptian fishermen with sardines’: Ahmad Mansour’s best phone picture

How the photographer captured this split image of sardine fishermen taken from aboveFreelance photographer Ahmad Mansour was visiting Al Max, a fishing neighbourhood in Alexandria, Egypt, when he took this image on his mobile phone. Mansour was there with friends, documenting the area and the fishermen who resided there.“The sun was bright and it was very loud; the water was running strongly and the men were shouting,” Mansour says. “I climbed a small building to reach this vantage point above the men with the sardines. I love the top view angle; I’d been inspired by another image that was split that way and it suited the colours to balance them like this, too.” Continue reading...

Politics