Hoang Viet

Uncategorized

Nov 17 2023

Shawn Seesahai death: Two 12-year-old boys charged with murder after man killed in Wolverhampton | UK News

Two 12-year-old boys have been charged with murder after a man was stabbed to death in Wolverhampton.

Shawn Seesahai, 19, was killed on Monday evening.

The boys have also been charged with possession of a bladed article.

Both children, who cannot be named due to their age, have been remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Mr Seesahai died after an incident in Laburnum Road in East Park at around 8.30pm on Monday.

In a statement released via West Midlands Police, the teenager’s mother said: “Shawn Seesahai was a courageous, compassionate and confident young soul who sadly lost his life at the age of 19.

He “cared deeply about his friends and family” and “absolutely loved to help people”, she said.

Mr Seesahai was “looking forward to accomplishing many future plans and ambitions”, she added.

“He was a generous person and had a good personality.

“We will always have him in our hearts.”

The force said it had increased dedicated patrols in the area following the tragedy.

The two boys were arrested on Tuesday, when DCI Dave Sanders, from the homicide team, said: “Our thoughts remain with Shawn’s family, who have been fully updated with this latest development.

“Our investigation is moving at pace and we continue to encourage anyone with information to contact us.”

People have been urged not to speculate on social media and to allow detectives to “continue with our investigation to achieve justice for Shawn’s family.”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 16 2023

Rwanda ‘disappointed’ at Supreme Court verdict on UK asylum scheme | UK News

Rwanda’s government has attacked what it called a “disappointing” verdict from the UK’s top court which ruled a scheme to deport asylum seekers to the African country was unlawful.

The UK government suffered a major setback over its Rwanda policy when the plan was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

But a spokesperson for Rwanda’s government rejected the idea the East African nation was unsafe for refugees, and argued there was “nothing wrong” with how it processes asylum claims.

Follow live: Cleverly makes sly digs at Braverman in first major speech – politics latest

Spokesperson Yolande Makolo told Sky News the judgment had been based on “hypocritical” and “dishonest” assessments by the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR).

Asked what she thought of the verdict, she said: “It’s ultimately a decision for the UK judicial system. It’s disappointing – we have a really good record of hosting and welcoming migrants and refugees in this country.”

Rwanda remains “committed” to the partnership and is “ready” to receive migrants, she said.

The Supreme Court had said in its unanimous judgment that those sent to Rwanda would be at “real risk” of being returned home, whether their grounds to claim asylum were justified or not – breaching international law.

Sky’s Mark Austin pressed Ms Makolo on this, to which she said the court had been referring to the risk of refoulement – the forcible return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they could be subjected to persecution – and that this was based on “hypocritical criticism from the UNHCR”.

She said Rwanda had worked with the UNHCR for a “long time” and had not refouled anyone.

Austin then asked about another issue brought up by the Supreme Court, which said there had been an instance of Rwanda’s directorate-general of immigration dismissing 8% of claims without any written reason or right of appeal.

Ms Makolo said these were again examples given by the UNHCR that were “either dishonest or do not have the full context”.

She added that “any deficiencies they have found have been corrected since last year”.

Read more:
‘No guarantee’ flights to Rwanda will take off next year, Hunt says
Everything you need to know about the government’s immigration plan
Analysis: PM’s suggestion after Rwanda ruling is disingenuous

The spokesperson said she thought the Supreme Court ruling was “political”, telling Austin: “It was not Rwanda being judged. Rwanda is not in the dock.”

Despite the setback, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to push ahead with the policy and suggested the UK could bring forward legislation that would declare Rwanda a “safe” country.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 16 2023

Police officers investigated over handling of probe into ‘Grindr killer’ Stephen Port | UK News

Five officers and three former officers are being investigated over their handling of the police probe into murders by serial killer Stephen Port.

The officers are being investigated for gross misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

In April a report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) warned that the Met had still not learned from its “calamitous litany of failures” in the Port case – meaning the force could have missed other murders.

The “Grindr killer” drugged his victims Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor with overdoses of GHB and dumped their bodies near his flat in Barking, east London, between June 2014 and September 2015.

Despite what many now see as the obvious links between these deaths, it wasn’t until the final victim’s body was found, with the grieving families carrying out their own investigations, that local police finally realised they had a serial killer on their hands.

IOPC regional director Steve Noonan said: “Our re-investigation has been, and continues to be, thorough and detailed. We recognise it has taken some time to reach this stage, but these are complex matters, involving multiple officers and four investigations into unexplained deaths and then the subsequent murder investigation into Port.

“Though we have found an indication that the behaviour of these eight individuals may have amounted to gross misconduct, this does not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings will automatically follow. Based on the evidence, at the conclusion of our investigation we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.”

He added that the families of the men killed had shown “considerable patience”.

Commander Jon Savell from the Met reiterated the force’s “heartfelt” apologies for its blunders in the case.

A lawyer for the families said the development was a testament to their “determination and perseverance”.

Families of three of Port’s victims had previously received payouts from the Met after settling civil claims.

Read more:
How the ‘Grindr killer’ murdered four men

Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “The families of Anthony, Gabriel, Daniel and Jack very much welcome today’s announcement that eight officers are to be investigated for gross misconduct.

“Given the history of this case and frustrations of the past, they are cautiously encouraged by the reopening of the investigation, which must be seen to be full and fearless, and with the complete cooperation of the Metropolitan Police Service and the officers under scrutiny. No comment interviews simply will not do.

“This latest development is testament to the determination and perseverance the families have shown over the past eight years with regards to the Met Police’s investigations into the loss of their loved ones.

“We would not have reached this point without their dedication to ensuring to ensure full transparency and accountability.”

Basic errors by a string of detectives left Port free to carry out the series of murders as well as drug and sexually assault more than a dozen other men.

Inquest jurors found that “fundamental failures” by the police were likely to have contributed to the deaths of three of the men.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 16 2023

Food giant Mars to buy Hotel Chocolat in £534m deal | Business News

Hotel Chocolat has agreed to a £534m takeover offer from Mars, the maker of goods from Snickers bars to Pedigree dog food.

The UK specialist chocolatier retailer said the cash offer represented a 170% premium to its London share price of 139p.

Shares soared by 164% at the market open in response.

Mars has proposed to pay 375p for each Hotel Chocolat share under the terms.

As an alternative, investors can elect to secure a share in the bid company for each Hotel Chocolat share they already own.

The board has recommended the deal.

The company, which has a 20-year history but just seven as a London-listed firm, said it would allow its brand to expand, particularly internationally.

Hotel Chocolat, so-named due to its hotel on a cacao estate in Saint Lucia, currently has 130 stores and a partnership in Japan but lacks the substantial funds needed to make a big push overseas.

Read more business news:
Royal Mail reports £319m half-year loss
Manchester United chief executive to ‘step down’

Chief executive and joint founder Angus Thirwell, who will stay with the business under the terms of the deal with Mars, said: “We know our brand resonates with consumers overseas, but operational supply chain challenges have held us back.

“By partnering with Mars, we can grow our international presence much more quickly.”

He and co-founder Peter Harris both own 27% of the equity, according to LSEG data.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 16 2023

Scottish ultra-marathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski banned for 12 months for using car during race | UK News

A Scottish ultra-marathon runner has been banned for 12 months by UK Athletics for using a car during a 50-mile race – and then accepting third place.

Joasia Zakrzewski was caught using the vehicle during this year’s GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool run after tracking data showed she was not running for 2.5 miles of the event.

The 47-year-old, who represented Scotland in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was later stripped of her third place finish.

Zakrzewski claimed she told race officials about having been in a vehicle for a portion of the run in April and finishing the race “in a non-competitive way”.

But in its verdict, the Independent Disciplinary Panel of UK Athletics said: “The claimant had collected the trophy at the end of the race, something which she should have not done if she was completing the race on a non-competitive basis.

“She also did not seek to return the trophy in the week following the race.”

Zakrzewski, who works as a GP in Dumfries, had won a 48-hour race in Taipei, Taiwan, weeks before the UK run.

She also claimed victory in a 24-hour race in Australia in 2020 after running more than 236km (146 miles), and had previously set national records for 200km and 100-mile races.

A friend of the runner told the BBC that Zakrzewski was unwell and arrived in the UK from Australia just hours before the April race.

Adrian Stott said: “The race didn’t go to plan. She said she was feeling sick and tired in the race and wanted to drop out.

“She has cooperated fully with the race organisers’ investigations, giving them a full account of what happened.”

Read more from Sky News:
Pogues frontman pictured in hospital – as bandmates visit singer
Inside Gaza as Israel shows off ‘humanitarian corridors’
Huge whale found dead on beach

After Zakrzewski was stripped of the result, an incensed Mel Sykes was handed third place.

She wrote on social media afterwards: “The sad thing in all this is that it completely takes the p*** out of the race organisers, fellow competitors and fair sport.

“How can someone who knows they have cheated cross a finish line, collect a medal/trophy and have their photos taken?!

“The audacity of uploading the data, complete with trophy photo, makes this worse!!”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 15 2023

Wave of Labour frontbenchers resign to back calls for ceasefire in Gaza | Politics News

A wave of Labour frontbenchers including senior MP Jess Phillips have resigned in order to back an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Afzal Khan, Yasmin Qureshi, Paula Barker and Naz Shah are among the eight shadow junior ministers that quit in order to defy party orders to abstain from the vote.

Politics Live: Reaction as Starmer hit by resignations

Rachel Hopkins, Sarah Owen and Andy Slaughter have also left their frontbench roles after breaking the party whip to back the amendment.

The MPs say Sir Keir Starmer’s calls for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war don’t go far enough.

Two parliamentary private secretaries, Dan Carden and Mary Foy, have also left the frontbench, with 56 Labour MPs rebelling in total to back the SNP amendment.

In a statement following the vote, Sir Keir said he regretted that party colleagues had not backed his position.

But he added: “I wanted to be clear about where I stood, and where I will stand. Leadership is about doing the right thing. That is the least the public deserves. And the least that leadership demands.”

The Labour Party has been divided over its approach to the Middle East conflict, with numerous MPs and some members of the shadow frontbench calling for a ceasefire – something Sir Keir Starmer does not currently support.

The Labour leader has backed the UK Government’s position of pushing for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to allow aid to reach Palestinians trapped in the bombarded territory, but stopping short of calling for a total cessation of hostilities – saying that would “embolden” Hamas.

The resignations tonight mean that nine shadow ministers have quit over Labour’s position in total, after Imran Hussain stepped down last week.

Sky News’s political correspondent Tamara Cohen described the resignations as possibly the “biggest challenge to Starmer’s authority” yet.

The resignations were expected after the SNP tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech backing a ceasefire.

Labour told MPs to abstain from voting and put forward its own motion setting outs its position for longer humanitarian pauses.

By tradition, those occupying frontbench positions are bound by a collective responsibility that they support the party’s official line – although so far Sir Keir has allowed some to deviate by expressing support for a ceasefire in Gaza.

However Labour frontbenchers who rebel to back a rival amendment would normally face the sack – or be expected to resign – for breaking the party whip.

Ms Phillips, the most high profile MP to step down, said it was with a “heavy heart” that she quit.

In a resignation letter, the Birmingham Yardley MP and former shadow minister for domestic abuse wrote: “This week has been one of the toughest weeks in politics since I entered Parliament.

“I have tried to do everything that I could to make it so that this was not the outcome, but it is with a heavy heart that I will be leaving my post in the Shadow Home Office team.

“On this occasion I must vote with my constituents, my head, and my heart which has felt as if it were breaking over the last four weeks with the horror of the situation in Israel and Palestine.

“I can see no route where the current military action does anything but put at risk the hope of peace and security for anyone in the region now and in the future.”

Meanwhile Ms Shah said her email inbox is full of messages from constituents who agree with her position.

She told the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge: “We have to make our positions clear… our job in Parliament is to use our platforms to convince people, which is what I did in the chamber earlier.

Read More:
Starmer to put Labour’s position on Israel-Hamas war to potential vote amid rebellion concerns
Rishi Sunak says ‘flights will be heading off in the spring as planned’ despite Rwanda ruling

“I’m not alone in calling for a ceasefire… my inbox has thousands of emails about a ceasefire. This is an issue that the British public feel strongly about.

“At some point there will be a ceasefire. Had we called for a ceasefire yesterday, 144 children might still be alive. A child dies every 10 minutes.”

Some Labour MPs expressed their support for a ceasefire but said they abstained from the SNP motion, calling it “divisive”.

However the SNP said the motion would allow MPs to vote with their conscience on the war, which broke out following the surprise Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that saw at least 1,400 people slaughtered.

Since then over 11,000 people have been killed in retaliatory attacks on Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “It’s shameful that a majority of Tory and Labour MPs blocked calls for a ceasefire – and have condoned the continued bombardment of Gaza, which has killed thousands of children and civilians, in breach of international law.

“It is clear that support for a ceasefire would have been even stronger tonight if Keir Starmer had not threatened Labour MPs with punishments if they voted for peace.”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 15 2023

Glasgow City Council makes almost £500,000 from LEZ fines | UK News

Glasgow City Council has made almost £500,000 from the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) during its first four months, new figures have revealed.

Under LEZ rules, which aims to reduce air pollution, vehicles must meet certain emission standards or drivers will face a penalty.

The local authority has issued 20,134 LEZ fines between June and the end of September, recovering a total of £478,560.

LEZ penalty charge notices issued:
• June: 2,897 in total (2,897 x £60)
• July: 6,139 in total (5,356 x £60, 687 x £120, 85 x £240, 1 x £480 and 1 x £960)
• August: 5,757 in total (4,848 x £60, 607 x £120, 201 x £240, 80 x £480 and 21 x £960)
• September: 5,341 in total (4,404 x £60, 569 x £120, 196 x £240, 83 x £480 and 89 x £960)

The council said no specific decisions have been made yet regarding surplus revenue spend but the local authority continues to pledge that the money will be used to reduce air pollution and help meet climate change targets.

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “Scottish LEZs operate by way of a penalty system, set in legislation to discourage non-compliant vehicle entry and to maximise the air quality benefits that can be delivered.

“Penalties are reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days, with all revenue above that incurred in running Glasgow’s LEZ scheme itself only used for activities that help reduce air pollution or contribute toward achieving our climate change targets.

“We would remind drivers that Glasgow’s LEZ is now in force and to familiarise themselves with its emissions requirements.”

Read more:
Glasgow LEZ: Everything you need to know

Glasgow’s LEZ operates continuously all-year round and covers an area of the city centre bounded by the M8 to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket/High Street to the east.

The fines start at £60 and are halved if paid early. The penalty doubles each time a subsequent breach is detected, with a cap of £480 for cars and LGVs and £960 for buses and HGVs.

If there are no further breaches within 90 days following a previous breach, the penalty rate is reset back to £60.

Click to subscribe to ClimateCast with Tom Heap wherever you get your podcasts

Last month, the Court of Session ruled the LEZ was lawful and proportionate following a legal challenge from business owner William Paton, owner of Paton’s Accident Repair Centre in the Townhead area of the city.

Glasgow is the first of four major Scottish cities to enforce the scheme, with Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee to follow in 2024.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said: “It is clear that Glasgow’s low emission zone has clobbered hard-pressed motorists for huge sums of money, only a few months since it was imposed.

“A rising number are being hit with the council’s new full-penalty fines, which total nearly £1,000.

“Ordinary Glaswegians, and in particular motorists and city centre businesses, are paying a huge price for this ill-thought-out policy.

“The SNP council must be upfront about how they intend to spend this money and other cities across Scotland must learn from how Glasgow’s low emission zone has been so badly botched.”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 15 2023

Labour’s Gaza showdown could see more than a dozen resign frontbench jobs | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer is braced for resignations from his frontbench as he holds a difficult vote on the Israel-Gaza war.

The Labour leadership has drawn up an amendment, circulated to MPs last night, to allow a vote on the growing crisis in the Middle East.

It does not call for a ceasefire, as dozens of Labour MPs – including members of the frontbench – have demanded.

Follow live: Inflation boost for Sunak after Braverman accusations

However, the amendment is intended to move closer to this position, by calling for “longer” humanitarian pauses in fighting to allow in aid, which shadow minister Lisa Nandy conceded could be days or even weeks.

A senior figure told Sky News the wording suggested “a ceasefire in all but name”, although Labour rejected this.

The amendment also condemns the conduct of the war by both sides; and highlights the need to protect hospitals from attacks, as well as calling for Israel to end its siege of the territory.

It unequivocally condemns the terrorist attacks on 7 October and says Israel has a right to defend its citizens from terrorism.

Those calling for a ceasefire include 19 shadow ministers and aides, who must back the Labour Party’s position, resign or face the sack.

They are not all expected to resign, and the shadow cabinet – Sir Keir‘s top team – are all expected to back the amendment.

Meetings were going on late on Tuesday night to talk around some of those wavering.

One shadow minister, Imran Hussain, has already resigned. Others on resignation watch include shadow home office ministers Jess Phillips and Naz Shah.

Some Labour backbenchers have vowed to back other amendments which do call for a ceasefire.

Sir Keir explained his position in a speech two weeks ago, saying he understood the strong feelings many had for a ceasefire, but that it was the wrong decision as it would “embolden Hamas” and allow them to regroup and carry out more horrific attacks like those on 7 October.

But he has faced intense pressure from some of his MPs, who have been horrified by the scenes unfolding in Gaza, where Israel is carrying out a military campaign to destroy Hamas.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, when he addressed MPs on Tuesday in the House of Commons said, in a shift in tone: “Israel must make changes to the way it is fighting this war, by taking urgent, concrete steps to protect civilians”.

At a difficult meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, Sky News understands a number of MPs spoke out.

Read more on Sky News:
Supreme Court will rule on the government’s Rwanda plan today – why has it ended up in the courts?
‘Please make it stop… they are here’: Horrifying details of how the Kibbutz Be’eri attack unfolded

One MP later said: “The leadership have been slow to realise the scale of this. They thought it was the very left of the party, and MPs with a lot of Muslim constituents, but it’s an issue for a lot of our liberal voters too.

“They see pictures of premature babies dying because Gaza’s hospitals can’t run the incubators, and they want us to be taking a different position.”

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

The MP said there was an understanding that implementing a ceasefire on the ground could take weeks to broker.

A Labour spokesperson said: “Labour’s amendment reaffirms the position set out in Keir Starmer’s Chatham House speech and reflects our concerns about what we’ve seen on the ground in the last fortnight which includes the lack of hostage release, the insufficient amount of aid and utilities getting in and being distributed, the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza and the amount of violence on the West Bank.”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 15 2023

Tears as Liverpool star Luis Diaz reunited with father after kidnap ordeal | World News

Liverpool star Luis Diaz has been reunited with his father who was kidnapped and held hostage by a guerilla group in Colombia.

The pair were visibly emotional – with Diaz’s father in tears – as they embraced in Barranquilla for the first time since the ordeal.

The Colombian football federation announced Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez’s arrival in the city, with the message “welcome home Luchooo”.

The Colombian national team are due to play Brazil there on Thursday in a South American qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup.

Mr Diaz Jimenez had been held hostage for 12 days in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the National Liberation Army, or ELN.

He was taken along with Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, on 28 October by armed men on motorbikes at a petrol station in the town of Barrancas, near Colombia’s border with Venezuela.

Ms Marulanda was rescued within hours by police.

After Mr Diaz Jimenez was kidnapped, special forces searched for him in a mountain range that spans the two countries.

And a $48,000 (£38,000) reward was offered by police for information leading to his rescue.

Diaz had pleaded with his father’s kidnappers to release him and said he and his brothers were “desperate” to see him returned.

The group later admitted the kidnapping was a mistake and its top leadership ordered Mr Diaz Jimenez’s release.

He was eventually freed last Thursday in the vicinity of the Serrania del Perija, a mountainous area of difficult access on the border between Colombia and Venezuela.

Four suspects were arrested at the weekend in connection with the kidnapping.

Read more:
Luis Diaz’s father reveals details of kidnapping

The abduction happened during peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN, and left the talks in a critical state.

The government wants the group to promise to end its kidnappings and free remaining captives – a key issue in the next round of discussions.

The ELN has defended the kidnappings as a way of financing itself, and claimed it “is poor like the majority of Colombians”.

Armed groups in Colombia carried out 160 kidnappings and 121 releases between January 2022 and September 2023, according to the country’s ombudsman’s office.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Nov 14 2023

Major incident declared as Bristol tower block residents told to leave homes ‘immediately’ due to ‘risk to structure’ | UK News

A major incident has been declared in Bristol as residents in a tower block have been told to leave their homes “immediately” due to a “risk to the structure”.

The city council has asked all tenants at Barton House, in the Redfield area, to leave “as a precautionary measure” while more in-depth inspections are carried out.

About 400 people reportedly live in the building.

Surveys at three of the 98 flats found there is a “risk to the structure of the block” in the event of a fire, explosion or large impact.

Anyone who can stay with relatives or friends is being urged to do so, while the remainder will be housed in a temporary rest centre at the Tawfiq Masjid and Centre mosque where beds, food and drink will be available.

More rest centres are “in the process” of being set up, but it is not known how long residents will have to be away from their homes.

A council statement said: “The length of this temporary arrangement is dependent on a further survey of the building, which is being arranged to happen as soon as possible.

“All tenants will be kept regularly informed of progress and any updates on support arrangements.”

The council also said there is “no evidence” to “suggest there is any immediate risk to health and life”.

The statement added that Barton House is the oldest of the tower blocks in the council housing estate, with building work completed in 1958.

“The design and age of Barton House make it unique within the council’s housing estate. There is currently no evidence to suggest the issues identified within Barton House are present elsewhere, although the council is regularly surveying its estate as it works to meet all regulatory requirements,” it said.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

admin 0 Comments