Author: James Carter

The Israeli Defence Force has confirmed it has retrieved the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, bringing an end to efforts to recover all those taken captive. Soldiers recovered the body of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili during a targeted operation in the heavily damaged enclave. The retrieval completes the return of all living and deceased hostages from Gaza, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the conflict. Mr Gvili’s recovery marks the conclusion of lengthy military efforts to locate and bring home all Israeli hostages seized during the conflict.…

Three people have become the first in Britain to face racial hatred charges for allegedly chanting “intifada” at a pro-Palestine demonstration. Abdallah Alanzi, 24, Haya Adam, 21, and Azza Zaki, 60, were charged by the Metropolitan Police with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour intending to stir up racial hatred. The trio were arrested at a protest outside the Ministry of Justice in Petty France, Westminster, on the evening of Wednesday 17 December after being identified as allegedly involved in the chanting. The Met’s Public Order Crime team investigated not only the specific chant but also other shouts…

A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after investigators discovered he possessed over a thousand of the most serious category of child abuse material. Guiseppe Bottone, of Stone Street, Bradford, was handed a 27-month jail term at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to multiple offences relating to indecent images of children. Police Constable Scott Tyson, of Bradford District’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, described Bottone as “a dangerous online sexual predator” and said the case was among the most horrific he had encountered during his career. The investigation began after another…

Britain and eight European nations have committed to delivering 100 gigawatts of jointly developed offshore wind power, in what ministers are describing as a historic step towards energy sovereignty amid growing global instability. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband signed the Hamburg Declaration at the Future of the North Seas Summit on Monday, alongside counterparts from Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The agreement marks the first time North Sea countries have pledged to deliver a specific portion of their offshore wind ambitions through collaborative cross-border projects. Three years ago, the same nations committed to building 300GW…

Two men from Islington have been charged in connection with a ram raid at a luxury fashion store in central London, during which handbags worth up to £30,000 each were stolen. Ryan Brough, 32, of Courtney Road, and Max Tyson, 25, of St Peter’s Street, are due to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Both have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary between November last year and January 2026. The pair were arrested on Friday, the same day thieves used a black SUV to smash through the window of the Yves Saint Laurent store on Old…

Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino has described his officers as “the victims” following the fatal shooting of a legally armed ICU nurse during a confrontation on the streets of Minneapolis. Alex Pretti, 37, was shot dead by federal agents in broad daylight on Saturday morning near Glam Doll Donuts at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later confirmed that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit and had no serious criminal history beyond some parking tickets. Appearing on CNN on Sunday, Bovino was pressed by presenter Dana Bash over the circumstances of the shooting.…

Residents of a quiet East Sussex town say they are living in a “state of complete fear and terror” after asylum seekers began arriving at a former army barracks, as thousands gathered for the largest demonstration since the first migrants were moved in. Crowds descended on Crowborough on Saturday morning, waving Union Jacks, St George’s Crosses and Sussex flags while chanting “Keir Starmer’s traitor” and “Who’s streets? Our streets.” Protesters assembled at the gates of the camp at around 10am before marching into the town centre. The demonstration follows the arrival of 27 asylum seekers at Crowborough Army Camp at…

Counter-terrorism operations, fraud investigations and serious organised crime units are to be brought together under a single national police force in what ministers are calling the most significant reform of British policing in a generation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will set out plans on Monday for a new National Police Service, which will operate across England and Wales with its own uniform and be headed by a national commissioner who will become the country’s most senior police officer. The restructuring will see multiple agencies and functions currently spread across different forces consolidated into one organisation. Counter-terrorism responsibilities, presently managed by…

Federal law enforcement officers have been involved in another shooting in Minneapolis, prompting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to demand the President immediately withdraw agents from the state. The incident took place on Saturday morning in the area of 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue. Minneapolis city officials confirmed they were aware of reports and said they were working to establish further details. It is the second shooting involving federal agents in the city in recent weeks, following a fatal incident involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Governor Walz confirmed he had spoken with the White House following the shooting.…

A forthcoming book argues that William Shakespeare was not the true author of the works attributed to him, claiming instead that the plays and poems were written by a black Jewish woman of Moroccan descent. Feminist historian and LSE graduate Irene Coslet makes the case in her upcoming publication, ‘The Real Shakespeare: Emilia Bassano Willoughby’, that a woman named Emilia Bassano was the real figure behind the famous literary canon. According to Coslet, Bassano was born in London in 1569 to a Venetian court musician. Following her father’s death when she was seven, she was fostered into an English noble…