It’s all a bit too antichristy for my liking

An Israeli attack on her shelter caused the amputation of both of Nibal’s hands, forcing her to lose the thing she held most dear: the ability to hold her young daughter. Her story is one of hundreds…

Western media institutions excused the intellectual's murder by deeming him "controversial."

As part of the violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy councils will receive a further £19m Good morning. The news will be dominated by two foreign stories today: the ongoing response to the Hanukah killings at Bondi beach, which we are covering on a live blog here, and the latest talks in Berlin tonight on peace proposals for Ukraine. Keir Starmer is a key partner in this process, and he will be flying to Germany to attend. But first he will have to spend 90 minutes at the Commons liaison committee taking questions, not on foreign policy, but instead mostly on “the Plan for Change: one year on”. These hearings normally don’t reveal as much as a lengthy interrogation of the PM on policy probably should, but there is shortage of complaints about the government’s record over the past year and there are plenty of interesting questions that could be asked. Ministers said the funding would help local authorities offer victims access to a “fresh start” on top of £480m already pledged over the next three years for support including refuges and sanctuary schemes. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, is set to unveil sweeping reforms to the criminal justice system this week as part of government plans to halve Vawg, which it has declared a “national emergency”, within a decade. Continue reading...

Exclusive: report by Stand.earth says subsidiary of power plant received truckloads of whole logs at biomass pellet sites Drax power plant has continued to burn 250-year-old trees sourced from some of Canada’s oldest forests despite growing scrutiny of its sustainability claims, forestry experts say. A new report suggests it is “highly likely” that Britain’s biggest power plant sourced some wood from ecologically valuable forests as recently as this summer. Drax, Britain’s single biggest source of carbon emissions, has received billions of pounds in subsidies from burning biomass derived largely from wood. Continue reading...

Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate, Kent, runs creative projects and provides a range of support services, but the building that houses the centre is due to be sold off in February The last remaining youth centre in one of the most deprived coastal areas of England is facing closure after a year-long campaign to try to save it was rejected by the council. The looming closure comes despite an independent report that estimated the centre is saving the council more than £500,000 a year in costs that include services in mental health, youth justice and social care. Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate, Kent, is a social space for eight- to 25-year-olds that also offers services including counselling, employment advice, life skills sessions, assistance for young refugees, as well as creative and music projects. Continue reading...