Author: News Desk

Briton who died on Singapore Airlines flight named as Geoffrey Kitchen | Air transport The British passenger who died after a flight to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence has been named as a 73-year-old grandfather, Geoffrey Kitchen. Kitchen, a retired insurance professional turned amateur dramatics performer, had travelled to Singapore on Monday on the 10pm flight from Heathrow. He and his wife, Linda, were to stop over en route to Australia, where they planned to enjoy a six-week holiday, neighbours told the Guardian. Kitchen, originally from Bristol, had lived in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, most of his life, moving into his…

First infected blood scandal victims to receive payments by end of 2024 The first victims of the infected blood scandal will receive their final compensation payment before the end of the year, the government has said. Announcing the details of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, cabinet office minister John Glen also promised that all those affected by the scandal will be eligible to claim compensation under the scheme. And, to cheers from campaigners watching in the Commons’ public gallery, Mr Glen announced Sir Robert Francis as the interim chairman of the body that will administer the compensation scheme. Sir Robert…

Ex-Royal Marine charged with spying for Hong Kong found dead in park A former Royal Marine commando who was charged with spying for the Hong Kong intelligence service has died, police have said. Matthew Trickett, 37, who was on bail, was found by a member of the public in a park near where he lived in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Thames Valley police said officers attended and administered emergency treatment but he was pronounced dead at the scene in Grenfell Park on Sunday. The force said: “An investigation is ongoing into the death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.” Trickett appeared…

David Lammy heckled by pro-Palestine protesters during speech David Lammy was heckled by pro-Palestine protesters as he tried to speak at an IPPR anti-corruption event in London on Tuesday 21 May. The disruption went on for ten minutes as the shadow foreign secretary defended his position on the war in Gaza. “We have been calling for a ceasefire for months,” Mr Lammy said, responding to shouts from the audience. “I’m not currently in government, I’m not arming anybody,” he added, firing back at calls from the protesters to “stop arming Israel”. Mr Lammy was speaking at an event hosted by…

‘Close to a police state’: campaign groups condemn UK report into protests Protest groups have condemned a long-awaited report on their activity that recommends a review of undercover surveillance of activists and making protest organisers pay towards policing. The 292-page report by John Woodcock, now Lord Walney, entitled Protecting Democracy from Coercion, calls for a curb on many activities, including a blanket ban on face coverings at protests and making it easier for businesses to claim damages from protesters who cause disruption. Questions remain over whether the report’s 41 recommendations will ever reach the statute books after both government and…

Former Royal Marine charged with spying for China is found dead A former Royal Marine who had been charged with spying for China has been found dead in a park in unexplained circumstances. Matthew Trickett, 37, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, who had been accused of assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service and of foreign interference, was on bail after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week, alongside Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63. The 37-year-old’s body was discovered in Grenfell Park, Maidenhead, at around 5.15pm on Sunday after a report from a member of the public, Thames…

Infected blood victims could get compensation payments of over £2.5m | Contaminated blood scandal Victims of the contaminated blood scandal could receive over £2.5m in compensation under a multibillion pound scheme announced a day after a damning report found the NHS and government culpable for the tragedy. The paymaster general, John Glen, outlined details of the scheme in parliament on Tuesday, following criticism in Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report of the government’s failure to set up a compensation framework for those infected and affected by the scandal, which he had called for last year. Reiterating Rishi Sunak’s apology over the…

Politically motivated crimes in Germany reached their highest level in 2023 since tracking began Politically motivated crime in Germany last year reached its highest level since the government started tracking it more than 20 years ago, with the greatest threat coming from people with far-right motivations, the country’s top security official said Tuesday. Overall, Germany registered 60,028 politically motivated crimes in 2023. The government considers numerous acts as political including intent to hinder democracy and crimes aimed at members of certain ethnic, religious or other groups. Right-wing politically motivated crimes increased by 23% in 2023 to 28,945 cases, of which…

Labour urged to focus on Midlands in plan for new towns Labour’s plan for new towns looks likely to focus on the Midlands as much as England’s overcrowded south-east, with planners already considering areas near Nottingham, Stafford and Northampton, the Guardian understands. Close to the M1 and M6 motorways, some of the locations have the advantage of being in areas of Labour local political control, giving Keir Starmer’s government a better chance of delivering on its promise to have the first homes built by the end of a first Labour term. One planner involved in early thinking said other potential…

Labour, Lib Dems and Britain First fined by Electoral Commission for breaking election law Labour and the Lib Dems have been warned by the Electoral Commission that they need to comply with electoral law after being fined for multiple offences. Four investigations carried out by the democratic watchdog concluded that Labour was guilty of five offences and one contravention of the rules and handed a fine of £400. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems were found guilty of four offences of late reporting of donations and fined £350. Labour was reprimanded for a failure to notify a change in accounting unit treasurer,…