There is an urgent need to make child safety, rights and wellbeing a national priority and to fix the accountability gaps putting them at risk
Looking back at the past five years since I began in the role of national children’s commissioner, I am struck by how difficult it has been throughout this time to get political attention on the unmet needs of our most vulnerable children, who continue to be “left behind”.
Far too many of these children end up in the overwhelmed child protection and justice systems because of poverty, disabilities, health and learning problems, discrimination and disadvantage.
Actor says Harris ‘was given a very tough task’ because ‘she had to run against her own record’, and extends an olive branch to Hunter Biden
George Clooney has said he feels it was a “mistake” for Kamala Harris to replace Joe Biden in the 2024 US presidential election, adding that he had no regrets about the New York Times opinion piece in which he called on the Democrats to find a new presidential nominee.
Speaking on CBS’ Sunday Morning, the actor and activist, who is a prominent financial donor to the Democratic party, said he would write his op-ed again if given the chance, and that he wished the Democrats had held a new primary to elect a presidential candidate. Instead, Harris was nominated by a virtual vote of party delegates.
Turkish refineries cut back on Russian oil in response to sanctions; Ukrainian special forces join defence of embattled Pokrovsk. What we know on day 1,349
Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not really considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. Asked about it by a reporter aboard Air Force One, Trump responded: “No, not really.” Reports in recent days said the Pentagon had told the White House that the US stockpile of Tomahawks was sufficient to be able to supply them to Ukraine.
Ukraine has been seeking the Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, but without them has still been able to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic targets such as oil depots and refineries. A Ukrainian drone attack struck Russia’s Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea on Sunday, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Russian airports in nearby regions also had to be closed.
Turkey’slargest oil refineries are buying more non-Russian oil in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, Reuters reported, citing two sources with direct knowledge of the matter and other industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude along with China and India but refiners are following India in cutting back.
One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently bought four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to the sources. This amounts to 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply depending on cargo size, based on Reuters calculations; whereas Russian crude amounted to virtually all of the STAR refinery’s crude intake in October and September of about 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment, Reuters said.
The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was increasing purchases of non-Russian grades, two of the sources said. Tupras was also likely soon to completely phase out Russian crude imports at one of its two major Turkish plants so that it could maintain fuel exports to Europe without falling foul of the EU’s incoming sanctions, two sources said. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment, Reuters said.
Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault involving thousands of troops, Kyiv’s top commander has said. Ashifa Kassam writes in a detailed report on the situation that Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk”, lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.
At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while the Institute for the Study of War assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers”.
Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the US-made advanced air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.
Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least six people including two children and cut power to tens of thousands, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.
‘He got me an absolute ripper,’ says Kangaroos star Cameron Munster
A pitch invader who lined up alongside Australia’s rugby league players while the national anthem played at the weekend’s Ashes match in Liverpool has been arrested.
Daniel Jarvis, a serial prankster, allegedly escaped the attention of security before kick-off in the second Test against England, slipping undetected on to the pitch to link arms with Kangaroos star Cameron Munster as Advance Australia Fair played.
The repeat champions’ vast wealth means they can stockpile talent unimaginable to other teams. But it’s undeniable that the results are hugely entertaining
A unicorn led off the game with a single and then trotted out to the mound to pitch the bottom of the first. Another pitcher won Games 2, 6, and 7 of the World Series, throwing 17.2 innings along the way. A catcher set a record, squatting behind the plate for 74 Fall Classic frames and ultimately ended the series by hitting the final go-ahead home run.
Just as everyone feared or sneered, the Los Angeles Dodgers are champions. Again. In what some forecasted as a harbinger of doom, the sinister strategy of employing the best baseball player on the planet along with a generous number of his nearly equal peers proved effective. It’s not fair, some people will say in the coming months about the fact that the team broadly believed to be the best ultimately won it all.
Jessica Bond Ferguson said her 16-year-old told her about animal in the yard and she shot it to ‘protect her children’
One of the monkeys that escaped after a truck overturned on a Mississippi roadway on 28 October was shot and killed early Sunday by a homeowner who said she feared for the safety of her children.
Jessica Bond Ferguson said she was alerted early Sunday by her 16-year-old son who said he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. She got out of bed, grabbed her firearm and her cellphone, and stepped outside where she saw the monkey about 60 ft (18 meters) away.
Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, who was under police protection, was shot dead in front of dozens of people
A mayor in Mexico’s western state of Michoacán was shot dead in a plaza in front of dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities, authorities have said.
The mayor of the Uruapan municipality, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, was gunned down Saturday night in the town’s historic centre. He was rushed to a hospital where he later died, according to state prosecutor Carlos Torres Piña.
Teenagers had gathered at the house for a birthday party and the motive for the shooting was unclear
Nine people were injured by gunfire early Sunday at a large rental home where teenagers had gathered for a birthday party that was promoted on social media. The scene in north-eastern Ohio was chaotic as some people fled and first responders performed life-saving measures, police said.
The shooting happened at about 12.15am local time in Bath Township, about 15 miles (24 km) north-west of Akron.
Thousands throw bottles and flares as tensions soar after huge rally to mark anniversary of train station disaster
Hundreds of riot police separated opponents and loyalists of Serbia’s autocratic president, Aleksandar Vučić,in central Belgrade on Sunday as political tensions boiled after a year of anti-government protests.
Several thousand people faced off on both sides of the police cordons, with officers in riot gear standing in rows between shouting crowds who threw bottles and flares at each other.
Bengals blow late lead again in 47-42 loss to Bears
JJ McCarthy impresses in Vikings win over Lions
Colts suffer rare loss as Steelers defense shines
Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass and ran for two scores to outduel Patrick Mahomes and the Buffalo Bills defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game.
The ex-diver is so fantastic that this needle-based Bake Off wannabe is 80% better every time he’s on screen. He absolutely makes this show
‘A new generation of knitters is taking the world by storm,” says Tom Daley, striding towards us in his ankle-length woollen poncho. “With just two needles, they are testing the limits of creativity.”
And so it proves, as 10 of “the nation’s finest” amateur wool enthusiasts join the Olympic diver (and recently murdered Celebrity Traitor) “to battle it out, stitch by stitch” for the chance to win the ineffably snuggly eight-part series Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter.
Guardiola: Bournemouth goal was ‘due to the official’
Man City manager hails ‘incredibly coachable’ striker
Pep Guardiola praised Erling Haaland after the striker’s two first-half goals inspired Manchester City to a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth and took them second in the table, though the manager also criticised officiating at the Etihad Stadium during his nine years in charge.
Haaland’s 12th and 13th league goals of the season came on 17 and 33 minutes, Nico O’Reilly’s third for City coming on the hour. Tyler Adams equalised in the 25th minute for the visitors but it was a controversial goal as David Brooks placed a hand on Gianluigi Donnarumma at Alex Scott’s corner, removing it from the goalkeeper at the last moment.
Reform UK leader to set out ‘pro-entrepreneurship’ agenda while rowing back on tax cuts pledge
Nigel Farage will promise a bonfire of business regulation as he spells out his party’s economic policies in more detail than ever in an attempt to bolster its reputation for fiscal credibility.
The Reform leader will give a speech in London putting deregulation at the heart of his economic agenda, while also dropping a commitment made at the last election to deliver £90bn of tax cuts.
Critics believe cut would mostly benefit better-off people with larger homes and increase carbon emissions
Proposals being considered by Rachel Reeves to cut tax on electricity bills will backfire, experts have warned, resulting in a giveaway to richer homeowners and undermining the UK’s climate commitments.
The chancellor is understood to be looking at plans to eliminate the 5% VAT charge on electricity bills as a fast and simple way to reduce bills for consumers and ease the cost of living pressures that have aided the rise of Reform UK.
The Steelers go out with a whimper again and again. Pittsburgh’s second punt goes deep, Josh Downs is there but spills it and the Steelers recover. Instant red zone for Pittsburgh. They edge closer but Indi’s defense forces a fourth down, they go for it and Rodgers fires a fastball at his tight end Darnell Washington. He would have had a walk-in touchdown if he had caught it. Colts take over with 95 yards to travel.
British Transport Police say LNER worker ‘undoubtedly saved lives’ as suspect remains in custody
A “heroic” rail staff member who intervened in a mass stabbing to save the lives of high-speed train passengerssuffered life-threatening injuries, police said on Sunday, as a suspect remains in custody.
The member of LNER staff was recorded on CCTV attempting to stop the attacker as the train travelled between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, British Transport Police said.
Additional reporting: Harry Taylor and Vikram Dodd
London mayor says government should stay true to its beliefs and face down those who claim net zero adds to cost of living
Keir Starmer’s government has shown a lack of confidence that it has the answers to the country’s problems, the mayor of London has said, as he called on the chancellor to back green investment in this month’s budget.
Speaking on the eve of a summit of world mayors in Rio de Janeiro, Sadiq Khan said the Treasury should be more supportive of the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, in his pursuit of the government’s target of an 81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Lamine Yamal and Rashford on target in win over Elche
Milan, Roma and Inter all a point behind leaders Napoli
Goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford guided Barcelona to a 3-1 victory against Elche on Sunday, propelling the defending champions to second place in La Liga with 25 points, five adrift of the leaders, Real Madrid.
Looking to bounce back after their 2-1 defeat against Madrid in last weekend’s clásico, Barcelona wasted no time in asserting their dominance at Montjuïc’s Olympic Stadium. They made the most of two defensive errors by Elche in the opening minutes to grab a two-goal lead with strikes by Lamine Yamal and Torres in the ninth and 11th minutes.
World No 1 Sabalenka defeats Paolini in earlier match
Coco Gauff’s serving woes followed her into the final week of the season, as the American’s title defence at the WTA Finals in Riyadh began with a bruising 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2 loss to her compatriot Jessica Pegula in their first match of the group stages.
Despite fighting hard and remaining competitive until the end, the third seed simply could not overcome her 17 double faults against an in-form Pegula, the fifth seed, who maintained her composure after getting pulled into a final set by her struggling opponent, and saved her best level for the closing stretch of the match.
In an exclusive extract from her forthcoming autobiography, the former England goalkeeper reveals how her life unravelled during the Covid lockdowns of 2020
In early 2020, on the eve of lockdown, Phil Neville, then head coach of England, dropped Mary Earps from the squad.
For the first time ever, I began to feel something unimaginable; I felt disillusioned with football and unsure what I was doing in life, chasing this dream that was constantly in reach but never fully within my grasp. And then, abruptly, lockdown hit. And the world changed, at either the best possible time for me – or the very worst.
Final: India, 298-7, beat South Africa, 246, by 52 runs
Shafali and Deepti shine for hosts in Navi Mumbai
At last, 50 years on from their debut on the world stage, India’s dream came true: a first World Cup triumph, in front of a deafening full house in Navi Mumbai, as they defeated South Africa by 52 runs.
Laura Wolvaardt struck a magnificent century, going back-to-back after her winning effort against England in the semi-final, but while she finished the tournament with 571 runs – the most by any woman in a World Cup – the ultimate prize belonged to India.
On Friday Pep Guardiola suggested Erling Haaland’s teammates may wish to support the Norwegian in the goalscoring stakes. Cut to 48 hours later and guess who did the business yet again – twice – for Manchester City to take them into a 2-1 half-time lead that proved unassailable?
Step forward the phenomenon who now has 13 Premier League goals and a seismic total of 98 in 107 appearances in England’s top flight. After him, this year, Burnley’s Maxime Estève – via two own goals – is City’s highest league contributor, followed by Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Matheus Nunes and Rayan Cherki, who have all scored once.
Patel reportedly became furious after revelation he flew to visit girlfriend as agency fires official who oversees fleet
A top FBI official with 27 years standing has reportedly been fired by the bureau after its director, Kash Patel, became enraged by press stories revealing he had used a government jet to travel to see his girlfriend sing the national anthem at a wrestling match.
Steven Palmer, who had worked at the bureau since 1998, was fired as head of the FBI’s critical incident response group which is responsible for handling major security threats as well as overseeing the agency’s fleet of jets. He was the third head of the unit to be dismissed since Patel became the second Trump administration’s FBI director in February.
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