Greta Thunberg arrested at Palestine Action protest in London

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested in central London at a demonstration in support of the Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike in prison, according to the Prisoners for Palestine protest group.

Ms Thunberg, 22, can be seen holding a sign reading “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide” in a video shared by the group at a demonstration by Prisoners for Palestine outside the central London offices of Aspen Insurance.

The group claimed they targeted the company on Tuesday morning because it provides services to Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems.

Two activists sprayed red paint over the front of the building before police arrived and made arrests.

A City of London Police spokesperson said: “At around 7am this morning, hammers and red paint were used to damage a building on Fenchurch Street.

“A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby and specialist officers are working to release them and bring them into police custody.

“A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene. She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”

Since the hunger strike began on 2 November, a total of seven prisoners have been taken to hospital.

Kamran Ahmed, 28, who was being held at Pentonville Prison in London, and Amu Gib, 30, who was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, have both been admitted to hospital in the last week after refusing food.

Prisoners for Palestine has previously said Gib’s health has “deteriorated rapidly” since joining the hunger strike on 2 November, and the activist now needs to use a wheelchair.

Gib, who is on day 51 of their strike, was taken to hospital on Saturday.

Last Thursday, emergency physician Dr James Smith told journalists some of the activists “are dying” and need specialist medical help.

The prisoners all face charges relating to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.

A legal firm representing the hunger strikers has said it submitted a pre-action letter on Monday against the justice secretary David Lammy. The letter outlines the group’s intention to initiate legal action.

The letter, reported by the Press Association, calls for a response within 24 hours, saying the issue is a “matter of urgency”, as “our clients’ health continues to deteriorate, such that the risk of their dying increases every day”.

It says: “They request an urgent meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration of our clients’ health and to discuss attempts to resolve the situation.”

The hunger strikers say they have sent letters to Mr Lammy, who is also the deputy prime minister, but have received no response, and claimed the government is abandoning its own policies in the prison safety policy framework.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We strongly refute these claims.

“We want these prisoners to accept support and get better, and we will not create perverse incentives that would encourage more people to put themselves at risk through hunger strikes.”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor surrenders gun licence to police

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has surrendered his gun licence and firearms to police following a review.

The former prince, 65, agreed to give up the certificate after specialist police visited his Royal Lodge home in Windsor, it has been reported.

Gun licences are reviewed regularly and can be revoked if the holder has a change of circumstances or there are public safety concerns.

The Sun reported that Andrew can now only use or transport his shotguns if accompanied, the newspaper reported.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday November 19, firearms licensing officers attended an address in Windsor to request that a man in his sixties voluntarily surrender his firearms and shotgun certificate.

“The certificate was surrendered, and we will not be commenting any further at this stage.”

It comes after the former prince was forced to relinquish all his remaining titles, including the Duke of York, after continued reporting on his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The news came after the publication of extracts of the posthumous memoir of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. In the book, Giuffre claimed that Andrew considered it his “birthright” to sleep with her.

In his statement, issued on 17 October, Andrew repeated that “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”.

The Met announced earlier this month that they would no longer probe Andrew after they found no evidence he had asked one of his bodyguards to investigate Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre.

In a statement on Saturday, the force said its assessment “has not revealed any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct” and it would not open a criminal investigation.

“The Met remains committed to thoroughly assessing any new information that could assist in this matter,” said Central Specialist Crime Commander Ella Marriott. “To date, we have not received any additional evidence that would support reopening the investigation. In the absence of any further information, we will be taking no further action. Our thoughts will always be with Ms Giuffre’s family and friends following her death.”

As Epstein files continue to be released, a photo revealed by the US Department of Justice saw the former prince lying across the legs of five people.

In the undated photo, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell appears to peer down and smile at the former prince, who is smiling with his eyes closed and his head near a woman’s lap. The photograph was taken at the royal residence of Sandringham

Maxwell – the former girlfriend of Epstein, who is currently serving 20 years in prison for her role in a decade-long scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls with him – can be seen standing beside another woman.

All six people, apart from Maxwell and the former Duke of York, have had their faces redacted in the image, which is a photograph of a picture in a frame.

Andrew has been approached for comment.

Trump doubles down on claim that US must take over Greenland

President Donald Trump further pressed his case on Monday for why the U.S. wants to take control of Greenland, describing the island as vital for American security and making a bizarre claim that the U.S. was exploring Greenland 300 years ago.

“We need it for national protection,” the president said during a press conference in Florida, a day after he appointed a new U.S. envoy to the semi-autonomous Danish territory, infuriating local officials.

Trump went on to say that the U.S. wasn’t seeking to extract Greenland’s mineral wealth, but rather that he wants to use the island to help counter the influence of Russia and China, nations he accused of having ships in the region.

“They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat,” Trump added. “Well, we were there with boats too, I’m sure. So we’ll have to work it all out.”

The Inuit have lived in Greenland for thousands of years, and Europeans made contact with the island in the late 10th century. The U.S. would not play a major role in exploring the area around Greenland until the late 19th century.

He also falsely claimed Denmark wasn’t supporting the island, even though in September it pledged a multi-year, $253m investment package for Greenland.

Over the weekend, Trump announced that Louisiana governor Jeff Landry will serve as a special envoy to the island territory, which the president has frequently expressed interest in taking control of throughout his time in office.

The announcement, which followed months of quiet after a flurry of pressure early in Trump’s term, prompted an angry response from officials in Greenland and Denmark.

“We have said it before. Now, we say it again: national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement. “They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”

Denmark has also summoned the U.S. ambassador to Copenhagen.

As recently as October, the Trump administration’s interest in Greenland seemed to be dying down.

“Right now, it seems far away. There is perhaps a feeling that we can breathe a sigh of relief,” Prime Minister Frederiksen said during a session of the Danish parliament at the time. “It is my belief that we cannot.”

Early in his term, Trump was putting a full-court press on Greenland.

In March, Vice President JD Vance visited a U.S. base there, the same month the president said he wouldn’t rule out using force to take the island.

Tensions escalated further in May, when news reports claimed the U.S. was intensifying spying efforts in Greenland, prompting Denmark to say it would summon the U.S. ambassador for clarification.

Adult content creator Bonnie Blue barred from Indonesia for 10 years

Adult content creator Bonnie Blue has been barred from travelling to Indonesia for the next 10 years after she was detained on suspicion of violating the country’s strict pornography laws and then deported.

The controversial porn actor, whose real name is Tia Billinger, was arrested in Bali earlier this month along with at least 17 male tourists from Australia and the UK, most of whom were released after questioning. She was deported from the Southeast Asian nation last week.

The Indonesian authorities said they did not press charges for production of pornographic content after police checked her phone and found “private video” footage.

The material was for “private documentation and not for public distribution”, director general of immigration Yuldi Yusman said in a statement.

Ms Billinger, though, was found to have violated visa rules as she had “entered Indonesia using a visa on arrival for commercial content production that could potentially cause public unrest”, Mr Yusman said.

“Therefore, we imposed a 10-year entry ban because these activities aren’t in line with the government’s efforts to maintain Bali’s quality tourism image and respect for local cultural values,” he added.

Ms Billinger was arrested after police raided a rental studio in Bali and seized camera equipment, contraceptives and viagra pills.

Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country with strict morality laws, and the offences she was initially held for could have brought up to 15 years in jail and a fine of £270,000.

In the end, Ms Billinger and an associate named Liam Andrew were fined about £9 for violating traffic laws while driving around in the island in a vehicle they promoted as a so-called “Bang Bus”.

She appeared in the Denpasar District Court on Friday before she was deported. She was seen laughing and interacting with people while sucking on a lollipop as cameras filmed her.

“The defendants have lawfully committed the offence jointly and continuously,” the judge ruled.

Footage of Ms Billinger driving around the Indonesian resort island in her bus was shown in the court.

It was told that she drove her blue truck without valid registration documents before using it to promote her explicit videos.

“While in Bali, Bonnie Blue should have been travelling, but instead she was creating content,” police said.

“They will be blacklisted from entering Indonesia for at least 10 years, which could be extended.”

Ms Billinger reportedly told the court she wasn’t driving the vehicle, but riding as a passenger.

“We will immediately take firm action, deport them and submit them for blacklisting,” Winarko, an immigration chief at Bali airport who did not give his full name, told AFP on Thursday.

In her first comments after the controversy, Ms Billinger said her “Bang Bus” tour was “over”.

Asked if she intended to make more explicit content in Bali, she said: “Subscribe and you’ll find out.”

Ms Billinger is known for her controversial stunts. She was banned from the adult content site OnlyFans earlier this year after making headlines for purportedly having sex with 1,057 men in just 12 hours.

Pair convicted of plotting IS-inspired attack on UK Jewish community

Two men have been convicted of planning an Islamic State-inspired attack on a mass gathering of Jews in the Manchester area.

Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, had a “visceral dislike” of Jewish people and wanted to cause “untold harm”, the court heard.

But the plot was scuppered as they unknowingly laid bare their scheme to an undercover operative (UCO).

Main instigator Saadaoui aimed to smuggle four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition into the UK in what police chiefs said could have been Britain’s deadliest terrorist incident.

Months earlier, the father-of-two, originally from Tunisia, paid a deposit for the weapons and believed he had arranged for their importation with a like-minded extremist – but who in fact was the UCO, referred to in court as Farouk.

Saadaoui told Farouk he could independently obtain a firearm via Sweden and indicated he was looking to bring guns from eastern Europe. Separately he had bought an air weapon and had visited a shooting range.

Counterterrorism police intervened on the “strike day” of 8 May last year, with more than 200 officers involved, as Saadaoui was arrested at a hotel car park in Bolton when he went to collect some of the firearms, which had been deactivated.

Preston Crown Court heard he hero-worshipped Islamic State terrorist Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who orchestrated the 2015 Paris terror attacks in which 130 people were killed and hundreds more injured in gun attacks across the city.

No specific target site or date was identified, but prosecutors said the defendants planned to launch a gun assault on an antisemitism march and then head to north Manchester to kill more Jews.

Saadaoui came to the attention of the authorities when he used 10 Facebook accounts, none of which were in his own name, to spread a torrent of Islamic extremist views, as Farouk was deployed to gain his trust online and later in person.

He used one of his fake accounts to join the Facebook group of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, which contained details of a “March Against Antisemitism” held in the city centre on 21 January last year, which thousands attended.

Days later he told Farouk: “Here in Manchester, we have the biggest Jewish community.

“God willing we will degrade and humiliate them (in the worst way possible), and hit them where it hurts.”

Saadaoui recruited fellow IS sympathiser Hussein, a Kuwaiti national, who worked and lived at a furniture shop in Bolton, Greater Manchester, to assist his plans.

The pair travelled to Dover, Kent, in March 2024 to conduct hostile reconnaissance on how a weapon could be smuggled through the port without detection.

On his return, Saadaoui travelled to Prestwich and Higher Broughton in north Manchester, where he carried out similar surveillance on Jewish nurseries, schools, synagogues and shops.

A safe house was also secured in Bolton for the storage of the weapons, as both men returned to Dover two months later, where they believed they were watching the firearms coming into the country.

Giving evidence, Saadaoui denied he had an extreme ideology and claimed he was “playing along” with Farouk. He said his intention was to sabotage the plans before they came to fruition as he aimed to cut up the weapons with an angle grinder and then alert the authorities.

Hussein told detectives he was not part of any terror attack plan and said the evidence of the UCO was “fantasy”.

He also told them: “Your government, your prime minister has sent weapons to kill our children in Israel.

“Terrorism is our religion. Quran say terrorism is normal. We are proud, we say terrorism is proud.”

His barrister told jurors that Hussein held “very firm opinions” about the conflict in Gaza, but that did not make him a terrorist.

Saadaoui, of Abram, Wigan, and Hussein, of no fixed address, were convicted of preparing acts of terrorism between December 2023 and May 2024.

Saadaoui’s brother Bilel, 36, of Hindley, Wigan, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan.

All three defendants will be sentenced on 13 February.

Following the verdicts, assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester Police Robert Potts said: “What Walid Saadaoui was trying to achieve was a terrorist attack on the Jewish community that, given the weaponry and ammunition involved, could potentially have been the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history.

“Some of the things he said made it very clear that he regarded a less sophisticated attack with less lethal weaponry as not being good enough as he saw it was his duty to kill as many Jewish people as he could. That wasn’t going to be achieved via the use of a knife, or potentially a vehicle, as a weapon.

“There was very real risk and danger for Farouk who undoubtedly saved lives. I cannot overemphasise his courage, bravery and professionalism in the role that he played.

“It was intrinsic to our ability to continue to develop the investigation and allow Walid to continue with his plans up until the point, working with the Crown Prosecution Service, we were satisfied that we had sufficient evidence to get the most significant charges authorised.”

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s special crime and counterterrorism division, said: “The investigation and prosecution deployed a highly trained witness who made sure their plot did not succeed and secured valuable evidence directly from the mouths of the terrorists.

“They laid bare their intention to destroy lives, their long-held attitudes and beliefs as well as their Isis credentials.”

It’s about experience: Further Education teachers share what it takes

In the modern world, many of us are working longer than ever. Research based on ONS Labour Market data found that there are almost one million more workers aged 65 and above since the millennium and the state pension is set to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by the late 2030s. Subsequently, having multiple careers is becoming increasingly popular. And after decades working in a specific industry, sharing the work-based knowledge you have gained via teaching in further education is one of the most rewarding career shifts you can make.

Further Education teaching (defined as any education for people aged 16 and over who aren’t studying for a degree) allows you to switch up your working days and harness the skills and experience you have developed, all while helping shape the next generation of workers in your field.

To find out more about the role, from what it takes to the best parts of the job, we spoke to Further Education teachers who have switched from doing their day job to teaching it…

John Ryan, 51, from Weston Super Mare, worked for more than a decade on site in the construction industry, mainly in bricklaying and supervising roles, before an opportunity to become a Further Education assessor changed his path in his thirties. Travelling nationally to assess the work of new bricklayers in order to sign off their NVQs (National Vocational Qualification), the college John was associated with then started offering him some teaching work.

With no prior teaching qualifications, John completed these alongside his assessing and teaching roles with the fees picked up by the teaching college. “I liked the idea of passing on my knowledge and giving young people the skills and confidence to progress in a trade,” he says. “Teaching in Further Education felt like a natural next step because it would allow me to combine my practical background with coaching and mentoring.” There were practical draws too. “On site in the construction industry you are self-employed so you do not get holidays or sick pay. The stability of income and regular paid holidays was a big draw of Further Education teaching,” he adds.

Since his first assessing role 18 years ago, John has worked between assessing, teaching and jobs back on the construction site and now, he currently teaches bricklaying and groundwork full-time at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

John’s extensive site and supervisory experience has proved to be hugely valuable when it comes to teaching his students there. “I can explain not just the ‘how’ but also the ‘why’ behind industry standards,” he explains. “Learners often respond well to hearing about real jobs, site challenges, and the professional behaviours that employers expect. It makes the lessons more relatable and credible,” he shares.

“For example, I can share stories of accidents when teaching site safety, or explain how a mistake of a few millimetres on a construction site can cost you time to rectify, which in turn will cost you money,” he says. “These hands-on, real world experiences make the theory relatable and show learners the real value of getting it right.”

Coral Aspinall, 52, who became a full-time Further Education teacher 12 years ago, agrees. “My experience allows me to put my teaching into context,” she says. Coral started out her engineering career at 16 as an apprentice in a local engineering company. Following a BSc in Engineering and Business Management, she worked for many years in the engineering industry before enrolling on a part-time PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) course for teaching. She’s now the Engineering Programme Leader at the Stockport campus of the Trafford and Stockport College Group. Here, they offer qualifications such as Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations as well as engineering-focused Level 3 T Levels and Level 3 Btec Awards. They also offer Level 3 apprenticeships across engineering including Technical Support, Engineering Fitter and Maintenance Management.

“Because I’ve been an engineering apprentice myself, I understand what the student needs to be successful in terms of skills, knowledge and behaviour,” she explains. “I also have contacts in the wider engineering community and understand what an employer is looking for in an apprentice, and can also share insights in terms of how the sector is shifting and evolving to help support their progress.”

Working for an extensive period of time in a field before passing on that knowledge gives teachers maturity and empathy which can be hugely helpful for students, especially those facing complex life situations.

Beyond the practical techniques, a big part of John’s role is helping learners build confidence, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that employers look for. “Many of my learners have different challenges, so they value teachers who are approachable, who believe in them, and who prepare them for real opportunities in work or further study,” he says. For John, his previous work experience has allowed him to do this. “On site, I worked with people facing all sorts of pressures, from work to life issues, which taught me to be patient and supportive,” he explains.

Coral has had a similar experience. “I see my role as more than imparting knowledge; it is about preparing the young person for the next stage of their journey. The students trust me to have their best interests at heart; they come to me for advice on their next steps and how they can achieve their aspirations, and I’ll support them with both practical advice and words of encouragement.”

For Coral, teaching later in life allows her to draw from a mature perspective, and teach her students positive workplace behaviours alongside skills and knowledge. “Students thrive when they have clear unambiguous boundaries, so I’m firm around expectations in terms of timekeeping, attendance and attitude. This is particularly important to succeeding in the workplace as employers value these behaviours as much as, or even more than having specific expertise or know-how (which can generally be developed).”

If you’re looking for a fresh career option, and keen to share your skills with the next generation, Further Education teaching could be a really enriching new phase. Further Education covers a huge range of career sectors including construction, law, engineering, digital, hospitality, tourism, beauty and more. This includes BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council qualifications), T Levels, NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) or City & Guilds Qualifications.

Teaching in a mixture of colleges (often General Further Education Colleges or Sixth Form Colleges) and Adult and Community Learning Centres as well as workplace and apprenticeship settings, further education teachers share their years of real world industry skills with a diverse mix of people from those straight out of school aged sixteen to those making career switches later in life.

You don’t always need an academic degree or prior teaching qualifications to start teaching in further education. You can undertake teacher training on the job, often funded by your employer, so you can start earning straight away.. Furthermore, it doesn’t mean you have to stop working in your chosen field. Further education offers hybrid opportunities – so you could teach part time alongside your other commitments. This means you could have the best of both worlds, where you are still working in your chosen industry and teaching alongside it at a time that suits your schedule. Find out if it’s the right move for you here.

If, like John and Coral, you see the appeal in sharing the knowledge and skills you’ve developed with the next generation, exploring the option of becoming a Further Education teacher can be a great next step. As John shares, the reward is always worth it: “It never gets old passing on my knowledge to people starting on their journey, knowing I have made a difference and getting a smile and thanks in return!”

Looking for a new role that’s rewarding, flexible and draws on your current career? Why not consider sharing your experience where it matters most – helping inspire the next generation of workers in the field you love? Visit Further Education to find out more

Toddler dies after car crashes into broken-down vehicle days before Christmas

A two-year-old toddler has died in a crash on the A1 in Cambridgeshire, just days before Christmas.

Five others have been hospitalised after a Toyota Auris broke down on the northbound carriageway just past Stibbington Junction, and was hit by a Volkswagen Touran at around 6.20pm.

The little boy, who had been sitting inside the Toyota, was killed while five other passengers were taken to Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 64-year-old man, was slightly injured.

He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and has been bailed until 20 March.

Cambridgeshire Police are now appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage to aid the investigation.

Sgt David Mcllwhan said: “Our thoughts are with the parents and family of this young child who has tragically lost his life in this collision.

“The family is being supported by specialist family liaison officers.

“I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage but was unable to stop at the scene to get in touch.”

Anyone with information about the moments leading up to the incident or the collision itself should report it to the police online, quoting incident 401 of December 20.

Immigration officers charged with stealing from migrants

Six immigration officers have been charged with money laundering after an investigation into thefts from migrants.

The six officers were suspended and arrested after a Home Office investigation into theft and money laundering between August 2021 and November 2022, with three subsequently dismissed.

Five of the officers are charged with conspiracy to steal and misconduct in public office, the Crown Prosecution Service announced on Tuesday.

All six have been charged with money laundering. One of the officers, Besmir Matera, of Reigate, Surrey, is also charged with obtaining leave to enter and remain in the UK by deception and possessing an identity document with improper intention.

Head of the CPS Special Crime Division Malcolm McHaffie said Matera, 36, Lee-Ann Evanson, 42, John Bernthal, 53, Ben Edwardes, 45, Jack Mitchell, 33, and David Grundy, 43, have been charged “following a Home Office investigation into thefts from migrants and money laundering between August 2021 and November 2022”.

All six defendants will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court next month.

Mr McHaffie said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with the Home Office’s Anti-Corruption Criminal Investigations Unit as they carried out their investigation.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “These are extremely concerning allegations and it is right that criminal proceedings now run their course.

“When this information came to light, all six of these individuals were immediately suspended.

“We expect all of our officers to meet the highest standards. Where those standards are breached, we will take action without hesitation.”

The CPS said it wanted to remind everyone that this case is active and it is “vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings”.

Matera, of Reigate, Surrey, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public office; concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property; obtaining leave to enter to remain in the United Kingdom by deception; and three counts of possession of an identity document with improper intention.

Evanson, of Bracknell, Berkshire, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public office; and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

Bernthal, of Welling, southeast London, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public office; and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

Edwardes, of Bexleyheath, southeast London, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public office; and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

Mitchell, of Dover, Kent, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public office; and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

Grundy, of Croydon, south London, is charged with concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.