Sara Sharif’s father ‘fully responsible’ for her death
Urfan Sharif, father of ten-year-old Sara, has admitted responsibility for her death during his murder trial at the Old Bailey. Sharif confessed to beating her with a metal pole and other objects, inflicting severe injuries leading to her death. Despite previously blaming his wife, he now admits he ‘takes full responsibility’. In the weeks before her death, he removed Sara from school, escalated physical punishment, and bound her with tape. At the time of her death, Sara was found with multiple fractures, burns, and severe external injuries. Although Sharif acknowledged he beat her, he maintains it was intended as 'discipline,' denying intent to kill. Despite his confession, he declined to change his not guilty plea to murder. Sharif, his wife, and his brother fled to Pakistan after her death but were arrested upon their return to the UK. The trial continues as the court seeks justice for Sara.
MPs support removing House of Lords hereditary peers
MPs have supported a bill to remove hereditary peers from the House of Lords, which currently reserves 92 seats for individuals who inherit their titles. The bill, passed by 435 votes to 73, now moves to the Lords, where it faces opposition. Conservatives argue that the move aims to replace scrutinising peers with Labour appointees. Some MPs proposed additional reforms, including removing CofE bishops from the Lords, but these were rejected. Liberal Democrat and SNP representatives pushed for a fully elected House of Lords, while Labour’s manifesto suggests introducing a retirement age and eventually replacing the Lords with a representative second chamber. Cabinet office minister Ellie Reeves defended the Government’s approach, saying hereditary seats contradict modern principles of fairness. Critics within the Lords, however, view the bill as politically motivated and detrimental to the chamber’s role in scrutinising government actions.
Homebase goes into administration, many jobs at risk
DIY retailer Homebase has entered administration, putting 2,000 jobs at risk. Its owner had hoped to sell the struggling retailer but failed to secure a buyer. The Range has purchased up to 75 Homebase stores and the brand, saving approximately 1,600 jobs, but 49 stores remain unsold. The administrators are continuing to seek a buyer for these locations; no immediate redundancies have been announced, and the stores will continue trading for now. The firm’s collapse follows years of financial difficulties, exacerbated by a decline in consumer spending after the pandemic, persistent inflation, supply chain disruptions, inability to match the price and quality of competitors, and unseasonably poor weather. Losses totalled £84.2 million last year, and despite efforts to restructure and secure investment, the company’s financial struggles persisted. The situation reflects broader trends in the home improvement sector, where high inflation and consumer caution have hit sales.
Netherlands: violence in Amsterdam continues
There has been severe unrest in Amsterdam since antisemitic violence linked to a football match on 7 November between Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. The police presence in the city has been strengthened and most protests banned, but the violence has continued. The police have faced targeted attacks, including stones and fireworks. The disturbances have been fuelled by both anti-Israeli and anti-Palestinian sentiments, and Jewish institutions have received heightened security. So far, over a hundred people have been arrested in connection with the riots. Amsterdam’s mayor described the violence as an ‘outburst of antisemitism’: she said the authorities had considered calling the match off because of tensions fuelled by social media, but could find no legal grounds for doing so. The violence has sparked outrage, prompting an emergency debate in the Dutch parliament. In related news, four thousand police will be deployed in Paris on 15 November for a match between France and Israel: see
