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Two women among three charged with assaulting emergency worker after migrant boat protest
Three people have been charged with assaulting an emergency worker following protests in Gosport as a boat carrying migrants was rescued at sea.

Officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary were sent to the town on Tuesday to police a peaceful protest.

Police arrested six people, and on Wednesday said three individuals had been charged.

Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Sally Pearson, 31, also from Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.

Both have been remanded into custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Toby Matthews, 33, of Forton Road, Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He has been bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 9 November.

A 19-year-old man and a 36-year-old man from Salisbury, Wiltshire, who were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, have been bailed until 22 December.

A 67-year-old man from Gosport was handed a fixed penalty notice for driving without due care and attention.

Police said he was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. He has been bailed until 22 December.

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Hundreds of activists gathered in Gosport on Tuesday after the far-right campaigner Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, filmed himself going out to sea to try to intercept a dinghy carrying dozens of migrants.

In YouTube footage, he could be seen stabbing the dinghy after a crew member boarded to apparently take the boat back to France, with police now "conducting inquiries".

Some of the demonstrators on Tuesday wore black clothing and face coverings, and chanted "send them back", wrongly assuming the boat would be guided to the Hampshire coast.

The vessel had in fact docked in Dover, Kent, at about 12.30am on Wednesday, after 51 migrants on board reportedly refused assistance from a French ship. They spent 36 hours at sea, according to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an "urgent review" after the Border Force failed to intercept a second migrant boat in two days before it reached the Kent coast.

Border Security Command has detained 21 people following a boat arrival on the beach of Samphire Hoe, Dover, on Tuesday afternoon, and the Home Office has not said whether more people are being sought.

It comes after a dinghy made it to shore at Folkestone on Monday morning, which was the first undetected arrival for over a year.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ms Mahmood described the undetected crossings of two small boats this week as "not acceptable" and said the Border Security Command is investigating.

"Our improved monitoring has led to uncontrolled crossings becoming incredibly rare. But even one is one too many," the home secretary said.

"That is why I have ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command into how this happened, and what must be done to ensure it doesn't happen again."


Netherlands to return to Eurovision as it drops boycott over Israel participation
The Netherlands will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 after abandoning ​a boycott over Israel's participation.

Earlier this month, Ireland announced it would not participate in the event for a second year in a row, citing ​the ongoing loss ​of life ⁠in Gaza.

Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia shunned the competition in May ​in protest at the inclusion of Israel amid its military ​offensive in ⁠the Palestinian territory.

AvroTros, the broadcaster that usually ​facilitates the Dutch entry, said in August it would boycott Eurovision for a second year, arguing recent changes to the rules, preventing countries involved in "armed conflict" from hosting, were unclear.

But it left the final ​decision in the hands of other ​broadcasters in the country, and on Wednesday the NPO - the umbrella organisation for the Dutch public broadcasting system - said it would take over responsibility for the Netherlands entry.

The NPO said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ​had taken "important steps" in response to criticism by countries that ​had not participated last time, which it said should lead to ‌a ⁠more "unifying" event.

The NPO admitted the decision would provoke "mixed emotions" in the country.

The EBU last month announced it would be updating the contest's rules, relating to the countries which could host the event. Normally, countries are invited to host if their act has won the contest the previous year.

Under the new rules, broadcasters cannot host if their country is involved in armed conflict or a "sensitive geopolitical situation" that could affect the safety of the event.

Broadcasters will now "automatically be ineligible to host the contest if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation materially affects the security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region".

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The EBU said the rule changes had been made following feedback from participating broadcasters, and that the updates would provide greater clarity for artists and production staff.

Tensions surrounding the war in Gaza within the music industry have been heightened this month as Ed Sheeran was caught up in a media frenzy.

His Loop tour plans were derailed after support acts pulled out in solidarity with US rapper Macklemore, who was dropped following pro-Palestine comments he made during a show in New Jersey.

Sheeran has since apologised to fans for his handling of the controversy.

As the world's largest live music competition, Eurovision is watched by millions around the world.

Next year's competition is due to take place in Bulgaria in 2027 after singer Dara's victory for the country in May.


Report calls for a National Resilience Corps formed of thousands of volunteers
A new report is calling for a National Resilience Corps (NRC), formed of tens of thousands of volunteers, to strengthen Britain's security preparedness.

The proposal would establish a voluntary civilian organisation, beginning with 10,000 volunteers in its first year and rising to 50,000 within five years, to support critical national infrastructure and essential services during crises.

ThinkLabour is calling for the creation of the new NRC after drawing on the findings of its new report in collaboration with the British Foreign Policy Group (BFPG).

Volunteers would complete 10 days of training, followed by regular volunteering and training, before being available to support responses to emergencies.

The Corps would focus on sectors including health, energy, transport, communications, food, water and emergency services, complementing rather than duplicating existing organisations.

Drawing on examples from countries including Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany, the report estimates that the scheme would cost £90m in its first year, rising to £240m by year five.

In a foreword to the report, Al Carns MP, the former armed forces minister who served as a Royal Marines officer, said the proposed Corps "would be a major step in the right direction".

He added: "It could provide the structure through which cyber specialists are mobilised following a major attack; logistics workers help deliver food and medicine during a prolonged power outage; and trained citizens support vulnerable people and essential services when normal systems are disrupted."

The NRC would help turn willingness into practical capability by giving people the training and experience to support their communities in a crisis, according to Ed Arnold, a senior fellow at the BFPG.

Polling conducted by ThinkLabour for the report found strong public support, with 47% supporting the creation of an NRC, compared with 12% opposing it.

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While many people lacked confidence they had the skills needed to help effectively, 76% said they would be willing to distribute food, medicine or emergency supplies during a crisis, and 71% would be willing to help keep essential services running.

Christabel Cooper, interim director of political strategy at ThinkLabour, said: "The establishment of an NRC both brings home the reality of the threats the UK faces, but also gives ordinary people the chance to help the government counter it."

Last week, Mr Carns revealed in an interview that can be watched on Defence Insider that all government departments would publish updated war plans by the end of the year.


Mother and three children killed in Merseyside house fire named
A mother and her three children, who were killed in a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, have been named.

Merseyside Police identified them as Elisha Brabin, 36, Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, eight, and seven-year-old Prudence Brabin.

The family said they have suffered an "unimaginable" loss following Tuesday's blaze.

In a tribute issued through police, they said: "Our whole family is devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence.

"Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, auntie, niece and cousin. She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children. They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us.

"Our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family. They filled our lives with laughter and precious memories that we will cherish forever.

"The tragic loss of Elisha and our three precious children has left us heartbroken. They have all been taken from us far too soon. The loss we are experiencing is unimaginable, and the impact on our family will be felt forever."

Firefighters were called to the house on Stone Square at 3.38am on Tuesday.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the four victims were found in an upstairs bedroom of the semi-detached home by crews who went in to tackle the fire.

One person found outside the property was taken to hospital with burns.

Chief fire officer Nick Searle, of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said it was an "intense fire which spread very rapidly".

Six engines were on scene at the height of the blaze and eight firefighters entered the house, said a spokesperson.

"I heard shouting in the early hours but I just thought someone was having an argument," said a neighbour. "Then I came downstairs and saw all the fire engines."

Police and firefighters are jointly investigating the cause of the blaze.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than £5,000 for the family.

Neighbour Loti Nambombe, who set up the fundraiser, said: "Everybody just wants to do something to help, that's our duty as neighbours and as a community."

He said funds could go towards funeral costs or anything else the family needed.

Flowers have been left at the scene as members of the local community paid their respects.

A number of soft toys were laid on the pavement next to a police cordon, along with candles, star-shaped balloons and photo frames with images of the family.

One card displayed the message: "God bless you all. Heartbroken to hear about the devastating fire."

Another said: "Sleep tight. Forever in our hearts."


Teenager denies sending racist message to England defender Jess Carter
A teenager has denied sending a racist message to England defender Jess Carter during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship.

Aaryan Aggarwal, 19, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with sending a message over a public network that was offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing.

The court heard that 28-year-old Carter received the message on 17 July last year, which was the day England beat Sweden in their Euro quarter-final.

Aggarwal is accused of telling the footballer "well done, stupid ugly" - before using a racial slur.

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The defendant, of Chigwell in Essex, pleaded not guilty to the offence during Wednesday's hearing.

A trial date was fixed for 3 March next year at Cambridge Magistrates' Court.

Carter, from Warwick, is a defender for Gotham FC.

She was part of the England team when the Lionesses became the Euro 2022 champions.

She was also a key performer as England sought to defend their title at Euro 2025.


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