Death toll in Indonesia floods passes 600

A recent report highlights that a quarter of police forces lack essential policies to address sexual offences, emphasizing the urgent need for action to prevent violent attacks against women. This report comes four years after the murder of a 33-year-old woman, underscoring ongoing concerns about women's safety.

Jury trials have been eliminated for crimes that carry sentences of less than three years as part of reforms aimed at addressing significant delays in the Crown Court system. This change is expected to streamline the judicial process and reduce the backlog of cases awaiting trial.

The death toll from severe flooding and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra island has risen to 708, with 504 individuals reported missing and approximately 3.2 million people affected. The disaster has resulted in 2,600 injuries and prompted the evacuation of over 1 million residents as authorities respond to the escalating crisis.

Bulgaria's government has withdrawn its proposed budget plan, which was the country's first to be denominated in euros, following widespread protests where tens of thousands of demonstrators accused the government of concealing corruption. Clashes occurred between protesters and police during the demonstrations in Sofia, highlighting public discontent with the current administration.

Twelve more prisoners have been released in error over the past three weeks, adding to the 91 prisoners mistakenly freed between April and October, as reported by Lammy. This situation raises concerns about the management and oversight of the prison system.

A tragic incident occurred near a North Yorkshire school, resulting in the death of a teenage girl in a minibus crash. Local police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, which has left the community in shock and mourning.

Hundreds of thousands of flood survivors in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are facing critical shortages of food and fuel as severe flooding, triggered by monsoon rains and cyclones, has resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities across the region. The relentless weather has displaced thousands, leaving many in dire need of assistance.

A catastrophic fire broke out in a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, resulting in at least 151 confirmed fatalities, marking the deadliest fire in the city in over 70 years. The blaze, which reportedly began on external scaffolding, has left many individuals injured and unaccounted for, prompting immediate investigations by local authorities.