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Russell Bruce Moncrief, 75, faces counts of human trafficking and racketeering over ‘sickening scheme’ A bail bondsman is facing criminal charges in Florida for allegedly approaching incarcerated women and offering to bond them out if they give him sex in return. Russell Bruce Moncrief faces counts of human trafficking and racketeering – along with accusations that he used his authority within the criminal justice system to prey on particularly vulnerable women, said a recent news release from the office of the state’s attorney general, Ashley Moody. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/A3FtNbj

Piotr Kucharski wore insignia for proscribed terror group on combat clothing at Suffolk Viking re-enactment A builder has been jailed for claiming at a Viking re-enactment that he had fought for the Wagner group in Ukraine. Piotr Kucharski, 49, wore combat clothing bearing badges with insignia for the proscribed terror organisation to an event in Stonham Aspal, in Suffolk. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UQuZMJh

Daniel Khalife, 23, says he absconded because he was ‘terrified’ of being locked up with dangerous offenders A former British soldier has told a jury he did not hand himself in after he escaped from prison because he was “finally demonstrating what a foolish idea it was” to imprison someone with his “skill set”. Daniel Khalife, 23, told the court he absconded from Wandsworth prison while on remand because he was “terrified” of being locked up with “serious sex offenders” and “terrorists” who wanted to kill him, and that he did not think his imprisonment would be in the public interest. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vRZHkaw

Birmingham Rep Rae Mainwaring’s award-winning drama about a young woman with multiple sclerosis is given a playful production This play’s title refers to the patches of an MRI scan that indicate multiple sclerosis but Rae Mainwaring’s play crackles with bright places of its own. Based on her experience of having the degenerative condition since she was 23, it is funny as well as reflective, raucous as well as sad. Tessa Walker’s playful touring production for Carbon Theatre picks up on the youthful energy of the script, winner of a Peggy Ramsay/Film4 award. For the character in Bright Places, MS strikes at a time of dating, dancing and forging a career. At Birmingham Rep until 2 November. Touring until 13 December Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/maMfWsv

The chancellor played to packed Labour benches as the party relished its first budget in 15 years It was quite the moment. The first Labour budget in 15 years. The first ever UK budget delivered by a woman. Labour backbenchers had been queueing up since 8.30am to get their place in history. The moment the doors were opened three hours later, they dashed for their seats. Within minutes even the standing room was gone. The Tory MPs, not so much. Ten minutes before the largely pointless prime minister’s questions began there were still plenty of seats free on the opposition side of the chamber. One of the upsides of having only 121 MPs is that there is no premium on space these days. Up in the gallery above, Theresa May sat impassively apart from the odd shake of the head. The Maybot never gives much away. She inhabits a world of her own. Taking the Lead by John Crace is published by Little, Brown (£18.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com .

Maybe my own childhood with a narcissistic, abusive, seductive father was what gave me eyes to see Trump for what he is I went to the Trump rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Or I tried to. I wanted to see it, to feel it, to know it. I spent two hours smushed in a crowd of thousands, waiting in the cold, unable to move, in the midst of belligerent conversations, alcohol consumption, rantings and racist posturings. There were older Jewish men, Black families, Asian couples and young Latina women. I heard south Asian men calling Kamala Harris hateful slurs, others saying women needed to just shut up and listen to men. I saw working men showing off their jackets with artistic renderings of Trump as bullfighter slaying the deep state dragon. What I mainly heard and felt was grievance. I’ve always thought America was a mean place. And what I mean by that is that it’s structured for meanness. It’s a place of winners and losers, people who matter and those who can be disposed of, a c

Badenoch and Jenrick appeal to worst instincts of Tory members, though few seem to care about what is clearly a temporary appointment First the good news. In just a few days time you won’t be subjected to a constant stream of unconsciousness from Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. Now the bad news. In just a few days time, either KemiKaze or Honest Bob will become the new Tory leader and you will get yet more white noise from one of them. Most likely Kemi. It’s enough to turn anyone to drugs. There again, maybe you’re the type of person who can easily zone out the moment certain annoying sound frequencies kick in. Clearly you’re not alone. The more KemiKaze and Honest Bob battle for headlines, the greater the indifference. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/tH5uJbL