Specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams will be introduced to every police force in England and Wales by 2029, the government has pledged.

It is part of a long-delayed plan aimed at halving violence against women and girls within a decade.

The strategy – which will include funding for undercover units operating online and a rollout of domestic abuse protection orders – is due to be unveiled on Thursday, after being pushed back three times this year.

Speaking to the Laura Kuenssberg program on Sunday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that during her time in government she had come to “the depressing conclusion” that “the criminal justice system fails women.”

She said the problem of violence against women and girls was a “national emergency” and that victims were facing a “postcode lottery” when trying to access support.

The government says the new teams will have officers with specialist investigation skills for working on rape and sexual offence cases.

More than 50% of police forces already have these teams in place, but the government says every force will have dedicated officers by 2029.

It says staff will have the right training to understand the mindset of abusers and victims.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner,

Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, welcomed the move, saying the government will replicate tactics used by the Met in its existing V100 program.

The V100 program uses data to identify and target men who pose the highest risks to women.

Sir Mark said the Met applies the “same relentless determination we use to combat terrorism to tackle violence against women and girls,” adding, “We built an entirely new system focused on pursuing and prosecuting men who commit violence and I am pleased the government is now asking all forces to have the same principle.”

Also announced is a rollout of domestic abuse protection orders, which have been trialled over the last year, across England and Wales.

They can ban individuals from contacting a victim, visiting their home, or posting harmful content online; they can also be used in cases involving coercive or controlling behaviour. Breaching an order is a criminal offence.

Mahmood said the early evidence from the pilots on the effectiveness of the orders was “very, very positive”, with a large number of arrests of people breaching the orders.

“The really different thing that those orders do is they take the onus away from the woman, the victim herself, to chase her abuser all the way around different bits of the legal system in order to enforce the order and actually put it back on the police,” she said.

There will also be almost £2m in investment for special undercover units of police officers operating online – to target those harassing women and girls on the internet.

A report released earlier this month found that more than a quarter of police forces in England and Wales had not implemented basic policies for investigating sexual offences.

It said sexually motivated crimes against women in public remained widespread, criticised the limited nature of data on them, and called for urgent action to prevent predators from offending.

The government has long delayed publishing its strategy. It was initially expected to be announced in the spring.

In Labour’s general election manifesto last year, the party pledged to use “every government tool available to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence”.

On Tuesday, the chairs of three Commons select committees raised their concerns over repeated delays in publishing the plans.

The proposal will prioritise changing attitudes among boys and young men.

We understand that the proposal will revolve around three goals: preventing young men from radicalising, stopping abusers, and supporting victims.

Some domestic abuse survivors have told the BBC the time for talking is over – and these measures must be implemented quickly.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp called the announcement “too little, too late.”.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, he said it was “disappointing”; it had taken the government a year and a half to produce its strategy, and the funding provided was “a very small amount.”

Asked why the previous Conservative government, of which he was a member, and the current Labour one had struggled to grasp the problem, he said both parties took the issue “seriously” but added that the criminal justice system was “quite slow and bureaucratic.”

He said changes to the disclosure of evidence, introduced after a prosecution collapsed in 2017, had “slowed the whole system down”.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who was awarded the prestigious honour in 2023 for her work defending women’s and human rights in Iran, has been “violently” detained, according to her supporters. 

She was detained by Iranian authorities in the city of Mashhad, some 680 kilometres (420 miles) northeast of the capital, Tehran, on Friday, a foundation in her name said.

Ms Mohammadi, 53, was present at a memorial service for a human rights lawyer who unexpectedly passed away.

A local official confirmed the arrests, but did not specifically mention Ms Mohammadi.

It was not immediately clear whether authorities would return her to prison, where she had been serving a sentence before she was temporarily released in December 2024 for medical purposes.

Mohammadi’s detention comes amid Iran’s crackdown on intellectuals and activists, as Tehran grapples with sanctions, a weakening economy, and fears of a renewed conflict with Israel.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s detention may also intensify Western pressure at a time when Iran has repeatedly indicated interest in new negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program that have not yet taken place.

the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize,

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, the body that awards the Nobel Peace Prize, said it was “deeply concerned” by Mohammadi’s arrest.

The committee “calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately clarify Mohammadi’s whereabouts, ensure her safety and integrity, and release her without conditions,” it said in a statement.

Image:
Ali and Kiana Rahmani receive the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for their mother, Narges Mohammadi. Pic: AP

She was arrested by police and security forces alongside other activists while attending a ceremony honouring Khosrow Alikordi, a 46-year-old Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate who had been based in Mashhad.

Mr Alikordi was found dead in his office earlier this month, reportedly from a heart attack. His death has prompted over 80 lawyers to demand more information.

Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, said what happened on Friday “is the Islamic Republic’s latest assault on the most basic human freedoms – where even mourning a slain lawyer becomes a punishable act.”.

Footage reportedly from the ceremony showed Mohammadi speaking into a microphone, addressing the crowd without wearing a hijab or headscarf.

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She led the crowd in chants of Majidreza Rahnavard’s name, a man executed publicly by hanging from a crane in 2022.

A video released by her foundation showed her without a hijab, standing among a large crowd.

Hasan Hosseini, the city governor of Mashhad, said prosecutors ordered the temporary detention of some ceremony participants after “norm-breaking” chants, calling the move preventive to protect attendees.

Video footage reportedly captured additional anti-government chants, though Hosseini did not address claims of violence during the arrests.

Health fears

Supporters had long warned that Mohammadi could be returned to prison after her December 2024 medical furlough, initially set for three weeks but extended, possibly due to activist and international pressure.

She continued her activism during this period, including protests and media appearances, even outside Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

Mohammadi had been serving nearly 14 years for charges including collusion against state security and propaganda and for supporting protests following Mahsa Amini‘s 2022 death.

Medical experts warned that returning her to prison, especially under stressful conditions without proper care, could seriously harm her health.

An engineer by training, Mohammadi has been imprisoned 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to over 30 years in total.

Her most recent detention began in 2021 after attending a memorial for a protest victim.

Who: Alaves vs Real Madrid
What: Spain’s La Liga
Where: Mendizorroza Stadium in Vitoria, Spain
When: Sunday, December 14, at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.

Real Madrid will hope to ease the pressure on Xabi Alonso when they visit Alaves on Sunday, but the record La Liga winners will know that one more defeat could spell the end of the short-lived tenure of their beleaguered manager.

In a welcome show of solidarity, Los Blancos midfielder Jude Bellingham said on Wednesday, after their defeat by Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, that the players were behind Alonso and no one was “downing tools”.

More welcome news for the Madrid-based club is that Kylian Mbappe is back in contention for Sunday’s game after missing out against City due to injury.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at what is surely a must-not-lose for Alonso, but—with Barcelona seven points clear—it may well be a must-win.

How much pressure is mounting on Real Madrid coach Alonso?

Alonso, whom Spanish media reported was set for the sack if Madrid lost against City, remains at the helm despite a 2-1 defeat at a frustrated, whistling Bernabeu.

Despite the outcome, it is hoped that the match could serve as a pivotal moment for a team that has only managed two wins in their last eight games across all competitions.

Alonso’s players rallied around him, with not only Bellingham offering public messages of support after the game and even during it, as goalscorer Rodrygo Goes ran over to hug his manager.

“The only thing we can do is change our attitude … and [against City], we saw a change,” said defender Raul Asencio.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was another Madrid player who backed the coach and believes the situation will be eased when results turn.

“We all passionately support the coach, and our victory on Sunday will transform this dynamic,” Courtois stated.

What is Alonso’s take on Real Madrid’s struggles?

After Madrid’s improved display against City, it did not make sense for President Florentino Perez to let the axe fall.

It would be easy to make that call the next time the team stumbles – and if it really is a turning point that doesn’t happen, that would work for him too. This is especially true in the absence of a clear successor.

Alonso, meanwhile, said he hoped Madrid’s current woes could make the team stronger.

“We are having difficulties, but we can grow,” he said. “If we can get past these tough times and change the dynamic, maybe in a few weeks we’ll look back and think, ‘we went through a lot, but it made us stronger.’”

On feeling the criticism and doubts, Alonso said he is not surprised.

“You have to live with it, and when you’re the coach at Real Madrid, you have to be prepared to face it bravely, responsibly, and self-critically, knowing that things can change,” the former Madrid midfielder said. “Despite the result, I’ve seen positive things individually and collectively. Other things haven’t gone so well, but we’re still in it.”

What happened in Real Madrid’s last La Liga game?

In their most recent match in the Spanish top flight, Los Blancos suffered a humiliating defeat at home against Celta Vigo, with two players receiving red cards.

Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia were sent off and are suspended as a result for the trip to Alaves.

Are there any glimmers of hope for Real Madrid?

One player who seems to have recovered, not only from injury but also his form, is winger Rodrygo, as he ended his dismal run against City.

After 32 games without finding the net, the Brazilian finished superbly to send his team ahead.

Beyond that, he was back to his electric best, transformed from the diminished figure seen recently.

“It’s one of today’s positive pieces of news to see him with that individual quality, that flair, and he also scored, which was important for him,” said Alonso.

What is the latest on Vinicius Junior’s Real fallout?

On the other flank, Rodrygo’s compatriot Vinicius Junior offered a less convincing display.

When Alonso withdrew from the Clasico in October, the winger’s anger towards him became a flashpoint, contributing to Madrid’s season’s downfall.

Since that moment, Spanish media have reported a growing rift between the players and the coach, suggesting various complaints about his selection decisions and the tactical work they have to do.

It appears to be healing with the support Alonso was offered, although whether Madrid’s stars retain the work ethic they displayed in a glamorous European tie on a wintry Sunday night at Alaves’s Mendizorroza stadium will be a good barometer.

How has the season gone so wrong for Real Madrid?

Alonso appeared to have a promising start to his career at Bernabeu, with Kylian Mbappe scoring freely and his team winning its first seven games of the season. After a victory over Barcelona, the team partially forgot about the loss to Atletico Madrid.

Then something went wrong. The team’s performance plummeted after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League last month. While losing at Anfield is a common occurrence for any club, Madrid’s three consecutive draws in La Liga against Rayo Vallecano, Elche, and Girona raised serious concerns for a team that prides itself on being the best in the world.

But worse was to come: the humiliating 2-0 defeat by Celta Vigo followed by the 2-1 loss to Pep Guardiola’s City. Both of those losses came in front of some disgruntled fans, who jeered the team at Bernabeu.

Now, all bets are off regarding Alonso’s future, just months after he left Bayer Leverkusen, where he had an exceptional tenure that culminated in the Bundesliga title in 2024.

How have Alaves fared this season?

Alaves is strong at home with only two losses in eight games in Vitoria this season, including a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad last round.

They opened their campaign with just three wins in 10. Their recent run of four wins in seven has seen them climb to midtable, with half an eye on European qualification, although the other four matches in that run were all defeats.

What happened the last time Real Madrid played Alaves?

Real were 1-0 winners when the sides met in La Liga at Alves on April 13. Eduardo Camavinga scored the only goal after 34 minutes of a game that saw Kylian Mbappe shown a red card after 38 minutes.

Manu Sanchez’s dismissal in the 72nd minute also reduced the home side to 10 men.

Head-to-head

This is the 29th meeting between the sides, with Real Madrid winning 23 of the encounters, while Alaves have claimed victory on only three occasions.

Alaves team news

Nikola Maras and Facundo Garces will once again be absent due to injury and suspension, respectively

Jon Guridi has had a knee problem but will be assessed before the match.

Real Madrid team news

Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is fit to play on Sunday after the forward missed the Champions League defeat by Manchester City.

“We’ve got Kylian back; he’s ready to play, and we’ll see and decide [if he starts]. That’s good news, obviously,” Alonso said on Saturday.

Real Madrid are without several injured players for the game in Vitoria, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.

Garcia, Carreras and Endrick are also suspended. Defender Dean Huijsen is likely to return.

“Evidently, despite the players we’ve got out, we have strong enough players and a strong enough team,” Alonso added.

Alaves predicted starting lineup:

Sivera; Otto, Tenaglia, Pacheco, Parada; Guevara; Calebe, Ibanez, Suarez, Rebbach; Boye

Real Madrid predicted starting lineup:

Courtois; Valverde, Rudiger, Huijsen, Asencio; Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius

Sir Keir Starmer has called on resident doctors to accept a deal to prevent “reckless” strikes next week, describing it as “beyond belief” that they would go ahead amid a “super flu” outbreak.

He warned the NHS is at its “most precarious moment” since the coronavirus pandemic, with flu cases at record levels for this time of year.

In an op-ed for The Guardian, the prime minister says the strikes “should not happen.”

“They are reckless. They place the NHS and patients who need it in grave danger.

“I remain hopeful they can be averted.

“A favourable deal is on the table, and the British Medical Association (BMA) is putting it to members this weekend.

“My message to the doctors is simple – take it,” he wrote.

Union members are currently voting on a new government offer that could prevent the planned walkout. If medics reject the deal, strikes are set to run for five consecutive days starting at 7am on 17 December.

Sir Keir said the latest offer would allow the BMA to postpone strikes until after Christmas.

A super flu epidemic is now sweeping.

He said, “The ‘super flu’ epidemic now sweeping the country means this is the NHS’s most precarious moment since the pandemic.”

This means a “battle” in hospitals across the country where NHS staff will work around the clock, he added.

Sir Keir said, “In fact, resident doctors’ colleagues will be cancelling operations, their Christmas leave, and preparing for this coming storm.”

“It is simply unimaginable that strikes could still occur in this situation.”

A new YouGov poll shows low public support for the strikes, with 58% somewhat or strongly opposing the action, compared with 33% who somewhat or strongly back it.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said, “Patients are pleading with resident doctors not to abandon them this Christmas.

“With flu sweeping across the nation and the health service under enormous pressure, these cynical Christmas strikes are the very last thing the NHS needs.”

The BMA’s online vote on the government’s deal will end on Monday, two days ahead of the planned five-day strike.

Flu outbreaks affecting school attendance

Flu outbreaks are affecting student attendance and school staffing; following multiple school disruptions, officials have said.

A Cornwall school closed this week due to “unprecedented and increasing incidences” of flu and strep, after several other recent closures.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said, “We have seen flu outbreaks in schools having an impact on both pupil attendance and staffing levels.”

According to Paul Whiteman, schools will take all necessary steps to minimise the risk of infection spreading, with closure being the final option.

Radwinter Church of England Primary School in Essex will be closed on Monday due to a norovirus outbreak, according to the county council website.

Last week, St Martin’s School in Caerphilly closed after over 250 pupils and staff fell ill.

In November, Congleton High School in Cheshire temporarily shut for a deep clean following several illness cases.

NHS data released Thursday show that flu hospitalisations in England remain at a record high for this time of year, rising 55% in just one week.

India’s IPO street is set to be crowded next week, with fresh offerings opening for subscription and a long list of companies preparing to ring the opening bell on the stock exchanges.

The primary market will see four new public issues with a combined size of about Rs 830 crore opening in the third week of December.

The largest among them is KSH International’s mainboard IPO, even as market participants track a busy listing schedule that includes nearly 15 companies.

High-profile names such as ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company, Corona Remedies and Park Medi World are among those set to debut, keeping investor interest elevated. ICICI Prudential AMC is emerging as the most closely followed listing of the week.

The issue recorded a steady start, with subscriptions crossing the 50% mark on the first day. In the grey market,

IPO price, reflecting positive sentiment

The stock is trading at a premium of Rs 249, translating into an 11% premium over the IPO price, reflecting positive sentiment around its debut, ET reported. In the unofficial market, Corona Remedies is also seeing strong interest, with a grey market premium of about 30% over its issue price.

Nephrocare is trading at a GMP of 7%, pointing to moderate expectations, while Wakefit is showing a marginal premium of around 5%. Within the SME segment, KV Toys stands out, commanding a GMP of 63%, while other SME issues are witnessing relatively muted interest.

On the new issue front, KSH International will open its IPO on Tuesday, December 16, and close on Thursday, December 18. The issue is priced between Rs 365 and Rs 384 per share and is sized at roughly Rs 710 crore. Shares will be listed on both the BSE and the NSE.

The IPO is being managed by Nuvama Wealth Management and is the biggest opening of the week, with its performance expected to influence overall sentiment in the primary market after a heavy issuance calendar in December, as reported by ET.

Activity in the SME space remains steady. Neptune Logitek will open its Rs 46.62 crore IPO on Monday, December 15, with subscriptions closing on Wednesday, December 17.

The company is offering shares at a fixed price of Rs 126 and will list on the BSE SME platform. Galactico Corporate Advisors is the lead manager for the issue. Later in the week,

MARC Technocrats will launch its IPO on Wednesday, December 17, closing on Friday, December 19. The Rs 42.59 crore issue is priced in a band of Rs 88 to Rs 93 per share and will list on the NSE SME platform, with Narnolia Financial Services acting as the book-running lead manager.

On the same day, Global Ocean Logistics India will also open its IPO, offering shares in the price range of Rs 74 to Rs 78. The Rs 30.41 crore issue will be listed on the BSE SME exchange and is being managed by Marwadi Chandarana Intermediaries.

Next week, we will firmly focus on listings, not on subscriptions. With around 15 companies expected to hit the market, it is shaping up to be one of the most crowded listing weeks of the year, led by ICICI Prudential AMC and supported by other well-known entrants such as Corona Remedies and Park Medi World.

• Convoy targeted during key leader engagement.
• Three US soldiers wounded in attack: Centcom.
• The US ambassador to Türkiye condemns the attack.
  

Two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday by a suspected Daesh attacker who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces, the US military said.

The attacker was a member of the Syrian security forces, three local officials told Reuters. A Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson told a state-run television channel that the man did not have a leadership role in the security forces.

“On December 10, an evaluation was issued indicating that this attacker might hold extremist ideas, and a decision regarding him was due to be issued tomorrow, on Sunday,” the spokesperson, Noureddine el-Baba, told Syrian television channel Al-Ikhbariya.

Central Command says the attacker was killed

Three US soldiers were also wounded in the attack, the US military’s Central Command said.

In a statement, Central Command said the attack by a lone gunman occurred “as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement” in the central Syrian town of Palmyra.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth wrote in a social media post that “Partner forces” killed the attacker.

A senior US official said initial assessments indicated that Daesh probably carried out the attack, although the militant group did not immediately claim responsibility.

It took place in an area not controlled by the Syrian government, the official said.

Baba said Syria had warned about the possibility of a Daesh attack in that region, but “coalition forces did not take the Syrian warnings… into account.”

He stated that Syria would ascertain whether the attacker was affiliated with Daesh or simply adhered to the group’s ideology.

The soldiers’ names will be withheld until 24 hours after the next-of-kin notification, the US military said.

US envoy condemns the attack

Syrian state news agency SANA quoted a security source as saying two Syrian service personnel were injured, without providing further details.

The source told SANA that American helicopters evacuated the injured to a US base in Syria’s Al-Tanf region near the Iraqi border.

Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy to Syria, condemned the attack.

“We mourn the loss of three brave US service members and civilian personnel and wish a speedy recovery to the Syrian troops wounded in the attack,” Barrack said in a statement.

“We remain committed to defeating terrorism with our Syrian partners.”

The attack was barely a month after Syria announced it had signed a political cooperation agreement with the US-led coalition against Daesh, which coincided with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House.

The coalition has carried out air strikes and ground operations in Syria targeting Daesh suspects in recent months, often with the involvement of Syria’s security forces.

Syria last month also carried out a nationwide campaign, arresting more than 70 people accused of links to the group.

The United States has troops stationed in northeastern Syria as part of a decade-long effort to help a Kurdish-led force there.

The end of a 28-day pause in small boat crossings has once again exposed the fragility of the migration debate.

For almost a month, no migrants were recorded arriving in the UK by small boat – the longest uninterrupted lull since 2018.

Quietly, ministers welcomed the timing. Public pressure over Channel crossings has remained intense, and the absence of arrivals offered a rare moment of political breathing space.

But Saturday’s new crossings have brought that pause to an abrupt end, reinforcing a long-running problem for successive governments: migration numbers are volatile, weather-dependent, and politically unforgiving.

December has always been one of the quietest months for Channel crossings. Cold temperatures, poor visibility and rough seas make the journey significantly more dangerous, and arrivals typically fall.

Critics argue that presenting the lull as progress risks mistaking seasonal conditions for policy success. The return of boats as soon as conditions eased underlines what campaigners describe as a “one in, one out” reality – any short-term dip can quickly be reversed.

Small-boat crossings have become a defining symbol.

This is significant due to the high political stakes involved. Small-boat crossings have become a defining symbol of government control over borders—or lack thereof.

The prime minister has repeatedly promised to stop the “vile trade” of migrants in the Channel, while the home secretary has set out a tougher stance focused on deterrence, faster removals, international cooperation and disrupting smuggling gangs.

Yet the numbers continue to test that claim. Total arrivals this year stand at 39,292, up from 36,816 at the same point last year—a rise of around 7 percent.

What Saturday’s crossings show is that migration policy rarely offers clean political wins. Governments want decisive moments – a turning point, a breakthrough – but the Channel does not operate to political timetables.

As winter passes and crossings inevitably rise again, the government will be judged not on short pauses, but on whether it can deliver sustained reductions without relying on the weather to do the work for it.

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