Protests erupt in Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis

Thousands have attended protests across Spain against the government’s handling of the arrival of thousands of migrants in the exclave of Ceuta on the Moroccan coast.

• The rallies on Wednesday were called by city councils controlled by opposition parties. They accuse Spain’s left-wing government of abandoning Ceuta’s residents.
• There have been near-daily protests in the North African city calling for remaining migrants to be returned or distributed across mainland Spain.
• Demonstrators have called for prime minister Pedro Sánchez to resign but the government accuses right-wing parties of exploiting the crisis.

Why did these protests happen?

Some 72,000 people crossed illegally from Morocco into Ceuta in July. While most have returned, as many as 5,000 remain. The Spanish government has blamed for the influx but critics claim the Moroccan authorities were complicit.

A police report this week said Moroccan security forces had shown “total permissiveness” during the huge influx into the exclave on 30 and 31 July. Sánchez has insisted Morocco was not responsible but the report said the Moroccan police presence was “clearly smaller” than usual.

The police report nonetheless stopped short of directly accusing Morocco of being behind the mass influx.

The protests in pictures

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What to know as toxic haze spreads across South East Asia

Indonesia is battling , some of which have been burning for weeks and resulted in a toxic haze affecting millions.

Multiple locations

The fires are burning on several of Indonesia’s biggest islands, in particular on Borneo.

Health risk

Millions have been exposed to toxic smoke, with 50,000 being treated in hospital for respiratory infections.

Regional problem

Air pollution caused by the fires is affecting Malaysia and The Philippines.

The forest and peatland fires engulfing parts of Indonesia are a familiar problem for the authorities. Their roots lie in a project by former ruler Suharto to rip up rainforest and drain peat bogs for plantations and logging.

Repeated investigations have shown that developers use fire as a cut-price means of clearing large areas for plantations and industrial sites.

Haze shrouds parts of South East Asia

Fans teased with new Harry Potter trailer – what we learnt

The sorting hat and Quidditch are among the familiar magical phenomena which appear in the first full trailer for the new television series due to air this Christmas.

The sorting hat returns

The eagerly anticipated HBO show based on JK Rowling’s first wizarding novel, , will consist of eight episodes and early glimpses suggest producers have been careful to retain the detail of the original book.

Hogwarts is back

The trailer focuses on the magical school and Harry’s first experiences, including the trial of the sorting hat.

Friends again

Harry, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are introduced in separate clips as the trio become friends.

Ron in a mess

Weasley is seen at home trying to read an acceptance letter covered in jam by his brothers.

The trailer begins with Professor McGonagall, played by Janet McTeer, telling the newly arrived students they must undertake the dreaded sorting hat ceremony before enjoying a sumptuous banquet at the school of wizarding.

Severus Snape, played by Paapa Essiedu, finds time to sneer at Harry’s classroom shortcomings as he prepares to try Quidditch. But Rubeus Hagrid, performed by Nick Frost, takes the young wizard under his wing, telling him: “You’ll find your place.”

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Personal finance

Pension dashboard deadline nears – what it means for you

Pension schemes and providers have until the end of October to connect to a “dashboard” system allowing workers to monitor their retirement savings.

Crucially, the 31 October deadline applies only to companies and providers, rather than savers themselves. Consumers do not need to take any action.

• Each provider must connect to the information-sharing system by the end of next month. People will also be able to see their state pension details in the same place.
• The move is part of wider changes in the pension system being brought in by Labour which will include value for money assessments.

Pension performance league tables

Ministers are planning a system for scrutinising pension performance using a new Value for Money framework.

• Schemes will be rated by 2029 in a league table based on their investment performance, charging levels and quality of service.
• The poorest performing schemes will be required to improve or face closure.
• From 2029, providers will be expected to present savers with a single retirement income option which would combine all savings. Retirees would still be free to choose other options.

Recent rain has brought welcome respite for plants and trees but the arrival of the El Niño – predicted to be the strongest in living memory – represents a new threat to parched gardens.

• El Niño is the naturally occurring climate phenomenon caused by raised ocean temperatures that builds in the Pacific.
• The phenomenon occurs every two-seven years and is when east to west trade winds weaken or reverse.
• The Met Office has warned that this year’s El Niño is set to be unprecedentedly strong and the UK could be hit by a wet and stormy autumn and early winter.

The system usually brings wetter or colder winters in the UK with experts warning that trees are particularly vulnerable because the summer drought may have weakened both root systems and hindered water absorption in branches.

Heavy rainfall on soil which is still dry from the summer drought could cause flash flooding well into the autumn. Trees could be affected by “cavitation” – a condition whereby air bubbles stop water flow within the trunk and branches.

Heat-loving Mediterranean plants should be moved indoors and drains cleared.

Pack away patio furniture sooner rather than later.

The drugs found to slow ageing – you might already be taking them

Weight-loss jabs such as Wegovy may be slowing the ageing process as well as helping people to shed unwanted pounds, a study has found.

Research found that mice at a healthy weight who were given Wegovy lived 12 per cent longer – equivalent to a person living to 93 instead of 83.

• Scientists looked at the effects of semaglutide – the active ingredient in Wegovy – on senescence, the process by which cells stop multiplying to regenerate tissues.
• The findings suggest that as well as suppressing appetite, the drug reduces inflammation, DNA damage and senescence. More than 2m Britons are thought to be taking a weight-loss medication.
• The result could be that the slimming drug will one day be used as an anti-ageing pill for everyone – regardless of weight.

There are over the idea that the first true anti-ageing drugs have arrived. Most studies into the phenomenon have and scientists have reservations about the same findings applying to humans.

Research into calorie restriction – a radical anti-ageing strategy – has found that while the effects can be dramatic in creatures such as worms or flies, they are at best marginal in more complex animals such as monkeys. Scientists say more research is needed.

The bad news

There are over the idea the first true anti-ageing drugs have arrived. Most studies into the phenomenon have and scientists have reservations about the same findings applying to humans.

The bad news

There are over the idea that the first true anti-ageing drugs have arrived. Most studies into the phenomenon have and scientists have reservations about the same findings applying to humans.