Overtime reporters select eyecatching public interest stories from November 2025.
UN warns of escalating atrocities in Sudan as civil war continues
By Anders Amundsen
The UN warned that the situation in Sudan might take a turn for the worse, as the Darfur and Kordofan regions experienced worsening atrocities and intensified violence.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that civilians trapped in the region are facing ethnically targeted violence such as rape, killings, and summary executions.
He warned that the Kordofan region could become the focal point of the conflict as civilian deaths and mass displacements persist.
UN representative Li Fung described the Civil war in Sudan as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, citing sexual violence, widespread killing and forced displacement. More than 12 million people have been displaced since the civil war broke out in April 2023.
Investigation launched into 14 NHS maternity services
By Ciara Teefey
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced an investigation into maternity services across 14 NHS Trusts in England, including University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
In 2021, the Royal Sussex County Hospital’s maternity service was handed an ‘inadequate’ rating by Amanda Williams, Head of Hospital Inspections.
It was found the hospital did not ensure they had enough maternity staff with the right qualifications, training or experience to keep women and babies safe from avoidable harm.
Another inspection took place in February this year, with the findings yet to be published by the Care Quality Commission.
In a statement made by the Health and Social Care Secretary on the upcoming national investigation, Wes Streeting said: “I cannot turn a blind eye to failures in the system”.
Leicester City Council refuses to compensate homeless family after ombudsman report
By Max Smolarski
Leicester City Council has refused financial compensation to a homeless family that was placed in a Bed and Breakfast for nearly ten months too long.
The family was placed in separate rooms in a B&B in August 2023 because of the
family’s size and was finally given a suitable property in July 2024.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the council did not inform the family of their rights to appeal the accommodation offered, and broke the law by failing to move the family to suitable accommodation after six weeks of spending time in a B&B.
The ombudsman recommended a financial remedy of £3,525 but said the council rejected this.
The council was due to discuss the report before responding.
Read the Ombudsman’s statement
Newcastle doctor who assaulted waiter in drunken rage suspended for one year after Medical Practitioners Tribunal
By Amber Bryan
Doctor Nganjo Endeley has been suspended for 12 months after a medical
practitioner’s tribunal.
He was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court, for assaulting a
person and causing them actual bodily harm on 8 August 2024.
He was subsequently sentenced on 4 November 2024, to 2 years’ imprisonment,
suspended for 21 months, and an unpaid work requirement of 250 hours.
On 12 September 2021, Endeley assaulted a 21-year-old waiter after turning up 3
hours late and drunk to his reservation.
After being told that the establishment was closed, Endeley grabbed he victim by the
shirt so tightly that he could not breathe, dragged him across the front of the
premises and headbutted him in the face, where he immediately lost his vision.
The victim was taken to hospital. He sustained the marks to his neck, and a fracture
to his eye socket.
Three years after the event, the victim has made a statement describing the physcal
and emotional issues that have persisted since the assault.
Read the full Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service report
Mental health charity rated “inadequate”
By Ruby Eames
St Andrews Healthcare Northampton has had its ratings set at ‘inadequate’ after an
inspection by CQC found severe failings when caring for those with complex mental health needs.
They acknowledged that “we have not consistently delivered high-quality
care to our patients”, whilst two patients told CQC inspectors that they would prefer to
return to prison than stay at the facilities.
Reports found a lack of trained staff, resulting in things like: a patient being punched by
another patient for 10 minutes before intervention; medication being administered to
the wrong patients; staff sleeping on duty; and bullying and racist remarks from staff.
St Andrews is a charity caring for around 600 patients with around 4,000 staff across four
locations.
20 years in the making: The beginning of the Global Ocean Treaty
By Sophie Hicks
More than 60 governments ratified the Global Ocean Treaty, meaning it will officially come into force in early 2026.
“We’ve worked tirelessly for this victory” said Ariana Densham, head of oceans at Greenpeace UK.
Less than 1% of the high seas are fully or highly protected, meaning they are vulnerable
to industrial fishing and oil drilling. The Global Ocean Treaty is a deal agreed by governments to protect and manage this.
In 2005 the first Greenpeace briefing on the need for an ocean treaty was written. Since
then, multiple organisations across the world have worked to get it off the ground until it was ratified on September 23, 2025.
New law to protect social housing tenants from damp and mould after tragic death of Awaab Ishak
A law to protects social housing tenants from damp and mould has come into force.
Awaab’s Law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from extensive
exposure to mould.
Since October 27, landlords have to abide by strict guidelines including the timescales
of when the mould must be inspected.
Serious health hazards like mould or damp must be inspected within 10 working days
and made safe within five.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: ‘Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live
in and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or
death’.
There is a rise in damp housing which is increasingly risking residents’ health.
A study conducted by Zehnder revealed that 99.2% of landlords have mould in their
housing stock, with 32% of tenants saying they have mould in 5-6 rooms.
The law will be filtered out in three phases with the last stage being in 2027. The main
objectives will be to make homes safe from hazards whilst also building 1.5 million
worth of new homes.
Landlords that fail to obey with the Awaab’s Law could result in legal action.
EU Invests €358 Million into 132 Green Projects to Aid Climate and Energy Transition
By Anders Amundsen
The European Commission has approved over €358 million in funding towards 132 new environment and climate projects across Europe under the LIFE programme.
The project aims to advance the EU’s clean transition into green energy, support biodiversity, and promote a greener economy, while strengthening climate resilience. With funds split among these focuses.
The LIFE programme, now worth a total of €536 million, has been active since 1992 and has supported over 6,500 projects in that time, continuing to play a central role in achieving the EU’s target of climate neutrality by 2050
Failure to investigate Serbian railway station disaster
By Max Smolarski
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has slammed the Serbian government for failing to investigate what caused the collapse of the concrete canopy at the Novi Sad train station last November, which led to the deaths of 16 people.
For over a year, Serbs have consistently protested across the country, demanding accountability and justice.
“There has been no meaningful process to uncover the truth and seek justice for the tragedy that
resulted in the deaths of 16 people at the Novi Sad railway station,” said the High Commissioner.
Türk also stressed the importance of removing corruption from the judicial system in Serbia, saying “this is the only way to maintain people’s trust in the rule of law”.