World 02
Ban ‘intrusive’ cameras on mental health wards in England, say bereaved families <p>Lawyers tell inquiry ‘patients’ lives are at stake’ through improper use of Oxevision system for most vulnerable</p><p>Families bereaved by the misuse of an “intrusive” camera monitoring system for vulnerable patients used in half of England’s mental health wards, have called for it to be banned to help prevent more avoidable deaths. <br> <br> Lawyers for the families said “patients’ lives are at stake” by the continuing use of Oxevision, the Lampard inquiry into mental health deaths in Essex heard on Tuesday. <br> <br> The inquiry was told that five patients killed themselves, or died unexpectedly, in two years while being surveilled by Oxevision’s infrared cameras at Essex Partnership University NHS foundation trust (Eput). <br> <br> Peter Mant KC, representing more than 70 bereaved families, including the family of Elise Sebastian, 16, who killed herself in 2021 when staff had muted Oxevision’s alarm system, said: “Use of this technology has contributed in material ways to harms, and in some cases deaths of patients, due to the misapplication of the system.” <br> <br> Addressing Kate Lampard, the chair of the inquiry, Brenda Campbell KC, representing other bereaved families including that of Sophie Alderman who the inquiry heard mistakenly believed in 2022 that Oxevision would bring staff to save her, said: “We urge you to recommend that the use of Oxevision on mental health inpatient wards is stopped nationally.”</p><p>She added: “Its harms have fallen hardest on detained, traumatised and neurodivergent patients, and no regulator took responsibility for it.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/20/ban-intrusive-cameras-mental-health-wards-england-bereaved-families">Continue reading...</a>
GB Oct 20, 2026The Guardian World World 03
Flavio Bolsonaro’s ‘corrupto’ stunt sparks viral meme before Brazil election runoff <p>Far-right presidential candidate’s TV debate swipe at rival backfires as people take to social media to parody it</p><p>To Flávio Bolsonaro and his publicists, it must have seemed an ingenious idea that would expose his rival’s supposed crookedness on the eve of Brazil’s presidential election.</p><p>But the far-right politician’s decision to attend a primetime television debate against his leftwing opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with the word “corrupto” (corrupt) written on the palm of his hand has backfired.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/20/flavio-bolsonaro-corrupto-viral-meme-brazil-election-runoff">Continue reading...</a>
GB Oct 20, 2026The Guardian World World 04
Eastern Libya parliament approves 2019 maritime deal with Turkiye The vote recognises Ankara's maritime deal with Tripoli, ending Haftar's 2020 boycott.
QA Oct 20, 2026Al Jazeera English