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Tree protester receives suspended sentence

Sheffield trees protester, Calvin Payne, has been given a suspended jail sentence for contempt of court after encouraging others to breach a court injunction. The injunction was granted to Sheffield Council to prevent obstruction of works involved in felling trees. Three people were in court over the incident initially but Payne was the only one sentenced after the judge dismissed one case and allowed another to be settled outside of court. Payne said he does not plan to break the high court injunction again. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

 

Aung San Suu Kyi stripped of city freedom

Sheffield Council has revoked the Freedom of the City honour for Myanmar’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, due to her continuing silence on the persecution of Rohingya muslims. Suu Kyi was awarded the Freedom of the City in 2005 for her commitment to democracy and human rights. The honour is the highest Sheffield can bestow and Suu Kyi is one of only eleven foreign dignitaries to which it has been previously awarded. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Women’s Equality Party call for action on sexual harrasment

The leader of the Women’s Equality Party in Sheffield has called on the government and political parties to act to end sexual harrasment in Westminster. Charlotte Mead said recent allegations of women being harrased and afraid to speak out is nothing new. She also suggested local MP Jared O’Mara should demonstrate his claim to have moved on from previous misogynist and homophobic views by doing more to help charities such as South Yorkshire Women’s Aid and LGBT organisations. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Hillsborough report calls for new approach to public tragedy

A landmark report into the experiences of the Hillsborough families calls for efforts to end to what it described as the “burning injustice” faced by those hit by public tragedy. The report produced by Bishop James Jones, who chaired the Independent Panel into the Hillsborough tragedy, calls for changes to the inquest process and supports proposals for a “Hillsborough Law”, which would make it a criminal offence for public officials to cover up wrong-doing within an organisation. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield firm launches pumpkin into space

Sheffield-based near space balloon specialists, Sent Into Space, marked halloween with a trick of their own, floating a pumpkin into the upper atmosphere. The team, known for sending weird and wonderful items into the sky told Sheffield Live! that the pumpkin reached a height of 49.9km, well into the mesosphere. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Conference puts domestic abuse in the spotlight

South Yorkshire Women’s Aid were the hosts for a women’s empowerment conference aiming to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the support services available for victims of violent relationships. The charity, which provides refuge and support for women facing violence in the home has launched a crowdfunding to maintain its service after loosing a £30,000 grant from Doncaster Council. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Rebuild festival explores end times

Independent arts venue DINA is hosting a festival of post apocalyptic theatre with a series of productions and installations exploring the end of the world and the building of news ones. Four theatre companies have contributed to the event with a unique mix of immersive and interactive performance. Sheffield Live! reporter Nick Coleman spoke to Sara Hill of Mesters Events.

Tree protester found in contempt of court

Tree protestor Calvin Payne has been found to be in contempt of court for using social media to incite people to breaking a high court injunction to stop interference in the felling of trees. A case against Green Party Councillor Alison Teal relating to the same high court injunction was dismissed and a third case is to be heard next week. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!