Annual political gathering kicks off this week in Beijing with the economy, technology and the military high on the agenda

Lib Dems table amendment to crime and policing bill, saying system simply not doing enough to protect women'Parliament is to debate whether all suicides in cases involving victims of domestic abuse should be investigated as homicide.The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the crime and policing bill saying that if there is reasonable suspicion that a death by suicide has been preceded by a history of domestic abuse committed against the person by another person, the relevant police force must investigate that suicide as if it were a potential homicide". Continue reading...

No injuries have been reported in the strike and fire, Dubai's media office said on TuesdayAuthorities have put down a limited fire in the vicinity of the US consulate in Dubai due to a drone strike and no injuries were reported, Dubai's media office said on Tuesday.A US official and Dubai's government media office told the Wall Street Journal that a drone struck the parking lot of the consulate in Dubai. Continue reading...

At least four tankers have been struck by drones and maritime traffic has dropped by 80%, reports sayIran has effectively closed the strait of Hormuz to oil and gas exports for the past four days with a mixture of drone strikes and fear that has halted commercial maritime traffic despite intense US attacks on Iran's navy.At least four tankers have been struck and Lloyd's List Intelligence reported that seaborne traffic had dropped by 80% on Sunday, with little sign of a return as key maritime insurers cancelled cover the next day. Continue reading...

Valdo Calocane approached security at Thames House in 2021 but did not meet threshold for further assessment, public inquiry toldA man who killed three people during a 2023 knife attack in Nottingham had attempted to hand himself into MI5 for arrest two years earlier, an inquiry has heard.Valdo Calocane, 34, fatally stabbed Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, during a stabbing spree in the city on 13 June 2023. Continue reading...

Investors fear rising oil and gas costs will stoke inflation and delay cuts in interest ratesUK borrowing costs jumped for a second day on Tuesday as the potentially damaging effects of the Iran conflict spooked investors concerned that growth will stall across the major industrial economies.Investors fear inflation will rise, driven by rising oil and gas prices, hitting businesses and households just as they are recovering from a long period of elevated inflation. Continue reading...

Literacy experts say move comes over cost concerns and fears costumes can detract from reading for pleasureSchools in England are moving away from pupils dressing up as their favourite literary characters for World Book Day, with experts telling MPs they feared the cost of costumes undermined efforts to increase reading for pleasure.Jonathan Douglas, the chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said schools were aware of the strains that preparing costumes could place on disadvantaged families, telling MPs on the Commons' education select committee: Many schools are incredibly sensitive to that, and are taking away the narrative around dressing-up on World Book Day." Continue reading...

Beijing's foreign ministry urges all parties' to avoid escalation as number of crossings drops 60% in one day

Spring forecast show UK unempoyment to peak higher than feared, as tax take heads for a record, but headroom against fiscal rules has increased

Grime artist was speeding and over drink-drive limit when he hit 20-year-old Yubin Tamang in LondonThe rapper Ghetts has been jailed for 12 years for killing a student in a hit and run while speeding and over the drink-drive limit.The grime artist, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, failed to stop after his BMW hit the Nepalese national Yubin Tamang, 20, in north-east London. He admitted dangerous driving and causing death by dangerous driving. Continue reading...

With the US and Israel apparently without a postwar plan for the country, we explore four possible scenarios

Keir Starmer says vessel, which will arrive in about a week, will help defend bases on island after RAF Akrotiri was targeted by drones

Ted Lasso star and Celebrity Traitors finalist will take the helm at Royal Albert Hall ceremony in London next month as special award recipients are announcedNick Mohammed has been named as the host for this year's Olivier awards, which take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London next month.The comedian, writer and actor, who recently found a new fanbase as a Celebrity Traitors finalist, will follow in the footsteps of his Ted Lasso co-star Hannah Waddingham, who presented the Oliviers in 2023 and 2024. Last year, they were co-hosted by Beverley Knight and Billy Porter. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the awards, which recognise achievements in theatre, dance and opera. Continue reading...

Multiple sources say the deployment of HMS Duncan is under consideration; Yvette Cooper says flight will take off from Muscat this weekEllie Chowns, the Green party's foreign affairs spokesperson, has said she has tabled an armed conflict (requirements) bill'" which would require any UK military intervention to have a lawful basis, viable objective and approval from MPs.In a letter addressed to the prime minister, which she shared to X, Chowns, who is the Green's MP for North Herefordshire, wrote:In recent days we have seen a deeply concerning escalation in conflict in the Middle East following a series of illegal and dangerously irresponsible airstrikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.You have now confirmed that UK bases will be used by the US for their operations in the area. This is a significant concession to President Donald Trump and one which risks drawing the UK into a dangerous conflict. Continue reading...

Iranian drones hit US embassy in Riyadh as Israel bombs Tehran and sends troops into southern Lebanon

French president will make his speech this evening; first wave of European travellers arrive home, but hundreds of thousands remain stuck in regionAhead of von der Leyen's call with Zelenskyy later today, the European Commission was also asked about Ukraine's 2027 target for joining the bloc.A spokesperson for the commission said that it was Ukraine's ambition, but the EU cannot have it as our reference" as it needs to go through the formal process and get the political agreement of all other member states. Continue reading...

Some repatriation flights depart as governments around the world work to extract their citizens from the conflict-hit region

Unemployment predicted to continue rising to 5.3% as chancellor says she is meeting energy firms amid soaring oil and gas prices

Susan Everard says her daughter added to the beauty of the world'Sarah Everard's mother said her daughter added to the beauty of the world" as she paid tribute to her humour and principled nature on the five-year anniversary of her murder.Writing for British Vogue, alongside a picture of Sarah taken at V festival for an online street style series in 2010, Susan Everard said she loved clothes and fashion" and had her whole life ahead of her" when the photo was taken. Continue reading...

MPs and campaigners had warned law imposed by Tories could be used by future leaders to undermine democracy'

Retailer known for its sausage rolls and steak bakes says it has been resilient in a challenging market

Extended war in Middle East could cause substantial spike' in inflation and sharp drop in output' in eurozone and UK, ECB official says

Exclusive: Local Government Association says figure to house homeless people in England will reach almost 4bnThe cost to councils of providing temporary accommodation for homeless people in England is projected to more than double to almost 4bn by 2029-30, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.The national membership body for councils found that since 2017-18, local authorities across England had spent almost 1.5bn more on temporary accommodation (TA) than had been reimbursed in housing benefit from the government. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed

Rape allegations meant magistrate should have determined Brian Earl Johnston's bail, Queensland coroner's court told

Granting a foreign head of state such as the Israeli president access to domestic intelligence agency unprecedented', senator David Pocock claims

New South Wales police allege man entered inner Sydney apartment complex on Tuesday morning

South Australia saw most of the season's wildest swings with January heatwaves followed by February floods

Regulator rules Universal Church of the Kingdom of God did not protect vulnerable donors, including woman who says she gave life savingsSometimes you're seeing God as a genie, where if I give him all this money, He will bring me what I want," Sarah says.The 27-year-old spent years in the grip of prosperity gospel", whose followers believe cash donations to evangelical churches unlock divine blessings of health and wealth. So did Jennifer*, 29, who says she handed over her life savings.Name has been changed Continue reading...

Welsh language commissioner calls for transformative' intervention, amid Reform UK threats to undo new powersA revolution is required" to protect the Welsh language, according to a major new report.While the number of Cymraeg speakers has remained more or less stable for decades, it has not risen in line with significant population growth, making the language more vulnerable, according to the Welsh language commissioner's five-year report, published on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Liberal MP says rules are irrelevant when Trump acts as an apex opportunist', following a drone strike at Al Minhad airbase where Australian troops are based

Michele Bullock not making a prediction', but cites rise in oil prices due to attacks on Iran and tight labour market as factors in possible cash rate rise

Victim was driven to Thora near Bellingen after attack at Little Styx River campground at Ebor but was dead by the time authorities arrived

As US-Israeli airstrikes hit their cities, people tell of how the authorities are warning them off the streetsAt least 200 civilians have been killed since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran last weekend, according to rights groups, as people inside Iran told the Guardian they were fearful of a rising death toll.The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that at least 555 people had been killed across Iran. However, in its latest update, the Norway-based human rights group Hengaw said the death toll on day three had reached at least 1,500, including 200 civilians and 1,300 members of the Iranian forces. Continue reading...

Bulky and noisy Iran-made unmanned attack drones have hit buildings in Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE and elsewhere

French president says Paris could deploy nuclear-capable fighter jet to countries such as Germany and PolandFrance will increase the size of its nuclear arsenal for the first time in decades and significantly intensify nuclear weapons cooperation with eight European allies including the UK as part of a major" strengthening of its deterrence doctrine, Emmanuel Macron has said.Amid growing concern among European leaders about wavering US commitments to help defend the continent, the French president said on Monday that Paris could deploy nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets to partner countries such as Germany and Poland. Continue reading...

Hundreds of thousands of passengers remain stranded, with key air hubs in Middle East closed amid fallout from US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Ipsa cites abuse and constituency workloads as reasons for above-inflation increase of 5% over next financial yearThe basic annual salary of MPs will rise to 110,000, the expenses watchdog has said, on the grounds of increased abuse and intimidation as well as growing constituency workloads.This year, MPs' basic pay will rise by almost 5,000, a jump of 5% over the next financial year to 98,599 - and will reach 110,000 by the end of the parliament. Continue reading...

Reform leader says without evidence that his party's candidate came first among UK-born voters, as Hannah Spencer takes seat in parliamentNigel Farage has been accused of Donald Trump-style election denial by the Green party's new MP for Gorton and Denton, after he claimed her Reform rival came first" among British-born voters in last week's byelection.Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and councillor, was elected as the party's first MP in northern England last week after winning 14,980 votes, more than 4,400 ahead of Reform's candidate, who came second. Continue reading...

French president says deterrent needs to be strengthened' in recognition of new challengesA Cypriot government spokesperson has just confirmed that two unmanned drones headed to RAF Akrotiri were intercepted before reaching the base.Two unmanned aerial vehicles that were moving towards the direction of the British Bases at Akrotiri were confronted in time," Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. Continue reading...

The prime minister is explaining his decision to allow the US to use British bases for military attacks after initially refusing

PM defends use of UK bases for defensive action but says Britain has learned the lessons from Iraq' on need for thought-through plan'

Refusal to allow use of bases in Rota and Moron follows Pedro Sanchez's condemnation of US-Israeli actionSpain has denied the US permission to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to attack Iran as Madrid stepped up its criticism of the unjustified and dangerous military intervention".Spain's socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has explicitly condemned the US and Israel's unilateral military action" against Iran, warning that it is contributing to a more hostile and uncertain international order". The rebukes have been reinforced by his government's refusal to allow the US to use bases in Rota and Moron for the continuing strikes against Iran. Continue reading...

US allies in Gulf states come under attack from Iranian missiles and drones as three US fighter jets mistakenly shot down by Kuwait

Gregory Caulier has attempted to quash rumours that Mask actor was replaced by a heavily made-up impersonator for his appearance picking up an honorary award in ParisThe organiser of the Cesar awards has sought to debunk reports that a lookalike stood in for Jim Carrey at last week's ceremony.In a statement sent to Variety on Monday, Gregory Caulier, general delegate of the Cesars, said the controversy was a non-issue" and testified to Carrey's investment in the event, which had been in the planning since last summer. Continue reading...

17th-century Dutch master's Vision of Zacharias in the Temple to go on display this weekIt hung unrecognised on the wall of a private home for decades but now a 17th-century painting has been revealed as a Rembrandt, taking its potential value from thousands to millions of pounds.The Rijksmuseum announced on Monday that it had rediscovered an early biblical scene by the Dutch master that was once thought lost, thanks to hi-tech scanning and two years of expert analysis. Continue reading...

US president also very disappointed' in Keir Starmer over UK government's deal to hand Chagos Islands to Mauritius

People drive to Oman and Saudi in hope of a flight, while most tourists stay stuck in hotels and on cruise ships

Conflict spreads as militant group targets Israel over Ali Khamenei killing and IDF responds with Beirut strikes

Hartlepool leaders furious and appalled' after meeting with Steve Reed about growing cost of social careThe housing, communities and local government secretary has been accused by a Labour council of showing arrogance, indifference and moral bankruptcy" towards children in social care.In an unusually forthright attack, Labour leaders of Hartlepool council said they were furious and appalled" at Steve Reed after a meeting with him last week. A cross-party delegation had asked the secretary of state for 3m to help alleviate the growing cost of social care. Continue reading...