PM's most senior civil servant now has task of rewriting civil service code and making it recognised for improved productivity'Antonia Romeo, Keir Starmer's most senior civil servant, has been handed a powerful new mandate to deliver his priorities, while Darren Jones, the No 10 chief secretary, has shifted to a less hands-on role.Romeo, who was promoted last month, took over the job of cabinet secretary and head of the civil service after an unsuccessful year in charge by her predecessor Chris Wormald, who was not considered effective enough by No 10. Continue reading...

Royal Navy type 45 destroyer deployed to reinforce security around RAF base in Cyprus to undergo short maintenance stop, says MoDHMS Dragon has docked in the eastern Mediterranean after suffering technical problems with its water systems.The UK's prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced on 3 March that the type 45 destroyer would be deployed to reinforce security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, two days after the base was struck by a Shahed 136 drone. Continue reading...

US vice-president rails against bureaucrats in Brussels' interfering in Sunday's vote during Budapest visitJD Vance has railed against the EU, accusing it of blatantly interfering in Hungary's upcoming elections, even as the US vice-president said he had travelled to Budapest to help" Viktor Orban win Sunday's vote.Speaking to reporters shortly after landing in Budapest on Tuesday, Vance's tone was combative as he alleged that the EU was responsible for one of the worst examples of foreign election interference" he had ever seen. Continue reading...

Rapper had been booked to play at festival in London, prompting outcry over his past antisemitic remarksThe Wireless music festival has been cancelled after the artist formerly known as Kanye West was banned from entering the UK amid a deepening political row over his previous antisemitic statements.West, legally known as Ye, was due to headline all three days of the festival in July and made an application to travel to the UK via an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on Monday, but this was blocked by officials. Continue reading...

Parents face child endangerment charge after their kid suffered a minor injury at ZooAmerica in HersheyparkThe parents of a toddler who suffered a minor injury at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo after squeezing through a fence near a wolf enclosure and making contact with one of the animals have been charged with endangering the welfare of children, with police accusing them of paying attention to their cellphones at the time.In a news release, police said that the parents both walked about 25ft to 30ft (7.5 meters to 9 meters) away from the child to a seating area with benches and appeared to be paying attention to their cellphones when they noticed what was happening Saturday at ZooAmerica in Hersheypark. Continue reading...

Trump claims Iranians welcome US strikes and lower court judges challenge Trump's war on rule of law' - key US politics stories from Monday 6 April at a glance

President's press conference after White House Easter egg roll did little to dispel fears he has lost touch with realityDonald Trump began his day standing with a person in a giant bunny costume and boasting about the Iran war to an audience of children.The annual Easter egg roll on the White House South Lawn conjured a fitting Alice's Adventures in Wonderland image for a US president who has disappeared down what many would call a rabbit hole. Continue reading...

South-east England could reach 24C as settled weather replaces rain and 70mph winds which battered the northParts of the UK are forecast to experience the warmest temperatures of the year so far in the wake of Storm Dave, which caused widespread damage and disruption over the Easter weekend.London and south-east England could reach temperatures of 21C or 22C on Tuesday, rising to 24C on Wednesday, while Manchester could hit 20C, forecasters said, as a short period of settled weather replaced the rain and 70mph winds that battered parts of northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Continue reading...

Researchers warn the high-pressure conditions could disrupt marine life and ecosystems if it continues

Central American country to receive up to 25 migrants a day expelled as part of Trump's immigration crackdown

Lebanese-French man Ali Cherri demands investigation into Beirut bombing as possible war crime against civiliansA Lebanese-French artist has filed a legal complaint in a Paris court about an Israeli bombing of his family home in Lebanon that killed his parents and a domestic worker, claiming the attack could constitute a war crime.The suit, filed with the French war crimes unit on Tuesday, is a rare instance of an individual pursuing war crimes charges for an Israeli bombing. It is also the first time a French court has taken a case over Israel's bombing of Lebanon. Continue reading...

Ballroom is likely to get blessing from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is chaired by ex-Trump lawyer

Prosecutors unveil priceless artefact in press conference after it was taken from Netherlands museum in January 2025A priceless ancient golden helmet from Romania that was stolen last year from a museum in the Netherlands has been recovered, Dutch authorities have said.Under the guard of balaclava-wearing police, prosecutors unveiled the 2,500-year-old Coofeneti helmet during a news conference on Thursday in the eastern Dutch city of Assen. Continue reading...

The coalition of organizations says Trump's executive order restricting who can receive mail ballots is unconstitutional

Christopher Joell-Deshields was suspended last year, with 7,125 found to have been spent on luxury itemsThe boss of Pride in London, one of the world's largest LGBTQ+ events, has been sacked after he was accused of buying luxury goods for personal use with vouchers intended for volunteers' food and drink.Christopher Joell-Deshields, who had been chief executive of Pride in London since 2021, was put under investigation last September and suspended the following month in response to claims of misconduct. Continue reading...

Lawyers for accused had argued names of family members should be suppressed due to fears for their mental and physical safety

Exclusive: documents chronicle years-long campaign to make it easier to build intensive livestock unitsMinisters are rewriting planning rules to make it easier to build intensive livestock farms despite concerns about water pollution, air quality and local opposition.Documents obtained by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act show that proposed changes to the national planning policy framework (NPPF) were discussed by ministers and officials in response to concerns of the country's leading chicken producers, who have been lobbying on the issue for at least two years. Continue reading...

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Hackney leaseholders feel council made the problem worse by leaving 850,000 debt uncollected for eight yearsLeaseholders in east London have said they are trapped in unsellable homes" because of an 850,000 debt owed by the building's developer to Hackney council, who have let it go unpaid for eight years.The 17 leaseholders, who live in a block of flats in Upper Clapton, have appealed to the council for help but their pleas, including requests for a meeting, have been ignored. Continue reading...

Nurul Amin Shah, 56, who was visually impaired, was left outside Buffalo Tim Hortons on cold night and later diedAuthorities have ruled that the death of Nurul Amin Shah, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar who was left by immigration agents at a restaurant in Buffalo, was a homicide.Shah, who was visually impaired, died on 24 February, five days after US Border Patrol agents dropped him off in the parking lot of a Tim Hortons on a cold winter night without notifying his family or attorney. Continue reading...

War shows little sign of easing despite Donald Trump claiming Iranian leadership just asked' for ceasefire

Families of those accused of sharing images of conflict in region say ministers are too fearful of offending Emirates

Exclusive: Greens MLC Sue Higginson tells parliament that Corrective Services knew things which made it very clear they had monitored our conversation'

US president's claim that conflict is nearing end prompts 15% drop in Brent crude and stock market climb in Asia

Leading US heart health group recommends prioritizing plant-based protein over meat relative to US governmentThe American Heart Association's new nutrition guidance, released on Tuesday, emphasized a dietary pattern rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, prioritizing plant-based protein over meat.It also suggested limiting the use of sugar, salt and ultra-processed foods and replacing full fat dairy with non-fat and low-fat dairy. Continue reading...

Khalid Ahmed, 24, from Ealing in west London, remanded in custody until hearing at Old BaileyA 24-year-old man accused of trying to smuggle 10 guns and ammunition into the UK as he drove off a ferry into Dover has been remanded in custody.Khalid Ahmed, from Ealing in west London, who is a dual Dutch and Irish national, appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, after being charged overnight with firearms offences. Continue reading...

Government keen to avoid panic as oil price surges, but perhaps households need advice on reducing consumptionLabour ministers sent out in recent days to respond to the looming energy crisis sparked by the Iran war have essentially stuck to that reassuring wartime slogan: keep calm and carry on.I think people should go about their lives as normal, knowing that the government is taking action to bring energy bills down," James Murray, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Rachel Reeves will address concerns about price rises and shortages with retailers as energy costs surgeThe bosses of the UK's biggest supermarkets are to meet the chancellor on Wednesday as the government seeks to gauge the extent of potential price rises and shortages of household essentials amid a surge in energy, fuel and fertiliser costs.Rachel Reeves is meeting the bosses of Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons as concerns rise about the potential impact on the cost of living - including higher food prices - as a result of the Middle East conflict. Continue reading...

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Broadcaster did not look into separate allegations of inappropriate communications' involving the Radio 2 DJThe BBC has apologised for its response after allegations about Scott Mills were raised with the broadcaster last year.Mills was sacked with immediate effect by the BBC on Monday over his personal conduct". It then emerged he had been questioned over separate allegations of serious sexual offences against a boy aged under 16 in 2018, but the case was later closed due to lack of evidence. Continue reading...

Luca Cella Walker asked chatbot for best way for someone to kill themself on railway line before his deathA 16-year-old boy killed himself after asking ChatGPT for the most successful" way to take your own life, an inquest has been told.Luca Cella Walker, a private school pupil from Yateley, Hampshire, died on 4 May last year. Continue reading...

Tabloid outlet has covered Republicans and Democrats relaxing at places such as Disney World as shutdown drags onWhen US federal workers were missing paychecks and the partial government shutdown entered its seventh week, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, was doing what any responsible lawmaker would do: riding Space Mountain and carrying a bubble wand at Disney World in Florida.Naturally, TMZ had photos of the vacationing senator on its homepage a few days later. Continue reading...

Two-month arrangement aimed at preventing small-boat crossings comes as existing deal expiresThe UK will pay France an extra 16.2m to keep police patrolling Channel beaches and prevent a surge in small-boat crossings after negotiators failed to agree a permanent deal before a midnight deadline.The stopgap arrangement, which will last for two months, comes after French negotiators refused to agree to UK demands for further interventions and patrols to stop asylum seekers from reaching the UK via the Channel. Continue reading...

Nearly a quarter of voters cite Reform leader's support for US president as main reason against voting for his partyBy day 31 of the war in the Middle East, Nigel Farage had become somewhat less vocal about the closeness of his relationship with Donald Trump.Trying to read what's really in the minds of people in the White House right at the moment is a mug's game," said the MP, as he unveiled his party's latest pledge" to cut the cost of living on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Leader understood to have spoken to 10 trade unions after party claimed working class voters are turning to themZack Polanski has kicked off a charm offensive designed to convince trade unions to stop funding Labour and throw their weight behind the Green party, as he delivered the first in a series of speeches to union conferences.The Green leader has had good conversations" with 10 trade unions, including some affiliated to Labour, according to party sources, and is due to address the University and College Union and the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, not affiliated with Labour, in the coming months. Continue reading...

One twin wanted to take parental responsibility from the other for child P after both had sex with child's motherA woman who had sex with identical twins within four days of each other is unable to ensure one of them takes parental responsibility because it is not possible" to know which is the father, the court of appeal has said.One of the twins was registered as the father on the birth certificate of the child, referred to as P. His identical twin, along with the mother, sought to take over parental responsibility by asking the court of appeal to overturn a previous family court decision. Continue reading...

Cargo of tofu was spilled in highway accident near town of Jerome and left to ripen and rot in the open for weeksA staggering 40,000lbs of extra-firm tofu was spilled in an accident near a small town in Missouri and left in the open for weeks, creating a smell that local officials called unforgettable".The cleanup - dubbed the Great Battle of the Jerome Tofu Monster" - began near the town of Jerome, in south-western Missouri, on 1 March, when a tractor-trailer vehicle with a cargo of tofu crashed off a local highway and plunged into a ravine. Continue reading...

Request comes at the start of a two-week inquest into the death of Noongar man Jeffrey Winmar in Melbourne

Pontiff's unusually pointed comments come after Pete Hegseth's prayer for violence against enemies who deserve no mercy'Pope Leo has said God ignores the prayers of leaders who wage war and have hands full of blood", in an apparent rebuke to the Trump administration.The pontiff made the comments on Sunday as thousands of US troops arrived in the Middle East and days after the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, prayed for violence against enemies who deserved no mercy". Continue reading...

Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany were accused of lying on document used to enter Taylor's house on night of shootingA federal judge has dismissed charges against two former Louisville police officers accused of falsifying the warrant used to enter Breonna Taylor's apartment the night police shot her to death.Charles Simpson, a US district judge, issued a one-page ruling on Friday throwing out charges against Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, two former officers involved in crafting the Taylor warrant. Continue reading...

Iran has targeted Israel and Gulf states while denying Trump's claims that any negotiations are taking place. Plus, Democrats flip seat in district that includes Mar-a-LagoGood morning.The US appeared poised to deploy airborne troops to the Middle East, according to reports, as strikes intensified across the region.What is the 15-point framework? Diplomats with knowledge of the talks believe it is likely to be a rehashed version of a proposal put forward by Trump's negotiating team during nuclear talks in May 2025.What is happening with the strait of Hormuz? Iran has announced it is permitting non-hostile" ships to pass safely through the strait.This is a developing story. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. Continue reading...

Former MP appears at Westminster magistrates court to admit four drugs charges stemming from raid on his homeThe former MP Crispin Blunt has pleaded guilty at Westminster magistrates court to four charges of possession of drugs including cannabis and crystal meth.The 65-year-old former justice minister appeared at Westminster magistrates' court on Wednesday to admit four drugs charges, which stem from a raid on his home in Horley, Surrey, on October 25 2023. Continue reading...

Government's pilot ban for under-16s accompanies consultation as peers vote on Australia-style restrictionsHundreds of UK teenagers will trial social media bans, digital curfews and time limits on apps under a government pilot, which will run alongside a consultation to decide whether the UK should ban access to social media for the under-16s.During the test, led by the UK government, a proportion of 300 teens across all four nations of the UK will have their social apps disabled, mimicking the enforcement of a social media ban at home". Continue reading...

Fuel stocks at same level as when US and Israel launched their war on Iran a month ago, energy minister says

NSW police allege the boy held a mixed ideology and outlined plans for acts of violence'

Tania Warner says she has documents showing she is in the US legally, but immigration agents were not swayed

Senate leader proposes compromise to fund homeland security shutdown amid chaotic scenes at airports

Marco Rubio welcomes release of Dennis Coyle, who was detained in January last year for violating unspecified lawsAfghanistan's Taliban authorities have released the American academic Dennis Coyle after holding him for over a year, with the foreign ministry saying the release came on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.A statement from the ministry said the academic researcher had been released in Kabul on Tuesday, following an appeal from his family and after Afghanistan's supreme court considered his previous imprisonment sufficient". Continue reading...

German rescue teams have been trying to ease the humpback's path back into deeper waters without successA 10-metre-long humpback whale stranded on a sandbar in the Baltic Sea is in danger of dying if rescue workers do not manage to help it move into deeper waters soon, experts have said.Believed to be a young male, the mammal was spotted by guests of a hotel in Niendorf in Lubeck Bay, northern Germany, on Monday after they heard its deep moans and alerted police. Continue reading...