World news | The Guardian

Exclusive: Independent examination of rape prosecutions hears lawyers are obsessed' with credibility of victims and use victim-blaming language

Nolan wins prize at the Academy Awards after losing out in 2018 when he was nominated for Dunkirk

Song co-written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell comes out on top over I'm Just Ken, another song from the Barbie soundtrack

Master Japanese director wins his second Oscar for story of a young boy searching for his mother during the second world war

Randolph triumphs for her role as a grieving mother in the Alexander Payne-directed film also starring Paul Giamatti

Labour analysis finds 40% of Britons nominated for main prizes at major cultural awards went to private schoolNearly half of all British cultural stars nominated for major awards in the last decade were educated at private school, according to an analysis by Labour designed to highlight the failings of the state sector to provide creative education.After studying the backgrounds of 130 Britons nominated for the main prizes at the Oscars, Baftas and Mercury prize over the last 10 years, Labour found that 40% went to private school, whereas only about 6% of the population are privately educated. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Marco Longhi and Jill Mortimer, allies of Lee Anderson, question Jeremy Hunt setting aside 1m for tributeTory MPs have privately criticised the government's decision to build a memorial for Muslims who died fighting for Britain in the two world wars.In messages to a Conservative MPs' WhatsApp group seen by the Guardian, two Tory MPs elected in 2019 - Marco Longhi and Jill Mortimer - questioned why a memorial for Muslims was needed. The disclosure raises questions about the attitude towards Muslims in some sections of the Conservative party. Continue reading...

Relatives of Francis Williams say threat of return to prison without committing another crime was torture' for himOn the last day of his life, Francis Williams feared he was about to be sent to prison. Williams, 43, had committed no recent crime but when he was kicked out of a hostel in Bognor Regis after a drinking relapse, he guessed what was coming next.An arcane sentence for a street robbery 18 years earlier meant homelessness and addiction would be enough to send Williams back inside. He had been given an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence and could be recalled to prison if he was deemed to be a risk, even though he had served his time.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org. Continue reading...

At least a quarter of councils are taking more than a year to provide vital support to people with a new visual impairment diagnosisThe lives of thousands of blind and partially sighted people are being put at risk by delays in vital care that they have a legal right to after being assessed as visually impaired, according to a report.More than a quarter of English councils are leaving people who have just been diagnosed as blind waiting more than a year for vision rehabilitation assessments and potentially life-saving support, the report by the RNIB revealed. Continue reading...

Celebrity chef clashes with health secretary over what he calls government's lack of obesity strategyThe celebrity chef and Green party supporter Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has clashed with the UK health secretary, Victoria Atkins, over what he says is the government's failure to tackle the obesity crisis.Fearnley-Whittingstall challenged Atkins during a live discussion on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, accusing ministers of doing next to nothing" to tackle obesity in England. Continue reading...

Warnings that war in Gaza and Iran's lack of cooperation on its nuclear programme are strengthening hand of hardlinersThere are growing fears among diplomats in the US and Europe that Iran's largely unmonitored nuclear programme and the destabilisation caused by the Gaza conflict are strengthening the hand of Iranian factions that back the development of nuclear weapons.The Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, has reiterated in recent days that his country is pursuing a civilian nuclear programme for now. Continue reading...

National palace guards set up security ring after gangs attack at least three police stations in Port-au-Prince

Former Socceroo says he made a mistake and is very pleased to be able to learn' that racism can only be perpetrated against a marginalised person or group'

Victoria police say death is suspicious and alleged offender may have fled overseas'

Another 78 people taken to hospital after consuming delicacy, which is known to cause food poisoningEight children and an adult have died after eating sea turtle meat on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, and 78 other people have been taken to hospital, authorities said on Saturday.Sea turtle meat is considered a delicacy in Zanzibar but it periodically results in deaths from chelonitoxism, a type of food poisoning. Continue reading...

Shadow cabinet talk with Whitehall officials after Keir Starmer meets head of civil serviceAll members of Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet are to meet top civil servants in Whitehall departments before Easter as Labour steps up preparations to form the next government, according to senior party sources.The Observer has been told that Starmer recently held a first round of so-called access talks" with the cabinet secretary Simon Case, the head of the civil service, at a neutral venue" in London, to kick off an exchange of information between the official opposition and Whitehall in advance of a potential handover of power. Continue reading...

Digital ads for 8XBet inserted into matches played by clubs that rejected money from gambling companies

European Commission hopes maritime corridor will open by Sunday, while Israel strikes large residential tower in RafahA ship laden with humanitarian aid intended for Gaza is preparing to leave Cyprus, amid acute international concern as conditions in the territory continue to deteriorate.A US charity said it was loading aid on to a boat in Cyprus, which will be the first shipment to Gaza along a maritime corridor the European Commission hopes will open by Sunday. Continue reading...

US charity preparing vessel with hopes it could leave for territory this weekendThe UN's top aid official has renewed his call for a ceasefire in Gaza and outlined six priorities in the humanitarian response.In a social media post via the account of the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (Ocha) on Friday, Martin Griffiths, the UN emergency relief coordinator, wrote:The hostilities in Gaza entered their sixth month. These six facts should keep us all awake at night:1) More than half a million people are on the brink of famine. Children are dying of hunger.1) A ceasefire and full adherence to the rules of war.2) Additional entry points, supply routes and storage capacity in Gaza. Continue reading...

Open Arms vessel, loaded with humanitarian supplies, is waiting for approval from Israel before leaving

Royals will be hoping that Gary Goldsmith, who faces eviction on Friday, will not generate headlines about the Prince and Princess of WalesIt's the reality TV show that gives a fly-on-the-wall peek at how celebrities - a term used here in its loosest form - look when they're lounging on the sofa in their pyjamas.But the bit of hidden-camera footage we'd have really liked to see this week is the one showing the reaction of the royal family as Gary Goldsmith, the Princess of Wales's bad uncle", walked into the celebrity Big Brother house. Continue reading...

Latest and most serious claim against hedge fund manager emerges in high court documents as three new claimants come forwardCrispin Odey has been accused of rape in a civil lawsuit in the latest and most serious claim to be made against the prominent City financier.The allegation came to light on Thursday when the high court in London heard an application to decide whether three women could join two others in a legal action alleging misconduct by the founder of Odey Asset Management. Continue reading...

Stakeknife report finds army's top agent's links to murder and torture and calls for government and IRA to apologiseMore lives were lost than saved because of the activities of a man alleged to have been the highest-ranking British intelligence agent in the IRA during the Northern Ireland Troubles, according to a seven-year investigation into his activities.The Kenova report published on Friday finds that the agent Stakeknife saved between high single figures and low double figures" of lives but nowhere near hundreds [as] sometimes claimed". Continue reading...

Retail chain's boss declares office a much more fun and inspiring place' with everyone in attendanceBoots is ordering administrative staff back into the office for five days a week from September as it tries to gear up the business before a potential sale or flotation.The CEO, Seb James, said the employees - who had been asked to work at least three days a week in the group's various bases in Nottingham, Weybridge in Surrey, and London - should return for the full working week, arguing that the office was a much more fun and inspiring place" with everyone in attendance. Continue reading...

No 10 years were plagued by in-fighting as she tried to deliver a Brexit that would placate hard-right and centrist factions

Rishi Sunak spoke of a shocking increase in extremist disruption' - but critics warn voices are being silenced and that the UK's pluralist tolerance' is at riskIt's not what anyone would want for a school. As well as educating more than 1,300 children, the teachers at Barclay primary school in Leyton, east London, have been meeting weekly with police to discuss new evidence of online abuse and criminality".A bitter row over whether children may wear pro-Palestinian pins, flags and badges on their uniforms prompted a war of words involving parents, with one protester standing outside the school gates with a placard saying: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". The school even had to close early for the Christmas break amid fears over the wellbeing of staff. Continue reading...

What appeared to be relatively low-stakes amendments could turn into embarrassing defeat for governmentWhen the Irish government announced it would hold two referendums on International Women's Day it billed the votes as opportunities to embed inclusivity and equality in a constitution dating from 1937.Voters will on Friday be asked to delete article 41.2, the so-called women in the home" provision, and enshrine two proposed amendments on care and family. Continue reading...

Andre Ventura is hoping discontent with mainstream politics will hand his Chega party a kingmaker roleTempting as the tables of savoury pastries were, and strong as the voice of the shaven-headed singer belting out Phil Collins was, they were not the lure that had drawn 200 people to a remote wedding venue in northern Portugal on a cold and ink-black Wednesday evening.Despite the sign at the opposite end of the hall reading Let's get this party started", the audience's attention was more focused on a huge campaign poster behind the singer that offered a less hedonistic exhortation: Portugal needs a CLEAN-UP." Continue reading...

Fears over NHS waiting lists contribute to 41% increase in sales of policies, contributing to 1.5bn operating profitBooming demand in the UK for private health insurance, as NHS waiting lists remain at near-record levels, has boosted annual profits at Aviva, with more frequent claims and higher medical costs driving up premiums.Britain's biggest general insurer said sales of health insurance had risen 41% in 2023 compared with the previous year, with strong demand from businesses and individual customers, who were taking out policies as the crisis in the state health service continues. Continue reading...

Some employees angry at supermarket being temporarily able to pay under 11.44 an hourA month-long delay to a promised pay rise at Tesco has been condemned by some staff because it leaves them on less than the minimum wage, while saving the supermarket more than 17m.Tesco, one of the UK's biggest employers with more than 330,000 staff, has pledged to increase the minimum pay for its shop workers from 11.02 an hour to 12.02 next month, but the rise will not be implemented until 28 April, almost a month after the legal minimum wage for those aged 21 and over increases to 11.44 on 1 April. Continue reading...

Union criticises Doncaster academy for sending staff to homes to track movements of bins and carsA secondary school in South Yorkshire has been accused of snooping by monitoring families' bins, cars and post in an attempt to crack down on pupil absences.Staff at Astrea Academy Woodfields in Balby, Doncaster, have been visiting the homes of absent pupils to check bins are being put out, cars are on driveways, or if steam is being released from the boiler flue. Continue reading...

Only five in 101 statues in Copenhagen depict women, with 26 of animals and 70 of menDenmark has pledged to put up more statues of women, with the country's culture minister saying the capital has more statues of mythical beasts and horses".According to the Danish government, only 31 of 321 statues and busts in Danish cities are of women. Continue reading...

Foreign minister Wang Yi - speaking at the Two Sessions - said it was unacceptable some countries are at the table while others are on the menu'China's top foreign affairs official has accused the US of trying to suppress China and has vowed to deepen relations with Russia, as Beijing continues to assert the importance of what it calls a multipolar" world order.Foreign minister Wang Yi accused the US of imposing sanctions on Chinese companies to a bewildering" and unfathomable" level, referencing Beijing's opposition to unilateralism and protectionism", complaints that have become buzzwords in China's official statements of late. Continue reading...

Changes to language about women in the home' and definition of a family will be put to referendum on FridayIreland will be taking a step backwards" this week if it votes against two changes to the constitution that are designed to remove old-fashioned" language about women and formally recognise families beyond those involving marriage, the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has said.In a double referendum on Friday, the Irish public will be asked to support the deletion of two clauses in the 1937 constitution, including the women in the home" provision, and the enshrining of two proposed amendments. Continue reading...

Family members pay emotional tribute to Ricky Hampson Jr, Dougie', who died less than 24 hours after leaving Dubbo Base hospital

Sally Dowling announced audit of all sexual assault cases after judicial concern over secret policies'

Reynolds said she proposed a fortnight's pause in the defamation case after a tiring and difficult day' of discussions on Tuesday

Katy Gallagher announces businesses with more than 500 employees won't get Australian government business without targets for their boards and workforces

Questions asked over the place of protest in professional sport after Hurricanes Poua team in Wellington changed the lyrics for their haka just before a gameA row over the role of protest in professional sport has erupted in New Zealand after a women's rugby team called the coalition government rednecks" during a pre-match haka.The Hurricanes Poua - the women's rugby union team for Wellington - added lyrics to their haka just before their Super Rugby Aupiki match against the Chiefs Manawa in Hamilton on Saturday. Continue reading...

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed convicted over death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on New Mexico movie set in October 2021Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film Rust, has been found guilty for her role in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a New Mexico film set.Hutchins was fatally shot by Alec Baldwin while the actor was rehearsing a scene for the neo-western. Baldwin, who also served as a co-producer on the film, was pointing a prop gun at Hutchins during an October 2021 rehearsal when the weapon fired, hitting the 42-year-old and wounding the film's director, Joel Souza. Continue reading...

Biden administration not required to disclose sales below set dollar amount, in addition to public shipments worth over $573mThe US is reported to have made more than 100 weapons sales to Israel, including thousands of bombs, since the start of the war in Gaza, but the deliveries escaped congressional oversight because each transaction was under the dollar amount requiring approval.The Biden administration has become increasingly critical of the conduct of Israeli military operations in Gaza and the failure to allow in meaningful amounts of humanitarian aid, with the death toll now over 30,000 and with famine looming. But it has kept up a quiet but substantial flow of munitions to help replace the tens of thousands of bombs Israel has dropped on the tiny coastal strip, making it one of the most intense bombing campaigns in military history. Continue reading...

Incident marks first fatalities of commercial shipping crew since militants began launching strikes off Yemen last yearThree sailors have died and others have been injured after a Houthi missile attack on a ship in the Gulf of Aden, US officials have said - the first fatalities of crew of commercial shipping since the Houthis began launching strikes at ships in waters off Yemen last year.The officials told US news agencies that the crew of the MV True Confidence had abandoned ship after the attack, which was claimed by the Houthis. Continue reading...

Kohli did not enter a plea during the hearing at the sheriff court and was released on bailThe comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli has appeared in court accused of sex offences.The 55-year-old, who has appeared on TV shows including Celebrity MasterChef, Loose Ends and Question Time, was released on bail after a private appearance at Glasgow sheriff court. Continue reading...

Rishi Sunak's bill was opposed in 10 votes by peers, two days after five amendments were forced throughRishi Sunak has suffered further setbacks in the House of Lords over his controversial Rwandan deportation bill after peers defeated the government on all 10 votes.Wednesday's vote comes two days after the prime minister endured his heaviest defeat in the House of Lords after the archbishop of Canterbury and former Conservative ministers had joined forces with the opposition to force through five amendments. Continue reading...

UK foreign secretary repeated request to Benny Gantz for Israel to allow delivery of more aid refrain from a full-scale assault on Rafah

The question for the Trump campaign is how to get Haley onside and win back as many of her supporters as possible, as quickly as possibleNikki Haley's withdrawal from the Republican presidential primary on Wednesday was not a shocker", a leading anti-Trump conservative said, in a contender for understatement of the political year.As we've said for months," Tara Setmayer added, she has no path and [Donald] Trump will be the GOP nominee." Continue reading...

Labour candidate will stand in Mid Sussex against Conservatives who currently hold seatModern Life is Rubbish, Blur once famously pronounced. Well, after the band's drummer was selected as a Labour candidate at the next general election, they may hope to change the situation.Dave Rowntree will stand in Mid Sussex, the party announced on Wednesday evening. The constituency covers Burgess Hill, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and the Mid Sussex villages. Continue reading...

Michelle Donelan had urged Research England to cut ties with a member of its advisory group over alleged Hamas supportUK taxpayers have financed a 15,000 payout to an academic after the science minister wrongly accused her of supporting Hamas, the department has said amid growing political anger at why public money was used.The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said 15,000 had been paid after a statement on Tuesday by Michelle Donelan, about a clarification" from Prof Kate Sang, of Heriot-Watt university in Edinburgh, about her views. Continue reading...

But racial and economic disparities contribute to the US's poor ranking in infant and maternal health internationallyA new report from the Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics has found infant mortality declined 3% from 2019 to 2021. However, the good news is tempered by large racial and economic disparities and the US's poor ranking in infant and maternal health internationally.Black and Native mothers are consistently more likely than white and Asian mothers to have infants who die in their first year of life, a statistic that mirrors disparities in maternal mortality. Continue reading...

Police chiefs say 230m boost falls far short of extra funding forces need to deliver stable service'Drones will be increasingly used as first responders" when the public report incidents to emergency services, under plans announced by the chancellor in the spring budget on Wednesday.Jeremy Hunt told MPs 230m would be set aside for police to spend on time- and money-saving technology" such as unmanned flying vehicles and video technology. Continue reading...