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Union body claims policies left Britain ‘hugely unprepared’, in report before opening hearing of inquiryYears of austerity overseen by David Cameron and George Osborne left Britain “hugely unprepared” for Covid, with consequences that were “painful and tragic”, union leaders have claimed.In an attempt to frame the opening hearing of the UK Covid inquiry next week as a trial of public sector cuts, the Trades Union Congress will argue in a report that the policies of the former prime minister and his chancellor led to “unsafe staffing in public services, a broken safety net and decimated workplace safety enforcement”. Continue reading...

Nine-year-old inside transparent ball as ‘freak gust of wind’ carries it over trees before landing on wheelie binA nine-year-old boy has been seriously injured after the inflatable zorb ball he was playing in was carried so high into the air by “a freak gust of wind” that eyewitnesses described it gliding over some trees.The child was inside the transparent plastic orb, floating on a pool of water at an outdoor festival in Southport, Merseyside, when the ball suddenly took off into the air. Continue reading...

Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion say they ‘will hand captured soldiers to Kyiv’A pro-Ukraine group of Russian partisans has said it captured several soldiers during a cross-border raid into southern Russia and will hand them over to Ukrainian authorities.The Russian Volunteer Corps made the claim in a video statement released on Telegram on Sunday after a raid into the Russian region of Belgorod. Continue reading...

Twenty-two people injured including five children, while row continues over closed air raid shelters

Agreement comes as writers remain on strike and actors are currently holding a strike authorization voteThe Directors Guild of America (DGA) which represents film and television directors announced late on Saturday that it had reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood’s major studios, averting a possible work stoppage.The development comes as Hollywood writers are currently on strike and actors represented by the Sag-Aftra union are currently holding a strike authorization vote. Continue reading...

Tributes paid to ‘loving’ 51-year-old who died after being attacked in Greater ManchesterThe family of Michelle Hodgkinson, who died after being stabbed in Droylsden, Greater Manchester on Friday, have expressed their “utter shock” at the attack and how horrific her final minutes were.The 51-year-old was fatally attacked while she was walking along Edge Lane on Friday afternoon. A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and has since been detained under the Mental Health Act. Continue reading...

Burnham and Rotheram write to NEC after Driscoll is kept off longlist to be candidate for north-east mayorAndy Burnham and Steve Rotheram have accused the Labour party of being undemocratic, opaque and unfair after a fellow Labour mayor was blocked from standing for election.They demanded Jamie Driscoll – often described “the last Corbynista in power” since becoming the first mayor for North of Tyne in 2019 – be allowed to appeal against the decision to keep him off the longlist to be Labour’s mayoral candidate for the new north-east region. Continue reading...

Girl’s body pulled from wreckage and 22 injured after strike Volodymyr Zelenskiy blames on Russia; fires reported in Shebekino town

Former children’s laureate tells Hay festival audience that her local library was essential to her career as a writerLibraries should be “ringfenced and protected” to ensure that all children have access to books, the author Malorie Blackman has said.“I lived in my local library as a child,” Blackman, who was children’s laureate from 2013 to 2015, told an audience at the Hay literary festival. Continue reading...

Former teacher says learning classical rhetoric can help pupils become better communicatorsIt has been employed for thousands of years, taking in everything from Julius Caesar writing veni, vidi, vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) to Bruce Forsyth greeting fans with “nice to see you, to see you nice”.Caesar, Forsyth and countless others, from William Shakespeare to Nicki Minaj, have used classical rhetoric, the ancient formula for crafting and delivering persuasive arguments. Now, an academic argues that teaching it in schools would improve the nation’s communication skills no end.“Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind” – John F Kennedy addressing the UN general assembly in 1961.“Fair is foul and foul is fair” – the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.“Nice to see you, to see you nice” – Bruce Forsyth.“We will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together knowing that we will be free one day” – Martin Luther King in his 1963 I Have a Dream speech“I came, I saw, I conquered” – Julius Caesar“I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive. I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise, to fly!” – Nicki Minaj Continue reading...

‘We’re half a million here,’ says Donald Tusk at what he says is biggest political gathering since Poland regained independenceHundreds of thousands of people have marched through central Warsaw to protest against Poland’s rightwing populist government before a delicately poised election due in the autumn.The Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in 2015, since when it has eroded democratic norms, attacked the independent judiciary and launched campaigns against the LGBTQ+ community and reproductive rights. Continue reading...

Netanyahu calls deaths of three members of Israel Defence Forces on Sinai border a terrorist attackA man who shot and killed three Israeli soldiers in a rare incident on the Sinai border with Egypt has been identified by the Israeli military as a member of the Egyptian border police.Two Israel Defence Forces (IDF) combat soldiers were killed early on Saturday morning at a military post near Mount Harif, in the Negev desert, the army said. The discovery of their bodies a few hours later triggered a manhunt in which a third soldier was killed, as well as the assailant. A fourth Israeli soldier sustained minor injuries in the shootout. Continue reading...

‘Cam’ Cameron hopes to live alone on small rock in north Atlantic for up to 60 days to beat decade-long recordA Scottish teacher has begun a solo attempt to beat the record for occupying Rockall in the north Atlantic, after his two companions left him behind after finishing their parts in the expedition.“Cam” Cameron, 53, hopes to live alone on the small rock for up to 60 days and at least surpass the record of 45 days set nearly a decade ago by Nick Hancock, a chartered surveyor from near Edinburgh. Continue reading...

Whistleblowers and lawyers criticise body for rank and file officers after survey called it an ‘old boys’ network’The federation that represents rank and file police officers in Scotland is failing women, according to whistleblowers and their lawyers, after an extensive survey of officers and staff described it as “the same old boys’ network”.After a series of internal reports revealing the extent of racist and sexist behaviour within Police Scotland, as well as the admission by the chief constable, Sir Iain Livingstone, that the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory, the focus has shifted to the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents more than 16,000 officers. Continue reading...

Sir Iain Livingstone says move was not politically motivated and defends use of forensic tent outside houseScotland’s chief constable, Sir Iain Livingstone, has said the decision to raid Nicola Sturgeon’s home in April and erect a large tent across the entrance was “proportionate and necessary.”In an interview with the Sunday Times to mark his retirement, Livingstone denied that the move was politically motivated and said the search warrant was independently approved by a judge. Continue reading...

Human rights and legal groups have stepped up their calls for a compensation plan in the wake of the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation ruling

Seventeen women and nine children will take the government to court, arguing that Australia has ‘effective control’ of their detention and the power to set them freeAustralian mothers and children held in a Syrian detention camp will take the Australian government to court in an attempt to compel the government to bring them home.Seventeen Australian women and nine children – the wives, widows, and children of slain or jailed Islamic State fighters – held in the Roj camp in north-east Syria, will file a writ of habeas corpus in the federal court on Monday morning, arguing that Australia has “effective control” of their detention and the power to set them free.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

ACCC warns airline industry is at ‘critical juncture’ with a developing duopoly stunting competition

New laws to include making it a criminal offence to coerce someone into breaching their visa condition and bans on hiring other visa holders

MPs call for new laws as data shows rise in number of dog seizures is not matched by action against owners

Golden Globe and Tony-winning actor will star as Willy Loman in a Melbourne production directed by Neil Armfield

Despite adding millions of people and dwellings over the past decade, our cities are well behind globally in terms of population density

Ten Americans will pay €1 a month to live in Ollolai, birthplace of former Mr Universe Franco ColumbuTen American professionals are moving to a small town in the middle of Sardinia known for being the birthplace of a former Mr Universe who was a close friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, paying a token rent of €1 (86p) a month.The project, called Work from Ollolai and launched by the local council in collaboration with the Sa Mata association, is aimed at boosting the population in the town, located in the mountainous Barbagia region of the Italian island. Continue reading...

Classic, smoke-stained Dutch drinking spots should be given protected status, say campaignersOn the bar is a dispenser for Dutch jenever – the liquor that inspired British gin – silver taps of lager and 10 hard-boiled eggs at €1 a pop.Café de Druif is one of Amsterdam’s oldest “brown bars”, or bruine kroegen, and part of a movement to preserve these cosy drinking rooms. Continue reading...

UK surveillance watchdog informed large group of asylum seekers of their right to bring a case before a tribunalThe Home Office faces a wave of legal claims after the UK’s surveillance watchdog found a blanket policy of seizing thousands of asylum seekers’ mobile phones caused “significant harm”.The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office has written to a large group of asylum seekers to notify them of their right to bring a case before a specialist surveillance tribunal. Continue reading...

Gary Smith of the GMB, a key Labour donor, says plan shows ‘lack of intellectual rigour’The head of a union that is one of Labour’s biggest donors has accused the party of “being naive” over its plans to ban North Sea oil and gas production.Labour has pledged to block all new domestic oil and gas developments if it wins power, proposing instead to invest heavily in renewable sources such as wind and also in nuclear power. Continue reading...

Robert Jenrick says government will not restrict what former PM can say to Covid-19 inquiryA minister has said the government will not restrict what Boris Johnson can say to the Covid-19 inquiry, but in effect issued a warning that the former prime minister should ensure he is using public funding for legal advice “appropriately”.Robert Jenrick’s comments on Sunday come after it was reported that Cabinet Office lawyers had told Johnson he could lose the funding if he tries to “frustrate or undermine” the government’s position on the inquiry. The former prime minister was informed that the money would “cease to be available” if he breaks conditions such as releasing evidence without permission, according to the Sunday Times. Continue reading...

University taking disciplinary action against 11 students who occupied buildings during demonstrationsA group of Manchester University students face expulsion over a rent strike that saw more than 350 collectively withhold more than £2m.The university is taking action against 11 of its students in a bitter row over rising rents and what some students claim is a failure to provide adequate financial support to those who are struggling during the cost of living crisis. Continue reading...

Cabinet Office lawyers warn ex-PM of consequences if he tries to ‘frustrate or undermine’ government positionBoris Johnson has been warned that he could lose public funding for legal advice if he tries to “frustrate or undermine” the government’s position on the Covid-19 inquiry.

Officers injured while checking on an individual in Billingham and taken to hospital to receive stitchesThree police officers were taken to hospital after being injured in a knife attack in north-east England on Friday evening. Officers attended an address in Billingham to carry out a welfare check on an individual.At the site, they encountered a man with a knife who became aggressive towards them, leaving two Cleveland police officers with puncture wounds and the third with slash wounds. Continue reading...

Mark Nicholls arrested after body of Emily Sanderson discovered 11 days after going missingA man has been charged with the murder of a woman who was found dead in Sheffield 11 days after going missing.The body of 48-year-old Emily Sanderson was found at an address in the Hillsborough area of the city last Tuesday. She had not been seen since 19 May, when she reportedly attended a family funeral. Continue reading...

Specialist in recovery of missing and looted art and antiques accuses businesses of protecting commissions and fees ahead of restoring legal ownershipToo many auction houses and dealers are failing to cooperate when they are found to be selling stolen items, a leading lawyer has warned.Christopher Marinello, a London-based specialist in recovering stolen, looted and missing art and antiques, told the Observer that “most are uncooperative at first” and some are “so desperate to protect their commissions that they will do anything to avoid cooperating”. Continue reading...

Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for dawn attack on 26 MayAt least 54 African Union peacekeepers were killed when militants attacked a base housing Ugandan units in Somalia last week, the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, said.“We discovered the lifeless bodies of 54 fallen soldiers, including a commander,” Museveni said in a statement posted on his official Twitter account late on Saturday. Continue reading...

Train was diverted on to wrong tracks, says railways minister as efforts to clear wreckage continueIndia’s railways minister has said the train derailment that killed at least 275 people and injured hundreds more was caused by an error in electronic signals that sent a train on to the wrong tracks.Ashwini Vaishnaw’s explanation on Sunday came as authorities worked to clear the mangled wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed on Friday night in eastern India, in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in decades. Continue reading...

Since the coup in 2021 the carnage has been unceasing, meanwhile Russia and China continue to send weapons

Porthmadog in Wales hits Saturday high of 23.9C with dry weather likely to remain for at least another weekThe UK could experience the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures potentially reaching 26C.On Saturday, a UK high of 23.9C was recorded in Porthmadog, Wales, and temperatures are expected to be slightly higher on Sunday. The dry weather is likely to remain for at least another week. Continue reading...

The 22-year-old was arrested at the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay and granted bail to appear at Downing Centre local court next week

Criminal landlords are using uniformed security guards to force out tenants, says the charity Safer RentingVulnerable families are being tricked out of their rented homes by private security guards dressed like court bailiffs, a charity has warned.Safer Renting, a charity-run tenancy relations service operating in seven London boroughs, said criminal landlords were increasingly turning to private security companies to get tenants to leave their homes without a court order. Continue reading...

After refusing to meet with his US counterpart, general says ‘some countries’ interfering in others’ business but Beijing does not seek confrontationChina’s defence minister, Li Shangfu, has said a cold war mentality is resurgent in the Asia-Pacific region, but Beijing seeks dialogue over confrontation. The remarks came after Li refused to formally meet the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.Speaking at the dialogue, Asia’s top security summit, on Sunday, Li took thinly veiled digs at the US, repeating familiar grievances and accusing “some countries” of intensifying an arms race and interfering in the internal affairs of others. Continue reading...

Lack of mental health resources and basic facilities leaving inmates and workers traumatised, party member and daughter of state MP says

NSW’s Labor government launching maintenance backlog blitz on the state’s beleaguered rail system. This blog is now closed

Barnardo’s fears the cost of living crisis will leave families unable to afford holiday activities, leaving children prey to sexual predators online and criminal gangs on the streetA record number of children are at risk of sexual and criminal exploitation this summer as the cost of living crisis leaves the majority of families unable to afford activities over the holidays.The UK’s largest children’s charity, Barnardo’s, issued the warning after polling revealed six in 10 parents will struggle to afford clubs, take time off work or go on family outings over the six-week school break. Continue reading...

Carla White’s battle has shone a light on city’s lack of affordable new housing for those on low incomesA single tenant in a Montreal apartment block has halted a multimillion-dollar development project in a standoff that has focused fresh attention on the lack of affordable housing in major Canadian cities.Property developer Mondev has been trying for years to persuade Carla White to move from her small C$400-a-month (£238) apartment so it can demolish a row of mostly abandoned buildings and build 176 luxury apartments. Continue reading...

Ukrainian officials say air defences shot down all missiles and drones aimed at capitalRussia launched a wave of air attacks on Ukraine early on Sunday, with air defence systems repelling all missiles and drones on their approach to Kyiv, the city’s military officials said.“According to preliminary information, not a single air target reached the capital,” Serhiy Popko, the head of the military administration, posted online early on Sunday. “Air defence destroyed everything that was heading towards the city already at their distant approaches.” Continue reading...

Speaking at an event commemorating Mabo’s high court win, the constitutional lawyer said support from Australians will ‘endow the voice with legitimacy’

Blast near Dnipro leaves 20 injured; Zelenskiy says Ukraine is ready to launch counteroffensive; Prigozhin says Kremlin factions are destroying Russia

Defence minister is also believed to have raised concerns about the ongoing detention of Australian citizens and human rights issues

Rain Newton-Smith hopes to reanimate the scandal-plagued British lobby group this week: but is it still even a necessary voice?The CBI’s new boss, Rain Newton-Smith, faces a make-or-break moment on Tuesday, as the scandal-hit lobbying group’s members meet to decide its fate.She published a 30-page recovery plan last week, promising “a renewed CBI,” as she battles to bring the confederation back from the brink of extinction. Its 300 staff were warned last week that would mean job cuts, as the wage bill is reduced by a third. Continue reading...

Sources say newly crowned king is letting property go as it is ‘unlikely’ he will be able to use it as beforeKing Charles is giving up his home in Wales on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog, the official new name for Brecon Beacons, with the lease due to expire later this summer.Llwynywermod was bought for £1.2m by the Duchy of Cornwall estate on behalf of the then prince in 2007 after he spent 40 years searching for the right property. Continue reading...

The London-born singer of Kosovan-Albanian parents says the way Albanians have been discussed has ‘hurt’Singer Dua Lipa has criticised the way ministers have discussed migrants as “shortsighted and small-minded”.Lipa, born in London to Kosovan-Albanian parents, said the way the government has discussed Albanians caused her “hurt” as she called for “more empathy”. Continue reading...