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Communications minister Michelle Rowland won't rule out strengthening the news media bargaining code to compel platforms to make news available

Russia had said that a Ukrainian agent had entered country from Lithuania with the aim of targeting a fuel facilityUkraine's president and foreign minister has pressed British foreign secretary David Cameron to accelerate the delivery of promised military aid to Kyiv, as Russia heaps battlefield pressure on depleted Ukrainian forces in the third year of war.It is important that the weapons included in the UK support package announced last week arrive as soon as possible," Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on the social platform X, as Cameron visited Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Glencore understood to be considering takeover offer while BHP could move again after initial rejectionThe global mining industry is braced for a multi-billion pound bidding war for Anglo American amid growing speculation that mining companies are preparing rival bids.The Australian miner BHP is understood to have sent senior executives to Anglo's base in South Africa to meet key company stakeholders after an initial offer of 31bn was rebuffed by Anglo's board last week. Continue reading...

Russians in separate compound and do not have access to US forces or equipment, says defence secretary

Man who emerges from German TV series is a far cry from myth of tortured artist alienated from his family and jobThe word kafkaesque" has come to describe the sensation of powerlessness when dealing with bureaucratic systems; of getting lost in labyrinthine administrative errands, being shut out by faceless officialdom and having your hopes strangled by red tape.But kafkaesque does not come close to describing the life of the man who lent the term his name, according to an irreverent biopic of the Prague-born author. Continue reading...

Matthew Dunster, who directed Allen in her West End debut 2:22: A Ghost Story, will write and direct the show for Bath's Ustinov Studio next yearLily Allen is to play Hedda Gabler in a new version of Henrik Ibsen's classic at Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov Studio next summer.The production will see the actor and singer reunite with Matthew Dunster, who directed Allen in her West End theatre debut in the supernatural thriller 2:22: A Ghost Story in 2021 and her subsequent role as a writer held prisoner in The Pillowman in 2023. Continue reading...

Some are optimistic about a change of government after the next general election while others are frustrated with both main partiesJoshua Holmes, 29, from Barton Hill, Bristol, went out to vote in the local elections on Thursday afternoon.The polling station was pretty quiet," he said, I was probably the youngest person there, and the only person in my shared house that voted." Continue reading...

One tornado in Oklahoma was the first of 2024 to be rated as EF-4, the second most severe categorySevere thunderstorms affected parts of the US last week, spawning at least 129 tornadoes across midwestern and southern states between 25 and 28 April. The majority occurred on 26 April, with most touching down in Nebraska and Iowa.Two that formed were particularly large and long-lived, lasting about an hour and reaching a mile in diameter, with surface wind speeds of about 160mph at their strongest. The first travelled over 31 miles across eastern Nebraska, causing severe damage in the Omaha suburb of Elkhorn. The second, which also developed secondary vortices, travelled almost 41 miles across western Iowa, and killed one person in Minden. Continue reading...

Group of Eight chief says campuses don't want to see escalation' like what is occurring in the US

Pledge comes after Victoria's supreme court dismisses residents' class action against government, saying it has no real prospect of success'

The Illawarra, Sydney and Hunter coast regions are expected to see up to 100mm of rainfall, with Sunday the very wet day'

After a long spell of intense heat and little rain, water levels have fallen to reveal parts of a sunken church, tombstones and foundations at PantabanganRuins of a centuries-old town have emerged at a dam parched by drought in the northern Philippines.After a prolonged spell of intense heat and little rain, water levels in the dam have fallen to reveal parts of a sunken church, tombstones and the foundations of structures from the 300-year-old town in Nueva Ecija province. Continue reading...

Patrick Stephenson charged over crash that occurred months before Ballarat mother's alleged murder

Siblings Callum and Jake Robinson went missing on a surfing trip to the Baja California region

Boy band cites technical issues' at new Manchester site, where Olivia Rodrigo, Keane and Peter Kay had also been due to performTake That have announced they will not be performing at the new Co-op Live Arena due to ongoing technical issues" with the venue in Manchester.The boyband had been due to perform from Tuesday but will instead switch their shows to the rival AO Arena. Continue reading...

Former PM made the requirement to bring photo ID a stipulation of the Elections Act in 2022Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station when trying to cast his vote in Thursday's elections after forgetting to bring the required photo identity.The former prime minister was initially told by polling station staff he would not be allowed to vote in the police and crime commissioner election in South Oxfordshire without proving his identity. Continue reading...

Hundreds have fled their homes as violence once again gripped Port-au-Prince after new prime minister sworn in last weekGunmen have launched a string of fresh attacks in Port-au-Prince, burning homes and exchanging gunfire with police for hours in one of the biggest outbreaks of violence since Haiti's new prime minister was announced.The attacks, which forced hundreds of to flee their homes, began late on Wednesday in neighborhoods including Solino and Delmas 18, 20 and 24, south-west of the main international airport, which has remained closed for nearly two months. Continue reading...

Jewish students warn about a hostile and toxic' atmosphere created by pro-Palestinian encampments at universitiesThe prime minister has backed a police crackdown on any outbreak of disorder on university campuses, as Jewish students warned that pro-Palestinian encampments are creating a hostile and toxic atmosphere".In recent days, new encampments have been set up at the universities of Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol and Newcastle, among others, after violent scenes on US campuses resulted in mass arrests of students and staff. Continue reading...

Israeli foreign minister accuses Turkish leader of acting like dictator' in row that could deepen tensionsTurkey has reportedly halted all trade with Israel over its actions in Gaza, prompting strong criticism of its president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, from the Israeli foreign minister.Israel Katz accused Erdoan of acting like a dictator" after Bloomberg cited two senior Turkish officials saying that Ankara had significantly ramped up restrictions first brought in last month, halting all imports or exports as of Thursday. Continue reading...

5.5bn loss in 2023 comes after gas sales more than halved following Russia's invasion of UkraineThe Kremlin-owned gas company Gazprom has plunged to its first annual loss in more than 20 years, after gas sales more than halved following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.The company made a net loss of 629bn roubles (5.5bn) in 2023 amid dwindling gas trade with Europe, once Gazprom's main sales market, as a result of sanctions and the throttling of pipelines to the continent. Continue reading...

Senior company lawyer agrees that 2013 draft report shows needless adversarialism' by Post Office teamPost office operators who blamed the Horizon IT system for cash shortfalls in their branches were viewed by the state-owned company's investigators as enemies of the business", a public inquiry has heard.The Post Office inquiry has seen part of a draft report prepared in 2013 by investigators at the accountancy firm Second Sight, which had been asked to examine concerns around the Horizon IT system. Continue reading...

Decision appears to be based on official assessment of Israel's compliance with humanitarian law that did not cover recent eventsDavid Cameron personally recommended that the UK should continue to sell arms to Israel two days after three British aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike.James Kirby, 47, from Somerset, James Henderson, 33, from Cornwall and John Chapman, 57, from Dorset, members of World Central Kitchen, were killed on 1 April. Continue reading...

The 28-year-old senior constable is facing five assault charges, three counts of stalking and two counts of harassment

Speaking at launch for West End adaptation, Cleese complains about literal-minded viewers not playing with a full deck'John Cleese said that he decided to cut the N-word from a scene in his West End Fawlty Towers revival because in contemporary Britain there are too many literal minded people" who don't understand irony".Cleese was speaking at the media launch for the West End theatrical adaptation of the classic comedy, which follows a repressed hotelier trying to control his chaotic staff. The TV show finished in 1979 after two series that are widely regarded to contain some of the best-ever British sitcom writing. Continue reading...

UN agency says reconstruction will require effort on a scale unseen since second world warThe EU has offered Lebanon a financial package of 1bn (855m / $1.07bn), European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in Beirut on Thursday.The funds would be available from this year until 2027, von der Leyen told a joint news conference with Lebanon's prime minister Najib Mikati and Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides.This continued EU support will strengthen basic services such as education, social protection and health for the people in Lebanon. It will accompany urgent economic, financial and banking reforms. Furthermore, support will be provided to the Lebanese armed forces and other security forces with equipment and training for border management and to fight against smuggling. Continue reading...

Committee say use of WhatsApp should be banned on official devices unless there is transparencyMinisters should have to publicly declare contact from lobbyists on WhatsApp or face a ban on its use on official government devices, a committee of MPs has said.The public administration committee said current transparency measures did not command public confidence, in the wake of the Greensill scandal over David Cameron's private lobbying of ministers on behalf of his employer. Continue reading...

Bill has raised concern country is moving away from democratic norms and closer to MoscowNicolas Schmit, the Socialists' lead candidate in the European elections, said he is deeply concerned" by the violence in Tbilisi.In a statement late yesterday, the US state department said Georgia's western trajectory is at risk.Use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of speech is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression. Continue reading...

Dozens of demonstrators in Peckham surround coach before it can take people to barge in DorsetA standoff was under way in London on Thursday after a coach sent to collect asylum seekers and take them to the Bibby Stockholm barge was surrounded by protesters.Dozens of demonstrators blocked the coach before it was able to pick up passengers, surrounding it on all sides. Hours later, hundreds were at the scene, while hire bikes had been placed underneath it. Continue reading...

Leader of the Commons dismisses reports she is to be installed in No 10 like a new boiler' next weekSwinney has confirmed he is standing for SNP leader.John Swinney is about to speak at his press conference in Edinburgh. Continue reading...

Ex-chancellor and Truss were close political allies and friends before he was sacked over a crisis stoked by the mini-budgetKwasi Kwarteng, the chancellor of the exchequer for 43 of Liz Truss's 49 days as British prime minister, has said Truss essentially" sacked him on Twitter", a dismissal he called kind of Trumpian" in its swiftness and brutality as Britain fell into crisis.Kwarteng said: One of the things that I feel bad about, among other things, was that she capitulated very quickly [to pressure to sack him]. So I came back and I was sacked, essentially on Twitter. So, kind of Trumpian." Continue reading...

Faculty members express anger Wednesday outside Hamilton Hall, which had been occupied by pro-Palestinian studentsColumbia University faculty say they are horrified" by Tuesday night's arrests of students by New York police following the occupation of an academic building, Hamilton Hall, by students protesting for the university to divest from Israel.Just after 9.30pm on Tuesday night, NYPD buses parked outside the hall were filled with arrested students who were transported away from campus. Continue reading...

Masked police also used water cannon and stun grenades against rally protesting over legislation viewed as authoritarian and Russian-inspiredMichael Roth, chairman of the German Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, has called on Georgia's leadership to stop the violence and withdraw the foreign agents bill.The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said today that he strongly" condemns violence against protesters and said use of force is unacceptable." Continue reading...

Daniel Anjorin attended Bancroft's school in Woodford Green, where Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who died in 2023 attack, was a pupilThe 14-year-old boy killed in the sword attack in north-east London attended the same school as one of the victims of the 2023 Nottingham attacks, the Guardian understands.The teenager, understood to be Daniel Anjorin, was a student at the private Bancroft's school in Woodford Green, which is still reeling from losing one of its alumni, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who was stabbed to death in Nottingham in June 2023. The school is to issue a statement later on Wednesday. Continue reading...

The writer of The New York Trilogy, Leviathan and 4 3 2 1 - known for his stylised postmodernist fiction - has died from complications of lung cancerPaul Auster, the author of 34 books including the acclaimed New York Trilogy, has died aged 77.The author died on Tuesday due to complications from lung cancer, his friend and fellow author Jacki Lyden confirmed to the Guardian. Continue reading...

Airline investigating whether privacy breach allowing customers to view others' account details was caused by recent system changes'

Researchers say issue urgently needs scrutiny' after rap and drill music used as evidence against 252 defendants over three yearsRap and drill music was used as prosecution evidence for serious charges including alleged gang-related murders against at least 252 defendants in England and Wales over a three-year period, a study has found.The researchers at the University of Manchester, who found 68 cases involving rap evidence covering the 252 charged individuals, said the issue urgently needs scrutiny" as there was no meaningful regulation nor even monitoring of how the criminal justice system used rap as criminal evidence. Continue reading...

General election candidates include Monty Panesar but party says it will not stand against Corbyn or Abbott if they run as independentsThe former England cricketer Monty Panesar and a former Ukip MEP are among hundreds of candidates who will run under the banner of George Galloway's Workers party at the general election.The party, which is seeking to capitalise on discontent over Labour's handling of the Gaza conflict, also said it would support the former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott and Claudia Webbe if they ran again as independents. Continue reading...

Nearly 45,000 households had nowhere to live in the three months to December last year, official figures showThe number of people being made homeless jumped by 16% in the final three months of last year, according to the latest government figures, which laid bare the scale of the country's housing crisis.Figures published by the government on Tuesday show nearly 45,000 households in England were assessed as homeless in the three months to December, up from just under 39,000 during the same period in 2022. Continue reading...

Rapper and singer was acclaimed for partnership with producer LTJ Bukem, and went on to become a producer and label head in his own rightMC Conrad, the vocalist who helped broaden and deepen the scope for jungle and drum'n'bass during the 1990s and beyond, has died aged 52. The news was confirmed by his agency Clinic Talent, who paid tribute saying: One of the most recognisable and best-loved voices in D&B, he leaves behind him an unmatched legacy."No cause of death has been given for the artist, born Conrad Thompson, who was celebrated for his dexterity on the mic, his singing ability, and affinity with the jazzier end of the genre's spectrum including in collaborations with producers such as LTJ Bukem and PFM. Continue reading...

The jukebox musical based on the 1994 film follows a string of high-profile early closures with producers saying the show has faced difficult times'An immersive jukebox musical production based on the 1994 Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is to close more than four months early in the West End. Priscilla the Party! had been booking until the end of September but will now have its last performance on 26 May. In a statement, the producers said that it was no longer sustainable" to support the show financially and that the production has been facing difficult times".Billed as an all-singing, all-dancing immersive party and musical theatre extravaganza", the show is running at London's 1bn Outernet complex in the Here venue with an audience capacity of just over 700. Theatregoers can join in the show on the dancefloor or choose a seated ticket including dining options. The show's website reveals good availability" for all but one of the remaining 23 performances. Prices start at 45. Continue reading...

Four-year-old child and pregnant woman among those in a serious condition after strike on seafront park in Black Sea port cityThis live blog has been paused. For the latest coverage on Russia's war in Ukraine, please visit our dedicated page.To keep up to date quickly with the latest in Ukraine, read our Ukraine war briefing here. Continue reading...

NSW detectives say 17-year-old girl arrested at home after hard to imagine' death of younger sibling

Extensive survey released by the National Association for the Visual Arts reveals gender disparity

Quaker and Vida, who were among the animals who got loose, were hurt when they collided with vehicles but have now had surgeryThe two military horses who sustained injuries after colliding with vehicles in London are making progress after surgery, the British army has said.Quaker, a Cavalry black, and a grey horse called Vida were seen galloping through the streets of the capital after being frightened by builders moving rubble last Wednesday. The pair bolted while they were on an extended exercise in Belgravia with five other horses and six soldiers from the Household Cavalry. Continue reading...

Newly deciphered passages outline Greek philosopher's burial place and describe critique of slave musicianNewly deciphered passages from a papyrus scroll that was buried beneath layers of volcanic ash after the AD79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius may have shed light on the final hours of Plato, a key figure in the history of western philosophy.In a groundbreaking discovery, the ancient scroll was found to contain a previously unknown narrative detailing how the Greek philosopher spent his last evening, describing how he listened to music played on a flute by a Thracian slave girl. Continue reading...

RRC appears to defy neutrality principle, as Ukrainian officials criticise weak response' and accuse Red Cross of being advocate for Russian aggressionThe International Red Cross movement has decided not to suspend membership of the Russian Red Cross (RRC), despite potential breaches of neutrality regulations brought to light by an investigation by a group of international media outlets, including the Guardian.Research showed what appeared to be numerous violations of the Red Cross charter by the Russian organisation since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Continue reading...

Former SNP leader may stand as unity candidate following Yousaf's resignation after one year in post

Hamas delegation expected in Cairo to respond to Israel's latest truce and hostage release proposal

Labour former home secretary says imprisonment for public protection sentences have resulted in deeply damaging outcomes'David Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary, has said devising legislation that has left people languishing in prison for minor offences is the biggest regret" of his eight years at the heart of government.The Labour peer, a titan of the Brown-Blair era, said that imprisonment for public protection (IPP) - known as the 99-year sentence - is the greatest blot in his copybook. Continue reading...

Police and intelligence agencies should consult with multicultural communities before designating an incident an act of terror, Fowler MP says