Polls predict ANC likely to lose parliamentary majority, due to high unemployment and wealth inequalitySouth Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the country's multicoloured flag.Any sense of celebration on the momentous anniversary was however set against a growing discontent with the current government. Continue reading...
Rodrigo Falcon last seen in early hours of 11 December 2022 after leaving The Vault nightclub in AviemoreA body has been found in the search for a man who was last seen in a Highlands village more than a year ago.Rodrigo Falcon, an Argentinian, disappeared in freezing conditions in the early hours of 11 December 2022. Continue reading...
Cross-party MPs criticise protesters who waved Palestinian flags and shouted at former Tory minister who was flanked by securityJacob Rees-Mogg has said the protests against him at Cardiff University were legitimate and peaceful, if noisy" after he was chased off campus on Friday, as the incident received cross-party condemnation from elsewhere.Footage showed the Conservative MP being followed by a small number of shouting demonstrators as he was escorted into a waiting car by eight security guards after speaking at the university's Conservative society. Continue reading...
Documents show officials were told blood plasma harvested from US convicts was contaminated with viruses Read more: the true story of the UK infected blood scandal; plus: My mum gave the injections that killed my brothers'A commercial blood product at the centre of the biggest treatment scandal in the history of the NHS was approved for use after government officials were told convicts were among the paid donors and virus contamination should be assumed",corporate filings reveal.The product, given to haemophiliacs to enable their blood to clot, was injected into thousands of patients inthe UK in the 1970s and 1980s, including young children, who were infected with Aids and hepatitis C. Continue reading...
by Tom Ambrose (now) and Clea Skopeliti (earlier) on (#6MCX6)
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our coverage of the Middle East crisis hereThree people have been killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, including two members of Hezbollah, AFP reports, citing statements from the militant group and official media.Hezbollah released statements mourning the deaths of two fighters from the villages of Kafr Kila and Khiam, saying they had been martyred on the road to Jerusalem". Continue reading...
Concerned public contact council over safety fears after retailer erected askew billboard in WandsworthA Waitrose billboard erected in a wonky fashion as a marketing stunt was fenced off by council staff amid public safety fears.The retailer erected an askew billboard on Lindore Road, in Wandsworth, south-west London, in a nod to its falling prices. Continue reading...
New room would give thousands of daily visitors better experience, says museum presidentThe Mona Lisa, the world's most famous portrait, could get a room of its own in the Louvre, the museum's president said.Such a move would give visitors, many of whom visit the Louvre for the famous painting alone, a better experience, Laurence des Cars told the broadcaster France Inter. Continue reading...
SNP leader wrote to other parties asking them to find common ground' ahead of no confidence voteHumza Yousaf has said he does not rule out a Holyrood election after writing to the leaders of Scotland's political parties asking them to find common ground" ahead of a no confidence vote.Yousaf has come under increasing pressure in recent days after his decision to axe the Scottish National party's governing agreement with the Scottish Greens on Thursday morning. Continue reading...
Rana Mitter, vice president for public engagement, keen to move on from colonial guilt and post-Brexit introspectionBritain's most revered academic institutions ought to stop worrying about their outdated image, since they now offer the best route to global influence, according to British historian Professor Rana Mitter. The renowned China expert, now based at Harvard's Kennedy School, told the Observer that educational prestige is an increasingly important tool for tackling challenges to trust and fresh threats to the world order - and he wants a newly revamped British Academy in London, where he is vice-president for public engagement, to play a key role.Outside our concerns with Brexit and decolonisation, the wider world has moved on and it still wants Britain to play a big part. Continue reading...
Vida and Quaker from the Household Cavalry are recovering from surgery after four horses broke loose in LondonThe army has said it is too early to know for sure if two military horses that suffered serious injuries after running loose through London will return to duties.Seven horses and six soldiers from the Household Cavalry were on an extended exercise in Belgravia on Wednesday when the horses were spooked by builders moving rubble. Continue reading...
Eight others taken to hospital and four arrested on suspicion of supply of controlled substance, say policeA man has died and eight others have been taken to hospital after an unusually strong batch" of heroin circulated across north Devon, police have said.Four people were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance. Continue reading...
Ex-soldier, conspiracy theorist, astrologer and anti-vaxxer among the first of 27 people on trial for trying to violently topple the German government - led by Heinrich XIII Prince ReussOne of the largest legal proceedings in German history is due to start on Monday with the first of three trials of a group of far-right conspiracists who planned to violently overthrow the country's parliament.So sprawling is the network, so extensive their plans, that for a mixture of logistical and security reasons, the 27 people due in the dock have been split into three separate groups. Continue reading...
Claim of parental alienation made to distress and frighten', English court toldA man who raped his wife and was controlling and threatening towards her and their two children attempted to manipulate the family court into believing he was a victim of domestic abuse, a judge has ruled.In a damning judgment Judge Middleton-Roy found the man's conduct - which included frequently filming of his family using a body-worn camera - had been reprehensible and unreasonable" after he pursued false claims against the mother and contested her allegations against him over a prolonged period. Continue reading...
Officials say unidentified man killed influencer who had previously been imprisoned over dancing videosA man on a motorbike has shot dead a social media influencer known as Om Fahad outside her Baghdad home, Iraqi security officials have said.The unidentified attacker shot Om Fahad in her car in the Zayouna district on Friday, a security official said, requesting anonymity because he was not cleared to speak to the media. Continue reading...
Activists say little has changed in treatment of migrants and refugees under Donald Tusk's new governmentThe case of a woman from Eritrea who was forced to give birth alone in the forested border area between Poland and Belarus has raised questions about the new Polish government's response to the continuing humanitarian crisis at the border between the two countries.The previous, rightwing government of the Law and Justice party (PiS) used the migration issue to score political points and was accused of encouraging rights abuses by guards along the border, with reports of frequent violent pushbacks" of people to Belarus. Continue reading...
by Neha Gohil Community affairs correspondent on (#6MCWW)
They have been resilient amid wider high street decline - but units are now emptying in areas such as Southall, west LondonThe south Asian high street is facing a fight for its future in Britain as customers scale back wedding celebrations because of the cost of living crisis and young people's changing preferences.Businesses in London and Manchester have said they have witnessed a huge decline in customers after the pandemic with the cost of living crisis prompting many to decide against the traditional big south Asian wedding and to seek out cheaper products online. Continue reading...
Parties clash over communal issues in increasingly charged campaign amid concerns unseasonably hot weather affecting voter numbersIndia has held the second phase of the world's biggest election, with prime minister Narendra Modi and his rivals hurling accusations of religious discrimination and threats to democracy amid flagging voter turnout.Almost 1 billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase general election that began on 19 April and concludes on 1 June, with votes set to be counted on 4 June. Continue reading...
As mayor aims to win third term, what has he achieved so far on air pollution, the climate crisis and nature?When Sadiq Khan launched his campaign for a third term as Labour mayor of London, he put his green policies front and centre, highlighting his work on air pollution, the climate crisis and nature.For seasoned Khan watchers, this came as little surprise. The mayor, who last year published a book called Breathe: Seven Ways to Win a Greener World, has been widely praised for his work tackling air pollution, as well as his efforts on nature restoration and getting London to net zero by 2030.The introduction and expansion of the ultra-low emission zone, which excludes the most polluting vehicles from the capital and has contributed to roadside N0 emissions dropping by 50%.The introduction of thousands of new electric buses and taxis, and the continued expansion of the cycle network and promotion of walking.A rewilding programme that has reintroduced a range of species, including beavers, expanded green spaces, and included a mass tree-planting programme. Continue reading...
US defence secretary announces aid as Zelenskiy pleads with west for more Patriot systems to defend Ukrainian citiesThe US will provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles for its air defence systems as part of a massive $6bn additional aid package, the defence secretary has announced.This is the largest security assistance package that we've committed to date," Lloyd Austin said after the conclusion of a virtual meeting of dozens of Kyiv's international supporters. Continue reading...
Cancellation of World Voices festival comes days after organization cancelled 2024 edition of its annual awards ceremonyThe free speech organization PEN America has cancelled its World Voices festival after several authors withdrew their participation over the non-profit's response to Israel's military attacks against Gaza.The festival was scheduled to take place on 8 May in New York City and Los Angeles. A prominent group of writers including Naomi Klein, a Guardian columnist; Isabella Hammad; and Zaina Arafat signed an open letter to PEN America in March announcing their decision not to participate in this year's festival. Continue reading...
Top health official gives no timeline for issuing rule, saying administration taking more time to consider feedbackFor the second time in recent months, the Joe Biden White House has delayed a sweeping plan to ban menthol cigarettes, a decision that is certain to infuriate anti-smoking advocates but could avoid angering Black voters ahead of November elections.In a statement on Friday, the president's top health official gave no timeline for issuing the rule, saying only that the administration would take more time to consider feedback, including from civil rights groups. Continue reading...
Judge coroner highlights failings that contributed to three victims being killed by Khairi Saadallah in 2020The deaths of three people during a terror attack in Reading were avoidable, an inquest has determined.A judge coroner sitting at the Old Bailey on Friday said failings in intelligence sharing and in providing psychiatric care contributed to the failure to prevent the attack that took the lives of James Furlong, Dr David Wails and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett in June 2020. Continue reading...
Swift now has joint highest number of chart-toppers for a female artist, as The Tortured Poets Department earns biggest opening week in seven yearsTaylor Swift has tied with Madonna to become the female artist with the most UK No 1 albums, earning her twelfth chart-topper with the global phenomenon that is The Tortured Poets Department.Swift also dominates this week's singles chart, with three songs in the Top Five including a No 1 for Fortnight, featuring Post Malone. It's her fourth No 1 single, and her third chart double. Continue reading...
Monarch to resume public-facing engagements after palace says doctors very encouraged' by his progressKing Charles, who is being treated for cancer, is to return to public duties, with doctors pleased and very encouraged" by his progress and positive" about his continued recovery, Buckingham Palace has said.Charles, who announced in early February he had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer, will continue treatment while resuming some public-facing engagements, though he will not undertake a full summer programme. Continue reading...
Misogynist influencer' was indicted in June along with his brother and two Romanian female suspectsAndrew Tate's trial on human trafficking charges can proceed, a Romanian court has ruled, 10 months after he was first indicted.The self-professed misogynist influencer" was indicted in June along with his brother, Tristan, and two Romanian female suspects for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, allegations they have all denied. Continue reading...
Labour mayor's lead over Tory rival has narrowed in week before mayoral election in the capitalSadiq Khan has urged young Londoners to vote in the mayoral election, saying a shock victory for the Conservatives' Susan Hall would be like waking up to Donald Trump in power or Brexit in 2016.With his lead in the polls appearing to narrow, the Labour mayor said there were concerns that low turnout among younger voters would allow a Tory mayor to sneak in" to City Hall. Continue reading...
Former talkshow host discussed her controversial exit from daytime TV after reports of a toxic workplace in new standup setEllen DeGeneres has addressed the controversial end of her eponymous daytime talkshow after allegations that it was a toxic workplace.While performing the opening night of her new Ellen's Last Stand ... Up Tour at the Largo in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, the former daytime host joked about getting kicked out of show business" for being mean". Continue reading...
Inquiry hears firm drip fed' compensation to Martin Griffiths' widow as incentive for her to maintain confidentialty'The Post Office sought to hush up" the case of Martin Griffiths, a post office operator who took his own life, by drip feeding" compensation payments to his widow and lining up a media lawyer to protect its reputation, a public inquiry has heard.Angela van den Bogerd, a former business improvement director at the state-owned body, was being questioned at the Horizon IT public inquiry on Friday about the case of Griffiths, who died in 2013 after financial shortfalls were found at his Post Office branch in Cheshire.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...
Tarana Burke called Harvey Weinstein's accusers heroes' and said movement would continue to bring progress to societyThe founder of the #MeToo movement, Tarana Burke, has called the women who spoke out against Harvey Weinstein heroes" and said such campaigns for justice and equality will continue to bring about progress in society.Burke, who nearly two decades ago coined the phrase Me too" from her work with sexual assault survivors, found herself again declaring - after New York's highest court in a shock decision on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction in the city - the #MeToo reckoning was greater than any court case. Continue reading...
by Amy Hawkins Senior China correspondent on (#6MC6B)
Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry bailed for trial on charges of breaching the Official Secrets ActTwo men charged with spying for China have appeared in court in central London.Christopher Cash, 29, and Christopher Berry, 32, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses when they appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Friday. Continue reading...
Exhibition explores how a Spanish-Filipino artist in 1966 opened a trailblazing cultural outpost in Cuenca's hanging houses'In July 1966, as the Beatles were preparing to release Revolver and Spain was approaching the 30th anniversary of the coup that birthed the Franco dictatorship, a Spanish-Filipino artist called Fernando Zobel threw open the doors of an improbable but visionary cultural outpost.Based in a clutch of 15th-century houses overhanging a precipitous gorge in the small city of Cuenca, the Museo de Arte Abstracto Espanol, or Museum of Spanish Abstract Art, had a simple if daunting mission. As Manuel Fontan del Junco, the director of museums and exhibitions at the Juan March Foundation in Madrid and one of the curators of a new exhibition about the institution, puts it, it was a museum for artists in a country of artists without museums". Continue reading...
Teenager remanded in youth custody for trial in May after playground stabbing in CarmarthenshireA 13-year-old girl has appeared in court accused of attempting to murder two teachers and a fellow pupil in a school playground stabbing in Wales.The deputy head of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Fiona Elias; a teacher, Liz Hopkin; and a pupil suffered knife wounds on Wednesday. All have since been discharged from hospital. Continue reading...
Charity Commission opens a compliance case' into the soup kitchen founded by Mike Butcher, following allegations about its use during his campaignReform UK's candidate in the Blackpool South byelection has denied any wrongdoing after the Charity Commission launched a probe into allegations that the soup kitchen he founded was used to promote his campaign.Mark Butcher, who is standing for the party in next week's election, posted a Facebook message this month which said that the campaign would be starting at the kitchen, Amazing Graze. He was later pictured shaking hands with the Reform leader, Richard Tice, at the premises and appeared there in a Channel 4 News report, in which Reform UK election material could be seen. Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6MBCX)
Ahmed Alid told police he was motivated to kill Terence Carney, 70, because Israel was killing children'A 45-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a complete stranger, telling police he wanted to kill people because of the conflict in Gaza.A court heard that Ahmed Alid told detectives that he wanted Palestine to be free from the Zionists" and that he had killed because Israel was killing children". In interviews, he said that if he had had a machine gun or more weapons, he would have killed more people. Continue reading...
Human Rights Watch demands investigation into killings in two villages just weeks after Russian troops fly in, amid intensifying conflictBurkina Faso's military summarily executed 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in a single day in late February, according to an investigation into one of the worst abuses by the country's armed forces for years.The mass killings have been linked to a widening military campaign to tackle jihadist violence and happened weeks after Russian troops landed in the west African country to help improve security. Continue reading...
Fears Israel is influencing location of dock away from the north, where famine threat is most severeA giant floating pier is due to be completed in the next two weeks in the eastern Mediterranean from where it will be pushed towards the Gaza shore, but there is growing uncertainty over how useful the US project will be in containing a famine.There are concerns in the humanitarian community that Israel has co-opted the pier plan, which Joe Biden touted as a way to bring about a massive" increase in aid to Gaza, with one aid official saying the project was in danger of becoming a smokescreen" for the planned invasion of Rafah. Continue reading...
by Paul Lashmar and Jonathan Smith in Barbados on (#6MAJ9)
Government U-turn as PM Mia Mottley acknowledges anger from reparations movement over plan to buy Barbados land from Dorset MP Richard DraxThe prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has halted plans for a multi-million-pound payout to the British Conservative MP Richard Drax for the purchase of 53 acres of the Drax Hall plantation, which he owns.As revealed in the Observer last Sunday, the payout plan had angered those involved in the Caribbean reparations movement, who said Drax, the MP for South Dorset, should hand over all or part of the 617-acre plantation to the people of Barbados. Continue reading...
by Amy Sedghi (now) and Lili Bayer (earlier) on (#6MA4X)
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereHere are some of the latest images on the newswires:Ukraine's SBU security service drones struck two Rosneft-owned oil depots in Russia's Smolensk region in an overnight attack, according to a source in Ukrainian intelligence reports Reuters. Continue reading...
Deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov, who has been sanctioned by US and EU, faces up to 15 years in jailA well-connected Russian deputy defence minister has been charged with bribe-taking, in the highest-profile corruption scandal in the country in years, triggering speculation about a possible purge within Moscow's elites.Timur Ivanov, 47, who was responsible for Russia's military infrastructure projects, was detained by the FSB services late on Tuesday evening at his work. Continue reading...
Gaye Grant argues conviction for unlawful sexual relationship with a child should be quashed as women could not be held legally responsible for the crime at the time
Vintner Tom Gilbey raised more than 13,000 for hospice charity with challenge that went viral on social mediaA wine merchant who blind tasted a different glass of wine at each mile of the London Marathon has said he feels honoured" his challenge went viral on social media, as he surpassed his fundraising target.Tom Gilbey, nicknamed the wine guy", sampled 25 glasses of wine during the race, stopping to guess the drink's grape variety, country of origin and vintage at each mile. Continue reading...
Sampha and Dayes get nods for best album and share in nomination for Sampha's song Spirit 2.0 at awards for British songwriting and compositionNeo-soul singer Sampha, jazz drummer Yussef Dayes and composer Daniel Pemberton have topped the nominations for the 2024 Ivor Novello awards, which recognise the best in British and Irish songwriting and composition for the screen.Sampha and Dayes are individually nominated for best album, while they share a joint nomination for co-writing Sampha's track Spirit 2.0, which is up for best song musically and lyrically. Continue reading...
Regular worshippers joined by newcomers for first 15-minute service at St David's in PenllergaerOutside, the hustle and bustle of everyday life carried but for a few minutes - precisely 15 actually - there was a little bit of space for a calm coming together and reflection in the church of St David's in Swansea.Regular worshippers were joined by commuters and families who had popped in to sample the first micro service" being led by the Rev John Gillibrand, the vicar of Pontarddulais with Penllergaer. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6M8QJ)
Figures show 34,500 people incurred overpayments last year after falling foul of rules, landing many with huge debtsMPs have called for a full-scale review of carer's allowance and an end to harsh benefit rules that have resulted in tens of thousands of unpaid carers being fined huge sums and in some cases prosecuted for minor infringements of earnings limits.The calls came as new official figures showed that the number of unpaid carers incurring fines after inadvertently falling foul of earnings rules soared to more than 34,000 last year, with more than 1,000 individuals hit with sums of between 5,000 and 20,000. Continue reading...
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