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Government declared last year that more than 100,000 samples may need to be re-tested

Man, 42, in critical condition as police arrest 27-year-old who was allegedly driving SUV that struck pair in Doonside

All 10 amendments made by peers voted down, giving much-needed boost to beleaguered PMRishi Sunak's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda took a step forward on Monday night after MPs voted overwhelmingly to throw out a series of amendments made to the Rwanda bill by the House of Lords.MPs voted down all 10 amendments made by peers over the past few weeks to return the bill to the form in which it was initially passed by the Commons in January, giving a much-needed boost to the beleaguered prime minister. Continue reading...

One chef receives three stars at first attempt in 115th edition of the French foodies' bibleA record 52 restaurants in France - including 23 that only opened in the past year - have been awarded one or more Michelin stars for the first time, which the French foodies' bible said reflected the cultural dynamism" of a new generation of innovative young chefs.This year's is a generous vintage, and also true to our values," said Gwendal Poullennec, the director of the Michelin Guide, at the launch of its 115th edition on Monday. Well over half of the new laureates were under the age of 40, he said. Continue reading...

One site tweeted of monarch's purported demise only to later concede: Most likely, the information is fake'The news broke in the Russian media on Monday afternoon. King Charles III was dead. He was not, but no one really had time to check the details. The saga of the royal family finally had its latest twist: a viral Russian disinformation angle.The rumour went into overdrive when it was shared on a Telegram channel used by Vedomosti, once Russia's most respected business newspaper. There was a photo of Charles in ceremonial military uniform and the curt caption: British King Charles III has died." It made it through Russian internet channels, including Readovka, a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel with more than 2.35 million subscribers. Continue reading...

Committee will examine for at least three months a bill proposing repeal of ban on female genital mutilationA decision on whether to overturn a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Gambia has been postponed for three months after MPs called for more consultation.FGM was outlawed in the country eight years ago and is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment. Continue reading...

UK, US and Germany denounce poll that was said to give president vote share of 87.28% amid crackdown on dissentWestern nations have widely condemned Russia's presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory that will keep him in power until at least 2030 amid a crackdown on dissent and opposition.These Russian elections starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putin's regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war," said the British foreign secretary, David Cameron, as EU foreign ministers met to approve new sanctions against 30 individuals and organisations in response to the death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Continue reading...

Nikesh Mistry, 34, caused serious injuries after using his BMW to try to force the motorbike off the roadA man has been jailed for ramming a motorcyclist off a Buckinghamshire bridge in what police described as an act of extreme" road rage.Nikesh Mistry, 34, repeatedly tried to force the motorcyclist off the road, which resulted in him sustaining serious injuries, police said. Continue reading...

Observers say Russian leader's election numbers approaching 90% mark final break with western conventionsVladimir Putin is approaching the electoral outer limits. Claiming a record landslide on Sunday of 88.48% of the vote on a 77.44% turnout, Putin has launched himself into the stratosphere of post-Soviet election results.It is a mathematical axiom for any president-for-life: support should never go down, only up; turnout should never go down, only up. And as Putin's one-man rule extends past a quarter of a century, Russian officials retain straight faces even as they post astronomical numbers that would make many convinced autocrats blush. Continue reading...

Tribunal finds that Dmitry Lima, who has never left the UK, is British citizen and should not be deported to PortugalThe Home Office acted unlawfully in trying to deport a British-born man who has never left the country to Portugal, from where his parents arrived more than 30 years ago, a judge has ruled.Dmitry Lima, 28, who was born in Lambeth, south London, does not speak Portuguese and has never travelled abroad but in 2022 he was given a deportation order by the Home Office after serving a prison sentence for drugs offences and for carrying a Taser. Continue reading...

Former environment minister told speeding drivers emit more harmful emissions' when handed 12-month disqualificationZac Goldsmith was warned by a judge that speeding drivers emit more harmful emissions" as he was banned from driving for a year for a number of motoring offences.The former environment minister, 49, broke speed limits seven times in his hybrid Volkswagen Golf on London roads in Paddington, Chelsea and Twickenham between April and November 2023. Continue reading...

Sinn Fein members pay tribute to Dugdale, who was also involved in 1974 art heist and police station attack using hijacked helicopterRose Dugdale, an English heiress turned IRA militant and bomb maker, has died in a Dublin nursing home aged 83.Dugdale was presented as a 17-year-old to Queen Elizabeth as part of the 1958 summer debutante season. Years later, in 1974, Dugdale was given a nine-year prison sentence, in part for her role in the theft of 19 paintings from the home of a wealthy British politician. Continue reading...

Former defence secretary tells colleagues there is no alternative to Rishi Sunak and to get on with' preparing for an electionOfcom has ruled today that GB News broke impartiality rules on five occasions by using Tory MPs as news presenters.But it has not imposed sanctions on the broadaster. It says these count as first offence, and that there may be sanctions if it happens again.Under the Broadcasting Code, news, in whatever form, must be presented with due impartiality. Additionally, a politician cannot be a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter unless, exceptionally, there is editorial justification.In line with the right to freedom of expression, broadcasters have editorial freedom to offer audiences a wide range of programme formats, including using politicians to present current affairs or other non-news programmes. Politicians may also appear in broadcast news content as an interviewee or any other type of guest.These are the first breaches of Rules 5.1 and 5.3 recorded against GB News. Since opening these investigations, there has only been one further programme which has raised issues warranting investigation under these rules. We are clear, however, that GB News is put on notice that any repeated breaches of Rules 5.1 and 5.3 may result in the imposition of a statutory sanction. Continue reading...

Medecins Sans Frontieres says dangerous manoeuvres' by coastguard put refugees at even greater riskAn NGO performing search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean has accused the Libyan coastguard of hampering an attempt to save more than 170 people making the perilous journey across the sea to Europe.In a statement, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said its ship had come to the rescue of two boats in international waters on Saturday: a small fibreglass boat carrying 28 people and a double-deck wooden vessel with 143 people onboard, which appeared to be in distress. Continue reading...

Israel using starvation as weapon of war, says Josep Borrell, as UN report warns 1.1 million face catastrophic' food supply conditions. This live blog is closed

Pundits and investors expect the RBA to leave its cash rate unchanged at 4.35% when the board meets on Tuesday

Crossbenchers including the Greens and the Jacquie Lambie Network back proposal that would ban $1.5m-plus donations and tighten the definition of gifts but does not include spending caps

The party will table a private senator's bill this week to enable the ACCC to force Coles and Woolworths to sell off parts of their business

More than 30 Americans arrive in Miami from Cap-Haiten as US urges citizens to leave as soon as possible' amid gang violenceA charter flight carrying dozens of US citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed on Sunday in Miami, state department officials said.More than 30 US citizens were on the government-chartered flight, officials said in a statement. It arrived in Miami's international airport after the US embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this month urged US citizens to leave as soon as possible" as chaos grips Haiti. Continue reading...

Joint letter from regulators targets finance and utility sectors for volume and tone of correspondence to vulnerable customers

World-renowned street artist claims mural in Finsbury Park area as his own in an Instagram post on MondayA tree mural in north London that appeared on a residential building is the work of Banksy, the anonymous street artist has confirmed.The artist claimed the mural as his own in an Instagram post on Monday, following a morning of speculation after it appeared on a building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park overnight. Continue reading...

Regulator concludes channel broke rules on five occasions when Tory MPs served as news presenters

Laid-off staff prescribed medication to deal with illness and are seeking damages after federal court said the airline's actioons were wrong

Meanwhile, South Sudan has ordered schools to shut amid extreme heatwaveA cyclone warning has been issued in northern Australia for coastal communities from the island of Groote Eylandt to the Northern Territory/Queensland border. Tropical Cyclone Megan, which developed in the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday, has been declared a category 3 cyclone by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Megan is forecast to make landfall on Monday, but has already brought gale-force winds and heavy rainfall to some areas over the weekend. Groote Eylandt was cut off after more than 400mm of rain in just 24 hours on Sunday.There is a chance that Megan could strengthen further into a category 4 storm before making landfall, with the potential for damaging wind gusts of up to 125km/h. Megan is the fifth named cyclone in Australian waters so far this season, which is below the average of about 10 by this stage of the year. Continue reading...

Severe tropical cyclone crosses coast southeast of Port McArthur and will move inland before weakening

Former Labor prime minister hit back at criticism of his plans to meet with China's visiting foreign minister

Figures show many still out of the habit' of visiting museums, galleries, cathedrals, castles and country housesVisitor numbers to the UK's museums, galleries, cathedrals, zoos, castles and country houses are increasing but remain stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels, with a significant number of people still out of the habit" of having a day out.Figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) on Monday show a mixed picture. On the bright side, there was a 19% increase in visitor numbers in 2023 compared with 2022. The British Museum saw a 42% rise, making it the most visited attraction in the UK. Continue reading...

Civil liberties network says in states where far-right parties influence power, rule-of-law deterioration risks becoming systemicThe rule of law is declining across the EU as governments continue to weaken legal and democratic checks and balances, a leading civil liberties network has said, highlighting in particular a sharp rise in restrictions on the right to protest.Berlin-based Liberties said in its annual report, compiled with 37 rights groups in 19 countries, that in older democracies with mainstream parties in government, such as France, Germany and Belgium, challenges to the rule of law remained sporadic. Continue reading...

Starmer's shadow cabinet less popular before election than Blair's and Britons have lost confidence in politicians and their prospectsBritish voters will go into the election this year poorer, more pessimistic and less approving of politicians than they did in 1997, according to data showing how difficult it will be for Keir Starmer to replicate Tony Blair's landslide victory.An analysis of economic and polling data by the political consultancy Public First shows the country has lower wage growth, higher levels of debt and less affordable housing than it did when Labour last ousted the Conservatives from power. All five of Labour's most senior shadow ministers are less popular than their 1997 counterparts, as are most of the top ministers in cabinet. Continue reading...

Rideshare company agrees to settle long-running class-action lawsuit, finally giving cab and hire-car drivers the compensation they deserve, lawyers say

Police continue to investigate suspected hit and run in Fletcher Street, Tamarama that killed 28-year-old Arnold Bloch Leibler lawyer Mitch East

Some visas reinstated after further security checks but Amnesty urges government to provide clarity on vetting processes

Company founder Felix Barrett says Viola's Room, written by Daisy Johnson, will be an audio-driven production perfect for date nightsPunchdrunk's last immersive production, The Burnt City, drew more than 600 masked theatregoers each night to spend three hours venturing around a sprawling saga based on Greek myths. Their next show, announced on Monday, will invite them to take off their shoes and socks for a slumber party.This whole thing is a bedtime story," said the company's founder, Felix Barrett, of Viola's Room, which will open in May at their headquarters in Woolwich, south-east London. Audiences will wear headphones rather than masks and follow what Barrett called an audio-driven linear story" rather than explore the open world" of Punchdrunk's trademark shows, which let you roam freely around the space. Theatregoers will, according to publicity material, feel their way through a maze-like installation as an unseen narrator guides them on a sensory journey". Continue reading...

Russian president uses victory speech to say war in Ukraine and strengthening military will be his main tasksVladimir Putin has claimed a landslide victory in Russia's presidential vote, as thousands in the country and around the world protested against his deepening dictatorship, the war in Ukraine and a stage-managed election that could have only one winner.In a vote denounced by the United States as obviously not free nor fair", Putin won 87% of the vote, according to exit polling published by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center and the Public Opinion Foundation. Continue reading...

Re-elected Russian president makes first public comment on death of opposition leader, which he calls sad event'Vladimir Putin has claimed he had agreed to a prisoner swap involving Alexei Navalny before the opposition leader's sudden death in an Arctic prison last month.Speaking in central Moscow after early results indicated he had won Russia's presidential election in a landslide, Putin said unnamed people made an offer to release Navalny in a swap deal with the west a few days before he died. Continue reading...

Wind gusts of up to 200km/h expected to bring heavy rain and flooding to coastal communities

Minister was provided information about allegations against Paul Reynolds before ceremony

Wuga escaped Germany in 1939, settled in Glasgow and spent decades educating people about the horrors of the HolocaustTributes have been paid to the force for good" Henry Wuga, a Holocaust survivor and educator, who has died aged 100.The death of Wuga, who escaped Germany on the Kindertransport in 1939 and settled in Glasgow, was announced by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust on Sunday. Continue reading...

Voters turn out at midday from the UK to Latvia and Turkey to Thailand in action Alexei Navalny endorsed before his death

No direct casualties in attack that Moscow says was a Ukrainian attempt to sabotage the Russian presidential election

Six of bloc's leaders sign agreement in Cairo aimed at boosting economy and bringing stability to regionEU leaders have sealed a 7.4bn (6.3bn) deal with Egypt to help boost its faltering economy, in an attempt to bring stability to the troubled" region and avert another migration crisis in Europe.The three-year EU-Egypt strategic partnership involves 5bn in soft loans to support economic changes, 1.8bn to support investments from the private sector and 600m in grants including 200m for migration management. Continue reading...

PM acknowledges international pressure is increasing but says it will not stop Israel achieving its goalsBenjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with sending Israeli troops into Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, rejecting deep international concerns over the risks to more than a million Palestinians who have sought shelter there.Netanyahu said no amount of international pressure would stop Israel from realising all of its war aims. Continue reading...

Lib Dem leader uses conference speech to urge change so that even the wealthiest racists cannot buy power'The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, has used his spring conference speech to call for a cap on donations to political parties so that even the wealthiest racists cannot buy power and influence".Davey criticised the Conservatives for refusing to hand back millions in donations from the donor Frank Hester after a Guardian investigation revealed he had made comments about Diane Abbott that have been widely condemned as racist and misogynistic. Continue reading...

Despite UK government outrage the legal loopholes remain and operator has been let off the hook', says joint statementUnions have called for proper legal protection for seafarers on the second anniversary of the P&O Ferries mass sackings scandal, warning that ministers have done nothing" to stop other firms following suit.The cross-Channel ferry operator fired 786 British crew on 17 March 2022 in order to replace them with low-paid agency staff. Although the firm admitted to breaking the law, it has continued to operate without sanction while undercutting rival operators on labour costs. Continue reading...

Singer-songwriter best known for 1975 song Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) died on Sunday, family saysSteve Harley, the frontman of the British rock group Cockney Rebel, has died aged 73.The English singer and songwriter, best known for his 1975 song Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me), had been receiving treatment for cancer. He died at his Suffolk home on Sunday morning. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Study compares electoral systems, with proportional representation shown not to be as volatile as critics sayCabinet ministers in the UK's post-2019 parliament have lasted in their jobs for an average of just eight months, a report comparing political stability across 17 countries has found, with Westminster also faring badly on a series of other metrics.The study, Strong and Stable, which looked at 10 aspects of parliamentary and governmental stability in countries using various electoral systems over the past 50 years, concluded that proportional voting did not mean more volatility compared with UK-style systems, and often the contrary. Continue reading...

In 2022, MoJ data shows 34% of those targeted with synthetic Pava spray were Muslims, who make up 18% of prison populationMuslim prisoners in England and Wales are being disproportionately targeted with the use of pepper spray according to campaigners, with statistics showing the number of incidents has risen sharply in recent years.The Ministry of Justice data, obtained from a freedom of information request submitted by the advocacy organisation Maslaha, shows that in 2022, 34% of those targeted with Pava, a synthetic form of pepper spray, were Muslim, despite only making up 18% of the prison population. Pava was drawn and used against Muslim prisoners 188 times in 2022 and was drawn but not used by prison officers 54 times. Continue reading...

More than 200 people across three retirement schemes were tricked into losing 11.5m, with some expecting long wait for refundsThe Fraud Compensation Fund has paid 9.4m to the three retirement schemes that collapsed during the Norton Motorcycles pension scandal, more than a decade after victims had seemingly lost their life savings.The payment represents some long-awaited good news for more than 200 people who fell victim to what is known as a pensions liberation fraud" during 2012 and 2013, when they were tricked into allowing about 11.5m to be transferred out of their existing retirement plans. Continue reading...

Cabinet minister urges backbenchers to have confidence in party leadership amid reports of plot to remove PMRishi Sunak will lead the Conservative party into an election at the end of the year despite reports of rebellious MPs plotting to oust him to avoid wipeout at the polls, a senior cabinet minister has said.Mark Harper, the transport secretary, told his fellow MPs to have some confidence" in the party leadership, insisting Sunak was focused on making the right decisions" for the country. Continue reading...

Charities and education providers say young carers should be eligible for welfare when they study more than 21 hours a weekYoung carers in England and Wales are being blocked from staying in education and going to college or university by benefit rules that unfairly penalise them, according to a coalition of charities and education providers.The group of more than 200 organisations and representatives is lobbying ministers to exempt young carers - those aged 16 to 24 who often look after relatives - from the rule that makes them ineligible for the government's carer's allowance if they study for more than 21 hours a week. Continue reading...