Governor Ron DeSantis leads push to loosen child labor laws as immigration crackdown leads to workforce shortageBeneath the smugness of Ron DeSantis, at Florida leading the nation in immigration enforcement lies something of a conundrum: how to fill the essential jobs of the scores of immigrant workers targeted for deportation.The answer, according to Florida lawmakers, is the state's schoolchildren, who as young as 14 could soon be allowed to work overnight shifts without a break - even on school nights. Continue reading...
Drone raid sparks blaze in Dnipro hotel and restaurant complex and injures 19; Ukrainian president says too early to judge Washington's expanded proposal. What we know on day 1,130
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#6W88S)
Billboards in Birmingham cite party leader's remarks about a new funding model as local elections campaigning beginsLabour has begun an all-out assault on Nigel Farage over his views on the NHS in the run-up to key elections in May, as the Reform UK leader prepared to host what is billed as his party's biggest ever rally in Birmingham.In a coordinated campaign before Farage spoke at a 10,000-person event in the city on Friday evening, Labour paid for nearly a dozen billboard posters around the city with messages about his talk about replacing the NHS with an insurance-based healthcare system. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6W8BD)
Jing Lusi said Clarke had boasted of previous Bafta award at a dinner where he propositioned and threatened herA prominent actor said Noel Clarke's honorary award from Bafta was handing him a loaded gun" to seduce and silence women, the high court has heard.Jing Lusi, who stars in Gangs of London and Red Eye, is one of more than 20 women whose allegations of sexual misconduct by Clarke were reported by the Guardian in 2021-22 and which form the basis of Clarke's libel claim against the publisher. Continue reading...
Milton, sentenced to four years in prison last year, had donated $1.8m to a Trump re-election campaign fundTrevor Milton, the founder of electric vehicle start-up Nikola who was sentenced to prison last year, was pardoned by Donald Trump late Thursday, the White House confirmed Friday.The pardon of Milton, who was sentenced to four years in prison for exaggerating the potential of his technology, could wipe out hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution that prosecutors were seeking for defrauded investors. Continue reading...
US president says he and Canadian prime minister agree on many things' after first talk since Carney assumed roleDonald Trump described a long-awaited call with the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, as extremely productive" amid a trade war between the two nations launched by the US president.The Friday morning call, requested by the White House, marks the first time the two leaders have spoken since Carney became prime minister on 14 March. Continue reading...
Plumes of smoke rise from suburb of Dahiyeh in Lebanese capital after airstrike that threatens fragile truceIsrael has conducted an airstrike on Beirut for the first time since signing a November ceasefire with Hezbollah.Huge smoke plumes rose from the site of the attack in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh and residents reported hearing the explosion from the mountains surrounding the Lebanese capital. Continue reading...
US rejects suggestion and Kremlin later clarifies idea is just one of the options' and has not been raised with TrumpVladimir Putin has suggested Ukraine could be placed under a temporary UN-led government to organise fresh elections as both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of breaching an energy ceasefire agreed this week.The idea was quickly rejected by a US spokesperson, and it was not clear how far it was meant to be taken seriously, given that the Kremlin clarified that Putin had not raised this idea in recent phone calls with Donald Trump. Continue reading...
Justice secretary says all options are on the table' and threatens to change lawKeir Starmer has said that he is disappointed" at the Sentencing Council's refusal to agree to the government's request to withdraw the guidelines that have led to claims it is promoting two-tier" justice. (See 11.44am.) Asked about the Sentencing Council's letter this morning, he said:Look, I'm disappointed in this response, and the lord chancellor is obviously continuing to engage on this, and we're considering our response.All options are on the table. I'm disappointed at this outcome, and now we will have to consider what we do as a result.Farage wants you to eat chlorinated chicken just so he can keep licking the boots of his idol Donald Trump.
by Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Delhi, and Gaurav Pokhare on (#6W86S)
Dozens of royalists injured in clashes with police fuelled by political instability and economic discontentTwo people have been killed and dozens injured after protests in Kathmandu calling for the restoration of Nepal's monarchy ended in clashes with police.Thousands of protesters rallied in Nepal's capital on Friday to demand a return to the Hindu monarchy, which was abolished in 2008, and the re-establishment of the country as a Hindu rather than secular state. Pro-democracy and republican groups held a counter-protest that passed peacefully. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6W810)
Justice secretary criticises response and threatens to change law over guidance to judges aimed at tackling biasThe Sentencing Council for England and Wales has rejected demands from Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, to review guidelines she called a two-tier" system of justice.Mahmood criticised rules drawn up by the independent body that devises judges' sentencing guidelines after claims they discriminated against white men. Continue reading...
by Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondent on (#6W811)
Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, sentenced to life for murder of flatmate Stuart Everett, 67, last yearA man who murdered and dismembered his friend before dumping parts of his body in public spaces across Salford and north Manchester has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 34 years in prison.Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, was sentenced at Manchester crown court on Friday having previously been found guilty of the murder of Stuart Everett, 67, following a two-week trial at the same court. Continue reading...
Scores of poultry operations in the US have been reinfected by bird flu since 2022, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal payouts, according to documents obtained by the Guardian.The recurring outbreaks highlight the need for more aggressive prevention, including poultry vaccination and changes to how poultry is farmed, experts say. Continue reading...
Wettest March day for 15 years in some parts of northern Australian state, while storms and hail hit MediterraneanMore heavy rain has hit Queensland, Australia, just weeks after the devastation of Cyclone Alfred. Much of north and central Queensland was put under severe weather alert for heavy rainfall earlier this week, as six-hourly rainfall totals of 30-60mm were anticipated, with risk of seeing a total of up to 120mm locally in this time frame.In the north-west of the state, this rain allowed waters in the Haughton River to rise rapidly, with levels reaching 2.68 metres on Wednesday night, exceeding the 2.5-metre major flood level. Continue reading...
by Presented by Michael Safi with Adrian Horton and L on (#6W7SG)
What does the attack on an Oscar-winning Palestinian director say about the situation in the West Bank today? Adrian Horton and Lorenzo Tondo reportEarlier this month, No Other Land won the Oscar for best documentary feature. The film chronicles the West Bank community of Masafer Yatta as it resists being driven off its land by settler violence and the demolitions of the Israeli military. The film's two protagonists, Palestinian film-maker Basel Adra and Israeli film-maker Yuval Abraham, gave speeches when they accepted their award.Yuval Abraham: We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law and Basel is under military laws that destroy his life ... There is a different path, a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people." Continue reading...
Yuval Abraham criticised the Academy's statement defending its silence after Israeli settlers attacked his co-director Hamdan BallalThe Israeli director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land has condemned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its response to a violent attack on his Palestinian co-director Hamdan Ballal, who was beaten by Israeli settlers and detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Monday.Earlier this week, Israeli journalist and filmmaker Yuval Abraham criticised the Academy for failing to publicly speak out in support of Ballal. Now he has criticised a statement issued by the Academy to its members on Wednesday, in which it appeared to defend its silence. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6W7PW)
Figures reveal 29% fall in operations in England to remove foreign bodies from children's airways, noses and throatsCashless societies may be a sad fact of modern life for those with a nostalgic attachment to the pound in their pocket, but doctors have discovered one unexpected benefit of the decline of coins.Far fewer children are having surgery after swallowing small items that could choke or kill them, and the scarcity of loose change is likely to be the reason. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Simon Blake says progress of government's bill could be exploited by those attacking rights globallyThe new head of Stonewall has pledged to fight for a ban on conversion practices that includes every member of the lesbian, gay, bi and trans community", as he said that the progress of Labour's bill may be exploited by those pursuing global attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.With the UK government expected to publish draft legislation this spring, Simon Blake said: It's really important that a conversion practices bill covers all practices designed to try to change or correct somebody's sexual or gender identity." Continue reading...
King now back at Clarence House after temporary side-effects', with Friday engagements postponedKing Charles went into hospital on Thursday after experiencing temporary side effects" as part of his continuing medical treatment for cancer, Buckingham Palace has said.The monarch underwent scheduled treatment for cancer this morning, which required a short period of observation in hospital", according to a palace statement. Continue reading...
Prosecutors say Sheff G, who supported the president last year, used career earnings to fuel gang violence in BrooklynA New York City rapper who joined Donald Trump during a campaign rally last year has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy charges after prosecutors say he used earnings from his music career to fuel gang violence in Brooklyn.Sheff G, whose legal name is Michael Williams, agreed to serve five years in prison as part of the plea entered in a Brooklyn court on Wednesday, Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said. Continue reading...
Vice-chancellor Sasha Roseneil accuses Office for Students of seeking to persecute' rather than solve problemsThe University of Sussex is taking legal action to overturn a record fine levied by England's higher education regulator, accusing the regulator of seeking to persecute" it rather than solve problems.This week the Office for Students (OfS) said it would fine Sussex 585,000 for two historic" breaches of its regulations related to freedom of speech and governance. It comes after a three-and-a-half-year investigation into the resignation of Prof Kathleen Stock, who was the target of protests at Sussex over her views on gender identification and transgender rights. Continue reading...
Prosecutors allege suspects spiked victims' drinks with drugs at venues in Kortrijk between 2021 and 2024Belgian authorities are investigating the alleged rape and sexual assault of at least 41 women whose drinks are thought to have been spiked, with three bar managers identified as prime suspects, prosecutors have said.Officials believe drugs were mixed into the women's drinks, including ketamine, a general anaesthetic used for recreational purposes because of its hallucinogenic effects. Continue reading...
Ukrainian president has learned Trump's team demand positivity and there is little point in trying to inject reality'At a press briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday, explaining where initial US brokered peace negotiations had got to, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, struck a notably different tone. Long gone is the tetchiness on display in London in the aftermath of the Ukrainian leaders' catastrophic trip to the White House. In its place was a degree of optimism so high that it could only be interpreted as political positioning.Though he complained about comments made by Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, that four Ukrainian regions wholly or partly occupied by Russia consisted of people who wanted Moscow's rule in an overwhelming majority" - these were in line with the messages of the Kremlin" Zelenskyy said - he insisted that had advantages too. Continue reading...
Reform leader also says Andrew Tate has so many young male followers because society feminises' them too muchNigel Farage has said men will more readily sacrifice their family lives to be successful in their business careers than women, and that young men are being too feminised" by modern society.The Reform leader set out his view on gender balance in the workplace in a conversation with journalists in Westminster, saying women made different life choices" when it came to work. He went on to suggest that Reform attracts men because they are more impulsive than their female counterparts.Lifted the lid further on his row with Elon Musk, saying the billionaire adviser to Donald Trump had tried to push him too much on supporting the far-right activist Tommy Robinson. You can't bully me," he said. I've got my principles, I stand by them good or bad."Said the idea of a $100m (77m) donation from Musk had been massively over-exaggerated", but insisted they were now on perfectly reasonable terms" by text message.Dismissed the idea of a pact with the Tories, saying Reform despises" the party. He suggested its leader, Kemi Badenoch, was lazy and referred to her leadership rival Robert Jenrick as Robert Generic". Of Tory MPs, he said: I've never met a more stuck up, arrogant, out of touch group of people. At least half of the Conservative MPs are stuffy, boring old bastards."Blamed net zero policies rather than the threat of Trump tariffs for the closure of Scunthorpe's steel plant, and claimed the US president had wanted to do a trade deal during his previous term, but that the Tories had blown it" by delaying Brexit. Continue reading...
Investigation follows publication by Covid-19 inquiry of messages sent by Lord Chadlington introducing SG Recruitment to governmentA Conservative peer who introduced a company he was involved in to the government to supply PPE is under investigation for the third time for potential breaches of the rules governing members' conduct in the House of Lords.The new investigation follows the publication by the Covid-19 public inquiry of text messages and emails sent by Peter Gummer, whose peerage title is Lord Chadlington, introducing the company, SG Recruitment. Continue reading...
by Tom Ambrose (now) and Daniel Lavelle (earlier) on (#6W73C)
Incident took place near the popular Egyptian Red Sea resort of HurghadaThe Russian consulate in Hurghada said the submarine, named SINDBAD", had 45 Russian tourists on board in addition to crew members.The consulate said four people had died, but did not specify if they were Russian, Reuters reported.Six people have died and nine others are injured after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, two municipal officials said. AP reported that the officials were speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.The incident, involving a recreational vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines, occurred in waters opposite Hurghada's Marriot Hotel resort. Citing municipal officials, Reuters and Associated Press reported that six foreigners, whose nationalities are still unknown, had died. It was not immediately clear what caused the submarine to sink.The Russian embassy in Egypt has said that that all of the tourists on board the submarine were Russian. It said 45 passengers were on board the vessel, including children, in a Facebook post.The local governorate's office told Reuters that all of those confirmed dead were foreign citizens, while survivors had been ferried by ambulance to several hospitals in the city. Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the governorate. Many tourist companies have stopped or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.The Sindbad club's website says it offers short tourist trips in two submarines that it operates that have a maximum depth range of 25 metres. According to the website its submarines allow tourists to experience the beauty of the Red Sea's underwater world without getting wet". Continue reading...
The French actor denies allegations during filming of Les Volets Vert, as defendants' lawyers describe him as sexual predator' and misogynist'Gerard Depardieu should be found guilty of the indisputable" sexual assault of a set decorator, as well as sexual assaults of an assistant film director, the French state prosecutor has told Paris's criminal court, requesting the actor serve an 18-month suspended prison sentence.Depardieu is on trial for the alleged sexual assault of the women, aged 54 and 34, during the shooting of the film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in 2021. He has denied any wrongdoing, telling the court: I deny all of it." Continue reading...
CAA urged to tackle flawed regime' as it reviews whether to take further steps on airport's regulatory modelBritain's aviation watchdog will review the rules on resilience" after Heathrow was closed because of a fire at an electricity substation.Europe's largest airport was closed in the early hours of Friday last week after the blaze at the Hayes substation in west London hit electricity supplies. No planes were allowed to take off or land, causing diversions which affected about 1,300 flights and roughly 250,000 passengers. Some flights resumed on Friday evening. Continue reading...
Owner of Sky News plans to close its Stockport, Sheffield and Leeds Central contact centresSky has said it intends to cut 2,000 jobs at its customer service centres and close three sites in the UK, affecting 7% of its total workforce.The media and telecoms group, which was bought by the US media company Comcast for 30bn in 2018, said the planned closures would help make it future-ready" as it shifts from dealing with customers over the phone to digital communications. Continue reading...
by Carlos Mureithi in Nairobi and agencies on (#6W75W)
Placing of Riek Machar under house arrest comes after period of rising tensions and armed clashesSouth Sudan's first vice-president and main opposition leader, Riek Machar, has been placed under house arrest, prompting a warning from the UN that the country is at risk of relapsing into widespread conflict.Machar's party said the arrest has effectively collapsed the peace deal that ended the 2013-2018 civil war. Continue reading...
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