World news | The Guardian

Baby murdered by his parents after inadequate safeguarding' by authorities in Derbyshire, says reportA 10-month-old baby, who was killed by his parents just 39 days after a court returned him to their care, should have been one of the most protected children in the local authority area", a review has concluded.Finley Boden died on Christmas Day 2020 after a period of inadequate safeguarding" by authorities, who initially removed him from the care of his parents, Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden, immediately after birth due to concerns for his safety. Continue reading...

Christopher Geidt asked to write apology letter after joining an MoD meeting on behalf of a US satellite firm that was paying himA crossbench peer and former ethics adviser to Boris Johnson has been found to have broken House of Lords rules by joining a meeting with Ministry of Defence officials on behalf of a US satellite company that was paying him.Christopher Geidt, a former royal aide to the Queen, was asked by the House of Lords conduct committee to write a letter of apology after the standards commissioner found he provided a parliamentary service in return for payment or other reward". Continue reading...

A report on the case of the murdered Derbyshire baby finds a number of opportunities were missed to protect him

John Brownlee, deputy head at private Edinburgh Academy, inflicted pain on children as young as eight, sheriff hearsA sadistic" deputy headteacher at one of Scotland's most prestigious private schools has been found to have conducted a systematic campaign of violence and torture against children as young as eight over a 20-year period.John Brownlee was found by a sheriff on Wednesday to have committed more than 30 assaults after the former Edinburgh Academy housemaster was formally excused from trial due to his advanced dementia. Continue reading...

Anger from politicians across the spectrum as Paris principal resigns following online death threatsFrench politicians from across the spectrum have expressed dismay over the resignation of a Paris school principal who had received death threats after asking a student to remove her Muslim veil on the premises.In a show of support, prime minister Gabriel Attal, a former education minister, was set to receive the principal late on Wednesday, his office said. Continue reading...

Prof Sir John Curtice, the psephologist and lead election analyst for the BBC, said the chances of a Tory revival were smallIn the House of Lords peers have just started debating the second reading of the leasehold and freehold reform bill. The bill has already passed through the Commons.Normally, at this stage of the process, the content of a government bill is all but finalised. But, as No 10 admitted on Monday, the government has still not decided how far it will go in terms of cutting ground rents for existing leaseholders. Continue reading...

The former star UBS and Citigroup trader was convicted of conspiracy to defraud by manipulating financial benchmark and served 5 1/2 years in prisonBritain's financial regulator has identified shortcomings in how some motor insurance firms are valuing written-off or stolen vehicles.A review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found evidence that suggests some firms are offering their customers less than their written-off or stolen vehicle is worth and, in some cases, are only increasing that offer when a customer complains.Having your vehicle written off or stolen can be intensely stressful and we expect firms to offer the right support to help their customers.We expect all motor insurers to take note of our findings and we are engaging directly with those that have issues that need to be addressed. Continue reading...

Robert Halfon quits as skills, apprenticeships and higher education minister as James Heappey confirms decision to step downIn interviews this morning Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, admitted that special educational needs provision was in crisis, Ben Quinn reports.Universities in England could be told to terminate their arrangements with foreign countries if freedom of speech and academic freedom is undermined, the government's free speech tsar has said. As PA Media reports, Prof Arif Ahmed, director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the Office for Students (OfS), said many universities and colleges in England have international arrangements" - including admitting overseas students on scholarships and hosting institutes partly funded by foreign governments. PA says:The higher education regulator launched a consultation on guidance about freedom of speech, ahead of universities, colleges and student unions taking on new free speech duties.The guidance includes examples to illustrate what higher education institutions may have to do to fulfil their new duties - due to come into effect in August - to secure freedom of speech within the law.University A accepts international students on visiting scholarships funded by the government of country B. Scholars must accept the principles of the ruling party of country B, and direction from country B's government via consular staff. Depending on the circumstances, these arrangements may undermine free speech and academic freedom at University A. If so, that university is likely to have to terminate or amend the scholarship agreement.If it means that there are people who are employed by an institute who are preventing legitimate protests or shutting down lecturers from covering certain kinds of content regarding that country for instance, or that country's foreign policy ... If that behaviour amounts to a restriction of freedom of speech within the law, and someone brings a complaint to us, then we may find that the complaint is justified and then we make recommendations ...If there are problems, universities will have to do everything they can to act compatibly with their freedom-of-speech duties. Insofar as that means a rethinking of their relationship with other countries, obviously that's something that would be a good idea for them to start thinking about now. Continue reading...

Ken Paxton must pay $300,000 to victims and complete 100 hours of community service as part of dealProsecutors on Tuesday announced an agreement with Texas attorney general Ken Paxton that would ultimately dismiss securities fraud charges he has been facing for nearly a decade.Under the 18-month, pre-trial agreement, the special prosecutors in the case would drop three felony counts against Paxton. As part of the deal, Paxton must pay full restitution to victims - roughly $300,000 - and must also complete 100 hours of community service as well as 15 hours of legal ethics education. Continue reading...

Industry leaders say crisis-hit grassroots spaces are struggling to stay open as costs riseConcert arenas should impose a 1 levy on gig tickets to create a fund that helps prop up grassroots live music, with industry figures telling MPs that rising costs are creating a crisis" for smaller venues.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee heard from promoters, artists and representatives from industry bodies, nearly all of whom backed the call for a levy to be placed on tickets which would then be distributed to smaller venues, 125 of which were forced to shut during 2023. Continue reading...

Parliamentary elections thought vulnerable to fake news will test social media firms and bloc's new DSA lawsSocial media firms including TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram will be required to put an army of factcheckers and moderators in place with a collective knowledge of 24 EU languages amid fears that the European parliamentary elections will be a prime target for disinformation campaigns run by Russia and others including the far right.The new rules flow from the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulates content on social media, and follows a public consultation with civil society and election observation groups in February. Continue reading...

Although forced to water down its original settings, the revised model will help Australia reach its decarbonisation targets

Former chairman Chen Xuyuan accepted millions in return for help with contracting, investment options and event management, state media report court as sayingThe former chief of China's national football association, Chen Xuyuan, has been sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes, state media reported on Tuesday, after one of the biggest anti-corruption probes in the sport in years.The severe sentence for Chen, 67, concludes an inquiry into high-level football officials in China in a sport that has long grappled with corruption, which fans have blamed for the perpetual under performance of the national team. Continue reading...

Heavy snowfall of up to 2ft has already affected millions in New England and thousands left without powerA major snowstorm is sweeping across much of the US, bringing up to 2ft of snow to places as well as causing road accidents and downed power lines.On Sunday, 16 states from California to Michigan were put under weather alerts for snow and blizzards, with heavy layers of snow supplemented with winds whipping up to 60mph in places. Continue reading...

Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer is appealing against conviction and prison sentence for rapeThe former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves, convicted of rape in Spain, has paid his bail of 1m and can leave jail pending his appeal, a court has said.One of the world's most decorated footballers, Alves, 40, was sentenced last month to four and a half years in jail for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub in the early hours of 31 December 2022. Continue reading...

Merlin Entertainments says surge pricing will help offset decline in visitors since Covid pandemic

While the Minns government has made strides on wages, many of its promises - on renting, buses and the environment - remain unfulfilledIt's been a year since New South Wales voters kicked out the Coalition - backing Labor for the first time in a decade.The new premier, Chris Minns, promised to scrap the public sector wages cap, end privatisation, reform renting and get more homes built. But how has Labor fared in its first 12 months in office? Continue reading...

Head of agency says military authorities told UN that convoys will no longer be approved amid man-made famine'The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, said on Sunday that Israel had definitively barred it from making aid deliveries in northern Gaza, where the threat of famine is highest.Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli Authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve any @Unrwa food convoys to the north," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, said on X. Continue reading...

Average monthly donations rose by nearly 40% to 65, with poorest areas among the most generousThe British public donated a record 13.9bn to charity in 2023, with people in some of the country's least affluent areas among the most generous, a report reveals.The total marks a 9% increase on the 2022 figure - which stood at 12.7bn - as average monthly donations increased by nearly 40% to reach 65. Continue reading...

Aid group says one of its staff was killed when tanks pushed back into areas around al-Amal and Nasser hospitalsIsraeli forces have besieged two more hospitals in Gaza, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.All of our teams are in extreme danger at the moment and are completely immobilised," the humanitarian organisation told Reuters on Sunday, adding one of its staff was killed when Israeli tanks pushed back suddenly into areas around al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in the southern city of Khan Younis. Continue reading...

As Princess of Wales begins treatment after cancer diagnosis, we answer some key questionsThe Princess of Wales has begun preventive chemotherapy after her doctors discovered she had cancer following major abdominal surgery in January. What is preventive chemotherapy and how effective can it be? Continue reading...

Sector suffers funding and workforce crisis and warns that people will face unnecessary jail terms, family violence and homelessness as a result

Exclusive: State's 2024 total on track to reach about 20% above 2005 levels, modelling obtained by Guardian Australia shows

Council funding crisis threatens hostels and support workers from next monthHomeless people struggling with addiction and their mental health have attacked a looming wave of council cuts to hostel services as plain stupidity" that will cost lives.A deepening town hall funding crisis is threatening shelters and support workers from Hampshire to Leicestershire, affecting hundreds of homeless people from the start of next month despite rising homelessness.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 counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Drawing on his years at No 10, the UK foreign secretary is happy to ruffle feathers on the international stage while setting the agendaIt is only four months since Rishi Sunak brought him back into government as foreign secretary but already, having felt the pace quicken around them, officials and diplomats have given David Cameron their own title: prime minister for external affairs.Cameron is on a whole other level," said one diplomat on the inside. Before, we had [Boris] Johnson, we had [Dominic] Raab, we had [Liz]Truss and then [James] Cleverly. Cameron can read a room - he immediately sees the elephant in it, if there is one. He constantly comes back on summonses and wants to know: When can I get more on this? When can I get an update on that?'" Continue reading...

Corina Yoris will now take on Nicolas Maduro in presidential election in July after Maria Corina Machado stepped asideVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has named her replacement to take on President Nicolas Maduro in the country's presidential election in July, after the arrest of two of Machado's close aides.The naming of Corina Yoris, 80, as the opposition's candidate comes after Venezuela's attorney general announced the detention of two of Machado's closest allies earlier this week and also said arrest warrants had been issued for seven other people, including rumoured Machado replacement, Magalli Meda. Continue reading...

Christopher Sidle was refused crisis admission to hospital despite warnings and died after self-harmingA series of failings by a troubled NHS mental health trust contributed to the death of a former government climate change adviser, a coroner has found.Christopher Sidle, 51, who had a history of psychosis, fatally self-harmed on 1 July last year during a psychotic episode two days after being refused a crisis admission by Norfolk and Suffolk foundation trust (NSFT) despite warnings from his family and a trust psychiatrist, Norfolk coroner's court heard. Continue reading...

Gold 10g treat leaps ahead of rivals in Guardian survey, as maker says rising cost of cocoa is a challengeIt's the bite-size bunny that could take a big chunk out of your Easter budget. Cost-conscious chocaholics might want to steer clear of Lindt's tiniest golden rabbit after a Guardian investigation found that, pound for pound it seems to be the priciest Easter treat on supermarket shelves.The Lindt Gold Bunny Mini Milk Chocolate weighs in at just 10g - it's so light that when the Guardian went shopping it failed to register on the shop's self-checkout. But price-wise it's a heavyweight: across the main supermarkets we couldn't find any Easter chocolate on sale at a higher cost for 100g. Continue reading...

London-headquartered lender wants to to take advantage of UK's decision to scrap bonus cap

Luke D'Wit created fake will to make himself a director of Stephen and Carol Baxter's shower mat firm, court heardA man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 37 years for the murder of a married couple who he poisoned with fentanyl after creating a gallery of fake personas to manipulate them.Luke D'Wit, who befriended and worked for Stephen and Carol Baxter, later changed their will to make him a director of their shower mat company. Continue reading...

CMA plans in-depth investigation into deal that would create UK's largest mobile phone operatorThe planned merger between Vodafone and Three UK, which would create the UK's largest mobile phone operator, has been referred to an in-depth investigation by the competition regulator.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it intended to refer the deal to a more detailed phase 2 investigation amid concerns that mobile customers could face higher prices and reduced quality. Continue reading...

Magistrate clears couple of other domestic violence allegations in hearing at Sydney's Downing Centre

Crime crackdown plan also gives victims of rape and sexual assault the right to specialist support throughout justice processSix police forces will be given powers to charge domestic abuser suspects without the involvement of the Crown Prosecution Service as part of a series of Labour proposals to solve more crimes announced on Thursday.A future Keir Starmer government would also give victims in domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault cases the right to have specialist support advisers throughout the criminal justice process and beside them in court. Continue reading...

UK's foreign secretary is in Australia alongside defence secretary Grant Shapps for high-level talks with Richard Marles and Penny Wong

Keli Lane, convicted of murdering newborn daughter in 1996, refused parole because she has not helped police find Tegan's body

This blog is now closedAs part of the latest Aukus developments, Australia will send A$4.6bn to the UK to clear bottlenecks at the Rolls-Royce nuclear reactor production line.Richard Marles was asked why it costs so much, and why this component needs to be done in the UK. He told ABC News Breakfast:We made clear a year ago that we wouldn't be building the nuclear reactors in Australia. They will be built by Rolls Royce at its facility in Derby in the UK and once the sealed reactors are built, they will be taken here to the Osborne Naval ship yard and placed in the submarines which the rest of which will be built here at Osborne.Building nuclear reactors is difficult to do and in order for this to play out, that facility in Derby, which is building nuclear reactors for Britain's navy, that needs to be expanded and that is what this contribution is for. Continue reading...

Royal College of Nursing survey shows NHS nurses' distress as 77% say they are worse off than a year ago

East was found critically injured on Fletcher Street in beachside Tamarama about 4am on Sunday morning and pronounced dead at the scene

Director of public prosecutions launches appeal against sentences handed down to Thomas Sewell and Jacob Hersant

High court told 3,541 unaccompanied children could arrive on small boats but Kent county council can accommodate only 1,631Accommodation for lone asylum seeker children who arrive on the Kent coast in small boats could run out before the end of this month, a council has warned, placing them at risk.Kent county council has legal duties under the Children Act to take these children into care on arrival in the UK. Due to its geographical location, it is under disproportionate pressure to look after these children compared with other local authorities. Under the national transfer scheme, many of the children are subsequently moved to different local authorities around the country after arrival. Continue reading...

Several schools have brought in shorts for cheerleaders at baseball tournament while another positioned teachers between the cheerleaders and spectatorsHigh schools taking part in Japan's annual spring baseball tournament are taking action to prevent spectators from taking sexualised photographs of female cheerleaders.The invitational tournament - and a regular tournament held every summer at Koshien stadium near Osaka - are supposed to be a celebration of youthful sporting prowess and a chance for teenage boys from 32 schools around the country to make their mark and perhaps catch the eye of a professional ball club. Continue reading...

Authorities are now mandating that climbers remove their waste from the mountain using biodegradable bagsIt's one of the more unedifying challenges involved in scaling to the highest point on Earth - how best to relieve oneself in the freezing, inhospitable environment of Mount Everest.That question is about to become slightly more complicated as climbers prepare for a change in protocol when the season gets under way next month, with a new rule about removing their own faeces as they trek up and down the mountain. Continue reading...

Magistrate refuses application for costs after 70-year-old cleared of serious indictable offence over not reporting his father's abuse to police

Leaders of the bloc caution that the country will have to undertake more reforms before the next step can beginEU leaders have agreed to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina on joining the bloc, while also stressing the Balkan country would have to undertake more reforms before the talks could begin.Congratulations! Your place is in our European family. Today's decision is a key step forward on your EU path," European Council president, Charles Michel, wrote on X as leaders met at a Brussels summit. Continue reading...

Western Australia police appeal for information after second death in race after British ultra-endurance cyclist Mike Hall was hit and killed near Canberra in 2017

Reserve Bank says households are generally weathering the record run of interest rate rises but 5% of owner-occupiers are in a dire financial position

Former Manchester City striker taken into custody after court in Brazil ruled he should serve a nine-year sentence for offence committed in ItalyThe former Brazil and Manchester City striker Robinho has been arrested by federal police at his home in the city of Santos after a Brazilian court ruled he should serve a nine-year prison sentence for a rape he was convicted of committing in Italy.The 40-year-old footballer, whose full name is Robson de Souza, was taken into custody on Thursday night after his lawyers failed in their attempt to delay his detention over the 2013 crime, which took place when he was a player for AC Milan. Continue reading...

Home secretary chartered a private jet to make the one-day round trip to Kigali in DecemberJames Cleverly, the home secretary, spent 165,561 chartering a private jet for a one-day round trip to Rwanda to sign Rishi Sunak's deportation deal in Kigali.The trip took place on 4 December to sign the new deal with the east African state after the supreme court's finding that Rwanda was an unsafe country". Continue reading...

Ukraine could receive the first 1bn of interest on the sequestered assets by early JulyEU leaders have agreed in principle to commandeer a large majority of the profits generated from frozen Russian assets and give them to Ukraine.The proposal could generate 3bn (2.6bn) this year and the first billion could be released to Ukraine by July, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said late on Thursday at the end of the first day of an EU leaders' summit in Brussels. Continue reading...