Judge agrees with prosecutors to look into two possible cases as the singer faces trial over alleged failure to pay over 14mPop star Shakira is facing more trouble from Spain's tax office after a court near Barcelona said on Thursday that it had agreed to open an investigation into a second case of alleged tax fraud by the Colombian singer.Shakira is already set to face trial at a date to be determined for allegedly failing to pay 14.5m ($13.9m) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. The entertainer has denied any wrongdoing. Continue reading...
Man in his 30s, believed to be known to woman in her 60s, arrested on suspicion of murderA murder investigation has been launched after a female patient in her 60s died at Cornwall's main hospital.Devon and Cornwall police were called on Wednesday afternoon to the Royal Cornwall hospital in Truro, where the patient came to harm. A man in his 30s believed to have been known to the woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Continue reading...
Michael Gove decided to refuse permission,' in a win for campaigners concerned about the carbon footprint of redevelopmentOn that subject, the maker of Mr Kipling cakes, Oxo cubes and Bisto gravy granules has said it believes recent food cost inflation has peaked, and it is not planning any more price rises for its food products for the rest of the year.The news came as owner Premier Foods reported a 21% increase in sales in the first quarter of the financial year, compared with a year earlier.Evidence to date indicates high food price inflation has not been driven by weak retail competition, but competitive pressure is important as input prices fallNext phase of CMA probe will examine competition and prices across the supply chain for the product categories identifiedRules on unit pricing should be tightened and retailers must comply to help shoppers compare prices easilyNot everyone is able to benefit fully from strong competition, particularly those who cannot travel to large stores or shop online, and therefore may rely on higher-priced convenience stores.Now that some input costs are starting to fall, there are some signs that grocery retailers are planning to start rebuilding their profit margins. The CMA will monitor this carefully in the months ahead, to ensure that people benefit from competitive prices as input costs fall. Continue reading...
by Nicola Slawson (now) and Alexandra Topping (earlie on (#6D4CV)
Voters are picking new MPs in the constituencies of Somerton and Frome, Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and Selby and AinstyThe education secretary, Gillian Keegan, has confirmed that the controversial guidance to schools on trans pupils will now be delayed.Rishi Sunak had promised the guidance would be published before the end of the school year but it has been beset by ministerial in-fighting and legal wrangles.It is vital that the guidance we publish gives clarity for schools and colleges and reassurance for parents. So, we have made the decision to allow more time - to speak to teachers, parents, lawyers and other stakeholders - in order to ensure this guidance meets the high expectations that these groups rightly have for it.We have been clear from the start that this legislation threatens to undermine the rule of law and access to justice.Whilst the act will soon come into force on paper, it will be unworkable in practice because it doesn't provide solutions to the asylum backlog, and there isn't capacity in the legal aid sector to provide the immigration advice needed. Continue reading...
Alex Belfield called into question Vine's honesty and tried to publish family and friends' phone numbers, court hearsA man who was jailed for stalking Jeremy Vine has apologised in court after being sued over the campaign of harassment and abuse he waged against the broadcaster.Vine sued Alex Belfield for defamation and harassment less than a year after Belfield's conviction for stalking him and others. The high court heard that Belfield had made several untrue allegations against Vine that called into question his honesty, as well as trying to publish his family and friends' phone numbers online and encouraging people to call him while he was working. Continue reading...
The comedian, who died in 2018, will be remembered in a new exhibition that brings together props, costumes and an interactive giggle map'Tickling sticks, a Dicky Mint puppet and a Yorick skull complete with protruding teeth will go on display in September as the Museum of Liverpool pays tribute to the city's beloved comedian Sir Ken Dodd.Dodd, who died aged 90 in 2018, is to be remembered in the exhibition Happiness! which is named after his signature song and will explore the two sides of the much-loved Doddy" said curator Karen O'Rourke. As well as the larger than life, quick-witted performer we know best" it will reveal the deep-thinker and private man off stage, who diligently filled more than 1,000 notebooks with his jokes, observations and philosophy of comedy". Continue reading...
Eugene Shvidler claims oppressive treatment' as he launches case that could set a precedent for oligarchsEugene Shvidler, a long-time ally of the billionaire Roman Abramovich, has accused the UK government of oppressive treatment" as he launched a legal challenge against sanctions imposed upon him after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.In a high court case that experts say could lead to a precedent for oligarchs seeking to free themselves of sanctions, lawyers for Shvidler, who is reportedly worth 1.3bn, are seeking to have his designation for sanctions declared unlawful and quashed, as well as pursuing restitution of his costs. Continue reading...
People urged to stay inside as officials track down dangerous animal' in south-west of capitalResidents on the south-western outskirts of Berlin are being urged to stay indoors after overnight sightings of a loose, dangerous animal", suspected to be an escaped lioness.Brandenburg police advised people living in the districts of Kleinmachnow, Stahnsdorf and Teltow on the borders of the German capital to refrain from walking in the woods and to keep pets or farm animals indoors on Thursday. Nurseries were allowed to open but were urged to avoid letting children play outdoors. Continue reading...
Costume consisting of a silver jumpsuit and a lifelike depiction of a giant pita bread stuffed with meat prompts numerous questionsAt some point over the last decade, the Canadian province of Alberta acquired a costume consisting of a silver jumpsuit and a lifelike depiction of a giant pita bread stuffed with meat.Now, the provincial government has decided to part with the outfit in an online auction that has renewed a longstanding feud over the proper recipe for the beloved late-night snack. Continue reading...
by Aubrey Allegretti Senior political correspondent on (#6D4CW)
Minutes show two Conservatives and two Labour members of Commons defence select committee tabled no-confidence motionConservative MPs have launched an attempt to oust their colleague Tobias Ellwood as chair of the Commons defence select committee after he posted a video praising the Taliban for improving safety in Afghanistan.Ellwood had sought to draw a line under the row, saying he was sorry for my poor communication" after his actions outraged those in his own party and military veterans. Continue reading...
by Anna Rankin in Auckland and agencies on (#6D46Z)
New Zealand police say shooter had history of family violence, adding there is no reason World Cup opening match shouldn't go aheadTwo people have been killed and six injured after a shooting in Auckland city centre on Thursday morning, hours before the Women's World Cup kicked off there.New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins said the gunman was also dead and that there was no national security risk or rise in the national threat level. Visiting the scene on Thursday afternoon, he confirmed that that the World Cup would proceed as planned and that people should feel safe to attend the matches. Continue reading...
Airport only one to be rated as poor' and needs improvement' over all four quarters in year to MarchHeathrow failed to meet the minimum accessibility standards for disabled passengers in the year to March, the sector's regulator has said.The airport was the only one in the UK to be rated as poor" and needs improvement" by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over all four quarters in the period, according to the report. Continue reading...
Opposition parties hope to overturn government majorities in three constituencies vacated by Tory MPs amid controversyPolls have opened in three parliamentary seats where byelections are being held, with Rishi Sunak braced for an electoral test of his premiership.The Conservative-held constituencies are being targeted by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who hope to overturn large majorities and send Tory MPs off into the summer recess nervous about their own political futures come the general election. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6D488)
Thursday stoppage is first of three over 10 days by RMT union and will hit start of peak summer getawayRail passengers around Great Britain are facing another day of disruption as train staff in the RMT union begin a 24-hour strike.The strike on Thursday is the first of three in 10 days by RMT members, with two further stoppages on 22 and 29 July, and is taking place during a week-long overtime ban by train drivers in the Aslef union. Continue reading...
Public spaces protection orders being used to crack down on napping in public and climbing trees in England and WalesA record number of on-the-spot fines were issued by councils for what have been dubbed busybody offences", with many cracking down on activities such as feeding birds, swearing and napping in public.The seemingly bizarre nature of some of the fines issued under Public Spaces Protection Order legislation has seen them increase to 13,433 in 2022, up from 10,412 in 2019. More than 150 councils issued at least one penalty in 2022, according to a report. Continue reading...
by Harriet Sherwood Arts and culture correspondent on (#6D489)
K8s installed on tube stations between 1968 and 1983 are listed for architectural and historic interestFour rare phone boxes on London Underground stations have been given Grade II-listed status by the government for their architectural and historic interest.The phone boxes are among 11,000 K8 kiosks that were installed across the UK between 1968 and 1983. Only about 50 remain, mostly in Hull where they were part of an independent phone network rather than the property of British Telecom. Continue reading...
Karl Stanley says Rush definitely knew it was going to end like this' and that he had warned Rush the craft was dangerousA one-time passenger of the submersible that imploded over the wreck of the Titanic last month, killing five, has reportedly said he believes OceanGate's CEO, Stockton Rush, who died in the accident, knew that expeditions of the Titan craft would end in disaster but continued to create a mousetrap for billionaires".Karl Stanley, who was interviewed by 60 Minutes Australia on Sunday, told the broadcast that he'd warned his friend that the carbon fiber and titanium craft was dangerous. Continue reading...
by Kiran Stacey Political correspondent on (#6D3WB)
Departure from normal ministerial practice adds to speculation of an imminent reshuffle by Rishi SunakJames Cleverly has issued an unusual public appeal to Rishi Sunak to keep his job as foreign secretary in the next reshuffle, as speculation mounts that the prime minister could change his frontbench team in the coming days.The foreign secretary told the Aspen Security Forum on Wednesday he would have to be dragged out of his job with nail marks down the parquet flooring", after speculation he could be moved to the defence brief to replace Ben Wallace. Continue reading...
by Angela Giuffrida in Rome, Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo on (#6D3TJ)
Parts of Sicily reach almost 47C and Spanish coastal water temperatures hit new high for mid-JulyTemperatures reached almost 47C in southern Italy on Wednesday and factory workers threatened to strike over the extreme heat, while wildfires continued to rage in Greece and temperatures in coastal waters around Spain broke records.In Sicily, where the European record of 48.8C was registered in August 2021, the mercury climbed to almost 47C in the area between Mazara del Vallo, in the province of Trapani, and Sciacca, in Agrigento province, according to data from ilMeteo.it. Temperatures in Sardinia reached 46C while Rome - where there were energy blackouts on Tuesday due to pressure on the grid believed to be from air conditioners - peaked at 38C. Continue reading...
Standoff between Chinese ultra-fast fashion brands escalates with lawsuit claiming Shein created exclusive manufacturing contractsA self-described war" between Chinese ultra-fast fashion brands Shein and Temu has escalated, with a new lawsuit from Temu against its competitor claiming it is trying to squeeze its rival out of the US.In a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts court, Temu accused Shein of creating exclusive contracts with independent manufacturers in China that bars them from working with Temu. The company claims Shein made the agreements in an attempt to edge out Temu in US markets. Continue reading...
Prosecutors look into GoFundMe collection set up by far-right commentator for officer whose action sparked nationwide riotsFrench prosecutors have opened an investigation into an online collection for a policeman who shot a teenager dead in a Paris suburb in late June sparking nationwide riots.The initiative on GoFundMe.com, launched by far-right media commentator Jean Messiha, received pledges of more than 1.6m (1.4m) before it was closed in early July. Continue reading...
Adil Iqbal's sentence insulting' says family's solicitor, after crash that also seriously injured Frankie Jules-Hough's son and nephewA man who killed a pregnant woman as he filmed himself speeding at 123mph has been handed a 12-year prison sentence.Adil Iqbal, 22, was driving with one hand and holding his phone with the other to film himself, possibly to upload to Facebook, as he tailgated and undertook other vehicles and swerved across lanes, reaching a speed of 123mph in his father's BMW on the M66 in Bury, Greater Manchester, on 13 May. Continue reading...
Greta Gerwig's toyland satire expected to win out over Christopher Nolan's atomic-bomb drama but both will provide box-office boostGreta Gerwig's Mattel-made satire Barbie is set to win out the much-hyped box office competition with a projected US opening of $110m.The $145m-budgeted film, the first from the recently created Mattel Studios which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, will probably triumph over Christopher Nolan's biopic Oppenheimer, the competitive release date having created a much-hyped rivalry dubbed Barbenheimer. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Party holds power in seven of 10 local authorities worst hit by controversial benefit limitAlmost 200,000 families living in Labour-run councils are affected by the two-child benefit cap, a Guardian analysis has revealed, with the party holding power in seven of the 10 local authorities worst hit by the policy.Government data released last week shows that the four councils with the largest number of families where at least one child does not receive financial support due to the cap - Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and Leeds - are Labour-controlled. Sheffield and Tower Hamlets, which are fifth and eighth in the list of local authorities worst hit by the policy, were under Labour control until 2021. Continue reading...
Leaders put aside personality clashes and ideological differences to form coalition to take on PMLeaders of 26 opposition political parties in India have united to form an alliance in an attempt to oust the country's prime minister, Narendra Modi, in next year's general election.During a conclave of opposition parties held this week, it was decided that the coalition will be called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance: otherwise known as India. Continue reading...
NBC Universal claims it is not trying to make conditions uncomfortable for writers and actors who will be picketing with no shade as temperatures soarThe Los Angeles city controller's office says it is investigating the trimming of tree branches on a stretch of roadway outside Universal Studios. The studio's owners NBC Universal have denied making conditions for striking actors and writers more difficult in the intense heat.In a series of posts on social media, LA city controller Kenneth Mejia said that the trees concerned are LA City managed", and that while public works agency StreetsLA are responsible for tree maintenance a business can also obtain a permit to trim a tree". Continue reading...
A Salvadoran newspaper reported 15,956 people died from the disease, three times more than President Bukele's official numbersNayib Bukele's administration in El Salvador has come under fire from rights groups for apparently falsifying Covid-19 figures in an attempt to cover up the true cost of the pandemic.Two-thirds of the country's Covid-19 fatalities were left out of official figures in order to give the illusion that the authoritarian government had the pandemic under control, the Salvadoran newspaper La Prensa Grafica reported on Monday. Continue reading...
by Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent on (#6D3AX)
Helen Grant hopes to use windfall to further legacy of her father, who she says was band's driving force'When Helen Grant was a young girl in boarding school, she would hide the fact that her father was Peter Grant, the music manager who turned Led Zeppelin into the world's first stadium rock phenomenon and helped to change the industry.I was always a little worried about what the other girls would be like with me," she says. I managed to hide it for quite some time until a massive article came out about Dad. All the other parents had seen it and said: You're not going to believe this but that girl you share a dormitory with, her dad's that big Peter Grant person.'" Continue reading...
Pita Limjaroenrat suspended over claims he was unqualified to run in May's election, in which his progressive party took most seatsThailand's constitutional court has suspended the leader of the country's most popular and progressive party from parliament, after accepting a case alleging he was unqualified to run in May's election.The announcement came as Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward, was due to contest a parliamentary vote to become prime minister. The case centres on claims that Pita was ineligible to run in the election as he owned media shares - an allegation that Pita denies. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6D37G)
Force had faced being sued in court over 1987 axe killing, with police corruption and errors blamed for perpetrators never being convictedThe 36-year fight for justice by the family of the murdered private detective Daniel Morgan has finally ended with the Metropolitan police admitting liability for their errors and corruption, and paying damages.Morgan was found dead in March 1987 in a south London pub car park with an axe through his head. His family believe he was about to expose police corruption when he was silenced. In his apology, the Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, admitted it prioritised its reputation at the expense of transparency and effectiveness". Continue reading...
by Martin Pengelly in Washington and agencies on (#6D2AP)
US and UN officials working to resolve incident' after private crossed border at truce village without authorisationAn American soldier being sent back to the US to face possible disciplinary action crossed in to North Korea during a tour of the demilitarised zone, US officials have said, becoming the first American detained in the North in nearly five years.Private 2nd Class Travis King had served nearly two months in a South Korean prison for assault before being released to be sent home to Fort Bliss, Texas, on Monday, where he potentially faced additional military disciplinary actions and discharge from the service. Continue reading...
by Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent on (#6D37H)
Gillian Slovo's play at National Theatre uses words of survivors of 2017 fire at west London tower blockPeople must be jailed for what happened at Grenfell Tower, the award-winning author Gillian Slovo has said, as her play about the disaster prepares to open at the National Theatre in London.Slovo, who gained international recognition with her novel Red Dust, set in South Africa's post-apartheid truth and reconciliation commission, has used dialogue gleaned verbatim from interviews with 10 of the survivors for the play, which has left actors in tears after preview performances. In an interview with the Guardian she said: Without jail time, how's it going to stop anybody else doing this in the future?" Continue reading...
Fears rise that UN could be forced into compromise with Damascus to keep vital corridor open from Turkey to rebel-held IdlibAid groups and their backers at the United Nations are pushing to revive an aid corridor into rebel-held Syria after Russia vetoed the renewal of the cross-border lifeline that has been getting food and medicines into Syria for almost a decade.Moscow has repeatedly attempted to stymie deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing from Turkey into Idlib, a strip of land controlled by the de facto opposition known as the National Salvation government, which is linked to the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham militant group. At least nine people were killed in a Russian airstrike on a vegetable market in rural Idlib last month. Continue reading...
Documents reveal new details about David Hurley's support for the Australian Future Leaders Foundation, which won funding under Scott Morrison's government
Government reportedly hands back two vessels after ports in the Wirral, London and Scotland deny permission to dockControversial plans to house asylum seekers on redundant cruise ships have been thrown into disarray after two vessels were unable to find somewhere to dock.There had been tentative reported plans for cruise ships to be housed in the Wirral, just outside Edinburgh and in London, but the proposals were all rebuffed. Sky News reported that two ships have been returned to their prior owners after their acquisition by the government. Continue reading...
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