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Georgia Bilham, 21, is on trial in Chester for 17 sexual offences after allegedly deceiving shortsighted girlA teenage girl who pretended to be a boy in order to engage in sexual activity with a severely shortsighted girl also duped a second teenager, a court has heard.Georgia Bilham, 21, is on trial at Chester crown court for 17 sexual offences after allegedly deceiving a teenage girl into sex by pretending to be a boy. Continue reading...

Sir Mark Rowley makes apology in letter to activist Peter Tatchell, and says there is still ‘much for us to do’Scotland Yard has apologised to the LGBTQ+ community for past failings, in what campaigners have hailed as a historic first they hope other police forces around the UK will follow.The Met police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, made the admission in a letter to Peter Tatchell, the prominent British LGBTQ+ activist. Continue reading...

Bathgate mosque warns against speculation over death of 14-year-old at St Kentigern’s academyA mosque attended by the family of a 14-year-old boy who died at a school in Blackburn, West Lothian, has called for an end to “assumptions and speculations” as police continue their investigation.Emergency services were called to St Kentigern’s academy in Blackburn on Tuesday afternoon. The school said the incident, which is understood to have involved two 14-year-old boys, took place in the grounds on Tuesday lunchtime. A pupil was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards. Continue reading...

Carlson attorney Bryan Freeman accuses network of attacking first amendment rights amid dispute over post-firing settlementResponding to Fox News’s contention that Tucker Carlson was in breach of contract when he debuted his Twitter show this week, a lawyer for the fired hard-right host accused the network of attacking his client’s first amendment rights.“Fox defends its very existence on freedom of speech grounds,” said attorney Bryan Freedman in response to reports, first by Axios, about a letter to Carlson from a lawyer for Fox. Continue reading...

The pair will star in a revival of Neil Simon’s marriage comedy Plaza Suite, which transfers from a hugely successful Broadway runSarah Jessica Parker is to make her West End stage debut opposite her husband, Matthew Broderick, in a comedy about marriage by Neil Simon.Plaza Suite will open in London in January. It is the West End transfer of a production directed by John Benjamin Hickey in 2022 in New York, where it became one of the highest-grossing play revivals in Broadway history. The London run is at the Savoy theatre, fittingly for a play set in a hotel suite. Continue reading...

Warsaw says it would not pay €22,000 ‘fine’ for each person it declines to host as ministers hold crunch talks in LuxembourgPoland has entered crunch talks aimed at making radical changes to the EU’s migration and asylum laws with the claim that the proposals could result in a “step back” to 2015, when more than a million people flowed into the bloc.The Polish deputy state secretary of the interior, Bartosz Grodecki, opened the summit of home affairs ministers in Luxembourg by declaring that Warsaw would refuse to pay proposed “fines” for not taking people. Continue reading...

Leaders urge government to publish long-awaited workforce plan as figures reveal unsustainable pressure on NHS

Influential founder of Christian Coalition and fixture of talkshow 700 Club ran for Republican presidential nomination in 1988The religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, who led the Christian Coalition and ran for president as a Republican, has died.On Thursday, the Christian Broadcasting Network announced his death. No cause was given. He was 93. Continue reading...

Two firms reach ‘amicable resolution’ after high street chain argued Pigs Mugs were too similar to its brandMarks & Spencer’s Percy Pig is wallowing in glory after the British confectioner Swizzels agreed to redesign a sweet that the retailer alleged had been masquerading as its popular pink treat.M&S said it had reached an “amicable resolution” with Swizzels under which the maker of Refreshers and Parma Violets had agreed to change the design of its Pigs Mugs sweets, which have been on sale since 1996. Continue reading...

Col Rabih Alenezi received advice after reporting death threats, of which he says he receives 50 a weekA Saudi Arabian dissident living in London was told to “emulate” the life of the US whistleblower Edward Snowden by a Metropolitan police officer, amid death threats he received after fleeing his country.Col Rabih Alenezi, 44, had been a senior official in Saudi Arabia’s security service for two decades, but sought asylum in the UK after he claimed to have been ordered to carry out human rights violations. His life was threatened for criticising the regime of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Continue reading...

The shortlist for the prestigious prize includes boundary-pushing stories about migration, capitalism … and technicolour cocktail barsFrom Nigerian Guinness factories to the British countryside via small German towns and distant galaxies, this year’s Film London Jarman award nominees take viewers on a dazzling tour of the world – and beyond.The £10,000 prize, which is named after groundbreaking film-maker Derek Jarman and recognises British artists who work with moving images, has a reputation for rewarding burgeoning talent within the UK art scene. Now in its 16th year, previous names on the shortlist have included Heather Phillipson, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Monster Chetwynd, Oreet Ashery, Project Art Works and Charlotte Prodger. Continue reading...

RNLI volunteer says paddleboarder was the ‘real lifesaver’ at Westward Ho! as lifeboats called inThree people on a giant inflatable duck have been rescued after it drifted out into the Bristol Channel from a beach in Devon.Witnesses reported how the men pumped up the duck, which has been nicknamed Quackers, at Westward Ho! and took it out to sea along with a friend on an inflatable kayak. Continue reading...

Report points to health risks of ultra-processing and calls for regulation to catch up with other countriesNearly a third of baby and toddler foods sold in the UK are ultra-processed, risking children’s long-term health and development, according to research.The report for First Steps Nutrition Trust found that ultra-processed products dominate the diets of British babies and preschool children. Continue reading...

France’s interior minister says attack took place in a square in the town of AnnecyFour children and an adult have been injured in a knife attack in the picturesque town of Annecy in the French Alps.At least three of the victims are in a critical condition in hospital. Continue reading...

Zelenskiy visits flood-affected region of Kherson after destruction of dam; at five people dead in occupied Kherson due to floods

The federal court will consider the audio and text messages of Higgins and her partner David Sharaz published by several media outlets

Oversight committee to investigate allegations that US has possession of ‘intact or partially intact’ alien vehiclesThe House of Representatives plans to investigate claims that the US government is harboring UFOs after a whistleblower former intelligence official said the US has possession of “intact and partially intact” alien vehicles.James Comer, the Republican chair of the House oversight committee, said the committee would hold a hearing into claims by David Grusch, who led analysis of unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP) within a US Department of Defense agency, that the government had been collecting non-human craft for “decades”. Continue reading...

Ukraine president says it is impossible to predict death toll in Russian-occupied areas as he appeals for assistance

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Federal court dismisses appeal from broadcaster that argued it was still using the mark, ending two-year legal spat

Labour shortage at 97% of centres has led to longer waiting times and delays in treatment, survey suggestsCancer patients face lethal hospital delays and the prospect of more gruelling treatment due to NHS staff shortages, senior radiologists have warned.A poll of all 60 directors of the UK’s cancer centres by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) found staff shortages at 97% of the centres were leading to longer waiting times and delays in treatment. Continue reading...

Party-commissioned report sets out roadmap for a national care service to tackle inadequate state provisionSignificant reform of England’s beleaguered adult social care sector could be ushered in by the next Labour government under plans that include boosting pay for care workers, expanding the scope of free support, and a £50 weekly contribution towards costs for those who need it.A report by the Fabian Society thinktank, requested by the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, and commissioned by the trade union Unison, sets out a roadmap for a national care service (NCS) that is hoped would address the existing patchy, impersonal and inadequate state provision. Continue reading...

Secret service decided backstory of purported Russian security service officer was not crediblePoland has deported a purported former Russian FSB officer who sought asylum in the country back to Russia, accusing him of lying about his past and background.Emran Navruzbekov claimed to have been a senior officer in Russia’s FSB security service in the southern region of Dagestan, and had recently given numerous media interviews about FSB operations and alleged misdeeds. He was handed over to Russia at Poland’s land border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Tuesday. Continue reading...

The former country singer was arrested and charged on Thursday over the alleged murder in 2018

‘Every element’ of the facility is failing, with young people confined to cells for long periods of time due to staffing shortages, the report says

Britain also ranks low in 30-country poll on support for access to public facilities matching gender identityLess than half of people in Great Britain agree that transgender teenagers should be allowed to receive counselling and hormone treatment, polling suggests.Britain placed 28th out of 30 countries for the proportion of people agreeing that teenagers with parental consent should be able to access “gender-affirming” care. Only Hungary, which banned transgender people from legally changing their gender in 2020, and the US recorded lower levels of support than Britain’s 47%. Continue reading...

High court of Australia is considering a NSW court’s permanent stay in a case brought by a woman who alleges she was abused as a 14-year-old

Scott Phillip White will be eligible for release in 2026, having already served part of his sentence

Report demands accountability for war crimes and singles out Russia for ‘mind-boggling’ targeting of hospitals in UkraineRussian attacks on medical facilities in Ukraine made 2022 the most violent year in a decade for hospitals and health workers operating in conflict zones, according to a new report by a coalition of humanitarian organisations.With 750 reported attacks in 2022, Russia set a 10-year record, according to the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition, which includes Human Rights Watch and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health. Continue reading...

Last week we ran a piece by Rowan Atkinson casting doubt on the environmental benefits of electric vehicles. Here Simon Evans of Carbon Brief offers his responseIn a widely shared comment piece for the Guardian, comedian Rowan Atkinson said he felt “duped” by the green claims about electric vehicles (EVs).In support of his contention, however, Atkinson repeats a series of repeatedly debunked talking points, often used by those seeking to delay action on the climate crisis.He says EV batteries only last “about 10 years”. Yet “most modern lithium-ion units are likely to last the lifetime of the car”, according to Autocar. Tesla’s batteries are “designed to outlast the vehicle”.He complains that new cars are only kept for three years before being sold. Yet he does not reference the secondhand market, and the fact that British people are keeping their cars for longer than ever.He claims that it is better to keep running old petrol cars than to replace them with EVs. Yet a new EV would start benefiting the climate in less than four years, relative to an old combustion engine.He claims that lithium-ion batteries contain rare earth elements. They do not. Continue reading...

Executives urge audiences to ‘fill yer boots’ and watch as many shows as possible amid Covid fightback

Anthony Albanese says integrity body will be independent of MPs as opposition calls for scrutiny of settlement with former staffer

The 32-year-old has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent, a court has heard

Of the nearly 58,000 cases recorded across the country, 30% occurred over the last fortnightly reporting period

Performers still reeling from the pandemic aren’t ruling out a strike, as the company refuses to guarantee their pay will keep pace with inflation

Over 40% of suburbs recorded rental increases of 10% or more in the past year, according to CoreLogic

Eastern US states including New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut issue alerts as hundreds of wildfires burn in Canada

Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed star, who has terminal cancer, announces a scan in January revealed metastasis in her brainShannen Doherty has revealed that the terminal breast cancer she has been receiving treatment for over several years has now spread to her brain.In an emotional post on Instagram, Doherty shared a video of herself receiving radiation treatment, writing in the caption that a scan in early January had revealed “Mets”, or metastasis, in her brain. Continue reading...

City-state is to close its only turf club in order to redevelop 120-hectare site for public housing amid declining popularity of the sportMore than 180 years of horse racing in Singapore will soon come to an end, as the “land scarce” city state closes its only race course to make space for public housing.The chairman of the Singapore Turf Club, Niam Chiang Meng, said the club was saddened by the decision, but that it also understood the “land needs” of Singapore. The 120-hectare site was a valuable resource, he said, adding: “This transition will serve to optimise land use for the greater good of the local community and future generations.” Continue reading...

Queensland premier tells Today show she will be personally involved in review of Nikkole Southwell’s harrowing experience

More than $122bn worth of houses and residential land were cash funded last year

Community hub project in Albert Park, Victoria is part of Morrison-era grants that are currently being reviewed after the Albanese government’s election

Equipment that could be exploited by Chinese intelligence will be taken down, with CCTV brands Hikvision and Dahua among those flagged by MPsBritain has announced the removal of Chinese-made surveillance equipment from sensitive government sites as part of plans to address concerns they could be used for spying by China.The government told its departments last year to stop installing Chinese-linked CCTV cameras in sensitive buildings. Continue reading...

As Western Australia police officers attempted to arrest three people in a car in Ascot, one officer was hit and dragged and left in a critical condition

US media has reported that the White House was briefed about a Ukrainian plot to blow up the pipeline months before it occurred

Moving retelling of Sancho’s life by actor Paterson Joseph awarded prestigious Christopher Bland prizeIf anyone’s life is worthy of a book, it’s that of Charles Ignatius Sancho. The acclaimed writer and composer was born on a slave ship crossing the Atlantic in 1729, where both his parents died; arrived in London, where he suffered hardship and danger; found love; met the king; and became the first black person to vote in Britain.Now, a moving retelling of Sancho’s life by the actor Paterson Joseph has won the Royal Society of Literature’s prestigious Christopher Bland prize – awarded to a debut writer who has published their first book over the age of 50. Continue reading...

Vanya, adapted by Simon Stephens, will see Scott tackle all of the characters in Chekhov’s playAndrew Scott is to return to London’s West End to play every character in Uncle Vanya. The star of Sherlock, Fleabag and His Dark Materials will appear for a five-week run at the Duke of York’s theatre from 15 September in a one-man staging of Anton Chekhov’s 1898 classic.It means Scott will appear not only as Vanya, the morose manager of a rural Russian estate, but also as the landowner Professor Serebryakov, his daughter Sonya and glamorous young wife Yelena. He will also play Vanya’s widowed mother, his romantic rival Astrov, the tenant Telegin and the nurse Maria. Continue reading...

Investigation shows Home Office funds ‘return and reintegration assistance’ and provides equipment and training to Turkish policeThe Home Office has provided more than £3m in funding to Turkish border forces in the last year to prevent migrants reaching the UK, an investigation for the Guardian has found.Funding to Turkey’s border force operations has increased substantially from 2019, when £14,000 was given to Turkish police and coastguard for maritime border security training, according to documents obtained through freedom of information (FOI) requests. That figure rose to £425,000 in 2021-22 for training and equipment and up to £3m this year for “return and reintegration assistance”, training and personnel. Continue reading...

Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council dismisses claim counteroffensive has begun; Rishi Sunak says UK ‘can’t say definitively’ whether Russia was responsible

Actor was helped off stage from her one-woman show Prima Facie after city’s poor air quality prompted breathing issuesJodie Comer stopped her one-woman show Prima Facie on Broadway because of breathing difficulties owing to New York’s air crisis.According to eyewitnesses, the award-winning star of Killing Eve, tipped to win a Tony award this weekend, was 10 minutes late for the matinee performance. After three minutes of the show, she announced that she couldn’t proceed. Continue reading...