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Leak has provided unique insight into how UK government operated at height of the Covid pandemicThe government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has been thrust into the spotlight after the leak to the Daily Telegraph of more than 100,000 private WhatsApp messages involving Matt Hancock.The cache of messages, which reveal private conversations between several senior politicians and officials, provide a unique insight into the way the UK government operated at the height of the pandemic. Continue reading...

Ex-PM and former international cricketer is facing charges of misusing his office to sell state giftsPakistani police served arrest warrants to the former prime minister Imran Khan to ensure his appearance in court on charges of misusing his office to sell state gifts, authorities have said, after Khan’s supporters tried to prevent police entry into his home.The election commission of Pakistan in October found the 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician guilty of unlawfully selling gifts from foreign dignitaries. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Home Office documents show officers referred more than 2,000 victims of serious crimeChildren who have been sexually exploited and women who have been attacked by their partners are among more than 2,000 victims of serious crime who police reported to immigration enforcement, two government documents reveal.Between 2020 and 2022, UK police reported 2,546 victims of crimes such as domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, adult sexual exploitation, human trafficking and modern slavery to immigration enforcement, a Home Office document shows. Continue reading...

Former health secretary conspired with Dominic Cummings to remove Simon Stevens in early 2020Matt Hancock plotted to try and oust Sir Simon Stevens, a longtime thorn in the government’s side, from his role as the head of the NHS in England, the former health secretary’s leaked messages reveal.Hancock conspired with Dominic Cummings, the chief adviser to then prime minister Boris Johnson, to remove Stevens before the Covid-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020. Continue reading...

The centre-left party’s new leader is a bisexual feminist, ready to challenge authority. Some colleagues worry she is too radicalOne is bisexual, a feminist and passionately pro-European. The other is a conservative who promotes the traditional family, is against “pink quotas” and who, until she came to power last October, was a passionate Eurosceptic.The political views of Elly Schlein – the first woman to lead Italy’s centre-left Democratic party (PD) – and the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy, could not be more different. Continue reading...

Hotter overnight temperatures for Sydney and much of the north-east coast have prompted warnings about heat stress

Ensuring First Nations siblings remain in contact must also be a priority, former Victorian Aboriginal children’s commissioner says

Chris Minns says reducing government spend on third-party workers will allow the party to reinvest extra savings into health and education

Several family members of Mr A, from Iran’s Ahwazi Arab community, have been killed by security forces during the Iranian uprising

Bombing inquiry brings call from terror watchdog for franker approach at spy agencyBritain’s terror watchdog has called on the security services to ensure they promptly share any intelligence requested by MPs investigating the fallout of the Manchester Arena attack.Last week’s public inquiry concluded that MI5 had missed a significant chance to take action that may have prevented the 2017 bombing that killed 22 people. Continue reading...

Law would also place duty on home secretary to send anyone who arrives on small boat in UK to Rwanda or another countryRishi Sunak is to announce new laws stopping people entering the UK on small boats from claiming asylum, with the prime minister saying: “Make no mistake, if you come here illegally, you will not to be able to stay.”The prime minister and his home secretary will launch the legislation this week, as part of the government’s drive to “tackle illegal migration”, one of its main priorities. Continue reading...

Explorer hid his torment as he regaled officials in Port Stanley with jokes and storiesThe marine archaeologist who headed the 2022 Antarctic expedition that discovered the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance has found two previously unknown letters which describe the explorer in the Falklands while he was trying to save 22 of his men stranded on the “hellish rock” of Elephant Island.Ahead of today’s anniversary of the wreck’s discovery, Mensun Bound told the Observer that the correspondence is remarkable because there is no witness account of him in Port Stanley during this crucial period in 1916 after their ship had become trapped in ice. Continue reading...

‘Shocking’ analysis reveals only three trusts managed to treat 85% of patients within two months of urgent referralPatients are being warned of a “shocking gap in cancer care” as new figures reveal that fewer than 3% of England’s NHS trusts met a key waiting-times target last year for cancer patients to be treated within two months of an urgent GP referral.Of 125 hospital trusts in England analysed, only three (2.4%) hit the standard of treating 85% of patients within 62 days after an urgent referral in 2022. Some trusts have not hit the standard for at least eight years. Continue reading...

Queen Mary accused of ‘turning students into spies’ to gather data on academics who did not reschedule missed teachingA prestigious London university has become the first in the country to use a “student snitch form” to encourage students to report striking staff, while threatening to dock full pay for 39 days if those named fail to reschedule missed teaching.Queen Mary University of London was branded the “worst university employer in the UK” by the Universities and Colleges Union last July, after it deducted 21 days of full pay from more than 100 staff who refused to mark students’ work in June as part of a national boycott. But staff claim the university, a member of the esteemed Russell Group, has reached a new low and “destroyed trust” by “turning students into spies” to gather data on who went on strike in November and February, and which classes have not been rescheduled. Continue reading...

Rust, leaks and broken glazing – and high repair costs – have been blamed for plan to shut ‘world-class’ venueWhen the National Glass Centre in Sunderland was opened by Prince Charles in October 1998, it was hoped that the £17m glass and steel building would help revitalise the city’s waterfront and serve as an enduring monument to its industrial heritage.It received £6.9m of national lottery funding and houses installation spaces and resident glass-makers. It was cited as a “world-class cultural asset” in Sunderland’s 2021 UK City of Culture bid, and was the venue of a government cabinet meeting on the first day of Brexit. The centre also houses the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. Continue reading...

Workers urged to mobilise against far-right groups as senior Tory politicians are accused of demonising refugeesSome of Britain’s biggest unions have accused the government of being “complicit” in attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers, and are urging members to “mobilise” against far-right groups seemingly emboldened by the rhetoric of senior Tory politicians.The first big intervention by trade unions on the increasingly politicised issue follows comments on Friday by the Conservative party’s deputy chairman, Lee Anderson, who said he had sympathy with people protesting outside hotels. Continue reading...

Officers responding to alleged domestic violence attack were threatened by man with two knives, police say

Economic crisis prompts renowned artist’s foundation to award special rescue grants for 50 artists totalling £100,000Henry Moore, the son of a coalminer, would never have created great works of art if he had not received a gift of financial aid as a young man.A survivor of the battlefields of the first world war, he returned to his hometown of Castleford, West Yorkshire, believing he would become a school teacher. But the intervention of a former art mistress led him to apply for an ex-serviceman’s grant. Continue reading...

Historian and TV presenter is among those to speak out as protest grows over settler violence against PalestiniansBritish Jews must speak out over the “complete disintegration of the political and social compact” that underpins the state of Israel, the historian Simon Schama has said.His call comes amid mounting disquiet among Jews in the UK and the US at the threats to Israeli democracy, violent attacks on Palestinians and a police crackdown on Israeli protesters. Continue reading...

Rishi Sunak faces calls for inquiry into whether medical evidence was ignored before the launch of his £849m initiativeRishi Sunak faces calls for an inquiry into whether Treasury officials buried or ignored evidence that his £849m “eat out to help out” scheme fuelled the spread of the pandemic.Officials dismissed a Warwick University study in October 2020 that said Sunak’s initiative may have caused a significant rise in Covid-19 infections. The report estimated 8%-17% of detected new clusters could be linked to the scheme. Continue reading...

State’s attorney general, Jaclyn Symes, says Andrews government has ‘no plans to weaken the laws’ for offenders who pose a serious community safety risk

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Prime minister received hero’s welcome as state opposition pledged $93m to hire 1,000 apprentices and trainees in the public sector

March helps draw to a close 17-day festival, which will wrap up on Sunday evening with a concert in the Domain

The teenager was swimming with two friends when they lost sight of him, while a man’s body was found at a lake in Melbourne’s outer east

Jim Chalmers has accused shadow treasurer of waging a ‘ridiculous scare campaign’ that doesn’t stand up to the facts

Passengers will be hit by biggest increase in ticket prices since 2012Train passengers will be hit by the largest increase in fares for more than a decade on Sunday despite record levels of poor reliability.Fares in England and Wales will rise by up to 5.9% on average, adding hundreds of pounds to the cost of many annual season tickets. Continue reading...

Interactive map designed to help people ‘find activities, events and celebrations nearby’, says culture secretaryThe public has been encouraged to share how they will celebrate King Charles’s coronation – whether it is attending a street party or sitting in the pub all day – on a digital map set up by the government.People will be able to share events they are hosting over the coronation weekend from 6 May to 8 May such as coronation big lunches and volunteering activities in an attempt to foster local community spirit. Continue reading...

First class stamp £1.10 from April and second class 75p as firm predicts £450m operating lossThe cost of a first class stamp will rise to £1.10 early next month, Royal Mail has announced, breaking the £1 barrier for the first time.The company said it would increase the price of a first class stamp by 15p from 3 April, a year after it went up by 10p to 95p. The price of a second class stamp is also going up, by 7p to 75p.The secondary headline on an earlier version of this article gave the incorrect price for second class stamps. This has now been corrected. Continue reading...

Government set to publish legislation that will prevent people who cross Channel from claiming asylumNew powers to crack down on small boat crossings in the Channel are expected to be announced by the UK government next week.The legislation, promised as part of efforts to tackle illegal migration, is understood to likely be launched by Rishi Sunak and the home secretary, Suella Braverman. Continue reading...

Sergei Lavrov says Moscow ‘trying to stop’ war in remarks at India’s Raisina Dialogue conference

Party chair also says taxpayers should not foot bill for former PM’s legal fees during Partygate inquiryThe Labour chair Anneliese Dodds has said Boris Johnson should face “political repercussions” if he is found to have misled parliament, as fresh evidence emerges over lockdown parties.A cross-party interim report into Partygate released on Friday found there was significant evidence that Johnson misled MPs over lockdown parties and that he and aides almost certainly knew at the time they were breaking rules. Continue reading...

Rafael Grossi to meet president to ‘relaunch dialogue’ on nuclear programme, says source, following discovery of 83.7% enrichmentThe UN nuclear watchdog chief has said he has had “constructive” meetings with Iranian officials in Tehran after the discovery of uranium particles enriched to near weapons-grade level.The two-day visit by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, comes as the Vienna-based organisation seeks greater cooperation with Iran over its nuclear activities. Continue reading...

Charity urges Jeremy Hunt to spend more on social care, as it warns of ‘tragedies behind closed doors’Thousands of older people have died without getting the care they needed, a charity has said.Age UK said it was “deeply concerned” about the plight of elderly people whose needs are not being met and urged the chancellor to direct more resources towards social care. Continue reading...

Exclusive: British-Iranian man says he was attacked after protesting against an assault on a teenage girl by security servicesThis story contains graphic imagesA British-Iranian health worker who joined anti-regime street protests in Tehran still has five shotgun pellets lodged in his body after being fired at repeatedly by Iranian security forces at point-blank range.It is thought the security officers were using shotguns to fire buckshot cartridges containing multiple pellets that then spread through the victim’s body. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Several NHS organisations have asked unqualified medics to provide support during strikes later this monthUnqualified medical students are being urged to provide clinical support in English hospitals when tens of thousands of junior doctors go on strike this month, the Guardian can reveal.The NHS faces the prospect of unprecedented disruption to services from 13 March when junior doctors strike for 72 hours in an increasingly bitter row over pay, morale and safe staffing levels. Continue reading...

GMB, Unison and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy take up offer of talks after government concessionsThree health unions have agreed to call off strike action planned for next week and enter into pay talks with the health secretary, Steve Barclay, after the government made significant concessions in an attempt to end the protracted dispute.The GMB, Unison and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have all decided to take up an offer of fresh talks, after Barclay wrote to them offering to discuss pay, including a one-off cost of living payment for this year. Continue reading...

Reality TV personality ordered to sign sex offender register and not to contact ex-partner Georgia HarrisonThe reality TV personality Stephen Bear has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sharing a private video of him having sex with his ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison, in a judgment confirming that sharing intimate images without consent is a serious crime.Bear was also ordered to sign the sex offender register and given a restraining order not to contact Harrison for five years. He will have notification requirements to keep police updated with his address and whereabouts for 10 years. Continue reading...

Host, who is leaving BBC after 46 years, says it is a shame he had to finish 17 days before end of contractThe radio presenter Ken Bruce paid tributes to listeners as he hosted his final show on BBC Radio 2.Bruce, who has hosted the morning programme for 30 years, chose the medley of Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight and The End, which closes The Beatles’ album Abbey Road, to end his last show on Friday. Continue reading...

The director, whose Oscar-nominated film The Fabelmans depicts the racial abuse he faced in the 60s, said he was very surprised by its current resurgenceSteven Spielberg has spoken out about his impression of the current levels of antisemitism in the US.Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Spielberg was asked whether the abuse faced in 1960s California by the young Jewish hero of his new film, autobiographical drama The Fabelmans, was something he recognised today. Continue reading...

Pro-democracy activist sentenced to 10 years as part of Alexander Lukashenko’s purge of opponentsBelarus has sentenced the Nobel peace prize-winning dissident Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in prison as part of Alexander Lukashenko’s purge of opponents after the 2020 pro-democracy protests against his rule.Bialiatski, a pro-democracy activist, is the founder of Viasna, the authoritarian country’s most prominent human rights group. He was detained in July last year and charged with smuggling cash into Belarus to fund his group’s activities, but is widely recognised as being persecuted for his opposition to Lukashenko. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Federal court is expected to sit on 16 March for a preliminary hearing that will focus on the significant delay in filing the claim

Official tells royal commission she was threatened with losing her job after turning off part of the system without approval

Singh, 38, was remanded in custody during a short video link appearance before the Cairns magistrates court

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, had sued College Dropout Burgers, which was named after his 2004 record

Fair Trading says it is taking ‘an educative approach’ to new laws and planning for future audits and enforcement action

Urgent discussions among unions in England on whether to accept offer to discuss one-off cost of living paymentHealth unions in England are considering suspending strike action to enter talks with the government after Steve Barclay signalled he was willing to discuss a one-off cost of living payment for the current year.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) temporarily called off strikes last week to enter “intensive” negotiations with the health secretary. That move infuriated other unions involved in NHS stoppages, which vowed to press ahead with strikes. Continue reading...

The missing 62-year-old was found in the Tortington Lane area of Walberton, West Sussex, after an 11-day searchPolice have confirmed that a body found in the search for a missing woman has been formally identified as Laurel Aldridge.The 62-year-old, sister-in-law of actor Mackenzie Crook, was eventually found in the Tortington Lane area of Walberton, West Sussex, after an 11-day search. Continue reading...

Two pieces of pre-attack intelligence cannot be made public but it would be unwise to be overly critical of reportIn a frustrating final report, the chair of the Manchester Arena inquiry half gets at the truth. Tasked with answering the most important question – could the suicide bombing at the Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017 have been prevented? – Sir John Saunders admits his approach will have “raised more questions” in the minds of the families of the 22 who lost their lives.It is nearly six years since that tragedy and yet Saunders feels he cannot fully explain what were the two pieces of intelligence that MI5 obtained in early 2017 which, if acted upon, might have prevented Salman Abedi from carrying out the deadly attack. It was “a significant missed opportunity”, the inquiry concluded, but such is the British state’s addiction to secrecy it cannot be made public, even now. Continue reading...

No casualties have been reported since flames engulfed construction site in heart of busy Tsim Sha Tsui late on ThursdayHong Kong firefighters have been battling a blaze that engulfed a construction site in the city’s shopping district.Officials said the fire broke out at 11.11pm (1511 GMT) on Thursday in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, a busy shopping and tourist area on the waterfront. Continue reading...