by Aubrey Allegretti Political correspondent on (#60DWY)
Deputy PM tells Today programme of surprise at sudden decision of Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser to quitDominic Raab has refused to confirm that a resignation letter from Boris Johnson’s outgoing ethics adviser will be released, as pressure grew on the government to come clean about the reason for Christopher Geidt’s shock departure.The deputy prime minister said it was “not quite right to say you, as a matter of principle, publish all the details” – citing possible concerns over a breach of confidentiality or national security issues. Continue reading...
The apparent follow-up to 2016’s Lemonade is due for release on 29 JulyBeyoncé has announced what appears to be her next solo album, Renaissance, due for release on 29 July.After the musician, 40, shared the words “act i … RENAISSANCE” on her social media accounts, streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal – owned by her husband, rapper Jay-Z – also posted minimalist artwork featuring the same wording and offered fans the chance to pre-save the release. The Apple Music listing suggests the project will consist of 16 tracks. Continue reading...
by Melissa Davey and Australian Associated Press on (#60DSD)
Margaret Hellard wants masks reintroduced indoors and air quality prioritised but other experts say population is well protected against severe disease
Study reveals majority agree schools should talk about trans issues and one in four knows trans personThe British public are not bitterly polarised over trans equality, according to new research, which found a majority agreed schools should talk to pupils about transgender issues and that one in four knows a trans person personally.Thought to be the most in-depth UK study to date of public attitudes to what has become a notoriously toxic discourse in politics and on social media, the report from More in Common identifies a radically different attitude among ordinary people, who approach issues of gender identity from a position of compassion and fairness, often informed by their own relationships with trans people. Continue reading...
Grammy-award winning US rapper will no longer headline Strawberries & Creem festival in CambridgeLil Wayne will no longer headline at Strawberries & Creem festival in Cambridge after he was banned from entering the UK at the last minute, event organisers have said.The Grammy-award winning American rapper, 39, will not perform on Saturday in what was believed to be his first UK show in 14 years after he had his visa application refused. Continue reading...
by Richard Partington Economics correspondent on (#60DFJ)
Rachel Reeves says Labour wants to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a businessLabour has launched a review of business startup funding driven by a group of industry leaders including the former Goldman Sachs chief economist and Conservative Treasury minister Jim O’Neill as it attempts to improve its credentials with business.Announcing the review amid concern over the strength of the British economy, Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, said Labour wanted to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Continue reading...
The Book of Form and Emptiness is praised by judges for its ‘sparkling writing, warmth, intelligence and poignancy’Ruth Ozeki’s fourth novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness, has won the Women’s prize for fiction.The novelist, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest takes the £30,000 award for a book that “stood out for its sparkling writing, warmth, intelligence, humour and poignancy”, according to chair of judges Mary Ann Sieghart. Continue reading...
As the hours passed, things were looking more and more hopeless, until a Strasbourg court intervenedOn Tuesday morning, Jetmir*, a 26-year-old asylum seeker, woke up in Colnbrook immigration removal centre with a sickening knot in his stomach. It was the day he believed he would be bundled on to a plane and forcibly removed from Britain – not to his native Albania but to a country he knew nothing of.He could hear the sound of planes landing and taking off at nearby Heathrow airport and feared it was only a matter of hours before he would be put on a flight to Rwanda along with six other asylum seekers. Continue reading...
by Aubrey Allegretti Political correspondent on (#60D7E)
Jacob Rees-Mogg among ministers trying to stop release of data about use of Commons work passesMinisters have been accused of hypocrisy for allegedly trying to “cover up” their attendance in parliament, after an attempt was launched to block the information being released.Despite government departments being closely monitored to ensure civil servants are back in the office amid a crackdown on remote working, Jacob Rees-Mogg led a pushback against data being published about the number of days when MPs use their work passes. Continue reading...
Black people are 2.2 times more likely to have a police interaction and 1.6 times more likely to have force used on them, police statistics showBlack, indigenous and other racialized communities have faced disproportionate use-of-force and strip searches by Toronto police, chief James Ramer said on Wednesday, as he apologized and promised to address systemic racism in the department.“As an organization we have not done enough to ensure that every person in our city receives fair and unbiased policing and for this, as chief of police and on behalf of the service, I am sorry and I apologize unreservedly,” Ramer said. Continue reading...
Children will receive ‘poorer quality meals’ in September as firms look for cheaper optionsSoaring costs are putting the school food industry “under considerable strain”, , prompting fears that some catering firms will be forced to pull out of contracts before the start of the next academic year.With food prices up by 20%, as well as rising staff and energy costs, the sector has warned that schoolchildren will be served “poorer quality meals” in September as catering firms look for cheaper options to fill stomachs. Continue reading...
Insect’s journey probably began in west Africa on vessel that sailed from La Rochelle in 1743 to GuineaAn 18th-century cockroach named Peri, discovered in the ledger of a French slave-trading vessel, has become a surprise addition to the National Archives after the book was opened for the first time in more than two centuries.The insect’s journey began onboard the slave-trading vessel that sailed from La Rochelle in 1743 for the Guinea coast. The crew later boarded a different vessel in modern-day Haiti bound for France, taking the ledger with them. But that ship was seized by British privateers during the war of the Austrian succession and sent into Plymouth. Continue reading...
Report says people often find online groups more informative than underfunded traditional mediaLocal Facebook groups have supplanted local newspapers as the default source of information in many British towns, according to a report into so-called “news deserts”.The catastrophic financial collapse of the local news industry over the last two decades has destroyed the business model of local newspapers, according to the Charitable Journalism Project. Although consumers sometimes described these Facebook groups using terms such as “toxic” and “racist”, many said they provided more up-to-the-minute information than their local newspaper. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#60D1R)
Private-rentals white paper includes clampdown on unfit homes and outlaw of landlord bans on ‘DSS tenants’Measures to tackle unscrupulous private landlords who evict tenants without giving a reason or who let unsafe homes, will be introduced under government proposals aimed at giving a better deal for millions of renters in England.The centrepiece of the fairer private-rented sector white paper, published by the government on Thursday, is the outlawing of “no-fault” evictions – currently the biggest single cause of homelessness in England. Continue reading...
by Rajeev Syal, Jessica Elgot and Heather Stewart on (#60D1S)
After ruling by Strasbourg court, No 10 refuses to rule out withdrawing from European convention on human rightsPriti Patel was accused by Labour of overseeing a “shambles” and participating in a “government by gimmick” after the 11th-hour cancellation of the first plane carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda.The home secretary disclosed that some cancelled Rwandan flight passengers will be released into the community wearing tags, as she promised to continue to pursue the policy of outsourcing refugees to the east African state. Continue reading...
Minister appeals for people to cut their consumption by one or two cups a day to save on importsA minister in Pakistan’s newly elected government has been criticised after appealing to the nation to drink less tea to help save on imports amid a deepening economic crisis.Pakistan is among the world’s top tea importers, and the brew is hugely popular among rich and poor. The typical Pakistani is believed to drink at least three cups a day on average. Continue reading...
Pencil cases, skirts and hats among items targeted for ‘contradicting Islamic faith and public morals’Saudi officials have been seizing rainbow-coloured toys and clothing from shops in the capital as part of a crackdown on homosexuality, state media has reported.The kingdom opened to tourism in 2019 but, like other Gulf countries, it is frequently criticised for its human rights record, including its outlawing of homosexuality, a potential capital offence. Continue reading...
Leroy Junior Medford died in 2017 after ingesting drugs in cell, in incident force says was ‘tragic and avoidable’Thames Valley police have apologised to the family of a 43-year-old man who died in custody after ingesting heroin in his cell more than five years ago, saying his death was “tragic and avoidable”.Leroy Junior Medford – known to family and friends as Junior – died on 2 April 2017 at Loddon Valley police station in Reading, more than 15 hours after being arrested on suspicion of assault. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Chief political correspondent on (#60CRZ)
Prime minister says UK government will provide any support needed after journalist’s disappearance in AmazonBoris Johnson has said the UK government is “deeply concerned” about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the British journalist Dom Phillips, after Theresa May called on the prime minister to make the case “a diplomatic priority”.May raised Phillips’s case during prime minister’s questions, citing correspondence with Phillips’ niece Dominique Davis, one of her constituents. Johnson said the UK had offered to provide support to Brazilian search teams looking for Phillips and his travelling partner, Bruno Pereira, an Indigenous expert. Continue reading...
Xi Jinping signs trial order allowing ‘military operations other than war’ beyond China’s bordersChina’s president, Xi Jinping, has signed legal orders allowing a trial of military operations beyond China’s borders amid heightened tensions over claims by China’s foreign ministry that the Taiwan Strait is Chinese territorial water.Official state media reports published this week were light on detail but said Xi had signed orders announcing trial outlines on “military operations other than war”. It said the trials would begin on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Shoppers air frustration at UK fast-fashion retailer’s failure to honour refunds after falling into insolvencyCustomers of the collapsed fast fashion retailer Missguided will not receive refunds for returns, administrators of the business have confirmed.It comes after the Manchester-based company fell into insolvency last month after racking up millions of pounds in outstanding payments to creditors. Continue reading...
Painting, based on black and white photograph, was last exhibited in 1965 when it was part of a triptychA Francis Bacon portrait of Lucian Freud not seen in public since it was first exhibited 57 years ago is to be auctioned with an estimated price of more than £35m.Sotheby’s on Wednesday announced what is believed to be the most valuable contemporary work to be offered in London in almost a decade. Continue reading...
Scotland’s constitution secretary says date provides ample time to pass necessary legislation for voteNicola Sturgeon plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence in October next year if her government secures the legal approval to stage it.Angus Robertson, the Scottish government’s constitution secretary, said that provided ample time to pass the necessary legislation, set out the Scottish National party’s case and stage a campaign. Continue reading...
by Cait Kelly (now) and Mostafa Rachwani (earlier) on (#60C3A)
Paul Erickson speaks at National Press Club; Bowen says energy system ‘under pressure’; AEC says it will not conduct a recount in federal seat of Gilmore; foreign affairs minister’s first trip to Solomon Islands since security deal with China; Victoria records 18 Covid deaths, NSW records 14. This blog is now closed
Officers served with gross misconduct notices after black schoolgirl searched without another adult presentFour Metropolitan police officers are being investigated for gross misconduct after a 15-year-old black schoolgirl was strip-searched while at school.The teenager, referred to as Child Q, was strip-searched by female Met officers in 2020 after she was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis at her east London school. Continue reading...
Rock star pictured climbing into car from wheelchair after leaving hospital in Los AngelesOzzy Osbourne is “on the road to recovery” following surgery earlier this week, according to wife Sharon Osbourne.In a message on social media, she wrote: “Our family would like to express so much gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support leading up to Ozzy’s surgery! Ozzy is doing well and on the road to recovery! Your love means the world to him.” Continue reading...
by Harriet Sherwood Arts and culture correspondent on (#60CEN)
Whitelock’s Ale House, along with 1856-built Prince Alfred in Maida Vale, awarded extra protectionAn 18th-century pub described by the poet laureate John Betjeman as the “very heart of Leeds” has been awarded Grade II*-listed status as part of a drive to protect historic drinking houses across the country.Whitelock’s Ale House, Leeds’ oldest pub, dates back more than 300 years. Originally called the Turk’s Head, it served merchants and traders at the nearby Briggate market. Continue reading...
Victoria and Oleksiy Manoylo, who were in Milan when Russia invaded, have poured their trauma into gardenA burnt-out cottage decorated with embroidered cloths and surrounded by swaying barley, designed by a Ukrainian couple unable to return to their war-ravaged village, is set to be one of the unexpected highlights of the RHS’s largest flower show.Victoria and Oleksiy Manoylo, landscape designers who were at a garden festival in Milan, Italy, when Russian troops invaded their village near Bucha and destroyed their home, have poured their trauma and defiance into the garden, which will feature at the RHS Hampton Court Palace garden festival next month. Continue reading...
After a thrilling penalty shootout win over Peru, the Socceroos are booked once more for sports’ biggest partyAustralia have done it again. With a low save to his right to deny Peru’s Alex Valera from the penalty spot, dancing goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne secured cult hero status, launched quite a few memes and booked the Socceroos’ place at the 2022 World Cup.The win against the more fancied Peru clinched a fifth consecutive berth at sport’s biggest party, 16 years after the Socceroos ended decades in the men’s football wilderness with a similarly heart-stopping win on penalties against Uruguay. Continue reading...
by Samantha Lock (now), Richard Luscombe, Rachel Hall on (#60AZV)
This live blog is now closed, you can find our latest coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war hereThe UK’s foreign secretary, Liz Truss, has refused to be drawn on whether she would negotiate directly with the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic over the situation of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner. The two British men have been sentenced to death in eastern Ukraine by what Truss called a “sham trial”. She told listeners of the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme:The two people were fighting for the Ukrainian army. They were permanently located in Ukraine and they are prisoners of war. And the case is being taken up by the Ukrainians, by the Ukrainian foreign minister.I am doing everything I can, in the best way I can, in the way that I judge is most effective, to deliver these people’s release.These people are prisoners of war, fighting for the Ukrainian army. And it’s important to maintain that principle. And the Russian proxies are violating the Geneva Convention. And we need to be very, very clear about that.That’s why the best route is through the Ukrainians, and I can’t go into the details of my discussions with the Ukrainians, but I can assure you, and I can assure the families, that we’re working flat out on this.Crews of ground attack aviation launched rocket air strikes on military facilities and equipment of units of the armed forces of Ukraine. Missile launches were carried out in pairs from low altitudes. As a result of the combat use of aviation weapons, camouflaged fortified field positions and armoured vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed. Continue reading...
by Nadeem Badshah (now) and Andrew Sparrow (earlier) on (#60B35)
This blog has now closed, you can the full story on the government’s failed first deportation flight hereYou can watch the Sturgeon press conference here.Sturgeon is now taking questions. Continue reading...
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