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PM notified before publication next week, as an ex-civil service chief says ‘real issue’ is the No 10 leadershipBoris Johnson is among dozens of No 10 officials warned by Sue Gray they are facing criticism in her Partygate report next week, as a former civil service chief said the “real issue” was the leadership of the prime minister and his cabinet secretary, Simon Case.Johnson is one of 20 to 30 current and former staffers who have been notified by letter that accounts of their conduct will feature in her final report on the lockdown-busting parties. This is now likely to be published next week after Scotland Yard handed out 126 fixed-penalty notices to people from No 10, including one for Johnson but many for more junior staff. Continue reading...

The 1969 Fender Mustang, on display in Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, is expected to have a starting price of over $600,000The electric guitar played by Kurt Cobain in the Smells Like Teen Spirit music video will be put up for sale this weekend by Julien’s Auctions.Speaking about the 1969 Fender Mustang during his final interview with Guitar World, Cobain said: “I’m left-handed, and it’s not very easy to find reasonably priced, high-quality left-handed guitars. But out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favorite. I’ve only owned two of them.” Continue reading...

Refusing a boss’s request may harm relationship and cause employee to take legal action, according to expertJunior civil servants who did not want to attend lockdown-breaching parties held at 10 Downing Street risked being forced to take legal action and put their careers in jeopardy, a senior employment lawyer has said.The law expects people to stand up for themselves, experts have said, with employees largely expected to comply with their bosses. Whistleblowing legislation is rarely used because people are worried about repercussions. Continue reading...

Auction houses are recording a boom in sales after a return to pre-pandemic levels of supplies of worksAs a straight return on investment, it’s hard to beat “Untitled”, a 1982 work by Jean-Michel Basquiat, the African American street artist who became a global cultural icon, featuring a horned African mask on an abstract background across a canvas almost 5m wide.In 2004, the painting sold for $4.5m. Back on the market 12 years later, it fetched $57.3m, then a record for a Basquiat. This week, it went under the hammer in New York for $85m (£68m), including fees, to a buyer from Asia. Continue reading...

Parents of Natasha Abrahart argued Bristol failed to make allowances for their daughter’s severe anxietyA leading university discriminated against a talented physics student who suffered from severe social anxiety and took her own life before a “terrifying” oral exam, a senior judge has ruled.The University of Bristol was ordered to pay more than £50,000 in damages to the parents of undergraduate Natasha Abrahart after a landmark civil trial that will have significant implications for other higher education institutions.In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org Continue reading...

PC Craig Walker says he performed CPR after officers realised Bayoh was unconsciousA police officer involved in the arrest of Sheku Bayoh has told the inquiry into his death in custody that he heard one of Bayoh’s ribs break as he attempted to resuscitate him.PC Craig Walker, who the inquiry heard weighed 25st (158kg) at the time of the incident in Kirkcaldy in May 2015, said he performed CPR after he and two other officers who were trying to restrain Bayoh on the ground realised that he was unconscious. Continue reading...

Legislation would allow recruitment of older professionals as military faces infantry shortage

197 children have been diagnosed with the acute illness this year, with 11 needing a liver transplantDoctors believe an unusual outbreak of acute hepatitis among children may have peaked in the UK, as work continues to understand the cause of the mysterious illness.Figures released on Friday by the UK Health Security Agency show that 197 children have been diagnosed with unexplained acute hepatitis this year, with 11 becoming so ill they needed a liver transplant. None in the UK have died. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Politicians accuse China of organising a ‘Potemkin-style tour’ for Michelle BacheletA group of 40 politicians from 18 countries have told the UN high commissioner for human rights that she risks causing lasting damage to the credibility of her office if she goes ahead with a visit to China’s Xinjiang region next week.Michelle Bachelet is scheduled to visit Kashgar and Ürümqi in Xinjiang during her trip, which starts on Monday. Human rights organisations say China has forced an estimated 1 million or more people into internment camps and prisons in the region. The US and a number of other western countries have described China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority living there as genocidal, a charge Beijing calls the “lie of the century”. Continue reading...

Magazines, production lines and consumer choices suffer as isolation from the west bites

Russian forces thought to be trying to cut one of the main supply routes to Ukrainian defenders in the area

New movie set in 80s US and starring Succession star Jeremy Strong with Jessica Chastain as Donald Trump’s sister, traces fault lines of political and social division back to Reagan eraA new film set in 1980s New York, in which Donald Trump’s property mogul father, Fred, and high-achieving lawyer sister Maryanne appear as characters is a direct attack on late-stage capitalism, according to its principal cast and director.Armageddon Time, which is premiering at the Cannes film festival and stars Succession’s Jeremy Strong alongside Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain as Maryanne Trump, in a cameo, is set during the run-up to the election of Ronald Reagan as president and examines the layers of privilege that determine the future of children attending different schools in the same city. Continue reading...

Forty-two hunger strikers are part of group of 89 Sri Lankans whose boat was intercepted in Indian Ocean by UK militaryDozens of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who have been detained for more than seven months in a military base on an overseas territory claimed by Britain have gone on hunger strike in despair at their plight.The 42 hunger strikers are part of a group of 89 Sri Lankans, including 20 children, whose boat was intercepted and escorted to Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean by the British military after running into distress while apparently headed to Canada from India in October. Continue reading...

Pitch Perfect star says in interview that the incident occurred before #MeToo and the outpour of similar storiesRebel Wilson has claimed that a male co-star sexually harassed her.In an interview with People, the Pitch Perfect and Cats star had said that the incident occurred before #MeToo and the outpour of similar stories.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 802 9999. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

Long gap until next set of hearings into undercover policing scandal criticised by victims of surveillanceWomen who were deceived into intimate relationships with undercover police officers have said it is “beyond belief” they will have to wait a further two years for the public inquiry into the undercover policing scandal to hold any further public hearings.The slow-moving inquiry is scheduled to complete its current round of hearings on Friday and is not due to question any further witnesses in public until spring 2024. Continue reading...

Millions set for summer of cheap travel on all modes of transport with scheme to aid cost of living crisisMillions of Germans are expected to take advantage of a summer of cheaper travel from next month under government plans to boost public transport use and give financial relief to consumers facing a cost of living crisis.A €9 a month ticket scheme is to be introduced from 1 June allowing travel on all modes of city and regional transport. A different ticket will apply for each region and it will be available for three months until the end of August. Continue reading...

People poke fun at the lawyers, but there are serious concerns about how the law deals with everyone being a publisherThe Wagatha Christie libel trial opened with a cry of despair from Coleen Rooney’s barrister: “This whole court might just think: why on earth are we here?”After almost two weeks of court hearings, it was a question that many of those who took part or watched – including Rebekah Vardy, Coleen Rooney, two former England footballers, dozens of journalists, and the judge Mrs Justice Steyn – might have asked themselves at some point. (In reality the lawyers involved may have been content to be there, knowing they are set to share hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees.) Continue reading...

Teenager from Darlington thought to be youngest person in UK charged with terrorism offencesA teenager who downloaded guides to making bombs, and is thought to be the youngest person in the UK charged with terrorism offences, has not been given a custodial custody after being sentenced to three 12-month referral orders to run concurrently.The UK’s chief magistrate, Judge Paul Goldspring, sitting at Newton Aycliffe youth court in County Durham, said if the 14-year-old boy had been an adult, he would be facing a jail sentence of up to five years. Continue reading...

Department for Education ordered workers to spend 80% of their time in the office leading to ‘chaotic’ conditionsDowning Street’s demands that civil servants get back to the office has backfired for the Department for Education, where desk shortages have resulted in staff being sent home and others forced to work in “chaotic” conditions.Officials working in cramped corridors or sharing desks have led to protests from civil service unions to Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, who last month ordered an end to working from home after pressure from the efficiency minister Jacob Rees-Mogg. Continue reading...

Scheme to pay farmers for nature stewardship is seen by some as one of the few positive Brexit dividendsThe government’s plans to pay farmers for their stewardship of nature could be delayed or scrapped, it is feared, as hard-right Tory MPs join the campaign against the environmental land management scheme (Elms).The rollout of Elms, seen by some as one of the few positive Brexit dividends, is due to begin this year, with more standards beginning incrementally between 2023 and 2025. Continue reading...

Samantha Morton and Cathy Tyson praise the inspirational Band of Gold writer, who died on SundayThe actors Samantha Morton and Cathy Tyson have paid tribute to the late Kay Mellor, calling her a “fighter, a warrior woman and an insanely talented” writer and director.Mellor, who died on Sunday aged 71, wrote numerous TV shows over a 30-year career including Band of Gold in 1995. The series revolved around a group of sex workers who lived and worked in Bradford’s red-light district, and starred a teenage Morton alongside Geraldine James, Cathy Tyson and Barbara Dickson. Continue reading...

Proposals for east-west train route across London, first mooted in 1974, inspired by Paris RER1974 – A study for the government and London recommends a first scheme, known as Crossrail, and inspired by the Paris RER.1989 – A second study, for British Rail, proposes fresh Crossrail plans for east-west trains under London. Continue reading...

Roy Morgan poll puts Labor ahead; Greens hopeful of picking up Senate seats; eligibility for telephone voting formally changed; health authorities give monkeypox update ; Julia Gillard says Labor would be ‘a government for women’; at least 52 Covid deaths recorded. This blog is now closed

Johnson campaigned for UK to remain in EU in 2016 but has since expressed support for BrexitThe prime minister’s father, Stanley Johnson, has secured French citizenship, according to reports.French officials reportedly told the AFP news agency that Johnson, 81, whose mother was French, obtained French nationality on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Firm has had three recent takeover approaches, while property tycoon Nick Candy may also make move

Chancellor becomes first frontline politician in Sunday Times rankings – days after telling people ‘next few months will be tough’Rishi Sunak has become the first frontline politician to be ranked among the nation’s wealthiest people – only days after the chancellor warned consumers that “the next few months will be tough” as the cost of living squeeze intensifies.Sunak, a former hedge fund manager, and his Indian heiress wife, Akshata Murty, were named on the Sunday Times rich list as the 222nd wealthiest people in the UK, with a combined £730m fortune. Continue reading...

Auditor general says state agencies forked out close to $200m on faulty imported masks and ventilators

Deputy PM says there should be transparency about who breached Covid rules in civil servant’s report

Woman known as JC told Dawson’s murder trial she felt obliged to move in with him and had wanted to return to her life as a 17-year-old

Nine-strong team led by close Biden ally will visit Brussels, Dublin and London in significant intervention on division over NI protocolOne of Joe Biden’s closest allies is due to arrive in London on Saturday as part of an influential US congressional delegation seeking to calm tensions over Northern Ireland.The nine-strong delegation includes Democratic and Republican delegates from the House of Representatives and Senate including members of the powerful ways and means committee chaired by Richard Neal, who will lead the group. Continue reading...

Nimco Ali says call for public sexual harassment of women to be made a crime has received ‘pushback’The UK government’s independent adviser on tackling violence against women and girls has suggested her calls for street harassment to be made a crime are being blocked.Nimco Ali, a close friend of Boris and Carrie Johnson, told the BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson that her proposal had experienced “pushback” while hinting the prime minister had not fully supported it. Continue reading...

So far we’ve had a dugong, a crocodile, a turtle, betting agencies and multiple polls try to predict the result of the 2022 election. Now it’s your turn to tell us who will win

Robbie McEwen, the former cyclist and now commentator, says he’s ‘genuinely sorry’ for using a homophobic slur during a broadcast, which he says was ‘unintentional’Robbie McEwen, the former cyclist and now commentator, has apologised for using a homophobic slur during a broadcast of stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia.The three-time Tour de France points classification winner, who retired from professional cycling in 2012, said he “unintentionally” used the phrase during commentary on Eurosport and GCN+ earlier this week. Continue reading...

Actor’s case finished on Thursday and defence witnesses were due to begin testifying on allegations of indecent assault and harassment

Experts say it defies logic but Johnson attended gatherings deemed to have breached the rules without himself being finedWith the dust settling on the Metropolitan police’s long investigation into Covid breaches inside Downing Street, one big question remains: how did Boris Johnson escape with just one fine?Legal experts say it defies logic – and to many voters, it defies common sense too. Continue reading...

Blinken calls on Moscow to end blockade of Ukraine ports as Medvedev says Russia is ready to allow the flow of food when sanctions lift

Health authorities say the men, in their 30s and 40s, recently returned from Europe and are now isolating either at home or in hospital

High winds have hampered operations as crews fight blazes in Texas, Colorado and New MexicoMore than 5,000 firefighters have battled multiple wildland blazes in dry, windy weather across the south-west, including a fire that has destroyed dozens of structures in west Texas and another picking up steam again in New Mexico.Evacuation orders remained in place on Thursday for residents near the wildfires in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. High winds prevented officials from sending aircraft to drop retardant or water in many places. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Transportation secretary says there is global support for reconstruction effort to help recovery from Russian invasion

Aidan Harte was thrilled to be asked to make a statue of a púca, a mythological mischievous spirit, but then his troubles beganIn Irish mythology, a púca is a mischievous, shapeshifting spirit that can take the form of a horse and entice unwary travellers on to its back for a wild ride.Aidan Harte knows how that feels. Eighteen months ago the sculptor was commissioned to create a 2-metre tall bronze statue of a púca for the town square in Ennistymon, County Clare. Continue reading...

Experts believe North Korean authorities are underreporting deaths to prove that their response has been effective

‘Extraordinary’ revelation about national security decision shows the government is ‘falling apart’, Labor says

The magic number for majority government is 76 lower house seats. Here are the possible scenarios in the Australian election

Hour-long TV ads on commercial networks aired before media blackout as part of fringe party’s projected $70m 2022 federal election campaign spend

7.30 political correspondent labels grilling of Anthony Albanese over costings ‘embarrassing’ for journalists. Plus: Kennedy awards take a bizarre turnFor the veteran political correspondent Laura Tingle, elections are “stupid and depressing”, and this one has been no different. What with Anthony Albanese “basically just going around and kissing babies” and Scott Morrison avoiding all the places where “voters hate him so much”, it’s been a “strange campaign”, the ABC stalwart told Malcolm Farr on the Judith Neilson Institute’s election podcast.She said press conferences may seem “shouty and aggressive” but the travelling circus was doing its best under difficult circumstances. Continue reading...

Opposition Labor party’s lead has narrowed in final week of an attritional campaignAustralians head to the polls on Saturday with the opposition Labor party, led by Anthony Albanese, hoping to end nine years of conservative rule.The Liberal-National coalition government, headed by Scott Morrison, goes into the election with 75 MPs in the 151-seat House of Representatives, one short of the majority needed to govern without crossbench support. Continue reading...

International nurses working for NHS trusts are being trapped in their jobs by clauses in their contracts that require them to pay thousands of pounds if they try to leave. Shanti Das reports

Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse will open at the NGV in December and will feature more than 100 garments alongside artistic influences

Animal activists who sent unlabelled gloves to forensic lab say buyers trying to make ethical choices are being misled