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Veteran leftist is courting allies to help make him prime minister in June, handing him power to disrupt the winner of Sunday’s voteWhoever wins the presidential election in France, one man is determined to sideline them and restrict their powers.Even before the result is known tomorrow, the radical left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has emerged as a surprise kingmaker, has called on voters to make him prime minister in the legislative elections in June. Continue reading...

Colonisation appears to have superseded ‘denazification’ in Putin’s military goals for eastern Ukraine

Plea comes after ‘Voices of April’ spreads on social media as users get creative to bypass China’s censorsThe author of a viral video about Shanghai’s Covid-19 lockdown that sparked a rare show of defiance on China’s social media has urged users to stop sharing it, saying he worried about his work being taken in directions he did not wish to see.The creator, who goes by his online moniker Strawberry Fields Forever, said in a post on Saturday that the quick spread of the video, titled Voices of April, was “unexpected” to him, and he was “touched” by messages received from fellow internet users. Continue reading...

Cabinet minister accused of ‘crass’ behaviour in his campaign to get staff back in the office

The Tories have held Wandsworth for more than four decades, but Boris Johnson’s lockdown woes and the cost of living crisis threaten to tip the balance towards LabourIn many ways, the London borough of Wandsworth is a paradigm of the modern city. On one hand, it is a place where a teenager recently fainted from hunger in a food bank queue. And on the other, it is home to the “sky pool”, a spectacular transparent swimming pool suspended 10 storeys above ground in Nine Elms, and reserved exclusively for the development’s richest residents.The borough is also known for its comparatively low council tax – which, its Conservative-run council boasts, is the lowest average council tax in the country. Wandsworth also claims to be the only local authority in London that is cutting its share of council tax bills. Continue reading...

Prominent backbencher Steve Baker says party will ‘reap the whirlwind on polling day’Boris Johnson has been told public fury at lockdown-breaking Downing Street parties will result in the Conservatives suffering substantial losses at next month’s local elections, with the possibility that the prime minister may receive further police fines ahead of polling day.Steve Baker, a prominent backbench Tory MP, said voters were repeatedly mentioning the Partygate scandal on the campaign trail and the Conservatives should prepare to “reap the whirlwind” of standing by Johnson. Continue reading...

Court ruling reveals unpublished parts of policy saying tactic would not be used against asylum seekersThe home secretary has been accused of misleading parliament after a high court ruling revealed that unpublished parts of a controversial policy to push back migrant dinghies in the Channel said the tactic would not be used against asylum seekers.The pushbacks policy was finalised in autumn 2021, yet in January this year Priti Patel said pushing back migrant boats was “absolutely still policy” when she gave evidence to the Lords justice and home affairs committee. She has been accused of giving that evidence even though she knew about the unpublished clauses in the policy not to use pushbacks against asylum seekers. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. You can find our latest coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war in our new live blogUkraine’s parliament has issued updated figures for child casualties of the war on Twitter. They say the total number of children affected by the Russian invasion is 594. There have been 208 deaths and 386 injuries among the nation’s children.The numbers have not been independently verified, and do not include casualty or deaths in besieged areas of the country such as Mariupol. Continue reading...

The canine is an intermediary between wolves and domestic dog breeds, research shows

Former shadow chancellor says he has ‘no intention’ of putting himself forward to stand for the West Yorkshire seatEd Balls has ruled out a return to politics as a Labour candidate in the upcoming Wakefield byelection.The former shadow chancellor, who lost his Morley and Outwood seat at the 2015 general election, wrote on Twitter that he had “no intention of putting myself forward” for the contest. Continue reading...

Liberal MP labels teal independents’ digital advertising outlay ‘immoral’ as it surpasses party’s candidates by tens of thousands of dollars

Victorian government wants extension of commonwealth funding arrangement to combat pandemic

Five officers try to get inside property after they arrive to look for suspected arsonistA man fell to his death from a burning block of flats after police arrived to look for a suspected arsonist.Five officers tried to get inside the property to rescue the man, in his 50s, but were overcome by the flames, police said. Continue reading...

No 10 denies PM fined again as source says at least one new fine issued for 20 May party and Tory MPs reconsider his survivabilityBoris Johnson is facing deepening peril over the Partygate scandal after a source said a fine had been issued for a second event attended by the prime minister, while senior Conservatives warned he could face a leadership challenge within weeks.On Friday evening, No 10 was forced to deny Johnson had received another fixed penalty notice (FPN) for a “bring your own booze” Downing Street garden party on 20 May 2020. Continue reading...

Senior social worker calls for action in the only country of the UK that has not had a recent reviewA root and branch review of children’s social care in Wales is needed after the case of five-year-old Logan Mwangi, who was killed by his mother and stepfather after being removed from the child protection register, a leading social work expert has said.Prof Donald Forrester said the case highlighted critical issues affecting many children’s social services in Wales, ranging from social worker capacity and staffing shortages to high and increasing numbers of children being taken into care. Continue reading...

Violence breaks out between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters as United Nations voice deep concern at unrestIsraeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters on Friday in the latest violence at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound, as the United Nations voiced deep concern at spiralling unrest.The Palestinian Red Crescent said that 57 people were wounded, including 14 Palestinians taken to hospital, one of them in a serious condition, after police stormed the compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem’s Old City. Continue reading...

Portuguese police tell Christian Brückner, in prison for rape in Germany, he is ‘formal suspect’A German investigation into the 2007 disappearance of the British toddler Madeleine McCann could continue until next year, according to the state prosecutor in the city of Braunschweig.Officials in Faro, Portugal, said on Thursday that the convicted rapist Christian Brückner, 44, is an arguido, or “formal suspect” – the first time Portuguese authorities have officially identified a suspect in the case since Kate and Gerry McCann, the toddler’s parents, were declared such in 2007. They were formally cleared of suspicion in 2008. Continue reading...

Macron accuses Le Pen of ‘living off fear’ as both try to get Mélenchon voters to turn out for themFrance’s two presidential contenders have traded their last blows before Sunday’s deciding runoff, with polls suggesting fear of a Marine Le Pen victory was outweighing dislike of Emmanuel Macron and his record.Hours before a media blackout was due to begin at midnight, the incumbent and his far-right challenger made their final pitches to undecided voters in radio interviews and on walkabouts, with Le Pen insisting Macron’s polling lead would be proved misleading. Continue reading...

Army says it filmed mercenaries burying bodies to falsely accuse France of leaving behind mass gravesRussian mercenaries buried bodies near a Malian military base to falsely accuse France’s departing forces of leaving behind mass graves, the French military has claimed.The French army said it used a drone to film what appeared to be white soldiers covering bodies with sand near the Gossi base in northern Mali. Continue reading...

PM says he will still be leading the country by Diwali after being asked questions over Partygate scandal while on India trip

Animal welfare officers have ‘no idea’ how the cat, whose real name is Dexter, ended up on offshore rigA cat that was missing for five years has been reunited with its owner after being found on an offshore oil rig.Workers at the oil rig contacted the Scottish SPCA on Thursday after they found the animal in a shipping container originally from Peterhead. Continue reading...

Analysis: The PM travelled 4,000 miles to not get very far, on a trip fraught with tensions about Partygate and UkraineAs Boris Johnson met Narendra Modi on Friday morning, he joked of the enthusiastic welcome he received in the Indian prime minister’s home state of Gujarat featuring giant posters of the British leader’s face, and flag-waving crowds: “I wouldn’t get that necessarily everywhere in the world.”It was a characteristically self-deprecating reference to the fact that even 4,000 miles from home, he was unable to escape Partygate. Continue reading...

ONS study reveals only one in three people had been infected until emergence of Omnicron variant

Singer paid $19.3m for property in star-studded Hidden Hills neighbourhood last AprilMadonna has listed her California mansion for $26m, a little more than a year after buying it from the R&B singer the Weeknd.The 63-year-old singer-songwriter paid $19.3m for the property, located 20 miles from Los Angeles in the star-studded Hidden Hills neighbourhood, in April 2021. Continue reading...

There have been many twists in investigation into disappearance of girl from Portuguese resort in 2007

Joint op-ed states failure of Brexit should be a warning against Le Pen but her team says outside interference is rarely welcomedThe leaders of Germany, Spain and Portugal have publicly backed Emmanuel Macron in Sunday’s French presidential election runoff, calling on French voters to support “freedom, democracy and a stronger Europe” – and taking a swipe at Brexit.In a highly unusual intervention in another country’s election, Olaf Scholz, Pedro Sánchez and António Costa said in an op-ed column in the leading French daily Le Monde that France’s second-round vote was “for us, not an election like any other”. Continue reading...

Unique coloration of smaller-than-usual albino humpback sparks speculation it is offspring of famous white whale Migaloo

Retailer, with more than 600 stores in the UK and a further 500 in France, thrived during lockdownSimon Arora, the billionaire co-owner and chief executive of B&M, the discount chain that cemented its place as one of Britain’s most successful retailers during the pandemic, is to retire.The 52-year old, who runs the business with co-owner Bobby with involvement to a lesser extent from youngest sibling Robin, is to stand down early next year after 18 years running the chain. Continue reading...

Narendra Modi hails ‘good progress’ as Boris Johnson signals he is willing to make concessions on immigration

Person 5, who was patrol commander at Whiskey 108 raid, tells court two men were lawfully killed in combat outside compound

Legal figures say it is ‘ridiculous’ for the PM to call the NSW corruption commission a ‘kangaroo court’ that has led to too many politicians resigning

Judge says bank ‘utterly failed to address the issues systematically’ as its total penalties for misconduct rise to $130m

German police had previously said Christian Brueckner, 44, was probably responsible for toddler’s disappearance in 2007A German man has been formally identified as a suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann 15 years ago, Portuguese prosecutors have said.Christian Brueckner, a convicted rapist, has been made an “arguido”, translated as “named suspect” or “formal suspect” who is treated by Portuguese police as more than a witness but has not been arrested or charged.

Exclusive: Senior manager says church indulged Houston’s ‘distinct lack of personal accountability’ over many years and board members should consider resigning

UK consumers urged to use their judgment rather than chuck away products that are safe to eatThe Co-op is removing use-by dates from its own-brand yoghurt in an attempt to address the problem of millions of pots that are still safe to eat being wasted each year.Instead, starting next month, the Co-op’s own yoghurts will carry a best-before date, with shoppers encouraged to “use their judgment” to gauge if they are edible. About 42,000 tonnes of yoghurt – £100m worth – is thrown away in British homes each year because it is out of date, according to the food waste charity Wrap. Half are dumped in unopened packs. Continue reading...

Juan Orlando Hernández accused of involvement with drug cartels and related weapons chargesUS Drug Enforcement Administration agents have extradited the Honduran former president Juan Orlando Hernández to New York, where he will face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.Honduran national police delivered a handcuffed Hernández to DEA agents at the Tegucigalpa airport just over two months after he was arrested outside his home on 15 February following an extradition request from the US Department of Justice. Continue reading...

About 350,000 fewer children were vaccinated against preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough, CDC reportsYet another hidden cost of Covid-19 was revealed on Thursday as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented new data showing how the pandemic has dramatically impeded the US effort to vaccinate kids for other diseases.According to the CDC’s report, national vaccine coverage among American children in kindergarten dropped from 95% to below 94% in the past year – which may seem like a small amount but meant 350,000 fewer children were vaccinated against common diseases. Continue reading...

Public policy faces crucial challenge in wake of cases of torture, neglect and killings of defenceless children in BritainIt may seem as if the UK is undergoing a exceptional run of child deaths: in December the horrific cases of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, and Star Hobson came to light through the courts, followed by that of Kyrell Matthews in March, and now another appalling tragedy, five-year-old Logan Mwangi.Have child deaths by assault and neglect become more common? UK data suggests one child a week is killed in the UK on average, according to the NSPCC, and this has changed little over the last five years. All deaths are devastating and sad but most are barely heard of; only a handful, like these, achieve public and media notoriety. Continue reading...

Latest updates: MPs back investigation into Boris Johnson after senior Tories say PM should go

William Wragg, Tory chair of Commons’ constitutional affairs committee, states ‘no confidence’ in PMBoris Johnson suffered humiliating blows to his authority after MPs backed a formal investigation to look at whether he lied to parliament, and senior party figures made new calls for him to resign.The prime minister will now be investigated by a Commons committee over claims he misled MPs about lockdown parties – a potential resigning matter under the ministerial code. Continue reading...

Analysis: Ministers thought they had pulled a rabbit out of the hat but the rebellion would not be containedLurking at the entrance to the House of Commons voting lobbies on Wednesday night, the government’s new chief whip stood clutching his phone, devising and rewriting a single sentence he hoped might save the prime minister the embarrassment of being investigated for allegedly misleading parliament.Chris Heaton-Harris quietly grappled with the text of an amendment that aimed to derail a Labour motion to trigger an inquiry by the Commons privileges committee into whether Johnson lied about rule-breaking in Downing Street. Continue reading...

Boko Haram and local bandits suspected to have bombed rail tracks in Kaduna as dozens remain unaccounted forMore than 160 passengers who were on a train that was attacked in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna last month remain missing or unaccounted for, as details of possible collaboration between Boko Haram jihadists and local bandits have emerged.Ten people were killed, two in the weeks since the attack on 28 March, when gunmen bombed the rail tracks, derailing the train before gunning down passengers and train staff, and abducting scores of people. Continue reading...

Foreign minister Pekka Haavisto says Finns ‘on the streets’ are concerned with nuclear question

Home Office official seeks to reassure staff over refugees to Rwanda scheme as union considers action over ‘callous policy’The Home Office’s top civil servant has told thousands of his staff that they will not be breaking the law or be guilty of racism if they enforce Priti Patel’s plan to send people with rejected UK asylum claims to Rwanda.Amid growing anger from the department’s workforce, Matthew Rycroft, the permanent secretary, faced questions at an online staff meeting asking if the home secretary’s policy of giving people a one-way ticket to Kigali was racist, while others demanded to know if the new policy was within international law. Continue reading...

Howitzers, artillery and drones among new deliveries, and president to ask Congress for more funding

Former Sinclair Knight Merz head Paul Dougas was acquitted of charges of conspiracy to bribe officials

Griffith candidate Max Chandler-Mather says party prepared to take Australia’s largest council to court over ‘draconian’ directive

Candidates squeeze in last-minute visits and criticise each other’s showing in previous night’s TV debateEmmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have ramped up their campaigning with a hectic schedule of last-minute visits to attract floating voters, as France’s hotly contested presidential race enters its final hours.While the vote is on Sunday, under French election rules all campaigning and opinion polling must end by midnight on Friday, and on Thursday the two candidates rushed to squeeze in time on the road. Continue reading...

Ex-minister Nokes says women suffering due to lack of medication for treating menopausal symptomsWomen are being left unable to sleep or work competently because of the shortages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products used to treat symptoms of the menopause, the former cabinet minister, Caroline Nokes, has said.Millions of women go through the menopause every year, with many experiencing symptoms that can be severe, such as low mood, anxiety, hot flushes and difficulty sleeping, and have a negative impact on everyday life. The number of prescriptions for HRT in England has doubled in the last five years to more than 500,000 a month. Continue reading...

The charity has been accused of acting like ‘a rogue landlord’. Some of their tenants in Hadleigh tell their stories here