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Government changes tack and attempts to delay investigation until after the full publication of Sue Gray reportBoris Johnson has been forced to abandon efforts to block an inquiry into whether he misled MPs over Partygate lockdown breaches, instead urging rebellious MPs to delay any investigation.Government whips scrambled on Wednesday night to derail a Labour motion designed to trigger a Commons inquiry into whether Johnson lied about rule-breaking in Downing Street – including the potential release of hundreds of damaging messages and photographs. Continue reading...

Only handful of rebels vote against government to support Lords amendmentsThe actor Juliet Stevenson has made an 11th-hour plea to Conservative MPs voting on the government’s controversial immigration bill on Wednesday to “be brave and vote with your heart, not with your party membership card”.Stevenson has urged MPs who are backing the nationality and borders bill to instead back Lords amendments in support of refugees. Continue reading...

Brexit opportunities minister raises possibility of dramatic intervention after Stormont assembly electionsThe UK will “reform” the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol if the EU will not, Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned, raising the possibility of a dramatic intervention after the assembly elections in a fortnight’s time.The Brexit opportunities minister said he could not reveal any more due to the sensitivities of the Stormont election in Northern Ireland, where tensions have flared over the protocol. Continue reading...

Former Labour leader does not blame Nato for Russian invasion but questions role of military alliancesThe former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he hoped military alliances like Nato could be ultimately disbanded, saying they could create “greater danger” in the world.In comments that are likely to inflame further tensions with Labour HQ, Corbyn said he did not blame Nato for the Russian invasion of Ukraine but that it had to be looked at in historical context. Continue reading...

Murder investigation launched after bodies of men and woman foundThree people have been found dead at a home in Buckinghamshire in what police believe to be a “targeted attack”.A murder investigation has been launched after the bodies of a man and woman in their 60s and another man in his 50s were discovered in Spring Gardens, Bourne End on Tuesday evening. All three victims were understood to be known to each other. Continue reading...

Prime minister refuses to apologise for reported comments about archbishop and denies criticising BBC’s Ukraine coverage

Downing Street refuses to deny PM told MPs archbishops were being unfairly critical as church figures defend Justin Welby

Marine commander appeals for help as another Russian ultimatum calling for remaining troops in city to surrender expires

Providers say they continue to face severe staffing challenges and ‘are not aware of any data that reflects this level of growth’

While business groups celebrate change to isolation rules, some experts remain cautious

English Heritage announce bid to stage world’s largest gathering of people dressed as a vampire at site that inspired Bram StokerYou will need black shoes, black trousers or skirt, a white shirt, waistcoat and a black cape. Fangs on the upper teeth are compulsory, pallid skin helpful and a murderous demeanour optional.English Heritage has announced plans to break a world record few knew needed breaking: it wants to stage the world’s largest gathering of people dressed as a vampire. Continue reading...

IOPC condemns stops based on ‘stereotypes and racial bias’ and cites case of teenager reportedly stopped 60 timesPolice abuse of their stop and search powers is so serious that black people need “protecting” from stereotyping and racial biases, the police watchdog said, as it revealed allegations one child was stopped 60 times.The Guardian understands the force concerned was the Metropolitan police which is alleged to have stopped the teenager so often he was left traumatised. He was sometimes searched multiple times in the same day over two years, starting in 2018 when he was aged 14. Continue reading...

Union of Jewish Students raised concerns about recent NUS social media postsNadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, said he was worried by allegations of “systemic antisemitism” within the National Union of Students, telling MPs that the government may sever links with the organisation unless it reforms.Zahawi’s intervention follows concerns raised by the Union of Jewish Students, including a social media posts by the NUS’s incoming president, Shaima Dallali, that invoked an historic assault on Jews in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Announcement follows outcry over strip search of girl by Metropolitan police officers at the London schoolThe headteacher of the school where Child Q was unjustly strip-searched by police has stepped down due to ill health, the school has announced.The east London secondary school made the announcement in a letter to parents at the start of the new term, telling them that a replacement head had already been appointed. Continue reading...

Company expects to lose 2 million more over the next quarter as subscribers rethink commitment to streaming servicesShares of Netflix lost more than 35% of their value in New York on Wednesday morning, after the streaming giant announced it had lost more than 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year and said it and expects to lose 2 million more over the next quarter.The sharp drop in value – the largest for the service in over a decade – comes as subscribers rethink their commitment to streaming services that grew their numbers sharply during the homebound months of peak lockdown. Netflix had anticipated it would add 2.5 million customers in the first quarter. Continue reading...

Duke of Sussex unsure if he will attend platinum jubilee, citing ‘security issues and everything else’The Duke of Sussex has said he wants to ensure that his grandmother, the Queen, is “protected” and has the “right people around her”, adding that he does not yet know if he will return to the UK to celebrate her platinum jubilee because of “security issues and everything else”.During an interview with US network NBC’s Today Show , Prince Harry, who met the Queen for tea last week, did not elaborate on whether he was referring to palace aides or the royal family. Continue reading...

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Irene Silsby describes terrible pain after fracturing pelvis at Rutland care home and waiting to go to hospitalA woman has described how she spent more than six hours of her 100th birthday waiting in agony for an ambulance after slipping and fracturing her pelvis while getting ready for a family lunch.Irene Silsby was due to be picked up by her niece, Lynne Taylor, for a celebration to mark her centenary on 9 April. But she fell in the windowless bathroom of her care home in Greetham, Rutland, and staff called an ambulance at 9am after she managed to summon help. Continue reading...

Shelling and strikes in Donbas increasing but Russians hampered by logistical problems, Ministry of Defence claims

War critics grow increasingly vocal while state media fuels hatred for the west

The story of the real-life escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944 is to be told at the London venue used as an internment camp for ‘enemy aliens’ during the first world warThe story behind the audacious 1944 escape from the Luftwaffe’s Stalag Luft III prison camp is to be retold in a new play at London’s Alexandra Palace, which was itself used as an internment camp for German, Austrian and Hungarian “enemy aliens” during the first world war.Tom, Dick and Harry will recount the breakout of 76 allied airmen from the camp at Sagan in Germany (now Żagań in Poland) which inspired the 1963 film The Great Escape, featuring an all-star cast and a thrilling though fictitious motorbike exploit for Steve McQueen. The play is written by Theresa Heskins, Andrew Pollard and Michael Hugo with Heskins also directing. Continue reading...

Actor takes stand in defamation trial and denies Heard’s domestic abuse claims, saying ‘I have never struck any woman in my life’Taking the stand in his libel lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp said her domestic abuse allegations against him were disturbing, heinous and “not based in any species of truth”.“Nothing of the kind ever happened,” Depp said in court on Tuesday. “Never did I myself reach the point of striking Ms Heard in any way. Nor have I ever struck any woman in my life.” Continue reading...

Latest updates: the prime minister apologises for breaking Covid lockdown rules but Labour says the public ‘don’t believe a word he says’

Streaming giant blames factors including increased competition, war in Ukraine and the number of people who share their loginsNetflix lost subscribers for the first time in 10 years at the start of the year and said it expects to lose even more in the spring, sending its share price crashing again on Tuesday.The streaming giant’s share price initially fell close to 20% on news that ​​it had lost 200,000 subscribers globally during the first quarter. Wall Street had been expecting the company to add 2.5 million subscribers. Netflix expects to lose 2 million global subscribers in the current quarter. Continue reading...

Aiden Aslin’s relatives say he is speaking under duress and was legitimate combatant with Ukraine

Stephen Watson spoke of how force had dealt with grooming gangs and ‘things that would not be done now’One of the UK’s biggest police forces has historically failed children and was “borderline incompetent” in the way it previously dealt with organised grooming gangs, its current chief constable has said.Stephen Watson, the head of Greater Manchester police, last week apologised in person to three women who were victims of gangs in Rochdale more than 10 years ago. It came with “substantial” damages and after a long, attritional campaign to get the force to admit failures. Continue reading...

MPs will vote on whether the privileges committee should look at PM’s alleged misleading of CommonsA vote will be held later this week on whether a special parliamentary investigation should be launched into Boris Johnson’s Partygate denials.Separate from the Whitehall and police inquiries, this would specifically look at if the prime minister purposely misled parliament. Continue reading...

Federal health data shows 4,547 people have died of Covid-19 this year to date, compared to 2,239 over 2020 and 2021

Under state law, sex workers can be evicted, refused accommodation and charged higher rents or fees

Albanese’s disapproval rate rose by five points but over half of all respondents still believe Labor will win the next election

Despite the release of 80,000 extra packages, thousands of people are still waiting for adequate in-home care

Maritime agency found issues with crew’s training, fire safety and lifeboat drills on European CausewayMaritime inspectors listed an unprecedented 31 separate failings on a P&O Ferries vessel detained last month, ranging from problems with fire safety to lifeboat drills.Inspectors for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) refused to allow the European Causeway to keep sailing from Larne, Northern Ireland, after discovering issues with labour conditions, navigation and documentation. Continue reading...

Country takes pride in limited-edition design featuring soldier giving middle-finger salute

Speaker grants Labour request for inquiry into whether PM misled MPs over law-breaking partiesMPs will vote on Thursday on whether to refer Boris Johnson for a formal parliamentary investigation into whether he misled them about his knowledge of Covid law-breaking parties.Lindsay Hoyle, the House of Commons Speaker, granted a request by Labour for the matter to be examined given the prime minister insisted repeatedly that no rules were broken in Downing Street during lockdown, but was later issued with a fine by police for attending a birthday party. Continue reading...

Nastya Slyvka and her son are among 23,500 arrivals, although not all are happily placed with a family

Ryan Michael Reavis is one of three defendants charged with supplying tainted oxycodone to the singerA man who admitted to handing over the fake pharmaceutical pills that killed Grammy nominated rapper Mac Miller received a federal prison sentence of nearly 11 years, according to court documents.Ryan Michael Reavis, 39, pleaded guilty on 30 November 2021 to one count of distributing fentanyl, as one of three men charged in connection with the 2018 death of the musician, whose real name was Malcolm McCormick. Continue reading...

Firms inundated with calls from customers as bosses fear impact of October’s scheduled cap riseAs many as four in 10 people in Britain could fall into fuel poverty when the price cap rises again this autumn, energy bosses have told MPs as they called for more government support for vulnerable households facing a “truly horrific” winter.Michael Lewis, the chief executive of E.ON UK, said between 30% and 40% of people in Britain might go into fuel poverty from October when the industry regulator, Ofgem, is again expected to put up the annual limit on tariffs. Continue reading...

London-based TDR Capital says investment in grocer is now worth £1.4bn on paperAsda’s private equity owner has claimed the value of its investment in the supermarket chain has soared by nearly 20 times as it gears up for a potential bid for the pharmacy chain Boots.The London-based TDR Capital said its stake as co-owner of the grocer was now worth €1.7bn (£1.4bn) on paper, or 19.8 times its original investment, indicating that the finance group put in just over £70m of fresh cash to back the deal, according to documents seen by the Financial Times. Continue reading...

Bosses of FDA and PCS criticise attempt by efficiency minister to name and shame departments with more remote workersCivil service unions have condemned a “vindictive” move by efficiency minister Jacob Rees-Mogg to name and shame Whitehall departments with the highest rates of working from home as part of a new drive to encourage staff back to the office.Rees-Mogg has circulated a league table of all 16 Whitehall departments’ office occupancy in an attempt to end civil servants working from home. Continue reading...

Charity calls for people who arrived on seasonal work visas and are now undocumented to be offered protectionHundreds of Ukrainians are believed to be living and working informally in Britain after escaping from farms they were working at, with many claiming to have been subjected to conditions of modern slavery.Ukrainians made up by far the largest proportion of workers in the UK on seasonal worker visas in 2021. Of the 29,631 visas issued under the T5 seasonal work scheme, two-thirds (19,920) were given to Ukrainians. The Scottish Refugee Council estimates there are up to 6,000 Ukrainians in the UK. Continue reading...

NSW’s Covid and Economic Committee met on Tuesday evening to discuss overhauling requirements as coronavirus cases drop

Hamas ‘weapons manufacturing site’ targeted in response to rocket fired from Palestinian enclaveIsrael has carried out its first air strikes on the Gaza Strip in months early in response to a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave as tensions soared after a weekend of violence around a Jerusalem holy site.Warning sirens sounded in southern Israel on Monday night after the rocket was fired from the enclave controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, the first such incident since early January. The projectile crashed into the sea off Tel Aviv. Continue reading...

The Florida judge’s ruling appeared to free operators to retain or discard masking policies, leading to confusionA federal judge in Florida has struck down Joe Biden’s national mask mandate covering airplanes, airports and other public transportation, prompting the White House to announce the rule would not be enforced while federal agencies decide how to respond to the judge’s order.The ruling appeared to free operators to make their own decisions about mask requirements, with several airlines announcing they would drop mandates, but other transport networks including the New York City subway planning to keep them in place. Continue reading...

The Amadea is widely believed to be owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who is under US and EU sanctionsThe United States is seeking to seize a superyacht suspected of belonging to a Russian oligarch that is docked in the Pacific island nation of Fiji, a restraining order filed on Tuesday by Fiji’s director of public prosecutions showed.The luxury vessel the Amadea is widely believed to be owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who is the subject of economic sanctions by the United States and European Union imposed in response to Russia’s activities in Syria and Ukraine. Continue reading...

The $100m tax on companies controlling more than 40% of market is ‘arbitrary’ and ‘perplexing’, says telco DigicelDigicel Group says it is considering legal options after Papua New Guinea imposed a $100m tax that the telecoms firm said had potential “implications” for the planned AU$2.1bn ($1.57bn) sale of the Pacific’s biggest mobile network to Australia’s Telstra.Telstra Corp Ltd said last October that it would buy the Pacific operations of Digicel in a deal largely funded by the Australian government, seen by observers as a way to block China’s rising influence in the region. The operations include 2.5m mobile phone subscribers across PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and Nauru. Continue reading...

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