Anoosheh Ashoori and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe are free but other families in the west are waiting anxiouslyDotted across Europe and America are families of as many as 17 dual nationals still held in jail in Iran, watching nervously to find out whether their loved ones will follow Anoosheh Ashoori and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe on a plane to freedom, or be left behind.Many fear their freedom is not being made a precondition of the west agreeing a nuclear deal with Iran in the talks nearing a climax in Vienna. Without an acknowledged debt to repay like the UK’s, some of their countries may have trouble striking deals, and that worries the families. Continue reading...
Labor leader says it is ‘a fact’ that he never received a bullying complaint from Kitching before she diedThe federal opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, says the late senator Kimberley Kitching never raised complaints of bullying with him as he labelled political debate about her death not constructive.Reports have emerged about the stress Kitching had been under within her own party before her death from a suspected heart attack, with Labor senators Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher named in media reports as having ostracised her. Continue reading...
Politicians and trade union leaders join rallies in Dover, Hull, Liverpool and Larne over mass sackingAngry protests against P&O Ferries have taken place at ports across the UK after the sacking without notice of 800 workers in a move the archbishop of Canterbury denounced as a sin.Trade unions leaders and politicians of all sides joined sacked P&O workers in Hull, Dover, Liverpool and Larne to protest against the company’s decision to replace all its crew with cheaper agency workers. Continue reading...
by Rowena Mason Deputy political editor on (#5X8FH)
Chancellor promises end to Tory tax rises and hints at help with cost of living in spring statementRishi Sunak has said going from “crisis to crisis” has been “not great” for Boris Johnson or anyone else, as the chancellor signalled an end to tax rises and more help for struggling families in next week’s spring statement.Sunak gave his outlook at the Conservatives’ spring conference in Blackpool, where he was interviewed by a fellow Tory MP, Paul Maynard, who asked him how he had coped with “one thing after another” including the Covid pandemic, supply chain disruption and the war in Ukraine. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#5X8B7)
Forty-nine-year-old charged with four counts of indecent exposure, which allegedly took place last yearSarah Everard’s killer, Wayne Couzens, has been charged with four counts of indecent exposure, prosecutors have said.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the alleged offences occurred in the weeks before he kidnapped Everard. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England correspondent on (#5X8B4)
Joan Lawrence will ‘never give up on hope’ that mystery of 35-year-old going missing in 2009 can be solvedThe mother of the missing university chef Claudia Lawrence has said “if you give up on hope, you may as well give up altogether” as she marked the 13th anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance.Lawrence, 35, has not been seen since she failed to turn up for work at the University of York in March 2009. Continue reading...
Remuneration package includes £142,000 wage increase and £2.4m in bonuses for financial performanceThe pay of BP’s boss, Bernard Looney, ballooned to nearly £4.5m in 2021, after soaring oil prices transformed the company into a “cash machine”.Looney, who in February announced BP was selling its 20% stake in the Kremlin-controlled oil company Rosneft after coming under pressure from the UK government, enjoyed an inflated pay packet thanks to £2.4m in bonuses based on financial performance. Continue reading...
Described as ‘outstanding and fearless’ by Bobi Wine, tributes have been paid to Sadurni, whose work featured in the Guardian and New York TimesSumaya Sadurni Carrasco has died while travelling to take photographs for the Guardian’s Saturday magazine in northern Uganda. Thomas Mugisha, an NGO worker, also died in the accident on 7 March.Sumy, as she was known, was a talented, driven and courageous photojournalist with a rare gift for friendship. At just 32 years old, she had built a powerful body of work, which had been published in some of the world’s best-known publications; in 2020 she was shortlisted for the Guardian’s agency photographer of the year. She also leaves a legacy of knowledge and inspiration that she passed on to young photographers as a Uganda Press Photo award mentor, a teacher at Makerere University and a Canon trainer. Continue reading...
by Cait Kelly (now) and Royce Kurmelovs and Tory Shep on (#5X7RB)
Inquest into death of Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker to start in September; call for inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women; advice for asthma sufferers during flood clean-up; at least 26 Covid deaths recorded. This blog is now closed
Rebels not sure if they have enough support to defeat home secretary’s ‘clearly ridiculous’ borders billPriti Patel’s plans to process asylum seekers abroad are facing a Conservative rebellion next week, with MPs calling the proposal “clearly ridiculous” ahead of a vote on the nationality and borders bill.Amendments circulated among senior Tories include attempts to scupper government plans to set up offshoring centres and a proposal to instead create a global resettlement scheme to accept 10,000 people a year from war-torn regions. Continue reading...
by Julian Borger World affairs editor, in Washington on (#5X83E)
Analysis: the world faces the possibility of a dramatic shift in the geopolitical balance of power as Beijing mulls support for Russia over the Ukraine war
Dick Smith, Andrew Forrest among prominent people used on cryptocurrency and other scam ads without approval• Get our free news app; get our morning email briefingAustralia’s consumer watchdog is taking Meta to court, alleging the company “aided and abetted” celebrity scam ads on Facebook that have cost some Australians hundreds of thousands of dollars.The ads, which include the promotion of investment in cryptocurrency, have plagued the platform since 2020. Each ad depicts an image of a prominent Australian such as David Koch, Dick Smith or Andrew Forrest, claiming to have made it big with the investments in a fake news article that directs people to the scam investment website.Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading...
First-term government MP Lohia Boe Samuel has been charged with murder over the death of Robert Jerry last weekA Papua New Guinean MP has been charged with murder, after the shooting death of a man at a restaurant in the capital of Port Moresby last week.Police will allege that Lohia Boe Samuel, the MP for Moresby North-West, was having dinner with Robert Jerry and another man at Fushion 2 restaurant on Friday 11 March when a firearm was discharged, killing Jerry. Continue reading...
Some members of British Steel pension scheme have incurred losses of up to £489,000Thousands of steelworkers were the victims of pension regulation failures that left some with losses of up to £489,000, an official report has found, prompting accusations that the UK financial watchdog was “asleep at the wheel”.The National Audit Office’s findings relate to a 2017 scandal involving members of the British Steel pension scheme, many of whom were persuaded to transfer their retirement savings by advisers who then pocketed huge fees. Continue reading...
Hospitals in southern England worst affected, with Devon recording highest ever numbers of Covid patientsRising numbers of people entering hospital with Covid are leading to other patients becoming infected, staff absences, delayed operations and long waits in emergency departments, experts have said.In recent weeks, Covid infection levels have been rising in the UK and hospitalisations are also increasing. Continue reading...
by Aubrey Allegretti Political correspondent on (#5X7PT)
Retailer says it has stopped supplying its franchisee’s business in Russia, but the shops remain openA Conservative MP has backed calls for dozens of Marks & Spencer stores across Russia to be shut immediately, suggesting Vladimir Putin is funnelling every rouble made in the country into the invasion of Ukraine.Alicia Kearns, who hosted four Ukrainian parliamentarians in the House of Commons on Thursday, said any profits generated would be tainted by the killings and war crimes committed during the conflict. Continue reading...
by Angelique Chrisafis in Aubervilliers on (#5X7NS)
French president aims to raise pension age and continue cutting taxes for businesses and householdsEmmanuel Macron has vowed to intensify his overhaul of France’s welfare state, tax system and labour market if he wins a second term as president next month, arguing that transforming French society would protect people at a time of crisis when the war in Ukraine marks “a return of tragedy in history”.The 44-year-old centrist leader has risen in the polls since Russia’s invasion and is a clear favourite to win April’s election – which would make him the first French president to win re-election in 20 years. But he has been under pressure from opponents to explain his economic and social policy. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Chief political correspondent on (#5X7NT)
Read some of the submissions to the committee considering new rules on second jobs and Commons behaviourMinisters have made a U-turn on a pledge to limit the time or earnings on MPs’ second jobs, one of several rule changes promised by Boris Johnson last year in order to stop abuse of the system.The proposed changes were announced after there was a public outcry when the former cabinet minister Owen Paterson was censured for breaching lobbying rules and another, Geoffrey Cox, was found to have been voting by proxy when doing work for law clients in the Caribbean.Complexity brings errors, which then bring the house into disrepute – contrary to the code’s purpose. Limiting time or limiting income does not improve the honesty and integrity of the system – it just creates more opportunity for errors.The consequences of even the smallest transgression are public and humiliating, both personally and politically. Therefore, it is absolutely worth getting this right. Sadly, this report and consultation I fear leads us in the opposite direction by creating greater complexity, more rules and increased subjectivity.It seems to me that the principal concerns here are about potential conflict of interest and neglect of constituents. Arbitrary limits on time spent on, or reward earned from, outside interests do not necessarily mirror either concern.Time spent as a nurse also has the same impact on time available for constituents as time spent as a hedge fund manager. Again, transparency is the most effective way for constituents to determine whether they find the arrangements of their member of parliament acceptable or not.… The code should be kept as brief as possible and enable MPs to take responsibility for themselves within broad boundaries.The baseline assumption as a new MP seems to be that I am on the scrounge and should be treated like a child and punished at the first opportunity. If we were treated like adults we would be far more likely en masse to act like them.The revised system should not disincentivise people who would be an asset to the Commons from applying in the first place, nor encourage those with experience of their field to leave. Equally, any new rules should not reduce the likelihood of those with professional experience seeking to enter the house.Setting an arbitrary time limit on paid and unpaid outside interests would involve the commissioner policing an MP’s personal life and free time.This is not a desirable, nor a practical use of the commissioner’s time, and these matters are almost impossible to police, and could result in vexatious complaints against members.Frankly, I find the politics and personal behaviour of some politicians abhorrent. As an elected representative I have a right to make my opinions about them known, perhaps even a duty to do so.That is why I cannot support your determination to police the comments of MPs in any medium: it might be necessary to express contempt for hateful political positions.The stated intention of this proposal [regarding ‘respect’] is to protect against bullying and harassment in committees and divisions.Clearly, such behaviour would be wholly unacceptable and guarding against it is an entirely worthy aim. However, this proposal has unintended consequences that damage the workings of the house. Continue reading...
EU leaders and Joe Biden will meet next week to discuss war in Ukraine, but PM has not yet been invitedBoris Johnson is understood to be open to accepting an invitation to attend the European Council next week when EU leaders meet to discuss the war in Ukraine, though one has yet to be extended.A Downing Street source said Johnson would be in Brussels next week for a Nato summit, along with the US president, Joe Biden, who will attend the council meeting later that afternoon. They said it remained a possibility for Johnson to attend the council meeting – which would be a major symbolic step post-Brexit. Continue reading...
Working from home and lack of in-person social events hit fashion brand that went online-only in 2020The shirtmaker TM Lewin has called in administrators for the second time in less than two years, becoming the latest victim of the general shift to working from home.The business, which operated 150 shops before the pandemic, has operated a solely online business since first calling in administrators in June 2020. As well as its specialism, shirts, it sells suits, knitwear, coats and accessories such as ties. Continue reading...
Analysis: Richard Ratcliffe ignored Foreign Office advice and spoke out but other families have kept quietIn seeking to extract a loved one from the clutches of an authoritarian regime, is it best to follow the advice of the UK Foreign Office and leave it to the discreet professionalism of the diplomatic class, or instead take a leap into the unknown and go public?Kim Darroch, the former UK ambassador to Washington, hesitated before agreeing on ITV’s Peston this week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband, Richard Ratcliffe, had probably been right to ignore the Foreign Office advice. Continue reading...
This blog has now closed, you can read more about P&O’s dismissal of all 800 crew members hereYachts moored in the UK suspected of being linked to Russian oligarchs have been stopped from leaving, Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has told MPs.During transport questions this morning, Shapps said a “small number” of yachts were affected, and that inquiries into their ownership were still underway. He told the Commons:I would like to update the House on the actions we’ve taken to clamp down on Russian interests in the UK.We have detained private jets that we believe are owned by or connected to [Vladimir] Putin’s cronies. And now I can confirm that we’re investigating a small number of yachts moored in this country we suspect are also linked to Russian oligarchs.Yes, I do join [Amesbury] in congratulating them. It came after I wrote to all the ports and asked them not to allow in Russian ships and Russian-connected ships.It looks as if the Department for Work and Pensions doesn’t believe in levelling up, it doesn’t believe in its own rhetoric on jobs, and it doesn’t believe in keeping people in work.We hear that offices are going to be closed in Stoke, in Southend, in Peterborough, in Chesterfield and Aberdeen, in Kirkcaldy, in Barrow, Bishop Auckland, Doncaster and Burnley, taking jobs out of these communities. Continue reading...
Passengers report being left stranded as ferry operator sacks 800 crew with crossings suspendedFurious P&O Ferries customers have rounded on the company for leaving them stranded at short notice and for its “abysmal” treatment of 800 staff, whose abrupt sacking on Thursday morning triggered chaos at ports across the country.P&O initially told passengers that services were unable to run “for the next few hours”, affecting the Dover-Calais crossing and the routes from Hull to Rotterdam, Liverpool to Dublin and Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#5X7EW)
Met counter-terror chief says ‘relatively well-educated children’ being lured by content based on first-person shooter gamesChildren from middle class backgrounds are being lured into extreme rightwing terrorism with online content based on violent video games shaped to indoctrinate them, Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer has said.Assistant commissioner Matt Jukes said said that 19 out of 20 children aged under 18 who were arrested last year for terrorism offences were linked to an extreme rightwing ideology. Continue reading...
Gunter Uwents, 37, is said to have confessed to killing Maria Verlinden 30 years after he was her pupilA 37-year-old man who said he had felt humiliated by his teacher in primary school has confessed to stabbing her to death three decades later, according to Belgian prosecutors.Gunter Uwents told investigators he had never got over comments that Maria Verlinden made about him in class in the early 1990s, starting when he was seven. Continue reading...
Scheme being trialled in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru seen as way to make more money from existing subscribers as growth slowsThe days of sharing Netflix passwords could be over soon. The streaming company has begun testing a new feature that would charge people to add multiple profiles to an account.The scheme is initially being trialled in is Chile, Costa Rica and Peru. It is unclear if and when the feature will be unrolled in other countries. Continue reading...
Model turned Popworld presenter and designer says eponymous brand is not insolvent but will be ‘winding down’The celebrity TV presenter and influencer Alexa Chung has announced she is to close her eponymous fashion label after five years due to economic pressures caused by the pandemic.The label, which showed twice at London fashion week and recently collaborated with Barbour, is not going into administration but is, says Chung, “winding down”. Items from the Barbour collection will still be available on the brand’s official site until the end of the month. Continue reading...
by Mirren Gidda, Eleanor Rose and Rajeev Syal on (#5X72T)
People from Black or minority ethnic background make up 34% of those held on remand, latest figures showThe likelihood that a prisoner held on remand is from a Black or minority ethnic background has increased by 17% over six years, new figures have disclosed.Data from the Ministry of Justice also shows that the proportion of BAME people held on remand has risen since the beginning of the pandemic in late 2019.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
West used racial slur after Noah criticised his behaviour in the wake of the former’s divorce from Kim KardashianKanye West has been suspended from Instagram for 24 hours, after he used a racial slur to describe TV presenter Trevor Noah.A spokesperson for Instagram’s parent company Meta told TMZ and HuffPost that the suspension was due to West violating the company’s policy on hate speech, bullying and harassment.You’re an indelible part of my life Ye. Which is why it breaks my heart to see you like this. I don’t care if you support Trump and I don’t care if you roast Pete. I do however care when I see you on a path that’s dangerously close to peril and pain … Don’t ever forget, the biggest trick racists ever played on black people was teaching us to strip each other of our blackness whenever we disagree. Tricking us into dividing ourselves up into splinters so that we would never unite into a powerful rod. Continue reading...
by Cait Kelly (now) and Matilda Boseley (earlier on (#5X6CF)
Albanese promises to ‘show up and take responsibility’ as campaign begins; Scott Morrison says ‘further names’ added to sanctions list every day after Ukraine embassy calls for sanctions against two Russian oligarchs; at least 26 Covid deaths recorded. This blog is now closed
Damaging winds and torrential rainfall strike Madagascar, Mozambique and MalawiTropical Cyclone Gombe affected parts of Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi last week, bringing damaging winds and torrential rainfall. Gombe made landfall in the Nampula province of northern Mozambique on Friday as a category three tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of about 120mph and more that 100mm of rainfall in places. Mozambique has already been hit this year by Tropical Storm Ana in January and tropical depression Dumako in February.A powerful late-winter storm system surged across eastern parts of the US on Friday night and Saturday, bringing heavy rain, widespread heavy snow, strong winds, thunderstorms and freezing temperatures. Snow was reported as far south as Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia, with 20-30cm falling quite widely across the Appalachians and northwards through parts of Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont. Damaging winds affected parts of Florida, with a tornado reported near Crescent City, Florida. Cold weather plunging well into the south has been a frequent feature of this winter in the US. Continue reading...
Report highlights inequalities in older age groups, and raises concerns for people nearing retirement ageOne in five pensioners – more than 2 million people – are living in relative poverty in the UK, an increase of more than 200,000 in the past year alone, according to a comprehensive review of national data.The Centre for Ageing Better’s annual State of Ageing report, published on Thursday, says inequalities within older generations are some of the most extreme in society today: the wealth of the richest 20% doubled between 2002 and 2018, while that of the poorest 20% fell by 30%. Continue reading...
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