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Business secretary calls for increased investment by energy producers to avoid being hit with tax on soaring profitsThe oil and gas industry has defended the amount it invests in the North Sea, ahead of a storm over bumper profits as households face rocketing energy bills.The energy companies BP and Shell are expected to report soaring profits next week as a result of sky-high energy prices, fuelling fresh calls for a windfall tax to help hard-pressed households struggling with record bills for heating and power. Continue reading...

Christopher Easey sentenced to 14 years in prison for manslaughter and neglect of baby daughter EleanorA man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the manslaughter of his 14-week-old daughter, who died after sustaining a catastrophic brain injury.Christopher Easey, 31, was convicted of the manslaughter and neglect of Eleanor at Norwich crown court in March after a 10-week trial that heard the infant had suffered three bleeds on the brain and 31 rib fractures before her death. Continue reading...

Fabrice Leggeri under fire over agency’s human rights record and anti-fraud investigationThe head of the EU border agency Frontex has resigned after being investigated by the union’s anti-fraud agency, amid numerous reports of its complicity in illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers.Fabrice Leggeri, who has been criticised by the European parliament for failure to protect the human rights of people seeking asylum in the EU, announced his resignation shortly before Frontex’s management board were to decide whether to take disciplinary action against him. Continue reading...

Former tennis star found guilty of four charges by a jury at Southwark crown court earlier this monthBoris Becker has been jailed for two years and six months for hiding millions of pounds’ worth of assets after being made bankrupt in June 2017.Sentencing Becker on Friday, the judge, Deborah Taylor, said: “I take into account what has been described as your ‘fall from grace’. You have lost your career and reputation and all of your property as a result of your bankruptcy.” Continue reading...

Former player Johan Derksen appeared to make comments about historic drunken incident to amusement of presenterThe Netherlands has been forced again to face questions about attitudes to sexual violence towards women after one of the country’s most famous football pundits appeared to admit live on air to assaulting an unconscious woman with a candle 50 years ago.Dutch prosecutors opened an investigation after Johan Derksen, 73, made the comments on the talk show Today Inside on Tuesday, to the amusement of presenter Wilfred Genee and fellow pundit René van der Gijp.In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support for rape and sexual abuse on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

Reports say men were detained by Russia after going to country to help provide humanitarian aid

Muhammad Razzaq says two armed men tied up and beat his staff and made off with 240 shalwar kameezGunmen have stolen more than 200 outfits made for the customers of a Pakistani tailor for the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.Muhammad Razzaq said two armed men barged into his store in the capital, Islamabad, tied up and beat his staff, before making off with 240 completed or near-finished traditional shalwar kameez outfits. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary says UK team will head to war zone with special emphasis on investigating rape

Shares in struggling British chemicals producer jump after fund linked to Standard Industries takes 5% stakeShares in chemicals producer Johnson Matthey have jumped by a fifth after a US industrial conglomerate bought a stake in the struggling British company, in a move that immediately prompted takeover speculation for one of the UK’s most venerable large businesses.Shares in the company, listed on London’s FTSE 250 index, soared by as much as 30% on Friday after a fund linked to New York-based Standard Industries took a 5% stake. Shares retreated to an 18% gain at midday in London. Continue reading...

Kremlin admits airstrike as Ukraine acknowledges heavy losses from Russian attack in east

US officials say unnamed Russian spy services launched chemical attack on investigative journalist Dmitry Muratov on Moscow trainRussian intelligence was behind a chemical attack on Dmitry Muratov, the Nobel peace prize-winning editor of the Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, US officials have said.Muratov has previously said he boarded a train on 18 April heading from Moscow to the city of Samara when he was splashed with red paint containing acetone by an attacker who told him: “Muratov, this is for you from our boys.” Continue reading...

British army also deploying tanks in joint action with Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force

Anne-Marie Trevelyan says all women in parliament have been subjected to ‘wandering hands’The UK international trade secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, has urged male colleagues to “keep your hands in your pockets” as she said all women in parliament have been subjected to “wandering hands”.Speaking on Sky News on Friday, Trevelyan, the MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, said allegations that a Conservative MP watched pornography in the Commons chamber were “completely unacceptable” but declined to say whether they should be sacked. Continue reading...

Headteachers’ leader to accuse government of failure of leadershipThe leader of a headteachers’ union will claim the government is undermining the teaching of decency and honesty in schools, after “misleading” the country over Partygate and showing a lack of compassion towards refugees.Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), will accuse the government of an “absolute failure of political leadership”, which is leading to a breakdown in trust among young people. Continue reading...

Anne Longfield says ‘exclusions culture’ rewards removal of some vulnerable children from school rollPrimary schools should no longer permanently exclude pupils, and measures of wellbeing should be included alongside exam results in school league tables, according to a report by the former children’s commissioner for England.The Commission on Young Lives, headed by Anne Longfield, argues that exclusions can be highly damaging to those affected, putting young people at risk of exploitation, serious violence and criminal activity. Continue reading...

Man was attacked by two men and pronounced dead at the sceneA murder investigation has been launched after a man was killed at a shopping centre in Essex on Thursday.Police were called to reports that a man had been attacked at Lakeside shopping centre, in Thurrock, at 4.30pm. Continue reading...

Queensland Council of Social Services says social housing waiting list could blow out by 10,000The Queensland and federal governments are trading blows over the state’s housing after another report on the crisis.A new report from the Queensland Council of Social Services (Qcoss) says more than 50,000 households are currently on the waiting list for social housing. Continue reading...

Uncle Johnny Lovett’s father served in both world wars but never received land set aside for returned soldiers, Yoorrook commission hearsAn Indigenous musician has vowed to keep pursuing a multimillion-dollar land compensation claim after his father was left empty-handed for his service in two world wars.Uncle Johnny Lovett told Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission on Thursday that his father and three uncles served in the military in both world wars. Continue reading...

Joshua Jacques of Hither Green in south-east London is charged with fatally stabbing four peopleA man has been charged with the murders of four family members who were stabbed to death in south-east London, the Metropolitan police have said.Joshua Jacques, 28, from Hither Green, is accused of killing Dolet Hill, 64, an NHS worker, and her partner, Denton Burke, 58, who were found stabbed after an incident in Delaford Road, Bermondsey, on Monday. Continue reading...

‘It’s not Boris on the ballot paper,’ activists campaigning for the local elections are having to tell votersBoris Johnson used to be king of the capital. As a politician who presented himself as metropolitan and socially liberal, he gifted the Conservatives their first control of London-wide government for 30 years by winning the mayoralty in 2008.But now the party is facing one of its toughest electoral tests in the city, and the prime minister risks insurrection from his own backbenchers if the Partygate investigations threaten to hit them at the ballot box too. Continue reading...

Former SAS soldier tells court he liked posts as ‘a bit of dark humour’ and it ‘shouldn’t be taken seriously’

The prime minister is keen on two debates next week on Seven and Nine while Labor has proposed a press club showdown just before polling day

Premier says it’s ‘grossly inappropriate’ to comment on reported allegations in Ibac draft report before final version tabled

Marise Payne says other members of the ‘Pacific family’ share concerns but she rejects claims her government ‘dropped the ball’ in the region

Investigation suggests Frontex’s database recorded incidents of illegal pushbacks in Aegean Sea as ‘prevention of departure’The EU’s border agency has been involved in the pushbacks of at least 957 asylum seekers in the Aegean Sea between March 2020 and September 2021, according to a new investigation.Frontex, the EU’s best-funded agency with a budget of €758m, is being investigated over previous allegations of complicity with Greek authorities in illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers, something the organisation has denied. Continue reading...

Minister expected to frame move as a use of UK’s independent powers despite industry reports of unreadinessThe UK government is set to announce a fourth delay to physical checks on fresh food imported from the EU amid industry reports that neither technology nor infrastructure resources were ready for the July start of the next phase of Brexit.The Brexit opportunities minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, is expected to frame the move as use of the UK’s newfound independent powers to control the trade border since the departure from the EU and the single market. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. You can find our latest coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war in our new live blogOn the issue of gas supplies to Poland, government figures yesterday were anxious to reassure the public in Poland that the country could cope if Russia cut off supplies.The Polish Press Agency last night was carrying the following quotes. Anna Moscow, head of the ministry of climate and environment, said:Poland has the necessary gas reserves and sources of supply that protect our security – we have been effectively independent of Russia for years. Our warehouses are 76% full. There will be gas in Polish homes.The Baltic Pipe gas pipeline will also be commissioned in a few months. The decision to build it was made by the PiS government and has been consistently implemented in recent years. This is another element of Poland’s energy security.The men detained on 21 and 22 April are suspected of espionage activities for the Russian secret services. The material collected by the military counterintelligence service (SKW) indicates that a Russian and a Belarusian, acting on behalf of the Russian intelligence against Poland, carried out activities aimed at identifying the functioning of the Polish Armed Forces, including the presence of the army in the Polish-Belarusian border zone. Continue reading...

The gunmen remain on the run after ‘incredibly brazen and callous murder’ in Greenacre on Wednesday night

Tamboran Resources, which was given $7.5m government grant, rejected multiple requests to give evidence to committee

Three men targeted home ‘due to the occupant’s political and ideological beliefs’, counter-terrorism police to tell court

Death of 59-year-old comes a year after three people were killed in crashes at event, prompting safety changes

Process for privatisation announced as part of sweeping changes to UK media landscapeMinisters will formally start the process of privatising Channel 4 on Thursday – despite widespread opposition from the British media industry, the broadcaster’s current management, and a large number of Conservative MPs.The government insists that the publicly owned channel needs to be sold off, but there are doubts over whether they have the political support required to pass the necessary legislation. Ministers will also finally publish the conclusions of a 60,000-strong public consultation on the sale, with most comments expected to be against privatisation.Regulating the content on streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, giving the public the ability complain about offensive or inaccurate programmes in the same way they can already complain about programmes on broadcast television. Failure to comply could result in a service being fined up to 5% of its revenue.Legally requiring television manufacturers to prominently feature British public service broadcasters on the homescreens of smart TVs.Relaxing the rules on how broadcasters can meet their public service obligations, enabling them to fulfil the requirements by putting shows on more obscure channels. Continue reading...

Female MPs complain about sexism and misogyny in Tory ranks in meeting on Tuesday nightThe Conservatives have been hit by yet another House of Commons sex scandal after a female minister reported seeing a male colleague watching porn on a mobile phone in parliament.A string of the party’s female MPs have complained to the whips about sexism and misogyny within its ranks in a heated meeting on Tuesday night. Continue reading...

Royal also urged to give up title of Duke of York at meeting following settlement of sexual assault casePrince Andrew has suffered another indignity after councillors in York unanimously voted to remove his honorary freedom of the city.An extraordinary meeting of York city council on Wednesday also heard councillors call on Andrew to relinquish his Duke of York title in the wake of his now settled sexual assault civil case. Continue reading...

Anglicare’s annual snapshot calls for 50% rise in rent assistance payments, more social housing and changes to tax system

Former attorney general refused to refer cases to WA court of appeal, despite an earlier ruling finding a miscarriage of justice in a similar case

Kristina Keneally says home affairs minister must clarify comments or brief Labor on intelligence reporting of foreign interference

Conservative lawmakers question whether government has Commons votes to sell broadcasterConservative MPs have queued up to criticise plans to privatise Channel 4, raising doubts over whether the government has the parliamentary support required to sell the channel.Sir Peter Bottomley, the father of the house, told the House of Commons on Wednesday: “Channel 4 is in the best state it’s been creatively and financially for decades.” Continue reading...

Ukrainian army driven out of Velyka Komyshuvakha and Zavody, while concern grows over Transnistria

UK offices of companies owned by industrialist targeted as part of money laundering inquiryInvestigators from the Serious Fraud Office have seized documents and questioned executives at the British offices of companies owned by the industrialist Sanjeev Gupta, in a sign of deepening legal difficulties for GFG Alliance, his metals and energy group.The fraud agency attended several addresses in England, Scotland and Wales on Wednesday as part of the investigations, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said. Continue reading...

Tim Davie suggests more stations could become archive services, as he prepares to announce deep cutsThe BBC will cut the number of programmes it makes and consider turning more television and radio stations into archive services, according to the corporation’s director general.Tim Davie is preparing to announce deep cuts to BBC output in the coming weeks, with staff nervously wondering whether their programmes or channels will be axed. The corporation estimates it needs to find another £285m in annual savings as a result of government-imposed cuts to its budget. Continue reading...

Party criticised for appointing MP – now a convicted sex offender – as adviser on child exploitationA survivor of the Rotherham child abuse grooming scandal has condemned the Conservatives for appointing an MP who is now a convicted sex offender as an adviser on child exploitation after being questioned under caution.Sammy Woodhouse said it was “gut-wrenching” that her fellow contributor to a Home Office expert panel, Imran Ahmad Khan, had already been questioned by police about the assault of a 15-year-old boy when they served together on a Home Office panel. Continue reading...

Russia halts gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria; Volodymyr Zelenskiy accuses Moscow of seeking to destabilise Moldova region

DJ has stepped down from Capital Xtra show until further notice, says station’s owner, Global RadioThe DJ Tim Westwood has “stepped down from his show” on Capital Xtra until further notice, following allegations of sexual misconduct made about him by multiple women.The day after the former BBC Radio 1 DJ was accused by seven women of misusing his position in the music industry to take advantage of them, a spokesperson for Global Radio, Capital Xtra’s parent company, said the station and the DJ were parting ways. Continue reading...

Anti-Slapp directive would also enable EU states to refuse to recognise judgments passed in UKThe EU executive has proposed measures to protect journalists and campaigners working to expose corruption and wrongdoing from vexatious lawsuits.In the first proposal of its kind in Europe, the European Commission is targeting so-called “strategic lawsuits against public participation”, or Slapps, where wealthy individuals and companies attempt to use the law to intimidate or silence investigative reporters and non-governmental organisations. Continue reading...

Female Tory MPs complain about sexism in parliament after claims a senior colleague was watching porn on his phone

CBI’s April figures show worst cost of living squeeze since 1950s is starting to affect consumer spendingRetail sales in the UK have slumped in April as hard-pressed households reined in their spending amid the soaring cost of living, according to an industry snapshot.The figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found retailers experienced a rapid decline in sales volumes, in a month when consumers faced soaring gas and electricity bills, record fuel prices and a sharp increase in the cost of the weekly shop. Continue reading...

Charity Freedom from Torture says it has ‘serious concerns’ about lawfulness of policyPriti Patel’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is facing its first legal challenge after a charity instructed lawyers to demand the disclosure of documents because of fears the policy is contrary to international law.In a pre-action letter to the Home Office, which is expected to lead to a judicial review claim, the solicitors Leigh Day stated that the charity Freedom from Torture “has serious concerns about the lawfulness of the policy”. Continue reading...

Proceeds of sale of rarely seen art works by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne to go to Musée d’OrsayA private collection of rarely seen sculptures by the French artists Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne is to go on sale to pay for an extension to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.Daniel Marchesseau, a close friend of the sculptors for 50 years, agreed to part with the works as part of a €5m (£4.2m) gift to create an annexe for the archiving and research of 19th-century art. Continue reading...

Family of the 19-year-old, who died in 2017, say her mental and physical health declined after she reported being rapedThe family of Dorset teenager Gaia Pope has told an inquest jury that her mental and physical health deteriorated and she became “lost in fear and self-doubt” after she reported she had been raped at the age of 16.Relatives revealed the “joyful” girl they knew slipped away at times after she told police about the alleged rape, which led to an investigation but no charge. Continue reading...