by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6W810)
Justice secretary criticises response and threatens to change law over guidance to judges aimed at tackling biasThe Sentencing Council for England and Wales has rejected demands from Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, to review guidelines she called a two-tier" system of justice.Mahmood criticised rules drawn up by the independent body that devises judges' sentencing guidelines after claims they discriminated against white men. Continue reading...
by Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondent on (#6W811)
Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, sentenced to life for murder of flatmate Stuart Everett, 67, last yearA man who murdered and dismembered his friend before dumping parts of his body in public spaces across Salford and north Manchester has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 34 years in prison.Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, was sentenced at Manchester crown court on Friday having previously been found guilty of the murder of Stuart Everett, 67, following a two-week trial at the same court. Continue reading...
Scores of poultry operations in the US have been reinfected by bird flu since 2022, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal payouts, according to documents obtained by the Guardian.The recurring outbreaks highlight the need for more aggressive prevention, including poultry vaccination and changes to how poultry is farmed, experts say. Continue reading...
Wettest March day for 15 years in some parts of northern Australian state, while storms and hail hit MediterraneanMore heavy rain has hit Queensland, Australia, just weeks after the devastation of Cyclone Alfred. Much of north and central Queensland was put under severe weather alert for heavy rainfall earlier this week, as six-hourly rainfall totals of 30-60mm were anticipated, with risk of seeing a total of up to 120mm locally in this time frame.In the north-west of the state, this rain allowed waters in the Haughton River to rise rapidly, with levels reaching 2.68 metres on Wednesday night, exceeding the 2.5-metre major flood level. Continue reading...
by Presented by Michael Safi with Adrian Horton and L on (#6W7SG)
What does the attack on an Oscar-winning Palestinian director say about the situation in the West Bank today? Adrian Horton and Lorenzo Tondo reportEarlier this month, No Other Land won the Oscar for best documentary feature. The film chronicles the West Bank community of Masafer Yatta as it resists being driven off its land by settler violence and the demolitions of the Israeli military. The film's two protagonists, Palestinian film-maker Basel Adra and Israeli film-maker Yuval Abraham, gave speeches when they accepted their award.Yuval Abraham: We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law and Basel is under military laws that destroy his life ... There is a different path, a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people." Continue reading...
Yuval Abraham criticised the Academy's statement defending its silence after Israeli settlers attacked his co-director Hamdan BallalThe Israeli director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land has condemned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its response to a violent attack on his Palestinian co-director Hamdan Ballal, who was beaten by Israeli settlers and detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Monday.Earlier this week, Israeli journalist and filmmaker Yuval Abraham criticised the Academy for failing to publicly speak out in support of Ballal. Now he has criticised a statement issued by the Academy to its members on Wednesday, in which it appeared to defend its silence. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6W7PW)
Figures reveal 29% fall in operations in England to remove foreign bodies from children's airways, noses and throatsCashless societies may be a sad fact of modern life for those with a nostalgic attachment to the pound in their pocket, but doctors have discovered one unexpected benefit of the decline of coins.Far fewer children are having surgery after swallowing small items that could choke or kill them, and the scarcity of loose change is likely to be the reason. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Simon Blake says progress of government's bill could be exploited by those attacking rights globallyThe new head of Stonewall has pledged to fight for a ban on conversion practices that includes every member of the lesbian, gay, bi and trans community", as he said that the progress of Labour's bill may be exploited by those pursuing global attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.With the UK government expected to publish draft legislation this spring, Simon Blake said: It's really important that a conversion practices bill covers all practices designed to try to change or correct somebody's sexual or gender identity." Continue reading...
King now back at Clarence House after temporary side-effects', with Friday engagements postponedKing Charles went into hospital on Thursday after experiencing temporary side effects" as part of his continuing medical treatment for cancer, Buckingham Palace has said.The monarch underwent scheduled treatment for cancer this morning, which required a short period of observation in hospital", according to a palace statement. Continue reading...
Prosecutors say Sheff G, who supported the president last year, used career earnings to fuel gang violence in BrooklynA New York City rapper who joined Donald Trump during a campaign rally last year has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy charges after prosecutors say he used earnings from his music career to fuel gang violence in Brooklyn.Sheff G, whose legal name is Michael Williams, agreed to serve five years in prison as part of the plea entered in a Brooklyn court on Wednesday, Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said. Continue reading...
Vice-chancellor Sasha Roseneil accuses Office for Students of seeking to persecute' rather than solve problemsThe University of Sussex is taking legal action to overturn a record fine levied by England's higher education regulator, accusing the regulator of seeking to persecute" it rather than solve problems.This week the Office for Students (OfS) said it would fine Sussex 585,000 for two historic" breaches of its regulations related to freedom of speech and governance. It comes after a three-and-a-half-year investigation into the resignation of Prof Kathleen Stock, who was the target of protests at Sussex over her views on gender identification and transgender rights. Continue reading...
Prosecutors allege suspects spiked victims' drinks with drugs at venues in Kortrijk between 2021 and 2024Belgian authorities are investigating the alleged rape and sexual assault of at least 41 women whose drinks are thought to have been spiked, with three bar managers identified as prime suspects, prosecutors have said.Officials believe drugs were mixed into the women's drinks, including ketamine, a general anaesthetic used for recreational purposes because of its hallucinogenic effects. Continue reading...
Ukrainian president has learned Trump's team demand positivity and there is little point in trying to inject reality'At a press briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday, explaining where initial US brokered peace negotiations had got to, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, struck a notably different tone. Long gone is the tetchiness on display in London in the aftermath of the Ukrainian leaders' catastrophic trip to the White House. In its place was a degree of optimism so high that it could only be interpreted as political positioning.Though he complained about comments made by Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, that four Ukrainian regions wholly or partly occupied by Russia consisted of people who wanted Moscow's rule in an overwhelming majority" - these were in line with the messages of the Kremlin" Zelenskyy said - he insisted that had advantages too. Continue reading...
Reform leader also says Andrew Tate has so many young male followers because society feminises' them too muchNigel Farage has said men will more readily sacrifice their family lives to be successful in their business careers than women, and that young men are being too feminised" by modern society.The Reform leader set out his view on gender balance in the workplace in a conversation with journalists in Westminster, saying women made different life choices" when it came to work. He went on to suggest that Reform attracts men because they are more impulsive than their female counterparts.Lifted the lid further on his row with Elon Musk, saying the billionaire adviser to Donald Trump had tried to push him too much on supporting the far-right activist Tommy Robinson. You can't bully me," he said. I've got my principles, I stand by them good or bad."Said the idea of a $100m (77m) donation from Musk had been massively over-exaggerated", but insisted they were now on perfectly reasonable terms" by text message.Dismissed the idea of a pact with the Tories, saying Reform despises" the party. He suggested its leader, Kemi Badenoch, was lazy and referred to her leadership rival Robert Jenrick as Robert Generic". Of Tory MPs, he said: I've never met a more stuck up, arrogant, out of touch group of people. At least half of the Conservative MPs are stuffy, boring old bastards."Blamed net zero policies rather than the threat of Trump tariffs for the closure of Scunthorpe's steel plant, and claimed the US president had wanted to do a trade deal during his previous term, but that the Tories had blown it" by delaying Brexit. Continue reading...
Investigation follows publication by Covid-19 inquiry of messages sent by Lord Chadlington introducing SG Recruitment to governmentA Conservative peer who introduced a company he was involved in to the government to supply PPE is under investigation for the third time for potential breaches of the rules governing members' conduct in the House of Lords.The new investigation follows the publication by the Covid-19 public inquiry of text messages and emails sent by Peter Gummer, whose peerage title is Lord Chadlington, introducing the company, SG Recruitment. Continue reading...
by Tom Ambrose (now) and Daniel Lavelle (earlier) on (#6W73C)
Incident took place near the popular Egyptian Red Sea resort of HurghadaThe Russian consulate in Hurghada said the submarine, named SINDBAD", had 45 Russian tourists on board in addition to crew members.The consulate said four people had died, but did not specify if they were Russian, Reuters reported.Six people have died and nine others are injured after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, two municipal officials said. AP reported that the officials were speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.The incident, involving a recreational vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines, occurred in waters opposite Hurghada's Marriot Hotel resort. Citing municipal officials, Reuters and Associated Press reported that six foreigners, whose nationalities are still unknown, had died. It was not immediately clear what caused the submarine to sink.The Russian embassy in Egypt has said that that all of the tourists on board the submarine were Russian. It said 45 passengers were on board the vessel, including children, in a Facebook post.The local governorate's office told Reuters that all of those confirmed dead were foreign citizens, while survivors had been ferried by ambulance to several hospitals in the city. Emergency crews were able to rescue 29 people, according to a statement released by the governorate. Many tourist companies have stopped or limited travelling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.The Sindbad club's website says it offers short tourist trips in two submarines that it operates that have a maximum depth range of 25 metres. According to the website its submarines allow tourists to experience the beauty of the Red Sea's underwater world without getting wet". Continue reading...
The French actor denies allegations during filming of Les Volets Vert, as defendants' lawyers describe him as sexual predator' and misogynist'Gerard Depardieu should be found guilty of the indisputable" sexual assault of a set decorator, as well as sexual assaults of an assistant film director, the French state prosecutor has told Paris's criminal court, requesting the actor serve an 18-month suspended prison sentence.Depardieu is on trial for the alleged sexual assault of the women, aged 54 and 34, during the shooting of the film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in 2021. He has denied any wrongdoing, telling the court: I deny all of it." Continue reading...
CAA urged to tackle flawed regime' as it reviews whether to take further steps on airport's regulatory modelBritain's aviation watchdog will review the rules on resilience" after Heathrow was closed because of a fire at an electricity substation.Europe's largest airport was closed in the early hours of Friday last week after the blaze at the Hayes substation in west London hit electricity supplies. No planes were allowed to take off or land, causing diversions which affected about 1,300 flights and roughly 250,000 passengers. Some flights resumed on Friday evening. Continue reading...
Owner of Sky News plans to close its Stockport, Sheffield and Leeds Central contact centresSky has said it intends to cut 2,000 jobs at its customer service centres and close three sites in the UK, affecting 7% of its total workforce.The media and telecoms group, which was bought by the US media company Comcast for 30bn in 2018, said the planned closures would help make it future-ready" as it shifts from dealing with customers over the phone to digital communications. Continue reading...
by Carlos Mureithi in Nairobi and agencies on (#6W75W)
Placing of Riek Machar under house arrest comes after period of rising tensions and armed clashesSouth Sudan's first vice-president and main opposition leader, Riek Machar, has been placed under house arrest, prompting a warning from the UN that the country is at risk of relapsing into widespread conflict.Machar's party said the arrest has effectively collapsed the peace deal that ended the 2013-2018 civil war. Continue reading...
Samuel Bottomley, 23, to tutor on courses at West Yorkshire Workshop, aimed at working-class actors in north of EnglandA Bafta-nominated actor from Bradford has launched his own drama school to help working-class northern English talent access the TV and film industry.The West Yorkshire Workshop in Bradford was opened this week by 23-year-old Samuel Bottomley, who received a Bafta nod for his role in Channel 4's Somewhere Boy in 2023. Continue reading...
While many in Brazil delight at the ex president's predicted downfall, others fear who may follow in his far-right footstepsThere were cries of joy in progressive parts of Rio on Wednesday as Brazil's supreme court ruled that the former president Jair Bolsonaro should stand trial for an alleged coup plot.No amnesty! No amnesty!" one elated lefty roared from his balcony into the sunny autumn afternoon. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Katy Gallagher says if Peter Dutton cuts, you will pay' as Albanese government analysis shows opposition pledge would mean worsened services
After pulling out of the market Squid is charging parents who want to withdraw their remaining fundsA payments company that was used by parents to pay for school dinners has drawn criticism for charging them 10 to withdraw the remaining funds in their accounts after it pulled out of the market.Squid, which was used by 600 schools around the UK to take payments, stopped its service earlier this month after announcing in February that the accounts would be ending. Continue reading...
by Helen Davidson in Taipei and agencies on (#6W6YG)
Soldiers had worked for extremely sensitive and important units' and their acts betrayed the country', Taipei court saysA Taiwan court has sentenced four soldiers, including three who worked in the president's security team, to jail for up to seven years on charges of spying for China.The men were convicted of violating the national security law by passing internal military information that should be kept confidential to Chinese intelligence agents for several months" between 2022 and 2024, the Taipei district court said on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Axa and Scottish Widows back ShareAction campaign for chains such as Next to pay at least 12.60 an hourMajor investors including Axa and Scottish Widows are backing shareholder resolutions pressing retailers Next, Marks & Spencer and JD Sports to increase pay for thousands of workers.More than 100 individuals and eight institutional investors, which manage over 1tn in assets, are backing an effort to encourage companies to pay a real living wage", which is designed to ensure workers can cover necessary household costs. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6W6TD)
Watchdog finds forces are overwhelmed' by common offences, and victims are being failedOverworked police lack the resources, time and experience to investigate crimes properly, leading to victims being failed and an erosion in faith in law enforcement, an official report has found.The report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) says that the rate of positive outcomes - when police identify a suspect and they face justice - has crashed from 25% in England and Wales a decade ago to 11% in 2024. Continue reading...
Letter from Knesset members addressed to Queensland LNP backbencher Andrew Wallace was distributed at event he hosted, attended by several Coalition MPs and senators
Victim died at the scene after being struck by a vehicle that failed to stop in EdgwareTwo men have been arrested after a fatal collision involving a car that was driving away from police.The Metropolitan police said the vehicle hit a pedestrian at about 2.10pm on Tuesday in Edgware, north-west London. Continue reading...
US army says search efforts are ongoing after Nato secretary general tells reporters servicemembers were killed'The vehicle of four United States soldiers missing in Lithuania has been discovered submerged in water, the US army said, adding that search efforts for the soldiers were ongoing.The soldiers went missing during a military drill during an exercise at the General Silvestras ukauskas training ground in Pabrad, a town located less than 10km (6 miles) from the border with Belarus. Continue reading...
The duo will join Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Vanessa Kirby and many more in Avengers: DoomsdayPatrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are set to reprise their X-Men roles in Avengers: Doomsday.Marvel kicked off a live stream today to announce the long list of actors who will star in the first Avengers film in six years. Continue reading...
Chancellor promises compensation' for information on tax-dodgers, based on US model, in move to close 1bn tax gap'Whistleblowers who inform HMRC about tax-dodging will get a cut of any money collected as a result, the government confirmed, as Rachel Reeves announced plans to raise an extra 1bn a year by closing the tax gap".At her first budget in October, Reeves vowed to collect 6.5bn a year by cracking down on tax avoidance, which is legal, and tax evasion, which isn't.Spending 100m on 500 HMRC compliance stafff87m to improve HMRC's debt collectionProsecuting 20% more tax fraudstersCompensation" for whistleblowers Continue reading...
Chancellor says new money will help turn Britain into a defence industrial superpower'New money for drones and laser weapons to revolutionise" Britain's armed forces has been announced by Rachel Reeves as part of a 2.2bn rise in defence spending.Vowing to turn the UK into a defence industrial superpower", the chancellor used her spring statement to unveil plans aimed at boosting arms exports and reaching a target of spending 2.7% of GDP on the sector by 2027. Continue reading...
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