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Olivia* complained to hospital and regulator about her treatment and feels disempowered by the process

Lawyer acting for families says it is ‘happening more than people would believe or understand’

Partygate and U-turns on tax are ‘undermining message’, say Conservative MPs as more call for him to quitBoris Johnson has plunged the Conservative party into an acute identity crisis as a result of Partygate and U-turns over tax policy, senior Tories warned last night, as more MPs called for him to resign as prime minister.Former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith told the Observer his party had been left with an “enormous identity problem” because it had raised taxes instead of cutting them under Johnson and the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, undermining a core Tory message that had helped win it successive general elections. Continue reading...

The programme, organised by Kings Assembly church in Rivers state, aimed to ‘offer hope’ to those in needA stampede at a church charity event in southern Nigeria on Saturday left 31 people dead and seven injured, a shocking development at a programme that organisers said aimed to “offer hope” to those in need.The stampede at the programme organised by the Kings Assembly pentecostal church in Rivers state involved many people who were seeking assistance, according to Grace Iringe-Koko, a police spokesperson. Continue reading...

Fire crews battled the blaze on the 85ft yacht for hours as witnesses reported minor explosionsA superyacht estimated to be worth £6m has sunk after firefighters battled to extinguish a fire on the vessel while it was moored in a marina in south-west England.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) said there was approximately 8,000 litres of fuel on the 85ft boat that led to people being evacuated from the marina in Torquay. Continue reading...

Brick Lane author says fear of winning Bad Sex award loomed over writing of latest book, Love MarriageThe Brick Lane author Monica Ali has said she was “terrified” to write the sex scenes in her most recent novel, Love Marriage, with the fear of being nominated for the Bad Sex awards looming over her as she wrote.In an event at the Hay festival in Wales, the 54-year-old writer told the audience: “There’s all sorts of pitfalls to writing sex scenes – you might end up using words like ‘throbbing’, ‘thrusting’, ‘member’”. Continue reading...

Move is an apparent attempt to win support from Brexit voters in seats Tories fear losingBoris Johnson will reportedly announce the return of imperial measurements to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee, in an apparent attempt to garner support among Brexiter voters in battleground seats which the Conservatives are in danger of losing.Britain currently uses a mix of imperial and metric measurements, with speed limits in miles per hour and milk and beer bought in pints. Continue reading...

It would have been unimaginable for previous leaders, but polls suggest the prime minister is in serious danger of losing his constituencyCould Boris Johnson lose his seat at the next general election? It’s a question that would have been risible for any other prime minister, but defeat in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency is not unthinkable.The local elections in London earlier this month saw a substantial swing towards Labour. A YouGov poll this weekend suggested Johnson would lose his seat if an election were held tomorrow. Electoral Calculus, which analyses national polling data, is also tentatively favouring a Labour win in the west London constituency. Continue reading...

Orange Order parade in Belfast comes after Covid-19 pandemic postponed last year’s celebrationsMore than 10,000 people gathered at Stormont to celebrate the centenary of Northern Ireland.While political deadlock remains, people at the centenary event were upbeat and in a relaxed mood as they fanned out across the grounds of Stormont to celebrate the past, present and future of Northern Ireland. Continue reading...

Families fleeing war are increasingly relying on charity as rising energy costs hit household budgetsA London host of a Ukrainian family has written to her local food bank “begging for help” because rising energy costs mean she can no longer afford to feed her new guests.The Ukrainian family, now coming to a food bank in Euston, north London, every week, is among a growing number of recently arrived refugees from the war-torn country relying on handouts to survive, according to charities. Continue reading...

The hunt is now on for missing exhibits from the event that helped to transform a post-industrial cityHow does an operational railway, an entire rotunda or indeed a three-metre-tall working sculpture of a floating tap manage to go missing? For five months over the spring and summer of 1988, each enjoyed a home on Glasgow’s riverside alongside hundreds of other rides, attractions and exhibits, as part of the city’s garden festival. But then, in the mists of time, they disappeared.Now an online project appealing to the public and an archaeological dig, which starts this weekend, will attempt to uncover the whereabouts of these long-lost objects. Continue reading...

Vessels with ties to Russian oligarchs hit by sanctions are no longer reporting their position to an automatic global locatorIn the sparkling azure waters of Antigua, the gleaming £95m superyacht Alfa Nero could be seen at anchor last week by sightseers enjoying the Caribbean coastline. But few of the tourists who spotted its sleek black hull would have appreciated that it was quite a find.Since the invasion of Ukraine, the superyacht, which is linked to the Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, has vanished off the global tracking maps used to locate marine traffic. Continue reading...

Initiative, suggested by employee, part of retailer’s partnership with Bowel Cancer UKMarks & Spencer will add information about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer on its toilet roll packaging in a move inspired by the cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James.The changes, which come into effect from September, are part of the retailer’s partnership with Bowel Cancer UK. M&S will also make a £50,000 donation to the charity which James, who has incurable bowel cancer, represents as a patron. Continue reading...

Group who worked with UK media to sue government over failure to relocate them to BritainA group of Afghan journalists who worked closely with the UK media for years have revealed how they face beatings, death threats and months in hiding, and accuse the government of reneging on a pledge to bring them to Britain.Having fought in vain for clearance to come to the UK since the return of Taliban rule last summer, the eight journalists are now taking legal action against the government. They have applied for a judicial review after waiting months for their applications to relocate to the UK to be processed. They report only receiving standard response emails from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) programme. Continue reading...

Three years after protests toppled Omar al-Bashir, activists hope to bring down another government with little more than phones, placards and motorbikesA small house on a street in central Khartoum, lost among the dusty blocks of offices and cheap hotels but not difficult to find. On the wall outside, a slightly faded portrait of the smiling young man who once lived here: Abdulsalam Kisha.Inside, half a dozen men and a woman are meeting, planning, eating, joking. These self-styled “revolutionaries” do not belong to a political party, or even a defined organisation. Instead, they are part of a coalition of hundreds of grassroots associations across Sudan’s towns and cities coordinated by activists who hope to bring down a powerful military regime with little more than placards, smartphones and motorbikes. The efforts of these “resistance committees” in Sudan are being watched – with hope by many, anxiety by autocratic leaders – across a swathe of the Middle East and Africa. Continue reading...

Abdulrazak Gurnah said imperial attitudes were fuelled by the government withholding details of Britain’s colonial pastThe Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah has said he suspects the British empire is “still important in Britain” and may well have played a part in the Brexit vote.The author, 73, born in Zanzibar, told the audience at the Hay festival that he believes there was a sense of “we can go alone, because we’ve done it before” among voters in the 2016 referendum. Continue reading...

CEO says brand must enter refurbished boot market, which could account for 15% of sales in 10 years’ timeDr Martens is looking to stomp into the repair and resale market on the back of a new collaboration with the online secondhand clothing marketplace Depopas demand surges for refurbished fashion.Kenny Wilson, the British footwear brand’s chief executive, said it was possible that refurbished or secondhand boots could account for up to 15% of sales in 10 years’ time and it was important to work out how to play a part in that market. Continue reading...

A look at some of the more … unusual merch available in honour of the platinum milestoneThe memorabilia industry has cranked into action for the Queen’s platinum jubilee – but not all products on the real and virtual high street are destined to become family heirlooms … Continue reading...

When journalists faced jail for reporting on Ukraine, Viktor Muchnik closed down his Siberian TV station and left for ArmeniaOn the ninth day of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, editor-in-chief Viktor Muchnik gathered the staff of TV2 for a meeting at their small newsroom in the Siberian city of Tomsk.New wartime laws meant the whole newsroom risked jailtime for reporting on the conflict, Muchnik told them, and TV2 had just been officially blocked by Russia’s communications watchdog, along with many other independent media outlets. Continue reading...

The sacked garment workers had fought for fair compensation since the factory closed in March 2021More than 1,000 sacked Thai garment workers who made bras at a factory supplying lingerie firm Victoria’s Secret have received a landmark $8.3m settlement, labour rights activists have said.Brilliant Alliance Thai closed down its Samut Prakan factory in March 2021 after going bankrupt. Continue reading...

A 51-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, West Mercia police saidA man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman’s body was found in Worcestershire.West Mercia police said the man, 30, was arrested on Friday after the body was discovered in Wast Hills Lane in Hopwood. Continue reading...

Former Royal Marine Ben Grant has told how he helped in the rescue after a Russian ambush north of Kharkiv

Michael O’Neill had been driving trucks in war-torn country to help civilians flee and transport the wounded, sister says

It is now a three-person race to lead the Coalition’s junior partner with the deputy leader joining Darren Chester in announcing intention to nominate

Prime minister says Labor ‘won’t drop the ball’ as Samoa signs agreement with China; the Greens’ Stephen Bates claims victory in seat of Brisbane. This blog is now closed

The Canvas’s founder says takings were so low as cost of living crisis bites she thought tills were brokenThe founder of a London social enterprise that gives free meals to refugees and the homeless has said it is at risk of closure because the cost of living crisis has led to a collapse in sales and donations.Ruth Rogers, the founder of The Canvas in the East End of London, said there had been a dramatic collapse in trade in its cafe in recent weeks, with takings so low that one day she thought its tills were broken. Continue reading...

Analysis: Implications of Greens wins could be decades-long – for both Labor and the LNP

Officials appeal for more western help as Russian forces pound region; Independent report says enough evidence to conclude Russia is inciting genocide

Suella Braverman says schools can treat pupils who identify as trans as if they were their birth sex because under-18s cannot legally change sexThe attorney-general, Suella Braverman, has declared that schools do not have to accommodate children who want to change gender under current legislation.

Woman, 46, also arrested after victim dies following suspected knife attack in WolverhamptonA teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a 15-year-old boy in Wolverhampton.The victim was found injured near a canal bridge in the suburb of Pendeford at around 4.15pm on Friday and later died. Police believe he had been stabbed. Continue reading...

Officers responded to reports of a man in his late teens or early 20s carrying a firearm in Scarborough’s Port Union areaPolice in Toronto have shot and killed a man after he was spotted carrying a rifle near an elementary school, prompting an emergency lockdown for hundreds of students.Officers responded to reports of a man, described as being in his late teens or early 20s, carrying a firearm in Scarborough’s Port Union area of the Canadian city about 1pm. Continue reading...

IRGC forces swoop on ships in what appeared to be a reprisal for Greece’s role in earlier seizure of Iranian oil tankerIran has seized two Greek tankers in helicopter-launched attacks in the Gulf amid a dramatic rise in tension and violent incidents in the region.Forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) descended on the tankers – one of which was named as the Prudent Warrior – in helicopters in what appeared to be a reprisal for the Greek government’s role in assisting the US seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in the Mediterranean in a sanctions-enforcement action earlier in the week. Continue reading...

Exclusive: President of south-east Asian nation says Australia used cover of ‘supposedly altruistic foreign aid program’ to spy on behalf of oil companies

Sir Bob Neill submits letter of no confidence as rule-breaking parties ‘undermined trust’ in political process

UK airports, ports and roads under pressure with Dover passengers facing long queues and motorists warned of major jamsEasyJet has cancelled more than 200 flights over half-term from London Gatwick, upending the plans of tens of thousands of holidaymakers in the busiest period for air travel since the pandemic.The last-minute cancellations came the day after the airline, Britain’s biggest by passenger numbers, suffered IT problems that left a further 200 flights unable to take off, and followed cancellations earlier in the day at London Gatwick in the early morning peak. Continue reading...

Decision setting parole eligibility at 25 years could give hope to at least 18 mass killers serving multiple life sentencesCanada’s supreme court has ruled that life sentences without the chance of parole are both “cruel” and unconstitutional, in a landmark decision that could give more than dozen mass killers who committed “inherently despicable acts” the faint hope of release in the future.The court unanimously determined on Friday that sentencing killers to lengthy prison terms with little hope of freedom risked bringing the “administration of justice into disrepute”. Continue reading...

Analysis: Increases to income and corporation tax and higher NICs have contributed to the biggest UK tax burden since the 1950sDuring his two years at the Treasury, Rishi Sunak’s tax policy has been characterised by large temporary cuts – to cushion the financial blow from the pandemic – followed by even larger and permanent rises running up to, and beyond, the next election in 2024.The chancellor stressed that bringing down the annual deficit was a priority after he spent £400bn more than he had planned in 2020 keeping the economy afloat. With little room to cut welfare, as witnessed by this week’s £15bn of extra spending to cope with the cost of living crisis, he said the Treasury’s finances could only be shored up with higher taxes. Continue reading...

Retailers report party paraphernalia selling in huge volumes ahead of royal celebrationsBunting is an essential ingredient of any street or garden party but there are now fears of a shortage ahead of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations, amid a scramble for party supplies.Patriotic shoppers have been snapping up bunting, party hats and cake stands in huge volumes ahead of the bank holiday weekend. However, the huge spike in sales had caught some retailers off guard, leading to some products selling out completely. Continue reading...

In response to murder of Bobbi-Anne McLeod, men and boys will be coached in how to respond to misogynistic behaviourMen and boys in a British city rocked by horrific crimes against women will be coached to become “active bystanders”, able and prepared to challenge misogynistic behaviour as part of a range of safety initiatives.The training is to take place in schools, businesses and social settings such as sports clubs across Plymouth, with males being taught how to challenge inappropriate behaviour and language aimed at women and girls. Continue reading...

Lawyers announce that Abu Aqleh’s death earlier this month has been added to case submitted in AprilThe family of the killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh has allowed her death to be added to a legal complaint being taken to the international criminal court, arguing that Israeli security forces have been systematically targeting Palestinian journalists in violation of international humanitarian law.The case originally submitted in April by Bindmans had focused on four Palestinian journalists wearing press helmets and vests, two of whom were maimed and two shot dead. It also covers alleged attacks on Gaza media infrastructure in May 2021. Continue reading...

Australia wants to show region it is a reliable partner, says foreign minister, and to make up for a ‘lost decade on climate action’

Winding-up petition issued to fashion firm by suppliers owed millions of poundsThe online clothing retailer Missguided is teetering on the brink of collapse after being issued a winding-up petition by clothing suppliers who are owed millions of pounds.The fast fashion company, which made headlines with its £1 bikini three years ago, is understood to be close to calling in administrators from the insolvency specialists Teneo as early as Monday. Continue reading...

Page and Deacon both won the Red Ochre prizes at the 2022 First Nations Arts awards on Friday night for their life work

Author who has previously called himself a Conservative tells Hay festival he ‘can’t understand’ the government’s actionsThe writer Anthony Horowitz has said he is “still waiting to see the benefit” of Brexit and criticised Boris Johnson’s government, despite having previously called himself a Conservative.Speaking at the Hay festival, the author of the Alex Rider novels said he had been “already moving more to the left” before the 2016 referendum, but that Britain’s decision to leave the EU made him “very personally upset”. Continue reading...

Quake struck to east of Timor-Leste, with residents in Northern Territory capital reporting strong shaking

Actor also details ‘unspoken rules’ about how friends can touch her and says ‘Johnny has taken enough of my voice’Testimony ended Thursday in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation case with Heard telling jurors that she suffers minute-by-minute harassment, including death threats, and daily trauma requiring special “rules” in her life to prevent anxiety attacks.“My friends have to live with a set of unspoken rules about how they can touch me,” the 36-year-old Aquaman actor told the court in what amounted to the final reel of the hearing in the long-running case. Continue reading...

Inspectors warn services must improve, as Shropshire baby deaths inquiry midwife to lead reviewInspectors have found “serious problems remain” at maternity units in Nottingham that are at the centre of a review into dozens of baby deaths and injuries.The healthcare regulator for England has given a safety warning to Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust and said it must make “significant and immediate improvements” to its maternity services. Continue reading...

E-commerce company’s revenues rise 9% to 204bn yuan despite weakening economyChinese technology shares jumped after strong results from internet companies, including better-than-expected sales at the e-commerce firm Alibaba despite an economic slowdown driven by Beijing’s Covid-19 lockdowns.The Hangzhou-based company beat analysts’ forecasts with its sales and profit figures for the first quarter despite a weakening economy, and it did better than local rivals such as Tencent. Revenues rose 9% to 204bn yuan (£24bn) in the first three months of the year. Continue reading...

Parades with Caribbean dancers and music will wend their way through the festival site, ending with steel band performancesNotting Hill carnival will partner with Glastonbury festival for the first time this year, filling the site’s already colourful walkways with Caribbean floats and processions.Until the Covid-19 pandemic, the carnival had been staged every year by west London’s Caribbean communities since the event coalesced in the mid-1960s – eventually becoming Europe’s largest annual street party. However, it has not been staged since 2019 after two carnivals were cancelled owing to Covid fears. Livestreamed events were held online in their place. Continue reading...

Evidence appears to show illicit payments taken from workers harvesting produce for M&S, Tesco and WaitroseDitya*, a single mother from Nepal, is used to travelling abroad for work. For years she has made a living as a migrant farm worker, where she can earn several times what she would in her home country. Last year she applied to become part of the UK government’s seasonal worker visa scheme, picking fruit and vegetables on a farm in Herefordshire that supplies fresh produce to Marks & Spencer (M&S), Tesco and Waitrose.Ditya got the job, but it came at a huge cost. In order to secure it, she says she had to pay more than £3,000 – almost a third of what she earned during the six-month post – to recruitment agents. Continue reading...