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PM sets out his side of events relating to appointment and security vetting in address to parliament

Romantic poet's letters to Fanny Brawne, dated between 1819 and 1820, had been stolen from a Long Island estateEight original handwritten letters from the Romantic poet John Keats to his muse and one passion", Fanny Brawne, were returned to the family of John Hay Jock" Whitney, the former US ambassador to the UK, on Monday after being stolen from Whitney's home in the 1980s.Keats' letters, including the first letter he ever wrote to Brawne, are dated between 1819 and 1820. Valued at approximately $2m, the 37 letters are held in a gilt morocco-bound portfolio. Brawne was Keats's neighbor in Hampstead, with whom he became infatuated and elevated to muse and goddess. Continue reading...

Schools say Colorado violated their rights by excluding them from state-funded program over admission policies

Sgt Celestino Chavez Jr, accounted for in 2025, given full burial honors and posthumous medals in New MexicoThe remains of a US soldier who went missing in action during the Korean war were identified by DNA analysis, and he was recently laid to rest in his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico, authorities said.US army Sgt Celestino Chavez Jr's burial ended a decades-long saga that began with him being wounded while defending his post near the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir in North Korea and then being taken to an aid station on 30 November 1950. Chavez, 19, was then reported missing in action three days later, when enemy fighters attacked his convoy. Continue reading...

New Hungarian leader says he could sign a political agreement with the EU in mid-MayThe commission also got asked about the Italian proposals for a wild west-style bounties" that could be paid to Italian lawyers if they successfully convince their immigrant clients to return home.Our Rome correspondent Angela Giuffrida reported on the controversial proposal over the weekend: Continue reading...

Bets placed on Middle East conflict has led to US firm experiencing big increase in volumePolymarket, the online prediction platform that hosts bets on events such as the Iran war, is in talks to raise $400m (296m) at a valuation of up to $15bn.The company has gained notoriety in recent months over wagers placed on the Middle East conflict, including on the timing of US-Israel strikes against Iran, and on a US-Iran ceasefire, some of which appeared to bear signs of insider trading. Continue reading...

The 82-year-old was accused of abusing girls in the 1960s but was acquitted in Perth despite judge finding the alleged victim was probably telling the truth

Morris pursued dual passions of zoology and surrealist art, presenting BBC documentaries and hosting exhibitionsThe zoologist Desmond Morris, perhaps best known for his book the Naked Ape and his work on the ITV programme Zoo Time, has died aged 98.Morris's son Jason paid tribute to him after his death on Sunday, praising his many professional achievements as well as his role as a father and grandfather. Continue reading...

Claims system launches months after supreme court ruled Trump had no legal authority to impose tariffs

Housing secretary also targets Reform as May elections loom, saying Farage more interested in Trump than own constituencyThe Greens have welcomed activists kicked out of Labour for antisemitic views and people should be very careful" who they vote for next month, one of Keir Starmer's most senior ministers has said in a notable stepping-up of attacks on Zack Polanski's party.In a double-pronged attack on the two parties expected to make big gains in the elections on 7 May, Steve Reed also accused Nigel Farage of being more interested in talking to Donald Trump then representing his Clacton constituency. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Home secretary understood to have withdrawn authorisation for speaker at Unite the Kingdom rally in MayA US-based anti-Islam influencer who had been authorised to attend a far-right rally in London has been blocked from entering the UK by the home secretary.Valentina Gomez, a self-styled Maga influencer, was given permission last week to enter via a UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Continue reading...

People in affected areas are still urged to evacuate after quake registering 7.7 magnitudeAustralian officials in Japan are urgently following up on the tsunami warning off the northeastern coast of the island of Honshu.The Australian government said:We stand ready to provide consular assistance.Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 (if calling from overseas). Continue reading...

Prime minister details efforts to attract investment and sign trade deals with other countries in 10-minute video addressCanada's strong economic ties to the United States were once a strength but are now a weakness that must be corrected, the country's prime minister has warnedIn a 10-minute video address, Mark Carney spoke about his government's efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy by attracting new investments and signing trade deals with other countries. Continue reading...

Documents also show US ambassadorial appointment was offered higher tiers' briefing before vetting was finalisedThe then cabinet secretary, Simon Case, appeared to advise Keir Starmer to complete security vetting for Peter Mandelson before announcing an appointment, documents reveal.The documents released last month by the Cabinet Office as part of the disclosures over the US ambassadorial appointment also show Mandelson was offered a higher tiers" briefing before his vetting was finalised. Continue reading...

Judge throws out claim by the singer's father over the sale of items she once ownedAmy Winehouse's father has lost a high court claim against two of his daughter's friends over the auctioning of items once owned by the singer.Mitch Winehouse, acting as the administrator of his daughter's estate, sued her stylist Naomi Parry and friend Catriona Gourlay over claims they profited from selling dozens of items at auctions in the US in 2021 and 2023. Continue reading...

FTSE 100 slides and UK gas prices up amid fears strait of Hormuz will be closed for extended period

Data shows 224,000 new EVs were registered in March, with Norway leading way in terms of switching

Seville could see 34C this week and parts of Brazil could hit high 30s, while storms forecast in southern AfricaOver the course of this week, temperatures in Spain are expected to soar well above the seasonal average. Daytime temperatures could reach about 30C in Madrid on Tuesday, 10C above the norm, while Seville may experience 34C, about 9C above its late April average. An area of low pressure situated out in the Atlantic will allow for a south-westerly flow, introducing warm air from north Africa. In addition to this heat, a notable dust plume is expected to travel northwards from the Sahara, covering the skies above Iberia and south-western France, which may lead to some particularly orange or red skies at sunrise and sunset.In Brazil, high temperatures are forecast for the states of Sao Paulo, Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul and Santa Catarina over the next few days, eventually spreading into Minas Gerais. Here, daytime maximum temperatures are expected to reach the high 30s celsius later in the week, about 5-10C above the seasonal average. Continue reading...

Greens criticise premier's extraordinary attack' on judiciary and urge him to accept he got it wrong'

Activists say clamp down on period products to target insurgents is gender-based violence and violates rightsMyanmar's military regime is expanding its ban on the distribution of period products, claiming they are being used to treat wounded resistance fighters, according to local activists.The south-east Asian country has been locked in civil war since 2021, when the military usurped the democratic government and launched a violent crackdown on dissidents. Artillery fire, the burning of townships and arbitrary arrests have become common in the years since then. Continue reading...

Stronger-than-expected win for former president could end years of weak coalition governmentsThe pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev is on course for a runaway victory in Bulgaria's election, official results show, potentially ending years of weak coalition governments and sidelining long-dominant political forces.The performance, surpassing opinion polls, is one of the strongest results by a single party in a generation and may end, for now, the instability that led to eight elections in five years. Continue reading...

Wilson denies allegations made by Charlotte MacInnes, who she claims told her about uncomfortable situation with producer

Reviews website features pages praising unlicensed sites' supposed qualities as if they were legitimate businessesTrustpilot, the reviews website that offers to find a company you can trust", is hosting ratings of illegal casinos, raising concerns in Westminster about the potential risks posed to consumers.Unlicensed casino operators linked to financial harm, addiction and even suicide have flooded the UK market in recent years, often targeting people who are trying to limit their gambling by self-excluding" from licensed operators. Continue reading...

Douglas Alexander says lessons need to be learned but he expects Keir Starmer will continue as PMIt was a mistake to announce Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US before he was security vetted for the role, one of Keir Starmer's senior ministers has said before the prime minister's statement to MPs about the scandal.With Starmer aiming to explain to the Commons on Monday afternoon why he did not know the Foreign Office had overruled a decision to refuse Mandelson vetting, some senior government figures believe the coming week could decide whether or not he remains in No 10. Continue reading...

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Office for Students plans new complaints system as Bridget Phillipson says academics too often are being silencedUniversities in England that fail to protect free speech could face fines of 500,000 or 2% of their income, and in some cases risk losing public funding, under a new complaints system, the government has said.The Office for Students (OfS) will run a first-of-its-kind" scheme from the new academic year allowing university staff, external speakers, and non-student members to raise concerns about providers, the Department for Education (DfE) said. Continue reading...

Trump says cargo ship tried to get past US naval blockade near strait of Hormuz and it did not go well for them'

In today's newsletter: As questions mount over transparency and accountability in the ambassadorial appointment process, the political fallout continues to spread across Keir Starmer's governmentGood morning. Today the prime minister will face parliament in the wake of the Guardian's exclusive revelation that during the process of appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, the former New Labour prince of darkness" failed UK security vetting - something Keir Starmer says he was not told about.On Friday, Starmer said he was absolutely furious" and described the situation as totally unacceptable". But the episode has once again raised questions about his political judgment, with opposition parties - and some of his own MPs - calling for his resignation.Iran | Tehran is not planning to take part in new talks with the US in Islamabad, Iranian state media reported, as its military accused America of violating a fragile ceasefire by attacking a cargo ship.US news | At least eight children were killed and two adults wounded in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana. Police said the suspect, who died after a police pursuit, killed seven of his own children and wounded their mother, as well as killing another child.UK politics | Keir Starmer will deliver a high-stakes statement to MPs on Monday setting out how Peter Mandelson was able to take up his role as UK ambassador without the Foreign Office revealing it had overruled the decision to fail his vetting.Protest | Seven people from an activist group calling for higher taxes on the super-rich have been arrested by police on suspicion of conspiracy to steal after a plot to steal from high-end stores was uncovered.Crime | A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car hit pedestrians in central London in the early hours of yesterday morning. A woman in her 30s was in hospital in a critical condition and a man in his 50s suffered life-changing injuries. Continue reading...

Band shows montage of leaders whose death or ousting the CIA has been proven or suspected to have been part ofUS band the Strokes have used their Coachella set to make a stark political statement against America's history of foreign intervention and war in other countries, including Iran and Palestine.At the end of their set at the second weekend of the California music festival, the band performed their 2016 song Oblivius in front of giant LED screens that showed a montage of world leaders whose death or ousting the CIA has either been a proven or suspected party in, as lead singer Julian Casablancas sang the lyrics: What side you standing on?" Continue reading...

Exclusive: Publication broke embargo on confidential briefing note about the royal couple's movements five days before they arrived in Melbourne for their Australia visitThe Daily Mail's aggressive" approach to reporting on Prince Harry and Meghan's Australian visit has irreparably damaged" the Sussexes' ability to brief press ahead of trips, Guardian Australia has been told.The Daily Mail's Australian website broke an embargo by publishing details of the royal couple's movements five days before they landed in Melbourne, despite that information being strictly non-publishable until they arrived. Continue reading...

First recorded in 687BC, the meteoroids were once part of the tail of a comet discovered in 1861This week, the annual Lyrid meteor shower returns to the spring skies. Although active since 16 April, the shower peaks during the late evening of Wednesday 22 April and early the next morning.The chart shows the view looking east from London at 00.01 (BST) on Thursday 23 April. The origin point of the meteors, known as the radiant, is labelled Lyrids. It sits in the constellation of Lyra, the Lyre, close to the bright star of Vega. Continue reading...

Former minister leading review into young people and work cites survey showing most teachers decry lack of soft skills'An exam-obsessed" school system is leaving young people unprepared for work, Alan Milburn has said, as new polling suggests teachers believe pupils are leaving education without the skills they need for adult life.Milburn, a former cabinet minister under Tony Blair and now leading a government-commissioned review into young people and work, said the system had become overly focused on academic sorting rather than real-world readiness. Continue reading...

Head of newly formed institution questions whether naming is reflective of our current reality' amid criticism of shameful' fossil fuel company promotion

National Gallery, the Box in Plymouth and the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge also shortlisted for 120,000 Art Fund prizeThe V&A East Storehouse, the National Gallery and an accessible castle in Norwich are among the contenders for this year's Art Fund museum of the year award, the most prestigious UK prize in the sector.The annual prize offers the winner 120,000, with 20,000 going to each of the other finalists, who the Art Fund's director, Jenny Waldman, said had all innovated in different ways". Continue reading...

Zoological Society of London commissions poet laureate for animation to mark its 200th anniversaryOver its two centuries, acclaimed writers and artists have found inspiration at London zoo, from Edwin Landseer's Trafalgar Square lions, to AA Milne's naming Winnie" after resident bear Winnipeg, and Sylvia Plath's poem Zoo Keeper's Wife.Plath's husband, Ted Hughes, who would become poet laureate, worked at the zoo briefly as a dish washer, an experience said to have helped fuel his inspiration for The Thought-Fox. Continue reading...

As fossil fuel prices soar the era of clean energy security must come of age', energy secretary will sayEd Miliband will double down on Labour's commitment to net zero in the face of the Middle East conflict this week, insisting that as fossil fuel prices soar the era of clean energy security must come of age".The energy secretary is set to announce a package of new policies in a speech on Tuesday in response to an expected energy crisis prompted by Donald Trump's war with Iran. Continue reading...

Report says lack of provision is harmful to health and damaging for high streetsThe number of public toilets in England has fallen by 14% in a decade, harming public health and creating vast swathes of lavatory deserts" and unpleasant environments, a report says.The analysis by the Royal Society for Public Health found a significant shortfall" in provision, with 15,481 people for each public toilet in England. That contrasts sharply with Scotland, where there are 8,500 people for each toilet, and Wales, with 6,748. Continue reading...

Vulnerable children placed in caravans, Airbnbs and holiday camps, with children's commissioner saying practice must stopMinisters must get to grips with the national scandal" of England's shadow child social care system, the children's commissioner has warned, as a shocking new report reveals the number of children in unregulated settings has increased by more than 370% in five years.Some of the most vulnerable children in England are being temporarily placed in unregulated caravans, Airbnbs and holiday camps, which risk the accumulation of increasing levels of harm for children who have already faced enough distress for several lifetimes", according to a new report. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed.UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the killing of a French peacekeeper and the wounding of three others in an attack in southern Lebanon, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement to the Associated Press.The UN peacekeeping force came under attack with small-arms fire on Saturday morning, with two of the injured hurt seriously, France's president and the force known as UNIFIL said. Continue reading...

Blaze struck a water village' that is home to some of Malaysia's poorest residentsA huge fire destroyed about 1,000 makeshift homes, many of them built on stilts over water, and displaced thousands of people in a coastal village in Malaysia's Sabah state on Sunday, authorities said.The blaze broke out early on Sunday morning in a water village" in Sandakan district in Sabah's northeast, where some of Malaysia's poorest residents, including indigenous and stateless communities, live in closely packed, wooden stilt houses. Continue reading...

FC Basel and Polish stadium stop US rapper's upcoming shows, after similar cancellations in France and UK over antisemitic commentsKanye West's upcoming concerts in Poland and Switzerland have been cancelled, as a growing number of European countries have stopped or postponed the US rapper's performances amid a furore over his past antisemitic comments.Swiss football club FC Basel, which is responsible for concerts and events that take place at its St Jakob-Park ground, told Reuters on Saturday that after reviewing a request for West to perform there in June, it decided against it. Continue reading...

Government sources in multiple states say they are worried about the breadth of the changes and possible costs

Catholics around Atlanta share mixed feelings on faith and politics as Trump engages in rhetorical war with popeAlex Sullivan tended to his five children on the lawn after a traditional Latin mass at the Catholic Church of Saint Monica in Duluth, Georgia, and contemplated his faith in the light of God and the shadow of Donald Trump.Sullivan, a self-described conservative who once staffed a libertarian state representative at the Georgia capitol, described his faith as almost medieval. Continue reading...

Shreveport police say suspect Shamar Elkins, who was fatally shot, killed seven of his children and injured their mother in a domestic violence incident'

Retail analysts say breaking up food and fashion group would make sense in challenging business environmentPrimark may break free from Kingsmill, Twinings and the sugar business this week when Associated British Foods announces plans on a mooted demerger.The potential split comes at a tricky time for the group controlled by the billionaire Weston family, with its fashion and food arms facing tough competition and rising costs. Continue reading...

Federal prosecutor says woman is suspected of dealing weapons to Africa on behalf of Iranian governmentA California woman was arrested at Los Angeles international airport after allegedly trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government to contacts in Africa, including Sudan.Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills was detained on Saturday night by federal agents, according to the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles. Continue reading...

Reported response comes hours after Trump announced delegation to Islamabad, having earlier threatened to raze Iran's infrastructure

Exclusive: deputy PM says UK will not join Iran conflict despite Trump's sometimes incomprehensible' social-media barbsDonald Trump's insults towards Keir Starmer are small and petty" and designed to put pressure on the prime minister to change his position on Iran, David Lammy has said, as he insisted the UK would not get dragged into the conflict.The deputy prime minister argued the US president should be able to disagree agreeably" with allies rather than publishing attacks on social media, and that US actions had made things worse, not better" as far as global instability was concerned. Continue reading...

Prime minister to deliver high-stakes statement to MPs over vetting controversy that has put his position in perilKeir Starmer will deliver a high-stakes statement to MPs on Monday as he struggles to overcome fears inside his government that the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal could yet cost him his leadership.In what is set to be a dramatic showdown, the prime minister will set out how Mandelson was able to take up his role as UK ambassador without the Foreign Office revealing it had overruled the decision to fail his vetting. Continue reading...

Ahead of a showdown with MPs, prime minister looks like a man who is not really in control in his own governmentKeir Starmer has spent much of the last 24 hours working on a plan for what senior government figures are already describing as his judgment day": his showdown with MPs on Monday over the latest Peter Mandelson revelations.That the prime minister was apparently not told of Mandelson's vetting failure has provoked incredulity across Westminster and accusations he sacked a senior civil servant to save his premiership. Continue reading...