by Yohannes Lowe (now) and Tom Ambrose (earlier) on (#6WS86)
Dmitry Peskov says Russia ready to consider Zelenskyy's proposal to halt attacks on infrastructure such as energy facilities as Ukraine says Russian attacks have killed sixBritish prime minister Keir Starmer praised the resilience" of Ukrainians as he addressed personnel taking part in training being provided by British personnel and other allies to Ukrainian troops.Addressing Ukrainians taking part in the programme to train troops, the prime minister thanked them for attending and said it is incredible to see the resilience and inspiration that you have" as they head to the Russian frontline. Continue reading...
Retailer reports issue to National Cyber Security Centre after tills stopped working in some stores from SaturdayMarks & Spencer has apologised to customers after a cyber incident" affected contactless payments and the pick up of online orders in it stores in recent days.The retailer told shoppers that delays to click and collect orders currently continued but it was working hard to resolve" the issue. Continue reading...
Nerys Lloyd, 39, being sentenced after admitting gross negligence manslaughter over incident on swollen riverRelatives of two of the four people who lost their lives in a paddleboarding tragedy on a swollen river have fiercely criticised a former police officer who led the tour over a weir despite having only basic qualifications.Family members claimed that Nerys Lloyd was arrogant to guide the group on the river in south-west Wales despite the conditions and her lack of expertise and had shown no remorse over her failings. Continue reading...
The announcement that members must watch all films nominated in a category in order to vote for the winner, is met with disbelief that it wasn't already the caseA new rule introduced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to ensure voters have seen all the films in a category before they cast their ballots has provoked disquiet online, with many expressing surprise it wasn't already a requirement.A raft of measures were announced by the Oscars governing body on Monday, including the stipulation that Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars". Continue reading...
by Prosper Heri Ngorora in Goma and Carlos Mureithi i on (#6WS9N)
People traumatised by conflict have queued outside the Saint Vincent de Paul neuropsychiatric hospital in Goma each day since free scheme launchedOn a sunny morning in the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army raged earlier this year, men and women rushed towards a line of chairs outside a medical facility.Since 24 March, the Saint Vincent de Paul neuropsychiatric hospital, a medical facility for people with mental health issues, has been offering free consultations on a first-come first-served basis for people affected by the fighting. Dozens have lined up to be seen each day. Continue reading...
Visitors to Buckingham Palace will be able to see works by official tour artists who accompanied visits to 96 countriesForty years ago the then Prince of Wales invited, at his own expense, the artist John Ward to join an official visit to Italy as an official tour artist, with the brief to draw or paint whatever inspired him.Since then, 42 artists to have undertaken this role, collectively visiting 95 countries during 69 tours, with their work now going on display at Buckingham Palace. Continue reading...
Broadcaster says corporation wants to bring in new people, and says he does not regret criticism of Tory asylum policyGary Lineker has suggested the BBC wanted him to leave Match of the Day, ahead of his departure next month after more than a quarter of the century at the helm of the show.In an interview with Amol Rajan for the BBC, Lineker discussed his departure from the football highlights programme, which was announced late last year. Continue reading...
Death of young woman whose body was found in creek on Central Coast not initially treated as suspiciousPolice have revealed they were uneasy about attributing a teenage sportswoman's death to an accident before new information sparked murder charges.The body of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin was discovered partially submerged in Erina Creek on the New South Wales Central Coast on 24 March after she went missing on a night out. Continue reading...
The New Zealand First member's bill is a long shot to become law as it has to be selected at random from a ballot and then garner majority supportA populist party in New Zealand's governing coalition has introduced a bill to parliament that if enacted would define women and men by their biology, preventing trans women and men being recognised by law.The New Zealand First member's bill is a long shot to become law as it has to be selected at random from a ballot and then garner majority support in parliament. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: He was an unpredictable leader unafraid to upset traditionalists, but was he really a liberal figure - and will his changes last?Good morning. On Sunday, after a 38-day hospitalisation, Pope Francis greeted crowds in St Peter's Square and wished them a happy Easter. At 7.35am yesterday, he died at the age of 88, of a stroke and subsequent heart faillure.He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is tasked with running the Vatican's day-to-day affairs until a new pontiff is chosen. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."Benefits | Ministers are privately ruling out scrapping the two-child benefit cap despite warnings from charities that a failure to do so could result in the highest levels of child poverty since records began. Government sources said charities and Labour MPs hoping for a change are listening to the wrong people".Israel-Gaza war | Humanitarian agencies have rejected the findings of an Israeli military investigation that concluded the killings of 15 Palestinian medics and rescue workers last month were caused by professional failures". Jonathan Whittall, the UN's humanitarian chief for Gaza, said the report represented a lack of real accountability".Ukraine | Vladimir Putin has said for the first time in years that he is open to bilateral talks with Ukraine - having previously demanded that Volodymyr Zelenskyy be replaced before it could happen. Zelenskyy, whom the Russian ruler has falsely called an illegitimate president, meanwhile said Kyiv was prepared for any discussion to halt attacks on civilian targets.US universities | Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging it is trying to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard". The move comes in response to a freeze on billions in federal funding over the university's refusal to accept demands including an attempt to enforce viewpoint diversity" in teaching.UK news | Almost 250 people have been imprisoned for breaching antisocial behaviour injunctions since 2020, with people being jailed for sleeping rough, begging, feeding birds and making a noise. Analysis by academics at York and Coventry universities found that more than half of people jailed had no legal representation at their hearings. Continue reading...
Disney+ series revisits killing of Brazilian man wrongly identified as a terrorist by Met police officers in 2005The mother of a man shot dead by police in a London Underground station after being mistaken for a terrorist has said everyone should watch" a new dramatisation of her son's killing.Jean Charles de Menezes was shot seven times by two police marksmen in Stockwell tube station on 22 July 2005. De Menezes was wrongly identified as one of the fugitives involved in a failed bombing two weeks after the 7/7 attack in London, which killed 52 people. Continue reading...
Campaigners say most common problem are sticky keys' that fails to record registration numbers correctlyThousands of drivers in England are being sent demands for up to 170 from private parking companies because of faulty ticket machines, campaigners have said.Many private car parks require motorists to input their vehicle registration when purchasing a ticket from a machine, which is supposed to ensure they do not receive a parking fine. Continue reading...
Pope Francis, an outsider Jesuit pontiff from Argentina, is being mourned across the globe - here is the front-page reaction in BritainThe death of Pope Francis has reverberated around the world, with the Catholic leader remembered by millions as a Jesuit pontiff who pushed for social and economic justice.Here is how the major British newspapers responded to the news. Continue reading...
From Timor-Leste to PNG and the Philippines, millions of Catholics are marking the death of Pope FrancisThe death of Pope Francis has left millions of people in south-east Asia and the Pacific in deep mourning, as they remember a Catholic leader known for his humility, interfaith commitment and dedication to their region.In tiny Timor-Leste, where more than 95% of people are Catholic, Francis was the first pope to visit since its independence. Continue reading...
Sources says government is not going to find a way' to ditch cap despite predictions that child poverty levels will soarMinisters are privately ruling out scrapping the two-child benefit cap despite warnings from charities that a failure to do so could result in the highest levels of child poverty since records began.Government sources said charities and Labour MPs who were concerned that wider benefit cuts would push more families into poverty should read the tea leaves" over Labour's plans. Continue reading...
by Agence France-Press at the United Nations on (#6WS1E)
Maria Isabel Salvador tells security council the country could face total chaos' without necessary international aidHaiti, where rampant gang violence has surged in recent weeks, is approaching a point of no return" leading to total chaos", the UN special representative to the troubled Caribbean nation has warned.As gang violence continues to spread to new areas of the country, Haitians experience growing levels of vulnerability and increasing skepticism about the ability of the state to respond to their needs," Maria Isabel Salvador told the UN securitycouncil. Continue reading...
UK prime minister and Christopher Luxon expected to sign 30m weapons deal and extend training of Ukrainian troopsKeir Starmer will seek to strengthen the UK's defence ties with New Zealand when he hosts the country's prime minister on Tuesday.When he meets Christopher Luxon, Starmer will discuss extending a training programme for Ukrainian troops run by the two countries and agree a new 30m weapons deal. Continue reading...
Suzanne Cherry, 62, was fatally struck by a van that was being pursued by police in StaffordshireThree men have been charged with manslaughter after a woman was fatally struck on a golf course by a van following a police pursuit.Suzanne Cherry, 62, died in hospital on 15 April, four days after she was struck by a van at Aston Wood golf club in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent on (#6WRZR)
Nayib Bukele offered to exchange 252 Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador for 252 prisoners in VenezuelaVenezuela's chief prosecutor has accused El Salvador's president of being a tyrannical" human trafficker after Nayib Bukele offered to exchange the 252 Venezuelan migrants deported to his country's prisons by Donald Trump for the same number of political prisoners in Venezuela.Bukele made the offer on Sunday night in a message addressed directly to his authoritarian counterpart Nicolas Maduro. I want to propose a humanitarian agreement that includes the repatriation of 100% of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release and delivery of an identical number ... of the thousands of political prisoners that you hold," El Salvador's leader posted. Continue reading...
Visit to New Delhi by VP and family has to navigate tensions over visas for Indian tech workers and farmers' hostility to lowering tariffsIndia's prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the US vice-president, JD Vance, have hailed significant progress" in negotiations toward a bilateral trade agreement, a deal that could help India avoid sharp tariff hikes announced by President Donald Trump.Vance, accompanied by second lady, Usha Vance, and their children - Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel - landed in the Indian capital earlier on Monday for a four-day visit combining high-level negotiations with family sightseeing. They were received at the airport by railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Vance stood under a red canopy that shielded him from the blazing sun as soldiers saluted and a military band played the US anthem. Continue reading...
Sun and showers will alternate this week and temperatures will return to the seasonal averagePack an umbrella, sunglasses and a warm coat is the message from forecasters who have said the weather is expected to be changeable this week with rain continuing across the UK after the previous dry spell.Much of the country will have alternating sunny spells and showers over the next few days and temperatures will be within the seasonal average of 14C (57F) to 18C (64F). Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#6WRSK)
Customers at SkiStar resort in Salen, one of Sweden's largest, say they deserve a partial refundOutraged skiers in northern Sweden claim they should have been given a discount after finding more mud than snow on the slopes at a popular ski destination.Visitors complained of slush, water and damaged equipment because there was insufficient snow for skiing. Continue reading...
Ola Raji's sisters ask public for support in finding killers of 21-year-old, who was shot and stabbed in PeckhamThe family of a 21-year-old student who was shot and stabbed while cycling home after watching a football match 10 years ago has renewed an appeal for the public's help to find those responsible.Ola Raji had spent the evening at a friend's house watching a Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Porto before he was killed in Peckham, south London on the night of Tuesday 21 April 2015. Continue reading...
Official claimed Jose Hermosillo, who was visiting Arizona, was without the proper immigration documents'Immigration officials detained a US citizen for nearly 10 days in Arizona, according to court records and press reports.As the NPR affiliate Arizona Public Media, first reported, 19-year-old Jose Hermosillo, a New Mexico resident visiting Arizona, was detained by border patrol agents in Nogales, a city along the Mexico border about an hour south of Tucson. Continue reading...
Ronen Bar, head of Israel's internal security service, says he was also asked to spy on anti-government protestersThe director of Israel's internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, has alleged that Benjamin Netanyahu fired him for refusing to pledge his loyalty to the prime minister over the courts and use the agency to spy on anti-government protesters.The continuing battle between Netanyahu and Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, has pushed Israel to the brink of a constitutional crisis, after the supreme court blocked a decision by Israel's cabinet to dismiss Bar from his post - the first Shin Bet head ever to be fired. Continue reading...
Chaotic cuts to CDC hit expert leadership and programs that surveil, test and research sexually transmitted diseasesThe Trump administration's cuts to a sexually transmitted infection lab at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comes as some states, such as Wisconsin, announce enormous increases in syphilis.Syphilis mitigation is just the latest example of work in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that will be affected by the lab's closure, as the Trump administration discards expert leadership and programs that surveil, test and research STIs amid chaotic government cuts. Continue reading...
The US vice-president's brief audience with the late pontiff came despite deep disagreements in recent monthsNot long before what would turn out to be his final public appearance, a blessing of the crowds who had gathered for Easter Sunday mass in St Peter's Square and an unexpected popemobile tour of the piazza, Pope Francis received a devout if perhaps unlikely visitor.Among the last people to see and speak to the pontiff in the hours before his death early on Monday morning was the US vice-president, JD Vance, a zealous, albeit comparatively recent, convert to Roman Catholicism. Continue reading...
Death of 267th head of Catholic church triggers period of global mourning and Vatican conclave of cardinals to elect successor. Plus, are Michelin stars a blessing or a curse?Good morning.Pope Francis, the pontiff revered by millions of Catholics around the world, whose popular appeal reached far beyond his global congregation, has died at the age of 88.When did he last appear in public? He appeared yesterday at the Vatican's St Peter's Square. The pope, 88, came out in a wheelchair and waved from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica saying to the crowds: Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter." However, his Easter address was delivered by a clergy member. The pope was then driven around the square.How has Trump reacted? The president downplayed the first incident, describing it as glitch". But the latest news is likely to add to growing criticism of the former Fox anchor's ability to manage the Pentagon, a massive organization, which operates in matters of life and death around the globe. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#6WRMD)
UK government expected to sell remaining stake in bailed-out bank in coming weeksThis week, NatWest will hold its last annual shareholder meeting before returning to full private ownership, with the government expected to sell its remaining stake in the bailed-out bank in the coming weeks.The bank, formerly known as Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), will host shareholders on Wednesday at its sprawling Gogarburn campus in Edinburgh, the 350m complex that became a symbol of the excesses that led to RBS's 46bn bailout in 2008. Continue reading...
by Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent on (#6WRK9)
Campaigners say extremely vulnerable women' are having to travel hundreds of miles to visit English clinicsCampaigners have warned Scottish ministers that they are failing in their legal and moral duties as growing numbers of extremely vulnerable women" have to travel hundreds of miles south because they cannot access later-term abortions in Scotland.Not one of Scotland's 14 regional health boards provide abortion care after 20 weeks except in the specific cases of foetal abnormality or threat to a woman's life. This is despite the Scottish government promising to rectify this explicit inequality" three years ago, and abortion being legal on broad grounds until 24 weeks across the UK. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6WRHN)
Hugh Kirsch's case one of wave of evictions of vulnerable residents caused by crisis in adult social care fundingA pensioner with severe learning disabilities who was a victim of one of the most notorious care home abuse scandals of recent years has been told he faces eviction over a dispute about who pays for the costs of his state-funded care.The family of Hugh Kirsch, 66, said they had been warned he would have to leave his supported home because the council that funds his care refused to increase fees in line with costs and his care provider could no longer afford to subsidise the price. Continue reading...
As a cardinal under the age of 80, the Ukrainian-born priest will be one of the select few Catholic leaders to gather in the Vatican for the papal conclave
by Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondent on (#6WRHS)
Darren Henley says regional arts leaders do not have same newspaper coverage as those in the capitalThe chief executive of Arts Council England has launched an impassioned defence of the organisation, claiming it has suffered because of London-centric" media coverage.Darren Henley, who saw in his 10th anniversary as Arts Council England CEO last week, told the Guardian there was an imbalance in media coverage. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England editor on (#6WRHT)
Thousands of digital natives' to be taught social skills, as employers say they are too afraid to speak on phoneThousands of gen Z students in Greater Manchester are to learn soft skills" such as empathy and time-management in a UK-first trial aimed at teaching everyday but essential" tools.The pioneering programme will teach young people how to thrive in the workplace after employers said digital natives" were too afraid to speak on the phone or do job interviews. Continue reading...
Heat spreads eastwards into the Baltics and western Russia, although colder air will sweep in by the weekendAfter a spell of record-breaking heat last week, eastern Europe and western parts of Russia will experience further unseasonable warmth in the next few days. The burst of mid-spring warmth began during the middle of last week, when temperatures climbed to the high 20s celsius in eastern Germany and Poland. By Friday, the northern coastal town of eba in Poland recorded a maximum temperature of 29.6C (84.2F), nearly 20C above the town's April average.By the end of the week, the heat had spread eastwards into the Baltics and western Russia, bringing record-breaking temperatures there during the day and overnight. In Lithuania, four stations climbed to above 29C on Friday, smashing the country's April maximum temperature record of 23.1C, set 66 years ago in 1959. Neighbouring Latvia and Estonia also set new national April temperature records late last week, registering maximum temperatures of 28.4C and 28.8C respectively. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian