Campaigners denounce cover-up of a cover-up' as IOPC clears officers of scapegoating Liverpool supportersA 12-year investigation into the Hillsborough disaster by the police watchdog has concluded that no senior South Yorkshire police officers were guilty of misconduct for falsely blaming misbehaviour by Liverpool supporters.That police case was wholly rejected in 2016 by the jury at the second inquest, who determined that no behaviour of Liverpool supporters contributed to the disaster, which happened on 15 April 1989 at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#6WCDD)
Mette Frederiksen, who met island's new and outgoing PMs, says she wants to cooperate with Trump on Arctic securityThe Danish prime minister has put on a show of unity with Greenlandic leaders in her first visit to the Arctic island since Donald Trump's renewed threats to acquire the territory, telling the US: You cannot annex another country."Speaking onboard an inspection ship in front of a military helicopter, alongside Greenland's new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and Greenland's outgoing prime minister, Mute B Egede, Mette Frederiksen switched from Danish to English to address the diplomatic standoff with the Trump administration. Continue reading...
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flee from southern city of Rafah in one of war's biggest mass displacementsAn Israeli bombing of a school turned shelter in Gaza City has killed at least 27 people, rescuers said, and hundreds of thousands in the Rafah area are fleeing in one of the biggest mass displacements of the war amid Israel's newly announced campaign to divide up" the Gaza Strip.Three missiles hit Dar al-Arqam school in the al-Tuffah neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon, the civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal said, killing several children and wounding 100 people. Continue reading...
Discovery in Altadena months after fires brings deaths in Eaton fire up to 18, while 12 people killed in Palisades fireMonths after wildfires tore through Los Angeles communities, officials announced this week they had discovered another set of human remains, bringing the death toll in the disaster up to 30.Investigators were dispatched to Altadena on Wednesday to investigate possible human remains in the community, which was hit hard by the Eaton fire in January. The special operations response team confirmed that the remains were human, the Los Angeles county medical examiner's office said in a statement. Continue reading...
Multimillion-pound project will also boost capacity by 20% and improve wheelchair accessibilityDifferent generations of tennis fans may disagree on its name - to traditionalists it will always be Henman Hill, millennials probably plump for Murray Mound and gen Z may know it as Raducanu Rise or even, regrettably, Jack's Stack - but all ages can agree that bringing a little shelter to Wimbledon's most famous viewing area can only be a good thing.Wimbledon's Hill - which since 1997 has allowed tennis fans with a grounds pass to watch the action on No 1 Court live atop its grassy knoll - is getting a makeover, the All England Lawn and Tennis Club (AELTC) has announced. Continue reading...
PM says measures mark the beginning of a new era' for trade and the global economyInternet safety campaigners have expressed alarm about reports that the Online Safety Act could be reviewed as part of the economic deal the UK is negotiating with the US.According to a Politico report, quoting unnamed sources who have been briefed on what is in the potential deal, it will include a commitment to a review of the Digital Markets and Competition Act and the Online Safety Act.We are dismayed and appalled by reports that the Online Safety Act could be watered down to facilitate a US trade deal.We have written to Jonathan Reynolds [business secretary] urging him not to continue with an appalling sell out of children's safety and to meet with lived experience campaigners to understand the dire consequences.The Online Safety Act offers a foundation that we believe will vastly improve children's experiences online.For too long, too many children and young people have been exposed to harmful content, groomed, harassed and bullied online. The Government must not roll back on their commitment to making the online world safer for them, now and in the future. Continue reading...
Underneath the measured words you could almost smell the panic as the government scrambled to come up with a plan to respond to Trump's tariffsWith characteristic humility and good grace ... Hardly.Shortly after 9pm UK time on Wednesday, The Sun-Bed King made his way to the White House Rose Garden, looking every bit the dishonest bookie as he held up a board with every country's separate tariff. He might as well have been signposting the odds on a global recession. Continue reading...
by Jennifer Rankin in Brussels and Sam Jones in Madri on (#6WCF6)
Von der Leyen calls tariffs a major blow to world economy' while calling for last-ditch negotiationsEuropean leaders have condemned Donald Trump's tariffs as fundamentally wrong" and creating an immense difficulty for Europe", while appealing for last-ditch negotiations to avert an all-out trade war.The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said Trump's decision to impose tariffs was brutal and unfounded" and appeared to call for a suspension of French investment in the US until the tariffs were clarified. Continue reading...
Israeli PM, who is wanted by the court, hails Viktor Orban's bold and principled' decision to leave the corrupt' bodyHungary will leave the international criminal court because it has become political", the country's prime minister, Viktor Orban, said as he welcomed his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanhayu - the subject of an ICC arrest warrant - to Budapest for an official visit.Standing beside Netanyahu at the start of the four-day visit, Orban said Hungary was convinced the otherwise very important court" had diminished into a political forum". Continue reading...
Former officials question the reason for a Doge engineer's access to the Unaccompanied Alien Children portalA member of Elon Musk's unofficial department of government efficiency" gained access to a government system that contains the personal data of unaccompanied immigrant children, according to a recent court filing.The database, called the Unaccompanied Alien Children portal (UAC), contains extremely detailed information about thousands of minors who enter the United States alone, including individual children's mental health and therapy records, as well as immigration records, photos and addresses of their family members. Continue reading...
PM uses launch of Labour local election campaign to attack Nigel Farage over past comments about Russian leaderKeir Starmer has accused Reform UK of fawning over Putin" as the prime minister used the launch of Labour's local election campaign to attack Nigel Farage repeatedly over his past comments about the Russian leader.With Labour viewing Reform as potentially its greatest rival in next month's elections, Starmer devoted more time to attacking the rightwing populist party than criticising the Conservatives. Continue reading...
by Malak A Tantesh in Gaza and Julian Borger on (#6WCEN)
Munther Abed, 27, was in the first ambulance on the scene of an airstrike near Rafah when Israeli soldiers opened fire Gaza paramedic killings: a visual timelineA survivor from a massacre of Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers in Gaza has said he saw Israeli troops open fire on a succession of Red Crescent ambulances and rescue vehicles and then use a bulldozer to bury the wreckage in a pit.Munther Abed, a 27-year-old Red Crescent volunteer, was in the back of the first ambulance to arrive on the scene of an airstrike in the Hashashin district of Rafah before dawn on 23 March, when it came under intense Israeli fire. His two Red Crescent colleagues sitting in the front were killed but he survived by throwing himself to the floor of the vehicle. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6WCF3)
Ministers are considering how to secure an agreement that might exempt Britain from Trump's tariffsMinisters are redoubling their efforts to agree a trade deal with Donald Trump after he announced sweeping 10% tariffs on UK exports to the US.Downing Street has said talks are at an advanced stage" and officials have indicated that the broad outlines of a deal have been agreed. Continue reading...
Designation as undesirable organisation' exposes nonprofit's staff and partners to possible criminal prosecutionRussian authorities on Thursday banned the Elton John Aids Foundation (EJAF), which focuses on HIV/Aids prevention, citing its support for LGBTQ+ rights as a reason for the move.Founded by the British singer and songwriter in 1992, the organisation funds HIV treatment programmes in countries including Russia. It also advocates for LGBTQ+ people, who have faced years of brutal persecution in Russia. Continue reading...
Mutual reports increase from 28m to 161m, but says ministers layering costs' on retailers could hit high streetsThe Co-operative Group plans to open at least a further 120 grocery shops this year after profits rose more than fivefold, but told the government that layering costs" on retailers could hit high streets and communities.The mutual, which owns more than 800 funeral parlours and an insurance and legal advisory business as well as operating more than 2,000 convenience shops, said changes to employers' national insurance contributions (NICs) and packaging regulations were expected to add 80m to its costs this year. It also lost 80m to shoplifters last year despite spending millions on new security measures. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England editor on (#6WCBX)
UK government body's interim report says visibility before Solong struck Stena Immaculate was reported as patchy'An oil tanker and cargo ship that collided in the North Sea had no dedicated lookouts" at the time of the incident, which took place inpatchy" visibility, investigators have said.A US-chartered oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, was anchored about 12 miles (19km) off the coast of Yorkshire when it was struck by a container ship, the Solong, on 10 March. Continue reading...
Research finds proposal may also drive up cost of building new windfarms as developers need higher subsidies to offset costPlans to overhaul England, Wales and Scotland's electricity market risk piling an extra 3bn on to household energy bills every year until the 2040s, according to the government's own clean power adviser.New research has found that moving ahead with a plan to divide the national electricity market into different pricing zones could drive up the cost of building new windfarms as the government aims for a renewable energy boom before the end of the decade. Continue reading...
Keukenhof, near Amsterdam, increasingly catering to growing demand for social media contentNestled among tulip fields not far from Amsterdam, the world-famous Keukenhof garden has opened for the spring, welcoming camera-wielding visitors to its increasingly selfie-friendly grounds.On a sunny day, the paths, park benches and cafes are crowded with tourists taking photos and selfies with one of the Netherlands' most iconic products - the tulip. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Former staff tell Guardian Australia some HIV patients have since required acute mental health care, as hospital also loses specialist pain and eating disorder support staff
Lead signatory of letter to Church Times says it is moral and Christian imperative' to ensure dignified retirementChurch of England vicars are demanding an increase in pensions amid claims that many face an impoverished old age, with some forced to rely on food banks or move in with adult children.Almost 2,000 C of E clergy have joined an action group on Facebook in the past few weeks and 700 signed a letter to the Church Times calling for urgent and decisive action". Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Israel's offensive has resulted in thousands of casualties and severe restrictions on aid, and signals a potential long-term territorial and political shiftGood morning. On Tuesday, Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, announced a major expansion of attacks on Gaza and the capture of large areas that will be added to the security zones of the state of Israel".The announcement followed a night of airstrikes on Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza, which officials said had killed at least 21 people, including a pregnant woman. The intensification of Israel's offensive comes after more than two weeks of airstrikes and ground operations that have, according to Gaza's health ministry, killed more than 900 people. Unicef has said that at least 322 of those killed since the renewed attacks have been children.UK economy | Donald Trump has hit the UK with tariffs of 10% on exports to the US as he ignited a global trade war. Other tariffs include 20% on the EU and 34% on China. Downing Street had been expecting 20% but Keir Starmer's conciliation towards the Trump administration appeared to have paid off.Immigration | An investigation has been launched after a racist message was reportedly blasted out" on portable radios used by Home Office contractors at an asylum processing centre. The deeply offensive broadcast - fuck off you [N-word]s, go back to where you came from" - was reportedly heard at the Manston processing site for small boat arrivals in Kent.Health | Doctors have reported a rise in the number of patients with Victorian diseases such as scabies, as the Royal College of Physicians urged the government to do more to fight poverty.UK news | A third former South Yorkshire police officer has been arrested as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. The ex-constable, aged in his 50s, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of raping a teenage girl in the town in 2004.Education | The fate of boys is a defining issue of our time", according to the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, as she calls for more men to become teachers to combat toxic" behaviours. Continue reading...
Israeli prime minister begins four-day trip after Hungarian counterpart says court ruling would have no effect'Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to begin a four-day official visit to Hungary on Thursday, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has stepped foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters that he would guarantee" the ICC's ruling would have no effect in Hungary". Continue reading...
The US president has announced new taxes on imports to the US starting at a baseline of 10% - here is the front-page reaction in BritainDonald Trump's tariff day of liberation" arrived with the US president imposing markups on imports while accusing other nations, including allies, of looting, pillaging, raping and plundering" the US.The UK got off relatively lightly with the basic 10%. Here is how major British newspapers see it. Continue reading...
Resolution that would block tariffs passes 51-48 in Senate, in vote that shows Republican unease over president's plansSeveral Republican senators joined Democrats to pass a resolution that would block Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, a rare rebuke of the president's trade policy just hours after he announced plans for sweeping import taxes on some of the country's largest trading partners.In a 51-48 vote, four Republicans - Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and both Kentucky senators, the former majority leader Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul - defied Trump's pressure campaign and supported the measure. Democrats used a procedural maneuver to force a vote on the resolution, which would terminate the national emergency on fentanyl Trump is using to justify tariffs on Canada. Continue reading...
by Raphael Rashid in Seoul and Justin McCurry in Osak on (#6WC2H)
Barricades go up in Seoul as court prepares to rule on whether to uphold Yoon's impeachment or restore his powersThe usually quiet streets outside South Korea's constitutional court in Seoul are now a political ground zero for a decision that will determine the country's future.Months after Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law and triggered South Korea's worst political crisis in decades, the court will on Friday decide whether to uphold the suspended president's impeachment or return him to office. Continue reading...
Automotive industry and prime minister Mark Carney note that 25% tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles will still come into effect within hoursCanada's exemption from Donald Trump's global tariffs was like dodging a bullet into the path of a tank", say business leaders as other levies are poised to hit key industries that drive the country's economy.In a theatrical unveiling of tariffs on countries with unfair" practices on Wednesday afternoon, Canada was noticeably absent, alongside trade ally Mexico. Continue reading...
There were charts and scores, as if The Price Is Right had come to Washington. The big prize? A global trade warIt was Jeopardy!, or The Price Is Right, come to Washington.On an unseasonably chilly day in the White House Rose Garden, Donald Trump stood with a giant chart listing what reciprocal tariffs he would impose on China, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other hapless contestants. Continue reading...
Chancellor says autumn budget enabled 25bn of extra investment into NHS and shorter waiting listsRachel Reeves has defended the 40bn in tax increases in autumn's budget as businesses brace for their impact, saying NHS waiting lists would now be higher if she had not taken action.Employers are set for a 25bn increase in national insurance contributions (NICs), which comes into force on 6 April, at the same time as consumers are being hit by a slew of increases in bills for everything from utilities to car tax. Continue reading...
Pacific country this week declared state of emergency over power cuts that have caused huge disruption to businesses and daily lifeSamoa is in the grip of an energy crisis" prime minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said this week, as she declared a state of emergency over power outages that have swept the country for weeks, causing huge disruption to businesses and daily life.The government is scrambling to provide relief to affected businesses and households, with temporary power generation units due to arrive next week. Continue reading...
State senator and Democratic rising star leaned into Trump-Musk criticisms when launching bid to succeed Gary PetersMallory McMorrow, a state senator from Michigan and rising star in the Democratic party, has announced her bid for the US Senate in what is expected to be one of 2026's most competitive and high-profile contests.McMorrow, 38, launched her campaign on Wednesday to succeed Michigan's retiring Democratic senator Gary Peters with a video that showed the Trump administration's mass layoffs of federal workers, plans to cut Medicaid and Elon Musk's so-called department of government efficiency". Continue reading...
Forecasters say potent storm system moving east could become supercharged and bring life-threatening' floodingPotentially deadly flash flooding, high-magnitude tornadoes and baseball-sized hail could hit parts of the midwest and south on Wednesday as severe thunderstorms blowing eastward become supercharged, forecasters warned.There were tornado warnings Wednesday morning near the Missouri cities of Joplin and Columbia - merely the opening acts of what forecasters expect will be a more intense period of violent weather later on Wednesday, as daytime heating combines with an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear and abundant moisture streaming into the nation's midsection from the Gulf. Continue reading...
Influential podcast host and prominent Trump supporter criticizes administration for removal of gay makeup artistJoe Rogan, the influential podcast host and prominent supporter of Donald Trump, has criticized the president's administration over the deportation of a professional makeup artist and hairdresser to a prison in El Salvador, calling it horrific".Andry Jose Hernandez Romero, who is gay, had sought asylum in the US, telling officials he faced persecution because of his sexual orientation and political views. But US immigration officers argued the crown tattoos on his wrists were proof he was part of Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang, despite Hernandez Romero telling them he was not. Last month, he was flown from Texas to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, a facility that his lawyer said was one of the worst places in the world". His removal comes as the administration undertakes what Trump has pledged would be a mass deportation campaign. Continue reading...
Star, 8, began to lose weight after someone got inside pen, cut gate locks and sprayed substance over two-month spanA pet reindeer beloved by many in Alaska's largest city has been euthanized, just weeks after someone tampered with his cage and possibly poisoned him, his caretaker said on Wednesday.I don't have an answer as to why he had to be put down other than it relates back to what happened," said Albert Whitehead, who cared not only for the eight-year-old reindeer named Star but also the decades-long tradition of having a reindeer in downtown Anchorage. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian