World news | The Guardian

Exclusive: Most only take a week's leave, and paternity pay for back-office staff in Met is nearly three times higherPolice officers have described being ostracised for taking paternity leave, as it is revealed that back-office staff in the Metropolitan police are entitled to proportionately nearly three times as much paternity pay as frontline fathers.A freedom of information request has revealed that most serving police officers in England and Wales only take one week of paternity leave, with some describing being on blue lights" duty and carrying Tasers a week after the birth of their babies. Continue reading...

At least 1,700 people killed as Red Cross officials warn Myanmar faces humanitarian crisis; death toll in Bangkok increases to 18Red Cross officials have warned that Myanmar faces a humanitarian crisis after the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake.What we're seeing here in Myanmar is a level of devastation that hasn't been seen over a century in Asia," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) wrote in a post on X. Continue reading...

In 1988, 17-year-old Mark Haines was found dead on the railway tracks outside Tamworth. Decades on, a reopened investigation may offer answers - and Don Craigie is determined to bear witness

Landmark report makes 34 recommendations to overhaul the superannuation sector, citing delays, poor customer service and ineffective procedures

Ministry of Justice drafts instruction for judges in England and Wales to ignore guidelines on age, sex and ethnicityMinisters are planning to introduce a last-minute rule change this week to overturn sentencing guidelines that could have led to criminals getting different sentences depending on their age, sex and ethnicity.Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, is planning to bring a bill to the Commons this week to overrule the guidelines, which are due to come into force in England and Wales on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Joakim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, was arrested on Thursday when his plane landedA Swedish journalist who was detained on his arrival in Turkey to cover protests over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor has been arrested on terror-related charges and for insulting the president", the Turkish presidency has said.Joakim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, has been arrested on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organisation' and insulting the president'", the presidency said on Sunday. Continue reading...

Watchdog accepted Taiwo Owatemi's claim for landlord's surcharge to let her keep dog in London flatMinisters will ask the Commons authorities to consider changing rules which allowed a Labour whip to claim 900 in expenses to rent a pet-friendly flat in London.The government will lobby the independent expenses regulator to look at allowance rules after Taiwo Owatemi claimed for a pet surcharge demanded by her landlord to allow her to keep her dog in the property. Continue reading...

Sex Education actor criticises IOPC for refusing to consider race in investigation of officers who pepper-sprayed himThe Hairspray and Sex Education actor Reece Richards has condemned the police watchdog for refusing to consider race in its investigation of Met officers who arrested and pepper-sprayed him.The 34-year-old was walking home in west London last September after performing in Hairspray when a car crashed into a lamp-post nearby. Two white men fled the scene. When Metropolitan police officers arrived seconds later, Richards pointed out the suspects' directions. He said that, instead of pursuing them, an officer began shouting at him to get the ground and pointed a pepper spray at him. Continue reading...

Far-right leader could be barred from standing for presidency if she is convicted over alleged fake jobs scamThe future of the far-right leader Marine Le Pen - and France's political landscape - will be decided on Monday when a court hands down its verdict on charges she and party officials embezzled money from the European parliament.If convicted, the three-time presidential candidate of the National Rally (RN) could be barred from standing against Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 presidential election. Continue reading...

Government looks at use of human rights law to argue for people being allowed to stay, which PM called a loophole'Ministers are reviewing how international human rights law is being applied to allow people to stay in the UK after entering by irregular means, Yvette Cooper has said.The home secretary said on Sunday she was looking into the implementation of article eight of the Human Rights Act, which guarantees people the right to a family life and has been used by people to argue for their right to stay in the UK. Continue reading...

After a $220m five-year renovation, the New York museum is set to showcase a trove of European masterpiecesCan masterpieces of European art help smooth over the fissures between the old world and the new? It's a hope, say officials at the Frick Collection in New York, which reopens next month after a five-year, $220m (170m) renovation.Axel Ruger, the director of the museum, which began with a trove of European masterpieces including Rembrandt and Vermeer, hopes that its art could be a reminder of US-European ties in these turbulent political times. Continue reading...

Once a tranquil haven in the Cotswolds, Bibury now grapples with overtourism as hordes of selfie-snapping visitors pour into its narrow lanesStanding on the stone bridge that crosses the River Coln in the heart of Bibury on a clear spring day, it is not hard to see why the 19th-century designer William Morris described it as the most beautiful village in England".Chances are, however, the picturesque Cotswold view will not be enjoyed alone.I don't believe they contribute to the village in terms of supporting pubs, restaurants, because they're not here long enough. They're only here for 20 minutes Continue reading...

Greater Manchester mayor says number of young people not in education, employment or training has reached unacceptable levelsThe number of young people not in education, employment or training has risen to unacceptable levels because Whitehall is failing to listen and respond to their needs, Andy Burnham will say this week.The mayor of Greater Manchester will warn in a key speech that the number of neets", which now stands at almost 1 million - the highest figure in 11 years - will continue to rise unless the Department for Education (DfE) adopts a new schools policy more geared to their requirements. Continue reading...

Opposition leader floats - then walks back - polls on Indigenous recognition, four-year parliamentary terms and stripping citizenship of dual nationals

Opposition leader promises to release secret modelling within days as former ACCC chair urges Coalition to explain how they would lower prices

Fewer than five criminal cases were brought against those who aid tax dodgers in 2023-24, down from 16 in 2018-19Prosecutions of the enablers of tax evasion have plummeted by at least 75% in the past five years, with fewer than five criminal cases in 2023-2024.The targeting of enablers - anyone who knowingly helps a client evade tax - is a central part of HM Revenue and Customs's (HMRC) strategy to claw back cash owed to the Treasury. Continue reading...

Britain's economic watchdog may not publish forecast of employment prospects until the end of OctoberMPs are set to vote on Labour's disability benefit cuts without any idea of how many of those affected will be able to find work, after it emerged that Britain's economic watchdog may not publish its forecast of the employment impact of the plans until the end of October.The Department for Work and Pensions' own impact assessment last week predicted that the cuts announced in the disability benefits green paper would drive at least 300,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children. Continue reading...

Top justice expert criticises use of MoJ study to back up claims by Alex Davies-Jones that there is no impact on conviction rates when video evidence is usedThe victims' minister has been accused of using factual inaccuracies" about the effectiveness of video evidence in criminal trials by one of the UK's leading justice experts.Vulnerable witnesses, such as children and rape victims, have been allowed to record video evidence rather than be cross-examined in person during crown court trials since a pilot in 2013, and across England and Wales since 2022. Continue reading...

Dmitry Krymov, who fled Moscow after the Ukraine invasion, plans Dickens hybrid with UK and Russian actorsThe acclaimed Russian stage director Dmitry Krymov the winner of many of Moscow's top theatre prizes before his exile due to public criticism of the invasion of Ukraine, has spoken angrily of the impact of the war ahead of his first work with British actors. The Moscow-born director, 70, plans to use Dickens's two stories Great Expectations and Hard Times to create a new performance.Arriving in London this weekend for a short stay, Krymov, who is regarded by many western theatre pundits as among the best directors in the world, told the Observer he wants to link British and Russian performers and audiences, despite the divisions caused by President Vladimir Putin. Continue reading...

Prime minister says his government, if re-elected, will establish taskforce to introduce price-gouging regime that will be enforced by ACCC

Police go door-to-door arresting Afghans as government pledges to send millions back home to Taliban ruleMore than 50 prominent female Afghan women's rights activists sheltering in Pakistan are facing deportation home, where they fear they will be imprisoned or killed under Taliban rule.Under a draconian policy, the Pakistan government has pledged to deport millions of Afghan nationals, after relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan severely deteriorated and attacks by militants in the border areas surged. Continue reading...

Popular student demonstrator Berkay Gezgin, 21, snatched off street by police outside office of detained Istanbul mayorWhen 21-year-old Berkay Gezgin left the interior of Istanbul city hall, a squad of police was waiting for him outside. Protests that flooded the streets outside the headquarters of his political hero, detained mayor Ekrem mamolu, had begun trickling away by midnight, but hundreds of riot police remained clustered around the municipality building.Gezgin became the face of youth support for mamolu when he met him on the campaign trail during his first run for mayor in 2019, coining the slogan Everything will be fine", which the Istanbul mayor later used in his campaign. Continue reading...

British artist, 87, who was visited by the king in his London home, said he did not know him well enough to paint himRenowned artist David Hockney has said he did not offer to paint King Charles when the monarch visited his London home on Monday because he doesn't know him well enough.This is not the first time that Hockney has shied away from painting royalty. The 87-year-old also refused a number of offers to paint the late Queen Elizabeth II because he only paints people he knows. Continue reading...

Congressionally created and funded thinktank taken over by Doge' seeks to prevent and resolve global conflictsMost employees at the US Institute of Peace, a congressionally created and funded thinktank now taken over by Elon Musk's unofficial department of government efficiency", received email notices of their mass firing late Friday, the latest step in the Trump administration's government downsizing.The emails, sent to personal accounts because most staff members had lost access to the organization's system, began going out about 9pm, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisal. Continue reading...

Sophie Chandauka says duke unleashed Sussex machine' but source close to ex-trustees claims accusation baselessThe chair of a charity set up by Prince Harry has accused him of harassment and bullying at scale" after he and several others quit the organisation earlier this week.The Duke of Sussex was said to have initiated the campaign by the unleashing of the Sussex machine". Continue reading...

Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine say six officers came to their house after primary objected to WhatsApp commentsThe parents of a nine-year-old girl have said they were held at a police station for 11 hours because they complained about their daughter's primary school.Maxie Allen and his partner, Rosalind Levine, said they were arrested and detained on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications and causing a nuisance on school property. Continue reading...

Myanmar's military rulers have called for any country, any organisation' to help as concerns grow over how rescuers will reach affected areas. This blog is now closed.

Departures of Cemal Kafadar and Rosie Bsheer are seen by critics as shameful attempt' by school to appease TrumpThe leaders of Harvard University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies are leaving their positions after the center faced accusations of anti-Israel bias.The departures come as the Trump administration scrutinizes institutions that have had pro-Palestinian protests over the last year. Earlier this week, Columbia's president announced she would step down after Trump targeted the university for protests on campus last year. Continue reading...

Militants release video of Israeli captive Elkana Bohbot pleading for freedom as they seek a 50-day halt to conflictHamas has allegedly agreed to free five living Israeli hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, as the militant group released a video of a hostage making an appeal for his freedom.Hamas's chief, Khalil al-Hayya, reportedly said on Saturday that the militant group expressed willingness to release the five hostages over the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, which begins on Sunday, after a proposal it received two days ago from Egypt and Qatar, Reuters has reported. Continue reading...

As Reform UK launched its English local elections campaign in Birmingham there were murmurs among activists about the fate of a popular figure'There was one name on the lips of many Reform supporters before their party's local election campaign launch in Birmingham last Friday night, but it wasn't Nigel Farage.Instead, conversation turned to Rupert Lowe, one of five Reform MPs elected last year, who was suspended this month when allegations of bullying emerged, the day after he had described Farage as a messianic" leader of a protest party. Continue reading...

Emergency services called on Friday night to blaze at 19th-century former railway station in RushtonThree people have died after a fire at a Grade II-listed former railway station in a village in Northamptonshire.Police, fire and ambulance services were called at about 10.30pm on Friday to reports of a large blaze at a property in Beswick Close in Rushton, near Kettering. Continue reading...

Across the country men and women have cared for the resting places of their enemy's fallen, finding peace and hopeFor some, tending the graves was an act of reconciliation. For others, it was about acknowledging shared losses and shared grief.Thousands of Germans who died in Britain during the first and second world wars were laid to rest in local graveyards. British people tended these graves for decades, even laying flowers and wreaths for their former foes. Continue reading...

The nomination by Conservatives of the former chief inspector of schools has been met with outrage by the headteacher's family, and called obscene' by school leadersAmanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector when headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life after a bruising inspection, is poised to join the House of Lords after being nominated by the Conservatives, the Observer can reveal.Spielman, who earlier this month launched what was widely seen as an overtly political attack on Labour's schools bill, is one of several names on former prime minister Rishi Sunak's list, due to be put forward for King Charles's approval as part of the annual birthday honours. Her nomination was met with outrage by Perry's family, while school leaders described it as obscene" and an insult to every teacher in the country". Continue reading...

This is not how you talk to your close allies,' says Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke RasmussenDenmark has hit back against JD Vance's comments that Copenhagen has not done enough for Greenland.The US vice-president made his remark on Friday during a trip to the Pituffik space base in north-western Greenland, viewed by both Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation. Continue reading...

In first interview since resigning, former archbishop of Canterbury says more cases were arriving every day and he got it wrong'Justin Welby, the former archbishop of Canterbury, has said his failure to take effective action over a serial sadistic abuser was because he was overwhelmed" by the scale of the abuse crisis in the Church of England.In his first interview since resigning last November, Welby said: Every day more cases were coming across the desk that had been in the past, hadn't been dealt with adequately, and this was just, it was another case. It was an absolutely overwhelming few weeks." Continue reading...

Data-crunching rivals in league of 11.4m players shocked to be left trailing by pen-and-paper approachIt is a game for the football geeks, the data-lovers, the algorithm-obsessed. But the current leader of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), which allows participants to play at being Premier League managers during the football season, is not a data analyst, a football insider or a computer scientist, but a 67-year-old woman who uses a pen and paper to choose her team each week.Susan Clarke, otherwise known as the Ruby Reds, achieved near-mythical status among committed FPL players this week as she beat millions of competitors to be top of the online Premier League game, despite admitting to a lo-fi approach. Continue reading...

Arts funding body responds to criticism as Wigmore Hall in London says it will operate independently from 2026Classical music and opera is absolutely essential to the lifeblood of the arts" and has the enthusiastic support of Arts Council England (ACE), its chief executive has said after coming under fire from a leading arts figure.Darren Henley, the chief executive of the body that distributes public and lottery funds to arts organisations in England, said investment in classical music was central to the council's programme. Continue reading...

On day one, when the eyes of the political world and voting public were on the PM, there were no stumbles

Experts warn of serious health risks of using exosome products that are harvested from human donorsBanned biological products harvested from human cells are being used in UK beauty clinics, according to experts who warn that the luxury treatments could carry serious health risks.Exosomes have been touted as the latest miracle" skincare treatment, with A-list celebrities such as Kim Kardashian seeking their rejuvenating effects and cosmetic clinics offering exosome facials and microneedling for hundreds of pounds a session. Continue reading...

Independent MP for Calare caught doing an Angus Taylor' by replying to a Facebook post from his own account

The opposition leader's election pitch maintains Labor has presided over a litany of price rises - but experts say some problems began on Coalition's watch

About 200,00 barrels of jet fuel to be transferred before Stena Immaculate is taken to north-east coast for inspectionA US oil tanker that was hit by a container ship in the North Sea is to be towed to the north-east of England after more than 200,000 barrels of jet fuel are removed over the weekend, a maritime company has said.The Solong collided with the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate about 12 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire on 10 March, leaving one man missing, presumed dead. Crowley, which manages the Stena Immaculate, said salvage and recovery operations are moving into the next phase. Continue reading...

Vice-president criticises Denmark's treatment of Arctic island and says it should come under US security umbrella'JD Vance told troops in Greenland that the US has to gain control of the Arctic island to stop the threat of China and Russia as he doubled down on criticising Denmark, which he said has not done a good job".Under increasingly strained relations between the White House and Greenland and Denmark, the US vice-president said during a visit to Pituffik space base on Friday: Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass." Continue reading...

World's most famous amphibian' set to deliver address at Muppets creator Jim Henson's alma mater in College ParkKermit the Frog once sang it's not easy being green" - and now he gets to see how easy it is to impart wise words to graduating college students in these times.The university announced this week that it had chosen the fictional Muppets star and so-called world's most famous amphibian" to deliver its commencement speech on 21 May at University of Maryland's SECU Stadium in College Park. Continue reading...

Temperatures expected to rise throughout next week, ending with highs of 20-23C on Thursday and FridaySunshine and warmer weather will return to the UK in time for Mother's Day and is forecast to last into next week.Temperatures are expected to steadily rise throughout the week, starting with highs of 17-19C on Monday and ending with highs of 20-23C on Thursday and Friday. Continue reading...

Terminally ill journalist and assisted dying supporter no longer healthy enough to travel to DignitasThe life-preserving cancer drugs that Dame Esther Rantzen was placed on last year are no longer working, her daughter has said.The health of the terminally ill Childline founder and journalist has deteriorated to the extent that she is no longer well enough to travel to a Swiss clinic, meaning that Dignitas is out of the window" for the 84-year-old, she said. Continue reading...

Michael Stewart had led counter-terrorism programme since 2020, and reviews exposed its basic failuresThe head of the government's controversial counter-terrorism programme Prevent is leaving his position after a damning inquiry revealed the strategy's failures in relation to the Southport attack.Michael Stewart had spearheaded the programme - which aims to to stop people from becoming involved in or supporting terrorism - since September 2020. Continue reading...

Former city politicians and 10 others accused of offences also including misconduct in a public officeThe former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and ex-Labour councillor Derek Hatton have appeared in court facing charges of bribery and misconduct in a public office.Anderson was one of 12 people charged as part of Operation Aloft, launched by police to look into the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool city council between 2010 and 2020. Continue reading...

Nasen Saadi, 20, stabbed Amie Gray, 34, to death after months of research on how to get away with murderA criminology student with a fascination for knives and a rage" against women who stabbed a mother to death on a Dorset beach has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 39 years.Nasen Saadi, 21, spent months plotting the attack and questioning university lecturers about how a killer would get away with murder. He kitted himself up with latex gloves, a balaclava, wet wipes and nail clippers to try to avoid being traced. Continue reading...

Millions of devices have been left to go into dumb' mode, where they stop automatically transmitting readingsThe energy regulator for Great Britain plans to crack down on suppliers that bungle smart meter installations after millions of the devices have been left to go into dumb" mode, where they stop automatically transmitting readings.Ofgem said households that request a smart meter should have one fitted within six weeks, and if the installation failed they should automatically receive 40 compensation if it was not fixed within 90 days. Continue reading...