Novo Nordisk, which is now Europe's most valuable company, also reports strong sales of diabetes drug OzempicStrong sales of diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have prompted the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to raise its 2024 profit forecast to up to 15.3bn, with supply shortages starting to ease.Europe's most valuable company, whose stock market value exceeds the size of the Danish economy, has struggled to keep up with runaway demand for the two weight-loss jabs. Continue reading...
Bill has raised concern country is moving away from democratic norms and closer to MoscowNicolas Schmit, the Socialists' lead candidate in the European elections, said he is deeply concerned" by the violence in Tbilisi.In a statement late yesterday, the US state department said Georgia's western trajectory is at risk.Use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of speech is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression. Continue reading...
Individuals could win 25,000 or more if they are successful in claim Uber broke taxi booking rulesMore than 10,500 of London's black-cab drivers have launched a 250m legal case against Uber, accusing it of breaking the capital's taxi booking rules and deliberately misleading authorities to secure a licence.The case, which has been filed in the high court in London by the litigation management firm RGL, resurrects a claim first raised five years ago, related to the way the ride-hailing app operated in London between 2012 and 2018. Continue reading...
Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo also accused of two counts of attempted murder and two of grievous bodily harmA 36-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder after Daniel Anjorin, 14, was killed in east London.Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national living in Newham, east London, is also accused of two counts of attempted murder, two of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article. Continue reading...
Birthplace and parents' names are being removed from passports and birth certificates as Mauritius stakes claim to the islandExiled islanders from the disputed British-owned Chagos Islands are finding their heritage has been removed from new identity documents in an apparent move by Mauritius to stake its claim to the territory.British ownership of the Chagos Islands has long been challenged by Mauritius, where most islanders were shipped in the 1960s after being evicted from their Indian Ocean homeland to make way for a US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island. Continue reading...
by Joan E Greve, Alice Herman and Will Craft on (#6MGT5)
Former Indiana congressman John Hostettler wants his old seat back, but past remarks have prompted attacks from pro-Israel groupsPro-Israel groups are wading into a Republican congressional primary, marking a departure from their recent focus on attacking progressive candidates and offering the latest test of the pro-Israel lobby's strength as the war in Gaza weighs heavily on voters' minds.The former Indiana congressman John Hostettler, who served in the House from 1995 to 2007 and will compete in a crowded primary on Tuesday, is looking to return to the chamber to represent the state's eighth district. Hostettler's allies praise him as an America first conservative" who will help terminate financial aid to Ukraine, so his primary will also test Republicans' embrace of isolationism, which has gained popularity in the party amid the rise of Donald Trump. But Jewish groups have criticized some of his past comments about the start of the Iraq war as antisemitic. Continue reading...
Kim Tatum, Mariah Louca and Reece Lyons combine to call for trans women to be put on an equal footing for cis rolesKim Tatum dreams of playing Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard's exquisite former star of silent films. Mariah Louca longs to perform as Dangerous Liaisons' evil schemer Marquise de Merteuil. And for Reece Lyons, it's the monstrous ambition of Lady Macbeth that makes her the ideal role. But, until attitudes within British theatre shift, it's unlikely these talented performers will get to play their dream characters. Despite their skill, training and accolades, trans women just don't seem to get cast in cisgender roles.I have never seen a trans woman on stage play a mother or a love interest," Offie-award-winning Lyons says. Why don't we come to mind for that?" Lyons is sitting on a low couch in a light-streamed room across from Tatum and Louca. Frustrated with the constant obstacles they face in the industry, the three actors are calling for trans women to be put on an equal footing for cis roles. Continue reading...
Despite payouts the oil and gas giant faces growing investor pressure to address its carbon emissionsShell will shower its shareholders with another $3.5bn (2.8bn) in share buy-backs over the next quarter after reporting better than expected profits of almost $8bn for the first three months of the year.The company reported adjusted earnings of $7.7bn for the first quarter, below the $9.6bn earned in the same quarter last year but well above analyst predictions of $6.5bn. Continue reading...
Chris Webb is expected to win Blackpool South for Labour but eyes are on the fortunes of Mark Butcher, who works with the poor and insists he is not a politician'Mark Butcher, Reform UK's candidate in Blackpool South's byelection, watched as a carriage driver on the town's promenade plunged a fist into the manure-collecting bag behind his horse. Petty bureaucracy, both men furiously agreed, was stifling the resort's appeal.People came here because it was a magical place, but where have the donkey rides gone? Where are the ice-cream vendors?" asked Butcher, evoking a nostalgia for the town's glory days and reciting a mantra that Blackpool had long been ill-served by a Labour-controlled council and - when the red wall" crumbled in 2019 - a Conservative MP. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6MGP2)
Party predicted to lose about half of the 1,000 seats it is defending in contest that could shape Rishi Sunak's futureVoting has begun in local elections in England, where the Conservatives are braced for heavy losses that could destabilise Rishi Sunak's premiership.The elections, which cover more than 2,600 seats across 107 English councils, are seen as a key test of whether the Conservative party is as unpopular with voters as the polls suggest. Continue reading...
Exclusive: DNA expert whose work led to Andrew Malkinson case breakthrough says job should be given to forensic scientistsInterns have been given the job of weeding out potential wrongful convictions for rape and murder in a major case review prompted by Andrew Malkinson's exoneration, the Guardian can reveal.The miscarriage of justice body the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said last month that it would be re-examining cases it had refused to refer to the court of appeal to check for new DNA testing opportunities. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6MGM0)
There are few policy reasons to change leader, so lack of campaigning nous of PM who can't do human' may be only argumentWith just two days to go before a knife-edge election in Rishi Sunak's own back yard, it was the shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, campaigning in North Yorkshire, where Labour is expected to win the mayoralty. The prime minister wasn't even elsewhere on the campaign trail, but in London, speaking to editors at a media freedom event.It is a stark contrast to the last time these seats in the local elections were in the spotlight. Boris Johnson named the day Super Thursday" and was a looming presence on the campaign at the height of the Conservatives' vaccine bounce, especially at the Hartlepool byelection, which the Tories won from Labour. Continue reading...
Progressives counting on a strong performance to rein in Robert Fico's drift away from rule of lawAs fears grow that Slovakia is following Hungary down a path away from the rule of law, the country's opposition says it is determined to prove that citizens want a democratic future.Since coming back to power last year, Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, has taken aim at the media, NGOs and prosecutors. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6MGM1)
Exclusive: 2003 study was cited as evidence that risks of hepatitis C could not have been foreseen at the timeA study cited at the infected blood inquiry, as evidence that the devastating consequences of blood products contaminated with hepatitis could not have been foreseen, misrepresented the results of a trial in making its case, the Guardian can reveal.Up to 6,520 people are believed to have been infected with hepatitis C through imported factor VIII blood products in the 1970s and 80s, while a further 26,800 are estimated to have been infected with the virus though blood transfusions. About 2,000 people are estimated to have died as a result. Continue reading...
Former NSW premier's threat to sue comes amid debate about whether New Zealand should join pillar two of Aukus pactAustralia's former foreign minister and New South Wales premier, Bob Carr, says he intends to sue New Zealand's deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, for allegations made about Carr's closeness to China as debate about Aukus ramps up.Peters called Carr nothing more than a Chinese puppet" on the national broadcaster RNZ on Thursday morning. Continue reading...
by Presented by Michael Safi with Kari Paul; produced on (#6MGJK)
The electric carmaker's Cybertruck was recalled last month after safety concerns emerged over the accelerator pedal. Kari Paul reportsLast month Tesla recalled its Cybertrucks after malfunctions involving the accelerator pedal were reported. It is the latest blow for the US electric carmaker, which has been hit by a series of embarrassing failures since the Cybertruck was delivered to customers late last year.Kari Paul, a technology reporter for Guardian US, talks to Michael Safi about Tesla's recent struggles, from safety issues to supply-chain delays. Can the company's embattled chief executive, Elon Musk, turn its fortunes around? Continue reading...
Electric Light Orchestra leader Jeff Lynne announces death of remarkable musician and friend' who played everything from the Minimoog to the ClavinetRichard Tandy, the keyboardist in Electric Light Orchestra who shaped much of the British rock band's sound, has died aged 76.His death was announced by the ELO leader Jeff Lynne, who wrote on social media: He was a remarkable musician and friend and I'll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together." A cause of death was not given. Continue reading...
by Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent on (#6MGAG)
Spokesperson confirms informal meeting' has taken place between leadership frontrunners John Swinney and Kate ForbesThe SNP government has headed off Labour's attempt to force an early Holyrood election, as the frontrunners to succeed Humza Yousaf met for informal talks in an attempt to avoid another divisive leadership contest.Anas Sarwar's motion of no confidence in Yousaf's administration - which would have forced all government ministers to resign - was defeated by 70 votes to 58 on Wednesday afternoon after the Greens voted with the SNP. Continue reading...
Postponements come hours after queueing fans were turned away from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie gig on Wednesday eveningThe troubled Co-op Live arena has postponed Olivia Rodrigo's concerts as part of her Guts world tour because of a technical issue", hours after it the last-minute cancellation of its opening concert for the third time.Two hours after announcing that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie would no longer be performing, the venue confirmed that Rodrigo's concerts on 3 and 4 May had also been cancelled. Continue reading...
While men are disproportionally affected by conditions that cause early death, women are left with higher levels of illness and disabilityWomen live longer than men but experience more years in poor health, according to a global gender health gap analysis that experts say underlines an urgent need for action to boost women's health.Globally, there are substantial differences between women and men when it comes to health, with limited progress in bridging health gaps over the past three decades, according to the study examining the impact of the world's 20 leading causes of disease. Continue reading...
Ahmed Alhashimi's seven-year-old daughter Sara was crushed to death after group of men rushed on to dinghyThe father of a seven-year-old girl crushed to death on a small boat has said they tried to cross the Channel after being informed his young family would be deported to Iraq after spending years in Europe.Ahmed Alhashimi, 41, lost grasp of his daughter, Sara, on an inflatable dinghy after a large group of men rushed onboard as it was pulling away from the shores of Wimereux, south of Calais. Continue reading...
The Grammy-winning musician, who had a string of instrumental hits in the 50s and 60s, has died of cancerDuane Eddy, the rock'n'roll guitarist who achieved solo stardom with a string of instrumental hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including Rebel Rouser and the theme to the TV series Peter Gunn, has died at the age of 86.The Grammy-winning artist died of cancer surrounded by family at Williamson Health hospital near his home in Franklin, Tennessee, his wife Deed Abbate told the Associated Press. Duane inspired a generation of guitarists the world over with his unmistakeable signature Twang' sound," a representative said in a statement. He was the first rock and roll guitar god, a truly humble and incredible human being. He will be sorely missed." Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6MGAD)
Teenage boy died in attack by man armed with sword, while two police officers and two others were injuredA man has been charged with murder after a series of stabbings in Hainault on Tuesday that left a teenage boy dead.Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, 36, was charged with the murder of Daniel Anjorin, 14. He will appear at Barkingside magistrates court on Thursday. Continue reading...
Party stands by members set to contest key seats who have claimed climate crisis does not exist and Islamophobia is made up'Reform UK has chosen to stand by candidates who have promoted conspiracy theories online, called the climate emergency make-believe" and expressed vaccine-sceptic views.Those fringe views, and more, were put forward by a group of seven candidates selected to stand for the rightwing populist party at the next general election - including several who will contest seats that some analyses consider to be their top targets. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd, Rachel Hall and Jamie Grierson on (#6MG42)
Bancroft's school in Woodford Green said it was in profound shock and sorrow' after death of Daniel, 14, whom it described as a true scholar'The 14-year-old boy killed in the east London sword attacks was praised as a true scholar", gentle and a gifted footballer, as it emerged he attended the same school as one of the victims of the 2023 Nottingham stabbings.Daniel Anjorin, was a student at the private Bancroft's school in Woodford Green, which is still reeling from losing the former student Grace O'Malley-Kumar in June 2023 . Continue reading...
Antony Blinken holds two-hour meeting with Netanyahu while Hamas considers ceasefire proposalIsrael's leaders were under renewed pressure to allow more aid into Gaza on Wednesday after the US secretary of state Antony Blinken told Benjamin Netanyahu to accelerate and sustain improvements" during recent days in the amount of humanitarian assistance reaching the territory.Humanitarian agencies say that though the number of lorries entering Gaza after being vetted by Israel has increased significantly, these deliver only a fraction of what is needed. Continue reading...
by Rajeev Syal, Jessica Elgot and Diane Taylor on (#6MG0D)
Dozens of detentions have taken place across UK, say sources, as move prompts demonstrations around countryUK ministers have acknowledged for the first time that they are detaining asylum seekers to be removed to Rwanda, prompting demonstrations outside Home Office buildings.Nationwide operations began this week to detain adult men and women, with more activity due to be carried out over the next 11 weeks leading up to a one-way flight to east Africa. Continue reading...
Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh tell tribunal hearing broadcaster discriminated against themFour senior female news presenters have accused the BBC of grinding down" women on pay and failing to tackle persistent pay discrimination at a tribunal court hearing in London.The presenter Martine Croxall - alongside Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh - accused the broadcaster of conducting a sham recruitment exercise" after they lost their jobs when the BBC merged its domestic and global news channels last year. Continue reading...
by Mabel Banfield-Nwachi (now) Yohannes Lowe and Hami on (#6MG1C)
14-year-old killed in attack was a student at Bancroft's school in Woodford Green; police say two men in their 30s were injured and suspect is in custodyThe head of Bancroft's School, Simon Marshall, has sent a statement to parents, in which Daniel Anjorin, the 14-year-old boy killed in the Hainault attack yesterday, was described as a much-loved" member of the school.The statement, seen by the BBC, reads:I had been intending to write to you once the news has become public, but I understand that many within our community may already be aware of events yesterday.It is therefore with great sadness and shock that I am writing to inform you of the tragic death of Daniel Anjorin, one of our pupils. Continue reading...
by Daniel Lavelle, Jessica Murray and agencies on (#6MFXC)
Teenager detained on suspicion of attempted murder after incident at Birley academy, say policeA 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly assaulting one adult with broken glass and injuring two others at a secondary school in Sheffield.South Yorkshire police said they had been called to Birley academy at 8.50am and had arrested the boy within minutes, while the school went into lockdown. Continue reading...
Scottish government wins vote by 70 votes to 58, with no abstentions after debate where Humza Yousaf defended government's recordLabour has accused Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, of championing single-sex spaces as part of a culture war".Speaking about the initiative announced by Badenoch this morning (see 10.10am), Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secreary, told Times Radio this morning:[Badenoch] does love nothing more than a culture war. And it is so transparent what she is doing. She is pitching to Conservative members for the leadership contest to come in the Conservative party. And frankly, our country deserves a lot better than it always being about the Conservative party.I do take issue with you calling this culture wars.Four years ago, when I was alerting people to the danger of puberty blockers, and a lot of the issues that we had in clinics, people like you were accusing me of fighting culture wars. Continue reading...
by Jon Henley, Europe correspondent, and agencies on (#6MFPW)
EU leads calls for halt to escalating violence after police use water cannon, teargas and stun grenades against demonstratorsWestern politicians and diplomats have called for a halt to spiralling violence in Georgia after security forces used water cannon, teargas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to break up a peaceful rally against a foreign influence" bill overnight.The EU, which has granted Georgia candidate status, strongly condemned" the violence and called on the government to respect the right of peaceful assembly. Use of force to suppress it is unacceptable," foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X. Continue reading...
Thousands of students have rallied for Palestine, after hundreds of thousands of Democrats declined to vote for Biden in the primaryThe policies of Joe Biden and Democrats towards Israel, which have prompted thousands of students across the country to protest, could affect the youth vote for Biden and hurt his re-election chances, experts have warned, in what is already expected to be a tight election.Thousands of students at universities across the US have joined with pro-Palestine rallies and, most recently, encampments, as Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people. Continue reading...
by Sammy Gecsoyler (now); Yohannes Lowe (earlier) on (#6MFVR)
Moscow says attack, which has yet to be independently verified, was carried out using missiles and artilleryThe Russian military has attacked the command headquarters of the Ukrainian army's southern grouping, using missiles and artillery, Russia's defence ministry said. The claims are yet to be independently verified.Ukraine's special services claimed responsibility for a drone attack that hit a Russian oil refinery in Ryazan, south of Moscow, early on Wednesday morning. It said the attack took place about 2:00am (2300 GMT). The governors of the Kursk and Voronezh regions in southwest Russia that border Ukraine also reported drone attacks on their territories, saying there was no damage or injuries.Russia attacked the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine with guided bombs on Wednesday, killing at least two people and injured two others, the regional governor said. The two people were killed when a car was struck in the village of Zolochiv, where a private home was also struck, governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram.Ukrainian forces defending the strategic eastern stronghold of Chasiv Yar say they are still waiting for fresh ammunition after the US approved a major military aid package. Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of Ukraine's 225th Separate Assault Battalion that is fighting near the town, said more artillery shells would help his unit hold their positions. I hope we receive artillery shells soon," he said. Chasiv Yar is emerging as a key battleground because of its position on elevated ground that could serve as a gateway to the cities of Kostiantynivka, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.The US Senate has unanimously approved legislation to ban imports of Russian uranium, after the House of Representatives passed the bill in December. The US president, Joe Biden, is expected now to sign the uranium imports bill into law.We reported earlier (see post at 09.23) how Ukrainian forces defending the strategic eastern stronghold of Chasiv Yar say they are still waiting for fresh ammunition as they try to repel intensifying attacks. Continue reading...
Luxury British brand expects challenging trading conditions in UK and China to continueMulberry, the luxury British brand best known for its leather handbags that can cost more than 1,600 each, has reported a 4% decline in annual sales, becoming the latest high-end company to warn of a slowdown in spending among the richest shoppers.In a trading update, Thierry Andretta, the chief executive, said: While we achieved positive revenue growth in the first half, Mulberry has not been immune to the broader downturn in luxury spending experienced in recent months, particularly in the UK and Asia. This decline was partially offset by positive trading in the US, where we have benefited from increased brand awareness. Continue reading...
Harry Potter star reveals in interview that he has had no contact with Rowling since the author's gender-critical statements on trans womenHarry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has described his rupture with JK Rowling over trans rights as really sad", and that despite her role in his life as the creator of Potter [it] doesn't mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life".Radcliffe's comments came in an interview in the Atlantic, and marks the first published remarks by one of the principal cast in the Potter series since the publication of the Cass review of gender identity services, and Rowling's subsequent suggestion on social media that he and co-star Emma Watson were celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors". Continue reading...
Accused were arrested in Lesbos and accused of facilitating illegal entry of migrants into the countryA Greek court's decision to drop criminal charges against dozens of international aid workers accused of espionage and facilitating the illegal entry of migrants into the country has been met with jubilation.A three-member judicial council convening on the north Aegean isle of Lesbos ruled there was insufficient proof to pursue the case against 35 mostly German nationals. Continue reading...
Steven Miles' government claims to have legal advice from Crown Law and solicitor general that amendments will not violate Human Rights Act or international law
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