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Husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe expresses concern for Craig and Lindsay Foreman who were held in JanuaryThe husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has called on ministers to act more promptly" than they did to help free his wife, after Iran detained a British couple on a motorcycle trip.Richard Ratcliffe, whose wife was freed in 2022 after five years in a Tehran prison, expressed fears that the couple would now face the brutal theatre" of court process to get the government's attention". Continue reading...

The former UK prime minister says democracy in Europe and across the globe is under threat'. This live blog is closed

Exclusive: Christ Church college taken aback to receive hundreds of the author's letters, photos and rare itemsThousands of letters, photographs, illustrations and books from one of the world's largest private Lewis Carroll collections have been donated to the UK out of the blue by an American philanthropist.The extraordinary gift has been made to Christ Church, University of Oxford, where Carroll lectured and where he met Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which celebrates its 160th anniversary this year. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Vice-chancellors say Office for Students' plans for next five years will financially harm smaller institutionsUniversity leaders have urged England's higher education regulator to rethink its priorities, saying that smaller institutions will be financially harmed by increasing costs of its bureaucracy.The Office for Students (OfS) already charges smaller institutions such as the Royal College of Music up to 20 times more for each student in registration fees than it charges larger universities, with vice-chancellors fearing that the costs of meeting the regulator's demands will continue to balloon. Continue reading...

US Department of Justice also involved in what are thought to be efforts to recover deleted internet search historyThe FBI and the US Department of Justice have joined the investigation into the Southport killer, Axel Rudakubana, and are reported to be helping UK police recover his deleted internet search history.Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January for murdering three young girls and attempting to murder eight others in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July last year. Continue reading...

The actor recalls a terrifying moment when playing the doomed Egyptian queen during a 1987 production of the Shakespeare classicWriggly creatures have always scared Judi Dench. I'm a person who is frightened of a worm because one jumped inside my sandal when I was a little girl, and we couldn't get it out," she said.So after being cast in the 1987 National Theatre production of Antony and Cleopatra, Dench was terrified when director Peter Hall said there would be live snakes on stage. Continue reading...

Martyn Oliver says change in working habits since pandemic has led to a shift in attitudes among pupils in EnglandSchool attendance rates are being affected by parents working from home after the pandemic, the head of Ofsted has said.The chief inspector of the schools watchdog in England, Martyn Oliver, told the Sunday Times that the widespread change in working habits after the pandemic had led to a shift in attitudes among pupils. Continue reading...

Head of Unison Christina McAnea is one of 148 signatories of letter warning rules will breed division and mistrust'Keir Starmer's most generous union backer has joined faith leaders to warn Yvette Cooper that new rules refusing citizenship to refugees who arrive in small boats will breed division and distrust" and could fuel attacks on migrant hotels.Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, and nine Church of England bishops are among 148 signatories of a letter saying the home secretary's plan to bar naturalisation for anyone who has made a dangerous journey will label tens of thousands of people second-class citizens". Continue reading...

Queues of people risk possible arrest at Moscow cemetery while European leaders condemn KremlinEuropean leaders have condemned the Kremlin's ultimate responsibility" in the death of Alexei Navalny, as supporters of Russia's best-known opposition politician held remembrance events a year after he died in an Arctic penal colony.A steady queue of people braved freezing temperatures and possible arrest in Moscow to visit Navalny's grave in Borisovskoye cemetery, while his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, was due to address a memorial ceremony in Berlin, where she is living in exile. Continue reading...

Kingsley Kanu, brother of Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu, calls on PM to defend British citizensThe brother of a British national being held in Nigeria after falling victim to extraordinary rendition has accused the UK government of turning its back, and called on Keir Starmer to wake up" and defend British citizens".Kingsley Kanu, the brother of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), a prominent separatist movement proscribed in Nigeria, said the UK government had failed to intervene in his brother's case. Continue reading...

Former head of nursing at Countess of Chester says Letby cried in her arms' after being removed from the wardLucy Letby's former boss has said if she was acting she deserves an Oscar" as she described tearful meetings with the neonatal nurse after accusations against her first emerged.Karen Rees, the head of nursing at the Countess of Chester hospital before her retirement in March 2018, revealed to the Sunday Times that she had always believed in Letby's innocence. The pair developed a close relationship in the months after Letby was removed from the ward over concerns she was connected to a sharp rise in infant deaths. Continue reading...

Jonathan Reynolds says Britain has not given up on persuading the US to allow Ukraine to join Nato

Government in Nordelta approves plans to control numbers of world's largest rodent - but not all are in agreementA contraception debate is gripping one of Argentina's most notable luxury neighbourhoods - not for its wealthy residents, but for its original occupants, the capybaras.In recent years, the lovable rodents have been accused of overrunning the Nordelta, a meticulously landscaped and manicured suburb north of Buenos Aires. Continue reading...

Delaying rebuilding programme in England to save money in short term requires costly repairs to keep sites safeThe repairs bill at 18 crumbling hospitals is set to soar to 5.7bn because replacing them will take so long, new analysis shows.Reconstruction of 18 of the 40 new hospitals in England first promised by Boris Johnson in 2019 will not start until at least 2030 - the date by which all 40 were originally meant to open - to help spread the cost, amid stretched public finances. Continue reading...

Some 400 million devotees will attend this year's Kumbh Mela festival. Pilgrims and politicians explain why it's bigger than everThey sat quietly together on the banks of the Ganges river, heads bowed in sombre meditation. Some men were naked, their bodies smeared grey with ash. Others had a simple saffron cloth tied around their waist. Nearby, barbers balanced on their haunches, shaving the head of each man clean with a flick of their knives, save for a small strand at the back.This ceremony, in which millions of pilgrims seek to cleanse their sins to break the cycle of reincarnation has been taking place at the Kumbh Mela festival for centuries. It is mandatory for thousands of sadhus - Hindu holy men who live an austere life of strict spiritual discipline. Among the most sacred events in the Hindu calendar, the festival occurs every 12 years across four sacred locations in India where it is believed the Hindu god Vishnu once spilled drops of the nectar of immortality. Continue reading...

People living in tents at Suttons Beach Park, Redcliffe, forced to move to avoid fines for storing goods on public land'

As Donald Trump and his officials rip up three years of US rhetoric on supporting Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is walking an unenviable diplomatic tightropeVolodymyr Zelenskyy has had some tough weeks in the past three years, but this past one may be up there with the worst of them.Back on Monday, in an hour-long interview with the Guardian at his Kyiv offices, the Ukrainian president was in a cautiously optimistic frame of mind. He said he had received positive signals from the Americans" over upcoming negotiations. His team was working to fix a date for a meeting with Donald Trump, he said, and he was sure that the US president understood the importance of coordinating his position with Kyiv before talking to Russia. Continue reading...

US secretary of state is making his first trip to region and is expected to advocate Trump's plan to create Riviera of the Middle East'The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will discuss the Gaza ceasefire with Israel's prime minister in Jerusalem, launching a Middle East tour a day after the latest hostage-prisoner exchange.On his first visit to the region as Washington's top diplomat, Rubio is expected to push the US president Donald Trump's widely condemned proposal to take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its more than 2 million residents - which experts say would amount to ethnic cleansing. Continue reading...

Higher tuition costs have already been wiped out' by government tax hikes, critics claimA fall in international students applying for visas risks prolonging the existential threat facing some of England's universities, sources in higher education say, amid warnings that an increase in tuition fees has already been wiped out" by the government's tax rises.Despite the decision by ministers to increase fees for UK students this year to 9,535 - the first rise in eight years - figures across the universities sector said the financial situation remained dire, with further course closures and redundancies being widely considered. Continue reading...

Russia is relying on strength of numbers, and Putin may not honour a peace dealAfter three years of Russia's attempt to occupy and annex Ukraine, the country continues to put up a fierce resistance.Russia is suffering more than 1,500 casualties a day and only slowly taking ground. But the Ukrainian army is also being put under immense pressure. Continue reading...

Rush broke out as travellers scrambled to board trains in India's capital to go to world's largest religious gatheringAt least 18 people have died in a crush at a railway station in India's capital when surging crowds scrambled to catch trains to the world's largest religious gathering, officials have said.The Kumbh Mela attracts tens of millions of Hindu faithful every 12 years to the northern city of Prayagraj, and has a history of crowd-related disasters - including one last month, when at least 30 people died in another crush at the holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Continue reading...

The 23-year-old has become the youngest solo sailor to race around the world. Now it's hoped her example will inspire a more intrepid generationWhen she set sail around the world from the west coast of France three months ago, Violette Dorange was barely known outside her sport. By the time she returned last week, she was a household name in her country.At 23, Dorange has become the youngest solo sailor to complete the around-the-world race, having spent 90 days, 22 hours and 37 minutes at sea. Her diminutive figure came waving and smiling into the Atlantic port of Les Sables d'Olonne last Sunday, met by thousands of fans, fireworks and hundreds of journalists broadcasting live from speedboats. Continue reading...

Three non-citizens with criminal histories taken into immigration detention in preparation for removal from Australia, home affairs minister says

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Rescuers still searching for victims at the illegally operated mine in the west of the countryAt least 48 people have been killed in the collapse of an illegally operated goldmine in western Mali, authorities and local sources have said.Mali is one of Africa's leading gold producers, and mining sites are regularly the scene of deadly landslides and accidents. Continue reading...

Train workers claim Fair Work Commission win as rail union warns of more potential delays and disruptions across network

Opposition leader says more competition needed as growing numbers unable to afford home and car insurance

Critics cast doubt on effectiveness of policy, citing low volume of purchases by overseas buyers, as Labor seeks to improve housing affordability

Police say motive for killing of Hendricks, who ran a mosque for LGBTQ+ Muslims near Cape Town, is unknownMuhsin Hendricks, considered the world's first openly gay imam", has been shot dead near the southern city of Gqeberha, South African police have said.The imam, who ran a mosque intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims, was in a car with another person on Saturday when a vehicle stopped in front of them and blocked their exit, police said. Continue reading...

Changes to political donation rules are moving through parliament, and one man will be affected the most

This liveblog has now closed. Read the Observer's report of today's developments hereAgence France-Presse has some more on Olaf Scholz's comments today at the Munich Security Conference.On Ukraine, the German chancellor said:We will also not accept any solution that leads to a decoupling of European and American security. Only one person would benefit from this: President Putin.We Europeans will represent these interests confidently and unitedly in the upcoming negotiations." Continue reading...

A suspect was detained in the city of Villach after a 14-year-old boy diedA 14-year-old boy has died and five other people have been injured in a knife attack in southern Austria on Saturday, according to police, who said they had arrested a 23-year-old suspect.The suspect was detained in the city of Villach, where the attack took place, police said on Saturday. He is a Syrian national with legal residence in Austria, they said. Continue reading...

Vehicle and firearm recovered at Dartford crossing after woman in 40s killed in KnockholtA woman in her 40s has died after a shooting at a Kent pub, police have said.She was shot at the Three Horseshoes in the village of Knockholt on Valentine's Day evening, Kent police said. Continue reading...

The opposition leader doesn't want to give oxygen to distractions that might appear divisive - and Liberal insiders believe it's the right choice

Allies want to give Conservative leader more time, but many insist her approach to Keir Starmer needs total overhaulKemi Badenoch is being urged to overhaul her approach to prime minister's questions and bring in more experienced advisers to prepare for the weekly political joust, amid criticisms of her approach to taking on Keir Starmer.Some MPs are complaining that their fledgling leader is raising the wrong topics and picking unconvincing lines of attack against the prime minister at PMQs, which is her most prominent opportunity to make the political weather. Others have been concerned about the level of support for her from colleagues during the exchanges. Continue reading...

An investigation has exposed the tech firm's cooperation with autocratic regimes to remove unfavourable contentGoogle has cooperated with autocratic regimes around the world, including the Kremlin in Russia and the Chinese Communist party, to facilitate censorship requests, an Observer investigation can reveal.The technology company has engaged with the administrations of about 150 countries since 2011 that want information scrubbed from their public domains. Continue reading...

The district of Plaka dates to neolithic times but a new wave of development is luring more tourists - and local people are fighting backIn a neoclassical building in Athens on the oldest street of one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the western world, residents gathered last week with much on the minds.Items on the agenda included noise pollution, congestion and other modern afflictions, but there was one that was met with instant relief: Haris Doukas, the city's mayor, had decided to set up a taskforce to save Plaka, the ancient quarter at the heart of the capital's historic centre. Continue reading...

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Craig and Lindsay Foreman named by relatives who say they are engaging with UK government about situationA British couple who have been detained in Iran have been named by their family as Craig and Lindsay Foreman.The family spoke of their concern at the distressing situation" facing the Foremans, who are being held in Kerman, Iran. Continue reading...

Hostages and prisoners reunited with loved ones as political concerns turn to second phase of truce Middle East crisis - live updatesHamas has freed three Israeli hostages from Gaza and Israel has released 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in its custody, the sixth exchange in a fragile month-old ceasefire that almost collapsed earlier this week.On Saturday morning, Hamas and its ally Palestinian Islamic Jihad deployed about 200 fighters to take part in a choreographed handover ceremony in a square in the southern town of Khan Younis. Continue reading...

The US vice-president was hypocritical and insensitive, but bracingly clear in his resetting of relationships Europe live - latest updatesSince 1963, the Munich Security Conference has seen many consequential speeches, notably Vladimir Putin announcing in 2007 that Russia would never accept a subordinate role in the new world order. But Friday's speech by JD Vance, the US vice-president, has the potential to be the most consequential - the moment the world order against which Putin railed fell apart.Sometimes, even in this digital age, speeches can act as clarifiers. Yes, the 22 minutes were full of laughable hypocrisy, distorted portraits of European democracy and insensitivity to Europe's trauma with fascism, but for what it said about the chasm in values between most in Europe and the Trump administration, it was hard to overlook. Continue reading...

David Butler survived being drugged and robbed in 2021 by Danette Colbert, now tied to death of Adan ManzanoA man who survived being drugged and robbed of more than $134,000 by a woman linked to the death of a television sports journalist covering the recent Super Bowl in New Orleans said he wants to see her go to jail for as long as she can" after she was let off with probation in his case.David Butler, 52, also said he had tried to warn both the public and the courthouse that handled his case against Danette Colbert that she might end up killing someone" if left unchecked. Continue reading...

US vice-president's comments, part of a wide-ranging tirade against Europe, called inaccurate and misogynisticJD Vance has been labelled an extremist" after he launched a broadside against the UK's efforts to protect women seeking an abortion.The US vice-president's criticisms of UK and Scottish policies on safe access zones around abortion clinics -part of a wide-ranging tirade against Europe on Friday - were derided as inaccurate and misogynistic by a number of groups, politicians and governments. Continue reading...

Labour peer will ask the government about the Duke of York's conduct after calling for greater scrutiny of the royals in parliamentThe government is to face questions about Prince Andrew and other members of the royal family's use of public money after talks to overcome restrictions on scrutinising the monarchy in parliament.Labour peer George Foulkes has had the first of what he intends to be a number of questions about Andrew accepted, after helpful" discussions last week with the deputy speaker in the House of Lords, John Gardiner. Their talks came after Lord Foulkes said recently that he had been refused permission to table a question proposing a public register of royal interests. He has called for greater scrutiny of the royals, including in parliament. Continue reading...

Rodent infestation and out-of-date food was found across government canteens and cafes in recent inspectionsWhitehall's restaurants and bars have often been the scene of a grubby deal or plot in the occasionally dirty business of politics. But, according to a series of health inspections, they have needed to clean up their acts in more ways than one.Instances of mouse-nibbled snacks, repeated discoveries of their droppings, mouldy veg and other serious hygiene issues have been raised in recent years in inspections of canteens, cafes and restaurants across Westminster, the Observer can reveal. In one case, the inspector warned that eating in one government department's canteen posed an imminent risk of injury to health". Continue reading...

Exclusive: Foreign minister says she sought meeting with the north London Premier League club to discuss sponsorship by country accused of aiding armed rebelsArsenal Football Club has been accused of delivering an outrageous" snub to the Congolese government by not meeting the foreign minister to discuss its sponsorship deal with Rwanda.Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who was in London this week to raise concerns over Rwanda's support for the M23 militia, said she attempted to meet Arsenal officials to discuss the club's Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal. Continue reading...

Wildlife charity backs policy of exploitation of small number of some endangered species for economic purposes - such as trophy huntingThe wildlife charity WWF has been working to support the trade in polar bear fur at the same time as using images of the bears to raise money, it can be revealed.Polar bears are severely affected by the loss of Arctic sea ice, which makes seeking prey harder and forces the bears to use more energy. In some regions, polar bears are showing signs of declining physical condition, having fewer cubs, and dying younger. Continue reading...

Gen Lord Richard Dannatt warns strategic review risks being hollow' and a failure' if spending is not increasedKeir Starmer will be consigned to the bin of history" if he fails to raise defence spending, a former head of the British army has said.Gen Lord Richard Dannatt believes the forthcoming strategic defence review risks being hollow" and a failure" unless the prime minister and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, find ways of increasing the defence budget. Continue reading...

Vets are undertaking a necropsy to determine why beloved 20-year-old animal suddenly died on Saturday morning

With a new HQ and digital-savvy staff, Reform UK is trying to tighten its operation - but there are tensions over fringe views and trouble brewing at the grassroots