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In wake of Trump administration group chat scandal, department's chief operating officer tells Senate there is no ban on staff using the feature

Anthony Albanese's move would steal thunder from Peter Dutton hours after he delivers budget reply speech

In her farewell speech to parliament, WA senator accused Labor of a brutal campaign', which set off largest political scandal in Australian history'

Schools combining incentives with sanctions saw better response than those relying purely on punishmentPizza parties and iPads are being offered to pupils as incentives to improve school attendance, according to a new report which says sanctions alone are less likely to work.While some schools in England are using fines, detentions and letters home to crack down on absence, others prefer a rewards-based approach, with prize draws for bikes and iPads, trips and praise stamps" which pupils collect then trade in for chocolates or stationery. Continue reading...

Yvette Cooper says change needed in England and Wales after concerns over marches near synagogues and mosquesThe government plans to give police in England and Wales powers to change the route or timing of protest marches planned outside places of worship in order to give greater protection against intimidation.The government is to include the powers in an amendment to the crime and policing bill after concerns were raised about protests near synagogues and mosques. Continue reading...

Labor's tax cuts, $5 a week from 2026 and then $10 from 2027, would be replaced by halving the fuel excise to 25.4c per litre of fuel for one year

Deon De Groot, 26, was spotted stuffing eggs worth 220.50 into a duffel bag at a Tesco Express in PeterboroughA man who stole 325 Cadbury Creme Eggs from a petrol station has been banned from Cambridgeshire for three months.Deon De Groot, 26, was spotted when he stuffed 220.50 worth of the eggs into a duffel bag at a Tesco Express in Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, and left without paying on Saturday. Continue reading...

Reform UK leader threatened legal action after political views cited as reason for closure of Coutts accountNigel Farage has settled his high-profile dispute with NatWest Group, nearly two years after the bank closed his accounts and triggered a row that ended with the resignation of the lender's chief executive.Dame Alison Rose stood down from the bank in July 2023 after she admitted being the source of an inaccurate BBC story about the reasons Farage had been debanked", for which she then issued an apology. Continue reading...

Senior officials warn nations including China, Pakistan and Iran could attempt to subvert vote with sophisticated toolsThe spectre of interference by India has already rocked the early days of Canada's federal election, with officials warning that sophisticated efforts from other hostile nations are expected in the coming weeks.As Canadians prepare to cast ballots on 28 April, senior officials say that India, China, Pakistan and Iran are all expected to make efforts to subvert the national vote through increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaigns. Continue reading...

Woman tells high court incident happened when she was working in entry-level position on actor's Brotherhood filmA young runner on a Noel Clarke film left the industry for three years after the actor followed her into the women's toilets, pulled out a condom and propositioned her, the high court has heard.Philippa Crabb, now a production manager, was working in an entry-level position on Brotherhood, the last of the Kidulthood trilogy, written and produced by Clarke, when he offered her a small role as a nurse. Continue reading...

Mark Rutte says Nato needs to know US has its back but Europe must also do its fair share. This live blog is closedMeanwhile, Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson has confirmed the country plans to increase the country's defence spending to a provisional target of 3.5% of GDP by 2030 in the largest push since the end of cold war.Sweden was expected to spend 2.14% in 2024, with projections reaching 2.4% this year, and 2.6% in 2028.Let's not forget that Russia is and remains the most significant and dark threat to our alliance. Let's not forget that Russia is moving into a wartime economy. And that will have a huge impact on their capacity and capability to build their armed forces.When it comes to the defence of Poland and the general defence of Nato territory, if anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance. Our reaction will be devastating.This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who ... wants to attack us. Continue reading...

Former intelligence head said leak and White House response was very worrying' to allies of the US

Cap on cash within 20,000-a-year personal allowance to encourage investment in equities could send billions flowing to UK stock marketHands off our cash Isas! Don't punish savers for choosing safety! Don't force everyone into stocks and shares! Think of the havoc you'll cause for first-time buyers if you deprive banks and building societies of their stickiest source of deposits! Don't fall for the self-interested lobbying of City fund managers!The cries were loud and furious before the spring statement and, in the event, Rachel Reeves did nothing on Isas. But prepare to have this quarrel all over again in the autumn because the documents confirmed the Treasury is still considering a cap on cash within an individual's 20,000-a-year allowance. Continue reading...

Families affected forecast to lose an average of 1,720 a year, according to official government analysis

The first look at the controversial film shows the actor as an outlaw in a production that led to the death of cinematographer Halyna HutchinsThe first trailer has emerged for western Rust, the production that saw an on-set accident lead to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.The film stars Alec Baldwin as an outlaw in 1880s Kansas who breaks his grandson out of jail after he accidentally kills a rancher who is sentenced to hang. It also stared Frances Fisher and Travis Fimmel. Continue reading...

Search plane spotted family sheltering overnight on wing of small aircraft that crashed and partly sunk into frigid lakeA pilot and his two young daughters survived on the wing of a plane for about 12 hours after it crashed and was partly submerged in an icy Alaska lake, then were rescued after being spotted by a good Samaritan.Terry Godes said he saw a Facebook post on Sunday night calling for people to help search for the missing plane, which did not have a locator beacon. On Monday morning about a dozen pilots including Godes headed out to scour the rugged terrain. Godes headed toward Tustumena Lake near the toe of a glacier and spotted what he thought was wreckage. Continue reading...

Ukraine's president said drone attacks just hours after ceasefire talks were a clear signal to the whole world'

Approved refugees reportedly affected by freeze on processing after Trump demands more aggressive vetting

Edward Coristine, who is 19, is among members of Doge effort that has been given access to official networksThe best-known member of Elon Musk's so-called department of government efficiency" (Doge) service team of technologists once provided support to a cybercrime gang that bragged about trafficking in stolen data and cyberstalking an FBI agent, according to digital records reviewed by Reuters.Edward Coristine is among the most visible members of the Doge effort that has been given sweeping access to official networks as it attempts to radically downsize the US government. It is headed by Musk - the world's richest man - with a powerful mandate from Donal Trump. Continue reading...

Bill, which passed committee scrutiny on Tuesday, has insufficient protections' for most vulnerable

As White House takes aim at medical missions, SVG says it gave US proof that workers aren't human-trafficking victimsThe prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) said his government has provided evidence to the US that Cuban health workers in the country are not victims of human trafficking, as the Trump administration takes aim at the medical missions.Speaking in advance of US secretary of state Marco Rubio's visit to the Caribbean on Wednesday, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said he was confident that the information he provided would settle US concerns about the deal under which Cuban medical professionals work in SVG. Continue reading...

New book Fight also reports Harris aides strategized around the possibility that Biden might die in office'Democratic officials staged hush-hush talks" to plan for Joe Biden's withdrawal as the party's presidential nominee as early as 2023, says a new book.Citing two unnamed sources, authors Jonathan Allen's and Amie Parnes's account adds another twist to the torturous saga over the then president's age and fitness that was not resolved until a disastrous debate against Donald Trump precipitated his exit in July 2024. Continue reading...

Only folding models will be permitted on London Underground, Overground, Elizabeth Line and DLR trains from 31 MarchMost e-bikes will be banned across the London Underground and other Transport for London services, after growing safety concerns over igniting batteries.Only folding e-bikes, which are less likely to have been modified and are deemed less of a safety risk, will be permitted on the London Underground, Overground, Elizabeth Line and DLR trains from 31 March. Continue reading...

OfS inquiry concludes into case of Prof Kathleen Stock, who was targeted over views on trans rights and gender issuesEngland's university regulator has been accused of perpetuating the culture wars" after fining the University of Sussex a record 585,000 at the conclusion of an investigation into freedom of speech on campus.It marks the end of a three-and-a-half year investigation into the university's handling of the case of Kathleen Stock, a philosophy professor who resigned after being targeted by protests over her views on gender identification and transgender rights. Continue reading...

Former NSW Liberal MP appears at Downing Centre district court after pleading not guilty to allegations

Some creators had flights, hotels and other travel expenses to Canberra covered by the Labor party, according to people invited

State attorney general says the report does not take into account the new government's positive agenda on victims' rights'

This blog is now closed

Government changes parliamentary schedule on Wednesday morning in surprise move to bring debate on federal budget tax cuts immediately

News of protests has been preserve of a few newspapers and channels outside well funded pro-government networksAt the same time as the sound of clanging pots and pans rang out through the streets of opposition strongholds in Istanbul on a recent evening, marking another mass anti-government demonstration, a different reality was being broadcast to viewers of Turkish pro-government channels.Public television showed the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, speaking to a gilded conference room after an iftar dinner. He boasted of his government's achievements, of hiring new teachers and attracting youth to an aerospace and technology conference. Continue reading...

Award-winning film set in fictional town has already made its debut at Cannes but censors have refused to approve it for domestic releaseIndian film censors have blocked the release of critically acclaimed film Santosh over concerns about its portrayal of misogyny, Islamophobia and violence in the Indian police force.Santosh, written and directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, is set in north India and has won international plaudits for its portrayal of a young widow who joins the police force and investigates the murder of a young Dalit girl. Continue reading...

A 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple is among buildings destroyed after dry and windy weather saw mostly contained blazes spread againWind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea's worst ever are ravaging southern regions, killing 18 people, destroying more than 200 structures and forcing 27,000 people to evacuate, officials said on Wednesday.Han Duck-soo, South Korea's prime minister and acting president, said five days of fires had caused unprecedented damage" and asked agencies tackling the disaster to assume the worst-case scenario and respond accordingly", according to Yonhap news agency. Continue reading...

Monash University has indefinitely postponed' upcoming exhibition at Monash University Museum of Art in Melbourne, after consultation with our communities'

CPI figures have economists predicting one to three RBA cash rate cuts in 2025 - the question is whether one will occur before federal election

Pet escaped from her pen when her owners were holidaying on Kangaroo Island, which is famous for its native wildlife

Ted Hui received letter offering reward for information about his family after China accused Australia of interfering with its internal affairs

Kremlin stipulates maritime ceasefire will start only if it gets sanctions relief on agricultural exportsRussia and Ukraine have agreed to eliminate the use of force" in the Black Sea after parallel talks with US negotiators in Saudi Arabia, though the Kremlin said a maritime ceasefire would start only if it received sanctions relief on agricultural exports.Donald Trump said that the US was reviewing the Russian conditions after the Kremlin insisted it had negotiated concessions with the White House that would mark the first major recision of sanctions since the full-scale invasion of 2022. Continue reading...

Duke of Sussex and co-founder of Sentebale step down as patrons amid infighting in the organisationThe Duke of Sussex has resigned from an African charity he set up 20 years ago after infighting in the organisation, saying he is in shock" and truly heartbroken".Prince Harry and the co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho both stepped down as patrons on Tuesday until further notice after trustees quit over a dispute with the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, a lawyer who was appointed in 2023. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong says hard strategic decisions' need to be made

Chancellor risks wrath of Labour backbenchers with spring statement set to confirm deeper cutsRachel Reeves will make additional welfare cuts in her spring statement on Wednesday after the Office for Budget Responsibility rejected her estimate of savings from the changes announced last week.The chancellor hoped to shift the focus from the benefits cuts, which appalled some Labour backbenchers, to promising to secure Britain's future" with a 2.2bn increase to defence spending. Continue reading...

Demonstrators shout Hamas out' and carry banners saying we want to live in peace'Hundreds of Palestinians have joined protests in northern Gaza, shouting anti-Hamas slogans and calling for an end to the war with Israel, in what has been described as the largest protest against the militant group inside the territory since the 7 October attacks.Videos and photos shared on social media late on Tuesday showed hundreds of people, mostly men, chanting Hamas out" and Hamas terrorists" in Beit Lahia, where the crowd had gathered a week after the Israeli army resumed its intense bombing of Gaza after nearly two months of a truce. Continue reading...

Timeline for implementation in England and Wales likely to be pushed back a further two years, meaning it may coincide with general electionThe introduction of assisted dying in England and Wales is likely to be pushed back by a further two years in a delay that supportive MPs fear could mean the change of law is never realised.The deferral was proposed by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP piloting the assisted dying bill through parliament. It means the initial timeline of two years for implementing the law will now stretch to four. Continue reading...

Pledge comes after Labour MPs were whipped to remove legal protections from Great British Energy billMinisters have vowed to tackle forced labour in supply chains to mollify MPs after asking them to remove legal protections from the Great British Energy bill.Labour MPs were whipped on Tuesday night to strip out an amendment intended to ensure that companies using forced labour do not drive the UK's green energy transition. Continue reading...

White House says both sides agree to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes'A former head of Dutch cybersecurity has expressed his surprise at Donald Trump's top team's use of Signal for classified communications that revealed visceral anti-European messaging".Bart Groothuis, an MEP for the Dutch liberal VVD party, who used to run the cybersecurity bureau at the Dutch ministry of defence, said he was a bit surprised" at the US government's use of a commercial app for highly classified conversations. Continue reading...

Report on former Reform UK MP details unacceptable remarks' and criticism meted out unpleasantly and harshly'Two women who worked for Rupert Lowe, the former Reform UK MP who was suspended from the party earlier this month, gave credible" evidence of bullying or harassment by him and his team, according to a report from a KC hired by the party.The report also disputed Lowe's statement that the women had only made complaints after they faced internal disciplinary proceedings against them, saying the timeline of events showed this was incorrect". Continue reading...

Destruction of statue by RAF engineers described as the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for'Great-aunt Lucy asked Britons to please look after" Paddington Bear when he arrived on UK shores. Perhaps she was thinking of the risks of him running into two RAF engineers out on a bender in Hampshire.Fortunately, Paddington's aunt didn't have to watch the CCTV footage shown to Reading magistrates court on Tuesday of Daniel Heath and William Lawrence tearing apart a newly installed statue of her nephew - before absconding with the severed half. Continue reading...

Spider-Man's Amy Pascal and Harry Potter's David Heyman will helm the tech company's first official 007 adventureAfter rumours circulated online, Amazon has now confirmed that Amy Pascal and David Heyman will steer the next James Bond adventure.The news comes after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson gave creative control to the tech company in a deal that is reported to have cost around $1bn. Continue reading...

Former footballer found guilty of offence at family home in south-west London in June 2021The former footballer Joey Barton has been handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assaulting his wife at their family home in south-west London in June 2021.The 42-year-old pushed Georgia Barton to the floor before kicking her in the head during a drunken row at their family home which left her with a lump on her forehead and a bleeding nose, a court previously heard. Continue reading...

Experts hope the use of the headphones for mild to moderate hearing loss will reduce stigma and persuade people to test their hearing

Increase in pay package comes despite fall in profits and as oil company waters down pledge to cut emissionsThe oil company Shell has revealed plans to hand bigger payouts to its chief executive and shareholders - by pumping more oil and gas and halving its green spending.Europe's largest oil and gas producer will hand its chief executive, Wael Sawan, a package worth 8.6m for last year, from 7.9m in 2023. The pay hike, labelled obscene" by green campaigners, was awarded after Sawan scrapped Shell's green targets in favour of a renewed focus on fossil fuels. Continue reading...