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Richard Marles has decided to sell more than 60 properties, including Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

Netflix film revisits evidence that led to Letby's conviction and hears from expert who says his research was misusedShortly after Lucy Letby was sentenced to 15 whole-life terms for murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016 - a conviction that made her Britain's worst ever child serial killer - Cheshire police agreed to give unparalleled and exclusive access" to the makers of a Netflix film about the case.The finished documentary, The Investigation Of Lucy Letby, which is released on Wednesday, must be very different from what the producers envisaged when they first began work on the project, given the subsequent unexpected turns in the story. Since the two trials, the prosecution evidence and police handling of the case have faced criticism from an unprecedentedly large number of distinguished British and international medical experts. Led by the Canadian neonatologist, Dr Shoo Lee - who says again in the feature-length Netflix documentary that his research was misused to convict the nurse - many of the experts are convinced Letby is innocent, the victim of a catastrophic miscarriage of justice. Continue reading...

Report to tackle courts' backlog also recommends new criminal justice adviser to oversee courts, prisons and policingA new post of prime minister's criminal justice adviser and the widespread use of remote hearings are among the recommendations of a government-commissioned independent review on tackling the courts' backlog in England and Wales.The second part of Sir Brian Leveson's review - unlike the first part, which recommended slashing jury trials - focuses on efficiencies that can be achieved without legislation. Continue reading...

Leaders had been trading hostile remarks for months but Gustavo Petro's visit ended with warm words from US counterpartAfter months of trading insults - from sick man" and drug trafficking leader" on one side, to accomplice to genocide" with a senile brain" on the other - the first meeting between Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro ended with pleasantries, autographs and a Maga cap.The Colombian president was received by his US counterpart for a closed-door meeting at the White House, with no press access. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Police say they will review allegation that Epstein sent woman to UK to have sex with Andrew at Royal Lodge, his former homeBritish police are to review fresh allegations that Jeffrey Epstein provided Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with a woman to have sex with at the Royal Lodge in 2010, as it emerged that the former prince had moved out of his home.The woman has claimed she spent the night at the then prince's residence in Windsor, her US lawyer, Brad Edwards, said after the allegations surfaced over the weekend. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time, and was later given a tour of Buckingham Palace, it is further alleged. Continue reading...

March state election will test the growing vote for Pauline Hanson's party, with newest recruit Cory Bernardi among the former Liberals in play

Search and rescue operation involving boats, helicopter and divers under way off the eastern Aegean island of ChiosA collision between a speedboat carrying migrants and a Greek coastguard patrol vessel off the eastern Aegean island of Chios has killed at least 14 people, the coastguard said.A search and rescue operation involving four patrol vessels, an air force helicopter and a private boat carrying divers was under way for potential missing passengers. Continue reading...

Files released by US apparently show Mandelson sending Epstein market-sensitive information while serving as business secretaryThe Department for Work and Pensions has named 12 disability experts with lived experience of disability or long-term health conditions" who will sit on the steering group of the review looking at the future of the personal independence payment (Pip), a disability benefit. Stephen Timms, the minister leading the review, says:Disabled people deserve a system that truly supports them to live with independence and dignity, and that fairly reflects the reality of their lives today.That's why we're putting disabled people at the heart of this review - ensuring their voices shape the changes that will help them achieve better health, greater independence, and access to the right support when they need it.* Could we see a crunch point as soon as tomorrow over Mandelson?* Tories have an opposition day debate - could they force a vote on Mandelson vetting disclosure. Shadow cabinet sources tell me they're thinking about it Continue reading...

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Saturday night and is believed to have been taken against her willOfficials in Arizona said on Tuesday afternoon they were no closer to finding the missing mother of Savannah Guthrie, the Today show host, three days after the octogenarian disappeared from her Tucson home - which detectives are treating as a crime scene".Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on Saturday night and is believed to have been taken against her will, Chris Nanos, the Pima county sheriff, said. Media reports on Tuesday said blood was found at the residence, and there were signs of forced entry. Continue reading...

Far-right leader's appeal against block on her running for president in 2027 and a four-year sentence is in final stagesFrench state prosecutors have asked appeal court judges to maintain a five-year election ban on the far-right leader Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of European parliament funds in a fake jobs scandal.If the judges decide to grant the request, Le Pen would probably not be able to run in France's 2027 presidential election. Continue reading...

LGB+ men in England and Wales have 1.2 years lower life expectancy than straight men, at 59.4 years and 60.7 years respectivelyLife expectancy for people who identify as gay, bisexual or another sexual orientation in England and Wales was approximately a year lower than their heterosexual counterparts, according to the first analysis of its kind by the Office for National Statistics.The life expectancy for men who identified as LGB+ was 1.2 years lower than men who identified as straight, at 59.4 years and 60.7 years respectively. Continue reading...

In case brought by Prince Harry and others, Daniel Portley-Hanks says he received about $1m for work for Associated Newspapers LtdA US-based private detective bought a large house in California and had $150,000 in savings almost entirely" from work he did for the publisher of the Daily Mail, the high court has heard.Daniel Portley-Hanks, also known as Detective Danno", said he received about $1m for work carried out for the Mail on Sunday, another title published by Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL). Continue reading...

Apparent tip-off by Peter Mandelson gave advance notice of instability that would ripple through global marketsOn a brisk Monday evening in May 2010, Gordon Brown stood on the steps of Downing Street and delivered one of the most dramatic announcements of the New Labour era: his resignation as UK prime minister.The decision came days after a nail-biting general election that left no single party with a clear run at No 10. Brown kept his decision, which followed days of political wrangling, to a tight inner circle. Nick Clegg, who would go on to serve as deputy prime minister of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, was formally told of Brown's resignation only 10 minutes before the announcement. Continue reading...

Mark Rutte and Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold joint press conference as air alert sirens blare across KyivThe EU's foreign policy chief, Kajas Kallas, has been speaking as part of a panel on Arctic security. Kallas was asked if the EU was too cautious" in taking action because of its dependence on the US for security, which has been exposed amid Russia's war on Ukraine and the Trump administration's threats on Greenland and erratic behaviour towards its longstanding western allies. Kallas, who has said Nato must become more European" to maintain its strength, responded:Of course, we are cautions because there is a lot at stake. There is a full-scale war going on the European continent and there are threats coming from economic coercion, big challenges from China that is influencing our economies.If it is influencing our economies, it is influencing jobs and people's salaries and then it is creating polarisation within our societies and more instability, so it is all very much interlinked. Continue reading...

Judicial review begins in high court over watchdog's freedom of speech ruling that resulted in 585,000 fineA ruling by an education watchdog that led to the University of Sussex being hit with a record 585,000 fine should be quashed as unlawful", unreasonable" and procedurally unfair", a court has heard.In a judicial review hearing before the high court in London on Tuesday, the university claimed it had suffered severe" consequences as a result of the landmark decision last March by England's higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS). Continue reading...

Moscow launched terrorising' attack on energy grid as temperatures reached -20C, Ukrainian president saysVolodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Tuesday of violating an agreement with Donald Trump to hold-off on attacks on Ukraine's energy systems in the depths of a freezing winter, as its forces carried out large-scale airstrikes on Kyiv on the eve of three-way talks in Abu Dhabi.Ukraine's president said Moscow carried out a massive and deliberate" attack overnight as temperatures in Kyiv plunged to -20C. It involved a record number of 71 ballistic missiles as well as 450 drones, he said, sent to destroy energy infrastructure. Continue reading...

Epstein files appear to show then business secretary passing market sensitive information to child sex offender UK politics live - latest updatesThe Metropolitan police are to formally launch a criminal investigation into allegations that Peter Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market sensitive information to the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Guardian understands.Documents from the Epstein files released in recent days appeared to show the then business secretary sent confidential information in a string of emails to the late financier in the aftermath of the financial crash. Continue reading...

The organization claims the report, which finds Israel's denial of the right of return is a crime against humanity, is paused pending further analysis and research'Two Human Rights Watch (HRW) employees who make up the organization's entire Israel and Palestine team are stepping down from their positions after leadership blocked a report that deems Israel's denial of Palestinian refugees the right of return a crime against humanity".In separate resignation letters obtained by Jewish Currents and the Guardian, Omar Shakir, who has headed the team for nearly the last decade, and Milena Ansari, the team's assistant researcher, said leadership's decision to pull the report broke from HRW's customary approval processes and was evidence that the organization was putting fear of political backlash over a commitment to international law. Continue reading...

Unbroken: In Pursuit of Freedom for Palestine is a collection of writings by the Palestinian political leader, who has been held in Israeli prisons since 2002A collection of writings by the imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti will be published in November, bringing together prison letters, interviews, personal material and documents from the last three decades of Barghouti's political life and incarceration.As deadly attacks on Gaza continue despite a nominal ceasefire, the 66-year-old is seen by many as the best hope for a leader of any future Palestinian state. Continue reading...

Conservationists find dunlin chicks thriving in boggy habitat created in collaboration with landownersDeep in the Cumbrian Pennines, walkers might be lucky enough to spot small birds with spindly legs, long beaks and bodies like feathered balls hopping through the peat bogs.These are endangered dunlins - at risk in England because their favoured soggy landscapes are drained and burned for farming and grouse shooting. Continue reading...

Party accused of breaking election promise - but officials in Warwickshire say George Finch's 3.89% rise still not enough to balance budgetThe 19-year-old leader of a Reform-led council has defended proposals for a 3.89% council tax rise, despite senior officers saying anything less than 5% would put the financial viability of the local authority at risk.Financial executives at Warwickshire county council said in December that the proposed increase was a riskier financial strategy" that would threaten the medium-term sustainability of the local authority. Continue reading...

D'Amaro will take over next month from Bob Iger, who returned to lead the media company after a bungled successionDisney has unveiled Josh D'Amaro as its next CEO, drawing a line under a bungled succession at the top of the global entertainment conglomerate.Bob Iger, who led the media giant for 15 years, stepped down in 2020 - only to abruptly return in 2022 when his handpicked successor, Bob Chapek, was fired as the company came under pressure. Continue reading...

Online streamer Dinah promoted Rainbet to her 820,000 followers, despite the regulator warning significant penalties' were at stake

Bezos has not publicly responded to several letters sent by Post staffers urging him to curb potential layoffsWhile Washington Post employees remain in the dark about an impending round of cuts that could dramatically reshape the publication, the man that many hoped could soften or stop the blow, owner Jeff Bezos, has remained silent.So far, three staff-organized letters sent by Post employees to Bezos imploring him to protect the Post's robust coverage have gone unanswered. Continue reading...

Carlo Soracchi, who infiltrated anti-fascist group in early 2000s, accused of suggesting crime as he had got nothing'Three anti-fascist activists have accused an undercover police officer of attempting to incite them to firebomb a shop that was said to be a front for the far right, the spycops inquiry has heard.The accusation has been levelled against Carlo Soracchi, an officer who spent six years infiltrating anti-fascist and leftwing groups. He has denied the claim. Continue reading...

Latest communications undermine Chomsky's earlier claims that he primarily had financial dealings with EpsteinThe close friendship that Noam Chomsky maintained with Jeffrey Epstein continued being detailed extensively among millions of investigative records pertaining to the late convicted sex offender recently released by the US justice department, including Chomsky fantasizing about the Caribbean island".In Friday's tranche of the so-called Epstein files, which built upon earlier disclosures of their close social ties, there is no indication that the famed academic and linguist was referring to his friend's private Caribbean island where children were sexually abused. But the personal familiarity between the two men in that exchange is palpable, as it is in numerous other emails between Chomsky and Epstein aimed at planning more mundane social gatherings. Continue reading...

Britons cut back in January after record grocery spending in December, turning to own-label products

The 13-year-old attempted to kayak back to shore to get help, but the vessel took on water, forcing him to swim 4km

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Calls for NSW police to exercise their discretion' and facilitate a peaceful rally in Sydney on 9 February while Israeli president visits Australia

Tributes for Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day recall a cherished team mate' who had an infectious sense of humour'

Shortest rate-cutting cycle in the RBA's modern history ends after unexpected jump in inflation

Modelling suggests 5.4m children under five among those who could die if budgets of donor countries such as UK and US continue to be slashedAid cuts could lead to more than 22 million avoidable deaths by 2030, including 5.4 million children under five, according to the most comprehensive modelling to date.In the past two decades there have been dramatic falls in the number of young children dying from infectious diseases, driven by aid directed to the developing world, researchers wrote in the Lancet Global Health. But that progress was at risk of reversal because of abrupt budget cuts by donor countries, including the US and the UK. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: What the newly disclosed Epstein pages really tells us - and why some survivors are frustrated with the way the narrative is being toldGood morning. The mills of God may grind slowly, but the wheels of the US justice department appear to turn even more sluggishly when it comes to those connected with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Over the past few days, the release of millions of previously sealed documents relating to Epstein has reignited scrutiny of his relationships with politicians, business leaders and public figures around the world. But amid the frenzy over names and emails, there are growing concerns that the disclosure risks repeating a familiar pattern: centring powerful men, while the experiences of survivors once again slip into the background.Jeffrey Epstein | Peter Mandelson is facing a possible police investigation into his alleged leak of market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein at the height of the financial crisis; and the charity of Sarah Ferguson has announced it is closing after new revelations emerged about the former duchess's friendship with Epstein.UK news | Dan Norris, a former Labour minister and now an independent MP, has been arrested for a second time on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, voyeurism and upskirting. Norris has denied the allegations.Doctors | Resident doctors in England have voted in favour of continuing industrial action over the next six months, the British Medical Association has announced.Gaza | The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been reopened by Israel for people on foot, as fragile diplomatic efforts inch forward. According to an Egyptian official, only 50 Palestinians will be permitted to cross in each direction on the first day of operations.Environment | A damning report has found that the EU's renewable energy targets for 2030 are out of reach" because of lack of progress in domestic production, refining and recycling. Continue reading...

David Littleproud says party will take our time' to consider Sussan Ley's offer

Masoud Pezeshkian instructs foreign minister to seek negotiations with US as Trump warns bad things would happen' if no solution agreedIran's president said on Tuesday that he had instructed his foreign minister to pursue fair and equitable negotiations" with the US, as the two countries reportedly prepared to send top envoys to Istanbul for high-stakes talks on the Iranian nuclear programme later this week.President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X: I have instructed my minister of foreign affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists - one free from threats and unreasonable expectations - to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency." Continue reading...

Sleek car doors reduce vehicle drag but are prone to losing operability in the event of a crash, officials sayChina will soon ban concealed door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to do so after several deadly incidents triggered global scrutiny of the controversial design first popularised by Tesla.According to regulations announced on Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, cars sold in China will now be required to have a mechanical release on both the inside and outside of every door except the boot. Continue reading...

Euphoric scenes are a snub to theocracy's culture of piety, say analysts, and carry message of rebellionIranians killed in recent protests that rocked the country have been laid to rest in boisterous funerals featuring loud pop music and dancing, apparently intended to convey defiance to the ruling Islamic regime.Instead of holding sombre traditional mourning ceremonies presided over by a Shia cleric, bereaved relatives are turning the burials into exultant celebrations of the lives of their loved ones in what analysts say is an intentional snub to the culture of piety demanded by Iran's theocracy. Continue reading...

Broader investigation under way into police handling of allegations against 37-year-old, who has still not been found

Josie Scott, who has played in the Australian heavy metal band with her brother Kim for 40 years, writes to fans: I've decided to embrace, rather than endure, who I am'

Exclusive: One Nation leader gifted the flight from company of Australia's richest person last year, but did not declare in line with parliamentary rules

Latest release of files about disgraced financier reveals she told Epstein he was the brother I have always wished forThe charity of Sarah Ferguson has announced that it is closing after new revelations emerged about the former duchess's friendship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Sarah's Trust, the international charity launched by the ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, will close for the foreseeable future" after some months" of discussion, according to a spokesperson. Continue reading...

Caroline Willgoose, whose 15-year-old son was killed by another pupil, says murder was senseless and avoidable'The family of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at school by another pupil has said her son's murder was senseless and avoidable" and that a report ordered by the school showed too many red flags" were missed.Harvey Willgoose died one year ago to the day, and his killer, Mohammed Umar Khan, is serving a minimum term of 16 years' detention. A report commissioned by the trust that runs Harvey's school, All Saints Catholic high school in Sheffield, has highlighted a number of missed opportunities in the run-up to the murder. The review was undertaken by a former school headteacher and inspector of schools at Learn Sheffield. Continue reading...

The White House says the president is not involved' in running his businesses. Ethics experts remain concernedDonald Trump has been accused of corruption, plain and simple" after it was revealed that a member of the Emirati royal family was behind a $500m investment into the Trump family's cryptocurrency company.Ethics experts say the deal - struck just days before the US president's inauguration last January - amounts to a deep conflict of interest for the White House, amid calls for a congressional investigation into the transaction. Continue reading...

Author says accusations spread and amplified' by people more interested in outrage and getting clicks'Neil Gaiman has said that multiple sexual assault allegations against him are simply untrue" and claimed to be the victim of a smear campaign", in the first post addressing the accusations for almost a year.Gaiman, 65, author of novels including American Gods and the Ocean at the End of the Lane, has faced allegations of sexual abuse and coercive behaviour, which were outlined in a podcast by the Tortoise Media team in July 2024. Continue reading...

Move from Claudia Sheinbaum comes after Trump signed an order threatening tariffs on countries that sell oil to CubaMexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to send humanitarian aid this week to Cuba and said Mexico was exploring all diplomatic avenues to be able to send fuel to the Cuban people," despite efforts from Washington to cut off oil to the Caribbean nation.Donald Trump last week signed an executive order allowing the US to slap tariffs on countries sending crude oil to Cuba and on Saturday said that Sheinbaum had agreed to halt shipments of oil at his request - a claim the Mexican leader rejected. Continue reading...

Commissioner to file motion requesting return of property unlawfully taken during raid related to 2020 electionFulton county leaders said they would fire back in court on Monday, intent on limiting the scope of a federal warrant that led the FBI to seize 2020 elections documents last week.County attorneys intend to file a motion in federal court asking for an order mandating the return of property that was unlawfully seized or retained, said the Fulton county commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. Continue reading...

Ruling clears Denmark's Orsted to resume construction on its Sunrise Wind project off the coast of New YorkAll five offshore wind projects halted by the Trump administration in December can resume construction after a federal judge's ruling on Monday that cleared Denmark's Orsted to proceed with its Sunrise Wind project off the coast of New York.Orsted's request for an injunction blocking the interior department order was the fifth brought by an offshore wind developer since the 22 December pause on five leases. The agency stopped work on the multibillion-dollar facilities due to national security concerns around radar interference. Continue reading...

Gordon Brown calls for inquiry over Peter Mandelson's apparent disclosure of highly sensitive government information to Jeffrey EpsteinPeter Mandelson leaked a sensitive UK government document to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary that proposed 20bn of asset sales and revealed Labour's tax policy plans", the Financial Times is reporting.In his story, Jim Pickard says:The memo, dubbed Business Issues", was written on June 13 2009 by Nick Butler, who at the time was special adviser to the then prime minister Gordon Brown.The confidential document, which was released by the US Department of Justice as part of a tranche of millions of files relating to Epstein, had been sent to British government officials including cabinet secretary Jeremy Heywood.It is right that Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of the Labour party. Disciplinary action was underway prior to his resignation.

The latest revelations and reaction to them may mean he has finally encountered a scandal he is unable to outrunIt was the evening of 6 May 2010 and months after being released from jail for procuring a child for prostitution, Jeffrey Epstein was curious as to the result of Britain's general election.Well?" he emailed Peter Mandelson, the then de facto deputy prime minister in Gordon Brown's government. Continue reading...