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Page puts up new posts minute by minute filled with boasts or complaints about charges as hush-money trial begins

Blackstone's plans for data centre unlikely to generate thousands of jobs failed startup promised with Northumberland battery plantThe site in north-east England previously owned by the failed battery startup Britishvolt is to be bought for 110m by a US private equity firm, which plans to build one of Europe's largest data centres.Blackstone Group is to buy the 95-hectare (235-acre) site near Cambois in Northumberland to take advantage of its links to renewable energy, according to the receivers for one of the Britishvolt companies. Continue reading...

An eight-year-old girl was shot outside a family party in Chicago, and a woman was killed in a shooting outside a popular New Orleans clubSeparate shootings in Chicago and New Orleans killed two people - including an eight-year-old girl - while wounding at least 22 others over the weekend in some of the US's latest instances of mass gun violence.In Chicago, an eight-year old girl was fatally shot while standing outside a family party on Saturday night in the city's South Side, Associated Press reported. Continue reading...

One soldier seriously wounded as IDF crosses border in apparent first acknowledged breach since Gaza war began

British PM says he will speak to Netanyahu to express solidarity and discuss how further escalation can be avoided

Opposition leader among those accusing PM and his government of severely damaging defence strategy

BA says it is flying but reviewing situation as several other global carriers ground services

London law firm admits to error but judge says final order cannot be overturnedA couple were divorced by mistake after solicitors at a leading law firm made a computer error but a senior judge has said it cannot be overturned.The couple, referred to as Mr and Mrs Williams by the high court, were married for 21 years until they separated in 2023. Continue reading...

Company manages 186bn of assets, including stakes in the Six Nations rugby and Lipton Teas

Incident in which Mamuka Mdinaradze was struck by Aleko Elisashvili prompts fight between legislatorsGeorgian politicians have come to blows in parliament as ruling party legislators looked to advance a controversial bill on foreign agents" that has been criticised by western countries and prompted protests at home.Footage broadcast on Monday on Georgian television showed Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party's parliamentary faction and a driving force behind the bill, being punched in the face by the opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili while speaking from the dispatch box. Continue reading...

France, Germany and EU organise meeting over one of worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory' on first anniversary of warThe UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, has warned of a further escalation in violence in Sudan.The Sudanese people have been subjected to untold suffering during the conflict which has been marked by indiscriminate attacks in densely populated areas, ethnically-motivated attacks, and a high incidence of conflict-related sexual violence. The recruitment and use of children by parties to the conflict are also deeply concerning," Turk said in a statement today. Continue reading...

Missing person has yet to be found in case that has riveted community of 1,500, which currently has no police departmentA Maine police officer accused of lying about a missing person case was charged with several crimes, including falsifying a report in which he claimed he had taken the missing man now at the center of an ongoing search to a hospital, police said.Chandler Cole, a Washburn police sergeant, resigned after being charged with aggravated forgery, tampering with public records or information, falsifying physical evidence, and unsworn falsification, according to court records. He was arrested on 29 March. Continue reading...

The court will investigate crimes against humanity committed during the African country's two civil wars between 1989 and 2003Senators in Liberia have voted overwhelmingly to establish a war crimes court, two decades after civil conflict ended in the west African country.The new court will investigate and try crimes against humanity and corruption committed during Liberia's two civil wars between 1989 and 2003, which killed up to 250,000 people. Continue reading...

French president says location of spectacle, due to take place on Seine, could change if there is serious risk of terror attackFrance has backup plans to move the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games from the Seine if there is a serious risk of a terrorist attack, Emmanuel Macron has said.Speaking in a television interview on Monday, the French president said organisers could and would" continue to plan for a world first" opening ceremony for 26 July, when more than 300,000 people are expected to watch a flotilla of boats carrying national teams down the river. Continue reading...

Benjamin Netanyahu yet to declare a decision as rest of world remains on high alert for potential escalation

After Eaze workers unionized with United Food and Commercial Workers, company cut pay and wouldn't address it in negotiationsDelivery drivers and other workers at the US's largest cannabis-delivery company are threatening to strike in what would likely be the biggest work stoppage to hit the cannabis industry.Nearly 600 workers at 11 depot locations owned by Eaze, a cannabis-delivery company in southern and northern California, are threatening to strike over pay and conditions. Continue reading...

Freedom of information request reveals potential offences include immigration crime, drug offences and fraud

Deputy ambassador says Israel may ask Albanese government to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation

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Former Test cricketer and commentator remanded in custody after a court mention in Maroochydore on Monday

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Up to 5,000 non-citizens could receive orders to cooperate with removal from Australia, home affairs officials say

Justice Michael Lee finds former Liberal staffer was not defamed by Lisa Wilkinson and Ten in interview with Brittany Higgins in February 2021

Ex-president becomes first US leader to face a criminal trial, in this case, for paying Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal for a cover upDonald Trump's criminal hush-money trial involving adult movie actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal is scheduled to start on this morning, with jury selection in Manhattan supreme court.The proceedings mark a momentous day in US history, as Trump is the country's first president - present or former - to face a criminal trial. They also play out against a presidential race in which Trump is the almost certain Republican nominee who regularly bests Joe Biden in head-to-head polls. Continue reading...

Llewellyn confirmed his resignation which comes after Lehrmann defamation trial heard about tactics allegedly used to secure interview, claims he and the network deny

Exclusive: Rights groups denounce negotiations with Rapid Support Forces, accused of ethnic cleansing and war crimes

Exclusive: Tactics include proposals to raise smoking age to avoid outright ban, and exemptions for cigars, says Cancer Research UK chiefTobacco firms are lobbying MPs and peers in an effort to derail Rishi Sunak's flagship policy to phase out smoking, the head of Britain's biggest cancer charity has said.The prime minister's landmark legislation - which would bar anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes and make England the first country in the world to ban smoking - is due to be debated in parliament for the first time on Tuesday. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of Amwaj.media, explains the internal dynamics in Tehran, and what Israel and America may do next Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. For the first time, Iran has launched a direct attack against Israel from its own soil - and the Middle East stands closer to an all-out regional war than at any point since 7 October.Tehran has claimed that it now views the exchange, prompted by an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, as over. The United States, meanwhile, said that it does not seek war with Iran. The crucial question is whether Benjamin Netanyahu feels the same way - and while two members of his war cabinet signalled on Sunday night that there would be no immediate response, there was no word from the prime minister himself.Disability | The rollout of universal credit is on course to make thousands of working-age disabled people significantly poorer, a new report has warned. A single person with a long-term disability that prevents them from working is 2,800 a year worse off when they transfer to universal credit (UC), the Resolution Foundation said.Sydney stabbings | The family of the Bondi Junction attacker have described his actions as truly horrific", offered condolences to the loved ones of the victims and expressed support for the police officer who ended the attack by shooting him dead. Police say Joel Cauchi had mental health problems and moved from Queensland to New South Wales a month before he killed six people in Sydney on Saturday.Health | The British government was willing to risk infecting NHS patients to get lower-priced" blood products, according to a document that campaigners claim proves state and corporate guilt in one of the country's worst ever scandals. Internal company minutes produced by Immuno AG in 1976 say that the British market will accept a higher risk of hepatitis for a lower-priced product".Childcare | England's childcare system is falling behind those of much of the rest of the world, a UK charity for gender equality and women's rights has said. A report by the Fawcett Society found that the English system was crumbling" in comparison to other countries undergoing significant reform.Theatre | Jamie Lloyd's bombastic reimagining of Sunset Boulevard was the standout show at this year's Olivier awards, with seven wins including best actress in a musical for Nicole Scherzinger. Mark Gatiss and Sarah Snook also won acting awards, while best new play went to James Graham's football drama Dear England. See pictures from the ceremony. Continue reading...

Most cases of abortion are illegal in Germany, which report is expected to say is not compatible with international standardsAbortions in Germany should be legalised within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a government-appointed commission is expected to recommend on Monday.While abortion is rarely punished, it remains illegal in Germany, except for specific circumstances including when a woman's life is in danger, or she is a victim of rape, while the prerequisite for any termination is a consultation with a state-recognised body. Continue reading...

Flood and frozen pipe damage caused by series of storms, says Association of British InsurersStorms and heavy rain pushed up weather-related home insurance claims in the UK by more than a third last year to a record 573m, according to industry data.The repair bill for storm damage and other extreme weather during 2023 was 150m more than in 2022, the Association of British Insurers said, contributing to an overall 10% rise in residential property claims settled last year. Continue reading...

Galleghan, 16, died of his injuries two days after he was brutally bashed in August 2021

Detectives pursuing obvious' line of inquiry - that attacker Joel Cauchi targeted women and avoided men, police commissioner says

The National Gallery of Victoria will show eight decades of work by the Japanese artist who's become an Instagram favourite in her 90s

The security deal with Beijing agreed by PM Manasseh Sogavare is under the spotlight ahead of the 17 April vote

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Appeal against council's order for Staffordshire inn to be rebuilt in situ is due to be heard in JulyThe owners of the former Crooked House pub, which was demolished after a suspected arson attack, have put forward a plan to rebuild it on a different site.ATE Farms Ltd, the company that owned what was known as Britain's wonkiest inn", has said that rebuilding the pub in the same spot would not provide a sustainable community facility". Continue reading...

Single people with long-term disability that stops them working will be much poorer after rollout, Resolution Foundation saysThe rollout of universal credit is on course to make thousands of working-age disabled people significantly poorer, according to a report showing that more than 7 million people will be covered by the six-into-one benefit change before the end of the next parliament.A single person with a long-term disability that prevents them from working is 2,800 a year worse off when they transfer to universal credit (UC), the Resolution Foundation said, adding that all single people with long-term disabilities will suffer this loss of income when the rollout of UC is completed by 2030. Continue reading...

Party is awaiting steer on what would be an expensive overhaul and is also keen to show commitment to fiscal restraint

Jamie Lloyd's revival takes home seven awards including for Nicole Scherzinger but film and TV stars in other productions miss outJamie Lloyd's bombastic reimagining of Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger was the standout show at this year's Olivier awards, with seven wins on an evening when productions with celebrity talent were often overlooked.The Savoy theatre adaptation of Billy Wilder's classic 1950 film about the dark side of the Hollywood dream took home best actor in a musical for Tom Francis and best actress in a musical for Scherzinger. Lloyd - described as creating a stupendous sense of reinvention" by the Guardian - won best director. Continue reading...

Tributes paid to music producer who helped write TLC's Waterfalls and worked on albums by OutKast and CeeLo GreenRico Wade, one of the architects of Atlanta's dirty south" hip-hop sound, who co-produced albums by OutKast, Goodie Mob and CeeLo Green and who co-wrote TLC's 1994 hit Waterfalls, has died. He was 52.Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens paid tribute to Wade, saying he had led in the creation of a hip-hop sound that has spanned decades and genres. Rico left an indelible mark on music and culture around the world and for that, the south will always have something to say." Continue reading...

Israel signals it will not immediately act alone, while US states it would not take part in any counter-offensive against Tehran

Massive drone and missile attack was defeated by Israeli military with orchestrated help of US, UK and JordanIran's widely anticipated missile and drone attack was defeated with the orchestrated help of the US, UK and Jordan who, alongside the Israeli military, ensured that all but a handful of ballistic missiles were neutralised overnight.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that about 360 missiles and drones were fired from Iran and that 99% of the threats" had been intercepted in a successful defence mission that may have cost Israel 800m - but will have saved many lives and dented Iran's military credibility. Continue reading...

Biden spokesman says president does not want to escalate conflict in the region as US seeks to strike delicate balance with key allyUS officials on Sunday sought to strike a delicate balance with Israel after the key US ally was attacked by Iran on Saturday, staunchly affirming their alliance with the Israelis while also making it clear the US will not support further military action.Iran launched the air assault with drones and missiles after Israel attacked an Iran diplomatic facility in Syria, killing senior military figures. Israel's air defense almost entirely dealt with the barrage - with almost no damage or casualties on the ground. Continue reading...

Jubilant mood ignores fact almost all drones were shot down but Tehran suggests objectives were achieved

Hamas says Tehran's actions a natural right and a deserved response' in statement supporting drone and missile assault

Bus taking South Shields FC fans home after a match was involved in collision with two cars on A1M near PontefractSeventeen people are in hospital, seven with serious injuries, after a multi-vehicle crash involving a minibus carrying football fans in West Yorkshire.The collision happened on the A1M near Pontefract at about 7pm on Saturday, West Yorkshire police said. Continue reading...

After Iran's attack, the Israeli leader faces a crucial dilemma about how to respond

Khan says he will spend extra 10m on crisis if elected to third term as mayor as numbers reach highest level in a decadeSadiq Khan has pledged to eliminate rough sleeping in London, where the numbers on the streets have reached the highest level in a decade.If elected to a historic third term as mayor of London, Khan plans to spend an extra 10m on what has been described as a growing humanitarian crisis in the city. Continue reading...

Critics say by working for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS trust, Dr Dan Poulter cannot hold it to account effectivelyFamilies bereaved after failures by a troubled NHS mental health trust have expressed concern that a local MP has taken a second job there as a paid clinician.Norfolk and Suffolk foundation trust (NSFT) has been rated as inadequate" four times since austerity cuts were made in 2013, at a time when Dr Dan Poulter, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, was a junior health minister in the coalition government. Continue reading...

While the company believes it has cash to last 15 months, it will have to move fast to stave off insolvencyThames Water has just six weeks to convince its regulator that it has a viable survival plan for its business, the Guardian can reveal.While the company believes it has enough cash to survive for about 15 months, insiders and investors fear that it must move quickly to strike a deal with its watchdog to stave off insolvency. Continue reading...