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Woman, 83, and man, 54, killed and several injured after attack by SUV driver during carnival celebrationsA car has rammed into crowds in the centre of the German city of Mannheim, killing two people and injuring several others, in what police described as a deliberate attack.Police said they had arrested a man, the driver of a black Ford Fiesta, who was reportedly being treated for his injuries in hospital under tight police protection. Thomas Strobl, the interior minister of Baden-Wurttemberg state, said the suspect was a 40-year-old German man from the south-western state of Rhineland-Palatinate who was believed to have acted alone. Continue reading...

Sources say work on so-called options paper' comes as Trump seeks to restore Moscow ties and end Ukraine warThe United States is drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as Donald Trump seeks to restore ties with Moscow and stop the war in Ukraine, a US official and another person familiar with the matter told Reuters.The White House has asked the state and treasury departments to draft a list of sanctions that could be eased for US officials to discuss with Russian representatives in the coming days as part of the administration's broad talks with Moscow on improving diplomatic and economic relations, the sources said. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer won praise for taking the UK back to the heart of Europe' at the weekend, but will it be a long-term move?Britain is back. That was the concise verdict of Eleonore Caroit, the vice-chair of the French national assembly's foreign affairs committee. And the optics of Sunday's crisis talks on Ukraine bore this out, with Keir Starmer at the very centre of the leaders' joint photo.You are back on the scene, of the leadership in Europe," Caroit told the BBC on Monday morning. James MacClearly, the Liberal Democrat MP who speaks for the party on Europe, was equally adamant, praising the prime minister for taking this chance to bring us back to the heart of Europe where we belong". Continue reading...

Art detective and magazine help crack case of Flemish masterpiece thought to have been stolen by Polish agentsA spectacular" stolen Flemish masterpiece has been rediscovered hanging on the walls of a provincial Dutch museum thanks to the efforts of an art detective and an antiques magazine.The 17cm-wide painting by Pieter Brueghel the Younger of a farmer's wife with hot coals in one hand and a bucket of water in the other is thought to have been stolen from a Polish museum by secret service agents in 1974. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Women and partners who suffer pregnancy loss before 24 weeks to be entitled in England, Wales and ScotlandParents in Britain will be granted a right to bereavement leave after suffering a miscarriage as part of Labour's workers' rights reforms, the Guardian can disclose.In a change to the law made via the employment rights bill, mothers and their partners will be given the right to two weeks of bereavement leave if they have suffered a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks' gestation. Continue reading...

Ellen Gilland was arrested in January of 2023 after killing her 77-year-old husband, Jerry Gilland, in his hospital room in FloridaA woman in Florida has gotten a one-year prison sentence for shooting her terminally ill husband to death at a hospital in early 2023.Ellen Gilland's attorney had argued for probation, essentially characterizing the case as a mercy killing. But the presiding judge sentenced Gilland to prison because of the trauma and distress she inflicted on nursing staff, other patients, and law enforcement who responded to the killing. Continue reading...

Police say no evidence that more suspects were involved in incident which left several people badly injured. This live blog is closed

US president claims admission that Europe needs US help to deter Russia not great in terms of a show of strength'. This live blog is closedAs Jakub Krupa and Martin Belam report on our Europe live blog, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is floating proposals for a month-long ceasefire in Ukraine covering air, sea and attacks on critical infrastructure.In interviews this morning, Luke Pollard, the defence minister, played down reports that this is a plan that Britain is formally backing. Asked about French government claims to this effect, he replied:No agreement has been made on what a truce looks like, and so I don't recognise the precise part you mentioned there. But we are working together with France and our European allies to look at what is the path to how ... we create a lasting and durable peace in Ukraine.You wouldn't expect me to get into the details of what that plan looks like, because at the moment, the only person that would benefit from those details being put in the public domain before any plan is agreed would be President Putin. Continue reading...

US president responds to Ukrainian president's most recent interview, following blow-up in the Oval Office last week

Volker Turk alarmed at growing power of unelected tech oligarchs' and warns gender equality is being rolled backThe UN human rights chief has warned of a fundamental shift" in the US and sounded the alarm over the growing power of unelected tech oligarchs", in a stinging rebuke of Washington weeks into Donald Trump's presidency.Volker Turk said there had been bipartisan support for human rights in the US for decades but said he was now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally". Continue reading...

Reform leader accused of equivocating over Russia's illegal war' after criticising Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ex-Polish leader, who won Nobel prize for pro-democracy efforts, compares meeting to a communist interrogationThe former Polish president and Nobel peace prize winner Lech Wasa has signed a letter to Donald Trump expressing horror and distaste" at his argument with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the White House last week.The letter, signed by Wasa and more than 30 former Polish political prisoners held during the communist era, said Trump and his vice-president's demands that Zelenskyy show gratitude were insulting" in the face of the Ukrainian country's fight for freedom. Continue reading...

Senior Hamas official claims Israel is attempting to avoid negotiations over second phase or ceasefireMourners at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis have been attending the funeral of two Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Rafah earlier today.Just a couple of kilometres to the east, kibbutz Nir Oz has seen Israeli mourning at the funeral procession for Itzhak Elgarat, who was abducted during the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack inside Israel, whose body was recently returned from captivity. Continue reading...

The Brutalist composer Daniel Blumberg mentioned the experimental music space in his acceptance speech

The film's five Academy Awards seen as act of normalisation by commentators in country still persecuting critics of its war on Ukraine Anora dominates the Oscars as Mikey Madison named best actress

Guardian analysis lays bare a neglected system that is ruinously expensive, and often fails children and parents

Amid claims that deportees may face torture, family of one man say he was forcibly repatriated and will never see his children againThe family of one of dozens of Uyghurs feared to have been forcibly deported from Thailand to China have condemned the decision as shameful". The deportations came despite a UN statement saying those being sent to China faced a real risk of torture" on their return.Thailand ignored protests by the UN refugee agency, EU and US in deporting 40 Uyghurs who had been detained in the country for a decade, claiming they had returned voluntarily to their normal lives" with their families. Continue reading...

The artist was found dead at his apartment in Nice in southern France on Saturday, his publicist saysThe self-taught Scottish painter Jack Vettriano, who became hugely popular despite being shunned by critics, has been found dead at his apartment in Nice in the south of France, his publicist has said.Vettriano, who was born Jack Hoggan on 17 November 1951 in Methil, Fife, was found on Saturday, the publicist said.Those are all great artists. Vettriano is not even an artist. He just happens to be popular, with ordinary people" who buy reproductions of his pseudo-1930s scenes of high-heeled women and monkey-suited men, and celebrities who fork out for the originals of these toneless, textureless, brainless slick corpses of paintings. I urge you to visit the National Gallery. Look at great paintings for a few hours. Now take a look at Vettriano. I'm not arguing with you; I'm telling you. I look at art every day and I know what I don't like." Continue reading...

Council of Europe's Michael O'Flaherty urged leaders not to give in to populist rhetoric over migrationEurope's most senior human rights official has said there is evidence of asylum seekers being forcibly expelled at EU borders, as he urged mainstream politicians not to concede to populists on migration.The Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, Michael O'Flaherty, told the Guardian he was concerned about the treatment of asylum seekers at the EU's external borders in Poland and Greece, as he warned against a securitisation response" that goes too far. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer's plan to replace upper house was scaled back to scrapping hereditaries - but even that is proving difficult

Charity calls for banking industry to take totally new approach over type of financial abuse that leaves victims saddled with unpayable debtsJoanna Thomas* was working for a UK government department when she received a bonus. Her earnings, as had been the case since she got married in her early 20s, went into her only bank account: a joint one shared with her now ex-husband.The cash landed in the account in the morning. By the afternoon, her then-husband messaged to let her know he had withdrawn it all to buy a boat on eBay. Continue reading...

Big rises for BAE, Rheinmetall, Thales and Leonardo amid European push to support possible Ukraine peace deal

New York-listed Capri could reportedly agree to sell the brand back into Italian ownership this monthPrada is in talks to buy the Versace fashion brand from the US investor Capri Holdings for a price that could reportedly reach nearly 1.5bn (1.2bn).Milan-based Prada and the New York-listed Capri could reach a deal for Versace this month, Bloomberg reported, although the talks could still fall apart. Continue reading...

Mohammad Javad Zarif implies move was endorsed by supreme leader, as his exit sends stock market into a tailspin

The 3.9-magnitude quake shook the North Hollywood area late on Sunday night, but no significant reports of damage have been receivedAn earthquake has hit Los Angeles just after the Oscars ceremony wrapped up.According to a report from the United States Geological Survey, an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale struck the North Hollywood district of the city at 22:23 local time on 2 March, with its epicentre 15km below the surface. Continue reading...

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In today's newsletter: After Friday's clash meeting in the Oval Office between Trump and Zelenskyy, Keir Starmer and his European allies will try to broker the peace Ukraine desperately needsGood morning. After the shocking treatment he received at the White House on Friday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on friendlier turf yesterday - but whether a bear hug from Keir Starmer and an audience with King Charles will ultimately prove consequential for the war in Ukraine is still anyone's guess.The Ukrainian president was in the UK to attend a European summit, convened by Starmer, to take steps towards new proposals that might be able to find support in Kyiv and Washington alike. And while there were some signs of European unity, the White House and its surrogates were still suggesting that Zelenskyy was guilty of some sort of insult to the United States that might be enough to make a durable peace impossible. Last night, Zelenskyy refused to say whether he believed he had been ambushed - but said that he was ready to talk to Trump again.Gaza | Israel has cut off humanitarian supplies to Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas into accepting a change in the ceasefire agreement to allow for the release of hostages without an Israeli troop withdrawal.UK news | At least 25 undercover police officers formed sexual relationships with members of the public and deceived them about their true identity, the Guardian can disclose. The total equates to nearly a fifth of all the police spies who were sent to infiltrate political movements.Religion | Pope Francis has thanked well-wishers for their support after missing his Sunday Angelus for the third week in a row as he remains in hospital with pneumonia. The pontiff, 88, was in a stable condition after a breathing crisis on Friday.Sick pay | More than 1 million of the lowest-paid UK workers are to be guaranteed sick pay worth up to 80% of their weekly salary from the first day of sickness. The government says that 1.3 million of the UK's lowest earners will be up to 100 a week better off.Oscars 2025 | Low-budget comedy Anora has triumphed at this year's Oscars winning five awards, including best picture and best actress, while Adrien Brody took home best actor for his role in The Brutalist. Scroll down for more of the Guardian's coverage of the ceremony. Continue reading...

Best supporting actress Oscar winner addressed complaints about the Netflix musical after a journalist said it was really hurtful'

No one uttered the US president's name, and speeches bore few references to Gaza or Ukraine, focusing on the LA fires

Workers earning under 123 a week to get 80% of salary in sick pay, keeping more people off benefitsMore than 1 million of the lowest-paid UK workers are to be guaranteed sick pay worth up to 80% of their weekly salary from the first day of sickness, under changes intended to boost living standards.The UK has one of the stingiest rates of statutory sick pay in the developed world, according to the Resolution Foundation, with those earning less than 123 a week not entitled to anything. For the rest, the rate is set at just 116.75 a week at present, rising to 118.75 - or 3 an hour - for full-time workers from April, but that only kicks in after three days of sickness. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Medics more sleep deprived now than during Covid crisis amid staff shortages and surging demandOne in three doctors in the NHS are so tired that their ability to treat patients is impaired, according to a report that reveals medics are more sleep deprived now than during the Covid-19 pandemic.Longer hours, staff shortages and soaring demand for care on top of the backlog that worsened during the Covid crisis are causing extreme tiredness among doctors, leading to memory blanks, problems concentrating and patient harm. Continue reading...

Sean Baker's film picks up five awards including best picture while Israel-Palestine documentary No Other Land also gets major win

Outrage over targeting of one of New Zealand's alleged green fairies' who provide cheaper medicinal cannabis without prescriptionPolice have shut down the alleged medicinal cannabis operation of one of New Zealand's most renowned green fairies", prompting an outpouring of support from a prominent politician and the hundreds of people who rely on such products to ease their pain.Police raided the rural Northland property of 66-year-old Paul Smith - more widely known as Gandalf" - last week, destroying plants and greenhouses and seizing cannabis products. Smith was charged with cultivating, possessing for supply and selling cannabis - which could carry an eight-year jail sentence - and was summonsed to court. Continue reading...

Albanese government and opposition leader downplay prospect of sending troops to join coalition of the willing' peacekeeping force

Director who made his name with microbudget indie films wins with his self-penned drama about a lapdancer who falls for one of her clients

Former youngest-ever winner of best actor Oscar wins award again for his portrayal of fictional architect in Brady Corbet's epic drama

Sole previous scoring credit on a full-length film for the singer, guitar player and visual artist is The World to Come

Brazil's official entry beats beleaguered French favourite Emilia Perez to the podium

Self-distributed film about Israeli displacement of a Palestinian community beat out Porcelain War and Sugarcane

Warren, 68, lost out to the song El Mal from Emilia Perez

This blog has now closed. In the meantime you can read our full report on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the UK here, all our Ukraine coverage hereKemi Badenoch said she does not agree that the Oval Office clash was part of an orchestrated ambush", as some had suggested, as both Kyiv and Washington were representing their respective national interests".The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, says there is no difference between Labour and Conservative in terms of British support for Ukraine. When asked about the furious exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House, the Conservative party leader said her heart went out" to the Ukrainian president while she was watching it.I couldn't believe what was happening. He was being humiliated. I don't think we should conduct these sort of difficult conservations in front of the cameras and we have to remember that President Zelenskyy is a hero.He is the person who represents that strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people and whatever difference and difficulties we might have during negotiations we need to be able to set them aside when everyone is watching because the only person who would have liked that wild have been Vladimir Putin. Continue reading...

The award follows previous triumphs at the Baftas, Golden Globes and more

Academy Award goes to writer-director of film starring Mikey Madison as a dancer who gets married to a Russian playboy

Latvian adventure centered on a cat has triumphed over blockbusters Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot

Committee says firms should be required to say how they will tackle modern slavery in supply chainsThe government must close loopholes that enable firms exploiting workers to undercut British businesses or risk the UK becoming a dumping ground" for goods made in poor conditions, MPs have said.In a report published on Monday, the business and trade select committee calls on the government to make it mandatory for companies to say how they will tackle modern slavery in their supply chain and to introduce bigger penalties for firms that do not comply, including naming and shaming" businesses. Continue reading...

Sluggish' pace in tackling gender pay gap and worsening employment levels push UK back to 18th in PwC index of OECD countriesWomen's worsening unemployment and participation in the workforce has pulled the UK behind Canada to its lowest ranking for workplace equality among large economies in a decade.The sluggish" pace of change on women's earnings relative to men's - which means closing the gender pay gap could take more than 30 years at the current pace - has knocked the UK back one place to 18th in the Women in Work Index produced by advisory firm PwC. Continue reading...

Employers lobby group says business activity is falling with most firms expecting worse to comeBusiness activity across the UK private sector declined in the last three months, a survey has found, as weak consumer spending hits companies.The latest growth indicator produced by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shows that UK private sector activity fell again in the three months to February, at a faster rate than in the quarter to January. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Housing minister says overhaul of feudal-era system would take place before end of this parliamentThe housing minister has promised to abolish the centuries-old leasehold system in England and Wales before the end of this parliament, as the government takes the next steps towards an outright ban on new leasehold developments.Matthew Pennycook said he was committed to ending the feudal-era system - which applies to 5m homes in England - after years of complaints from leaseholders about crippling service charges and crumbling buildings. Continue reading...

The continent's role in any ceasefire will be limited unless countries commit more to Kiev and the Zelenskyy-Trump relationship is repaired

PM takes centre stage amid calls for new era of diplomacy but declines to point finger at chaos in the White House