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Government will back bill to curb spurious lawsuits often used by very rich to stop exposure of wrongdoingMinisters are to support a crackdown on spurious lawsuits aimed at intimidating journalists, academics and campaigners, known as strategic litigation against public participation, or Slapps.Alex Chalk, the justice secretary, said on Friday that the government would support a private member's bill brought by the Labour backbencher Wayne David aimed at reducing the use of Slapps in the British courts. Continue reading...

Scarlet Blake, 26, brutally attacked Jorge Martin Carreno, 30, and left him to drown in July 2021A woman who livestreamed herself killing, dissecting and blending the body of a cat before brutally attacking a man and leaving him to drown to death in a river months later has been convicted of murder.Scarlet Blake, 26, targeted Jorge Martin Carreno, 30, as he walked home from a night out in Oxford in July 2021. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Firm's denial comes after weeks of intense criticism, including accusations that it misled parliament Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastConsultancy firm KPMG Australia has rejected claims it conducted due diligence on the wrong company" before the federal government gave nearly half a billion dollars to a controversial company with no track record.The firm's objection to comments by a member of a Senate inquiry examining its conduct come after weeks of intense criticism and accusations it repeatedly misled parliament over its use of so-called power maps, which identify influential decision makers within departments.Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

President faces uncertain reception at Salon d'Agriculture after weeks of protests by furious farmersMost politicians kiss babies; French leaders pat cows and make a fuss of lambs.The Salon d'Agriculture, the country's annual farm show that opens on Saturday, is a date presidents cannot afford to miss. Continue reading...

Sanctions come as part of Biden's broader effort against Russia which he announced on the second anniversary of Russia's war on UkraineU.S. President Joe Biden on Friday announced a fresh wave of more than 500 sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine and the death of Alexei Navalny, the White House said.More information to come ... Continue reading...

Rapper and producer posted antisemitic comments to social media in 2020 and 2021, and was later charged with assault and burglaryGrime music pioneer Wiley has been stripped of his MBE on the grounds of bringing the honours system into disrepute". A notice posted to the Cabinet Office website announced the change.In 2020 Wiley - AKA Richard Cowie, 45 - caused hurt and outrage with an antisemitic rant posted to social media, in which he stated: There are 2 sets of people who nobody has really wanted to challenge #Jewish & #KKK ... Red Necks Are the KKK and Jewish people are the Law." He also wrote: Israel is ours ... The Star of David that's our ting." He later apologised for generalising and going outside of the people who I was talking to within the workspace and workplace I work in," following a dispute with his Jewish manager, but didn't retract the comments and denied being racist. Continue reading...

It is hoped that telling of personal stories in New York will resonate with Republicans at a time when US military aid package is stalledA small group of Ukrainian child survivors of war will address a private meeting at the UN in New York, timed to coincide with a meeting of the security council on Friday, as part of an effort by Kyiv to remind Americans of the human costs of a conflict increasingly affected by US domestic politics.Those due to address the event include Kira, 14, and Ilya, 11, from the besieged city of Mariupol, and the hope is that their personal stories will resonate with Republicans at a time when a military aid for Ukraine package is stalled in the House. Continue reading...

Vennells had said she would return honour after fresh fallout over wrongful prosecution of post office operatorsThe former Post Office boss Paula Vennells has forfeited her CBE for bringing the honours system into disrepute" over her handling of the Horizon crisis.Vennells was named on Friday in a list published on the Cabinet Office website as an individual whose honour had been revoked by King Charles. Continue reading...

Far-right party trying to capitalise on third-place byelection finishes and is vetting prospective MPs' social media outputReform UK will seek to capitalise on its momentum in the polls and third-place finishes in two recent byelections by launching new policies and new candidates at a rally in Doncaster on Saturday.After the havoc wreaked on Ukip and the Brexit party by candidates who had to be suspended over racist and offensive comments, a vetting team at the rightwing populist party is trawling through would-be MPs' past social media output. Continue reading...

Labour politicians taking extra precautions while support staff say row about speaker has increased riskMPs have spoken about the lengths they are going to to keep safe amid heightened tensions over the war in the Middle East.Some Labour MPs who have been vocal on Israel and Palestine said they were fearful there could be a violent attack on a politician. Continue reading...

Biometric data of more than 2,000 staff at 38 leisure centres was unlawfully processed to check attendance, watchdog findsBritain's data watchdog has ordered a Serco subsidary to stop using facial recognition technology and fingerprint scanning to monitor the attendance of staff at the leisure centres it operates.The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) found that the biometric data of more than 2,000 employees had been unlawfully processed at 38 centres managed by Serco Leisure to check up on their attendance. Continue reading...

Lawyers sought to overturn ruling last year that revocation of her citizenship was lawfulShamima Begum, who left Britain as a schoolgirl to live under Islamic State (IS), has failed in a fresh attempt to overturn a decision to remove her British citizenship after the court of appeal ruled against her.Three judges unanimously concluded that the then home secretary, Sajid Javid, had the power to set aside concerns she may have been a victim of child trafficking when she travelled in secret with two friends from east London to Syria in 2015. Continue reading...

Ibrahima Bah, who was also being smuggled to UK, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and facilitating illegal entryA man who steered a small boat across the Channel on a crossing during which at least four fellow passengers drowned has been sentenced to be detained for more than nine years.Ibrahima Bah was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter and facilitating illegal entry to the UK on Monday, after a trial at Canterbury crown court. Continue reading...

Letter to staff from building society's union says move will lead to about 125 job losses, taking cuts over past year to nearly 800Nationwide building society has put more than 300 people's jobs at risk in the lender's third round of cuts over the past 12 months as bosses push ahead with a major restructuring plan.A letter sent to staff by Nationwide's employee union, and seen by the Guardian, explains that the latest redundancies will affect workers across its retail service, customer resolutions, support and retail-risk divisions. Continue reading...

Ex-PM appears with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and talks of deep state' ousting her from powerRishi Sunak should take action against Liz Truss for appearing alongside the far-right commentator Steve Bannon and spreading conspiracy theories about the deep state" ousting her from power, Labour has said.During appearances at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac), the former prime minister, who spent only seven weeks in power in 2022, appeared to be making the case for a comeback and relaunching her career in the UK. Continue reading...

Law allows growth of up to three plants for private consumption, holding 50g of cannabis at home, or 25g in publicGermany's parliament has passed a law allowing individuals and voluntary associations to grow and hold limited quantities of cannabis, making it the latest in a small group of countries and jurisdictions to legalise the drug, at least in part.The law passed by the chancellor, Olaf Scholz's ruling three-party coalition, legalises cultivating up to three plants for private consumption, the possession of 50g of cannabis at one time at home, and 25g in public. It follows a heated debate about the pros and cons of allowing easier access to the drug. Continue reading...

Home secretary says it is nonsense' for protesters outside lawmakers' residences to claim they are not seeking to intimidate themShamima Begum, who left Britain as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State, has lost an appeal against the decision to remove her British citizenship.Begum travelled to Syria in 2015 at the age of 15. Her citizenship was revoked on national security grounds shortly after she was found in a Syrian refugee camp in February 2019. Continue reading...

Israel wants security control over all land west of Jordan, including occupied West Bank and Gaza; MSF says idea of humanitarian response in Gaza an illusion'The paramedics arm of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group says two of its members were killed in an Israeli strike on a southern border village early on Friday, reports AP.

Up to 15 people still to be located as Pedro Sanchez visits Valencia to express affection and empathy' to victims' familiesValencia is holding three days of mourning following a fire in a residential building where at least 4 people died.A spokesperson for the Spanish government said the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, will be visiting Valencia today to learn first-hand the details of the tragic fire that affected two buildings in the Campanar neighbourhood." Continue reading...

Predicted thunderstorm arrives at Homebush venue less than an hour before show's scheduled 6.20pm start, prompting a short evacuation

Ukrainian ambassador to Australia also urges west not to succumb to fatigue' in its support for Ukraine

Actor best known for his role in the children's TV drama also appeared in Brookside and Doctor WhoThe Grange Hill actor Stuart Organ has died aged 72, his representative has confirmed.The British actor was best known for playing the firm but fair Peter Robson in the children's TV drama, and was the longest-serving member of staff at the school. Continue reading...

A trip to A&E and more awards for actors while MPs struggled to hold an adult debate on GazaThere was a time not so long ago when Rishi Sunak used every available moment to talk about his Five Promises. Now he has gone rather quiet on the subject. Presumably not unrelated to the fact that four of them are dead in the water. Only the promise to halve inflation has been kept, and that is the one over which he had no control. Continue reading...

Mitchell, who had dementia, announces her death in letter published posthumously on her blogThe assisted dying advocate and bestselling author Wendy Mitchell, who spent years documenting her dementia, has died, her family has said.Mitchell, 68, discussed her death in a letter published posthumously on her blog on Thursday. Continue reading...

PM speaks out over MPs' safety, saying it is unacceptable' for politicians to feel intimidated

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Military industrial complex and companies aiding Moscow in third countries will be targeted, treasury says

Bill Winters' pay rises to 7.8m as bank says annual pre-tax profits rose by 19% in 2023 to 4bn Business live - latest updatesStandard Chartered has handed its chief executive his largest pay package in nearly a decade as the lender reported a jump in profits, despite bracing for up to 1bn in potential losses due to China's property downturn.The profit bump helped push the longstanding chief executive Bill Winters' pay up 22% to 7.8m - from 6.4m in 2022. It is the most he has been paid since 2015. Continue reading...

Mild winter and falling wholesale gas prices lead to lower level, in boost for household financesThe energy price cap in Great Britain will fall by 238 to 1690 this spring as a mild winter and lower gas prices ease pressure on household finances.The 29 million households in England, Wales and Scotland can expect to pay the average annual bill from April after the energy regulator Ofgem dropped the price cap by 12.3% from 1,928 in the current quarter. Continue reading...

Announcement comes after student survey found one in 20 students had been sexually assaulted since starting university and one in six had reported being sexually harassed

Authorities say in eight overdose cases where drug samples were available, heroin was the opioid identified

Indigenous leader says yes campaign lacked necessary bipartisanship and federal reform for Aboriginal people has come to a complete standstill'

The 39-year-old died suddenly and violently after a ritual involving Amazonian frog poison in Mullumbimby in 2019

Judges to decide whether revoking citizenship of teenager who joined Islamic State was unlawfulShamima Begum, who left the UK as a 15-year-old schoolgirl to join Islamic State is to find out whether her appeal against the removal of her UK citizenship has been successful.Three court of appeal judges, including the chief justice, Sue Carr, will rule on Friday whether the home secretary's revocation of her citizenship, on the basis that it was conducive to the public good", and the special immigration appeals commission's (Siac) ruling to uphold his decision, were unlawful. Continue reading...

Lamarre, 28, turned himself to NSW police on Friday morning and is assisting with inquiries at Waverley police station

Thirteen reported injured as 22 teams of firefighters fight flames engulfing 14-storey buildingSpanish firefighters have been battling high winds to put out a huge fire that gutted a multi-storey apartment block in Valencia and left four dead.At least 13 people have been injured, including a minor and six firefighters, emergency services and regional officials in the eastern port city said, without providing details on the extent of the injuries. The emergency services earlier said seven people were lightly injured, mostly from smoke inhalation. Continue reading...

Study analysing data from 10m consultations in England also says practice can free up millions of appointmentsSeeing the same GP improves patients' health, reduces doctors' workloads and could free up millions of appointments, according to the largest study of its kind.Primary care is under enormous strain, with patients struggling to book consultations, GPs quitting or retiring early, and financial pressures causing some practices to close. Four-week waits hit a record high in 2023, with 17.6m appointments taking place at least 28 days after being booked in England last year. Continue reading...

Maximum will be 2 for younger adults but campaigners say government has not gone far enoughThe amount that can be staked on the spin of an online slot machine will be capped at 5, or 2 for younger customers, as part of government plans to tighten regulation of the 11bn-a-year gambling industry in Great Britain.Online slots are currently exempt from limits on how much punters can wager.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

TUC survey finds teaching staff perform the most unpaid overtime of any profession, losing out on 15,000 a year eachTeaching unions have accused ministers of daylight robbery" after a new survey by the Trades Union Congress revealed that teachers perform the most unpaid overtime of any profession.The TUC survey - published to mark its Work Your Proper Hours Day on Friday - found that two out of five teaching staff in the UK worked 26 hours for free each week, for a combined 5.5m hours a year. Continue reading...

New mobile data leads police to comb Mount Clear area for clues nearly three weeks after Murphy was last seenMobile phone data has provided a new lead in the search for Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy, who Victoria police now suspect that one or more parties" were involved in her disappearance three weeks ago.The 51-year-old mother of three left her home at Eureka Street in Ballarat East on 4 February to go jogging and has not been seen since. Continue reading...

Saunders, who was arrested at his Broome home on Wednesday, is facing multiple historical child sexual abuse allegations

President and vice-president speak out against ruling while Haley attempts to retract comments on embryos being babiesThe decision of the Alabama supreme court on in vitro fertilization, granting legal protections to frozen fertilized eggs, drew fire from President Joe Biden and other Democratic leaders on Thursday, laying responsibility for the decision on the US supreme court's ruling overturning Roe v Wade in 2022.A court in Alabama put access to some fertility treatments at risk for families who are desperately trying to get pregnant," Biden said in prepared remarks Thursday. The disregard for women's ability to make these decisions for themselves and their families is outrageous and unacceptable." Continue reading...

Peter Moffat will write show about what is considered one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in NHS historyITV has announced a drama on the contaminated blood scandal, widely considered to be one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in NHS history, after the success of its series on the Post Office.The drama, which is being written by the Bafta award-winning screenwriter Peter Moffat, will show how people with haemophilia and other blood disorders were contaminated with blood infected with HIV and Hepatitis C, the American media site Deadline reported. Continue reading...

Thousands of residents from almost 30 communities near Ballarat told to leave now'

Letter shows Post Office told ministers it would oppose attempts to overturn 369 prosecutionsThe Post Office has admitted writing to ministers saying it would stand by the prosecution of more than half of the post office operators targeted during the Horizon scandal as recently as last month.Despite the outpouring of concern and anger after what has been described as Britain's worst miscarriage of justice, the letter from the Post Office's chief executive, Nick Read, showed it would oppose attempts to overturn the prosecutions in 369 cases. Continue reading...

By the time she was six, Broadbent was sharing her story on TV, with the aim of educating the public and reducing stigmaHydeia Broadbent, an HIV/Aids activist who from a young age campaigned to reduce stigma around the virus, died on Tuesday in her home in Las Vegas. She was 39.Her father, Loren Broadbent, announced her death in a Facebook post. He did not share a cause of death. Continue reading...

Ian Connell is accused of strangling Donald Prentice' Patience in a dosshouse' in RadcliffeA statistician was murdered in a dosshouse" in Greater Manchester by a man who later stole his labradoodle after a disagreement over money, a court has heard.Ian Connell, 39, is accused of strangling Donald Prentice" Patience, 45, after a row and returning later to break into his property to take the dog, named Layla. Continue reading...

Australian Education Union report finds a $31.8bn divide in capital spending over 10 years

Exclusive: Analysis also shows same number would probably not be able to afford cost of improved insulationAlmost 10m households across the UK are living in cold, damp and poorly insulated homes while not earning enough to be able to make improvements to them, according to analysis.A total of 34% of UK households or 9.6m are living in cold, poorly insulated homes, according to analysis of the English Housing Survey by the Institute of Health Equity and Friends of the Earth. Continue reading...

Scout Association and one of its employees referred to police in Ben Leonard inquestA 16-year-old scout was unlawfully killed when he fell to his death during a trip to a rugged beauty spot in north Wales, a jury has concluded.Ben Leonard from Stockport, Greater Manchester, became separated from his group and fell about 60 metres (200ft) at Great Orme in Llandudno, suffering a head injury. Continue reading...