World news | The Guardian

Party source describes region as beating heart of general election battleground' as prime minister says Labour threw lot of mud'

As party narrowly misses out on overall majority, co-leader says it has won spread of urban and rural seatsThe Greens are celebrating a spectacular win in Bristol, where it became by far the largest party, as it headed for a record number of councillors in local elections across England.Party officials said they believed they were on track to finish with more than 800 members on more than 170 councils. Continue reading...

Wins in East Midlands, North East, and York and North Yorkshire suggest Labour on course for general election successThe Conservatives held on to their high-profile Tees Valley mayoralty with a reduced majority for Ben Houchen in the mayoral elections, but Labour won three other contests, in the East Midlands, North East and Rishi Sunak's own patch of North Yorkshire.Houchen was re-elected with a 16.5 percentage point swing to Labour. He won 81,930 votes (53.6%) against 63,141 (41.3%) for Labour and 7,679 (5%) for the Liberal Democrats. At the last election he won 73% of the votes. Continue reading...

More than 23,000 people forced to leave homes after heavy rains in southern Rio Grande do Sul prompt record-breaking floodsHeavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul have killed 37 people, with another 74 still missing, as record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes.It was the fourth such environmental disaster in a year, following floods in July, September and November that killed 75 people in total. Continue reading...

Full results likely to point to potential drubbing for Rishi Sunak's Conservatives at the general election

Glossy promotional leaflet handed out to asylum seekers detained under Rishi Sunak's deportation policyAsylum seekers who have been detained under Rishi Sunak's deportation policy are being handed a colourful promotional document entitled: I'm being relocated to Rwanda. What does it mean to me?".The news came as the government faced a second legal challenge over the prime minister's 500m policy and it emerged that dozens of asylum seekers were being forcibly taken to detention centres. Continue reading...

With an estimated 25% vote share, Tory performance matches 1995 nadir reached under John Major

On track to lose 500 council seats, Conservatives point to Labour's failure to win control of Harlow council - by one seat

Jury hears stabbing incident was witnessed by primary pupils in Horsforth last year and victim was not the aggressor' that dayA 15-year-old boy who stabbed another teenager through the heart on the way home from school has been found guilty of murder.Alfie Lewis, 15, was stabbed to death in full view" of pupils leaving a primary school in the Horsforth area of Leeds last November. Continue reading...

Shane Cunningham from Devizes and two of his friends took zombie' knives to party where promising rapper was killedA 16-year-old boy has been detained for life for murder after stabbing a talented teenage rapper in the back of the neck with a zombie" knife at a house party in Bath.Two of the murderer's 16-year-old friends, who were also carrying zombie knives, were detained for nine years and nine years and six months after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Mikey Roynon, 16. Continue reading...

From party chair Richard Holden to Andrea Leadsom and Rish! himself, their denial verged on the delusionalSpare a thought for Richard Holden. While every other senior Tory politician had sensibly chosen to lock themselves in a darkened room with a bottle of scotch and a syringe full of heroin, the Conservative party chair took one for the team. A long stint on the airwaves from soon after the polls had closed through to the following morning.It's hard to know whether this was bravery or complete stupidity. He could be like the Japanese soldier found on a Pacific island in the 1970s who didn't know his country had surrendered in 1945 and was still trying to escape capture by the enemy. Continue reading...

Health ministry says only adult dogs can be used for animal assisted' wellbeing activitiesPassionate yogis in Italy have been taking their downward dog to the next level, snapping up mat spots in studios offering puppy yoga" classes. But the health ministry has curtailed the growing trend after banning use of the pups to protect the animals' health and welfare.In a note on 29 April, the ministry said only adult dogs could be used for animal assisted" wellbeing activities, including yoga. The ministry said it had been made aware of organisations that would directly contact dog breeders" in order to temporarily use puppies for yoga sessions. Continue reading...

Disappointment' comes after documents reveal only two-thirds of $96m will go to Indigenous victims of predatory funeral fund

Country to vote on Sunday after supreme court allows leading presidential contender to remain in the racePanama's supreme court has rejected a move to disqualify the candidacy of the leading presidential contender, Jose Raul Mulino, two days before the country's election on Sunday.The ruling early on Friday removes an element of uncertainty in the vote, but the country remains racked by social discontent, against a backdrop of mass protests, economic slowdown, drought in the Panama Canal and the closure of one of the world's largest copper mines. Continue reading...

Defeat could have spurred Conservative rebels to move against prime minister

UN humanitarian office spokesman says hundreds of thousands of lives could be at risk and there would be a huge impact on aid operationsDaniel Hurst is Guardian Australia's foreign affairs and defence correspondent.The Australian government faces a decision next week on whether to support admitting Palestine as a full member of the UN and is swapping notes with allies including South Korea and Germany. Continue reading...

Josep Borrell and Jens Stoltenberg issue statements following accusations against Moscow by Germany and the Czech RepublicScene at the Tbisili opera last night, as protests continueJens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general, said NATO remains committed to countering the substantial, continuous & increasing cyber threat." Continue reading...

Three UN experts warn proposed harmony laws' may contravene global human rights standardsUN experts on truth, justice, forced disappearances and killings have warned Spain that new laws proposed by rightwing and far-right regional coalition governments to whitewash" the Franco dictatorship could contravene international human rights standards.Two years ago, Spain's socialist-led government introduced a Democratic Memory law designed to bring justice, reparation and dignity" to the victims of the civil war and subsequent dictatorship. Continue reading...

Conservative rebels say they lack support to oust Sunak as counts overnight show loss of 100 councillors and byelection defeat

Philip Morris International has supported non-smoking programmes around the world to advance its own interests', say health professionalsThe tobacco company Philip Morris has sponsored courses for doctors in multiple countries, in what critics have called a grotesque" strategy.Medical education programmes on quitting smoking and harm reduction in South Africa, the Middle East and the US have been supported by Philip Morris International (PMI) or its regional subsidiaries, according to advertising material seen by the Guardian. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Intense negotiations under way as Penny Wong backs two-state solution after meeting Germany's Annalena Baerbock

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NSW homelessness minister acknowledges program is direct response to housing crisis but says it's not acceptable this is what we have come to' for those fleeing domestic violence

Sentencing to depend heavily on whether the judge considers the murder to be particularly heinous'

Pollsters say early results suggest Tories could lose half of council seats contested, putting party on course for as many as 500 losses

Experts fear children questioning their gender may turn to hidden economy to obtain hormones illegallyCross-sex hormones designed to masculinise or feminise a person's body are available to buy online for less than 11 a month, with experts warning that growing numbers of under-18s may turn to the medicines hidden economy.Last month the landmark Cass review of children's gender treatment in England concluded there was a lack of reliable evidence supporting the use of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers by young people questioning their gender identity. Continue reading...

Civil servant Josie Stewart spoke to media after government presented dishonest account', tribunal toldA Foreign Office civil servant felt morally compelled" to speak to the media about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after the government presented a dishonest account" of what happened, an employment tribunal has heard.Josie Stewart was sacked by the Foreign Office (FCDO) after blowing the whistle on the failures of the withdrawal from Kabul and disclosing emails indicating Boris Johnson's involvement in an outrageous" decision to prioritise the evacuation of staff from the animal charity Nowzad, despite his denials. Continue reading...

Measures to focus on boosting frontline services for women and children fleeing abuse, as well as prevention

Independent panel made wrong decision' to advise that Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan did not need ankle bracelet before alleged assault on Ninette Simmons, PM says

National Indigenous Australians Agency and Services Australia will receive about $30m to run program for Aboriginal victims of predatory funeral fund

Voxelotor, which can help reduce need for blood transfusions, is administered as a daily tabletA new treatment for sickle cell disease has been recommended by the health watchdog in a move described as life-changing for people living with the condition in England.The drug, Voxelotor, has been recommended for use on the NHS in England by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in people with the disease who are aged 12 and over. Continue reading...

Post featured compromising image of the broadcaster Narinder Kaur, who said she was left incredibly upset'Police are investigating a social media post by Laurence Fox in relation to an upskirting offence".The tweet, posted on Tuesday, featured a compromising image of Narinder Kaur, a broadcaster on Good Morning Britain and GB News. The post remained on Fox's account until it was deleted on Thursday. Continue reading...

Two women in their 20s and a child suffered minor injuries from a sharp object at Birley AcademyA teenager has been charged with three counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm after three people were injured at a secondary school in Sheffield, South Yorkshire police said.The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Wednesday morning after reports of an incident involving a sharp object" at Birley Academy. Continue reading...

Michael Cohen can be heard saying to Trump: I need to open up a company for the transfer .. regarding our friend David'

Proximity of the two countries' forces follows request by junta ruling west African nation for the US to pull its troops outRussian military personnel have entered an airbase in Niger that is hosting American troops, after a decision by Niger's junta to expel US forces from the country.The military officers ruling the west African nation have told the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington's fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. Continue reading...

US president says immigrants are what makes us strong' and criticizes countries, plus China and Russia, over migration policyJoe Biden has called Japan and India xenophobic" countries that do not welcome immigrants, lumping the two with adversaries China and Russia as he tried to explain their economic circumstances and contrasted the four with the US on immigration.The remarks, at a campaign fundraising event Wednesday evening, came just three weeks after the White House hosted Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, for a lavish official visit, during which the two leaders celebrated what Biden called an unbreakable alliance," particularly on global security matters. Continue reading...

Protests are part of nationwide movement pushing universities to divest from businesses that support the war in Gaza

Teenager killed and another injured after attempted burglary at east Midlands farmA man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a teenager was shot dead and another injured following an attempted burglary at a farm in the east Midlands.Officers were called to the property in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, at about 1.20am on Wednesday and found a teenager with fatal gunshot wounds. The force said he was not the owner of the property. Continue reading...

Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh have accused the broadcaster of age and sex discriminationFour female BBC presenters who have taken legal action against their employer will not be able to include equal pay as part of their claim, an employment tribunal has ruled.Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh have accused the broadcaster of conducting a sham recruitment exercise" after they lost their jobs when the BBC merged its domestic and global news channels last year. Continue reading...

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie gig cancelled last minute after air conditioning part falls from gantry during soundcheckAngry concertgoers have demanded compensation from the troubled Co-op Live arena after it cancelled its opening concert for the third time, leaving thousands of young fans stranded in Manchester.The venue announced minutes after the doors opened on Wednesday night that US star A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie would no longer be performing due to a technical issue". Continue reading...

Even with extra legal assistance, hearings into suspicious killings of 80 Afghans would be delayed until March 2025Detailed hearings into alleged war crimes committed by SAS soldiers in Afghanistan at a public inquiry are likely to be delayed into 2025, prompting a row between investigators and the Ministry of Defence.A letter, made public on Thursday, from a solicitor to the public inquiry addressed to the MoD complained of unacceptable delays in supplying evidence. The ministry responded by saying it was spending 21m to support of the investigation. Continue reading...

Former SNP leader now likely to return to the role without a contest and take control of government next weekJohn Swinney is expected to be crowned Scotland's next first minister within days after his only rival ruled herself out and pledged to support his candidacy.Kate Forbes, the former finance secretary who came close to winning the SNP leadership last year, said she was persuaded to step aside because Swinney had promised he would govern from the mainstream". Continue reading...

Former finance secretary, who was narrowly beaten by Humza Yousaf in last year's SNP leadership contest, has announced that she will not stand this timeSwinney has confirmed he is standing for SNP leader.John Swinney is about to speak at his press conference in Edinburgh. Continue reading...

Insurers report rise in cases of images being manipulated with shallowfake' technologyA surge in fraud cases in which photos are manipulated to show fake car crash damage is alarming insurers and helping to push motor insurance costs up to record levels.The insurer Allianz said incidents where apps were used to distort real-life images, videos and documents increased by 300% between 2021-22 and 2022-23, and it added that this had all the signs of becoming the latest big scam to hit the insurance industry". Continue reading...

Report predicts numerous factors, including migration, mean housing affordability and inequality will continue to deteriorate

Novo Nordisk, which is now Europe's most valuable company, also reports strong sales of diabetes drug OzempicStrong sales of diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have prompted the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to raise its 2024 profit forecast to up to 15.3bn, with supply shortages starting to ease.Europe's most valuable company, whose stock market value exceeds the size of the Danish economy, has struggled to keep up with runaway demand for the two weight-loss jabs. Continue reading...

Bill has raised concern country is moving away from democratic norms and closer to MoscowNicolas Schmit, the Socialists' lead candidate in the European elections, said he is deeply concerned" by the violence in Tbilisi.In a statement late yesterday, the US state department said Georgia's western trajectory is at risk.Use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of speech is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression. Continue reading...

Individuals could win 25,000 or more if they are successful in claim Uber broke taxi booking rulesMore than 10,500 of London's black-cab drivers have launched a 250m legal case against Uber, accusing it of breaking the capital's taxi booking rules and deliberately misleading authorities to secure a licence.The case, which has been filed in the high court in London by the litigation management firm RGL, resurrects a claim first raised five years ago, related to the way the ride-hailing app operated in London between 2012 and 2018. Continue reading...

Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo also accused of two counts of attempted murder and two of grievous bodily harmA 36-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder after Daniel Anjorin, 14, was killed in east London.Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national living in Newham, east London, is also accused of two counts of attempted murder, two of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article. Continue reading...

Birthplace and parents' names are being removed from passports and birth certificates as Mauritius stakes claim to the islandExiled islanders from the disputed British-owned Chagos Islands are finding their heritage has been removed from new identity documents in an apparent move by Mauritius to stake its claim to the territory.British ownership of the Chagos Islands has long been challenged by Mauritius, where most islanders were shipped in the 1960s after being evicted from their Indian Ocean homeland to make way for a US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island. Continue reading...