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President says nothing can be ruled out' in response to US measures

Israeli PM, who is wanted by the court, hails Viktor Orban's bold and principled' decision to leave the corrupt' bodyHungary will leave the international criminal court because it has become political", the country's prime minister, Viktor Orban, said as he welcomed his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanhayu - the subject of an ICC arrest warrant - to Budapest for an official visit.Standing beside Netanyahu at the start of the four-day visit, Orban said Hungary was convinced the otherwise very important court" had diminished into a political forum". Continue reading...

Former officials question the reason for a Doge engineer's access to the Unaccompanied Alien Children portalA member of Elon Musk's unofficial department of government efficiency" gained access to a government system that contains the personal data of unaccompanied immigrant children, according to a recent court filing.The database, called the Unaccompanied Alien Children portal (UAC), contains extremely detailed information about thousands of minors who enter the United States alone, including individual children's mental health and therapy records, as well as immigration records, photos and addresses of their family members. Continue reading...

PM uses launch of Labour local election campaign to attack Nigel Farage over past comments about Russian leaderKeir Starmer has accused Reform UK of fawning over Putin" as the prime minister used the launch of Labour's local election campaign to attack Nigel Farage repeatedly over his past comments about the Russian leader.With Labour viewing Reform as potentially its greatest rival in next month's elections, Starmer devoted more time to attacking the rightwing populist party than criticising the Conservatives. Continue reading...

Munther Abed, 27, was in the first ambulance on the scene of an airstrike near Rafah when Israeli soldiers opened fire Gaza paramedic killings: a visual timelineA survivor from a massacre of Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers in Gaza has said he saw Israeli troops open fire on a succession of Red Crescent ambulances and rescue vehicles and then use a bulldozer to bury the wreckage in a pit.Munther Abed, a 27-year-old Red Crescent volunteer, was in the back of the first ambulance to arrive on the scene of an airstrike in the Hashashin district of Rafah before dawn on 23 March, when it came under intense Israeli fire. His two Red Crescent colleagues sitting in the front were killed but he survived by throwing himself to the floor of the vehicle. Continue reading...

Ministers are considering how to secure an agreement that might exempt Britain from Trump's tariffsMinisters are redoubling their efforts to agree a trade deal with Donald Trump after he announced sweeping 10% tariffs on UK exports to the US.Downing Street has said talks are at an advanced stage" and officials have indicated that the broad outlines of a deal have been agreed. Continue reading...

Democratic mayor says he will not run in party primary for re-election amid record-low approval rating

Designation as undesirable organisation' exposes nonprofit's staff and partners to possible criminal prosecutionRussian authorities on Thursday banned the Elton John Aids Foundation (EJAF), which focuses on HIV/Aids prevention, citing its support for LGBTQ+ rights as a reason for the move.Founded by the British singer and songwriter in 1992, the organisation funds HIV treatment programmes in countries including Russia. It also advocates for LGBTQ+ people, who have faced years of brutal persecution in Russia. Continue reading...

Mutual reports increase from 28m to 161m, but says ministers layering costs' on retailers could hit high streetsThe Co-operative Group plans to open at least a further 120 grocery shops this year after profits rose more than fivefold, but told the government that layering costs" on retailers could hit high streets and communities.The mutual, which owns more than 800 funeral parlours and an insurance and legal advisory business as well as operating more than 2,000 convenience shops, said changes to employers' national insurance contributions (NICs) and packaging regulations were expected to add 80m to its costs this year. It also lost 80m to shoplifters last year despite spending millions on new security measures. Continue reading...

UK government body's interim report says visibility before Solong struck Stena Immaculate was reported as patchy'An oil tanker and cargo ship that collided in the North Sea had no dedicated lookouts" at the time of the incident, which took place inpatchy" visibility, investigators have said.A US-chartered oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, was anchored about 12 miles (19km) off the coast of Yorkshire when it was struck by a container ship, the Solong, on 10 March. Continue reading...

Research finds proposal may also drive up cost of building new windfarms as developers need higher subsidies to offset costPlans to overhaul England, Wales and Scotland's electricity market risk piling an extra 3bn on to household energy bills every year until the 2040s, according to the government's own clean power adviser.New research has found that moving ahead with a plan to divide the national electricity market into different pricing zones could drive up the cost of building new windfarms as the government aims for a renewable energy boom before the end of the decade. Continue reading...

Keukenhof, near Amsterdam, increasingly catering to growing demand for social media contentNestled among tulip fields not far from Amsterdam, the world-famous Keukenhof garden has opened for the spring, welcoming camera-wielding visitors to its increasingly selfie-friendly grounds.On a sunny day, the paths, park benches and cafes are crowded with tourists taking photos and selfies with one of the Netherlands' most iconic products - the tulip. Continue reading...

Daniel Ketinsky clears final regulatory hurdles for 3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail parent company

Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos hit with rates over 40% as experts say the real target is China

Asian and European markets plummet after falls on Wall street, with Nadaq down 3.3% and US dollar at six-month low

How other countries retaliate matters hugely for how Australia's economy weathers the storm of liberation day', experts say

Exclusive: Former staff tell Guardian Australia some HIV patients have since required acute mental health care, as hospital also loses specialist pain and eating disorder support staff

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Police say David Mobbs was in last stages of his life' with motor neurone disease and had been in and out of hospital before his death

Lead signatory of letter to Church Times says it is moral and Christian imperative' to ensure dignified retirementChurch of England vicars are demanding an increase in pensions amid claims that many face an impoverished old age, with some forced to rely on food banks or move in with adult children.Almost 2,000 C of E clergy have joined an action group on Facebook in the past few weeks and 700 signed a letter to the Church Times calling for urgent and decisive action". Continue reading...

Opposition leader's comments come the same day a report shows the reforms have led to higher wages for retail, meat and mine workers

In today's newsletter: Israel's offensive has resulted in thousands of casualties and severe restrictions on aid, and signals a potential long-term territorial and political shiftGood morning. On Tuesday, Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, announced a major expansion of attacks on Gaza and the capture of large areas that will be added to the security zones of the state of Israel".The announcement followed a night of airstrikes on Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza, which officials said had killed at least 21 people, including a pregnant woman. The intensification of Israel's offensive comes after more than two weeks of airstrikes and ground operations that have, according to Gaza's health ministry, killed more than 900 people. Unicef has said that at least 322 of those killed since the renewed attacks have been children.UK economy | Donald Trump has hit the UK with tariffs of 10% on exports to the US as he ignited a global trade war. Other tariffs include 20% on the EU and 34% on China. Downing Street had been expecting 20% but Keir Starmer's conciliation towards the Trump administration appeared to have paid off.Immigration | An investigation has been launched after a racist message was reportedly blasted out" on portable radios used by Home Office contractors at an asylum processing centre. The deeply offensive broadcast - fuck off you [N-word]s, go back to where you came from" - was reportedly heard at the Manston processing site for small boat arrivals in Kent.Health | Doctors have reported a rise in the number of patients with Victorian diseases such as scabies, as the Royal College of Physicians urged the government to do more to fight poverty.UK news | A third former South Yorkshire police officer has been arrested as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. The ex-constable, aged in his 50s, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of raping a teenage girl in the town in 2004.Education | The fate of boys is a defining issue of our time", according to the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, as she calls for more men to become teachers to combat toxic" behaviours. Continue reading...

ABC chair backs public broadcaster after Peter Dutton's comments warning it would need to demonstrate excellence'

Strong summit support for drug decriminalisation in favour of a health approach did not result in a recommendation from co-chairs

Federal government unveils protective measures to help export-focused companies tap alternative markets

Office of Director of Public Prosecutions calls former police officer's two-year community corrections order inadequate

Israeli prime minister begins four-day trip after Hungarian counterpart says court ruling would have no effect'Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to begin a four-day official visit to Hungary on Thursday, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has stepped foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters that he would guarantee" the ICC's ruling would have no effect in Hungary". Continue reading...

Share of households who have fallen behind on their mortgages has broadly stabilised at pre-pandemic levels, Reserve Bank data shows

Social media ads show former MP talking to a man in hi-vis who online viewers say closely resembles member of Liberal Goldstein campaign

The US president has announced new taxes on imports to the US starting at a baseline of 10% - here is the front-page reaction in BritainDonald Trump's tariff day of liberation" arrived with the US president imposing markups on imports while accusing other nations, including allies, of looting, pillaging, raping and plundering" the US.The UK got off relatively lightly with the basic 10%. Here is how major British newspapers see it. Continue reading...

Resolution that would block tariffs passes 51-48 in Senate, in vote that shows Republican unease over president's plansSeveral Republican senators joined Democrats to pass a resolution that would block Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, a rare rebuke of the president's trade policy just hours after he announced plans for sweeping import taxes on some of the country's largest trading partners.In a 51-48 vote, four Republicans - Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and both Kentucky senators, the former majority leader Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul - defied Trump's pressure campaign and supported the measure. Democrats used a procedural maneuver to force a vote on the resolution, which would terminate the national emergency on fentanyl Trump is using to justify tariffs on Canada. Continue reading...

Barricades go up in Seoul as court prepares to rule on whether to uphold Yoon's impeachment or restore his powersThe usually quiet streets outside South Korea's constitutional court in Seoul are now a political ground zero for a decision that will determine the country's future.Months after Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law and triggered South Korea's worst political crisis in decades, the court will on Friday decide whether to uphold the suspended president's impeachment or return him to office. Continue reading...

Automotive industry and prime minister Mark Carney note that 25% tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles will still come into effect within hoursCanada's exemption from Donald Trump's global tariffs was like dodging a bullet into the path of a tank", say business leaders as other levies are poised to hit key industries that drive the country's economy.In a theatrical unveiling of tariffs on countries with unfair" practices on Wednesday afternoon, Canada was noticeably absent, alongside trade ally Mexico. Continue reading...

There were charts and scores, as if The Price Is Right had come to Washington. The big prize? A global trade warIt was Jeopardy!, or The Price Is Right, come to Washington.On an unseasonably chilly day in the White House Rose Garden, Donald Trump stood with a giant chart listing what reciprocal tariffs he would impose on China, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other hapless contestants. Continue reading...

Chancellor says autumn budget enabled 25bn of extra investment into NHS and shorter waiting listsRachel Reeves has defended the 40bn in tax increases in autumn's budget as businesses brace for their impact, saying NHS waiting lists would now be higher if she had not taken action.Employers are set for a 25bn increase in national insurance contributions (NICs), which comes into force on 6 April, at the same time as consumers are being hit by a slew of increases in bills for everything from utilities to car tax. Continue reading...

Pacific country this week declared state of emergency over power cuts that have caused huge disruption to businesses and daily lifeSamoa is in the grip of an energy crisis" prime minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said this week, as she declared a state of emergency over power outages that have swept the country for weeks, causing huge disruption to businesses and daily life.The government is scrambling to provide relief to affected businesses and households, with temporary power generation units due to arrive next week. Continue reading...

State senator and Democratic rising star leaned into Trump-Musk criticisms when launching bid to succeed Gary PetersMallory McMorrow, a state senator from Michigan and rising star in the Democratic party, has announced her bid for the US Senate in what is expected to be one of 2026's most competitive and high-profile contests.McMorrow, 38, launched her campaign on Wednesday to succeed Michigan's retiring Democratic senator Gary Peters with a video that showed the Trump administration's mass layoffs of federal workers, plans to cut Medicaid and Elon Musk's so-called department of government efficiency". Continue reading...

National security adviser and team shared sensitive information' in group chats on app, sources tell Politico

Forecasters say potent storm system moving east could become supercharged and bring life-threatening' floodingPotentially deadly flash flooding, high-magnitude tornadoes and baseball-sized hail could hit parts of the midwest and south on Wednesday as severe thunderstorms blowing eastward become supercharged, forecasters warned.There were tornado warnings Wednesday morning near the Missouri cities of Joplin and Columbia - merely the opening acts of what forecasters expect will be a more intense period of violent weather later on Wednesday, as daytime heating combines with an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear and abundant moisture streaming into the nation's midsection from the Gulf. Continue reading...

Influential podcast host and prominent Trump supporter criticizes administration for removal of gay makeup artistJoe Rogan, the influential podcast host and prominent supporter of Donald Trump, has criticized the president's administration over the deportation of a professional makeup artist and hairdresser to a prison in El Salvador, calling it horrific".Andry Jose Hernandez Romero, who is gay, had sought asylum in the US, telling officials he faced persecution because of his sexual orientation and political views. But US immigration officers argued the crown tattoos on his wrists were proof he was part of Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang, despite Hernandez Romero telling them he was not. Last month, he was flown from Texas to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, a facility that his lawyer said was one of the worst places in the world". His removal comes as the administration undertakes what Trump has pledged would be a mass deportation campaign. Continue reading...

Star, 8, began to lose weight after someone got inside pen, cut gate locks and sprayed substance over two-month spanA pet reindeer beloved by many in Alaska's largest city has been euthanized, just weeks after someone tampered with his cage and possibly poisoned him, his caretaker said on Wednesday.I don't have an answer as to why he had to be put down other than it relates back to what happened," said Albert Whitehead, who cared not only for the eight-year-old reindeer named Star but also the decades-long tradition of having a reindeer in downtown Anchorage. Continue reading...

Insiders reportedly say Musk will leave when 130-day cap on government service expires but Doge' team set to continue

Actor accuses newspaper of libel in articles about his alleged sexual misconductThere was no agenda" in the Guardian's investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against Noel Clarke, the high court has heard.In her second day in the witness box, Lucy Osborne, an investigative correspondent at the Guardian, defended the publication's reporting in the face of questioning from the former Doctor Who star's barrister, Philip Williams. Continue reading...

Economic impact assessment is one concession aiming to head off opposition from MPs, peers and creatives such as Paul McCartney and Tom StoppardThe UK government is trying to placate peer and Labour backbencher concerns about copyright proposals by pledging to assess the economic impact of its plans.Creative professionals including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Tom Stoppard and Kate Bush have strongly criticised ministers' proposals to let artificial intelligence companies train their models on copyright-protected work without permission, unless the rights holder opts out. Continue reading...

It's almost as if KemiKaze herself believes Labour's mantra that the Tories are the source of all hopelessnessThere will come a moment when the Labour claim that the Tories are to blame for everything will no longer stick. People will start shaking their heads and reckon that Labour have something to answer for. But we're not quite there yet. At least not at prime minister's questions. For half an hour in the Commons every Wednesday the Conservatives remain the villains of the piece.Partly it's the size of the Labour majority. The sheer volume of half-witted Labour MPs who are happy to bounce up and down to ask Keir Starmer whether he agrees with them that the Tories left the country in a shocking mess and only the prime minister can save their constituents. The Lib Dems and the SNP are only slightly fiercer critics of the present government. They too hate the Tories more than anyone else. Continue reading...

Prime minister says Israel will build a new security corridor to isolate parts of the strip in major escalationBenjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is seizing territory" and intends to divide up" the Gaza Strip by building a new security corridor, amid a major expansion of aerial and ground operations in the besieged Palestinian territory.Tonight, we have shifted gears in the Gaza Strip. The [Israeli army] is seizing territory, hitting the terrorists and destroying the infrastructure," the prime minister said in a video statement on Wednesday evening. Continue reading...

Court hears arguments on whether state can block clinics that provide abortions from receiving Medicaid fundsIn its first abortion-related case since Donald Trump retook control of the White House, the US supreme court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in a case challenging South Carolina's attempt to effectively defund" Planned Parenthood because the reproductive health giant performs abortions.The case, Medina v Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, deals with a 2018 executive order from the South Carolina governor Henry McMaster that blocked clinics that provide abortions from receiving reimbursements via Medicaid, the US government's healthcare program for low-income people, despite the fact that those reimbursements don't actually cover abortions. Payment of taxpayer funds to abortion clinics, for any purpose, results in the subsidy of abortion and the denial of the right to life," McMaster said at the time. Continue reading...

Chancellor says UK will respond calmly to US tariffs as Keir Starmer attempts to play down fears of trade warThere will be two urgent questions in the Commons after PMQs. At around 12.30pm a Foreign Office minister will respond to a question from Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, about the Chagos Islands. And then another Foreign Office minister (or the same one?) will reply to a UQ from the Green co-leader Carla Denyer about Gaza.After that Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, will make a statement about nursery provision.With new US tariffs coming, Welsh businesses face even more uncertainty.The UK must make a strategic decision: with 58.6% of Welsh exports going to the EU, we must provide stable access to European markets by rejoining the single market and customs union, allowing us to stand up to Trump's reckless moves. Continue reading...

Kim Leadbeater tells MPs they have a duty to change the law to spare terminally ill people dreadful consequencesIf the bill to legalise assisted dying is thrown out by MPs later this month then the conversation ends" on the subject, with dreadful consequences for many terminally ill people, the MP leading the process has warned.Speaking at a press conference organised by supporters of the bill, which has its third reading on 25 April when MPs will vote on amendments, Kim Leadbeater said her colleagues in the Commons have a duty as parliamentarians to change the law now". Continue reading...

Exclusive: Alliance Defending Freedom, which is funding case of activist Livia Tossici-Bolt, is lobbying against buffer zones around clinicsA rightwing US group backing an anti-abortion campaigner whose case has become a new source of UK tensions with the Trump administration is significantly expanding activities and spending in Britain.The UK branch of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is funding the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt - who is being prosecuted for an alleged breach of a buffer zone" outside a Bournemouth abortion clinic - increased spending on campaigning and other activities in the UK to more than 1m last year. Continue reading...