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Blinken hits back after Russia and China veto draft resolution; Israeli PM says he hopes for US support, but will go into Rafah without itThe Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that hundreds of worshipers" were blocked" from reaching the al-Aqsa mosque compound by Israeli forces on Friday.According to Wafa: Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces significantly increased their military presence around checkpoints in Qalandia, north of Jerusalem, al-Zaytouna, east of Jerusalem, and Bethlehem to the south. The forces turned back hundreds of worshipers, citing a lack of necessary entry permits." Continue reading...

Far-right commentator posts The rumors are true - I am finally free' following clashes with site's co-founder Ben ShapiroThe far-right commentator Candace Owens left the rightwing Daily Wire website amid tensions over her alleged antisemitism and opposition to US funding of Israel's war in Gaza.Daily Wire and Candace Owens have ended their relationship," said Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of the site with the rightwing commentator Ben Shapiro, who has clashed with Owens and is a strong supporter of Israel and its actions. Continue reading...

Campaigner for Women Against State Pension Inequality says PM has power to bring legislation before parliamentRishi Sunak is lagging behind not just Keir Starmer but also Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson in net favourability in some latest polling from YouGov.Other highlights include Sadiq Khan having a large lead over Susan Hall in popularity ahead of London's mayoral contest in May, and Vaughan Gething and Humza Yousaf both still having work to do to overhaul the popularity of their predecessors. Continue reading...

Campaigners call for outdated structures' that undermine progress and encourage inequality to be dismantledCultural organisations and equality campaigners have called on high-profile figures in the arts to give up their membership of the all-male Garrick Club, saying it undermines attempts to reduce gender bias in the sector and actively encourages inequality.More than half a dozen groups said they were concerned at the revelation that several cultural leaders, including the chair of the English National Opera and the chief executive of the Royal Opera House, were part of the exclusive club. Continue reading...

Judge says Arvind Kejriwal can be held until next Thursday, as his party's leaders condemn accusations as politically motivatedAn Indian court has ruled that Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, will be kept in custody for six days after his dramatic arrest on corruption charges.Kejriwal, the top elected official for the Indian capital, was taken in by police on Thursday night as part of an investigation into an alleged scam involving kickbacks for alcohol licensing deals. Continue reading...

Five-month impasse in UN security council extends as Netanyahu insists Israel will press ahead with new offensive against Rafah

Figures reveal 413,541 spent on travel since the policy to send asylum seekers there was devised in 2022

Josep Borrell, high representative for foreign affairs, says all responsible will be held to account' after attacks on energy infrastructureAfter Russian strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine's grid is getting urgent assistance from Poland, Romania and Slovakia, national grid operator Ukrenergo said, Reuters reported.Russia regards itself to be in a state of war due to the West's intervention on Ukraine's side, the TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Chain considers opening more outlets as consumers dine in at low-cost pubs amid cost of living crisisJD Wetherspoon has revealed a near-eightfold uplift in pre-tax profits as price-conscious consumers flocked to drink and dine at its network of low-cost pubs.The chain reported on Friday that pre-tax profits in the six months to the end of January had risen to 36m from 4.6m a year earlier and said it expected a reasonable outcome" for the current financial year. Continue reading...

Hypnotherapist told the court she stabbed Ian, 72, after suffering years of physical and psychological torment

Robert Temple hacked into victims' social media accounts and downloaded naked photos to sell onlineA comedy hypnotist who overturned a ban on performing his stage show has been given an eight-month prison sentence for identity theft and stealing explicit images of women.Robert Temple admitted hacking into women's email and social media accounts, and stealing identity documents and naked photos, which he exchanged for cryptocurrency. Continue reading...

Washington fears loss of bases in Niger would risk the country following its neighbours and falling under Russian hegemonyUS policymakers are scrambling after the ruling military junta in Niger cancelled a mutual security pact that could lead to American forces being expelled, stirring fears of a loss of vital influence to Russia in west Africa.In a setback for Washington's counter-terrorism strategy against Jihadist groups in the region, Niger announced last weekend that it was revoking the pact, which had been in force since 2012. There are about 1,000 American military and civilian personnel in Niger. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Sculpture bought by US billionaires was made almost 20 years after date that appears in its nameA Damien Hirst shark preserved in formaldehyde that was purchased by American billionaires was dated to the 1990s even though it was not made until 2017.The 4-metre (13ft) tiger shark, dissected into three parts, is the centrepiece of a luxury bar in the Palms casino resort in Las Vegas. It first appeared in the casino six years ago, with the title: The Unknown (Explored, Explained, Exploded), 1999. Continue reading...

Campaigners say government is failing to match major step forward as EU prepares to introduce polluter pays' principleNew EU rules which introduce polluter pays" principles to get pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies to pay for the pollution they cause in rivers will not be adopted by the government in England, as campaigners say the country is falling behind.Lawmakers in Europe have signed off on an update to the urban waste water treatment (UWWT) directive, which is to further tighten restrictions on pollution. More nutrients from agricultural waste and sewage will have to be removed from waterways under the new rules. It also for the first time applies standards to micropollutants such as chemicals from pharmaceutical waste. Continue reading...

Kyiv says the country's largest dam and hydroelectric plant were hit as Moscow unleashed 88 missiles and 63 drones

Legislation is designed to protect music industry professionals against intellectual property being replicated without consentBill Lee, the governor of Tennessee, signed off on legislation on Thursday, designed to protect songwriters, performers and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.The move makes Tennessee, long known as the birthplace of country music and the launchpad for musical legends, the first state in the US to enact such measures. Supporters say the goal is to ensure that AI tools cannot replicate an artist's voice without their consent. The bill goes into effect on 1 July. Continue reading...

Last-minute decision on Tuesday's match leaves football bodies searching for alternative venueNorth Korea has abruptly cancelled its 2026 World Cup qualifying match with Japan next week, leaving organisers frantically searching for an alternative venue.North Korea reportedly decided it would no longer host the match, which had been scheduled for next Tuesday at the Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang, a day before the teams met in Tokyo on Thursday in the first of their two Asian qualifying Group B qualifiers. Continue reading...

West Yorkshire force work to establish facts and whether crime was committed by Tory party donorWest Yorkshire police are investigating alleged racist comments made by Conservative party donor Frank Hester at a meeting in 2019.The force said the investigation had been passed over from the Metropolitan police because the meeting took place in Horsforth, Leeds. Continue reading...

Proposal aims to stop Kremlin flooding bloc with cheap wheat to destabilise European marketThe EU is set to impose a tariff of up to 50% on Russia grain imports amid fears the Kremlin could flood the bloc with cheap wheat to destabilise the European market.The proposal, announced by the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, follows a plea on Thursday to EU leaders by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to do something about grain stolen" by the Russians from occupied territories. Continue reading...

Public accounts committee finds real-terms median pay has decreased for most Whitehall staff since 2013Morale in the civil service is being hit by chronic low pay, and Whitehall is increasingly unable to keep staff because salaries have declined in real terms for a decade, the public accounts committee has warned.The cross-party watchdog, chaired by the Labour MP Meg Hillier, said there were chronic pay issues" in Whitehall. Civil service pay at almost all levels has seen a long-term decline, with median pay decreasing in real terms for most staff since 2013", it said. Continue reading...

Sean Kirkpatrick is no longer head of the UFO hunting' office - but a new report he worked on has shaken the world of ufologySean Kirkpatrick doesn't seem too thrilled to be chatting with me about UFOs. Since taking over the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in 2022 - government-speak for UFO hunting - Kirkpatrick has received violent threats, social-media smear campaigns, and even had to call the FBI after a UFO fanatic tried to break into his home.I've had people threaten my wife and daughter, and try to break into our online accounts," Kirkpatrick says. I didn't have China and Russia trying to get on me as much as these people are." Continue reading...

Exclusive: new role created after Guardian uncovered allegations against company's security guardsA vast Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya that supplies most British supermarkets is advertising for a human rights manager to address its human rights challenges" in the wake of allegations of killings and violence by its security guards.The job advert says the candidate will need to develop a detailed action plan to address human rights challenges in the workplace and in surrounding communities". Continue reading...

Three nurses share how they have been affected as survey finds many in NHS in England turning to credit or savings

A majority of owners agree to deal, which will give them a share of the $30m building price and support from the NSW government

Leaders at summit agree text that says pause should lead to sustainable ceasefire'Meanwhile, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has met with Luis Montenegro, who has been nominated as Portugal's next prime minister.Both are members of the centre-right European People's party. Continue reading...

Events to be held this weekend celebrating Bingley Five Rise locks, which opened in 1774 and is still in useFor people who like their thrills gentle, safe and at never more than three miles an hour, Bingley Five Rise locks is quite a rollercoaster ride.The canal lock flight in West Yorkshire, the steepest in the UK and a true wonder of the nation's waterways, will this weekend celebrate its 250th birthday. Continue reading...

Christina Robinson, 30, admitted beating boy with a cane but denied causing fatal brain injuryA woman who subjected her three-year-old son to a campaign of sadistic cruelty" and punishment for petty wrongs has been found guilty of his murder.Christina Robinson, 30, had admitted beating her son with a cane for playing with his food, saying she was following the teachings of the Bible. Continue reading...

Shares hit record high as fashion and homeware chain says it feels like it is entering a new era'

Ex-US president planning to list Trump Media & Technology Group if merger with special purpose acquisition company goes aheadDonald Trump's wealth is set to increase by about $3.4bn (2.7bn) if a shareholder vote on Friday paves the way for the float of his Trump Media business.The former US president is preparing to list Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the Truth Social tech platform, via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, or Spac. Continue reading...

As the Labor government moves to ban rent bidding, tenants' advocates say more is needed to address the housing crisis

Richard Branson has already indicated he will back takeover that will require the agreement of the group's shareholders

Former Tory leadership contender says she would not join men-only club even if it changed rules

Law Reform Commission says schools shouldn't be allowed to discriminate against staff and students on basis of sexuality, gender identity or relationship status

David Crisafulli's stance means the multi-billion dollar Victoria Park plan recommended by Graham Quirk on Monday is dead

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The man has pleaded not guilty to exit trafficking' after taking his wife to Sudan in 2014

Sydney Afternoons' host told listeners he will need surgery to remove his entire oesophagus and is taking several months off

Young people are slowly stopping attending Dalston mosque that could be forced to accept developers' offers, says ownerNestled among the kebab shops, Caribbean takeaways and flashy new-build flats in Dalston, north-east London, sits the UK's first Turkish mosque. Like many things built by and for the deep-rooted communities in this heavily gentrified part of London, it is fighting for survival.Our bills have tripled, costs to maintain the building have soared and we are not collecting enough money," said Erkin Guney, 59, who runs and owns Masjid Ramadan, also known as the Shacklewell Lane mosque. He said the mosque could be forced to close its doors by next Ramadan. Continue reading...

Sitter for William Lindsay Windus's painting is rumoured to have stowed away on ship, possibly to escape slavery in USThe subject of the painting gazes at the viewer, alone and barefoot in loose and torn clothing. Known only as The Black Boy, his identity has been a mystery for nearly 200 years.A museum is appealing for information about the mysterious sitter, who is rumoured to have stowed away on a ship to Liverpool - possibly to escape slavery in America - after research about the artist, William Lindsay Windus, and X-rays of the painting revealed potential clues to the boy's identity. Continue reading...

Michele Bullock has made it clear that curbing inflation remains top priority, but the numbers point to a labour market that isn't easing as fast as predicted

Beijing dismisses chorus of concern from western governments over punitive new law as slanderChina has accused western governments and the United Nations of slander after they criticised Hong Kong's new national security law, which was rushed through the city's pro-Beijing parliament this week.The law, known as Article 23, covers newly defined acts of treason, espionage, theft of state secrets, sedition and foreign interference. Critics said it was ushering in a new era of authoritarianism", would further erode the rights and freedoms of residents, and would scare off international business and investment. Continue reading...

Shadow home ownership spokesman dismisses claims policy would inflate house prices as rubbish', and says opposition will consider how to coerce' development

Former senator Rex Patrick's bid to scrutinise documents relating to sports grants upheld by federal court after refusal by FoI watchdog

Survey shows supporters of nationalist parties hold widely differing views on EU membership, migration and support for UkrainePopulist and nationalist parties fighting the European elections in June are deeply divided on almost all key issues, according to a survey, in a finding that questions their chances of defining the bloc's agenda even in the event of a predicted far-right surge.However, the report, by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), also said pro-EU parties risked mobilising the Eurosceptic vote if they continued to ape hard-right policies rather than coming up with persuasive alternatives. Continue reading...

Opinion from David Pannick KC was sought by members who are in favour of women being admittedA senior lawyer has issued a legal opinion saying that the current rules at the men-only Garrick Club do not in fact bar women from being members.David Pannick KC, who led the successful Brexit article 50 case against the government and has also represented Boris Johnson, was commissioned by Garrick members who are in favour of women being allowed membership of the London gentlemen's club. Continue reading...

Prime ministers to examine plans to confiscate billions of euros in interest from frozen Russian assets and send the money to KyivEU leaders are to meet in Brussels to discuss ways to radically increase military and financial support for Ukraine amid calls for member states to put their economies on a war footing".Fuelled by what one diplomat said was a new sense of urgency and immediacy" over the war in Ukraine, rhetoric on Moscow has notably hardened in the past few days. Continue reading...

Victoria's police commissioner said the dogs would be deployed at Buninyong as they had not yet found missing woman's phone or watch

Improving schools is first challenge for new first minister, Vaughan Gething, as IFS study shows lower attainment is not due to povertyWales's new first minister, Vaughan Gething, faces a major challenge in improving the country's schools, after the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that pupils in Wales were performing only as well as disadvantaged children in England.The IFS study follows Wales's weak performance in the OECD's most recent Programme for international student assessment (Pisa) standings, in which results in Wales declined by more than in other UK nations and were well below the average across OECD countries. Continue reading...

Home affairs refuses access to FOI request for operational advice' regarding case that overturned legality of indefinite detention

Jian Wen became involved in a criminal racket converting cryptocurrency into assets including property and jewelleryA former takeaway worker found with bitcoin wallets worth more than 2bn, believed to be the largest ever seizure of its kind, has been convicted of a crime linked to money laundering.Jian Wen, 42, lived above a Chinese restaurant in Leeds when she became involved in a criminal racket converting the cryptocurrency into assets including multimillion-pound houses and thousands of pounds' worth of jewellery. Continue reading...