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Train maker Alstom plans fast service skirting Birmingham as Ryan Reynolds' football club takeover reaps in ever more benefitsDirect trains could next year connect Wrexham to London, with a new service capitalising on the town's Hollywood-meets-football mini-boom.The train manufacturer Alstom is bidding to set up the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway with a promise of cheaper, more comfortable trains straight to London. Continue reading...

Charity says findings from schools in England show need for early intervention and fewer exclusionsChildren who are suspended from school in England even for short periods see their GCSE results suffer, according to research that highlights the need for early interventions to reduce suspensions.Pupils who had been suspended were found to be lagging a year behind their peers and on average were unable to achieve a standard pass in GCSE maths and English. Continue reading...

Project finds police recorded 93 suspected domestic abuse-related suicides in a year - one every four daysCampaigners for women's rights in the UK are calling for more mental health support for domestic abuse victims after police recorded 93 suspected abuse-related suicides in a year.A report found 242 domestic abuse-related deaths were recorded between April 2022 and March 2023, of which 93 were suspected suicides, 80 were intimate partner homicides, 31 were adult family homicides, 23 were unexpected deaths, 11 were child deaths, and four others were deaths involving individuals living together who were not family members or intimate partners. Continue reading...

Where Spanish-flagged vessel Open Arms will dock, and how supplies will be distributed, is still unclearA ship carrying aid is nearing Gaza about 48 hours after it left Cyprus, with further aid preparations being made aboard a second much bigger" vessel. It came as the EU foreign policy chief said starvation was being used as a weapon of war.After the 240-mile voyage, the ship will dock at a jetty being built by the World Central Kitchen (WCK), the organisation that will distribute the aid.Guardian Newsroom: The unfolding crisis in the Middle East On Wednesday 20 March, 7-8.15pm GMT, join Devika Bhat, Peter Beaumont and Ghaith Abdul-Ahad as they discuss the fast developing crisis in the Middle East. Book tickets here or at theguardian.live Continue reading...

Starmer will set out new strategy for culture after analysis found 40% of recent British awards nominees were privately educatedKeir Starmer will pledge to make the arts more accessible to young people from all backgrounds in a speech stressing the economic contribution of the creative industries - and arguing it could be even greater with improved access.Speaking in London, days after a Labour analysis showed that almost half of all British cultural stars nominated for leading awards in the last decade were educated at private school, Starmer will set out an access to the arts" plan.Guardian Newsroom: What is Labour's plan? On Tuesday 16 April, 8pm-9.15pm BST, join Gaby Hinsliff, Tom Baldwin, Polly Toynbee and Kiran Stacey as they discuss the ideas and the events that might shape Labour in power. Book tickets here or at theguardian.live Continue reading...

MP says abusive words of Tory donor Frank Hester did not surprise her and that Tories have run out of options

IDF fired two rounds at clearly identifiable journalists' in Lebanon last year when there was no exchange of fire in areaAn Israeli tank that killed a Reuters journalist and wounded six others in Lebanon last year fired two 120mm rounds at a group of clearly identifiable journalists" in violation of international law, a UN investigation has found.The investigation by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), summarized in a report seen by Reuters, said its personnel did not record any exchange of fire across the border between Israel and Lebanon for more than 40 minutes before the tank opened fire, killing Issam Abdallah, a 37-year-old video journalist. Continue reading...

Plan for transitional council to rule after prime minister's resignation brings strong sense of deja vuScenes of unrest in Haiti, as Ariel Henry announced his resignation as prime minister amid a violent gang uprising, have brought a strong sense of deja vu.An international proposal for a transitional council to rule the country appeared to be crumbling on Wednesday. But those jostling for influence are familiar figures associated with political parties, coalitions, and the tiny oligarchic business elite that have been key players in the country's long-running crisis of political legitimacy. Continue reading...

Christina Robinson tells court she punished her son hours before he died, saying she was following the teachings of the BibleA mother who denies murdering her three-year-old son has admitted hitting him with a garden cane hours before he collapsed and died, saying she was following the teachings of the Bible.Christina Robinson, who is a follower of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, had been watching a YouTube video which quoted scripture promoting the rod for correction. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Allegations of bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation' being examined, official figures showThe Ministry of Defence is facing fresh claims of harbouring a toxic culture as figures reveal that nearly 100 allegations by civil servants of bullying and harassment are being investigated. Eleven claims were made in the first month of 2024 alone.According to official government figures, 99 open cases of bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation" are currently being examined by ministry officials led by the defence secretary, Grant Shapps. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Granddaughter say she feels physically sick' after being given news by policeA bereaved woman has said she feels physically sick" after learning that her grandmother's body is believed to have been found along with the remains of 34 other people at a Hull funeral home at the centre of a police investigation.The woman said her grandmother was supposed to have been cremated three months ago but she had been told by police last week that what were suspected to be her remains had been recovered along with a name tag at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull. Continue reading...

Victoire Ingabire, who was pardoned for terrorism and genocide denial offences, denounces court's clearly politicised' rulingA Rwandan court has found the opposition leader and dissident Victoire Ingabire ineligible to run in the July presidential election because of previous convictions for terrorism and genocide denial.A fierce critic of Rwanda's long-ruling president, Paul Kagame, Ingabire spent eight years in prison before receiving a presidential pardon in 2018 that cut short her 15-year sentence. Continue reading...

Father calls on judge to block medically assisted death in case that highlights limits on family members' ability to interveneA Canadian man has called on a judge to block his 27-year-old daughter's medically assisted death, arguing she lacks the ability to fully consent to the procedure in a case that highlights the limits on family members' ability to intervene when a person has decided to die.The Alberta woman - known as MV due to a publication ban - was set to die on 1 February after receiving approval from two doctors. But her father, WV, successfully applied for an injunction, arguing that she has an undiagnosed mental illness that prevents her from fully consenting to the procedure. Continue reading...

Middlesbrough MP was placed on precautionary suspension in October over speech at pro-Palestinian rally

Unprecedented bill aimed to be passed in summer will exonerate hundreds of post office operators in England and WalesMinisters have introduced legislation to quash the convictions of hundreds of post office operators who were prosecuted during the Horizon scandal in a move described as an exceptional response to a factually exceptional situation".The government introduced a bill in parliament on Wednesday afternoon that will exonerate victims of the scandal in England and Wales. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Charities concerned at profits being made from government contracts to help victims

Richard Basson, accused of murdering Carrie Slater, said he had been defending himself in an argument, court hearsA man accused of shooting his girlfriend in the head told police she walked into a pool cue he had been brandishing at her to defend himself during an argument over half a cigarette.Richard Basson, 45, is accused of killing Carrie Slater, 37, who was taken to hospital on 21 September last year and died from a brain injury two days later. Continue reading...

Hester, who made comments widely condemned as racist, has seen his firm TPP paid over 400m by NHS and other state bodies since 2016The Conservative party's largest donor, Frank Hester, is facing calls from within the NHS to cut ties with his company after the Guardian revealed comments he made about Diane Abbott that have been widely condemned as racist.At a meeting in 2019, Hester said seeing Abbott on TV made him want to hate all black women" and that she should be shot". Hester has apologised for the remarks but denied they were motivated by race or gender. Continue reading...

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova says war could expand geographically. This live blog is closedLeonid Volkov told Reuters hours before an assailant attacked him with a hammer and tear gas outside his home in Lithuania that he and other exiles feared for their lives.Volkov, the top aide to Alexei Navalny, said leaders of the late Russian opposition leader's organisation knew they were facing high individual risks" in an interview filmed on Tuesday hours before an unidentified attacker assaulted him outside his home. Continue reading...

Latest annual accounts show supermarket paying price for debts taken on during 2021 takeover

CMA says government may have to step in to protect leaseholders, as thousands in England and Wales remain trapped in contractsBritain's competition watchdog has said ground rent is neither legally nor commercially necessary" and that government may need to step in to protect consumers from soaring costs.The housing secretary, Michael Gove, is considering capping all existing ground rents - possibly reducing them to a nominal peppercorn" level, effectively zero - and launched a consultation in early December. Continue reading...

Lai's supporters say evidence of Andy Li should not be relied upon as it was obtained through tortureA key prosecution witness in the trial of Jimmy Lai took the stand in a Hong Kong court on Wednesday, giving evidence that the UN's special rapporteur has said could be tainted because of allegations of torture.Andy Li, a computer programmer turned pro-democracy activist, gave evidence about his role in a crowdfunding campaign, Stand With Hong Kong, to rally support for the pro-democracy protests in 2019. The campaign, which ultimately raised more than $1.8m (1.4m), placed advertisements in several newspapers including the Guardian, the Washington Post and the Australian. Continue reading...

Lender nearly triples size of cost-cutting plan to 80m after autumn rescue deal

West Midlands mayor says he would return money, after No 10 says Hester's comments about Diane Abbott were racist

Rock star left Spotify in 2022 in protest over podcaster Joe Rogan, but says he can't keep up fight as Rogan broadens distribution to Apple, YouTube and AmazonNeil Young is to return his music to Spotify after keeping it off the streaming platform for more than two years.Young removed his entire catalogue from the world's biggest streaming company in January 2022, in protest against Joe Rogan whose chart-topping podcast was exclusive to Spotify. Continue reading...

Commission chief says organisation has actively condemned antisemitism as well as Islamophobia linked to Israel-Gaza war

This blog is now closed.

Coalition cites growing estimated costs, while minister cannot say how much the project will slug taxpayers

Sunshine Coast man charged with offences including rape, stalking and making child exploitation material

Former cycling champion Rohan Dennis charged with recklessly striking his wife with his car in Adelaide's inner north on 30 December

Employee of metal plant in Fukuyama spotted a trail of yellowy-brown paw prints leading away from a container of hexavalent chromiumIt could be the opening scene from a new Marvel film. Residents of a Japanese city have been warned not to approach or touch a missing cat that appears to have fallen into a vat of toxic chemicals before scampering off.The search for the unlucky feline began after an employee of a metal plating plant in Fukuyama, western Japan, arrived at work to find a trail of yellowy-brown paw prints leading away from a container of hexavalent chromium, a highly acidic carcinogen. Continue reading...

An Australian shepherd named Viking won best in show at Crufts, and the extremely smart' breed is increasingly popular for its temperament and beautyOn a property out of Tamworth in country New South Wales, the uncle of the Australian shepherd Viking - winner of the most prestigious title at the 2024 Crufts dog competition in the UK - is a champion in his own right.Bradley, who was born in Russia to the same litter as Viking's mother, is nine years old and a semi-retired multi-champion of dog shows overseas and in Australia. Continue reading...

Agency says bad intelligence led to the wrongful arrest of Nahi Al Sharify at his Sydney home in February, leaving him traumatised and distraught

Child suffered fatal gunshot wound after riots broke out at Shuafat refugee camp during RamadanA Palestinian boy has died after being shot by Israeli border police at a refugee camp in East Jerusalem in the first such fatality in the Israeli-annexed territory during Ramadan.The child - who was variously reported as being 12 or 13 years old - suffered a fatal gunshot wound during clashes between residents of the Shuafat refugee camp and police. Continue reading...

Detectives yet to uncover motive for shooting of Kelvin Tennant, who was riding his motorised bicycle along the Myrtleford-Everton Rail Trail

Legislation will overturn convictions of theft, fraud and false accounting during Horizon scandalMinisters will publish legislation to quash the convictions of hundreds of post office operators who were prosecuted during the Horizon scandal, marking a significant victory for victims after decades of campaigning.The legislation on Wednesday will automatically overturn convictions of theft, fraud and false accounting that were handed down in connection with Post Office business during that period. It will cover prosecutions brought by the Post Office and the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales between 1996 and 2018. Continue reading...

Don Farrell, Anika Wells, David Littleproud and Anne Ruston attended the race in 2022 while in the city for other official events

Clerics say Michael Gove's anti-extremism strategy risks targeting Muslims and may threaten freedom of speech and peaceful protestThe archbishops of Canterbury and York have joined the growing list of critics of the government's new extremism definition, which they have warned risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities" and driving us apart".Michael Gove will present his new counter-extremism strategy on Thursday, which he says will target organisations that undermine British democracy. Continue reading...

Spending on Taylor Swift concerts defies pattern of consumers tightening their belts, with CBA predicting a September rate cut

Film-maker is accused of rape, sexual battery and intentional affliction of severe emotional distress for alleged incidentFilm-maker Roman Polanski will face a civil trial in Los Angeles in 2025 for allegedly raping a teenager in 1973.Attorney Gloria Allred, who has represented the victims of Jeffery Epstein and Bill Cosby, confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that a judge has set Polanski's trial for August 2025. Continue reading...

Statement from Downing Street follows cross-party criticism of Frank Hester's remarks about former Labour MPDowning Street has described remarks made about Diane Abbott by the Conservatives' biggest donor as racist and wrong" after senior politicians from across the political spectrum piled pressure on Rishi Sunak to intervene.No 10 and Conservative ministers initially stopped short of making that criticism of Frank Hester's remarks, after the Guardian reported on Monday that the businessman said in a 2019 meeting that looking at Abbott made you want to hate all black women" and said the MP should be shot". Continue reading...

Confirmation comes after public consultation and decision to close Gender Identity Development Service in LondonChildren who have gender dysphoria will no longer be given puberty blockers, NHS England has said, ahead of a radical change in how it cares for them.There is not enough evidence about either how safe they are to take or whether they are clinically effective to justify prescribing them to children and young people who are transitioning, it added. Continue reading...

Security Risk Assessment Tool - or SRAT - and similar algorithmic tools condemned as abusive' and unscientific'The lives of detainees in Australia's immigration detention centres are controlled by a secret rating system that is opaque and often riddled with errors, a Guardian investigation has found.Developed by Serco, the company tasked with running Australia's immigration detention network, the Security Risk Assessment Tool - or SRAT - is meant to determine whether someone is low, medium, high or extreme risk for factors such as escape or violence. Continue reading...

Hasan', 24, argued he would face persecution in Israel on grounds of his race, faith and its apartheid regime'A Palestinian citizen of Israel has been granted asylum in the UK after claiming he would face persecution in his home country on the grounds of his race, his Muslim faith and his opinion that Israel is governed by an apartheid regime".Hasan", whose real identity is not being disclosed for his own protection, has attended pro-Palestinian protests in the UK, and his lawyers also argued that his activism would place him at increased risk of hostile attention on his return. Continue reading...

In speech as president of Women of the World festival, queen shows audience objects thrown at palace windows in 1914 protestTwo stones thrown at Buckingham Palace windows during a suffragette protest more than a century ago and saved for posterity represented hope to the women who threw them", Queen Camilla has told equality campaigners.While some of the suffragette's more destructive tactics could not be condoned today, Camilla said there was sermon in the stones" that had cracked two window panes but were kept by the royal family. Continue reading...

Director of The Zone of Interest, winner of best international film, has received both criticism and support for his Academy Awards acceptance speech

Monument has long been a source of tension between Canada's Ukrainian diaspora and Jewish and Polish communitiesA controversial memorial to Ukrainian soldiers who served in a Nazi unit during the second world war has been removed from a Canadian cemetery following years of protests by community groups who described the shrine as painful" and offensive.The cenotaph, which had stood in the privately owned St Volodymyr Ukrainian cemetery in Oakville, Ontario, was removed on Saturday. Continue reading...

Programme that follows the lives of 14 children at seven-year intervals tops Broadcasting Press Guild's 50th anniversary chartThe groundbreaking Up documentary series has been voted the programme that changed television the most over the past 50 years in a poll of the country's leading TV writers.The series, which follows a group of children from different social backgrounds and documents their progress every seven years, topped a list of the the most influential shows from the last five decades compiled by the Broadcasting Press Guild (BPG). Continue reading...

All parties continuing to work in negotiations', says Qatar; US president says he has heavy heart after learning of death of Itay ChenA spokesperson for Yemen's internationally recognised government told Reuters earlier that airstrikes that hit port cities and small towns in western Yemen were carried out by the UK and the US.The UK's Ministry of Defence has said that earlier reports that Britain was involved in carrying out the airstrikes were incorrect. Continue reading...

Stretton State College shares photo of students with nappies and dolls among images of events to celebrate the day