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Policy change stipulates no patchy or uneven growth' and allows length of up to 25.5mmAfter more than a century of having their clean-shaven chins inspected, soldiers and officers in the British army will be allowed to grow beards.The change in policy is not a chance for a hirsute free-for-all, however, as facial hair will be strictly monitored for length and grooming. Continue reading...

Strike near Aleppo weapons depot reportedly killed Hezbollah and Syrian troops, while civilians also said to be among dead

Spain is hit by strong winds and rain from Storm Nelson and four drown on storm-battered coastsEaster processions in southern Spain have been cancelled after heavy rain from Storm Nelson, as the country was hit by strong winds and four people drowned on its storm-battered coasts.All of the big processions in Seville on Holy Thursday were cancelled because of the rainstorms that were otherwise welcome in a region that has been experiencing a severe drought. Continue reading...

Outcome hangs in the balance partly because new system requires voter ID, he warns shadow cabinetSadiq Khan told the Labour shadow cabinet this week that his re-election as London mayor hangs in the balance" despite polls showing he is about 25 points ahead of his Conservative rival, Susan Hall.The London mayor told Keir Starmer's team that he was under no illusions" he could lose against Hall in spite of his commanding lead, partly because the voting system has changed and new rules to require voter ID. Continue reading...

Rakeem Thomas remanded in custody after incident near Beckenham that left victim in critical conditionA teenager has been charged with attempted murder after a stabbing on a train in south London.British Transport Police said they received reports of two men fighting between Beckenham and Shortlands railway stations shortly before 4pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Brazil's president has nixed commemorations of the 1964 coup, possibly to avoid irking the military as senior officers facing jail for allegedly conspiring to stop Lula taking power after 2022 electionRelatives of the victims of Brazil's brutal two-decade dictatorship have voiced anger and dismay over President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's reported decision to block official remembrance events marking the 60th anniversary of the 1964 military coup d'etat.Activists had hoped the leftist's government would mark the 31 March 2024 anniversary of that power-grab with a series of memorials honouring the thousands who were killed, disappeared or tortured by the 1964-85 regime. Continue reading...

Actor speaks for first time about how 10-year-old's death in 2000 spurred him and others to aim further'The actor John Boyega has spoken for the first time of the life-changing" impact of his friendship with Damilola Taylor and the way his sudden death spurred him and others to aim further".Boyega, 32, best known for his work in the Star Wars franchise, was school friends with Damilola growing up in south-east London. Damilola was 10 when he was stabbed in the leg with a broken bottle walking home from a computer class in Peckham in November 2000. Continue reading...

Lee Jong-sup is being investigated over allegations he tried to improperly influence an inquiry into death of marine while he was defence ministerSouth Korea's ambassador to Australia resigned on Friday as questions about his appointment while he is under a corruption investigation battered President Yoon Suk Yeol's ruling party less than two weeks from a closely fought parliamentary election.Lee Jong-sup, who was appointed ambassador to Australia just four weeks ago, is being investigated over allegations he tried to improperly influence a probe into the death of a marine last year while he was defence minister. Continue reading...

Traditional affinity between Conservatives and the newspaper has given way to a complex, splintered drama, and the attempted acquisition by Gulf-backed RedBird IMI lies in limboWith the Conservative party trailing Labour by nearly 20 points in the polls, it needs all the help it can get if it is going to have a fighting chance at the next election.So Downing Street strategists privately wonder why the Daily Telegraph - arguably the UK's most staunchly rightwing paper - is not being more supportive of Rishi Sunak in its coverage. Continue reading...

Women say being fitted with IUDs without their consent left them with pain, shame and lasting reproductive difficulties

Exclusive: Territory's government calls for visit to listen to those thought to be living with consequences of forced fitting of IUDs

Co-owner of investment management firm called for urgent' post-Brexit changes to City rules at committee meetingsA senior Tory MP is facing questions over whether he used his Commons Treasury committee role to lobby for post-Brexit changes to City rules, which stand to benefit the industry where he has a second job.John Baron, who in addition to his role as an MP is co-owner and chief investment officer of Baron and Grant Investment Management, used at least three meetings of the influential committee to request urgent" changes to rules covering investment trusts, which his firm specialises in managing. Continue reading...

Photos of French president's three-day trip to Brazil to reaffirm countries' partnership delight internet observersIf the official photos are anything to go by, Emmanuel Macron's three-day trip to Brazil has been more romantic getaway than international diplomacy.The French president, who ended his tour of the South American country on Thursday with a state visit to the capital, Brasilia, prompted online hilarity after the publication of photos showing him being particularly chummy with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Continue reading...

Tyrrell worked as Lambie's office manager for years before being elected to the upper house in 2022Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie has wished Tammy Tyrrell well after she announced her decision to quit the Tasmanian's network and go it alone on the crossbench.In a statement released on Thursday evening, the senator revealed she had resigned from the Jacqui Lambie Network and would remain in the upper.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Rights groups say Antonina Favorskaya is accused of links to Alexei Navalny's extremist organisation' and is one of six journalists held this monthA journalist who filmed the last video of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny before he died, Antonina Favorskaya, has been detained by authorities.Favorskaya covered the trials of Navalny for several years and media freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders said on Thursday she was one of six journalists across the country held this month. Continue reading...

Victoria police launch investigation after Indigenous star posts CCTV footage on Instagram and states Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely'

Victoria police say victim of Glenroy shooting was known to them and had a criminal record

Calm outlook for Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney follows extreme bouts of dry and warm weather across south and west of country

Only survivor after vehicle falls 50 metres and catches fire is eight-year-old who was taken to hospital with serious injuriesAn eight-year-old child was the sole survivor after a bus carrying 46 people fell 50 metres from a bridge in South Africa into a ravine and caught fire.The child, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, the transport ministry said in a statement late on Thursday. Continue reading...

Activists say plan to remove 200 felines near Old San Juan fortress within six months is not enough time and worry cats will be killedA non-profit organization said Thursday that it sued the US National Park Service over a plan to remove Puerto Rico's famous stray cats from a historic district in the US territory.The lawsuit filed by Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies comes four months after the federal agency announced it would contract an animal welfare organization to remove an estimated 200 cats that live in an area surrounding a historic seaside fortress in Old San Juan. Continue reading...

Former PM, who took on five extra ministries in secret, tells Olympian Sam Fricker that listeners might say Oh, I didn't think you were that humble'

Judges issue unanimous decision and say Palestinians are in urgent need of humanitarian assistanceThe international court of justice has ordered Israel to allow unimpeded access of food aid into Gaza, where sections of the population are facing imminent starvation, in a significant legal rebuke to Israel's claim it is not blocking aid deliveries.A panel of judges at the UN's top court, which is already considering a complaint from South Africa that Israel is committing genocide in the Palestinian territory, issued the ruling after an emergency measure in January obliging Israel to admit emergency aid. Continue reading...

Company says TGA regulations prevented it from responding to incorrect claims about its vaccine in 2021

Ukraine's foreign minister calls veto guilty plea' amid claims Pyongyang is aiding Moscow's war against KyivRussia has blocked the renewal of a UN panel monitoring sanctions against North Korea, weeks after the body said it was investigating reports of arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang.The move was met with a flurry of criticism, including by Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who took to social media to call the veto a guilty plea" amid allegations that Pyongyang is aiding Moscow in its war against Kyiv. Continue reading...

Calls for fair legal process for opposition figure Arvind Kejriwal amid claims rivals to Modi are being targeted before electionsArvind Kejriwal: the Delhi chief minister jailed by Modi's governmentThe chief minister of Delhi has been remanded in custody for a further four days amid international criticism of his arrest on corruption charges last week.A Delhi court ruled on Thursday that a powerful central government agency could keep Arvind Kejriwal in jail until 1 April as part of a corruption investigation his party decried as a political conspiracy" before national elections beginning next month. Continue reading...

High court strikes out part but not all of Bridgen's case and orders him to pay Tory MP's costsThe MP Andrew Bridgen has been ordered to pay Matt Hancock more than 40,000 in legal fees after an early stage of their libel battle.The MP for North West Leicestershire is bringing a libel claim against the former health secretary regarding a January 2023 message on X that followed Bridgen posting a comment about Covid-19 vaccines. Continue reading...

Dan Dafydd, who accidentally ordered 80 cases of eggs, aims to raise 20,000 for the RNLI by Easter SundayFor a small shop owner on a small island as far as mistakes go, Dan Dafydd's was a pretty big one leaving him with quite a dilemma: how do you get rid of 80 cases of Easter eggs when you meant to order only 80 eggs?For Dafydd, the owner of Sinclair General Stores on Sanday, one of the Orkney islands (population approximately 500), the 720 eggs were enough to feed everyone almost twice over. A few too many even for those with a sweet tooth. Continue reading...

A group of men at the club who hope the male-only rule will change have nominated a set of possible new membersSeven women with leading positions in the British establishment have been nominated as prospective female members of the Garrick in the event that the club agrees to change its rules so that women are able to join.The classicist Mary Beard, the former home secretary Amber Rudd, Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman and the new Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika are among the first names to have been put forward to the club as possible future members. Continue reading...

Mohamed Mansour, a Conservative senior treasurer, is one of several surprise recipients of honoursA businessman and former Egyptian government minister who donated 5m to the Conservative party last year has unexpectedly been given a knighthood on the recommendation of Rishi Sunak.Mohamed Mansour, a senior treasurer of the Conservative party for just over a year, was one of several surprise recipients of honours on Thursday, with the citation saying it was given for business, charity and political service. Continue reading...

Former PM's meeting with President Maduro, in capacity as hedge fund consultant, is under further scrutinyLabour is demanding answers over what the party said was potentially serious impropriety" by Boris Johnson after it emerged that the former prime minister met the Venezuelan president in his role as a consultant for a hedge fund.Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said in a letter to Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister and Cabinet Office minister, that there were concerns that Johnson may have breached the ministerial code. Continue reading...

Union says cuts will make the creative powerhouse unrecognisable and risk unprecedented industrial unrestStaff at Goldsmiths, University of London have voted to strike over plans for an almost incomprehensible" number of redundancies, a trade union has announced.More than 87% of University and College Union (UCU) members at the south London institution voted for strike action in a ballot with a turnout of 69%, as well as backing action short of a strike, such as a boycott on marking papers and submissions. Continue reading...

Dozens of lawyers and an MP sign letter attacking club as a symbol of exclusivity, a bastion of power maintained by the privileged few'Protesters demanding women be admitted to the men-only Garrick Club have delivered an open letter to its members saying discrimination on the grounds of sex is nothing short of scandalous".The move came after the Bar Council said exclusive members' clubs created the potential for unfair advantage", with the Garrick's membership list showing it to be favoured by many senior members of the legal profession. Continue reading...

Mayoral races may be important indicator of Starmer's political momentum as party seeks to turn 20-point national lead into resultsIf a telltale sign of a politician's confidence is how willingly they expose themselves to direct media scrutiny, then the likely narrative of May's local elections was on full view on Thursday in Dudley.While Rishi Sunak had followed his Conservative launch speech last Friday with the strictly controlled and limited format of a brief TV clip, Keir Starmer answered journalists' questions for about 40 minutes, covering everything from council spending to Angela Rayner's tax affairs. Continue reading...

After regulator resists 40% increase in bills, shareholders deny request for more money - raising prospect of nationalisation Who will win in standoff between Thames's investors and watchdog?Thames Water appears to be on the road to nationalisation after its investors signalled they were unwilling to pump more money into the debt-laden utilities company, amid a standoff with the regulator and the government over raising customers' bills.Britain's biggest water supplier said on Thursday its shareholders had refused to provide 500m of emergency funding due this week to secure the company's short-term cashflow. Continue reading...

Record year for unique monikers in Scotland in 2023, official statistics revealNewborn babies were named Alloy, Banksy, Daemon and Jihad in a record year for unique names in Scotland.National Records of Scotland (NRS) said there were a record 2,362 names given to only one boy and 2,983 to just one girl in 2023. Continue reading...

US describe Russian's allegation that Ukraine was involved in attack as nonsense' and says it passed warning to Russian security servicesThe Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has restricted access to 11 channels in the Telegram messaging app with terrorist content" over the past two days, reports Reuters citing an article by the state-owned news agency RIA Novosti on Thursday.Poland's prime minister on Thursday hosted his Ukrainian counterpart for long-awaited talks designed to ease friction over Ukrainian farm imports and border blockades by disgruntled Polish farmers, reports news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). Continue reading...

Draft law, which also affects redheads, blond people, and those with dreadlocks now goes to senateFrance's lower house of parliament has backed a bill banning discrimination based on hairstyle, colour or texture, in a historic" move supporters say will help penalise workplace discrimination.Olivier Serva, an independent deputy for the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe who sponsored the bill, has argued that there is a lot of suffering based on hair discrimination, and that women of African descent in France were often encouraged to change their hairstyle before job interviews. Continue reading...

After overseeing a transformation of the National Portrait Gallery he will need to draw on that experience in his new role

Concerns that some groups who are more at risk from virus face hefty price tag, as Boots set to charge almost 100 a shotExperts and patient groups have warned that the high cost of private Covid vaccinations could exacerbate health inequalities and leave those more at risk from the virus without a vital line of defence.Both high street chain Boots and pharmacies that partner with the company Pharmadoctor are now offering Covid jabs to those not eligible for a free vaccination through the NHS, with the former charging almost 100 for the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. Continue reading...

Israeli forces also blockading al-Amal hospital amid mounting concern for the safety of patients, civilians and medical staffHeavy fighting took place around two key hospitals in Gaza on Thursday, while a third was reportedly under Israeli siege, amid mounting international concern for the safety of patients, civilians and remaining medical staff in the facilities.The most intense fighting once again appeared to be focused on the al-Shifa complex, Gaza City's main hospital before the war, where the Israeli army said it continued to operate around the site after storming it more than a week ago. Continue reading...

District education authorities launch multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Meta, Snap Inc and ByteDanceFour of Canada's largest school boards have launched a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against the social media companies Meta, Snap Inc and ByteDance, accusing them of acting in a high-handed, reckless, malicious, and reprehensible manner" with products the boards claim harm student learning and rewire" how children think.The four district boards - Ottawa-Carleton, Toronto, Peel and Toronto Catholic - filed four separate statements of claim in Ontario's superior court of justice on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Investigation reveals reports of miscarriages, infections and birth defects among women and girls in mining communitiesWomen and girls living in cobalt-mining communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are reporting a staggering" rise in serious reproductive health issues, including miscarriages and birth defects, according to a new report.An investigation published by the UK-based human rights group Rights & Accountability in Development (Raid) and the Kinshasa-based NGO Afrewatch said that women and girls living around cobalt mines reported experiencing irregular menstruations, urogenital infections, vaginal mycoses and warts. Continue reading...

Man in his 40s detained on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, Essex police sayA man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the death of the Gogglebox star George Gilbey, who died after a fall at work, Essex police said.The 40-year-old reality star was best known for appearing on the Channel 4 series alongside his mother, Linda McGarry, and stepfather Pete McGarry, who died aged 71 in 2021. Continue reading...

Israeli PM had cancelled officials' US visit to discuss planned offensive in southern Gaza after the US refused to veto a UN security council vote on a ceasefire

The London classical music venue announces plan against a background of arts funding cuts and in an uncertain public environment for classical music'London classical music venue Wigmore Hall has announced a 10m fund with the aim to be self-sustaining without need for public funds. It is believed to be the first major concert hall to take such a step in what a statement described as an uncertain public environment for classical music in the UK".The venue has an annual grant of 344,206 from Arts Council England (ACE) but John Gilhooly, Wigmore Hall's artistic and executive director, says that it is already 97% self-funded". He added that 7m had already been pledged for the new fund, called the Director's Fund, and that the venue hoped to raise 10m by 2027, and 20m within a decade. Continue reading...

Greens immigration spokesperson says bill expands ministerial power to reverse protection findings and deport people previously granted asylum

Researchers find self-regulation by companies like Meta or TikTok doesn't work'

Line closures and strikes coinciding with school holidays and turbulent weather are expected to hit travel plansA long Good Friday looms for many drivers and rail passengers who are heading off for a UK getaway, as the Easter weekend collides with the start of school holidays, engineering works and turbulent weather.With more than 14 million leisure trips planned by drivers over the coming days, motorists have been warned to expect delays on many routes. Additional cars could be forced on to the roads because of major railway line closures, with strikes hampering possible return train journeys next week. Continue reading...

Victim in critical condition after incident between Beckenham Junction and Shortlands stations, say policeA 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed on a train in south London, British Transport Police have said.A manhunt had been under way after the victim was left with life-threatening injuries after the attack between Beckenham Junction and Shortlands railway stations on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Senior medical directors warn PAs are not substitutes' for doctors amid fears patients misunderstand their level of qualificationPhysician associates (PAs) are not substitutes" for GPs and must be supervised, NHS England has said.A new letter to all GP surgeries, primary care network clinical directors, integrated care board chief executives and NHS England regional directors said PAs are specifically trained to work collaboratively with doctors and others" and all work undertaken by PAs must be supervised and debriefed with their supervising GP". Continue reading...