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Suffolk-based schools trust also found that pupil absences for illness fell 25% after extending autumn holidayWhen Unity Schools Partnership decided to double the length of its half-term break last autumn, it was hoping to improve attendance and staff wellbeing. But Tim Coulson, the trust's chief executive, said he was blown away" by the positive results.The Suffolk-based trust found that pupil absences for illness fell 25% and staff absences fell by 50% after it extended the autumn half-term holiday by a week at 31 of its primary and secondary schools. Continue reading...

Email containing private information of about 30 year 11 students was case of unfortunate human error', P&C chair of Sydney Secondary College says

Mining billionaire says cost of nuclear will be four to five times that of renewables and opposition's policy is an excuse for doing nothing'

Ex-premier's barrister says notion that having an attachment is itself a standing potential for impropriety can only be regarded as a black view'

Taiwan ambassador says ties remain rock solid' amid rumours island nation could switch allegiance to BeijingLawmakers in Tuvalu have selected Feleti Teo as the Pacific island nation's new prime minister, weeks after an election that put ties with Taiwan in focus.Former attorney general Teo secured the support of lawmakers who were elected last month, government secretary Tufoua Panapa told Agence France-Presse on Monday. Continue reading...

The Foreign Office view is the ex-PM's return has been a shot in the arm for UK diplomacy, despite an awkward juggling act over ChinaWith the Conservative party lagging 20 points behind in the polls, enduring crushing byelection defeats and weekly controversies, it's a difficult time to be a government minister.One figure who appears to glide effortlessly above the mire though is David Cameron, who was unexpectedly brought back to the political frontline in November as foreign secretary. He marked 100 days in office last week and has by all accounts loved every minute of it. Continue reading...

Airline may have to trim schedules as it awaits delayed delivery of new Boeing Max 737-8200sPeak summer air fares in Europe are likely to rise again this year by up to 10%, according to Ryanair, as problems with aircraft at Boeing and Airbus leave customers scrambling for seats.The increase would come on top of the sharp post-pandemic rise in holiday flight prices last year when pent-up demand met limited capacity in European airlines. Continue reading...

David Littleproud says his colleague is having the week off' after incident Joyce described as a big mistake'

Former Liberal staffer denies two counts of raping a woman in October 2021, with the case yet to proceed to trial

The former president called for amnesty for rioters who took part in an alleged coup, during his speech in Sao PauloTens of thousands of supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro have rallied in the country's biggest city, in a show of strength against legal challenges that could put him in jail.The far-right former president, who called the rally in Sao Paulo after being targeted by a police raid earlier this month investigating an alleged coup attempt, spoke for about 20 minutes to defend himself, while reminiscing about his time in power. Continue reading...

Charles Stopford Sackville says he was unprepared for the intense interest in his home after the 700-year-old Drayton House was used in the filmThe owner of the stately home used in the film Saltburn has revealed he has had to ask staff to patrol the grounds to stop trespassers trying to take photos and videos of themselves on the grounds.Charles Stopford Sackville, the current owner of the 700-year-old Drayton House in Northamptonshire, told the Mail on Sunday he was unprepared for the intense attention Emerald Fennell's film would bring with it. Continue reading...

Resolution Foundation report calls for action as number of young people experiencing poor mental health increasesYoung people are more likely to be out of work because of ill health than people in their early 40s, a report calling for action on Britain's mental wellbeing crisis has found.People in their early 20s with mental health problems may have not had access to a steady education and can end up out of work or in low-paid jobs, the Resolution Foundation research revealed. Continue reading...

Ukraine's president also concedes western weaponry is in short supply at a crucial time in the war with RussiaVolodymyr Zelenskiy has given a figure for the number of Ukrainian battlefield deaths in the war with Russia for the first time, acknowledging that 31,000 soldiers have been killed and saying 2024 will be decisive for the outcome of the conflict.Speaking in Kyiv a day after the two-year anniversary of Vladimir Putin's invasion, the Ukrainian president said he believed his country would win despite recent military setbacks. He conceded western weapons were in short supply and were crucial at a time when his troops were spectacularly outgunned. Continue reading...

NSW deputy commissioner further alleges accused police officer purchased angle grinder, padlock and weights from hardware store

Costs are escalating amid delays, according to British Chambers of Commerce research that shows UK exporters have also been hitMore than half of UK retailers and exporters have been affected by the disruption to Red Sea trade from Houthi rebel attacks on cargo ships, research by a leading business lobby group suggests.The price of shipping a container from Asia to Europe has gone up by as much as 300% for some businesses, while logistical delays have added up to three to four weeks to delivery times, according to the survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Continue reading...

Atrocity took place during Sunday mass in Essakane village and has been blamed on a jihadi group active in the regionAt least 15 people have been killed and two others injured in a terrorist" attack on a Catholic church during Sunday mass in Burkina Faso, a senior church official has said.Calling for peace and security in Burkina Faso, the vicar general of the Dori diocese, Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, denounced those who continue to wreak death and desolation in our country". Continue reading...

Officers were called to reservoir north-west of Leek after three boys were seen in the water, two of whom were taken to hospitalThe body of a missing 17-year-old boy has been recovered from a lake in Staffordshire by police.Staffordshire police were called to Rudyard Lake, a reservoir north-west of Leek, shortly after 9.30pm on Saturday after three teenage boys were seen in the water. Continue reading...

Irish court throws out Kamila Grabska's case for car crash injuries after she was pictured winning charity competitionA woman's 650,000 claim for injuries allegedly suffered during a car crash has been thrown out of court in Ireland after she was pictured winning a Christmas tree-throwing competition.Kamila Grabska, 36, sued an insurance company and said injuries to her back and neck meant she was unable to work for more than five years or play with her children. She claimed she was left with the disabling" condition after a car she was travelling in was hit from behind in an accident in 2017. Continue reading...

If you can't call Islamophobia Islamophobia, then how are we going to fix it?' says Sayeeda WarsiRishi Sunak has been urged to break his silence over a mounting Islamophobia row as senior Conservatives criticised the dangerous" rhetoric of the party's former deputy chair.Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, lost the Conservative party whip on Saturday after refusing to apologise for saying Islamists had got control of" Sadiq Khan. Anderson claimed on GB News that the London mayor had given our capital city away to his mates". Continue reading...

Zimbabwe's national parks authority says a team, including police, sniffer dogs and drones, have been sent to search for the 67-year-old touristAn Australian tourist has gone missing in Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls national park, home to one of the world's natural wonders, according to the country's parks authority.Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, said that the tourist went missing in the vast rainforest on Friday. Continue reading...

Labour shadow minister has extra security arrangements in place and says that is a very typical experience' for MPsA shadow cabinet minister has spoken about how she carries a police alarm with her everywhere amid heightened concerns over the security of politicians.Labour MP Lisa Nandy, the shadow international development secretary, has spoken about the extra security precautions she has had to take, including only seeing her constituents by appointment. Continue reading...

Archbishop of Canterbury describes Lord Cormack, who was an MP from 1970 to 2010, as unfailingly kind' and a vivid character'Tributes have been paid to Patrick Cormack, formerly a long-serving Conservative MP, who has died aged 84.The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, described him as a vivid character" and unfailingly kind". Continue reading...

Rose Hudson-Wilkin rebukes misuse of term by government ministers and others threatened' by social justice movement

Four ski mountaineers from a nearby club killed and three injured while off piste with a guideFour people have been killed in an avalanche in the mountainous Auvergne region of central France, local authorities said.The avalanche took place on Sunday at an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,250 feet) above the village of Mont-Dore in an area known as the Val d'Enfer, the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dome department said in a statement. Continue reading...

Political pressure at home, splintering international support and prospect of Trump's re-election make for existential threatsVolodymyr Zelenskiy has an unenviable task over the coming months. As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, the Ukrainian president has a very difficult balancing act to manage.Ukrainian society is exhausted by the war and international support is splintering, leading to a critical shortage of ammunition at the front. At the same time, most Ukrainians are not willing to countenance the idea of a peace deal, given that there would be few mechanisms to force Russia to abide by it, and would risk merely giving Moscow time to replenish its forces and strike Ukraine again. Continue reading...

Ukraine president makes announcement during news conference in KyivUkraine expects to receive $11.8 billion in economic support this year from the United States, its prime minister said on Sunday.Denys Shmyhal said during a televised conference in Kyiv that he was hopeful that US lawmakers would approve long-awaited economic and military aid.In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern grouping of troops improved the situation along the front line and defeated formations of the 22nd, 28th and 92nd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Klishchiivka, Dyleyevka and Kurdiumivka.In the Avdiivka direction, units of the Centre group of forces occupied more advantageous lines and positions, and also defeated manpower and equipment of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 107th Air Defence Brigade. Continue reading...

Annual sum was not offered on appointment but approved later by Richard Holden in a sign of how much MP was valuedTory chairman Richard Holden actioned a 10,000 salary top-up for Lee Anderson last autumn, in a sign of how much he was valued as deputy chairman.Anderson, who is the MP for Ashfield, lost the Tory whip on Saturday after saying that Islamists had got control of" Sadiq Khan and that the London mayor had given our capital city away to his mates". Continue reading...

Louis Gray says he was racially profiled after trying to buy spray paint to make over his son's bicycle helmetA black man shopping for paint with his four-year-old son says he was racially profiled and refused service at Hobbycraft after staff said he may use the paint for doing graffiti".Louis Gray, who works for Sport Wales as equality, diversity and inclusion manager, said he wanted to buy spray paint in order to make over his son's bicycle helmet in the colours of his favourite mountain bike rider. Continue reading...

Muslim Council of Britain writes to Conservative chair over comments made by Liz Truss, Lee Anderson and Suella BravermanBritain's largest Muslim group has written to the Conservative party to call for an investigation into structural Islamophobia" within the party's ranks.In a letter addressed to the Conservative chair, Richard Holden, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said Islamophobia in the party was institutional, tolerated by the leadership and seen as acceptable by great swathes of the party membership". Continue reading...

Openings in past year include HMV, Under Armour and Rituals, with Ikea poised to join them in the autumnOxford Street has begun to bounce back, with the proportion of vacant shops down by 40% and almost a fifth of its troublesome candy and souvenir shops now closed.The revival of the central London shopping street has been spurred by a mix of factors, including the full reopening of Tottenham Court Road station at its eastern end and last May's official launch of the Elizabeth line, which stops there, a bounce back in tourist visitors, from the UK and elsewhere, and a concerted effort by Westminster council to take action against American candy stores. Continue reading...

Labour says government must come to the House of Commons to explain scheme that is a consequence of a lack of spaceA scheme that allows prisoners to be released early because of a lack of space has been extended for an undefined period".Leaked documents suggested the early release scheme - formally named the End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) - has been expanded to more prisons for an extended time. Continue reading...

Isaac Herzog said haters try to drive us off every stage' as lyrics to October Rain scrutinised by organisersIsrael's president, Isaac Herzog, wants to ensure the country competes in the Eurovision song contest after the event's organisers said they were examining whether the lyrics sung by the Israeli contestant were too political.I think it's important for Israel to appear in Eurovision, and this is also a statement because there are haters who try to drive us off every stage," Herzog said on Sunday, the Times of Israel reported. Being smart is not just being right," he added. Continue reading...

US national security adviser says outline in place for proposal for temporary ceasefire in GazaAl Jazeera reports that six bodies have been recovered after Israeli bombing near the southern city of Khan Younis. The outlet writes:The bodies of six people have been recovered from the al-Satr area east of Khan Younis after overnight Israeli bombardment, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.This follows reports of intense Israeli artillery shelling in and around the southern city, with attack drones. Continue reading...

For the Tories he was a useful counterpart to the party's pinstripes and privilege brigade, but then he went too far. Or did he?Lee Anderson, the former miner turned MP for Ashfield, has caused more controversy in his four-and-a-bit years in parliament than most of the 2019 intake combined.Before he was even elected, Labour was calling for him to be sacked, after he suggested nuisance social housing tenants should be evicted into tents and made to pick vegetables. Continue reading...

Members of Unite union reject UK regulator's offer and say it is failing to deal with salary shortfallStaff at the UK's financial regulator could be forced to rely on a hardship fund to make up for their objectively low pay", according to a union.Unite said a failure to address the salary shortfall at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) risked embarrassing the watchdog, whose workers supervise some of the country's largest banks and wealth managers. Continue reading...

Paris attraction was closed for six days after union criticised operator for seeking short-term profitability'The Eiffel Tower has reopened to visitors after a six-day strike by employees demanding changes to the landmark's business model and better maintenance of the 330m (1,083ft) structure, which is showing widespread traces of rust.The tower's operator said in a statement it had reached an agreement with unions under which parties will regularly monitor the company's business model, investment in works and revenue through a body that will meet every six months". Continue reading...

Move presents fresh challenge to speaker and Labour party after last week's chaotic scenes in parliamentThe Scottish National party will push for another vote on a Gaza ceasefire this week, creating a fresh challenge for the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, and the Labour party after last Wednesday's chaotic scenes in the Commons.Hoyle faced calls to quit after his decision to break with precedent and allow Labour to table a vote during an SNP debate calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which prompted a walkout by Conservative and Scottish Nationalist MPs. Continue reading...

Robert Buckland said comments by Lee Anderson about Sadiq Khan were repugnant' and crossed a line'Robert Buckland has launched a broadside against Lee Anderson, Suella Braverman and Liz Truss and said that any Conservative politician intent on stoking division had better get out and join another party".Buckland, the Tory MP for South Swindon and a former justice secretary, criticised his colleagues for dangerous" rhetoric in the past week. Continue reading...

Rustem Umerov says F-16 jets are yet to appear and troops are running out of shells and air defence missiles

Lawrence Morgan has convictions for firearms and drugs offences and has lived in the UK since he was sixA Jamaican man whose deportation was halted last November after passengers on a BA flight from Gatwick to Kingston protested when they witnessed him being restrained on board, is due to be deported on Sunday.Lawrence Morgan, 27, has convictions for serious firearms and drugs offences. During the Home Office's attempt to deport him last November, passengers on the flight protested after seeing him being restrained by escorts at the back of the plane. Continue reading...

Canada has one of the highest rates of euthanasia in the world, with 4.1% of deaths aided by doctors, but moves to make it more accessible are being questionedWhen Canada's justice minister announced plans to legalise medically assisted dying nearly a decade ago, she acknowledged the proposed law might prove divisive. For some, medical assistance in dying will be troubling," Jody Wilson-Raybould told reporters in 2016. For others, this legislation will not go far enough."A fresh delay in expanding the scope of who can access a medically assisted death has once again put a spotlight on the system, which critics and advocates agree is one of the most liberal in the world. But the two groups remain sharply divided on what that means for improving the quality of life - and death - in the country. Continue reading...

Britain's benefits system needs urgent reform, at a cost of 12bn, charities and experts warnLabour is being warned by a powerful alliance of thinktanks and charities that poverty will soar if it comes to power and then fails to spend many billions of pounds on welfare reform to help those struggling most with the cost of living.The Observer understands that shadow work and benefits secretary Liz Kendall met representatives of several organisations, including the centre-left IPPR thinktank which is influential in Labour's policy debate, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the independent Resolution Foundation, whose president is former Tory minister David Willetts, and Save the Children at a round table last week at which serious concerns were raised. Continue reading...

President Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown on dissent has continued as many forced into early votesPolls have opened in Belarus's tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections that are expected to cement the rule of the country's authoritarian leader, despite calls for a boycott from the opposition, which dismissed the balloting as a senseless farce".Alexander Lukashenko, the president who has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for nearly 30 years, accuses the west of trying to use the vote to undermine his government and destabilise" the country of 9.5 million people. Continue reading...

UNRWA chief says humanitarian work in Gaza compromised after donors froze funds over alleged Hamas linksThe UN agency for Palestinian refugees has been forced to stretch every dollar" and juggle its finances in order to continue vital work in Gaza after 18 donor countries suspended funding over allegations of links to Hamas.The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing a shortfall of $450m from a budget of $880m as it confronts the biggest humanitarian crisis seen in the organisation's 75-year history. Continue reading...

Study by University of Oxford says prosecutions include children and victims of trafficking and tortureHundreds of people, including children and victims of trafficking and torture, have been convicted and jailed for arriving in the UK in small boats to claim asylum, according to a report.The prosecutions have largely slipped under the radar, although the issue has been highlighted by the case of the Senegalese teenager Ibrahima Bah. He was sentenced to nine years and six months detention after being convicted of four counts of manslaughter and one of facilitating a breach of immigration law after steering an overcrowded dinghy that got into difficulty, leading to the drowning of at least four people. Continue reading...

Disappointment in the candidates is palpable in the town, where people feel let down and neglected by the main partiesByelections are traditionally a chance for voters to lodge a protest vote. But when the people of Rochdale go to the polls on Thursday, they have barely anyone to protest against.The Labour and Green parties have ditched their candidates. The Conservative was abroad on a long-planned family holiday the week before polling day. The Lib Dem remains, but pulled out of the most high-profile political event, a local BBC radio debate. Continue reading...

Demonstration against Welsh Labour policy included No Farmers No Food campaign calling for end to climate measures, and Welsh Tory leaderRishi Sunak attended a protest alongside a group which has posted conspiracy theories about climate change, and which campaigns against net zero, the Observer can reveal.The prime minister has been accused of pandering to extremists" by farmers and wildlife groups, who have asked him to listen to reason and logic" rather than conspiracy theories. Continue reading...

NSW police commissioner Karen Webb expresses heartfelt condolences' to the families and friends of alleged murder victims Jesse Baird and Luke Davies

Fears for impact on NHS workforce as leaked letter reveals ministers stall on aim to increase trainee doctors to 15,000 by 2031Ministers have dramatically stalled plans to double the number of doctors being trained in England by 2031 in a move that has caused dismay across the NHS, as well in medical schools and universities, the Observer can reveal.In June last year, ministers backed a long-term plan to expand the NHS workforce and pledged, amid great fanfare, to double medical school places by 2031 from 7,500 today to 15,000, with more medical school places in areas with the greatest shortages to level up training and help address geographic inequity". Labour is also committed to raising the number of doctors to 15,000 by 2031. Continue reading...

The earthquake hit parts of the Ishikawa region on New Year's Day killing 241 people and sparking a major fire, water remains cut off to some areasJapan will spend an additional $660m rebuilding areas ravaged by a devastating New Year's Day earthquake, prime minister Fumio Kishida said, taking the total amount of relief to $1.7bn.The new financial aid was announced by the prime minister on Saturday as he visited the quake-hit areas. Continue reading...