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Evidence to MPs claims parents more cautious about sending children to school with minor ailmentsIncreased anxiety and lack of mental health support are driving a steep increase in children missing school since the Covid pandemic, with some children “struggling to leave home”, according to councils in England.Local authorities are also highlighting budget pressures that have forced cuts in school support staff, with some schools trying to “manage” students out of classrooms or disguising their attendance records, while others are “off-rolling” students to artificially boost school exam results. Continue reading...

Spectacular conflagration prompts evacuation of Tom Sawyer Island at California resort but no injuries reportedA 45ft-tall Disneyland dragon caught fire late on Saturday during a show in Anaheim, California, causing those in attendance to flee, local media and officials said. No injuries or deaths were reported.“The dragon’s head started to glow, and I see fire and kind of smoke coming out,” Elaine Gilmer, who was at the event, told ABC News. Continue reading...

Shrewsbury hails unexpected coup of loan of major works by Spanish surrealistA melting watch; a telephone receiver that is really a lobster: the art of surrealism is all about such unlikely juxtapositions. So how about putting the original work of Salvador Dalí , the great Spanish artist who created these famous, bizarre images, on the pavements of Shrewsbury this summer, alongside its standard-issue pillar boxes and lamp-posts?This weekend, the organisers of an ambitious arts trail in the Shropshire town are celebrating an unexpected coup. Three pieces made by Dalí are to play a starring role in this year’s trail – making their British debuts. Continue reading...

Award launched at London book fair aims to help older authors take the plunge and submit a first workLondon book fair, which concluded earlier this month, always brings with it a flurry of headlines about debut authors signing six-figure publishing deals. Most of these have at least one thing in common – their youth.As a result, anyone with an ambition to be a novelist might think that the ship has sailed once they leave their 30s. But fear not: there’s an increasing drive to encourage those who come to writing past the first flush of youth that it’s never too late. Continue reading...

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World mourns ‘unique wit’ of Australian star and inventor of vivid stage personas, who has died aged 89Like bouquets of appropriately lurid gladioli, colourful tributes to the memory of Barry Humphries piled up this weekend as his many fans adjusted to a dimmer world without Dame Edna Everage.Mourning Humphries, who was taken ill in Sydney last week with complications after hip surgery, means saying goodbye to his charismatic, hyper-real fictional personas: not only “the Australian housewife and superstar” Dame Edna, with her radiant, rinsed hairdo, trademark sparkling spectacles and bright gladioli, but also to the revolting Australian cultural attaché, Sir Les Patterson, and the irrepressibly dull Sandy Stone. Over decades, each of these stage characters has mischievously shaped the world’s view of Australians, satirising the stereotypical lack of taste that British “pommies” enjoy looking down on. Continue reading...

Trial of system to warn the public if there is danger to life nearby will last for about 10 seconds at 3pmThe UK public have been assured they can “simply swipe away” a test of a new public alert system when it emits a loud alarm on millions of phones on Sunday.Oliver Dowden, the newly appointed deputy prime minister, said no action was needed – but in the future it might be the “sound that could save your life”. Continue reading...

At least one in five key workers in NHS trust services leave over the course of a yearNHS ambulance trusts in England are struggling with high staff turnover as key workers leave the crisis-hit service for less stressful or better paid work, according to figures obtained by the Observer.Data sourced under the Freedom of Information Act reveals the backdrop to recent ambulance strikes, with sickness rates above pre-pandemic levels and low levels of staff retention. Ambulance services in southern England are particularly struggling. Staff turnover rates at South Central ambulance service (SCAS) are soaring at 20% – meaning one in five staff members leave over the course of a year. Continue reading...

Josep Borrell says safeguard would show Europe’s commitment to the ‘absolutely crucial’ areaEuropean navies should patrol the disputed Taiwan Strait, the EU foreign policy chief has said, echoing earlier comments stressing how crucial Taiwan is to Europe.Josep Borrell wrote in an opinion piece in the Journal Du Dimanche that Taiwan “concerns us economically, commercially and technologically”. Continue reading...

At least 45,000 people set to take part, including non-binary runners for the first time, amid predicted temperatures around 10CTens of thousands of people running this year’s London Marathon could be drenched in heavy rain for much of the race, forecasters have warned.The Met Office has predicted a “very wet” Sunday in the capital, with a higher than 50% chance of downpours persisting through a nine-hour window from 7am until 4pm. Continue reading...

Judge cites evidence that state immigration chief failed in duty to protect detention centre occupants in Ciudad Juarez blazeA judge has ordered the immigration director of Mexico’s northern border state of Chihuahua to stand trial on charges of homicide, injuries and failure to perform his duties over a deadly fire at a migrant detention centre.Juan José Chávez ordered the director, Salvador González, to be held in prison pending trial. Continue reading...

Analyst suggests some in the industry are misleading the public about their financial position to demand higher fees

Rambahadur Limbu was awarded Britain’s highest military honour in 1966 for an act of gallantryThe last remaining Gurkha recipient of Britain’s Victoria Cross has died in Nepal at the age of 83.Rambahadur Limbu was awarded Britain’s highest military decoration by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1966 for gallantry during an attack on Indonesian troops on the island of Borneo during which he rescued two fellow soldiers. Continue reading...

Experts say Australia should look beyond criticism that is largely for domestic Chinese consumption and engage on a broader level

Musician cheered on during jump by his sister Gracie, who has the condition and regularly features in his workRapper Aitch has skydived to raise money and awareness for Down’s syndrome, inspired by his sister Gracie, who has the condition. Gracie, 13, regularly features in the Manchester-born rapper’s music and recently joined her brother in the video for his latest single, Round 2.Although the skydive had been scheduled to take place in March to coincide with Down’s syndrome Awareness week, windy conditions postponed the jump. Continue reading...

Paul Mackenzie Nthenge reportedly told followers to starve themselves to ‘meet Jesus’Twenty-one bodies have been exhumed in eastern Kenya in an investigation into a cult whose followers are believed to have starved themselves to death, police sources have said.On Saturday officials reported seven deaths in connection with the inquiry after the arrest of Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, who reportedly told followers to starve themselves in order to “meet Jesus”. Continue reading...

Ricky Gervais, Rob Brydon and Matt Lucas among those paying homage to the Dame Edna Everage star who has died aged 89

This live blog is now closed, you can read more about Barry Humphries hereThe actor and comedian Rob Brydon says he was with Humphries three days ago in Australia.Ricky Gervais, the writer of The Office, After Life, and so many other hugely popular shows, has tweeted his tribute. Continue reading...

Restaurant employee and customer die and 12 people injured in blaze after decorations caught lightTwo people died and 12 were injured in a fire apparently sparked when a waiter flambéed a pizza at a Madrid restaurant and accidentally set decorations ablaze.One of the dead was a restaurant employee and the other a customer, said the city’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida. He said one person was in a critical condition in hospital and five others were seriously hurt. Continue reading...

Mother of murdered black teenager speaks at memorial service marking 30th anniversary of his killingDoreen Lawrence has said her son Stephen’s “story remains as important and relevant as ever”, at a central London memorial service to mark the 30th anniversary of the teenager’s killing.The murder victim’s family gathered for the anniversary at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, with the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, and the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also in attendance. Continue reading...

MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch given role after resignation of Beattie amid police investigation into party finances

Famed for personas that also included the vulgar Sir Les Patterson, Humphries became a household name in a seven-decade career

Former Foreign Office civil servant Simon McDonald also rejects former deputy PM’s claims of ‘activist civil servants’

Tina Moore unsure how red England shirt left her possession but it is now in hands of mystery private buyerIt is the most famous moment in English football. Bobby Moore, the England captain, hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates, holding the World Cup trophy aloft in 1966.While the moment was captured on camera and preserved for posterity, the red England shirt the centre-half was wearing, with the number six on the back, has been lost – and Moore’s ex-wife is urging its current owner to return it. Continue reading...

Pat Cullen said health secretary’s attempt to block 48-hour nurses’ strike was ‘cruel’ and ‘unacceptable’The health secretary’s legal challenge against the Royal College of Nursing’s forthcoming strike is a “blatant threat”, the union’s leader has said.Steve Barclay’s decision to refer to the courts, revealed on Friday, is the latest twist in the long-running saga over pay between nurses and the government. Continue reading...

Sunday’s event in Peak District will mark anniversary of Kinder Scout protest, seen as crucial in establishing right to roam in UKUp to 1,000 swimmers are expected to head to Kinder reservoir in Derbyshire on Sunday in the biggest trespass of the water to date. The turnout will mark the anniversary of a mass trespass that helped establish the principle of the right to roam in the UK.The swim trespass of Kinder reservoir, situated below Kinder Scout where the 1932 protest took place, has become an annual event and is growing rapidly with the boom in wild swimming. Continue reading...

Josie Stewart, who highlighted failures in Afghan evacuation, is concerned by attempt to keep her legal challenge privateA whistleblower who was sacked for highlighting Britain’s chaotic response to the fall of Kabul has expressed frustration at government attempts to have her legal challenge against her dismissal held in private.Josie Stewart, a senior official, was fired from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for giving an anonymous interview to the BBC about the failures in the handling of the Afghan withdrawal. Continue reading...

Kentish Wine Vault aims to transform industry and produce English rival to proseccoA landmark centre for English wine designed by Norman Foster, which supporters say will produce an affordable rival to prosecco, could be given planning approval within days.Gary Smith, the chief executive of MDCV UK, the winemaker behind the £30m Kentish Wine Vault project, said he was hopeful about his plans to transform the country’s wine sector by producing 5m bottles of English wine a year at the new location, after months of doubt. Continue reading...

Harry seeking at least £200,000 in damages over alleged hacking including while Rebekah Brooks was editorPrince Harry’s war against the British tabloid media will resume on Tuesday as the royal attempts to drag the Sun’s former editor Rebekah Brooks back into the phone-hacking scandal.Just a week after Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News agreed to pay $787.5m (£635m) to settle a US defamation suit, the British arm of his media empire is attempting to block another lawsuit that could cause immense damage to the company. Continue reading...

Anthony Albanese hails discovery of Montevideo Maru shipwreck after 80 years. This blog is now closed

Bristol-born vocalist celebrated for political lyricism and highly expressive style was influential both with the Pop Group and a long solo careerMark Stewart, who was celebrated for his dizzying and politicised blend of post-punk, dub and funk as frontman of the Pop Group and in a solo career, has died aged 62.News of his death was confirmed by his label Mute, who wrote: “In honour of this original, fearless, sensitive, artistic and funny man, think for yourself and question everything. The world was changed because of Mark Stewart, it will never be the same without him.” No cause of death has been given. Continue reading...

Mary Sharp, Laura Hughes and Lauren Preston waived anonymity after decades-long battle to get conviction for 1980s and 90s attacksThree women who gave evidence against their rapist and waived their right to anonymity in a Guardian article after his conviction have welcomed his 11-year prison sentence imposed by a judge in Truro crown court.Martin Butler was convicted of rape and buggery in February 2023 after the evidence of Mary Sharp, Laura Hughes and Lauren Preston.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

MoD engaged in ‘prudent planning’ as several hundred British citizens are estimated to be in countryUS and British troops are being moved close to Sudan amid growing speculation they could be involved in some sort of evacuation or rescue of western nationals trapped in the country by the outbreak of fighting a week ago.Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, said on Friday afternoon that the US had deployed military forces “in theatre” – meaning in countries relatively close to Sudan – to give the White House choices as to how to proceed, with 19,000 US citizens estimated as being stuck in the country. Continue reading...

Braintree authority took action to try to stop Home Office housing up to 1,700 people at MoD WethersfieldA high court judge has rejected a council’s attempt to block government plans for an asylum centre at a Ministry of Defence airfield in north Essex.Braintree district council sought an injunction to try to prevent the Home Office from placing up to 1,700 people at MoD Wethersfield, close to the village of the same name, which has a population of 700 people. Continue reading...

Not all councils agree on best way to tackle homelessness caused in part by popularity of short-term rentals such as Airbnb

With revenue from vinyl sales nearing $37m in Australia last year, new retailers explain why they opened record stores post-Covid

‘To see this at the heart of government planning is an overwhelming relief,’ Energy Council says, while investors warn of impact from US energy package

Rishi Sunak makes two key appointments following resignation of Dominic Raab

Agreement includes a 10% salary increase and a one-off lump sum of £500 for all CWU-grade employeesRoyal Mail has agreed to a pay deal with the postal workers’ union to end a long-running and bitter dispute that led to the first national strikes since its privatisation a decade ago.The company and the Communication Workers Union, which represents about 115,000 postal workers, said they had reached a deal, following 18 strike dates last year including in the run-up to Christmas. They reached an agreement in principle last weekend after 11 months of negotiations in the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Continue reading...

Russian warplane accidentally strikes city of Belgorod near Ukraine, injuring two; Zelenskiy calls on Nato to give timeframe for Ukraine accession

The move aims to free up funding for the government to accelerate and expand other projects

In a move that restores reciprocity to rights of expats, about 380,000 New Zealanders living in Australia will no longer have to become permanent residents firstAbout 380,000 New Zealanders will gain the right to apply for Australian citizenship without becoming permanent residents first, under sweeping changes restoring reciprocity to the rights of expats of the two countries.On Saturday the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, and immigration minister, Andrew Giles, will announce the changes ahead of a visit by New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins. Continue reading...

Comments indicate extent to which Taiwan is trying to bolster western support before possible invasionTaiwan’s foreign minister has said he is preparing for the possibility of a conflict with China in 2027.Speaking on LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr, Joseph Wu said: “We are taking the Chinese military threat very seriously … I think 2027 is the year that we need to be serious about.” Continue reading...

Move would defy advice from UN, human rights, children’s advocates and Indigenous organisations who say age should be raised to 14

Opposition leader Peter Dutton, independent senator David Pocock and Nationals senator Matt Canavan among those retaining blue ticks

Headteacher’s suicide has led to calls for reform but chief inspector says one-word grades ‘integral’The family of a headteacher who killed herself have labelled Ofsted’s proposed changes to its school inspection regime “totally inadequate” and accused it of being deaf to calls for meaningful reform.Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, has offered a series of changes including greater support for school leaders undergoing inspections, after the death of Ruth Perry, whose family said killed herself after a critical Ofsted inspection. Continue reading...

Indigenous voice to parliament would enhance, not threaten, system of government, legal opinion says

The most sought-after addresses in Sudan’s capital city are now so dangerous that residents cannot wait to fleeOn one street is a small cafe where diplomats, successful businesspeople and visiting dignitaries enjoyed smoothies and burgers under umbrellas set against the blistering sun. On another is a showroom for custom-designed kitchens imported from Europe, a once well stocked pharmacy and a fast-food joint. Down dusty potholed roads, there are villas behind high walls and apartment blocks where chandeliers hang above shining marble stairways.These central Khartoum neighbourhoods, once the most sought-after addresses in Sudan’s capital city, are now so dangerous that residents cannot wait to flee. For almost a week, they have been the stage for a brutal power struggle, shattered by shelling, grenades and automatic rifle fire that trapped tens of thousands in their homes. Continue reading...

Six months without notable cold spell was ‘amazing’ given record rainfall during same period, Bureau of Meteorology says

Natalie Ward expected to become deputy, pending a change to internal party rules