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Case on alleged crimes by Gérald Marie in 1980s and 90s closed due to statute of limitationsFrench prosecutors have closed an investigation into possible rape and sexual assault by the model agency boss Gérald Marie, who was accused of a string of offences.The Paris prosecutors’ office concluded that the alleged crimes in the 1980s and 1990s took place too long ago to be prosecuted under French law which sets time limits for offences to be tried in court. Continue reading...

Court orders boy serve minimum of 14 years for murdering Ian Kirwan at Midlands supermarketA 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 14 years for the “utterly senseless” murder of Ian Kirwan, who was stabbed outside a supermarket after confronting a group of teenagers over their behaviour.Kirwan, 53, a software engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, died on 8 March last year after a confrontation with five boys outside an Asda store in Redditch. Continue reading...

Letby texted friends about winnings on same day she allegedly tried to kill twin boys in incubator, jury hearsA nurse accused of killing seven babies celebrated a winning bet on the Grand National shortly after she attempted to murder twin boys, a court heard.Lucy Letby, 33, allegedly attacked the prematurely born infants during a day shift at the Countess of Chester hospital’s neonatal unit. One of the boys, Child M, “dramatically” collapsed in his incubator in the unit’s intensive care room at 4pm on 9 April 2016, the court heard. His brother, Child L, also deteriorated beside him at “pretty much the same time”, theprosecutor, Nick Johnson KC, said. Continue reading...

Kathleen Poole, who lives in a care home, faces removal for not having post-Brexit paperwork in orderThe European Commission has contacted the Swedish authorities after it emerged they were planning to deport a 74-year-old British woman with severe Alzheimer’s because she did not have her post-Brexit paperwork in order.At the same time, the office of the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, is trying to ascertain the exact circumstances that have led to the removal threat faced by Kathleen Poole, who cannot speak, walk or feed herself and is bedbound in a care home. Continue reading...

Third of provinces yet to publish data as country looks to revive economy after zero-Covid policy endsChinese provinces spent more than £42.8bn on tackling Covid-19 in 2022, according to data released by local governments, with the figure expected to rise as the huge cost of the pandemic hits the world’s second-largest economy.Although national statistics are not yet available, at least 20 of China’s 31 provinces have published figures on how much money they spent on measures to control the pandemic. Continue reading...

NEU joint secretary says teachers will ‘not back down’ as pay negotiations with government reach stalemateSchools in England look set for further disruption over the coming weeks after talks to avert planned strike action by teachers ended in failure, with no new offer on the table.Union leaders met the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, on Wednesday morning, the latest of a series of meetings. Though they remarked on a new urgency about the talks, there was still no progress on pay. Continue reading...

Identity of individual not yet been made public but their family has been informed

Mild temperatures in Ottawa make it too dangerous to open Rideau Canal Skateway, the capital’s 7.8km long ‘blockbuster’ attractionCanada’s Rideau Canal Skateway – the largest outdoor rink in the world and a Unesco heritage site – may not open this winter for the first time in five decades, due to a lack of ice.Ottawa is in the grips of its third-warmest winter ever recorded, according to Environment Canada, with temperatures hovering just below freezing through most of December and January. Continue reading...

Leading Coalition moderate says he supports the concept but is waiting to see Alex Greenwich’s bill

Businessman tells NSW inquiry he was approached by Jean-Claude Perrottet because of his previous support for Malcolm Turnbull

Queensland police charge 18-year-old woman with multiple firearm-related offences ahead of community safety forum

Negotiators make progress in Canberra but thorny issue of geographical indicators is believed to remain a sticking point

Australia’s biggest lender’s profits inflated by Reserve Bank’s series of rapid-fire interest rate rises

Warning in surveillance commissioner’s report comes after Chinese CCTV cameras banned from government propertyBritish police are leaving themselves open to spying by Beijing because of their reliance on Chinese-made cameras, according to a report from the government’s independent watchdog on surveillance.Most forces across England and Wales use camera equipment that is either made in China or contains important Chinese components, the biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner has warned. Continue reading...

Man, 49, from Manchester and woman, 20, from Oldham held after reports messages being sent to Wyre council membersTwo people have been arrested on suspicion of sending malicious communications to local councillors over the disappearance of Nicola Bulley, police have said.Lancashire police received reports over the weekend of messages being sent to Wyre council members. A 49-year-old man from Manchester and a 20-year-old woman from Oldham have been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences. Continue reading...

Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a pilot for Susi Air, was abducted by armed wing of the Free Papua MovementSeparatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua province have released photos and videos of a man they say is the pilot from New Zealand they took hostage last week.Phillip Mark Mehrtens of Christchurch, a pilot for the Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was abducted by independence fighters from the West Papua National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, who stormed his single-engine plane shortly after it landed on a small runway in Paro, in the remote Nduga district. Continue reading...

There have been more than 37 drowning deaths this summer and the Royal Surf Life Saving Society is urging beachgoers to stay safe

At least 300 people gather on Tuesday night to pay respect to 16-year-old girl stabbed to death in a Warrington park on SaturdayCandles and flowers have been laid out on the steps of St George’s Hall in Liverpool in tribute to Brianna Ghey, a trans teenager who was stabbed to death in a Warrington park on Saturday.A crowd of at least 300 people, many of them also teenagers and young adults, gathered quietly on Tuesday night to pay respect to the 16-year-old, who her family described as “strong, fearless, one of a kind”. Continue reading...

Suspects include the owner of a Miami-area security company that hired ex-Colombian soldiers for the mission, DoJ saysUS authorities have arrested four more people in the assassination of the Haitian president Jovenel Moïse, including the owner of a Miami-area security company that hired ex-Colombian soldiers for the mission, the justice department announced on Tuesday.Antonio “Tony” Intriago, owner of CTU Security, is charged with conspiracy to kill or kidnap a person outside the US among other charges, along with company representative Arcangel Pretel Ortiz. Continue reading...

Court of appeal ruled homeowner could recover loss of value even if knotweed has been treatedA significant legal victory in a case brought by a householder affected by Japanese knotweed has raised the prospect of an increase in claims from people stricken by the hazardous plant.The court of appeal ruled that a homeowner could recover damages for a loss of value of their property from having had Japanese knotweed, even if it had been treated. Continue reading...

Council removes broken freezer that formed part of work artist confirmed was genuineA Banksy mural in Margate has been taken apart by the council just hours after the artist confirmed it was genuine.The artwork, called Valentine’s day mascara, appears to be on the theme of violence against women and girls. Continue reading...

This live blog has now closed, you can read more about the Russia-Ukraine war hereAn air alert has been declared across several southern areas of Ukraine including Mykolaiv, Kherson and Odesa.Earlier, Volodymyr Litinov, head of the Beryslav district administration in the Kherson region reported on Telegram that Russian shelling in the previous 24 hours had damaged “the hospital building, residential buildings and farm buildings” in the area, but that “fortunately, there were no civilian casualties.”This is Martin Belam in London taking over the live blog. Continue reading...

Original cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when a live round was discharged on set of western in New MexicoThe producers of Rust have hired a new cinematographer and plan to resume filming this spring despite the looming criminal prosecution of star and producer Alec Baldwin, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the on-set killing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, according to the Hollywood Reporter.Rust Movie Productions will also produce a documentary about the life and work of Hutchins that will “show the brilliance and depth of Halyna’s talent while conveying what her loss has meant to her friends, colleagues and the entire film industry”, the company said in a statement to the movie industry publication. Continue reading...

Unknown origins of three of four flying objects shot down over North America renews interest in contact with alien lifeformsWhen unidentified flying objects began being spotted over the US and Canada, there was quite a stir among amateur ufologists.UFO discussion forums lit up with theories about the origins and purpose of these floating entities – were they sent by intelligent lifeforms from outer space or was there an explanation closer to home? Continue reading...

The prime minister has an easier ride than his predecessors on a deal with Brussels – provided Johnson likes itRishi Sunak is approaching what might be his toughest party management challenge yet – the conclusion of a long negotiation to find a way through the tortuous issue of the Northern Ireland protocol.But his being able to his MPs in line is likely to depend hugely on whether Boris Johnson sees the protocol as his moment to stage a key intervention that could launch a potential comeback. Continue reading...

PC Fabian Aguilar-Delgado allegedly ‘groped’ defendant after call to deal with domestic incident in CroydonAn on-duty Metropolitan police officer sexually assaulted a woman at home after a call to deal with a domestic incident, a court has heard.Southwark crown court, south London, heard the alleged assault occurred after PC Fabian Aguilar-Delgado, 40, offered to search her house in Croydon for her abusive ex-partner while his colleague was in the car outside. Continue reading...

Negotiations are in crucial final phase with Rishi Sunak preparing to hold calls with EU leadersNegotiations over the Northern Ireland protocol are in the crucial final phase with a deal possible as early as next week, according to multiple sources.Rishi Sunak is expected to spend the latter half of the parliamentary recess this week looking at the shape of the deal, with calls pencilled in with EU leaders. However, UK sources stressed that talks were at a delicate phase and there was no guarantee of a final agreement. Continue reading...

This live blog has now closed, you can read more of our UK political coverage hereThe Guardian’s deputy political editor Jessica Elgot believes it is unlikely that Rishi Sunak will label China a “strategic threat”, after increased pressure to do so by his backbench MPs.Here is her take on the prime minister’s options and what he is likely to say and do next on the issue.As I cannot guarantee that, as was provisionally hoped to be the case, that the core participants will receive almost all the disclosure to which they are entitled by mid-March, I must invite you to consider putting back the provisional start date of May to early June.In the general scheme of your inquiry, this is a fairly modest adjournment application. Continue reading...

The survivors, including two teenagers, were saved as rescue teams look to next phase of aidSeven more people have been rescued eight days after a massive earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, but hopes of finding further survivors of what the World Health Organization called the worst natural disaster in 100 years in its 53-country Europe region are dwindling.As a UN aid convoy entered stricken north-west Syria through a new crossing, the combined death toll rose to nearly 38,000, including 31,974 in Turkey and at least 5,714 in rebel-held and government-controlled Syria – a figure that is expected to continue rising. Continue reading...

Joby Pool used a stolen tractor to tow away the chocolate and is expected to be imprisoned for about two yearsA chocolate thief is facing jail after admitting he stole almost 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs in a heist worth more than £31,000.Joby Pool, 32, dubbed “the Easter bunny” by police, used a stolen lorry cab to make off with chocolate after breaking into a Telford industrial unit with a metal grinder on Saturday. Continue reading...

Only 15 schemes reassessed by expert roads review panel under ‘world-leading’ policy will go aheadDozens of road building projects across Wales have been halted or amended as part of a “groundbreaking” policy that reassessed more than 50 schemes against a series of tough tests on their impact on the climate emergency.Only 15 of the projects reviewed by an expert roads review panel will go ahead in their original form, with others scaled back, postponed or in some cases shelved. Continue reading...

A former and a current officer accused of failing to properly investigate claims against Couzens, who went on to murder Sarah EverardA former Metropolitan police officer is to face a gross misconduct hearing for allegedly failing to properly investigate indecent exposure allegations against Wayne Couzens, made days before he murdered Sarah Everard, the police watchdog has said.The former Met officer is also facing claims over misleading testimony given to investigators and is one of two people to face action over alleged missed chances to identify Couzens as a suspected sex offender before he went looking for a woman to attack in March 2021. The Met said the constable resigned in 2022 while under investigation. Continue reading...

Officers looking at transphobia alongside other lines of inquiry as vigils planned across UKPolice investigating the killing of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old girl who was found with fatal stab wounds in a Warrington park on Saturday, have said they have not ruled out the possibility it was a transphobic hate crime.Brianna, who was trans, was found lying with the wounds in Culcheth Linear Park on Saturday afternoon. Police have arrested two 15-year-olds, a boy and a girl from the area, on suspicion of murder. Continue reading...

Iraq war demonstration ignited a campaigning passion for some, but others were left disillusionedTwenty years ago, Louise Barter took a coach up to London to attend her first demonstration. As she took her place in the ocean of protesters stretching from Embankment to Hyde Park on that cold Saturday, she was participating in the biggest political protest in UK history. It changed her life.Now a trade union organiser, Barter, 48, credits her politicisation to the historic 2003 Stop the War demo, when an estimated 1.5 million people took to London’s streets. She remembers joining the rally with a woman she met on the coach from Hampshire who had not protested since the Vietnam war. “She said, I can’t believe we’re doing this again! I was really quite green to all of this,” Barter says. “There was a sea of people, and lots of different groups with slightly different reasons for being there. Though there were far-left groups, it felt like there were lots of normal people – not just really political people.” Continue reading...

The toxin clostridium botulinum was in his body when he died in 1973, days after Chile’s military coupOne of the most enduring mysteries in modern Chilean history may finally have been solved after forensic experts determined that the Nobel prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda died after being poisoned with a powerful toxin, apparently confirming decades of suspicions that he was murdered.According to the official version, Neruda – who made his name as a young poet with the collection Twenty Poems of Love and a Song of Despair – died from prostate cancer and malnutrition on 23 September 1973, just 12 days after the military coup that overthrew the democratically elected socialist government of his friend, President Salvador Allende. Continue reading...

Five-year-old Jinan now in hospital with serious leg injury; her brother had only scratches while the rest of their family diedOmar Rahal heard a voice coming from the rubble, so faint that he struggled to understand if it might only be in his head. The previous night, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 had levelled his village, Harem, in the rebel-held province of Idlib in Syria, flattening dozens of buildings including the block of flats where his cousin Mahmoud lived with his wife and their seven children.A few hours later, Rahal, the local police chief, rushed into the rubble of the house in the hope of finding Mahmoud and his family alive. All morning he heard no signs of life, but at 12.30pm his ears picked up five words spoken by what sounded like a little girl: “Get me out of here.” Continue reading...

First relief housing units arrive in Hatay province, Amazon sends food and blankets and Allianz donates €6mThe Ikea Foundation has sent 5,000 flatpack shelters to southern Turkey and northern Syria to house people left homeless by the earthquake last week, as companies around the world pledge help.The Swedish homeware multinational’s philanthropy arm said on Tuesday it had donated €10m (£8.8m) to the NGO Better Shelter, with which it developed the robust, award-winning 17.5 sq metre shelters that fit in two boxes and can be assembled without tools. Continue reading...

Cairo Winitana was holidaying with his Sydney family at the Club Wyndham Denarau Island resort

Exhibitions for Paris-born sculptor, the pioneering Russian painter and ‘one of the greatest living artists’ are all headed for Australia this summer

Landmark case arguing the excise is unconstitutional could have an impact on how states raise revenue

Demonstrators gathered in Westminster after reports Erkin Tuniyaz was to meet UK officialsIain Duncan Smith has accused the Chinese governor of Xinjiang of murder as he joined Uyghur activists protesting against his reported visit to Britain.Demonstrators gathered outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday after it emerged that Erkin Tuniyaz, the chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, could meet UK officials, a scenario Duncan Smith branded “unacceptable”. Tuniyaz was expected to come to the UK this week, according to the reports, with some speculating he has already arrived. Continue reading...

Police took no action after Couzens exposed himself three times before he went on to murder Sarah EverardPolice missed clear chances to identify Wayne Couzens as a potential sex offender and a danger to women before he kidnapped and murdered Sarah Everard, it can finally be revealed.He exposed himself three times, with witnesses recording either full registration details of vehicles he used, or partial details. But police took no action, leaving Couzens to continue as a serving Metropolitan police officer entrusted with a gun. Continue reading...

ONS analysis shows sector accounts for more than one in 10 of job ads posted online in DecemberJob vacancies in the UK have reached a near-record level, due largely to the shortage of nurses, carers and other healthcare staff.According to analysis by the Office for National Statistics, more than one in 10 job vacancies posted online in December were in healthcare – more than in any other sector. The statistics agency said healthcare was the job category with the highest share of adverts in almost 90% of local authorities in the UK. Continue reading...

PM’s spokesperson also says prime minister was not involved in hotel choices following reports on ministerial spendingThe government will do “whatever it takes” to keep the UK safe from the threat of spy balloons, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has said.Asked whether such spying devices had been seen in UK airspace, Sunak told broadcasters:I want people to know that we will do whatever it takes to keep the country safe.We have something called the quick reaction alert force which involves Typhoon planes, which are kept on 24/7 readiness to police our airspace, which is incredibly important.As I said, I wouldn’t comment in detail on security matters but people should be reassured that we have all the capabilities in place to keep the country safe.He’s running! Humbled and grateful to be overwhelmingly selected today by local party members as Scottish Labour’s candidate for East Lothian.Change is coming to our country and I’m determined to play my part by winning East Lothian back for Scottish Labour. Continue reading...

Judge rules caseworker interpreted eligibility criteria too narrowly for eight claimants who are in hidingEight former BBC journalists who had their applications to relocate from Afghanistan to the UK rejected are expecting their cases to be reconsidered after they successfully challenged the rationale behind the refusals at the high court.In a judgment handed down on Monday, Mr Justice Lane said the decisions had been made on an incorrect basis and, but for the error, there was a “more than fanciful prospect of a different outcome”. Continue reading...

Marco Goecke allegedly confronted Wiebke Hüster at Hanover State Opera, furious at her verdict on a previous showThe director of a leading German ballet company has been suspended from his post and is being investigated by police after allegedly smearing a critic’s face with his dog’s excrement at the premiere of his new show after she described one of his productions as “boring” and “disjointed”.Marco Goecke, the head of Hanover State Opera’s ballet company, has also been barred from the opera house, a spokesperson confirmed on Monday afternoon, after he confronted Wiebke Hüster, the ballet critic of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), in the interval of his latest show on Sunday night. Continue reading...

Buxton Museum returned entire collection of Native American and First Nation artefacts to their original communitiesWhen Taa.uu ‘Yuuwans Nika Collison first opened the email from Buxton Museum, she was, she says, “sort of in shock”.Collison is a member of the Haida nation, the Indigenous inhabitants of a remote archipelago called Haida Gwaii off the very far north-west coast of Canada. For 25 years she and others had been lobbying museums and collectors around the world to return items made by her people back to their homeland, often with very little success. Here was a curator from a small town in Derbyshire she had never heard of, saying it had some Haida items in its collection, and it wanted to send them back. Continue reading...

Salvation Army and other groups say without more resources potential victims could slip through the netFears are mounting that modern slavery survivors could be left at risk of retrafficking within the UK due to a lack of resources to support them, charities are warning.The Salvation Army says it has taken an “unprecedented emergency measure” to suspend accepting referrals of potential victims, while other charities doing similar work say the system appears to be at breaking point. Continue reading...

Independent commission reaches conclusion after hearing evidence from over 500 survivors last yearCatholic clergy in Portugal have abused nearly 5,000 children since 1950, an independent commission said on Monday after hearing hundreds of survivors’ accounts.Thousands of reports of paedophilia within the church have surfaced around the world, and Pope Francis is under pressure to tackle the scandal. Continue reading...