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LSE academic and prominent Brexit critic is first Asian woman to be appointed to role, replacing Michael SaundersThe chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has chosen an outspoken critic of Brexit as the next member of the Bank of England’s interest rate-setting committee.Dr Swati Dhingra, an associate professor at the London School of Economics who has previously called on the government to “cancel Brexit”, will join the monetary policy committee (MPC) in August, arriving during one of the most difficult periods faced by the central bank. Continue reading...

Regulator sets near-record fine after former staff falsified material over audits of Carillion and other firmsKPMG will pay one of the largest fines in UK audit history, after former staff forged documents and misled the regulator over audits for companies including the collapsed outsourcer Carillion.The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) – which regulates accountants – confirmed the £14.4m settlement at a London tribunal hearing on Thursday, and said KPMG would also face a “severe reprimand” over the “extremely serious” misconduct related to employees’ false representations to the watchdog. Continue reading...

Sandwiches and wraps from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Aldi are among products to be removedMore than 100 products containing cooked chicken – including sandwiches and wraps sold at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Aldi, the Co-op, Pret a Manger and Marks & Spencer – have been removed from sale after a salmonella scare at a major supplier.Cranswick Country Foods said it had asked its customers to remove all their products containing its ready-to-eat chicken produced during a particular period after “a routine internal inspection” identified the presence of salmonella on a “limited number” of such products at its poultry processing plant in Hull. Continue reading...

UK is now ‘the jurisdiction of choice for dirty money’, warns parliamentary group as it launches economic crime manifestoThe UK has become “the jurisdiction of choice for dirty money”, harming both its national reputation and democratic institutions, a cross-party group of MPs has warned as they urged a new government focus on money laundering and corruption.An economic crime manifesto launched by the group calls for measures including major transparency reforms for company records, a crackdown on tax avoidance in UK overseas territories, and more resources for enforcement. Continue reading...

Three men arrested on suspicion of child abduction after 15-year-old found at address in cityThree men have been arrested on suspicion of child abduction after a 15-year-old girl was found at an address in Bristol.Madison Thomas, known as Maddie, disappeared from her foster home in Southmead, Bristol, on the afternoon of 26 April. On Wednesday, Avon and Somerset police said officers were treating the incident as child abduction rather than a missing persons case. Continue reading...

Book review says reality is intelligence agencies are tasked ‘to defend the national interest for its own sake’MI6’s ethics chief has argued that spies cannot justify their existence with moral arguments alone and must accept they exist to “promote the national interest” in a struggle as “potent now as it was during the cold war”.The frank argument is made in a review of a book, Spying Through a Glass Darkly, a discussion of the ethics of espionage, which argues that the entirely values-based justification for spying advanced by the author is too restrictive. Continue reading...

IWGB union says endorsement by GMB means workers still receive below the minimum wageDeliveroo has been accused of “seeking endorsement for exploitative practices” after signing a deal with the GMB union that does not ensure its couriers will be paid the legal minimum wage throughout their whole working day.The takeaway group has pledged to pay its 90,000 riders at least the minimum wage after costs but only while delivering an order, under the deal which recognises them as “self-employed”. Continue reading...

Peruvian writer criticises incumbent’s ‘clowning around’ but says he is still preferable to former presidentThe Nobel prize-winning author Mario Vargas Llosa, Latin America’s most eminent living chronicler of power and corruption, has declared a preference for Jair Bolsonaro over Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as Brazil prepares to head to the polls later this year.The 86-year-old Peruvian writer, who also holds Spanish citizenship, revealed his thoughts on October’s election during a talk in Uruguay on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary repeats threat to scrap parts of Brexit deal, saying it is a matter of ‘peace and security’The UK foreign secretary has reiterated her threat to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol, telling the EU’s Brexit negotiator it was a matter of “internal peace and security”.Liz Truss warned Maroš Šefčovič in a phone call that unless the EU showed the “requisite flexibility” in talks over the trading arrangements she would have “no choice but to act”. Continue reading...

Analysis: the two countries are considering applying to join after Russia’s invasion of UkraineFinland and Sweden could apply for membership of the 30-nation Nato alliance within days, ending decades of military non-alignment in a historic shift triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here is a brief look at the background and implications of their decisions. Continue reading...

Parental permission to end for terminations and up to five days’ leave a month for painful periodsSpain’s Socialist-led coalition government is preparing a law that would allow women over the age of 16 to have abortions without permission from their parents or guardians, and introduce up to five days of menstrual leave a month.The draft legislation, which is due to be approved by the cabinet next week, is intended to ensure that abortion is available to all those using the public health system, and that menstruation is treated as a proper health issue. Continue reading...

Russian-controlled administration in Kherson plans to request annexation; Ukraine claims it has recaptured Pytomnyk, north of Kharkiv

Thousands of locals in Miramichi, New Brunswick, have been swept up in the hunt – and Friday’s clue promises $1,300It started in early May with a post on a Facebook page for second-hand goods in the Canadian town of Miramichi, New Brunswick. A hundred Canadian dollars had been hidden somewhere near the town’s harbour, it said.The following days brought more clues for other locations. Some made sense. Most were maddeningly vague. Continue reading...

Analysis of 20 detained people who could be on flight next week reveals 13 arrived in Britain as a childMost of the Jamaicans facing deportation from the UK on a controversial Home Office charter flight next week arrived in the country as children, according to analysis passed to the Guardian.It is not known how many Jamaican nationals are due to be on the 18 May flight but numbers on the last four Jamaica deportation flights have been decreasing steadily – from 17 to 13, to seven and then four. Continue reading...

Simon Birmingham says Anthony Albanese ‘making it up as he goes along’ on wage rises; Peter Dutton takes swipe at Clive Palmer over seat preferences; at least 53 Covid deaths recorded. Follow all the day’s news

Precarious positions are being given to women in a ‘poisoned chalice’ that threatens the fight for gender equality in parliament

Murray urged crowd to vote for Coalition while mocking Penny Wong, trans people and described a regular guest as ‘blow-up clown doll’

Damien Tudehope says government drew ‘line in the sand’ over new trains after weeks of negotiations

State’s chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, urges people to get flu vaccinations as 2,000 cases reported in last week

The prime minister claimed ‘these kinds of taxes’ deterred investment, contrary to BP boss saying it would notBoris Johnson has refused to rule out the introduction of a windfall tax which would help to relieve pressure on the cost of living crisis.Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Johnson said that while he believed a disadvantage of windfall tax would be the impact it would have on investment, the prospect of such a taxwas still something to be looked at. Continue reading...

Australian golf champion makes remarks about journalist’s murder at Saudi-backed league eventThe golf champion Greg Norman has attempted to dismiss questions over the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate as a “mistake,” adding the Saudi government “wants to move forward”.Norman was speaking at a promotional event in the UK for a Saudi-backed golf tournament, the LIV Golf Invitational Series. The 67-year-old is chief executive of LIV Golf Investments, funded primarily by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. Continue reading...

Joint venture will bring together rights to sports including Premier League, Champions League and OlympicsBT has struck a deal with the US media company Warner Bros Discovery to create a joint venture pay-TV sport business, which will bring together rights to sports including the Premier League, the Champions League and the Olympics, worth as much as £633m to the telecoms operator.In February, BT entered into exclusive talks with the US firm to merge BT Sport with the Discovery-owned Eurosport, which broadcasts a wide range of sports including tennis and cycling and holds the pan-European rights to the Olympics in the UK. Continue reading...

In election pitch, NSW treasurer says party at risk of becoming like Republicans, with Putin sympathisers and anti-vaxxers

Homes for Ukraine scheme’s problems continue, as council warns of potential issue with parallel processes

Pablo González, who has joint Spanish and Russian nationality, alleged to have worked for GRU military intelligenceA freelance journalist from Spain is spending his 10th week in Polish custody while prosecutors there investigate what they claim is a case of espionage linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.In a case that raises red flags about press freedom in Europe at a time of war, prosecutors are expected next week to ask a judge for a further three-month extension to the detention of Pablo González, who has freelanced for media including Spain’s La Sexta TV channel, Spanish state news agency EFE and the US-government funded Voice of America. Continue reading...

UK government urged to act as worst drought in 40 years threatens region while aid efforts and global attention remain focused on Ukraine warThe UK government has been urged to give the hunger crisis gripping the Horn of Africa “proper attention”, as new polling showed just two in 10 people in Britain are aware that the worst drought in 40 years is even taking place, let alone threatening famine.As the war in Ukraine rages, the combined effect of three failed rainy seasons has pushed parts of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia to the brink, killing livestock, forcing people to leave their homes and increasing levels of child malnutrition. The Russian invasion has exacerbated the situation, pushing up the price of staples such as wheat and sunflower oil, as well as fuel. Continue reading...

Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned this week after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters and ran riot in Colombo, unleashing days of violenceBeleaguered president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was set to name a new prime minister on Thursday to try to steer Sri Lanka out of its dire economic crisis after days of violence, officials said.Respected five-time former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was the frontrunner to head a “unity government” with cross-party support in the 225-member parliament and replace Rajapaksa’s elder brother Mahinda who stepped down on Monday. Continue reading...

Former comrade called as witness by Roberts-Smith denies seeing teen alive or recognising photo of dead body

Opposition leader describes failed motion calling for a ban as ‘reasonable’ but not a ‘priority’

Experts call for urgent investment and effort to transform pregnant women’s access to modern medicineWomen and babies in the UK are “dying needlessly” because of a lack of suitable medicines to use in pregnancy, according to a report that calls for a radical overhaul of maternal health.A “profound” shortage of research and the widespread exclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women from clinical trials means hardly any new drugs are approved for common medical problems in pregnancy or soon after childbirth, the report finds. Continue reading...

Tie-up with IWG at London store sees supermarket trial new way of exploiting redundant square footageClient meetings and emails could be picked up alongside a pint of milk and a box of eggs under a new deal between Tesco and flexible office operator IWG.From later this month, the owner of office operator Regus is to test out a 3,800 sq ft flexible working area within Tesco’s New Malden supermarket, with room for 12 private desks, 30 co-working spaces and a meeting room. Continue reading...

Labor leader says stance only relates to those on minimum wage of $20.33 an hour and is conditional on industrial tribunal ordering increase

Nato allies expect Finland and Sweden to be granted membership quickly, a move Putin has warned would have ‘serious military consequences’

Students’ union says cost-of-living pressures and fee hikes are taking a toll even as Hecs debt climbs faster than rates of pay

Actor says he ‘jokingly’ kissed Christie Whelan Browne on hips once while out of sight of audience, his defamation trial hears

Read the full responses from independent candidates and crossbench MPs surveyed

Omicron infections create ‘biggest emergency incident in the country’, according to state media, as Kim Jong-un chairs response meeting

Pilot told to turn around before aircraft hit a large tree and crashed north of Melbourne, according to preliminary ATSB report

Confusion has surrounded post of education minister since PM insisted Tudge was still in cabinet, despite standing aside

UK signs security assurance declarations with Sweden and Finland; Ukraine leader says discovery of atrocities makes peace negotiations harder

Police say man was trying to fly from Queensland to Singapore when he was arrested over alleged drug importation

Killer of Milly Dowler is engaged and has requested a wedding, Ministry of Justice confirmsThe serial killer Levi Bellfield is engaged and has requested a prison wedding, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.Bellfield has applied for permission to marry a woman while he is serving two whole life orders for murdering Marsha McDonnell, Amelie Delagrange and Milly Dowler. Continue reading...

Mayor of London says panel of experts will consider effectiveness of UK policies on non-class A drugsSadiq Khan has announced a commission to examine the effectiveness of the UK’s drug laws, with a particular focus on those governing cannabis.The London drugs commission, to be chaired by Lord Charlie Falconer QC, a former lord chancellor and justice secretary, was one of Khan’s manifesto pledges in his re-election bid last year. Continue reading...

Actors’ union says Covid exacerbated contributory factors such as job insecurity and low payPeople working in entertainment and performing arts are twice as likely to experience depression as the general population, according to a review of more than 100 academic studies.The impact of Covid restrictions on theatres and other venues in 2020 and 2021 had exacerbated contributory factors such as job insecurity and low pay, said the actors’ union, Equity, which commissioned the review. Continue reading...

Woman had been denied termination in strongly Catholic nation despite damaged foetusA Croatian woman who was denied an abortion although her foetus had serious health issues has undergone the procedure, it was revealed on Wednesday.The case sparked nationwide outrage in the EU country where Catholic church-backed conservative groups aspire to curb the right to abortion, which is legal until the 10th week of pregnancy. Continue reading...

Witness denies assertions from newspapers that he was motivated to lie to derail an investigation into possible war crimes

EU sources say threat to abandon parts of agreement risks undermining alliance against Vladimir PutinLiz Truss has been warned of a major rebellion over plans for a bill that could revoke parts of the Northern Ireland protocol, amid fresh concern in Washington over the UK’s approach.European Union insiders have warned that the British government’s threat to abandon parts of the Northern Ireland protocol risks undermining the international alliance against Vladimir Putin. Continue reading...

Labour MP says Cambridge officials reprimanded her instead of taking action against her harassersThe Labour MP Stella Creasy has disclosed that she was threatened with gang-rape amid a campaign of sexual harassment after entering student politics at the University of Cambridge.While running for a student council role in the mid-1990s, the Walthamstow MP said she was reprimanded by college authorities instead of action being taken against the men involved. Continue reading...

At least four people have been arrested and face charges of cyber stalking, cyber slander and cyber libel for Facebook commentsA police crackdown in Vanuatu that has seen people arrested for allegedly posting comments on social media speculating politicians were responsible for the country’s current Covid outbreak has raised serious concerns about freedom of speech in the Pacific country.At least four people on two separate islands have been arrested as part of a major investigation by Vanuatu’s Serious Crime Unit in the last few weeks, including a factory worker, a printer, a business owner, and a Facebook page moderator. They face charges of cyber stalking, cyber slander, and cyber libel and face up to three years in prison and fines of up to three million Vatu (US$25,838). Continue reading...