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Flat Earth: Stolon Press, which was called off after Sabsabi was dumped as Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale, will now open on 29 May

Justice secretary expected to back radical sentencing reforms, including use of libido-suppressing drugs in England and WalesShabana Mahmood, the lord chancellor, is considering mandatory chemical castration for the most serious sex offenders, according to government sources.The minister's department is planning to expand a pilot to 20 regions as part of a package of radical" measures to free thousands of prisoners and ease prison overcrowding in England and Wales.Ensure custodial sentences under 12 months are only used in exceptional circumstances.Extend suspended sentences to up to three years and encourage greater use of deferred sentences for low-risk offenders.Give courts greater flexibility to use fines and ancillary orders like travel, driving and football bans.Allow probation officers to adjust the level of supervision based on risk and compliance with licence conditions.Expand specialist domestic abuse courts to improve support for victims.Expand tagging for all perpetrators of violence against women and girls.Improve training for practitioners and the judiciary on violence against women and girls.Change the statutory purposes of sentencing so judges and magistrates must consider protecting victims as much as they consider punishment and rehabilitation when passing sentences. Continue reading...

Attendances are up and average ticket prices down, even in the West End, but the sector faces mounting and unsustainable strainA report by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, released on Thursday, puts the spotlight on an industry struggling with rocketing production costs and in need of urgent funding. The sister trade associations have called for the government's comprehensive spending review to dramatically increase public investment, including 500m for infrastructure, and to support its Theatre for Every Child initiative which aims to ensure all pupils attend a professional theatre production before leaving school.The organisations' co-CEOs, Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, said: Theatres are doing more with less - and the strain is showing. Rising costs, shrinking support and ageing infrastructure are putting the sector under unsustainable pressure. We are seeing world-class organisations forced to cut programmes, delay maintenance and scale back outreach. If we want to maintain the UK's position as a global leader in theatre - and continue to inspire the next generation of actors, writers, and technicians - then government must act." Continue reading...

New Labour initiative created remarkably long-lasting' health and education improvements, says reportSure Start children's centres provided 2 of savings for every 1 in costs, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), prompting calls for the government to look at such services as potentially paying for themselves.The centres, championed by the last Labour government, created 2.8bn in savings and revenues at the scheme's peak in England, according to the IFS study. Continue reading...

President calls government meeting to address finding that Muslim Brotherhood poses threat to national cohesion'Emmanuel Macron's centrist political party has suggested banning girls under 15 from wearing the Muslim headscarf in all public places, as the president chaired a high-level government meeting to discuss what it called political Islamism" in France.The French president's office said he had asked ministers to come up with proposals before June to address the serious" findings of a report that Macron commissioned last year into the presence of the Muslim Brotherhood in France. Continue reading...

Officials at animal refuge near Culiacan, capital of violence-torn Sinaloa state, faced threats from powerful drug gangsHundreds of animals including elephants, crocodiles, lions and tigers have been moved from a violence-torn Mexican cartel heartland to a new home in an operation described as a 21st-century Noah's Ark".The transported species, which also included exotic birds, had been housed at the Ostok animal refuge near Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, home to one of the country's most powerful drug gangs. Continue reading...

Homeland security agent Gerard Gannon testifies about federal raid on Miami Beach property in March last yearThe federal trial of Sean Diddy" Combs entered its eighth day of testimony in New York on Wednesday, with a homeland security agent resuming testimony about the federal raid of Combs's Miami property last year.Combs, 55, is facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in September and has pleaded not guilty. Continue reading...

Liam O'Hanna accused of displaying banned flag in breach of UK terrorism lawsLiam O'Hanna, who performs with the Irish rap trio Kneecap, has been charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London, police said.

PM gives news conference, saying Israel is prepared for an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire and hostage release dealReuters has spoken to Mahmoud al-Haw at one of the soup kitchens in Gaza. The father-of-four says he has been regularly waiting in crowds for up to six hours to obtain food, and sometimes returns empty-handed.I have a sick daughter. I can't provide her with anything. There is no bread, there is nothing," the 39-year-old told the news agency. Continue reading...

Shots force delegation representing 31 countries, including Italy, Canada, Egypt and UK, to run for cover

Head of Probation Service says public at risk from greater use of prison alternatives unless service is better fundedPlans to allow thousands more criminals in England and Wales to serve their sentence in the community risk catastrophic consequences" unless the Probation Service is overhauled, a watchdog has told the Guardian.Martin Jones, HM chief inspector of probation, said government plans to hand responsibility for overseeing offenders from prisons to probation officers meant the risk is carried directly into the community". Continue reading...

Head of strategy of Finnish defence forces says they are monitoring Moscow's manoeuvring very closely'Finland has said it expects Russia to further build up troops along their shared border when the war in Ukraine ends, after reports that Moscow had strengthened its military bases near the Nato frontier.Maj Gen Sami Nurmi, the head of strategy of the Finnish defence forces, said the military is following Moscow's manoeuvring very closely" and that it was their job, as part of the Nato alliance, to prepare for the worst". Continue reading...

Bank's UK division hardens hybrid working policy with requirement to spend at least 60% of time in officeHSBC has told staff in its UK high street banks that it may cut their bonuses if they do not work in the office frequently enough.The bank told employees at its HSBC UK division, which includes its retail and domestic commercial banking businesses, that anyone who did not spend at least 60% of their time in the office could end up being paid less, according to a report by Bloomberg. Continue reading...

National Parking Platform where motorists can pay for all parking on single app to launch as soon as possible'For motorists fed up with having to wrestle with a phone full of apps to pay for parking their car, relief could finally be in sight with a unified app.Lengthy delays have dogged a government-funded initiative, the National Parking Platform (NPP), designed to let people use one app to pay for all their parking instead of having to sign up to a plethora of services. Continue reading...

The Oscar-winning actor will bring The World of Tomorrow to the Shed in New York later this yearTom Hanks is set to co-write and appear in an off-Broadway play.The Oscar winner will bring The World of Tomorrow to the Shed's Griffin Theatre in New York in October through December. Continue reading...

Downing Street unable to say how many more pensioners would receive winter fuel payments or when changes would come inYouGov has published more details of its polling on the electorate's relationship with Labour, as covered in the Sky News report mentioned earlier. (See 10.06am.)It shows that Reform UK supporters are most likely to think that Labour is trying hard to appeal to them - but least likely to say they would respond positively. Only 4% of Reform UK supporters say they would consider voting Labour, the poll says.I ask her if there will be any changes as demanded by MPs

Far-right activist to appear in court next month accused of two counts of harassment causing fear of violenceTommy Robinson, the jailed far-right activist, has been charged with harassment of two journalists.Robinson, 42, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence between 5 and 7 August last year. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Residents asked to sign contracts with a new company operated by a relative of Core & Capacity's director after it was declared insolvent

Fears split with Coalition will diminish party's relevance and ability to advocate for rural communities

Sussan Ley expected to unveil shadow cabinet as early as Thursday, with Liberals adamant Nationals should lose extra staff and resources after split from Coalition

Plug-in hybrid sales nearly double in first three months of national efficiency standards for new cars

Former politician Andriy Portnov advised the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych and had fled Ukraine in 2014For more background on Portnov, here is his profile as drafted by the US Treasury in 2021, when he was sanctioned on the International Anti-Corruption Day, no less.Andriy Portnov (Portnov), the former Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration under former President Yanukovych, has cultivated extensive connections to Ukraine's judicial and law enforcement apparatus through bribery.Widely known as a court fixer, Portnov was credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine's courts and undermining reform efforts. Continue reading...

Government to loosen eligibility rules for pensioners in face of backlash against decision to means test benefit

Group calling itself Last Defence Wave' had recruited other teens online and promoted extremist terrorism'German police have staged early morning raids against an alleged far-right terrorist" cell on suspicion of attacks against asylum seekers and political enemies, arresting five teenage suspects, federal prosecutors said.The operation on Wednesday targeting a neo-Nazi group calling itself Last Defence Wave" marked the latest high-profile action against groups Germany says are working to destabilise its democratic order. Continue reading...

All 10 council areas controlled by rightwing party tell the Guardian they have no low-traffic neighbourhoodsReform UK's pledge to remove all low-traffic neighbourhoods from the council areas it controls looks to be achieved in record time after the 10 local authorities said they do not actually have any in place.Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's chair, said last week there would be a large-scale reversal" of existing LTNs in the 10 areas across England where the party won control of the councils in local elections on 1 May. Continue reading...

Andriy Portnov, ex-aide to pro-Russia former president, was dropping off children when he was targeted by gunmenUnidentified gunmen have shot and killed a former Ukrainian politician, Andriy Portnov, outside a school in an upmarket suburb of Madrid.The killing of Portnov, who had worked as a senior aide to Ukraine's pro-Russia former president, Viktor Yanukovych, took place on Wednesday morning outside the American School of Madrid in Pozuelo de Alarcon. Continue reading...

More than half of troupe's dancers write to minister criticising Demis Volpi and five soloists resign

Business committee orders three ministers to answer questions over fears arms being sent for use in Gaza

Kremlin said the Russian president visited the region on Tuesday and met with the interim governmentThe Kremlin said on Wednesday that no decision had been made on a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks, responding to a question about whether they could be hosted by the Vatican, reports Reuters.US president Donald Trump said on Monday it would be great" for Russia and Ukraine to hold ceasefire talks at the Vatican, saying it would add extra significance to the proceedings. Continue reading...

Push It hitmakers Sandra Denton and Cheryl James claim Universal is blocking the return of their copyright, but label claims it has repeatedly attempted a resolutionThe pop-rap group Salt-N-Pepa have sued Universal Music Group as they try to regain control over their master recordings.Salt-N-Pepa are known for irrepressible hits across the 1980s and 1990s such as Push It and Let's Talk About Sex, which both reached No 2 in the UK and the US Top 20. Continue reading...

Dance teacher Leanne Lucas launches campaign against traditional pointed knives that can be used as weaponsA dance teacher who survived a knife attack in Southport last summer has started a campaign calling for pointed kitchen knives to be replaced by ones with blunt tips.Leanne Lucas, 36, was critically injured in the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class she was leading during last year's school summer holidays. Continue reading...

Conditions are expected to persist into the rest of the day, with 150 to 200mm of rainfall predicted in the mid-north coast. Follow today's news live

Memo from deputy PM to chancellor proposing eight potential measures highlights unease over spending plansAngela Rayner urged Rachel Reeves to consider a series of wealth tax rises, it has been revealed, in a move that underscores growing unease within the government over the chancellor's tight spending plans.A memo sent by the deputy prime minister to the chancellor before March's spring statement proposed eight potential tax measures worth an estimated 3bn to 4bn a year, including reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance and increasing the corporation tax rate for banks. Continue reading...

Ernie Els and Retief Goosen reportedly part of delegation as president seeks to reset ties after white genocide' claimsThe South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is expected to take the golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen with him to meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as the government attempts to reset relations with the US amid Trump's accusations that it is fomenting a white genocide".Ramaphosa's appeal to Trump's love of golf, with the potential inclusion of Els and Goosen reported by South African local media, is part of his efforts to avoid a public dressing down of the kind Trump gave to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in February. Continue reading...

Petro Pochynok, 34, charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, says Metropolitan policeA third man has been charged in connection with suspected arson attacks on properties and a car linked to Keir Starmer, the Metropolitan police has said.Scotland Yard said Petro Pochynok, 34, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life by conspiring together with Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc and others unknown to damage by fire property belonging to another, intending to damage the property, and intending to endanger the life or another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered". Continue reading...

Jab hailed as landmark moment for sexual health' and comes amid record cases of infectionA vaccine for gonorrhoea will be rolled out in England as part of a world-first programme, officials have announced.The move, hailed as a landmark moment for sexual health", will aim to tackle rising levels of the sexually transmitted infection (STI). Continue reading...

UK suspends trade negotiations over monstrous' rhetoric as Gaza starvation worsens

Poorly planned rail lines and a reliance on hand-delivered messages combined with 170-year-old infrastructure provides a picture of a network with myriad vulnerabilities

Annual rise in April follows upturn in national insurance contributions and higher household costsInflation jumped by more than expected last month to 3.5% after dramatic increases in water bills, energy costs and council tax, official figures show.A rise in employer national insurance contributions and a boost to the national minimum wage also put pressure on companies to raise prices in April by more than City analysts had forecast. Continue reading...

Exclusive: 25m hi-tech facility at terminal had been called white elephant' even before latest EU deal scrapping some health and veterinary checksA 25m post-Brexit border control post in Portsmouth may have to be demolished if the UK government's deal with the EU removes the need for health and veterinary checks on food imports, according to the port's director.Mike Sellers had already spoken out last year about how more than half of the site would never be used because planned checks on EU food and plant products had been pared back since it was designed, leading to the building being called a white elephant". Continue reading...

Gin Gin property where Pheobe Bishop was living and grey car declared crime scenes, Queensland police say

Average spend of 757 includes tickets, accommodation, 75 on food and drink, 60 on merchandise plus travel and new outfitsOasis fans are expected to splash out more than 1bn on the reunion tour including tickets, accommodation, food, drink, outfits and merchandise, according to research that found a quarter of ticket holders would have been happy to spend even more.The band's comeback concerts after a 15-year hiatus are expected to be the most popular, and profitable, run of gigs in British history. Continue reading...

The Sicilian fishing village is watching the salvage of Mike Lynch's superyacht for answers to the causes of the tragedySome say that the late tech tycoon Mike Lynch's superyacht, Bayesian, sank because it was vulnerable to high winds that drove the vessel past its point of stability. Others insist that a chain of human errors led to the incident that claimed seven lives, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah.But in the quiet Sicilian fishing village of Porticello - where on 19 August 2024 the Bayesian was caught shortly before dawn in a violent storm while anchored off coast - everyone knows the truth lies 50 metres below the surface, in the wreckage of a yacht that divers, floating cranes and underwater drones are still struggling to bring back from the depths of the ocean. Continue reading...

Taku Et's remarks drew fury as cost of rice has nearly doubled in a year amid soaring food pricesJapan's agriculture minister has resigned after saying he never buys rice because he gets it free, a remark that drew public fury in a country facing soaring food prices.Taku Et's resignation has added to pressure on the prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, whose failure to rein in soaring rice prices and address a wider cost of living crisis has angered voters ahead of upper house elections in July. Continue reading...

Good character references from friends and families of accused rapists had previously been a consideration in a judge's sentencing decision

In an interview with the Guardian, Winston Peters says the world faces the most uncertain time' in 80 years ahead of talks with Australia's foreign ministerThe Pacific must be protected from becoming a military zone amid China's growing push for influence in the region, New Zealand's top diplomat Winston Peters has warned ahead of a meeting with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.Peters, who is New Zealand's deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister, told the Guardian that his country has a good relationship with China. Continue reading...

Proportion of cases lasting more than a year up 17-fold in seven years, National Audit Office saysThe proportion of children in England and Wales subject to care proceedings who are having to wait more than a year to have their case resolved has increased more than 17-fold in the last seven years, a watchdog has found.The average duration of proceedings brought by local authorities to protect a child from harm (known as public law cases) was 36 weeks last year, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). In 2014 the government set a time limit of 26 weeks but it has never been met. Continue reading...

Climate Change Committee says original goal of a 75% emissions cut by 2030 will now be delayed by up to six yearsThe UK's climate watchdog has warned that Scotland needs to take immediate action at pace and scale" to cut its emissions after ministers axed a series of policy pledges.The Climate Change Committee (CCC), an official advisory body, said ministers in Edinburgh needed to take urgent action to curb emissions from buildings and transport to cut Scotland's overall emissions to nearly zero by 2045.Abandoned a target to cut car miles by 20% by 2030.Dropped a pledge to rapidly decarbonise homes by mandating low-carbon heating systems.Cut funding for tree planting.Missed targets to restore degraded peatland.Ignored calls for a plan to cut meat and dairy consumption, and failed to use their powers to tax air travel more heavily. Continue reading...

Sentencing review to be published on Thursday aims to ease prison capacity crisis' and reduce reoffendingJudges and magistrates in England and Wales will be told to move away from handing out short custodial sentences in favour of community-based alternatives in a long-awaited sentencing review to be announced on Thursday.Amid concern that the criminal justice system could collapse because of overcrowding in prisons, the former Tory justice secretary David Gauke will call for suspended sentences to be made available for custodial sentences of up to three years, instead of the current two. Continue reading...

Firms among England and Wales suppliers facing record 81 investigations as sources say polluter will pay' for their costTwo of Britain's biggest water companies, Thames Water and Anglian Water, face more than 50 criminal investigations between them as part of a crackdown on sewage dumping, the government has said.The utilities were subject to the bulk of a record 81 investigations into water companies between last July's general election and March 2025, according to new data. Continue reading...