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Research finds risk of myopericarditis after Covid jab is low and similar to that after flu vaccineHeart inflammation after a Covid jab is not only rare but no more common than after other types of vaccinations, researchers have found.As Covid vaccination programmes began around the world it emerged that some people – particularly young men – subsequently developed myocarditis, a type of inflammation of the heart muscle, or pericarditis, inflammation of the outer lining of the heart. Continue reading...

Karl Nehammer becomes first western leader to hold face-to-face talks with Russian president since invasion of Ukraine

Announcement comes after singer was released from conservatorship she says required her to stay on birth controlFans have congratulated Britney Spears after she appeared to reveal she is pregnant with her third child.The Toxic singer shared the news in a post on Instagram, saying she had taken a test after her partner, Sam Asghari, had teased her about being “food pregnant”. Continue reading...

Tuesday: Austrian chancellor becomes first western leader to hold face-to-face talks with Russian president since invasion of Ukraine. Plus: Australia’s top travel experiences

Eric Pickles had ‘other tragedies’ on his mind when he incorrectly referred to ‘nameless 96 people’ while giving evidence to inquiryA Conservative peer and former Cabinet minister has apologised for getting the number of people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire wrong when speaking during the inquiry.Eric Pickles, who gave evidence last week, incorrectly said 96 people died in the June 2017 blaze. The correct number of victims was 72. Continue reading...

British Congolese playwright receives Susan Smith Blackburn prize for her debut play, Lava, staged in 2021 at the Bush in LondonBenedict Lombe has won this year’s Susan Smith Blackburn prize for female, transgender and non-binary dramatists.In a special presentation at Shakespeare’s Globe in London on Monday night, Lombe was named the winner for her play, Lava, a memoir-monologue that travels from Mobutu’s Democratic Republic of the Congo via post-apartheid South Africa to modern-day London. It is the first time in the history of the award, established in 1978, that the prize has gone to a debut play. Continue reading...

Eleven on trial for Portland collection theft also accused of ‘ruthless’ burglaries of footballers’ homesA gang accused of stealing the £3.75m Portland tiara and brooch from a Nottinghamshire gallery in 2018 was involved in a number of “ruthlessly executed” burglaries that also targeted footballers Ashley Cole and Tom Huddlestone, a court has heard.Opening the case against 11 defendants at Nottingham crown court, the prosecutor, Michael Brady QC, said the burglaries and violent robberies were “extremely serious, high-profile and carefully planned”. Continue reading...

Twenty-six-year-old stabbed long-serving Conservative after being fuelled by Islamic State propaganda

Party expels Khan, 48, who faces time in jail and could be disqualified as MP from his Wakefield constituency

Senator Andrew Bragg says change isn’t necessary because Sex Discrimination Act already contains carve-outs for strength and stamina

Influenza cases fell to historic lows during Covid but experts warn of its return, and the risk of ‘flurona’

Calls for Victorian government to release latest figures, blaming lack of investment, not just pandemic, for elective surgery delays

Zelenskiy says Mariupol death toll probably in tens of thousands; Austrian chancellor has ‘direct, open and tough talks’ with Putin

Sanctions are designed to make it difficult for Russia to make sovereign debt payments to foreign investors

Politicians call for focus to be put on slain MP’s life and work – rather than on deeds of his murdererBoris Johnson has joined MPs and others in paying tribute to Sir David Amess, with several stressing the importance of focusing on the Conservative backbencher’s life and work rather than the deeds of his murderer.In a tweeted statement, Johnson called Amess, who was killed last October by Ali Harbi Ali in an Islamist-inspired terrorist attack, “a beloved colleague, public servant and friend who championed the city of Southend in everything he did”, saying his thoughts were with Amess’s family. Continue reading...

Public support for western alliance doubled in both countries after Russia invaded Ukraine, find pollsSweden’s ruling party has begun debating whether the country should join Nato, and neighbouring Finland expects to reach a decision within weeks, as Moscow warned that the Nordic nations’ accession would “not bring stability” to Europe.Both countries are officially non-aligned militarily, but public support for Nato membership has almost doubled since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to about 50% in Sweden and 60% in Finland, multiple opinion polls suggest. Continue reading...

Complainant says they tried to warn Conservative party before Ahmad Khan won election in Wakefield

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen face tense runoff after first round of voting in presidential race

Long-serving Conservative, who has died after stabbing, also campaigned on health issues and fuel povertyThe Conservative Sir David Amess, 69, was one of the longest-serving MPs, having first been elected for Basildon in 1983 and then for Southend West in 1997.A long-term Eurosceptic, he supported Brexit in the 2016 EU referendum and tweeted a picture of a lifesize cardboard cutout of Margaret Thatcher on the day the UK left the European Union. Continue reading...

The actor expressed regret for his criticism of Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning film, saying he also wanted to ‘apologise to the cast … brilliant actors all’The actor Sam Elliott has apologised for comments he made last month about Jane Campion’s western The Power of the Dog.While speaking with Marc Maron on the latter’s WTF podcast, Elliott had described the film as a “piece of shit” western with “allusions of homosexuality”. Continue reading...

Ali, whose father was involved in anti-terrorist campaigns, had researched attacks on other MPsAli Harbi Ali’s descent to extremism followed an otherwise unremarkable childhood.Born in Southwark, London, in 1996 to Somali parents, Ali grew up in a three-bedroom 1980s terrace house in Croydon with his mother, two sisters and younger brother. Continue reading...

Heathrow ‘stretched’ but airport pledges to build up resources as quickly as possibleMore flights were cancelled on Monday as airlines and airports struggled to cope with the big Easter getaway, and Heathrow said it was increasing resourcing as fast as possible to deal with rising passenger numbers.British Airways cancelled at least 64 domestic or European flights to or from Heathrow. Affected UK routes included Heathrow to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle, while the international routes affected were services to and from Berlin, Dublin, Geneva, Paris and Stockholm. British Airways said passengers were given advanced warning of the cancellations. Continue reading...

The naming of Ali Harbi Ali in connection with the Conservative MP’s death had wider repercussionsWhen Kahiye Alim, director of the Council of Somali Organisations (CSO), saw reports that the suspected killer of Southend West MP David Amess was of Somali heritage, he was in a state of shock.Alim was out for dinner on a Friday evening when he heard the news, and could no longer eat. He began to worry about the repercussions the event would have on the British Somali community. Continue reading...

Jebina Yasmin Islam blames ethnicity for initial lack of headlines over murder, and also criticises Priti PatelThe murder of Sabina Nessa would have provoked a more intense public outcry if the primary school teacher had been white, her relatives have said, as they accused the home secretary of exploiting her death for publicity.Nessa’s sister, Jebina Yasmin Islam, said there had been no support from the government, describing people in senior positions as useless, and saying the murder of Sarah Everard six months before that of Nessa had received more press coverage. Continue reading...

The PM campaigned in Gilmore in NSW, while Labor leader is in Bass in Tasmania; Tanya Plibersek defends Anthony Albanese after opposition leader addresses his rates stumble; phone voting available for people in isolation on election day; NSW reports three Covid deaths and Victoria one. This blog is now closed

Silent Witness star says venues should hold separate shows so people most at risk of Covid can attendSeparate performances reserved for those who want to wear masks or socially distance should be held in theatres, the actor Liz Carr has suggested.The Silent Witness star was concerned that theatres were becoming inaccessible to people who have underlying health conditions as the number of people continuing to wear masks falls, despite a new surge in Covid infections. Continue reading...

NHS Confederation calls for ‘living with Covid’ plans to be reconsidered as health system strugglesMinisters should reconsider England’s “living with Covid” plans, health leaders have said, while accusing the government of ignoring the ongoing threat for ideological reasons.The NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, has accused No 10 of having “abandoned any interest” in the pandemic, despite a new Omicron surge putting pressure on an already overstretched NHS. Continue reading...

Soldier refused to answer questions about one mission on grounds of self-incrimination on offence of ‘the most serious nature’

Uluru Statement from the Heart creators say politicians are ready and ‘history is calling’ them to take action

‘I’ll have more to say about that at another time,’ PM tells reporters on election campaign trail

The pioneering Bilan project, funded by UN, will report on gender-based violence, women in politics and female entrepreneursThe first all-women media house in Somalia has been launched, creating a rare opportunity for female journalists in the country to research and publish stories they want to tell.Led by one of the few female senior news producers in the country, the team of six will produce content for TV, radio and online media on issues such as gender-based violence, women in politics and female entrepreneurs. Continue reading...

Deputy premier James Merlino rejects calls for dedicated Grand Prix public holiday to further boost crowds

Police say Johns recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.157 after crash between his SUV and a van in the NSW Hunter region in March

Conditions drastically worse than in general camps, with some women forced to engage in ‘survival sex’, says World VisionWomen and children living in some of the hardest-to-reach camps in north-west Syria face chronic and high levels of violence and depression, with some women forced to engage in “survival sex”, a new report has revealed.Children in so-called “widow camps” have been found to be severely neglected, abused and forced to work while mothers are at “breaking point” psychologically. More than 80% of women say they do not have adequate healthcare and 95% expressed feelings of hopelessness. Continue reading...

Exclusive: total number of doctors now about 1,500 less than in the year Jeremy Hunt promised a rise of 5,000 by 2020The number of GPs in England has fallen every year since the government first pledged to increase the family doctor workforce by 5,000, a minister has admitted.There were 29,364 full-time-equivalent GPs in post in September 2015, when the then health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, first promised to increase the total by 5,000 by 2020. Continue reading...

Karl Nehammer will be first EU leader to meet Russian president since invasion began, and called for a ceasefire and full investigation of war crimes

Monday: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese kick off their election campaigns. Plus: affordable autumn food

Monarch discusses experience with former Covid patient and wife during virtual visit to Royal London hospitalThe Queen has revealed she was left “very tired and exhausted” after her recent bout of Covid-19 as she discussed her experience with a former patient whose brother and father died from the virus.The monarch tested positive for coronavirus in February, but carried on with her duties, despite suffering from what Buckingham Palace described as “mild cold-like symptoms”. Continue reading...

Awards for Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley among musical’s wins, with Life of Pi also recognised in several categoriesAn intimate revival of the musical Cabaret, which transformed London’s Playhouse theatre into the debauched Kit Kat Club of Weimar Berlin, has triumphed at this year’s Olivier awards.The production won in seven categories at the ceremony, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday for the first time in three years and hosted by comedian Jason Manford. Covid forced the cancellation of the last two annual awards shows, though a prerecorded virtual ceremony served as a stopgap in autumn 2020. Continue reading...

Work by Francis Hines, who wrapped buildings and paintings and died at 96 in 2016, found in dumpster and now destined for salePaintings and other artwork found in an abandoned barn in Connecticut turned out to be worth millions of dollars.Notified by a contractor, Jared Whipple, a mechanic from Waterbury, retrieved the dirt-covered pieces from a dumpster which contained materials from a barn in Watertown. Continue reading...

Money saving expert says UK government must do more to ensure people can heat homes and have enough foodBritain’s self-titled money saving expert Martin Lewis has warned that civil unrest over rising energy bills “isn’t far away”, as he repeated his call for more government intervention to protect people.Lewis said he was the most scared he has been for people’s finances since he founded his popular website in 2003. It has traditionally offered advice on which bank accounts or phone providers may be cost-effective, and has been a regular port of call for people looking to switch energy provider and save money. Continue reading...

Chancellor should address criticism of family’s tax affairs rather than seeking inquiry into source of leak, says Jonathan AshworthRishi Sunak has been accused of “whingeing” about the leak of his wife’s non-dom tax status after he ordered a Whitehall inquiry and raised concerns the unauthorised disclosure could be a criminal offence.The chancellor was criticised by Labour for complaining about the “smears” and insisting on an inquiry into the leak, instead of addressing the criticism of his family avoiding tax while he puts up taxes and cuts benefits in real terms this month. Continue reading...

The chancellor remains under pressure after controversy over the tax affairs of his wifeThe “non-dom” status: why will Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, not give it up?Murty has agreed to pay UK tax on her worldwide earnings in future and for the last tax year, but she will continue to be a non-domiciled citizen. This potentially still confers inheritance tax advantages on her overseas wealth. Some critics are also still calling for her to pay UK tax on her worldwide earnings on a backdated basis. Continue reading...

The PM flew to Poland and then travelled by Ukrainian rail for his meeting with Volodymyr ZelenskiyBoris Johnson embarked on his trip to Kyiv in utmost secrecy. He arrived in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday without the world’s media realising he was there until footage of him strolling the streets with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emerged.Only after he had returned to the UK did a Downing Street spokesperson confirm he had flown to Poland and then travelled by train via Ukrainian railways. Continue reading...

Insufficient accomodation and government support spark calls for better resourcing and planning in disaster responses

Man applied to Australian government for act of grace payment over Mosul strike targeting Islamic State in 2017An Iraqi man who alleges 35 family members were killed when an Australian airstrike targeting Islamic State instead obliterated a house where civilians were sheltering has been denied a compensation payment by the federal government.The man, who did not wish to be identified, applied for what is known as an act of grace payment from the Department of Finance last year, arguing that there was strong evidence the Australian Defence Force dropped the bomb in 2017 as part of a series of airstrikes in Mosul by the coalition fighting IS.Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading...