Design created with no concrete and completely sustainable materials is first to win new environmental prizeA garden built with humble" terracotta made into 3D-printed bricks has won the first green medal at Chelsea flower show for being the most environmentally sustainable design.This year's show, held in the Royal hospital gardens in south-west London, has a strong environmental theme. At the press day on Monday, Dame Judi Dench was presented with a seedling taken from the Sycamore Gap tree felled in Northumberland. Continue reading...
Of the 122 pupils at school to treat haemophilia between 1970 and 1987, only 30 are still alive; Sir Brian Langstaff attacks government claims over treatmentGB News has described the Ofcom ruling against it today (see 10.51am and 11.01am) as an alarming development" that should terrify" anyone who believes in a free media. Here is its response to the judgment in full.Ofcom's finding against GB News today is an alarming development in its attempt to silence us by standing in the way of a forum that allows the public to question politicians directly.The regulator's threat to punish a news organisation with sanctions for enabling people to challenge their own prime minister strikes at the heart of democracy at a time when it could not be more vital.In considering whether the programme was duly impartial, we took into account a range of factors, such as: the audience's questions to the prime minister; the prime minister's responses; the presenter's contribution; and whether due impartiality was preserved through clearly linked and timely programmes. Our investigation found, in summary, that:-while some of the audience's questions provided some challenge to, and criticism of, the government's policies and performance, audience members were not able to challenge the prime minister's responses and the presenter did not do this to any meaningful extent;Given the very high compliance risks this programme presented, we found GB News's approach to compliance to be wholly insufficient, and consider it could have, and should have, taken additional steps to mitigate these risks.We found that an appropriately wide range of significant viewpoints were not presented and given due weight in the People's Forum: The Prime Minister, nor was due impartiality preserved through clearly linked and timely programmes. As a result, we consider that the prime minister had a mostly uncontested platform to promote the policies and performance of his government in a period preceding a UK general election. Continue reading...
by Yohannes Lowe (now) and Lili Bayer (earlier) on (#6MXZT)
Lloyd Austin, speaking at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, praises troops' courage in hard and dangerous fight'Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, the Russian state news Tass agency reported on Monday.It said the ministers were meeting to discuss the implementation of Russian-Chinese agreements reached during Vladimir Putin's state visit to China last week, and events in Iran, whose president and foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Continue reading...
Experts say shift in direction, including on nuclear issue, is unlikely after death of president and foreign ministerIn the immediate aftermath of the death of the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, and foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash on Sunday, Iran's regional proxies lined up to offer their condolences.Hamas mourned Raisi as an honourable supporter" of the Gaza-based group. Hezbollah praised him as a strong supporter, and a staunch defender of our causes ... and a protector of the resistance movements". Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi rebels, said on X that Raisi's death was a loss for the entire Islamic world and Palestine and Gaza". Continue reading...
Health update comes as country reels from assassination attempt and contends with political falloutThe Slovakian prime minister, Robert Fico, is in a stable condition and communicating after last week's assassination attempt, doctors have said, as the country continues to grapple with the political fallout from the shooting.On Monday, the FD Roosevelt hospital in Banska Bystrica said Fico's conditiond was stable". He is clinically improving, communicating and his inflammatory markers are gradually decreasing," it said, adding: The prime minister remains in our care." Continue reading...
Her first novel in eight years, She is the Earth, also claims the Indigenous writers category, netting writer a combined $40,000A metaphysical verse novel by Yankunytjatjara poet Ali Cobby Eckermann has won book of the year at the New South Wales premier's literary awards.She is the Earth, the first work published by Eckermann in eight years, was awarded the book of the year on Monday night, as well as the Indigenous writers category, worth a combined $40,000.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...
by Jodie Woodcock and Nicholas Lee (Metdesk) on (#6MY0C)
Low pressure also expected to raise temperatures in eastern Canada and north-east US, while temperatures plummet in westAfter a lull in recent weeks, storm season in the US has begun to ramp up again, with 100mph winds and tennis ball-sized hail hitting Kansas on Sunday. It has been a busy season so far in terms of severe storms, with late spring into early summer typically bringing the greatest risk for tornadoes across the plains and midwest. An area of low pressure moving in across the central US, combined with rich moisture streaming in from the Gulf of Mexico, will probably continue the threat of tornadoes and large hail across numerous states. On Tuesday in particular, this severe weather risk may extend from Oklahoma all the way up to the Great Lakes.This setup of low pressure could lead not just to a large outbreak of severe weather across the US later this week, but also to a sharp temperature gradient across the US and Canada as the warm air is fed into higher latitudes. In eastern Canada and the north-eastern US, temperatures are likely to reach 10C above the average for the time of year. Cities such as Ottawa and Detroit could have daytime maximum temperatures of 30C by Wednesday. Continue reading...
by Eva Corlett in Wellington and Ben Doherty in Sydne on (#6MXXT)
Hundreds of Australian and New Zealand travellers are stuck in the French Pacific territory where protests and violence are preventing access to the airportHundreds of Australian and New Zealand tourists stranded in New Caledonia amid deadly unrest are anxiously waiting on French authorities to allow air travel out of the territory, as their governments stand by to bring them home.French security forces are working to retake control of the highway to the international airport in New Caledonia, shuttered because of violent unrest in the French Pacific territory. Continue reading...
by Rachel Hall, Matthew Weaver and Peter Walker on (#6MXXQ)
Chair to share findings of investigation into NHS infection of thousands with HIV or hepatitis C over more than 20 yearsThe infected blood public inquiry is to publish its final report on the failings that led to the deaths of more than 3,000 people in the UK and ruined many more lives.The report will detail how more than 30,000 haemophiliacs or transfusion recipients were infected with HIV and/or hepatitis C over more than two decades, and is seen as a seismic moment for the victims and their families. Continue reading...
Psychologist admitted to supplying or offering crystal meth, amphetamine and Xanax to a patient on multiple occasionsA psychologist who supplied crystal methamphetamine to a patient and asked others to take urine tests on her behalf to hide her own drug use has been banned for seven years.Maria Cassar admitted to supplying or offering crystal methamphetamine, amphetamine and Xanax to a patient on multiple occasions. Continue reading...
by Lorena Allam Indigenous affairs editor on (#6MXXS)
Police commissioner Michael Murphy tells court he did not accept recommendation to demote the sergeant because he admitted sharing the photo and was contrite
by Hannah Ellis-Petersen and Aakash Hassan in Maharas on (#6MXWJ)
While the number of Indian billionaires soars, growing unemployment has become a big problem for the BJP as it campaigns for a third termIt wasn't even the real wedding, just the pre-wedding party. But that didn't stop India's richest billionaire, Mukesh Ambani, whose son is set to marry the daughter of a millionaire, from throwing an affair so ostentatious that no one could question just how wealthy they are.The pop star Rihanna was paid about $8m to perform. The catering alone cost $25m and the final bill for the glittering soiree, held in March, reportedly came in at about $150m. Continue reading...
by Helen Livingstone (now), Nadeem Badshah, Yohannes on (#6MXHK)
This blog has now closed. Follow our live coverage of the search for Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter on our new blog here.Here is a video of the Israeli war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, threatening to resign if Benjamin Netanyahu fails to adopt an agreed plan for Gaza:Here are some of the latest images coming out from the newswires: Continue reading...
Police at Gablecross police station declared detainee dead early on Sunday and have referred incident to police watchdogA man in his 30s has died while in custody at a police station in Swindon, Wiltshire police said. He had been in custody at Gablecross police station since Saturday morning, and became unwell on Sunday morning.He was declared dead at about 9am on Sunday, the force added. The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Continue reading...
Coup leader killed and 50 people, including Americans, arrested after men reportedly attacked presidency in capital KinshasaThe leader of an attempted coup on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been killed and some 50 people including three American citizens arrested, a spokesperson for the Central African country's army told Reuters.Gunfire rang out around 4am in the capital Kinshasa, a Reuters reporter said. Armed men attacked the presidency in the city centre, according to spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge. Continue reading...
A country already in political transition could soon be forced to replace more than one leaderThe Iranian helicopter crash comes at a time when the country, faced by unprecedented external challenges, was already bracing itself for a change in regime with the expected demise in the next few years of its 85-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.In the country's hydra-headed leadership where power is spread in often opaque ways between clerics, politicians and army, it is the supreme leader, and not the president, that is ultimately decisive. Continue reading...
Taliban says four arrested over attack at Bamiyan heritage site that killed three Spanish visitors and an AfghanIslamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack by gunmen in Afghanistan's central Bamiyan province that killed three Spanish tourists on Friday.The Taliban's interior ministry spokesperson, Abdul Mateen Qani, said on Sunday that four people had been arrested over the attack. One Afghan citizen was also killed and four foreigners and three Afghans were injured in the attack, he added. Continue reading...
Music mogul says in video statement that he is truly sorry' after CNN released clip of him attacking Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016The rap mogul Sean Diddy" Combs admitted in a video apology that he punched and kicked his ex-girlfriend in 2016 in the hallway of a hotel after CNN released footage of the attack, saying he was truly sorry" and his actions were inexcusable".I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now," he said in the video statement, posted Sunday on Instagram and Facebook.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women's Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...
by Jim Waterson Political media editor on (#6MXR0)
Labour leader's appearance on chatshow reflects politicians' more general move away from hard news outlets to cosier, more niche settingsWhen Keir Starmer appeared on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch to cook his favourite tandoori salmon recipe, host Tim Lovejoy had a question: What on earth are you doing here? You should be on the BBC with Laura Kuenssberg."This is so much nicer!" replied the Labour leader. Continue reading...
Le Pen, Orban and Meloni rail against socialism and massive illegal migration' at great patriotic convention' in MadridInternational far-right leaders, including France's Marine Le Pen, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Argentina's Javier Milei, came together in Madrid to rail against socialism and massive illegal migration" three weeks before hard-right parties are expected to see a surge in support in June's European elections.Sunday's great patriotic convention", which was organised by Spain's far-right Vox party, offered conservatives and far-right populists a chance to congregate and take aim at a variety of familiar targets, from the welfare state to wokeness" and the agendas of Brussels-based bureaucrats. Continue reading...
Raisi and the foreign minister are missing after their aircraft came down in mountain terrain near border with Azerbaijan in heavy fogA rescue operation is under way in the mountains close to the Iranian-Azerbaijani border after one of the helicopters in a convoy carrying Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi, was involved in a hard landing" on Sunday, according to Iranian state media. This is what we know so far.The incident, which involved one helicopter in a convoy of three, was described by Iranian state television as an accident.An unnamed Iranian official told Reuters that the lives of the president and his foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were at risk" after a crash" as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog.Three rescue workers searching for the crashed helicopter were reported missing by the Red Crescent but were later accounted for. A spokesperson said the search and rescue operation will slow down as the weather is expected to get severely cold" soon with more rain forecast.Raisi was travelling in Iran's East Azerbaijan province. State TV described the area of the helicopter incident as being near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan.The president had been in Azerbaijan earlier on Sunday to inaugurate a dam with the country's president Ilham Aliyev. The dam is the third one that the two nations have built on the Aras River.Iran's army chief of staff said all army resources will be used for the search and rescue operations, state TV reported. Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri has also ordered guards to take part in the search efforts, it said.Iraq has instructed its interior ministry, the Red Crescent and other relevant bodies to offer help to neighbouring Iran and assist in the search. Continue reading...
Human Rights Watch says Clementine De Montjoye's case raises fresh questions about UK's asylum seeker schemeThe Rwandan government has barred a senior human rights researcher from entering the country, prompting accusations that officials are seeking to dodge independent scrutiny just weeks before the UK government is due to send asylum seekers there for the first time.Rwandan immigration authorities denied entry to Clementine de Montjoye, a senior researcher in Human Rights Watch's Africa division, when she arrived at Kigali International Airport on 13 May. Continue reading...
Fico remains in intensive care but has emerged from immediate threat to his life', Robert Kaliak tells reportersSlovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico, is out of immediate danger but remains in intensive care four days after he was shot by a gunman, the country's deputy prime minister has said.He has emerged from the immediate threat to his life, but his condition remains serious and he requires intensive care," Robert Kaliak, Fico's closest political ally, told reporters. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6MXNV)
Tribunal in London will hear claims Richard Branson's airline used Covid redundancies to target older staffHundreds of long-serving Virgin Atlantic cabin crew are suing the airline for unfair dismissal, claiming that the airline used Covid redundancies to target older staff.An employment tribunal in London will start examining more than 200 cases next month, at which former crew will argue that Sir Richard Branson's airline unfairly made them redundant while retaining cheaper new hires. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham transport correspondent on (#6MXNW)
Company says it can offer much-needed choice' in bid to create direct competition for Avanti West CoastRichard Branson's Virgin Group hopes to make a comeback on Britain's railways - with plans for up to four new services on the West Coast main line it used to run.Virgin has submitted proposals to operate separate train services between London Euston and Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow Central respectively, on an open access basis. Continue reading...
Emergency services called to report of 14-year-old and 13-year-old in river near bridge in OvinghamA 14-year-old boy has died and a 13-year-old boy is in a critical condition after getting into difficulty in the River Tyne in Northumberland, police have said.Police were called to the river at 3.30pm on Saturday after they received a report about two teenage boys in water near a bridge in Ovingham, a village east of Hexham. Continue reading...
The subversive work of Eliza Haywood, the feminist forerunner of the TV show's gossip columnist, is about to be republishedShe is the real-life Lady Whistledown, an eyebrow-raising female writer who penned a salacious anonymous gossip sheet that skewered 18th-century London society.Like the fictional pamphlet from Netflix hit Bridgerton, which returned for a third series last week, Eliza Haywood's The Parrot, published in 1746, has a distinctive, mocking voice that punches up and speaks truth to power". Now, a new book will republish Haywood's funny, subversive periodical, which she wrote from the perspective of an angry green parrot, and seek to raise awareness of her groundbreaking work. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd police and crime correspondent on (#6MXMP)
Stephen Watson says process will be carried out fairly and impartially' in his most extensive public comments on the claimsThe chief constable of the police force examining claims against Angela Rayner has defended the decision to investigate the Labour party deputy leader, vowing it would be done fairly and impartially" and would establish whether culpability is proven or otherwise".Stephen Watson, who leads Greater Manchester police (GMP), gave his most extensive public comments so far on the investigation, which was triggered by a complaint from a senior Conservative. Continue reading...
New furnaces will be powered by electricity from 2027 but up to 2,800 workers will be made redundantTata Steel has reached a deal with the UK's electricity grid to start supplying the energy for new furnaces in south Wales from 2027, as the company moves ahead with its plan despite union opposition.The agreement with the National Grid's electricity supply operator (ESO), the company that controls how energy is moved around Great Britain, will provide hundreds of millions of megawatts of power to a new electric arc furnace at the steelworks in Port Talbot. Continue reading...
Hungarian police called to scene of accident on shore of the River Danube near VeroceHungarian police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube.Hungarian police received a report late on Saturday night that a man had been found bleeding from his head on the shore of the river near the town of Veroce, about 30 miles (50km) north of the capital, Budapest. Continue reading...
Coventry MP, whose antipathy for David Cameron sparked her interest in politics, has largest TikTok following in parliamentWhen the UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, sat in the BBC TV studio last Sunday morning, he clearly had no idea of the identity of the woman sitting on the panel opposite him, simply referring to her as the Labour MP".By contrast, Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, knows everything about Lord Cameron, telling the Guardian that it was her hatred of him as prime minister that first brought her into politics as a young, leftwing, Muslim woman. Her whole political outlook has been shaped by Cameron: the trebling of tuition fees and austerity. Continue reading...
Book prompts conflict over claims of Metis identity in eastern part of country where group doesn't have a homeland or deep historic tiesA graphic novel investigating Indigenous identity in Canada has prompted outrage from Metis groups, who say the book undermines their history and represents an attack on their sovereignty.The work is the result of a third-year history seminar at Dalhousie University, where students collaborated on a book examining thorny questions over ancestry and identity. Continue reading...
Shadow minister says it is Justin Welby's job to speak out but Labour could not commit to scrapping policyThe shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, has praised the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, for calling on Labour to scrap the two-child benefit cap, saying it was literally his job" to speak out on such matters.Streeting said he did not like the cap, which campaigners say has pushed hundreds of thousands of families into poverty, but that the party could not commit to ending it until it knew how this would be financed. Continue reading...
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