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Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,000 from SNP
The Guardian

Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,000 from SNP

Ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon admits reduced charges in court after deal with prosecutorsPeter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National party, has pleaded guilty to charges of embezzling £400,310.65 from the party after agreeing a deal with prosecutors.Murrell, the ex-husband of the former SNP leader and first minister Nicola Sturgeon, appeared in the high court in Edinburgh af...

Metro Bank investors urged to reject executive pay report
The Guardian

Metro Bank investors urged to reject executive pay report

Bonus scheme that could hand CEO a £60m windfall is ‘significantly out of line’ with market, says proxy adviserInvestors in Metro Bank are being urged to vote against the lender’s pay report next month, in protest of a complex bonus scheme that shareholder advisers say is “significantly out of line” with market standards.Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), which issues voting advice to some ...

Parts of England expected to hit 35C in ‘unprecedented’ May heatwave
The Guardian

Parts of England expected to hit 35C in ‘unprecedented’ May heatwave

Monday predicted to be hottest May day on record by large margin, as UK braces for ‘super El Niño’ summerTemperatures are expected to hit 35C in parts of England on Monday, in an “unprecedented” May heatwave.The Met Office is already predicting that records will be broken. A spokesperson said: “Today will be the hottest day in May in the UK in our temperature records, with highs of 35C expected. T...

Australian flotilla activists arrive home alleging sexual assault and beatings in Israeli detention
The Guardian

Australian flotilla activists arrive home alleging sexual assault and beatings in Israeli detention

Activists detained by Israel after attempting to deliver aid to Gaza as part of Global Sumud Flotilla arrive in AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians returning home from detention in Israel say they were abused, tortured and demeaned while in custody and have asked to meet with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese.Nine of the 11 Australians who joined more...

Misinformation about perimenopause on social media ‘putting women at risk’

Misinformation about perimenopause on social media ‘putting women at risk’

The Guardian

Dangers include unintended pregnancies, taking unnecessary medication and missed diagnoses, say expertsMisinformation about perimenopause is putting women at risk of unintended pregnancies, unnecessary medication and missed diagnoses, experts have said.Awareness of menopause and treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been raised by efforts including a prominent documentary by Dav...

Liberal MP is first to be suspended from lower house in five years – as it happened

Liberal MP is first to be suspended from lower house in five years – as it happened

The Guardian

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWere the teal party conversations sparked by the government’s electoral reforms?Yes and no, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall say.There are many things that favour major party structures, and again, the public was incredibly cynical about that move, that it’s yet again major parties trying to rig the game for their b...

Middle East crisis live: Iran says progress made on many issues with US but warns deal not ‘imminent’

Middle East crisis live: Iran says progress made on many issues with US but warns deal not ‘imminent’

The Guardian

Potential deal reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire extension, reopening the strait of Hormuz and a plan for further nuclear talksUS and Iran inch closer to peace deal as Trump faces criticism from GOP hawksThe Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson cast doubt about how trustworthy the US were, saying there are no “guarantees” that Washington will honour whatever deal is agreed upon.The current U...

Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns saying criticism of him ‘drawing attention away’ from agency’s mission

Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns saying criticism of him ‘drawing attention away’ from agency’s mission

The Guardian

Brereton says ‘ongoing focus on matters relating to me personally’ is undermining ‘commission’s core purpose of strengthening integrity’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPaul Brereton, Australia’s first national anti-corruption commissioner, will step down from the top job in July, citing criticism of him as “drawing at...

Weather tracker: flash floods in New York and a heat dome in Europe

Weather tracker: flash floods in New York and a heat dome in Europe

The Guardian

Rain overwhelms sewer system in parts of US city, while temperatures in France break May recordNew York City saw flash flooding on Wednesday, as large parts of Brooklyn and Queens received about 2in (50mm) of rainfall in as little as 20 minutes. Officials said the deluge caused water to flow into the sewer system at a rate of up to 6in an hour, quickly overwhelming an aged network that was designe...

Focus on jobs, not benefits, to cut welfare bill, says thinktank

Focus on jobs, not benefits, to cut welfare bill, says thinktank

The Guardian

Hitting government’s target of getting 80% of workers into jobs would reduce cost of universal credit by £10bnTackling the root causes of joblessness, instead of cutting benefits, is the best way to get the welfare bill down, and polling shows voters support that approach, according to research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.In a forthcoming report, JRF economists show that hitting the governme...

Opposition divided: battle among Iranian regime’s opponents plays out on London streets

Opposition divided: battle among Iranian regime’s opponents plays out on London streets

The Guardian

Supporters of Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the late shah, are clashing with those who oppose a return of monarchyWearing a bucket hat, a blue Adidas hoodie and khaki shorts, Tony Mohraz, also known as 021kid, chest-bumps a friend in front of a memorial wall in Golders Green, in north London.Photographs can be seen behind him of those who were killed protesting against the Iranian regime. As a large...

‘A bridge, not an obstacle’: is Armenia a new crossroads between east and west?

‘A bridge, not an obstacle’: is Armenia a new crossroads between east and west?

The Guardian

As former Soviet Republic goes to the polls, it finds itself in a strategic tug of war between Russia, the US, Turkey, Europe and AzerbaijanTo describe Yerevan, a charming city of liberal values encased in imposing Soviet architecture, as the centre of the world is a stretch, but Armenia’s claim that it can become the strategic crossroads of the landmass of Eurasia is becoming less and less fancif...

NHS spends record £241m outsourcing scan analysis to private firms

NHS spends record £241m outsourcing scan analysis to private firms

The Guardian

Radiologists say ‘ballooning’ costs reflect staffing failures, forcing a reliance on lower-quality private scan reportsThe NHS is paying private firms record sums to analyse diagnostic scans because hospitals are too busy and understaffed to do the work themselves, research has revealed.The amount being spent on outsourced the interpretation of CT and MRI scans is “spiralling out of control” and r...

Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns as head of anti-corruption body

Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns as head of anti-corruption body

The Guardian

Brereton says ‘ongoing focus on matters relating to me personally’ were ‘drawing attention away from the commission’s core purpose’Paul Brereton, Australia’s first national anti-corruption commissioner, will step down from the top job in July, citing criticism of potential conflicts of interest as “drawing attention away” from the body’s core purpose.In a statement on Monday afternoon, Brereton sa...

Venezuela inmates occupy prison roof and set fire to mattresses to highlight alleged abuse

Venezuela inmates occupy prison roof and set fire to mattresses to highlight alleged abuse

The Guardian

Inmates at Barinas prison allege they were peacefully protesting when prison staff opened fire, leaving some woundedInmates at Venezuela’s western Barinas prison staged a protest on its roof on Sunday, piling flaming mattresses and calling for the removal of the facility’s director, whom they accused of overseeing guards as they shot unarmed prisoners.“We want justice. They are shooting us, the gu...

Venezuela inmates occupy prison roof and set fire to mattresses to protest alleged abuses

Venezuela inmates occupy prison roof and set fire to mattresses to protest alleged abuses

The Guardian

Inmates at Barinas prison allege they were peacefully protesting when prison staff opened fire, leaving some woundedInmates at Venezuela’s western Barinas prison staged a protest on its roof on Sunday, piling flaming mattresses and calling for the removal of the facility’s director, who they accused of overseeing guards as they shot unarmed prisoners.“We want justice. They are shooting us, the gua...

Ministers urged to act as households in Great Britain face energy bill ‘anxiety’

Ministers urged to act as households in Great Britain face energy bill ‘anxiety’

The Guardian

Under government’s price cap typical gas and electricity bills are forecast to rise by £209 from this summerMinisters face growing calls to cut utility bills as millions of households in Great Britain face energy cost “anxiety,” with gas and electricity costs forecast to rise to almost £1,900 from this summer.The typical dual-fuel bill is expected to climb by nearly 13% under the government’s ener...

Middle East crisis live: Rubio says US-Iran agreement ‘pretty solid’ as oil price falls amid optimism for deal

Middle East crisis live: Rubio says US-Iran agreement ‘pretty solid’ as oil price falls amid optimism for deal

The Guardian

Secretary of state says a deal could materialise ‘today’, while Trump says talks with Iran proceeding constructively as he faces criticism from within his own partyHello and welcome to the Guardian’s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Monday that a deal to end the war with Iran could materialise “today”. Continue reading...

Australia news live: Liberal MP is first to be suspended from lower house in five years; last IS-linked women and children to return to Australia

Australia news live: Liberal MP is first to be suspended from lower house in five years; last IS-linked women and children to return to Australia

The Guardian

Phil Thompson was suspended fter refusing to withdraw comments calling the Albanese government ‘liars’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWere the teal party conversations sparked by the government’s electoral reforms?Yes and no, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall say.There are many things that favour major party structures, and again, the public was...

Australia news live: Liberal MP is first to be suspended from the House in five years; Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns

Australia news live: Liberal MP is first to be suspended from the House in five years; Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns

The Guardian

Phil Thompson was suspended fter refusing to withdraw comments calling the Albanese government ‘liars’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWere the teal party conversations sparked by the government’s electoral reforms?Yes and no, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall say.There are many things that favour major party structures, and again, the public was...

Labor is making a mockery of its promise of transparent government

Labor is making a mockery of its promise of transparent government

The Guardian

From blocking freedom of information requests to tabling documents when no one is looking, promises of an upfront approach to power are in rough shapeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFriday afternoon can be a dangerous time to be a journalist.Editors racing to put together weekend editions lob last-minute requests and ...

Australia news live: Albanese warns Taylor to watch his back with next Liberal leader ‘just behind you’; Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns

Australia news live: Albanese warns Taylor to watch his back with next Liberal leader ‘just behind you’; Nacc chief Paul Brereton resigns

The Guardian

Prime minister and opposition leader trade barbs in question time. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWere the teal party conversations sparked by the government’s electoral reforms?Yes and no, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall say.There are many things that favour major party structures, and again, the public was incredibly cynical about that move, ...

Australia news live: Albanese warns Taylor to watch his back with next Liberal leader ‘just behind you’; Coalition targets Labor on CGT in question time

Australia news live: Albanese warns Taylor to watch his back with next Liberal leader ‘just behind you’; Coalition targets Labor on CGT in question time

The Guardian

Prime minister and opposition leader trade barbs in question time. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWere the teal party conversations sparked by the government’s electoral reforms?Yes and no, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall say.There are many things that favour major party structures, and again, the public was incredibly cynical about that move, ...

Half of UK adults say they spend less than three hours a week outside in nature

Half of UK adults say they spend less than three hours a week outside in nature

The Guardian

Most people have joyful memories of playing outside as children – and now wildlife charities are urging people to ‘rewild their inner child’Climbing trees, squelching in mud, paddling in ponds or making dens in the woods – people’s memories of playing outside as children are often vivid and, a new poll has found, overwhelmingly positive, even those who remember falling in cowpats.Almost 90% of UK ...

‘Massive’ child abuse scandal in France as school staff investigated for violence and sexual assault

‘Massive’ child abuse scandal in France as school staff investigated for violence and sexual assault

The Guardian

Paris police looking into more than 100 allegations of mistreatment by ‘monitors’ after parents’ groups said they had fought for years to be taken seriouslyFrance is facing a child abuse scandal as ‘monitors’ at dozens of state nursery and primary schools are investigated for violence, sexual assault and rape.Paris police are examining more than 100 allegations of mistreatment, physical violence a...

Sweden’s PM puts IVF at centre of re-election bid amid record low birthrate

Sweden’s PM puts IVF at centre of re-election bid amid record low birthrate

The Guardian

Ulf Kristersson aims to expand state-funded IVF as Sweden grapples with lowest fertility rate since records beganSweden’s prime minister has promised to put IVF at the heart of his re-election campaign as he tries to win over female voters amid the country’s record low birthrate.Ulf Kristersson’s government recently increased the number of state-funded IVF attempts granted to aspiring first-time p...

Australia news live: Albanese warns Taylor to watch his back with next Liberal leader ‘just behind you’ as question time begins

Australia news live: Albanese warns Taylor to watch his back with next Liberal leader ‘just behind you’ as question time begins

The Guardian

Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor are trading barbs in question time. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWere the teal party conversations sparked by the government’s electoral reforms?Yes and no, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall say.There are many things that favour major party structures, and again, the public was incredibly cynical about that mov...

Dezi Freeman yelled abuse at dying police officer during shooting, Victorian coroner hears

Dezi Freeman yelled abuse at dying police officer during shooting, Victorian coroner hears

The Guardian

Directions hearing over deaths of Victoria police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart told of new details of Porepunkah shootingFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDezi Freeman yelled abuse at a dying constable during a shooting that killed two Victoria police officers investigating the alleged sexual assaul...