The Guardian

Passengers were left abandoned and humiliated after operator banned staff from providing assistanceEurostar has reversed a new accessibility policy that left a wheelchair user stranded and has retrained its London staff following pressure from the Observer.Travellers with disabilities claimed that they would be barred from Eurostar services after the company banned its London staff from pushing passenger wheelchairs. Those who require assistance were told they must travel with a companion or cancel their ticket if they were unable to access services unaided, according to passengers who contacted the Observer. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/19/eurostar-wheelchair-policy-passengers-stranded-observer-campaign-assistance Author : Anna Tims Publish

Party says pooling resources across regions would deliver 40,000 extra appointments a week for patientsHospitals would have to share waiting lists and pool resources under Labour’s plans to reduce waiting times by delivering up to 40,000 extra NHS appointments a week.The party has announced that patients would be offered appointments at nearby hospitals, rather than necessarily at their local one, which would enable people to receive faster treatment. Hospital staff and resources would be pooled across a region and would run evening and weekend surgeries. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/may/18/hospitals-to-share-waiting-lists-under-labour-plans-for-quicker-care Author : Nadeem Badshah and agency Publish date :

Group of protesters entered the Moonee Valley Racecourse building on Saturday morning ahead of speeches by Jacinta Allan and the PM. Follow the day’s news liveGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of the day’s news.To kick things off this morning, treasurer Jim Chalmers will be appearing on Insiders to discuss the budget and reaction to it. On Friday, Chalmers criticised the opposition leader Peter Dutton’s budget reply speech as “unhinged” and lacking in economic credibility. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/may/19/australia-news-live-victoria-state-labor-conference-pro-palestine-protests-jim-chalmers-insiders Author : Kate Lyons Publish

Benny Gantz’s threat to withdraw his opposition party from coalition calls into question future of governmentThe Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has threatened to resign if Benjamin Netanyahu fails to adopt an agreed plan for Gaza, calling into question the future of the Israeli government.During a press conference on Saturday, Gantz announced that if a plan for postwar governance of the territory is not consolidated and approved by 8 June, his opposition National Unity party will withdraw from the coalition government. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/18/father-of-woman-killed-at-israeli-festival-tells-of-relief-after-recovery-of-her-body Author : Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem and Emma Graham-Harrison Publish date :

Thousands of homes and farming land damaged in Ghor province, a week after over 300 people killed in flash floodsAt least 60 people have been killed in a fresh bout of heavy rain and flooding in central Afghanistan, according to an official.Dozens others remained missing, said Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesperson for Ghor’s provincial governor, on Saturday. He said the province had suffered significant financial losses, with thousands of homes and properties damaged and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land destroyed in the floods on Friday, including in the province’s capital city, Feroz Koh. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/18/fresh-flooding-in-afghanistan-people-dead-after-heavy-rain-brings-devastation Author

When on holiday in Berwick the artist often gave his work away. Now a new exhibition reveals the value of drawings that survived in a shoebox A 1958 drawing of a family with their dogs by LS Lowry from one of his many holidays in Berwick-upon-Tweed is to go on public display for the first time. But the sketch is lucky to have survived: it was kept in a shoe box for 43 years, emerging somewhat creased because its recipient had little idea of Lowry’s significance.The signed and dated drawing on headed notepaper from the Castle Hotel, where the artist

Met Office says heavy rain and sudden flooding could occur in affected areas and cause transport disruptionThunderstorm warnings have been issued by the Met Office across England and Wales for Saturday afternoon and continuing into the evening.A yellow weather warning is in place between 1pm and 8pm, covering large parts of Wales and south-west England. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/18/uk-weather-thunderstorm-warnings-wales-south-west-england Author : Tom Ambrose Publish date : 2024-05-18 12:49:10 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

The US military has begun moving aid ashore in Gaza, as the UN says truck convoys by land remain the most efficient way of getting aid inHumanitarian assistance has begun to arrive in Gaza along a US-made pier, but the US aid chief said the new sea corridor could not be a substitute for land crossings, and warned that deliveries of food and fuel entering Gaza had slowed.This video explainer runs through the latest updates. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/may/18/israel-gaza-war-rafah-hamas-middle-east-aid-latest-news Author : Amy Sedghi Publish date : 2024-05-18 09:34:48 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Jacinta Allan proposes stronger penalties for people who assault, threaten or intimidate retail, hospitality, and other workersGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastJacinta Allan has used her first Labor state conference as Victorian premier to announce plans to change the law to better protect retail, hospitality and other customer-facing workers from abuse and assault amid reports of a surge in violence.In her speech to party faithful at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday, Allan detailed plans to introduce tougher penalties for people who assault, threaten or intimidate workers.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and

Protest group said it had called the rally to protest against state and federal Labor ‘aiding and abetting the genocide of Palestinian people’Dozens of pro-Palestinian protestors have crashed Victorian Labor’s annual state conference ahead of what is expected to be fiery debate on motions related to the Israel-Hamas war. Ahead of speeches by the premier, Jacinta Allan, and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the group of protesters entered the Moonee Valley Racecourse building and began chanting outside the conference room of MPs, unionist and Labor delegates.The chanting continued throughout the in memoriam section of the conference, marking the deaths of

Ahmed Alid, 45, stabbed Terence Carney, 70, and tried to kill another man in attacks described as terrorismA terrorist who murdered a pensioner in Hartlepool town centre as “revenge” for “the people of Gaza” has been jailed for 45 years.Ahmed Alid, 45, an asylum seeker from Morocco, stabbed 70-year-old Terence Carney, a complete stranger he encountered on the street, on 15 October. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/17/man-jailed-life-israel-gaza-revenge-hartlepool-ahmed-alid Author : PA Media Publish date : 2024-05-17 23:36:43 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

In texts received in Spanish and translated to English, the girl tried to describe her location, though she did not know where she wasAuthorities rescued a 17-year old girl after she was trafficked to Ventura county, California, from Mexico two months ago and texted 911 for help.On Thursday, the Ventura county sheriff’s office announced that on 9 May authorities rescued the girl after she sent messages to 911. The text message correspondence began with a call taker at a 911 communication center, according to the sheriff’s office, which added that the messages were received in Spanish and translated into English.

Ballot aims to make system more equitable for those from China, India and Vietnam while also tightening temporary migrationGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastBackpacker visas for citizens of certain countries will be handed out by lottery in only the second time Australia has used such a system, as the federal government escalates its crackdown on temporary migration.Hopeful working holidaymakers from China, India and Vietnam will have to pay $25 to enter a randomised ballot for a limited number of visas from July 2024.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters

Israel is appearing at the international court of justice (ICJ) after South Africa asked it to urgently order an end the assault on RafahYemen’s Houthis said they downed a US MQ9 drone on Thursday evening over the south-eastern province of Maareb, the group’s military spokesperson said on Friday.According to Reuters, the Iran-aligned group said they would release images and videos to support their claim and added that they had targeted the drone using a locally made surface to air missile. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/may/17/israel-gaza-war-hamas-middle-east-icj-south-africa-rafah Author : Amy Sedghi (now) and Caroline Davies (earlier) Publish date : 2024-05-17 14:08:28

The chancellor drew an election battle line between the Conservatives and Labour during a speech this morning, claiming his government will bring down taxes while Labour policies would be ‘damaging for every family in the country’The Daily Express and Daily Mail have both asked questions about the taxing of pensions. Jeremy Hunt is on combative grounds here. He is asked when calling Labour’s plans a “myth” is he accusing them of lying. He says:Well, calling them a myth is about as rude as I get. But frankly, it is a lie. I don’t make any bones about it. It is

Swimming Queensland chief Kevin Hasemann says ‘I’ve never been to a gallery’ and furore has ‘evolved into something I could never have imagined’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe head of Swimming Queensland has defended a campaign that saw Olympic champions lobby the National Gallery of Australia to take down portraits of their patron, Gina Rinehart, because they were deemed “offensive”.An acrylic-on-canvas colour portrait by Vincent Namatjira of Australia’s richest woman was the target of the campaign along with a second black and white portrait by

Tanya Plibersek ordered investigation after judge accused law firm of ‘subtle coaching’ of Tiwi Island traditional owners during legal challengeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Environmental Defenders Office did not breach the conditions of its $8.2m in federal funding according to a government review of the legal firm’s conduct.The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, requested the review after a federal court judgment in January made sharp criticisms of the EDO’s conduct in a legal matter against Santos.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email

PropTrack says renters had slightly more choice last month. Follow today’s news liveGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastShorten and Dutton clash over reduced migrationEarlier this morning the NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, and the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, clashed over Dutton’s promise to reduce Australia’s migration intake in his budget reply speech last night.Well, Bill, a couple of points. One is that we say that, in the first year, 40,000 homes will be freed up. That includes the numbers who would be bidding at auctions this weekend against Australian citizens.If the government had have

The behavior, documented in footage from researcher Chris Law, is most seen in females and sheds light on the threatened speciesFloating on its back in the waters of California’s Monterey Bay, a sea otter takes a shelled animal and strikes it against a rock sitting on its chest to break open the prey.This behavior, documented in footage from researcher Chris Law, is seen in relatively few animals and allows the otter to access food without damaging its teeth. A new study, which will be published in the journal Science on Friday, sheds light on the threatened species’ tactics. Continue reading...

Entire hush-money trial likely to succeed or fail on whether jurors believe Michael Cohen’s testimonyMichael Cohen takes stand for cross-examination in Trump trialJudge Juan Merchan is on the bench and the court is in session.Donald Trump has arrived in the courtroom for day 18 of his criminal trial.Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican representativeLauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican congresswomanEric TrumpBoris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump aide Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/may/16/michael-cohen-trump-hush-money-trial-latest-updates Author : Hugo Lowell and Léonie Chao-Fong Publish date : 2024-05-16 19:08:19 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Hospital director says Slovakia PM has stabilised but remains in a critical condition after he was shot several times on WednesdayHere are the latest images from Slovakia.The former president Dmitry Medvedev praised Robert Fico today, writing that there were few politicians like him in Europe and that he had “reasonable” positions regarding Russia, Reuters reported. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/may/16/robert-fico-slovakia-prime-minister-pm-shooting-latest-news-updates Author : Lili Bayer Publish date : 2024-05-16 15:53:48 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Labour’s election pledges revealed as leader says ‘no quick fix to mess Tories have made’UK politics live –latest updatesKeir Starmer has vowed to deliver stability as the cornerstone for changing Britain, unveiling his party’s six election pledges amid a fanfare of endorsements from senior public figures.“There is no quick fix to the mess that the Tories have made of this country,” the Labour leader told the launch event in Essex, attended by the entire shadow cabinet. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/16/keir-starmer-says-stability-first-step-to-making-britain-better Author : Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor Publish date : 2024-05-16 12:55:07 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to

US officials insist American troops will not step foot in Gaza despite building the pier; seven troops also wounded in friendly fire incident Five soldiers have been killed by friendly fire in Gaza’s north, where intense fighting has resumed more than seven months into the war.The troops were killed on Wednesday at 7pm local in the area of Jabalia refugee camp, the IDF said in a statement. Seven other troops were wounded in the incident.Five soldiers of the 202nd Paratrooper Battalion were killed last night in a mass casualty incident as a result of fire by our forces.The shooting consisted

State of emergency in place because of deadly unrest over bill that will let French people vote in provincial elections after 10 years of residenceArmed forces were protecting New Caledonia’s two airports and port and hundreds of French police were on their way to the Pacific territory after a third night of violent riots that have killed four people.In three municipalities of the French collectivity, gendarmes faced about 5,000 rioters, including between 3,000 and 4,000 in the capital, Noumea, said France’s high commissioner, Louis Le Franc. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/hundreds-of-french-police-deployed-amid-new-caledonia-riots Author : Guardian staff and agencies Publish date

Prosecutors successfully apply to withdraw the charge related to alleged stabbing at FootscrayA 12-year-old girl accused of killing a woman in Melbourne’s inner west will no longer face a charge of murder.Prosecutors on Thursday applied to withdraw the charge against the girl, but did not give a reason why. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/16/murder-charge-dropped-against-12-year-old-girl-melbourne-footscray-stabbing-ntwnfb Author : Australian Associated Press Publish date : 2024-05-16 03:44:24 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.