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for 17 minutter siden

Airbnb guest says images were altered in false £12,000 damage claim

Woman wins apology and refund of almost £4,300 after claiming host’s photos were digitally manipulated Airbnb has apologised to a woman after an apartment host falsely claimed she had caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and used images she says were digitally manipulated to back up his allegations. The London-based academic was refunded almost £4,300, and an internal review of how the case was dealt with has been launched at the short-term accommodation rental company. Continue reading...

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Language on immigration in UK news and politics found to have ‘shaped backlash against antiracism’

Pattern of ‘hostile language’ in media and debates likely to describe people of colour with less sympathy, report says A pattern of “hostile language” in news reports and UK parliamentary debates is more likely to describe people of colour as immigrants, or with less sympathy, researchers have found. The race equality thinktank the Runnymede Trust analysed more than 63m words from 52,990 news articles and 317 House of Commons debates on immigration between 2019 and the general election in July 2024. Continue reading...

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Winter storms bring heavy snow, black ice, flood risks and rain to NSW

More than 1,000 SES volunteers deployed across the state as warnings issued for 28 areas Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Heavy snow is falling in the northern tablelands of New South Wales as rain batters others parts of the state. On Saturday afternoon, the NSW SES had issued 28 warnings for residents across the Coffs coast, mid north coast, upper Hunter and New England. Continue reading...

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Openreach engineers trial panic alarms as incidents of abuse and assault soar

Exclusive: UK company reports 450 incidents in a year, with workers spat it, shaken off ladders and pushed down stairs From scissors being brandished as weapons to verbal abuse and being trapped during a home visit, the number of reported incidents of abuse and assault on telecoms engineers is on the rise. Openreach, the BT subsidiary that maintains the vast majority of the broadband network serving UK homes and businesses, recorded 450 reports of abuse and assault in the year to the end of March. Continue reading...

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‘We are dying slowly, save us’: starvation takes hold in Gaza after a week of appalling milestones

Parents watch children waste away as deliberate aid restrictions from Israel mean hunger is becoming a killer, as experts confirm famine is currently playing out The people of Gaza did not need this week’s official confirmation from UN-backed hunger experts that the “worst-case scenario of famine” was unfolding there. For months they have watched as their children waste away. “All my children have lost nearly half of their body weight,” said Jamil Mughari, a 38-year-old from Maghazi in central Gaza. “My daughter, who is five years old, now weighs only 11kg. My son Mohammad has become just skin and bones. All my children are like this. Continue reading...

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Unusually high number of jellyfish arrive in UK seas

Warm sea surface temperatures, exacerbated by global heating, have created favourable conditions for jellyfish Coming to a beach near you: a guide to the jellyfish you’ll find off the UK coast An unusually high number of jellyfish have arrived in the UK’s seas this summer, experts have said. Jellyfish blooms arrive for their yearly reproduction cycle by following the current of warm water to the coast. Warm sea surface temperatures, which are exacerbated by global heating, create favourable conditions for jellyfish. Continue reading...

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The inside story of the Murdoch editor taking on Donald Trump

Since her arrival at the Wall Street Journal, British editor-in-chief Emma Tucker has shaken up not only her own newsroom but also the White House The danger posed to Donald Trump was obvious. It was a story that not only drew attention to his links to a convicted sex offender, it also risked widening a growing wedge between the president and some of his most vociferous supporters. The White House quickly concluded a full-force response was required. It was Tuesday 15 July. The Wall Street Journal had approached Trump’s team, stating it planned to publish allegations that Trump had composed a crude poem and doodle as part of a collection compiled for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday. Continue reading...

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In wartime, demonstrations in Ukraine can never be more than a peaceful protest

Zelenskyy forced to U-turn on anti-corruption bodies but protesters know unrest only plays into Russia’s hands Once a decade, Ukraine has a moment in which street protests redefine the country’s political direction. The Orange revolution of 2004; the Maidan revolution of 2014; and now, over the past 10 days, the first major wave of protest since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. A series of unexpectedly boisterous and well-attended demonstrations forced Volodymyr Zelenskyy to execute a swift U-turn on his decision to scrap the independence of two anti-corruption bodies. On Thursday, MPs reversed the contentious changes they had adopted a week previously. Outside the parliament building, crowds whooped and cheered as the result of the vote was announced. Continue reading...

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Wong criticises Israel’s conduct in Gaza in closed-door meeting with Israeli ambassador

The foreign affairs minister’s meeting with Amir Maimon was requested by the Israeli embassy, according to federal government sources Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast In a private meeting with Israel’s ambassador to Australia, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, criticised Israel’s conduct in Gaza and called for it to urgently comply with international law and increase the supply of food to Palestinians. Wong’s Thursday meeting with Amir Maimon was requested by the Israeli embassy, according to federal government sources, and took place inside Wong’s office at Parliament House in Canberra. Continue reading...

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Dizzy with glizzys: hotdog spill on Pennsylvania highway leaves motorists steamed

Crews worked to clean up as strewn links which led to morning traffic being snagged in chain reaction A highway outside of Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, was dizzy with glizzys on Friday after a truckload of hotdogs spilled across the I-83, as local commuters learned that even the weakest hot dog link can cause a chain reaction. State police said the tractor trailer had an unspecified mechanical problem on Interstate-83 a few miles north of the Maryland line as morning rush hour was wrapping up, causing it to push into a passenger vehicle. When the truck scraped along a concrete divider, its trailer was ripped open and the contents scattered. Continue reading...

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NSW supreme court rules in favour of pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge

Palestine Action Group claims as many as 50,000 people will take part in the march on Sunday Pro-Palestinian protesters will be legally protected while marching across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday after a New South Wales supreme court decision. The Palestine Action Group has claimed as many as 50,000 people will take part in the march across the iconic bridge, protesting against Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the starvation of children. Continue reading...

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‘He was so excited’: painter discovers 122-year-old message in a bottle inside lighthouse walls

Bottle stashed in wall cavity of heritage-listed Cape Bruny lighthouse contained letter written in 1903 by Tasmanian lighthouse inspector A painter in Tasmania has uncovered a sealed glass bottle containing a message that was hidden within a wall cavity of the historic Cape Bruny lighthouse more than 120 years ago. Specialist painter Brian Burford was performing routine maintenance on the seaside structure when the discovery took place, according to Annita Waghorn, historic heritage manager for the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. Continue reading...

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Musk’s X must face claim of negligence over child abuse images, judge rules

Court revives part of lawsuit accusing X of failing to promptly report uploaded images to relevant authorities A federal appeals court on Friday revived part of a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk’s X of becoming a haven for child exploitation, though the court said the platform deserves broad immunity from claims over objectionable content. While rejecting some claims, the ninth US circuit court of appeals in San Francisco said X, formerly Twitter, must face a claim it was negligent by failing to promptly report a video containing explicit images of two underage boys to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Continue reading...

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Georgia detainee with prosthetic legs who objected to flooded cell sent to solitary

Rodney Taylor placed in ‘restrictive unit’ for refusing to enter flooded cell because his prosthetic legs can’t get wet A Liberian-born man detained by Ice in Georgia was put in solitary confinement after complaining about flooding in the common area outside his cell at the Stewart detention center that he said was potentially dangerous for his electronic prosthetic legs, the Guardian can reveal. Rodney Taylor recently spent three days in what CoreCivic calls a “restrictive housing unit” at Georgia’s Stewart detention center, after refusing to enter his cell because faulty air conditioning had left the floor in the area outside his cell covered with about an inch of water. That would be a potential disaster for Taylor, since his battery-powered, microprocessor-controlled prosthetic legs can’t get wet. Continue reading...

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Four killed in Montana bar shooting that is US’s ninth mass murder of 2025

Manhunt for suspect who lived nextdoor to bar where shooting occurred on Friday morning at about 10.30am Four people were killed on Friday in a shooting at a Montana bar, prompting a lockdown in a neighborhood several miles away as authorities searched a wooded area for a suspect in the case. The shooting brought the number of mass murders so far this year in the US to nine, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-partisan resource which defines such cases as killings in which four or more victims are killed. Associated Press contributed reporting Continue reading...

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Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Chuck Schumer’s office in New York City

Demonstrators were banging pots and pans at one of several gatherings that took place across major US cities Dozens of Pro-Palestine protesters gathered at US senator Chuck Schumer’s New York City office on Friday, leading to mass arrests as elected officials joined activists from Jewish Voice for Peace outside the Midtown office. Tiffany Caban, a New York City council member, and Claire Valdez, a state representative, were among those arrested. Demonstrators were seen banging together pots and pans, a form of noise protest. Continue reading...

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US appeals court indiciates it might declare Trump’s birthright citizenship order unconstitutional

Judges expressed deep skepticism about a key piece of the US president’s hardline immigration agenda Donald Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship appeared on Friday to be headed toward being declared unconstitutional by a second federal appeals court, as judges expressed deep skepticism about a key piece of the US president’s hardline immigration agenda. A three-judge panel of the Boston-based first US circuit court of appeals sharply questioned a lawyer with the federal justice department as to why they should overturn two lower-court judges who blocked the order from taking effect. Continue reading...

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Corporation for Public Broadcasting to close after US funding cut

Closure of public broadcaster follows House Republicans’ decision to eliminate $1.1bn in funding over two years The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced on Friday it will shut down operations after losing federal funding, delivering a blow to America’s public media system and the more than 1,500 local stations that have relied on its support for nearly six decades. The closure follows the Republican-controlled House’s decision last month to eliminate $1.1bn in CPB funding over two years, part of a $9bn reduction to public media and foreign aid programs. Continue reading...

for 9 timeer siden

Social media ads promoting small boat crossings to UK to be banned

Change to border security bill will also make it a crime to advertise fake passports, visas and work opportunities Ministers are to outlaw social media adverts promoting journeys on small boats across the Channel to asylum seekers. The government will create a UK-wide criminal offence that could lead to perpetrators being sentenced for up to five years in prison and a hefty fine. Continue reading...

for 11 timeer siden

Victorians could soon have the right to work from home two days a week under Australian-first laws

Premier Jacinta Allan to announce proposal that if legislated would make Victoria the first state to enshrine in law the right to work remotely Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Victorians could soon have a legal right to work from home two days a week, under proposed Australian-first laws to be introduced to parliament by the state Labor government in 2026. The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, will use Labor’s state conference on Saturday to announce the proposal, which, if passed by parliament, would make the state the first in the country to legislate the right to work remotely. Continue reading...

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Three million on NHS England waiting lists have had no care since GP referral

Exclusive: Data reveals ‘invisible crisis’ with millions yet to have first specialist appointment or diagnostic test Almost half of the 6 million people needing treatment from the NHS in England have had no further care at all since joining a hospital waiting list, new data reveals. Previously unseen NHS England figures show that 2.99 million of the 6.23 million patients (48%) awaiting care have not had either their first appointment with a specialist or a diagnostic test since being referred by a GP. Continue reading...

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Arkansas police say suspect admitted killing couple hiking with daughters

Andrew McGann charged with murder over deaths of Clinton and Cristen Brink in apparently ‘random’ attack Arkansas authorities say a 28-year-old schoolteacher has admitted he killed a couple who were hiking with their two young daughters at a state park, and he has been charged with capital murder in what investigators are portraying as a “random” attack. Clinton, 43, and Cristen Brink, 41, were found dead on Saturday on a walking trail at Devil’s Den state park. Their daughters, seven and nine, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. Continue reading...

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Colombia’s ex-president Álvaro Uribe sentenced to 12 years’ house arrest for witness tampering

It marks the first time in country’s history that an ex-president has been convicted of a crime and sentenced Colombia’s still-powerful former president Álvaro Uribe has been sentence to 12 years of house arrest, capping a long and contentious career that defined the country’s politics for a generation. Uribe, aged 73, received the maximum possible sentence after being found guilty of witness tampering, a legal source told AFP. Continue reading...

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Trump orders firing of labor statistics chief hours after data showed jobs growth slowed

US president claimed without evidence that Erika McEntarfer had ‘faked’ employment figures in the run-up to last year’s election US politics live – latest updates Donald Trump has ordered the firing of the federal government official in charge of labor statistics, hours after data revealed that jobs growth had stalled this summer. The US president claimed that Erika McEntarfer, commissioner of labor statistics, had “faked” employment figures in the run-up to last year’s election, in a bid to boost Kamala Harris’s chances of victory. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

And Just Like That: Sex and the City spin-off to end after third season

The critically maligned return of Carrie Bradshaw will not be returning after a two-part finale And Just Like That, the Sex and the City spin-off series, is set to end after its current season. The news was announced on the official social channels by showrunner Michael Patrick King, who wrote that they held off on telling fans to avoid overshadowing the third and final season, which will end with a two-part finale. “It’s with great gratitude we thank all the viewers who have let these characters into their homes and their hearts over these many years,” he said. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Trump administration reportedly suspends $200m in grants from UCLA

University chancellor said ‘life-saving research’ will be defunded as Trump’s academic crackdown continues The Trump administration is suspending some research grants to the University of California, Los Angeles, claiming “antisemitism and bias”, the school announced in a statement on Thursday. “UCLA received a notice that the federal government, through its control of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies, is suspending certain research funding to UCLA,” Julio Frenk, the university chancellor, said in a letter to the campus. The move means “life-saving research” will be defunded, he said. Continue reading...

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Three Grenadan men sentenced to decades in prison for killing of elderly US couple in Caribbean

Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel were sailing their catamaran last year when they were attacked and killed Three men from the eastern Caribbean island of Grenada who were convicted of killing an elderly US couple last year after hijacking their catamaran have been sentenced to decades in prison. They had escaped after their arrests but were recaptured shortly thereafter. Ron Mitchell, a sailor in his 30s who was accused of being the ringleader, received two life sentences late on Wednesday in the killings of Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71. Continue reading...

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Trump orders nuclear submarines moved near Russia after threatening tweet from Dmitry Medvedev

Order suggests president might be ready to launch nuclear strike against Russia as tensions rise over Ukraine war Donald Trump has said that he has deployed nuclear-capable submarines to the “appropriate regions” in response to a threatening tweet by Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev, suggesting that he would be ready to launch a nuclear strike as tensions rise over the war in Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote that he had decided to reposition the nuclear submarines because of “highly provocative statements” by Medvedev, noting he is now the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Man, 76, charged after children fall ill at Leicestershire summer camp

John Ruben, of Landmere Lane charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment of a child, relating to three children A 76-year-old man has been charged after children fell ill at a summer camp in Leicestershire. John Ruben, of Landmere Lane in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, has been charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment of a child, relating to three children. Continue reading...

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Kemi Badenoch says she no longer sees herself as Nigerian despite upbringing

The Conservative party leader, who grew up in Nigeria and the US, said she has not renewed her Nigerian passport in decades ​Kemi Badenoch has said she no longer considers herself Nigerian and does not possess a Nigerian passport. The Conservative party leader, who was born in London, but grew up in Nigeria and the US and did not return to the UK until she was 16, said she had not renewed her Nigerian passport in two decades. Continue reading...

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Gavin Newsom may call special election to redraw California congressional maps

Governor announces possible move as Democrat-led states seek to respond to planned Texas redistricting California’s governor Gavin Newsom may call a special election in November to begin the process of redrawing the state’s congressional maps in response to Texas’s plans to change their own maps to help Republicans keep their majority in the House of Representatives. Donald Trump is pushing Texas and other Republican-dominated states to carry out mid-decade redistricting that will favor the GOP and potentially stop Democrats from retaking control of the House in next year’s midterm elections. Governors in Democratic-led states have responded by warning they will move to redo their own maps if Texas goes ahead with its plans, which could create an additional five Republican-leaning districts. Continue reading...

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Night goggles may have hampered sight of army pilots before DC plane crash, experts say

Goggles would have made it hard for helicopter pilots to see plane’s colored lights, experts said at inquiry into the crash The pilots of a US army helicopter that collided with a passenger jet over Washington DC in January would have had difficulty spotting the plane while wearing night vision goggles, experts told the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Friday. The army goggles would have made it hard to see the plane’s colored lights, which might have helped the Black Hawk determine the plane’s direction. The goggles also limited the pilots’ peripheral vision as they flew near Ronald Reagan Washington national airport that evening. Continue reading...

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Two wildfires in US west spur ‘fire clouds’ with erratic weather systems

Containment slips for megafire in Grand Canyon and large blaze in Utah as hot and dry weather fans flames Two wildfires burning in the western United States – including one that has become a “megafire” on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon – are so hot that they are spurring the formation of “fire clouds” that can create their own erratic weather systems. In Arizona, the wind-whipped wildfire that destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge is 9% contained and has charred more than 164 sq miles (424 sq km) to become the largest fire now burning in the continental US and one of the top 10 largest in recorded Arizona history. Getting around it would be roughly like driving from New York City to Washington DC. Continue reading...

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Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to lower-security prison in Texas

Move comes after Maxwell met with deputy attorney general about those involved in late sex offender’s crimes Ghislaine Maxwell has been transferred from a federal prison in Florida where she was serving her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking as an associate of Jeffrey Epstein to a lower-security facility in Texas, the US Bureau of Prisons said on Friday. “We can confirm, Ghislaine Maxwell is in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Bryan in Bryan, Texas,” a spokesperson said. Continue reading...

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Brazil judge put under sanctions for overseeing Bolsanaro case blames ‘treacherous’ plot

US put sanctions on Judge Alexandre de Moraes as an apparent move by Donald Trump to help his ally The supreme court judge presiding over the trial of Brazil’s ex-president, Jair Bolsonaro, has a “cowardly and treacherous” plot is afoot to pave the way for another attack on the South American country’s democracy. Judge Alexandre de Moraes was put under sanctions by the US on Wednesday, as part of an apparent push by Donald Trump to help his ally Bolsonaro escape punishment for allegedly masterminding an attempted coup after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Trump also slapped a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports in response to what he called the “witch-hunt” against the far-right former president. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

TV union and women’s group call for this year’s MasterChef to be shelved

Bectu and Fawcett Society say airing show would distress complainants about Gregg Wallace and John Torode The BBC is facing mounting pressure to scrap this year’s series of MasterChef after the sacking of the presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The heads of the broadcast union Bectu and a leading women’s rights organisation have joined those calling for the series to be shelved, arguing it would cause distress to the people who had made complaints about the two men. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

Supreme court hands partial win to car finance companies over compensation claims

Ruling deals a blow to many consumers and the claims industry as judges dismiss compensation save for the most serious cases The supreme court has partly overturned a lower court decision on the car finance commission scandal, closing the door to compensation except in more serious cases. In their ruling, a panel of justices led by the supreme court president, Lord Reed, only upheld one consumer’s case, originally filed by borrower Marcus Johnson. Cases brought by two other consumers – alleging that commissions paid to car dealers were bribes and that dealers owed a duty of loyalty to the customer – were rejected. Continue reading...

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Smithsonian removes references to Trump impeachments at history exhibit

Changes at National Museum of American History come amid president’s push to reshape US cultural agencies The Smithsonian Institution has scrubbed all mention of Donald Trump’s impeachments from a prominent display at the National Museum of American History, temporarily eliminating any acknowledgement of the president’s unique status as the only US leader the House impeached twice. The alterations to the presidential power exhibit, first reported by the Washington Post, occurred in July, with museum officials replacing contemporary signage with an older version that excludes Trump’s impeachment proceedings entirely. Visitors now see only a generic reference to three presidents facing potential removal from office. Continue reading...

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Gary Busey pleads guilty to groping a woman at a New Jersey convention

Actor, 81, admitted he purposely touched a woman inappropriately at a horror film convention in 2022 The actor Gary Busey has pleaded guilty to criminal sexual misconduct after admitting that he purposely touched a woman inappropriately at a horror film convention in New Jersey in 2022. “It was not an accidental touching,” the 81-year-old Busey, who was once nominated for an Oscar, told a judge during a virtual court appearance Thursday. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

Flaco Jiménez, Grammy award-winning tejano music legend, dies at 86

The singer-songwriter and accordionist won six Grammy awards and worked with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan Flaco Jiménez, master of the accordion and pioneer of tejano music, has died at the age of 86. “It is with great sadness that we share tonight the loss of our father, Flaco Jimenez,” reads a post from his family on Facebook. “He was surrounded by his loved ones and will be missed immensely. Thank you to all of his fans and friends – those who cherished his music. And a big thank you for all of the memories. His legacy will live on through his music and all of his fans.” Continue reading...

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‘It’s his safe place’: searching for Tommy Robinson in Tenerife

Far-right activist flew to the Spanish island again this week in a moment of peril – but friends deny seeing him there “As far as I am aware, he is on mainland Spain,” said Barry Armstrong, a convicted fraudster and longtime friend and benefactor of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson. It was difficult to fit with what the staff at Robinson’s favourite breakfast place in Costa Adeje, in southern Tenerife, had said just that morning. “He was in here yesterday,” a member of the waiting staff said of Robinson. Continue reading...

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Scientists slam Trump administration climate report as a ‘farce’ full of misinformation

Experts say the report being used to justify the mass rollback of climate regulations has many claims based on long-debunked research A new Trump administration report which attempts to justify a mass rollback of environmental regulations is chock-full of climate misinformation, experts say. On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to undo the 2009 “endangerment finding”, which allows the agency to limit planet-heating pollution from cars and trucks, power plants and other industrial sources. Hours later, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a 150-page report defending the proposal, claiming scientific concern about the climate crisis is overblown. Continue reading...

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Dozens of countries scramble to cope with latest wave of Trump trade tariffs

Markets tumble as US president unleashes global chaos with rates from 10% to 50% due to take effect next week Trump tariffs – live updates Leaders of more than 60 countries have been plunged into a fresh race to secure trade deals with the US after Donald Trump unleashed global chaos with sweeping new tariff rates. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

Barclays follows HSBC in exit from banking industry’s net zero alliance

US banks have already pulled out of NZBA, the UN environment programme’s finance initiative Barclays has become the second UK bank to withdraw from a UN-backed net zero target-setting group, claiming that a wave of defections by international lenders meant it was no longer fit for purpose. It marks a fresh blow for the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), after HSBC left in early July. It came months after a wave of exits by US banks, which departed in the run-up to Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. Continue reading...

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Israeli author David Grossman says his country is committing genocide in Gaza

Writer says for many years he has refused to use word but now must ‘with immense pain and a broken heart’ Middle East crisis – live updates The award-winning Israeli author David Grossman has described his country’s campaign in Gaza as a genocide and said he now “can’t help” but use the term. “I ask myself: how did we get here?” the celebrated writer and peace activist told the Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview published on Friday. Continue reading...

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Bishop who shut down London choir in his dressing gown issues apology

Bishop of Fulham says sorry for offence caused when he told singers to leave for making ‘terrible racket’ A bishop who went on stage in a dressing gown and shut down a choir for making a “terrible racket” has apologised for the “distress and offence” he caused. Last Friday, Jonathan Baker, the bishop of Fulham, told a room of about 360-people, including the City Academy Voices choir, to leave St Andrew church in Holborn, central London, as they neared the end of their special summer concert. Continue reading...

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UK Online Safety Act risks ‘seriously infringing’ free speech, says X

Elon Musk’s social media platform says lawmakers made a ‘conscientious decision’ to increase censorship UK politics live – latest updates Elon Musk’s X platform has said the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) is at risk of “seriously infringing” free speech as a row deepens over measures for protecting children from harmful content. The social media company said the act’s “laudable” intentions were being overshadowed by its aggressive implementation by the communications watchdog, Ofcom. Continue reading...

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British siblings, 13 and 11, who drowned off beach in Spain named

Family said Ameiya Del Brocco and younger brother Ricardo Junior were ‘two beautiful, bright, and deeply loved children’ A British brother and sister who drowned off a beach on the north-eastern coast of Spain have been named as Ameiya Del Brocco, 13, and 11-year-old Ricardo Junior. Their father, Ricardo Senior, who had also entered the water, was rescued by local emergency services after the incident during a family holiday in the Catalan town of Salou on Tuesday. Continue reading...

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Adani promised Australia billions from its Carmichael mine but it hasn’t paid a cent in tax. How did we get here?

The coalmine generated millions in revenue in its early days but recorded an operating loss – a pattern that would repeat at scale Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast It was entirely foreseeable, and has resulted in billions of dollars in forgone revenue for Australia. But just how did policymakers fail to extract a single cent in company tax from Adani’s Carmichael coalmine, even though it opened during the start of a commodity price boom? Continue reading...

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Joyce and Canavan call for new coal plants to replace renewable energy projects

Coalition opponents of net zero spruik coal, nuclear and gas as emissions policy divides opposition Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Barnaby Joyce and other leading opponents of net zero by 2050 want Australia to build new coal-fired power plants, focus on gas and nuclear energy and abandon all efforts to cut carbon emissions. As the former Nationals leader pushes a private member’s bill to block net zero – sparking new divisions within the Liberals and Nationals this week – he said any long-term emissions reduction from renewables would not make a meaningful difference to the climate and would cost households too much. Continue reading...

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Maryland boy dies after being trapped in storm drain as rains drench east coast

Baltimore saw up to 4in of rain and the New York transportation system was flooded on Thursday; more rain is possible, weather service warns A 13-year-old boy has died after he was trapped in a storm drain in Maryland during heavy rainfall and flooding on the east coast, officials said. Kids were playing in the rain on Thursday in a common area between apartment buildings in Mount Airy, a town of about 10,000 people about 30 miles (48km) west of Baltimore, but flood waters rushed in and the boy was swept into the pipe, according to Mount Airy volunteer fire company spokesperson Doug Alexander. Continue reading...

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Trump steps up attacks on Fed’s independence amid interest rates row

US president called on top Fed officials to seize control from chair Jerome Powell if he fails to cut interest rates Donald Trump called on top Federal Reserve officials to seize control from its chair Jerome Powell if he fails to cut interest rates, stepping up his extraordinary attacks on the central bank’s independence. The US president called Powell “a stubborn MORON” in a series of critical social media posts on Friday, days after the Fed held rates steady for the fifth consecutive time. Continue reading...

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Staffordshire police chief suspended after concerns raised about off-duty conduct

IOPC also investigating Chris Noble over allegations he shared confidential information without policing purpose A police chief has been suspended after serious concerns were raised about his behaviour outside of work. The Staffordshire police chief constable, Chris Noble, is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for the matters, which pre-date his employment with the force. Continue reading...

for 16 timeer siden

Abstract verbs in, long descriptors out: How do you name a political party?

600,000 people have signed up for updates on Corbyn and Sultana’s leftwing party. What is it called? You name it What’s in a name? Potentially a lot, if you are launching a movement with ambitions “to shape something truly transformative” in British politics. That’s the challenge facing Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, the former Labour MPs who announced plans last month, if not in the most coordinated fashion, to launch a leftwing political party. More than 600,000 people have already signed up for updates on the new group, which will be called … what? Continue reading...

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UK government has ‘got the balance right’ on tax, says Rachel Reeves

Chancellor responds to calls for wealth tax on millionaire households The government has “got the balance right” on tax, Rachel Reeves has insisted after a former Labour shadow chancellor said she should consider introducing a wealth tax. The chancellor said she had already increased taxes on the wealthiest in society with higher levies “on private jets, on second homes, and increased capital gains tax”. Continue reading...

for 16 timeer siden

First Thing: Stock markets fall as US announces new tariff rates on dozens of countries

Donald Trump orders levies ranging from 10% to 41% but extends deadline to next week. Plus, how did Labubu dolls became a ‘social currency’? Good morning. Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 41% on imports from dozens of trade partners, in his latest attempt to reshape the global economy. Which countries have higher rates? Rates were set at 25% for India’s US-bound exports, 20% for Taiwan and 30% for South Africa. Switzerland faces a rate of 39%. The deadline for a tariff deal with Mexico was extended by another 90 days. What has Israel said? As Gaza has slid into famine this summer, Israeli officials have variously denied the existence of mass starvation, claimed without evidence that Hamas steals and hoards aid, or blamed hunger on UN distribution failures, sharing pictures of aid pallets awaiting collection inside the border. Continue reading...

for 17 timeer siden

Kamala Harris says she doesn’t plan to return to ‘broken’ system of US politics

Former vice-president talked to Colbert in first interview since election, after declining bid for California governor Kamala Harris has said that she currently has no desire to re-enter “the system” of American politics because it is “broken”. On Thursday night the defeated Democratic party’s presidential nominee, who replaced Joe Biden late in the 2024 campaign after he dropped his re-election bid, gave her first interview since losing the election to Donald Trump, talking to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show. Continue reading...

for 17 timeer siden

Opposition leaders say ‘democracy in El Salvador has died’ after scrapping of presidential term limits

Legislation allows rightwing president Nayib Bukele to seek unlimited terms, sparking fears of dictatorship Activists and opposition leaders have that warned El Salvador is following Venezuela’s path towards dictatorship after the Central American country’s congress scrapped presidential term limits, paving the way for Nayib Bukele to seek indefinite re-election. “Democracy in El Salvador has died,” opposition congresswoman Marcela Villatoro declared late on Thursday as the legislature – in which Bukele’s Nuevas Ideas party controls 90% of seats – approved the highly controversial constitutional reform, by 57 votes to three. Continue reading...

for 17 timeer siden

Putin offers no hint of concessions as he says he wants ‘stable’ peace in Ukraine

Russian president’s remarks come as Kyiv rescuers find more than a dozen dead in apartment block after strikes Vladimir Putin has said he wants a “lasting and stable peace” in Ukraine but given no indication that he is willing to make any concessions to achieve it, after a week in which Russian missiles and drones again caused death and destruction across Ukraine. “We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries,” said Putin, speaking to journalists on Friday, a week before a new deadline imposed by Donald Trump for hostilities to cease. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Trump officials plan coverage for weight loss drugs under Medicare and Medicaid

Pilot program, first pitched under Biden, will cover GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic to address chronic obesity in US The Trump administration is planning a pilot program to cover “miracle” weight loss drugs under the government health insurance systems for low-income people and retirees, Medicaid and Medicare, in a move aimed at tackling the US’s chronic obesity problem. Such a plan was previously proposed by the Biden administration in its final months before Donald Trump re-entered the White House after winning a second term in office in the 2024 election. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Heathrow’s third runway ‘is going to be empty’ if it means high fees, says BA owner

IAG warns price paid per passenger could double under airport’s plans to invest almost £50bn in expansion Heathrow submits ‘shovel-ready’ plans for third runway Why is Heathrow’s third runway back on the agenda? What will expanding Heathrow do to UK’s net zero plans? Heathrow’s third runway “is going to be empty” if high charges are levied on airlines and passengers to foot the bill, the airport’s biggest customer has warned. British Airways’ owner, International Airlines Group (IAG), said the price paid per passenger could double under plans revealed on Thursday by Heathrow to invest almost £50bn in expansion and upgrades, including a £21bn third runway and new terminals. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Texas’s redistricting is a Republican power grab at the hands of Trump

Redrawn congressional maps could secure five seats for Republicans ahead of next year’s midterm elections When Texas Republicans redrew their congressional map this month at the urging of Donald Trump, they faced a difficult task. They needed to find a way to pick up five seats that the president wanted ahead of the midterm elections next year without spreading their voters too thin and jeopardizing the 25 seats they already held. Republicans unveiled their plan to pick up the seats on Wednesday, revealing a map that could dilute Hispanic voting power. Under the new proposed districts, they would be favored in five new seats, giving them a hold on 30 of Texas’s 38 congressional districts. Had the district been in place for the 2024 election, Trump would have won all 30 by at least 10 points. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

US adds 73,000 jobs in July amid economic pressure from Trump’s trade war

July jobs growth slowed amid rising signs Trump’s tariffs are weighing on trade, prices and hiring US politics live – latest updates The US economy added 73,000 jobs in July, far lower than expected, amid ongoing concerns with Donald Trump’s escalating trade war. Forecasters surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted the July jobs report would show a drop in added jobs of around 109,000. The unemployment rate rose to 4.2% from 4.1% in June. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Albanese criticises ‘dry gully’ of culture wars as he promises more funding to close Indigenous gap

In Garma festival speech the PM will promise mobile Tafe, new economic partnerships with Indigenous groups and funding for clean energy Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese says investing in closing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage gap is more useful than the “dry gully” of culture wars. The prime minister will use a major speech to the Garma festival in north-east Arnhem Land on Saturday to promise delivery of the economic sovereignty fundamental to self-determination for First Nations communities, including through $75m in new funding to help native title holders secure better deals and faster project approvals. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

Family of Briton murdered in Jamaica seek answers over UK officials’ ‘indifference’

Delroy Walker’s relatives say they were initially told ‘your brother’s not British, or not British enough’ to receive help The family of a “generous and loving” British man who was murdered in Jamaica are demanding answers over the British government’s “indifferent” response after the tragedy. Delroy Walker, from Birmingham, was stabbed to death weeks after retiring to the Caribbean island where he was building his dream home. The 63-year-old charity worker was murdered by a “jealous” tradesman he employed to help decorate the property in preparation for a family visit in summer 2018. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

Labour MPs urge Thames Water to recover £2.5m paid to executives in April

Exclusive: Letter to water company sets out demands, including resolving most severe cases of pollution Thames Water should claw back £2.5m in bonuses that were paid to executives in April, 27 Labour MPs representing constituencies served by the utility have urged. The MPs said it was “disgusting” that the company was hiking water bills “to pay for executives’ failings when those same executives were receiving multimillion-pound bonuses”. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Morecambe FC fans set to ‘lose everything’ without 11th-hour takeover

Club faces ‘total collapse’ in 72 hours unless owner, Jason Whittingham, agrees to sell up, shareholders say Fans of Morecambe football club said they were about to “lose everything”, with the 105-year-old institution facing closure on Monday without an 11th-hour takeover. Shareholders at the National League club said it would “officially shut” and face “total collapse” in 72 hours unless the owner, Jason Whittingham, agreed to sell up. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Canada will be its own best customer, says Carney, after Trump imposes new tariffs on dozens of countries – US politics live

Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday increasing tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the United States from 25% to 35% Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of US politics as Donald Trump has signed an executive order ranging from 10% to 41% on imports from dozens of trade partners in his latest attempt to reshape the global economy. The order applies to 68 countries and the 27-member European Union. Rates were set at 25% for India’s US-bound exports, 20% for Taiwan, 19% for Thailand and 15% for South Korea. World stock rates have fallen. Germany’s DAX index has dropped by 1.1% at the start of trading in Frankfurt, while France’s CAC fell by almost 1% and Spain’s IBEX lost 0.6% – even though Europe reached a trade deal with the US at the start of this week. Historian Rashid Khalidi has cancelled plans to teach this fall at Columbia University in response to the school’s recent agreement with the Trump administration. A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration’s plans and extended temporary protected status (TPS) for 60,000 people from Central America and Asia, including people from Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua. The US dollar has hit its highest level in two months against a basket of currencies today. The dollar index has risen by 0.1%, on track for its seventh daily rise in a row. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

New UK civil service internship scheme only open to working-class students

Minister says programme will help ensure Whitehall has ‘broadest range of talent and truly reflects the country’ A new civil service internship scheme will be open only to working-class students as part of a drive to make Whitehall better reflect the country, the government has said. The new programme will give students from lower-income backgrounds the chance to apply for paid government placements. The definition of working class will be based on what jobs applicants’ parents held when they were 14 and replaces an existing programme open to all. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Trump to blame for high cost of living, Americans say in new poll

Six out of 10 Americans fault president for financial struggles and eight out of 10 worry about tariffs’ impact Americans are struggling financially, grappling with debt and the rising cost of living, and are blaming the Trump administration and corporate interests for worsening economic outlooks for working families, according to a new poll. Six out of 10 Americans place blame on the Trump administration for driving up their cost of living, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult for the Century Foundation, which asked 2,007 Americans how they are managing the high cost of living in the US economy, who they think is to blame and what are the solutions. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

US judge whose son was murdered voices dismay as threats to jurists rise

Amid climate of intimidation, Esther Salas tells of how son Daniel was killed by lawyer posing as pizza delivery man A judge whose son was murdered by a disgruntled lawyer posing as a pizza deliveryman voiced anguish that the crime has spawned a spate of copycat threats against other jurists. Esther Salas, a US district judge for New Jersey, fought back tears on Thursday after being asked to respond to a trend of judges receiving home pizza deliveries with the name of her late son attached as a means of intimidation. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Scottish football clubs owe more than £22m to government in Covid loans

11 clubs have repaid only £2.78m up to March 2025 Rangers owe £2.78m and Aberdeen more than £2.7m More than £22m in Covid-related loans from the Scottish government to football clubs remained outstanding at the end of the last financial year, it has been revealed following a Guardian freedom of information request on the eve of a new Scottish Premiership season. Eleven clubs, then all in the top flight, opted to take interest-free loans totalling £25.26m in 2021 to assist with business recovery from the pandemic. While terms on the loans mean full repayment is not due until 2042, the scale of moneys still outstanding is likely to turn heads as many top-flight outfits continue to spend freely and receive decent transfer fees for players. Several clubs have also received significant European revenues over recent seasons. Clubs lower down the Scottish football food chain also received Covid grants. Two of them, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dumbarton, have subsequently entered administration. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Police arrest 10 men during investigation of 1990s child abuse allegations in Bradford

Men aged between 49 and 71 arrested in connection with alleged offences relating to six victims Ten men have been arrested by police investigating allegations of child sexual abuse in Bradford in the 1990s. West Yorkshire police said the men were aged between 49 and 71, and had been arrested from addresses in the city. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Storm Floris to hit UK on Monday with unseasonably strong winds forecast

Yellow weather warning for wind in Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and north of England from 6am Storm Floris is forecast to bring unseasonably strong winds to the UK on Monday, the Met Office says. The strongest winds are expected during the afternoon and night across Scotland, with gusts of up to 85mph possible on exposed coasts and hills. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Prominent historian cancels course at Columbia University over Trump deal

Rashid Khalidi, in open letter published by Guardian, accuses university of ‘capitulating’ with $200m settlement Historian Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said professor emeritus of modern Arab studies at Columbia University, has cancelled plans to teach this fall in response to the school’s recent agreement with the Trump administration. Khalidi made the announcement in an open letter to Columbia’s acting president published in the Guardian on Friday. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Caribbean LGBTQ+ activists celebrate as court strikes down colonial-era laws

‘Stride in the right direction’ as Eastern Caribbean supreme court rules St Lucia’s laws on gay sex unconstitutional Activists have hailed a historic judgment striking down colonial-era laws that criminalised gay sex in St Lucia as a step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean country. This week the Eastern Caribbean supreme court found that the island’s so-called buggery and gross indecency laws, which criminalised consensual anal sex, were unconstitutional. Continue reading...

for 22 timeer siden

Car finance scandal: UK supreme court poised to give ruling on hidden commissions

Verdict could could pave way for millions of motorists to claim compensation for mis-selling The UK’s highest court is poised to give its verdict on the £44bn car finance scandal, which could pave the way for millions of motorists to claim billions of pounds in compensation for mis-selling. The supreme court judgment, which will be handed down after financial markets close at 4.35pm on Friday, will decide whether or not to uphold a finding by the court of appeal in October that hidden commissions paid to car dealers by lenders were unlawful. Continue reading...

for 22 timeer siden

‘Dodgy looking’ clip of Trump playing golf in Scotland sparks cheating debate

Video appears to show aide dropping ball in favourable position, as golf fans say it is a bad look for the sport Trump tariffs – live updates UK politics live – latest updates In Golf in the Kingdom, a classic sports book about adventures on a mystical Scottish links course – and the spiritual growth that can take place there – the narrator’s ball ends up buried in a gorse bush. His appeal to the local pro/guru he is with to drop the ball clear of the thorns is met with a brusque: “Play it like it lies. It’ll come out.” The ball stays put, but the ordeal leads to life lessons being learned. Continue reading...

for 22 timeer siden

Labour urged to consider wealth tax as Reeves visits Scotland – UK politics live

Former shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said ministers must be frank about ‘really big decisions’ in autumn budget Good morning and welcome to the UK politics blog. My name is Tom Ambrose and I’ll be bringing you all the latest news lines throughout the day. We start with news that the Treasury should consider a wealth tax to close the growing gap in the public finances, according to a Labour former shadow chancellor. The UK’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state is compliant with international law, a minister has said, after a group of peers raised concerns that it did not meet the legal bar. Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, defended the fact that the government’s plan for recognising Palestinian statehood does not involve firm “conditions” being placed on Hamas, saying the government could not make the decision conditional on what Hamas does because it does not negotiate with terrorist organisations. Nine out of 10 nurses have rejected their 3.6% pay award for this year and warned that they could strike later this year unless their salaries are improved. Mary-Ann Stephenson has been confirmed as the new chair of the equalities watchdog, after the government overruled the objections of parliament’s equalities committee over her suitability for the job. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

Weather tracker: deadly floods devastate northern China

Torrential rain batters Beijing and surrounding areas, while intense heat lingers in parts of Scandinavia At least 70 people have died in northern China after another bout of torrential rain triggered flooding, the latest in a series of extreme rainfall events in recent months. Between 23 and 29 July, Beijing and its surrounding areas recorded an average of 166mm, equivalent to the monthly norm. The suburban district of Miyun received the highest amount of rainfall, with 543mm recorded, equivalent to the region’s annual average. The death toll included 31 people in a Miyun care home, 10 who were swept away in a minibus in Shangxi province, and eight people in a landslide in the city of Chengde. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

Pro-Palestine fundraising gig in Newcastle cancelled after police said ‘credible threat’ made against venue

Palestine Action Group Muloobinba accuses police of ‘bullying tactics’ after cancellation of the Make Some Noise charity event, the second such incident in a week Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A pro-Palestine fundraising gig planned at a Newcastle pub on Friday night was cancelled after police warned a “credible threat” had been made against the venue – but organisers say they have been left in the dark. The Palestine Action Group Muloobinba (PAGM) has accused police of “bullying tactics” after the cancellation of the Make Some Noise charity event at the Hamilton Station hotel, from which all proceeds were meant to go towards aid for Gaza. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

Melbourne man charged with child abuse offences after images allegedly displayed during university lecture

Victoria police allege inappropriate images were inadvertently displayed during a university lecture in Melbourne CBD in February Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A man has been charged with child abuse offences after allegedly inappropriate images were inadvertently displayed during a university lecture, Victoria police have said. Police said in a statement that detectives from the Melbourne sexual offence and child abuse investigation team had charged a 70-year-old man after a lengthy investigation. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

US envoy to visit Gaza aid sites as number of Palestinians killed while desperate for food grows – Israel-Gaza war live

Steve Witkoff to visit food distribution sites in Gaza as Israeli government faces pressure over hunger in Gaza Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the crisis in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit food distribution sites in Gaza run by the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) where hundreds of Palestinians have died in recent weeks trying to get food. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

Death toll from Russian strikes on Kyiv rises to 26 as Ukraine calls for UN security council meeting – Europe live

Over 150 injured making Thursday one of the deadliest days for the Ukraine capital since start of war The death toll from Thursday’s Russian attack on Kyiv has risen to 26 with over 150 injured, making it one of the deadliest attacks on the capital since the start of the full-scale war in 2022. Responding to the attack, Ukraine called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council this afternoon as it seeks to unite its allies and ramp up pressure on Russia to end the war. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

UK house prices rebound as market recovers from June dip

Average price of property rises 0.6% in July to £272,664, says Nationwide House prices in the UK returned to growth last month, as the market recovered from a dip in June after the end of a tax break on stamp duty. The average price of a home rose 0.6% in July to £272,664, bouncing back from the biggest month-on-month fall in more than two years in June, according to Nationwide. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Impartiality concerns raised as LNP appoints former Liberal party member to lead Queensland CFMEU inquiry

Unions chief says industrial relations lawyer Stuart Wood KC is ‘very well experienced’ but queries whether he may bring ‘personal biases’ to the role Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The lawyer leading a commission of inquiry into Queensland’s CFMEU was a former member of the Liberal party and acted for businesses, raising questions about his impartiality, according to the state’s union movement. Deputy premier and industrial relations minister Jarrod Bleijie announced on Friday that Stuart Wood AM KC, an industrial relations lawyer of 30 years experience who has worked in Victoria and Queensland, would be the inquiry’s commissioner. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

AustralianSuper divests more than $26m of shares in poker machine giant Aristocrat from socially aware option

The ‘highly significant’ decision comes after criticism of superannuation funds increasing their investment in the gambling industry Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia’s largest superannuation fund has divested more than $26m of shares in poker machine giant Aristocrat from its “socially aware” option, after sustained criticism of its support for the gambling industry. The decision was made after a review of investments to ensure the fund was meeting the expectations of its ethically minded members. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Are Labour’s plans to offset Heathrow expansion emissions all pie in the sky?

Government is counting on tech to provide a panacea, but there may be simpler ways to keep climate goals on track Expanding Heathrow would result in increased carbon dioxide emissions and could put the UK further off track on its climate goals, but the government is claiming it can offset that by investing in research on new low-carbon fuels for aircraft and on electric planes. However, any such technology is still decades away, if it ever reaches commercial scale, making it certain that any new runway in the near future would be used by the same kerosene-fuelled, high-carbon aircraft that we have today. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Tourist discovers ‘extinct’ jellyfish while rock-pooling in Outer Hebrides

Thistle-shaped Depastrum cyathiforme was last seen in France in 1976, but has now been found on South Uist For nearly 50 years, there has been no trace of Depastrum cyathiforme, a stalked jellyfish that resembles a thistle flower. The distinctive jellyfish was feared globally extinct after being last spotted in Roscoff, northern France, in 1976. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Labour urged to revive Sure Start label to win back Reform voters

Commission says new Best Start project should be called Sure Start to rebuild trust in austerity damaged areas The government should greatly expand family centres under the Sure Start brand to help win back Reform voters in former Labour heartlands, a commission backed by Labour politicians has said. Hilary Armstrong, the Labour peer and former cabinet minister, was among those pressing for a fuller reintroduction of family centres under the Sure Start label, saying it would help to rebuild trust in neighbourhoods damaged by austerity. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Judge rules against Trump and extends deportation protections for 60,000 immigrants

San Francisco judge leaves temporary protected status in place for people from Honduras and Nicaragua while case against Trump administration proceeds A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration’s plans and extended temporary protected status (TPS) for 60,000 people from Central America and Asia, including people from Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua. TPS is a protection that can be granted by the homeland security secretary to people of various nationalities who are in the United States, preventing them from being deported and allowing them to work. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Wet and wintry weekend in store for NSW with warnings of heavy rainfall and damaging winds

Weather bureau says bulk of the rain forecast to hit on weekend as a low-pressure system deepens off the coast Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast New South Wales is heading for a sodden Saturday, with the wet and wintry weather that has been plaguing the east coast expected to ramp up over the weekend. After a week of intermittent showers, the bulk of the rain was forecast to hit on the weekend as a low-pressure system deepened off the coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Sydney: Rain. Saturday max 18C. Sunday max 19C. Melbourne: Mostly cloudy on Saturday, max 15C. Sunday, mostly sunny, max 18C. Brisbane: Shower or two. Saturday max 19C. Sunday max 21C. Adelaide: Partly cloudy on Saturday, max 14C. Sunday, max 17C. Perth: Rain. Saturday, max 18C. Sunday, mostly sunny, max 29C. Canberra: Shower or two on Saturday, top 13C. Sunday, cloudy, max 15C. Hobart: Mostly sunny. Saturday 14C. Sunday max 15C. Darwin: Sunny. Saturday and Sunday max 31C. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Joe Biden says US is facing ‘existential’ fight with marginalized groups ‘dramatically under attack’

Former president says some politicians watch deportations of legal immigrants with ‘glee’ in speech to National Bar Association gala Former United States President Joe Biden took the stage at the National Bar Association’s 100th Annual Awards Gala in Chicago to deliver remarks honoring the United States civil rights legacy, and the state of the country. Speaking amid continual scrutiny around his physical and mental health, Biden played up the importance of a strong judicial branch, and characterized the US as at a moment in time that “makes us confront hard truths.” Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Australian activists allege they were ‘brutalised psychologically’ after Israeli military detained Gaza aid boat

Tania Safi and Robert Martin allege they were strip-searched and barred from external communication and access to medication before Australian embassy was allowed to assist Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Two Australian activists say they were “brutalised psychologically” and treated “like criminals” by the Israeli military, including being strip-searched, shackled and denied external communication, after a boat they were on was intercepted and detained while attempting to transport aid to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Journalist Tania “Tan” Safi and human rights activist Robert Martin were among 21 activists on board the Handala when it was intercepted on Sunday and transported to Israel. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Five Labor MPs defy NSW premier and vow to attend pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge

ALP MLC Stephen Lawrence criticises ‘slow and steady demonisation of protest’ in NSW Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Several New South Wales Labor MPs have defied their premier, Chris Minns, by vowing to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Gaza this weekend as police attempt to challenge the protest in court. Labor’s Stephen Lawrence, Anthony D’Adam, Linda Voltz, Cameron Murphy and Sarah Kaine were among 15 NSW politicians who signed an open letter on Thursday evening calling on the government to facilitate “a safe and orderly event” on Sunday. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Virginia Giuffre wanted Epstein documents made public, siblings say

Accuser who died in April wanted justice for victims and urged Trump not to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, family says The siblings of Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers who died earlier this year, said their sister had wanted the so-called Epstein files to be released, and urged Donald Trump not to pardon his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Giuffre’s family said she would have wanted the documents – a trove of materials related to the investigation into the years of abuse into the late sex offender – made public. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Trump to build ‘beautiful’ $200m ballroom at White House

Press secretary says 900 sq ft ballroom will hold up to 650 seats as US president proposes ‘a lot of improvements’ The White House will soon begin construction of a new $200m ballroom to be ready before Donald Trump’s term ends in early 2029. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the building will be 90,000 sq ft and will hold up to 650 seats. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

News live: Australian activists allege they were ‘brutalised psychologically’ after Israeli military detained Gaza aid boat; NSW politicians back Harbour Bridge march

Tania Safi and Robert Martin back in Australia, with Martin asking why Albanese holding out on recognising Palestinian state. Follow the latest news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Burgess says while money is lost, ‘tens of billions’ has been saved foiling foreign spies Burgess said Asio was publicising the dollar value on the cost of espionage activities against Australia to help raise awareness about safety and security. He told RN Breakfast: Whilst ($)12.5 is an imposing figure, actually, tens of billions of dollars have been saved. Saved by the good work that’s already being done. We’re just saying we need to do a little bit better because $12.5bn is still too high. It is not naive, it’s recklessly inviting the intelligence, the intention of a foreign intelligence service. It’s OK to put what you’re doing on your CV if you’re applying for a job, you’ve got a right to do that. When you advertise it on a professional networking site or your social media profile, that’s just unwise and you are becoming a target. The problem with espionage, it’s highly secretive and hard to see or hard to measure, but actually engaging the Institute of Criminology in an attempt to cost it, to make the cost tangible, will help businesses and individuals understand this is a real threat. And more importantly, we spent some time saying what good security looks like and how they can help catch spies and stop this. … All nations spy, including Australia, so we can’t forget that. So all governments look for covert or sensitive insights that are not publicly available. So all nations do it, and genuinely you would be surprised by who’s doing it. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Trump signs order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods from 25% to 35%

Decision comes amid escalating trade tensions between the two countries and before a deadline to negotiate a deal Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday increasing tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the United States from 25% to 35%. The new import tax rates goes into effect on Friday, according to a White House factsheet. The tariff would cover all products not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Goods transshipped to another country to evade the new tariffs would be subject to a transshipment levy of 40%. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Australia dodges latest Trump tariff hikes as most imports held at 10%

Spokesperson for Australian trade minister says ‘no country has reciprocal tariffs lower’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australian goods imported into the US will continue to attract the baseline 10% tariff, with Australia dodging any tariff increase in the latest round of Donald Trump’s global trade war. On Thursday night US time – Friday morning in Australia – Trump issued an executive order confirming new tariff deals for several trading partners, as well as revised tariffs for a number of other countries. Continue reading...