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Andy Burnham hopes a successful byelection will mean he can encourage Keir Starmer to step aside as prime ministerUp to 3,000 Labour campaigners are expected to descend on Makerfield for Andy Burnham, prompting fears among organisers that the hordes of activists may end up overwhelming voters during Thursday's byelection.Local hotels are fully booked and party members are expected to be dispatched to polling stations, and to leaflet people waiting at bus stops and school gates to avoid swamping residents on their doorsteps. Continue reading...

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that US dues to the Nato budget will be contingent on other countries meeting defence spending targetsHegseth makes it clear that the review will not be just a box-ticking exercise.It's a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colours. In the end, the review is intended to both improve US force posture and basing and strengthen Nato 3.0."It will be designed to ensure that Nato is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defence of Europe."Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues, contributions will go down. Nato will be a two-way street." Continue reading...

Scale of long range-attack catches Muscovites by surprise, prompting panicked messages on social media

Chief Iranian negotiator says key waterway will not return to prewar conditions' after 60-day window; both sides sign memorandum of understanding extending truce

Exclusive: Muslim Council of Britain national guidance also urges mosques to strengthen police ties and improve CCTVMosques are being advised to carry out lockdown drills, strengthen ties with local police and improve CCTV coverage under new national guidance published amid growing concerns about anti-Muslim attacks.The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has released new security and preparedness framework for mosques, trustees and volunteers, warning that places of worship and community centres face an increasing threat from vandalism, intimidation, threats and targeted hostility. Continue reading...

Generator's shares rise as regulator finds no evidence of misleading statements about fuel's sustainability

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John Ray, 17th-century botanist who coined words petal and pollen, was a tutor at Cambridge when he created his first gardenHe coined the terms petal and pollen, helped to lay the foundations of modern biology and is widely regarded as the greatest English naturalist of the 17th century.But it was while he was a young college tutor at Cambridge in the 1650s that the botanist John Ray - also known as the father of natural history" - created his first known garden and began to systematically study plants for the first time. Continue reading...

Drop will put pressure on Bank of England to raise interest rates despite peace deal in Iran war

Exclusive: Ex-minister accuses Labour of overcautiousness' and says his proposal was cut from manifestoWes Streeting has said his plan to ban private equity sharks" from the social care sector was removed from the Labour manifesto, as he accused the government of overcautiousness" in reforming the industry.In a Fabian Society report on how to create a national care service, Streeting said overhauling social care was one of the defining challenges of our age" but an absence of good political leadership" was holding back change. Continue reading...

UK's biggest retailer reports better figures than expected by City analysts and is cheered by strong online sales

Coroner tells freebirth inquest new material of such significance' any findings must be postponed so information can be analysedThe closing submissions in an inquest into the death of a woman who gave birth at home with no support from medically trained health workers has been delayed, after new evidence came to light following a forensic analysis of her mobile phone.Stacey Warnecke, a 30 year-old nutritionist, died on 29 September in Frankston hospital in Melbourne. Continue reading...

Startups and testamentary trusts to receive carve outs after criticism of Labor's CGT changes

Sellers of luxury villas have wiped tens of millions of pounds off asking prices, with sales down 19% in May from the previous monthProperty sales in Dubai have fallen off a cliff", a leading market watcher has said, after war in the Middle East forced a dramatic slowdown in one of the world's most expensive real estate markets.Sales in the city dropped 19% in May compared with the previous month, accelerating from a 4% drop in April, the researcher ValuStrat found. Continue reading...

Kyiv is not taking any risks amid Moscow's efforts to integrate Minsk ever more closely into its warRussian spy drones flying into Ukraine from Belarusian airspace have sharply increased since the beginning of the year, as senior officials in Kyiv express mounting concern over Belarus's involvement in the war.Ukraine has stepped up by reinforcing fortifications on its northern border, including anti-tank ditches, concrete dragons' teeth" obstacles to block armoured vehicles and new areas of barbed wire. Troops operating along the border say they have noted a jump of about 20% in Russian intelligence drones since January. Continue reading...

Prime minister says country needs to resist those who seek to exploit division' and destabilise democracy'The trial of two Russian-linked arsonists who targeted property connected to Keir Starmer shows that the UK is under attack from bad actors who want to exploit division" and destabilise our democracy", the prime minister has said.Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Ukraine, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, from Romania, were found guilty on Monday of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property linked to the prime minister, and appear to have operated under the instruction of an online handler with links to Russia. Continue reading...

YouGov survey of six countries shows respondents think crime is increasing - though most trust their national policeWestern Europeans believe crime is rising in their country, according to a survey, despite long-term overall crime rates falling across the region since the mid-1990s.The YouGov poll of Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain found most countries trusted their national police, led by Denmark where 74% of respondents said they had a lot or a fair amount of confidence in police nationally. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Economists find Brexit caused 12% depression in UK exports, most of which is due to leaving single marketBrexit has depressed UK exports to the EU by 12%, and rejoining the customs union would undo only a fraction of the damage, research shared with the Guardian shows.With the UK's future relationship with the bloc likely to feature prominently in a potential Labour leadership contest, the economists John Springford and Anton Spisak, of the Centre for European Reform, provide fresh evidence of the damage caused by exiting. Continue reading...

Supply problems pose risk to health, with common painkillers, epilepsy medication and HRT affectedBritons are facing some of the most severe" shortages of NHS medicines on record including common painkillers, epilepsy drugs and HRT, health leaders have warned, even forcing some patients with impaired digestive systems to skip meals.The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that medicine shortages pose a serious risk to patient safety". Continue reading...

This blog is now closed - see our full report on the latest in the Middle East crisisTrump also addressed media reports of a leaked US-Iran deal (see post at 11:57), denying claims it includes a $300bn reconstruction fund for Tehran.We're not putting up 10 cents," he said. We are not investing and we do not have a fund."It's not final. It's a memorandum of understanding, and if I don't like it, we'll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head.If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, okay, because they've misbehaved for 47 years." Continue reading...

Katherine, five, and brother Harry, 14 months, died on Wednesday after their pram was hit by an SUV in Cabramatta

Senator Bill Cassidy attacks worst foreign policy blunder in decades' while others in his party skeptical over peace dealA handful of Senate Republicans have sharply criticized the agreement Donald Trump reached with Iran, accusing the administration of committing the worst foreign policy blunder in decades".On Wednesday, the Trump administration released the text of an interim deal between Washington and Tehran to end the 110-day conflict, framing it as a major win" for the US - even as the 14-point accord made significant political and financial concessions to Iran to reopen the strait of Hormuz and prevent a worldwide depression". Continue reading...

University of New South Wales ranks 19th in QS World University Rankings, with nine Australian universities achieving record-high positions

Nottinghamshire tree, one of Europe's oldest and largest, fails to produce leaves after being stressed by series of hot, dry summersThe Major oak, one of Europe's oldest, largest and most celebrated ancient trees, has died.The huge tree, which has grown in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, for at least 1,000 years, failed to produce any leaves this year, after becoming stressed by a series of hot, dry summers. Continue reading...

Wessex Archaeology suspect they have uncovered a prototype for world-famous Stonehenge site in WiltshireA 5,000-year-old monument that was aligned with the summer and winter solstices and may have served as a prototype for the later solar alignment at Stonehenge has been discovered close to the famous neolithic site, in what archaeologists have described as a once in a lifetime" find.The structure at Bulford, 5km (3 miles) from the world heritage site in Wiltshire, has been carbon dated to around 3000BC, the same time as the earliest phase of construction at Stonehenge and 500 years before its huge trilithon stones were carefully placed to line up with the midsummer and midwinter sun. Continue reading...

Epstein associate's lawyer rejected preferential treatment claims in January, saying humane treatment isn't special'Staff from the House oversight and judiciary committees visited the Texas prison where Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, is serving her sentence, according to Democratic lawmakers.In a statement, the Democratic representatives Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin said staff from the committees traveled to the minimum-security federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, on Tuesday to seek answers about Maxwell's transfer there, and about allegations that she has received preferential treatment at the prison camp. Continue reading...

Friends Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, were pulled out of water by rescue crews but died later at local hospitals

Exclusive: Allies of Labour's Makerfield candidate concerned rapid collapse of Starmer government would increase instabilityAndy Burnham's campaign has been forced to talk ministers out of resigning as early as this weekend to avoid Keir Starmer's government descending into chaos amid fallout from the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian can reveal.As they prepare for a potential change of leader in the event he beats Reform on Thursday, Burnham's team is increasingly concerned a rapid collapse of Starmer's administration would mean further instability for the country. Continue reading...

The southern US is seeing intense rain that is expected to cause dangerous flash flooding

Jane and Alan Kelvey's holiday yacht met a warship in the Channel - at a tense time for Anglo-Russian relationsWe actually had right of way," said Jane Kelvey, a little crossly, though keeping it civil. But we weren't going to argue with a warship."The dramatic standoff in the Channel on Tuesday morning between Admiral Grigorovich, a 125-metre (409ft) battle-hardened Russian frigate, and Bright Future, a 12-metre (40ft) pleasure yacht owned and helmed by Jane, 69, and her husband, Alan, 71, has rather caught the nation's imagination. Continue reading...

Refugee charity says decision to let officers request the devices as part of public order powers is sickening'French riot police deployed in northern France under a 660m deal with the UK are authorised to use water cannon against asylum seekers, the Guardian has been told.Two specialist policing units, including a 50-officer riot squad, have begun working to prevent asylum seekers and people smugglers from launching small boats under the UK-France deal in time for the summer months. Continue reading...

Musician says on Instagram he is doing much better' and receiving treatment and therapy after 2025 arrestThe musician Lil Nas X posted a moving video update to his Instagram on Wednesday morning. In the nearly three-minute clip, the artist - born Montero Lamar Hill - shared that he has been in rehab for a few months" and since then, has returned home to Atlanta, where he is from and his family lives, and Los Angeles, where he resides.The update comes in response to an event last summer in which the musician was charged with attacking Los Angeles police officers. Continue reading...

The US president's opulent tastes will be well served in a palace that has hosted Putin, King Charles and JFKFor a US president who has likened himself to a king and redecorated the Oval Office with golden paint and gold ornaments, it feels like the perfect dinner venue.Donald Trump said one of the deciding factors in accepting an invitation to dine with Emmanuel Macron at the spectacular, 2,300-room Palace of Versailles was that it was not gold leaf" but the real deal". Continue reading...

French president welcomes group's unity after very deep change' in Washington's approachEmmanuel Macron has said the whole of the G7, including the US, recognises the territorial integrity of Ukraine" as he hailed a re-synchronisation" of positions on the issue.The French president welcomed a very deep change in the US approach", saying Donald Trump and all the leaders present at the G7 summit at Evian-les-Bains understood that Vladimir Putin was not interested in peace. Continue reading...

The US president earlier hailed Macron's beautiful job' in hosting summit, after greeting leaders with the words I'm the boss' at morning sessionRutte says the adjustment in the US pledge to the Nato Force Model is not primarily about where forces and assets are currently, but about who would do what if our defence plans were activated."He says historically the model was overly reliant" on the US.You will likely have seen news adjusting its contributions to the Nato force model. In some cases, this has been cast as a problem, as the US pulling away from its allies, but that is not the reality. The US has made clear that it is committed to Nato.That commitment comes with an expectation that allies will more fairly share the responsibility for our security here in Europe." Continue reading...

Greater Manchester mayor tells supporters a vote for him is a vote to power up north of England' and end 40 years of trickle-down economics that didn't trickle down much'Andy Burnham may have trouble getting through to Keir Starmer if he tries ringing him after the Makerfield byelection to urge him to set a timetable for his departure. Burnham reportedly wants to call Starmer this weekend. (See 9.47am.) But, in his interview with Sky News, Starmer said: I'm sure I'll talk to Andy after the weekend."If Starmer declines to take Burnham's call, he may be following Ed Miliband's example. In a Times story today, Patrick Maguire and Steven Swinford report:Sir Keir Starmer's relationship with Ed Miliband has broken down to such an extent that the energy secretary has been accused of ghosting" the prime minister in recent weeks.Senior government sources claimed that Miliband declined to take calls from the prime minister during a tense stand-off over defence spending. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer has called the firing of warning shots by a Russian warship at a British yacht sailing across the Channel on Tuesday deeply concerning and reckless'.Russia's defence ministry said the yacht was on a dangerous course' and several attempts were made to contact it - a claim disputed by the retired couple onboard the 40ft yacht.Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian's defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

PM says Greater Manchester mayor is huge asset' who can play big part in Labour government if he wins byelection

Attorney asks court to return $82,000 deposit to buyer if 2025 foreclosure is invalidated due to discoveryA person who bought a foreclosed home, as is, in Burlington, Connecticut, discovered the skeletal remains of three people when they first entered the residence.The Connecticut state police reported they received a call on Sunday at 4.46pm from the new homeowner reporting the remains. Continue reading...

Judge discloses Mangione's team plans to argue he suffered extreme emotional disturbance at time of occurrence'Luigi Mangione's legal team plans on pursuing a psychiatric defense during his upcoming Manhattan state court trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, court proceedings revealed Wednesday.Judge Gregory Carro revealed the move in discussion of unsealing records related to the defense's request to pursue this legal strategy. Continue reading...

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet last visited Britain in 2022 during late queen's platinum jubilee celebrationsThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex will bring their two children to the UK for the first time in more than four years, it has been reported.Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, last visited Britain in 2022 during the late Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. Continue reading...

At G7 meeting in France, president angrily rejects suggestions US will contribute to $300bn fund for Iran

Sudden shifts from wet to dry weather, or vice versa, may foil typical drought and flooding prevention measuresRising temperatures may trigger a dangerous increase in hydroclimatic whiplash" in rivers that would make traditional approaches to flood and drought planning insufficient, a study has found.As temperatures rise owing to the worsening climate crisis, rivers will experience increasingly rapid transitions between heavy downpours and long dry spells - called hydroclimatic whiplash events - because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, intensifying rainfall extremes. Continue reading...

Images show Israeli military using six companies' bulldozers and excavators to demolish south Lebanon villagesHuman rights experts have alleged that six multinational construction equipment conglomerates may be aiding and abetting war crimes by supplying excavators and bulldozers to Israel, after photos and videos showed the Israeli military using their equipment to demolish villages in south Lebanon.

Campaigners welcome announcement cutting levies on menstrual health items, but say their work to end period poverty is far from over'Pakistan plans to abolish period tax", in a victory for young campaigners who had taken the government to court over the charges.Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that sanitary towels and related items were daily necessities that are indispensable for women's health, dignity and full participation in social activities", and said he intended to remove the sales tax. Continue reading...

Broadcast channels under review and 10% of senior leaders to go as part of drive to cut 500m in costsEntire BBC programmes will be scrapped and compulsory redundancies will be necessary as part of sweeping cuts at the corporation, the new director general, Matt Brittin, has told staff.The former Google executive also announced he was reviewing the BBC's broadcast TV channels and radio network, as audiences continue to switch to online content. Continue reading...

About 150 jobs have already been lost in Bolton as company reports 145% rise in profits and hands 20m to shareholders

Pamphlets from event featured projects in West Bank and East Jerusalem despite previous denials by organisersAn Israeli real estate event in north London appears to have advertised the sale of land in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, despite previous denials that illegal settlement properties would be marketed at the event.Pamphlets shared with the Guardian from the event on Sunday showed real estate projects in Ma'ale Adumim, Givat Ze'ev, Kfar Eldad and Teneh Omarim in the occupied West Bank, as well as Ramat Eshkol and Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem. Continue reading...

Education secretary describes historical practice in England as a shameful period' in country's historyDowning Street is to make a full apology on behalf of the state to those affected by historical forced adoption in England, the education secretary has confirmed.Bridget Phillipson, giving evidence to MPs on the education select committee on Wednesday, described it as a shameful period" in UK history. Continue reading...

Major operation launched after spate of pet thefts in Ho Chi Minh City, according to local mediaPolice in Vietnam have rescued more than 400 cats in a major bust of a cat meat crime ring in Ho Chi Minh City, according to animal welfare groups and local media reports.More than 40 cats were reunited with their owners after the multiday operation last week, but several dozen of those rescued have died due to the harsh conditions that they were found in, the groups said. Continue reading...