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Weekly toll cap in NSW to fall from $60 to $50 for one year. Follow today's news live

New Makerfield MP could get keys to No 10 unopposed after British prime minister's resignation paves way for successor

Company hails victory for freelancer over unpaid debt as landmark moment' for access to justiceAn artificial intelligence law firm has won a case in an English court, in what is believed to be the first time a trial has been won using an AI lawyer.A freelance HR consultant, Tamires Camal Taquidir, paid the firm, Garfield AI, about 400 to send a legal letter and then issue court proceedings over an unpaid debt of 7,000. Continue reading...

Officials say Sarita Kimble, 62, and Delores Shelton, 83, killed in Mount Vernon as several buildings destroyedAuthorities in Illinois say that two older residents were killed and at least five other people were injured in a tornado that ripped through a rural county and destroyed several buildings on Sunday evening.The fatalities occurred in Mount Vernon, Sheriff Jeff Bullard of Jefferson county said on Monday. He identified the victims as Sarita Kimble, 62, and Delores Shelton, 83, who were inside separate structures leveled by the tornado. Continue reading...

Lewis Hawkes, 36, charged with five counts of attempted murder aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection'A 36-year-old man has been charged with five counts of attempted murder aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection" after a series of attacks in Edinburgh last Friday.Lewis Hawkes has also been charged with assault and robbery, two counts of breach of the peace and two counts of culpable and reckless conduct, all of which were also aggravated by reason of a terrorist connection. Continue reading...

The prime minister said a new leader will be in place before parliament returns in September

AI-focused Super Pacs are spending heavily in the midterms, and half has gone to a single Manhattan congressional raceThe artificial intelligence industry is spending heavily in the 2026 midterms, hoping to secure influence over the technology's first generation of legislation - and New York City's primary has emerged as the key battleground.AI-focused Super Pacs have raised over $100m this cycle, of which $49m has been spent so far, in dozens of congressional races across the country. Half of all spending has converged on a single Manhattan race: Tuesday's Democratic primary in the district of NY-12.Will Craft and Andrew Witherspoon contributed reporting Continue reading...

Briefing war breaks out between advocates for Wes Streeting and those close to Ed MilibandAndy Burnham's supporters are divided over who should be his chancellor, with a briefing war breaking out between advocates of the former health secretary Wes Streeting and those close to the energy secretary Ed Miliband.Some of those advising the Makerfield MP are urging him to choose Streeting if he becomes prime minister, in a bid to reassure the business community and fossil fuel industry. Continue reading...

Britain will soon have its fifth prime minister in four years. How did we get here and what challenges await Starmer's successor?

Analysts say foreign policy was an area of relative strength' for the prime minister - but goodwill with the White House soon evaporatedKeir Starmer inherited two wars and a country disconnected from the EU when he arrived in Downing Street - and that was before Donald Trump crash-landed at the White House and undermined the foundations of the UK's most important alliance.It was a context that would have tested any prime minister, though in many respects Starmer negotiated it carefully. But longer-term questions of Britain's security remain unresolved, and the UK's place in the world is less certain. Continue reading...

City's police force faces investigation of 16 officers accused of disproportionately targeting Black and Arab residentsMontreal's mayor has called for a halt to random police checks as the city's police force grapples with an internal investigation into racism and racial profiling by 16 officers.Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada told reporters last week that her husband, who is Black, had been repeatedly stopped by police while driving. Continue reading...

Unions condemn insensitive' internal cybersecurity test sent to healthcare workers in Newfoundland and LabradorFor years, healthcare staff in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador have felt overworked and under-appreciated. Turnover, burnout and thinning resources were pushing workers in the sector to a breaking point.So when the email titled June Holiday" arrived in thousands of inboxes, they felt a moment of overdue joy. Continue reading...

Network Rail tells people to check if services are running, with intercity trains expected to be worst affectedRail passengers have been told to only attempt to travel if absolutely essential" and check trains are running, with extreme heat expected to disrupt services around Britain.Temperatures are forecast to rise to 37C across most of southern England and Wales over the next three days, and potentially to 40C in the most affected areas. Continue reading...

Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers, linked to the Scattered Spider hacking group, change pleas on first day of trialTwo British cybercriminals from the Scattered Spider hacking group have pleaded guilty to a cyber-attack on Transport for London in 2024 that cost 39m and affected 10 million people.Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 18, pleaded guilty to offences under the Computer Misuse Act at Woolwich crown court on Monday. Continue reading...

The vice president said the move represented a major milestone' in ending Iran's nuclear programmeAccording to Palestinian news agency Wafa, a high school student was killed and several other civilians were injured earlier today in an Israeli attack on a civilian vehicle in Gaza City. The Gaza health ministry says at least 1,021 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire' between Israel and Hamas came into effect in October 2025.In a post on X, Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said US-Iran talks have concluded successfully" in Switzerland, adding that discussions produced agreement on the establishment of a high-level committee" to provide political oversight" of the talks which are now entering a more technical" phase. Continue reading...

Jose Luis Abalos found to have taken bribes on Covid-era public contracts in damaging blow to Pedro SanchezSpain's supreme court has jailed the former transport minister Jose Luis Abalos for 24 years for taking bribes on public contracts for sanitary equipment such as face masks during the Covid pandemic.Abalos's aide, Koldo Garcia, was jailed for 19 years in a trial that is one of several scandals to have enveloped the government of Pedro Sanchez over recent months. Continue reading...

Davis, who discovered many of the defining musicians of the 20th century and helmed major record labels, said he never' tired of the music businessThe famed US music industry executive and record producer Clive Davis has died aged 94, his family has confirmed.He had recently been hospitalised with respiratory problems and was recovering at home. He had also been diagnosed with neurological condition Bell's palsy in 2021. Continue reading...

Russia intercepted 300 Ukrainian drones across the country and temporarily suspended operations from Moscow airportUkraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy also responded to Starmer setting out his plans to resign as Britain's PM, telling him he would always be a welcome guest" in Ukraine for his support to the wartorn country.In a statement on his social media, he said:Keir, thank you for all our cooperation, your support, and the joint decisions that have helped make our Europe and our protection of life stronger.The United Kingdom has been, is, and will remain among the world's leaders. Here in Ukraine, we deeply value Britain, and every meeting and every conversation we have had has always been filled with real substance. Continue reading...

Babcock reports underlying operating profits down 19%, with frigate-building programme making a loss

Accident was resolved fairly quickly and authorities said the bees were being transferred to local beekeepersTwo million bees escaped after a truck transporting their hives overturned and released the insects in Texas on Sunday.The accident happened near the town of Mauriceville in the east of the state, perhaps not surprisingly causing local emergency officials to warn residents near the mishap to stay indoors. Continue reading...

Former DUP leader led a double life championing conservative values while inflicting sexual harm on two schoolgirlsWhile Joe Biden feted Jeffrey Donaldson at the White House during St Patrick's Day celebrations in March 2024 a handful of detectives back home in Northern Ireland were quietly completing the countdown to his unmasking.Weeks earlier Donaldson had steered the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) back to power-sharing at Stormont, a political feat that rebooted the Good Friday agreement and imbued a statesmanlike aura to his triumphant visit to Washington. Continue reading...

Texas man using automated driving assistance system' crashed into house and Connecticut man drove into pool while trying to parkSeparate crashes in Texas and Connecticut involving Tesla electric vehicles left a woman dead when a car barreled into a house; and a driver rescued after plunging into a municipal swimming pool.A doorbell video camera captured the Friday night episode in Katy, Texas. Authorities said 76-year-old Martha Avila Mantilla was standing in the front room of a relative's home when the Tesla Model 3 car crashed at speed into the residence. Continue reading...

Christie's sale in London in September carries estimates up to 150,000, with some instruments also used by Noel Gallagher and Bernard SumnerJohnny Marr is preparing to auction off about 80 of his guitars, including the Rickenbacker heard on This Charming Man.Marr has partnered with Christie's for the auction, which will take place on 17 September in London, with the collection - including amps and other equipment - available for the public to view in London and New York prior to the sale. Continue reading...

Greenspan served under the presidencies of Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton and George W BushAlan Greenspan, the influential economist who steered US monetary policy during his five terms as chair of the Federal Reserve under four presidents, has died aged 100, according to the Fed.In a statement that she shared with NBC News, Andrea Mitchell - Greenspan's wife and a correspondent of the network - said he died from complications of Parkinson's disease. Continue reading...

Arrests part of Operation Perth investigation into failures in NHS trust's maternity servicesTwo men have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in the running of a mortuary service at a hospital trust at the centre of the NHS's largest inquiry into maternity services.Nottingham University hospitals (NUH) NHS trust will be the focus of a major report on Wednesday into how failings led to the deaths of babies and serious harm to families. Continue reading...

US president threatened Iran over strait of Hormuz in sweary outburst. Plus, Starmer to step down as UK's PM two years after historic landslide

People in southern Wales and area of England from Kent and Sussex to Somerset and Birmingham urged to protect themselves from extreme heatThe UK's Met Office forecasters have issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday in the face of extreme heat and humidity.It covers southern Wales as far west as Swansea, and an area of England that includes London and runs from the inland areas of Kent and Sussex, all the way across to Somerset, as far north-west as Birmingham, and as far north-east as southern Cambridgeshire. Continue reading...

Norway is supposedly one of world's most gender-equal countries, yet sexual violence remains prevalent across societyIn many ways, the case of Marius Borg Hoiby, who was sentenced to four years in prison last week after being found guilty of offences including domestic violence and two counts of rape, was exceptional.The king's 29-year-old step-grandson grew up in the public eye alongside the royal family, mixing in Oslo's wealthiest circles, partying at exclusive nightclubs and having afterparties at his family's official royal residence. Continue reading...

Former Greater Manchester mayor will be overwhelming favourite to succeed Keir StarmerWes Streeting has said he will not stand for the Labour leadership, directly after Andy Burnham said he would, making it highly likely that Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, will become prime minister next month.In a post on X, Burnman, who will be sworn is as an MP later on Monday after winning last week's Makerfield byelection, said Starmer's announcement on Monday that he would stand down as prime minister marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way", adding: I will put myself forward as part of this process." Continue reading...

Eastern Europe to see temperatures above early July average into next weekThe extreme heat experienced across central and western Europe, including the UK, will continue to shift eastwards. As slightly cooler weather infiltrates into western Europe, with risks of downpours and thunderstorms, eastern Europe is likely to see temperatures several degrees above the early July average into next week. Peak highs of between 35C and 40C are expected across southern Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and into the northern Balkans.Typhoon Mekkhala, the seventh typhoon of the season in the western Pacific, strengthened east of Luzon on Sunday with sustained winds of 75mph (120km/h) and gusts in excess of 100mph over open water, and is set to head northwards through the Philippine Sea this week. Forecast projections suggest Mekkhala will reach its peak intensity during Tuesday and Wednesday this week as sustained wind speeds break 100mph. While the typhoon is expected to remain over the Philippine Sea, it may produce large wave conditions close to Taiwan, with warnings to shipping likely. Continue reading...

Rail services, schools and sports events hit, with deaths of three elderly people in France partly blamed on intense heatWestern Europe is enduring a ferocious heatwave forecast to break temperature records, with half of France on red alert, rail services in Belgium disrupted and sports events in Spain and Germany cancelled or postponed.French authorities on Monday placed 49 of the country's 96 mainland departments on a level 1 danger-to-life warning, urging 35 million people to exercise absolute vigilance", drink water often, avoid all strenuous exertion and avoid direct sun. Continue reading...

The Marshall Project analyzed over 9,000 death sentences handed down since states brought the punishment backFifty years ago, Americans set out on a polarizing mission: to find a just and fair way to punish the worst-of-the-worst crimes by execution.In some ways, this was a surprising choice. In 1972, a narrow majority of the US supreme court had scrapped the country's entire death penalty system, calling it morally unacceptable", racially discriminatory" and arbitrary". It seemed possible that Americans might join our peers in Europe and Latin America, many of whom had ended executions for good. Continue reading...

Starmer appeared ruthless in banishing the influence of Jeremy Corbyn, and winning power - but far less certain on how to wield itFew would describe him as a dramatic man, but Keir Starmer's political career has been almost Shakespearean in its trajectory: a mere 11 years to enter parliament, lead Labour to an election win many assumed was impossible and then, inside the final two years, throw it all away.His demise is, of course, a reflection of an unprecedented era, one in which voter loyalties were atomised, a two-party hegemony fractured into five, and for the first time ever Labour faced a coherent threat on its left as well as its right. Continue reading...

Labour leader bows to mounting pressure after Andy Burnham's success against Reform UK in MakerfieldKeir Starmer has announced he will stand down as prime minister after days of intense pressure from Labour MPs, including cabinet ministers, following the return of Andy Burnham to Westminster.Less than two years after a historic election victory, Starmer had faced calls from his MPs to set out a timeline for his departure, with many of them spooked by the threat from Nigel Farage's party ahead of the next general election. Continue reading...

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The Windrush Prize will award 10,000 to the writer of the winning play, which will receive a run at the Arcola theatre next yearThe first prize dedicated to discovering and developing British Caribbean playwrights has been launched using compensation awarded to a Windrush victim who died before receiving it.The Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights, believed to be the first major prize of its kind in 30 years, has been established by Shereener Browne, the founder and artistic director of Orisun Productions and a former barrister, in memory of her late father, Myron Brown. Continue reading...

Defence barrister claims teenager was a troubled kid' but crown prosecutor says he was serious when he wrote of copying US domestic terrorists

Insider indicates Ockenden inquiry has uncovered appalling behaviour including racism toward mothersThe report of the inquiry into the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history will outline horrendous" failings in the care provided to women in Nottingham, the Guardian can reveal.A catalogue of appalling behaviour over many years by staff at the city's two hospitals - Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City hospital - included racism towards mothers, it will say. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Our senior political correspondent talks about how the coming days and weeks may unfold for the Labour government, and how Keir Starmer ended up the most unpopular prime minister in memory Don't get First Edition delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. Today's the day, probably. Keir Starmer is expected to announce that he will step down as prime minister, after overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become party leader.This follows the Manchester mayor's emphatic victory in last Thursday's Makerfield byelection, where he leveraged his popularity and the prevailing anti-Starmer mood to secure more votes than Reform and Restore combined, cementing his credentials as the man who can take on the hard right in the next general election.Middle East | High-stakes talks between the US and Iran are expected to continue for the rest of the week in Switzerland, after a tense start that saw Iranian negotiators walk out in protest at a stream of threats issued by Donald Trump on social media.Edinburgh | Police Scotland said a man was charged after a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday night that are being treated as potential anti-Muslim hate crimes. Counter-terrorism officers were brought in to investigate the attacks in which five people were injured.UK weather | The Met Office forecasts that extremely high temperatures could last from Monday until Thursday, leading to health concerns for elderly and vulnerable people.UK news | Police have named the driver killed in the Bedford train crash on Friday, as his family said they are devastated by his loss".Prisons | Pet ferrets kept as therapy animals at the UK's largest children's prison have been co-opted by managers to kill rats, resulting in a bloody incident and concerns over child and animal welfare.Tuesday | This day marks the 10 years since the UK voted to leave the EU. A Guardian report analysing the complex legacy of Brexit through boats, bankers and borders is a good place to consider the legacy of leaving the EU.Tuesday | Also this day, Peter Murrell, the ex-chief executive of the SNP, is likely to be sentenced to prison custody after pleading guilty to embezzling more than 400,000 from the party.Wednesday | Donna Ockenden will publish her review of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Britain's biggest maternity care scandal.Friday | Kings Charles will become the first head of state to reveal their personal tax bill, and will release other financial reports for the royal household. Continue reading...

Australian federal police arrested and charged two men after allegedly finding $800m worth of cocaine in bunkers' under shipping containers

Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps and Nicolette Boele are understood to be open to the idea but other crossbenchers are firmly against

Poultry producer Ingham's announces move, as a brown skua and a giant petrel the first confirmed H5 cases on Australia's mainland

The influential role vacated by the new Makerfield MP will be fiercely contested by Labour, Reform and the GreensAs Andy Burnham maps out the final steps on his path to Downing Street, he may feel that his future is clear. But a look back over his shoulder reveals a cloudier outlook, inviting the question: what now happens to his former role as Greater Manchester's mayor?An election has been set for 30 July, and with the job widely seen as having grown under Burnham's tenure to become one of the most influential in British politics outside Westminster, Labour is desperate to cling on to it - but parties to its right and left both see an opportunity. Continue reading...

At age 24, workers born in the late 1990s are paid more than any cohort since those born in the 1950sGen Z's early careers are more financially rewarding than those of millennials, research suggests.Those typically born between 1997 to 2012 are experiencing a mini-rebound in pay packets, according to the research by the Resolution Foundation, in a seeming contrast to how the previous generation entered the job market. Continue reading...

Head of Greater Manchester force refutes claims of anti-white bias but says he understands where it comes fromPolicing in Britain has adopted the language of activism" and official guidance has over-corrected" to combat accusations of racism, one of the UK's most senior officers has said.Sir Stephen Watson, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said he did not believe that two-tier policing" existed or that forces were biased against white people. Continue reading...

Preliminary data show 47.7% of homes sold at auction in the week ending 21 June, the lowest rate has been since April 2020

Talks expected to continue for rest of the week despite disruption caused by US president's threat to bomb Iran and kidnap negotiating teamHigh-stakes talks between the US and Iran are expected to continue for the rest of the week in Switzerland, after a tense start that saw Iranian negotiators walk out in protest at a stream of threats issued by Donald Trump on social media.The US president had threatened to bomb Iran and even to kidnap the Iranian negotiating team unless the strait of Hormuz was reopened, forcing mediators Qatar and Pakistan to continue negotiations in the background. Continue reading...

Leftwing opponent alleges vote count irregularities after Trump-endorsed lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella secures narrow majorityThe Trump-admiring far-right millionaire lawyer and self-styled outsider" Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia's presidential runoff, defeating the leftwing senator Ivan Cepeda.With 99.99% of ballots counted in the preliminary vote tally, De la Espriella had secured 12.96m votes, or 49.66%, just 250,830 more than Cepeda, who received 12.7m votes, or 48.7%. A further 1.6% of ballots were cast blank. Continue reading...

Two-thirds of respondents support increasing the 2% digital services tax for multinationalsTaxpayers want the UK to increase levies on giant global technology companies such as Facebook owner Meta, Google and Amazon, a survey of Britons' attitudes on corporate taxes suggests.The polling released on Monday by the Fair Tax Foundation - abody providing businesses with certification around responsible tax conduct - found that 67% of respondents believe that the government should charge higher digital services taxes on multinational technology groups to increase their overall tax contribution in the UK". Continue reading...

Company extremely sorry' for unacceptable' email urging customers to Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid!'The discount voucher website Wowcher has apologised after appearing to make reference to a crocodile attack on a toddler at a zoo in an email promoting its offers.A spokesperson for Wowcher said it was urgently reviewing its marketing content after the subject line of an email on Saturday urged customers to Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid!" Continue reading...