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A former Sydney childcare worker, 35, has been charged with 329 child abuse offences allegedly committed between 2009 and 2025. Follow today's news live

Central Command says US aircraft fired missiles into oil tanker's smokestack in strait of Hormuz as US strikes Iran for fourth consecutive day

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State MP abandons supreme court challenge, saying her party can now decide whether to pursue mediation or reconvene to disendorse me'

Journalists who had reported on security concerns around the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar, received summonsThe New York Times on Wednesday filed a motion to quash subpoenas the justice department served journalists who reported on security concerns involving the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar, teeing up a significant court fight over press freedom and the government's ability to force reporters to identify sources.As we set out in our motion, these subpoenas are brought in bad faith to punish the Times for its coverage. They violate the constitutional rights of the Times and its journalists. We are going to court to defend our journalists' rights to report freely on the administration and to provide the public with stories that matter," David McCraw, the newspaper's senior vice-president and deputy general counsel, said in a statement. Continue reading...

Dena Karari, dual US-Iranian citizen, now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition', president posts on Truth SocialDonald Trump said Wednesday Iran had agreed to release an American citizen who was wrongfully detained" since December 2024.She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition," Trump wrote on social media, without naming the woman. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!" Continue reading...

Adaptation to frightening new normal and reducing emissions further and faster is critical, scientists warnDozens of people drowned, hundreds had to be rescued and thousands were displaced when floods struck the coasts of west Africa last month.Now scientists have concluded that the rains that caused the floods were supercharged by climate breakdown. Global heating, they say, turned what should have been a routine weather event into a climate catastrophe. Continue reading...

Coin commemorating 250th anniversary will be released this fall and marks first time a living president appears on currencyThe treasury department announced on Wednesday that the US Mint has started producing a new commemorative $1 coin featuring Donald Trump as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.The coin is scheduled for release this fall. Treasury officials said its final design was approved earlier this year by the US Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump. Continue reading...

For one placement, black applicants had a less than 1 in 100 chance of being offered a place, NHS data showsBlack doctors in England are four times less likely to be offered a training place than their white counterparts, according to analysis.As part of their medical training, doctors across the NHS are able to apply to placements within specific branches of practice such as psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, and emergency medicine. Continue reading...

The home secretary is the frontrunner for the role ahead of risky' Ed Miliband, according to senior Labour figuresShabana Mahmood has emerged as the frontrunner to become Andy Burnham's chancellor after a fierce briefing war over the prospect of Ed Miliband being appointed to the powerful role.Senior Labour figures with knowledge of Burnham's thinking told the Guardian they expected the home secretary to be moved to the Treasury amid concerns that Miliband would become a target for criticism of the government. Continue reading...

The match-winning England striker is a good ambassador for young people', says one contestantAll together now, with arms in the air: One Jude Bellingham, there's only one Jude Bellingham ...Unless, that is, you happened to find yourself in Shoreditch, east London, on Wednesday, where a dozen young men who looked vaguely like the England midfielder gathered for a lookalike contest almost as competitive as the one currently continuing in the US. Continue reading...

Incoming prime minister says he doesn't want to create new divisions' as Mahmood is tipped to be chancellorAndy Burnham has signalled that he will not increase wealth taxes immediately after becoming prime minister, easing concerns among the business community but limiting his economic room for manoeuvre.He said on Wednesday he did not want to create new divisions" with his tax policy, in comments that allies said were a sign that he did not intend to raise money by taxing wealth. Continue reading...

Second man on moon's Duro Rocket pen, crucial to Apollo 11 return, reaches astronomical sum at Sotheby's auctionThe felt-tip pen Buzz Aldrin used to fix a broken circuit-breaker and escape from the moon in 1969 has sold at auction in New York for more than $850,000 (630,000).The dented silver plastic Duro Rocket pen - used by the second man on the moon to save Neil Armstrong and himself from being stuck on the moon for ever" - had a sale price estimated by Sotheby's at between $800,000 and $1.2m and went for $857,600 after being pursued by five bidders. The victor got the broken piece of circuit breaker, too, as part of the lot. Both came from Aldrin's personal collection. Continue reading...

Members of the pro-Ukraine coalition of the willing" this week reasserted their desire for such a force after a cessation of hostilitiesMeanwhile, the Kremlin has rejected Lithuanian president's warnings about a potential Russian attack on critical infrastructure (10:06), dismissing them as horror stories" intended to prepare public for further militarisation."Reuters reported that the Kremlin said these comments were merely a pretext for further deployment of Nato military infrastructure to Baltic states." Continue reading...

While new study challenges assumptions about how far they travel, witnessing them in action still takes your breath away, scientists say

Challenges of regulating social media or stopping hate speech show these firms can set their own terms and prices for countries like Australia

Annual results show struggling firm's net debt has risen to 19.7bn, up from 17.7bn a year earlier

In final PMQs, PM offers Burnham - and England team - full support and defends action on NHS waiting lists, child poverty and economy

Treaty came into effect at midnight, eliminating border controls on land frontier with British overseas territory

Exclusive: allowing firms to dodge biodiversity protections by paying into levy will harm nature and economy, say 100 experts in letterThe UK government has been accused of rushing through" planning changes that could give developers permission to trash" nature for as little as 1.A letter signed by more than 100 conservationists, scientists, celebrities and businesses, including the actor and writer Stephen Fry and the broadcaster Chris Packham, has urged the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to immediately halt the rollout of environmental delivery plans (EDPs). Continue reading...

Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado will not lead negotiations over new elections, contrary to expectationsThe interim government of Venezuela has announced it will begin formal talks with the opposition aimed at strengthening democracy" in the country.The move is backed by the US, which says it is seeking a democratic transition" in a country still recovering from the twin earthquakes that killed more than 4,700 people. Continue reading...

As Ann Widdecombe's death raises concerns over security, politicians describe the threats and aggression they have faced and the anxiety it causesJess Phillips has received so many death threats she has to remind herself not to be blase. One night she received more than 600 rape threats. In 2019, a man forced his way into her office. The same year a white supremacist sent her a picture of Jo Cox, her friend and fellow Labour MP who was murdered in 2016, accompanied with the message: I will have you dealt with."This is not academic to me; it is something I face every day," says the MP for Birmingham Yardley. You learn to cope with it, but it does cause terrible anxiety. For me, I feel guilty about the people who work for me, my kids, my family." Continue reading...

Repeated heatwaves, driven by climate crisis, have raised need for guidance as workers struggle to copeMayor of London Sadiq Khan is backing calls for a maximum workplace temperature as pressure grows on the government to protect workers from the impact of repeated heatwaves across the UK.The extreme heat, driven by the climate crisis, has left people struggling to cope as temperatures in some workplaces climb above 40C, causing thousands of schools to close, and hospital and transport systems to break down. Continue reading...

Extradition request for James Fergie' Chambers sparks concerns that US government is conflating humanitarian aid with terrorismThe arrest in Ibiza and US justice department extradition request for a wealthy American donor to lefwing causes in connection with alleged material support for Hamas is sending ripples through leftwing circles in Spain and being closely monitored in the US for potential chilling effects" on support for Palestine.Spanish authorities detained James Fergie" Chambers Friday and are now holding him without bail in Madrid. A hearing is scheduled on whether he can be released on bail for Thursday. Continue reading...

Alleged attack may have been motivated by a social media post, police prosecutor tells court

Vulnerable people more at risk as research finds only half of local authority plans require cooling strategiesEngland risks constructing a new generation of death trap" buildings that can fatally overheat unless the government tightens standards and prioritises climate safeguards, planning experts have said.Fears are growing about the plight of vulnerable people in heatwaves, with research this week suggesting that 2,700 people had died in the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales. Yet only about half of local plans being drawn up by councils and local authorities require new buildings to have a cooling or ventilation strategy to prevent overheating, according to findings from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA). Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: The representation of the people bill has become a test of whether Britain can curb the surge in billionairebacked donations trying to influence how we run the countryGood morning. I'm Hettie O'Brien, and I'll be arriving in your inbox regularly from today, rounding out the First Edition team alongside Libby and Michael.I've spent much of my time at the Guardian writing about who is pulling the strings in Britain: I enjoy illuminating knotty subjects for our readers, exposing how power works, and helping to make sense of the stories defining our world. I'd love to hear what you think - just reply to this email - we want you to play a part in shaping First Edition. But go easy, it's my first day.UK news | The police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe is examining whether a leftwing or single-issue cause may lie behind her killing, the Guardian has learned.Middle East | Donald Trump has threatened to expand US strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to a deal amid a continuing dispute over the strait of Hormuz.UK politics | Boris Johnson's government wasted 10bn of public money because of the way it went about buying PPE during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded.Europe news | A spokesperson for the EU has pushed back against the Trump administration's assertion that the international criminal court poses a threat to US sovereignty.US news | The man killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Maine on Monday has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, according to local news outlets. Continue reading...

Catholic Schools NSW's alleged donations to Liberal party show the need to ensure public money is spent for approved purposes, expert says

Royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion hears of response of universities to incidents on campus

Exclusive: Work and pensions secretary signals possible reform to welfare as ministers await key reviewsLabour must stop simply writing a cheque" for health and disability benefit claimants and will provide more job support instead, the work and pensions secretary has said.Pat McFadden said the government was preparing to launch a renewed effort at welfare reform with a focus on encouraging more people with health conditions to get into work and off benefits. Continue reading...

Melissa Horne describes allegations of improper government interference on a hospital project as alarming', after Jacinta Allan said report was wrong

Angus Taylor has stated his opposition, but discussion paper's authors warn if we want a different outcome, we need to be prepared to do things differently'

US president says Iran has to get to the table and negotiate' as US imposes fresh naval blockade on strait of HormuzTrump again threatens to strike Iran's power plants amid impasse over strait of HormuzResurgent oil and fuel prices could cement a fourth interest rate rise in Australia this year if Donald Trump's renewed conflict with Iran is not resolved within a week, economists warn.US missile strikes on Iran and Trump's announcement of a new maritime blockade has lifted oil prices to their highest point in the month since the two countries agreed to a peace deal. Continue reading...

Bloomberg's editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, stands by reporting, saying ministers who sued imposed an extremely strained meaning on what was a solid story'Bloomberg News and one of its reporters have been ordered to pay S$460,000 (US$355,734) in damages after an article it published was found to have defamed two Singapore government ministers, the city-state's high court said in a judgment released on Tuesday.Bloomberg and the reporter, Low De Wei, are liable to jointly pay S$230,000 to each minister, comprising S$170,000 in general damages and S$60,000 in aggravated damages, the judgment said. Continue reading...

Annual State of the UK Climate analysis finds last four years in UK are in top five hottest on recordThe UK's climatic extremes are becoming increasingly normal, a report has found, with last year the hottest on record and further unprecedented changes" likely to break the record again soon.Data stretching back to 1884 shows the UK has never experienced a year as hot as 2025, according to the annual State of the UK Climate report, with temperatures pushed to dizzying heights by carbon pollution clogging the atmosphere. Continue reading...

An immigration officer shot and killed the 26-year-old Colombian man afte reportedly ramming into his carThe man killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Maine on Monday has been identified as Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement.An immigration agent shot and killed the 26-year-old Colombian man on Monday morning in Biddeford, Maine, after reportedly ramming into his car. Continue reading...

Bill marks a full-circle moment for the PM-in-waiting and encapsulates what he says his government will be aboutAndy Burnham has always said he took his first steps out of Westminster in 2009, when he walked out to address furious Liverpool fans at the Kop on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.They chanted Justice for the 96" for a full two minutes before the then culture secretary was able to continue, demonstrating their anger that nobody in public office had been convicted of any offence over the tragedy. Continue reading...

Counter-terrorism police say that they are still working to establish the motive for the killing of the former government ministerIn response to a question from Alec Shelbrooke (Con), Campbell said he was totally unaware" not just of the wording of the Tory opposition day motion planned for tomorrow (see 1.04pm), but of the topic that it was going to cover. In a bid to convince MPs that this was not a lie, he said that he was standing at the despatch box and that MPs knew the importance of a minister telling the absolute truth when they stand here".In the Commons, Alan Campbell, the leader of the house, has just announced there will be a change in parliamentary business tomorrow. Wednesday was set aside for an opposition day debate - a debate on a motion tabled by the Tories. Instead, there will be a general debate on the situation in Iran. There will also be a vote on the regulations banning support for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.The government has a majority of more than 150 and it could not trust its MPs to vote the right way on that motion [delaying the recess], and it could not bear the idea of a new prime minister facing any scrutiny before September.A prime minister, let me remind us all, who has been chosen by a coronation not a contest, with no known platform, almost no known policies, and no idea of his priorities or indeed his cabinet team. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Experts fear rise in education cold spots' and social immobility as 4,000 academic posts lost in one yearThousands of university job cuts in humanities and social sciences are creating widespread cold spots for languages, classics and theology degrees, the British Academy has warned.Universities' finances are so precarious that redundancies are also occurring in business studies, law and English - subjects considered strategically important and traditionally popular courses. Continue reading...

Chair criticises use of VIP lane' to prioritise PPE contracts for companies with Tory connections in damning report

Firework displays cancelled as Paris military parade asserts France's rearmament ... and Europe's strategic awakening'Emmanuel Macron has presided over his final Bastille Day parade in Paris amid a searing heatwave and wildfires that forced authorities around the country to cancel traditional firework displays and balls celebrating France's national day.The French president was joined for the annual military procession and flypast by his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and two dozen other national leaders. Continue reading...

Gates has denied any ties to Epstein's crimes and has not been accused of any wrongdoingBillionaire Warren Buffett omitted Bill Gates' foundation from his annual donations this year after disclosures of the Microsoft co-founder's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Buffett will donate about $6bn to four foundations connected to his own family, but did not mention Gates in his announcement Tuesday.Buffett also said in his statement that he wants all of his remaining Berkshire Hathaway stock worth more than $140bn donated to charity by the end of 2034. Previously the plan was for his three children to distribute his remaining fortune within 10 years of the 95-year-old investor's death. Continue reading...

Documents show the FBI director's gift was displayed proudly' by the AFP before new commissioner ordered it be destroyed

Legal action by the Daylesford small business owner has forced councillors to stand down - leaving only two able to serve

No unruly behaviour will be tolerated' after the match, according to France's interior ministerHere is the first big moment of the day as the Garde republicaine plays the French national anthem, La Marseillaise".Macron is not singing, but Lecornu behind him - very much is. Continue reading...

Defendant pleads guilty to crimes over the course of 12 years, some of which also involved a person unknown'A man has been told he faces a possible life sentence after pleading guilty to 32 sexual offences against his girlfriend while she was allegedly drugged or asleep, including some attacks he recorded.The defendant, aged in his 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Northampton crown court on Tuesday where he admitted the offences which happened over more than a decade between January 2014 and September last year. Continue reading...

Campaigners feel vindicated by some of report's conclusions but are unconvinced by its verdict on VIP lane'

86-year-old from West Midlands taken to hospital after eight-day event in which 57 people were injuredAn 86-year-old British man is among 57 people injured while taking part in the running of the bulls festival in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.The man, from Halesowen in the West Midlands, was taken to hospital on Tuesday - the last morning of the eight-day annual event - after suffering injuries to his right hand, left elbow and right eyebrow. A spokesperson for the festival said the man, who has not been named, was being assessed by doctors but not thought to be badly hurt. Continue reading...

Court ruled last week against policy to reduce protections for asylum seekers facing removal under one in, one out schemeThe Home Office is set to ignore a high court ruling and continue sending asylum seekers to France without looking into claims they have been trafficked, which last week was found to be unlawful.On Friday Mr Justice Sheldon ruled against the home secretary's policy to reduce protections for trafficking victims earmarked for forced removal to France. Home Office sources told the Guardian that operational activity could continue despite the ruling. Home Office removed certain protections for this group because they could delay removals to France by at least 30 days. Continue reading...