Divers join search teams scouring deep waters for any survivors, with eight people so far confirmed to have diedNearly 20 people are still missing after a ferry capsized off northern Cyprus, killing at least eight, as divers join search teams scouring deep waters for any survivors.The double-hulled ferry with 267 people onboard took in water and flipped over on Sunday just off the port city of Kyrenia, leaving survivors clinging to the upturned hull. They were rescued by passing vessels and members of the coastguard. Continue reading...
US attacks Iranian rocket launchers on island in strait of Hormuz and Tehran targets US bases in Jordan and UAEThe US has reverted to military attacks on Iran for the first time in a month, firing missiles and drones at Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the strait of Hormuz, prompting the Iranian military to attack US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.US Central Command said it acted late on Sunday after it detected the Iranians planning to fire fresh mines into the strait. Last week Donald Trump claimed the US navy had cleared the strait of mines for the first time since the conflict started on 28 February, a claim the Iranians rejected as lies. Continue reading...
Rights group claims 300 homes were destroyed in Tibet and number of missing people is far higher' than Beijing admitsA Tibetan advocacy group says hundreds of homes were destroyed on the Tibetan side of the border in last week's deadly floods, raising questions about Beijing's official account of the scale of the disaster.Public discussion about the flash floods has been restricted, with security officials in Tibet announcing on Sunday that it had penalised at least 10 people for sharing false disaster information". There was no further information on the nature of the penalties. Continue reading...
Julius Mugabo launches landmark case as union says thousands in capital lost incomes due to broken system'An Uber driver who got into thousands of pounds of debt and feared losing his home due to delays in Transport for London renewing his licence to pick up passengers is taking on the organisation in the high court in the first challenge of its kind.Julius Mugabo, 55, has been an Uber driver licensed by TfL since 2016. Under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, all minicab drivers cannot work lawfully unless TfL has carried out checks on them and issued or renewed their licences. These licences must be renewed every three years. Continue reading...
by Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent on (#78266)
Concern among staff that fragile artwork's scarce light hours' given to someone with no known interest in museumThe British Museum privately hosted the Donald Trump-supporting tech billionaire Peter Thiel in the exhibition space of the Bayeux tapestry earlier this month, the Guardian understands.The museum's director of development, Charlotte Appleyard, hosted the PayPal founder at a VIP viewing of the tapestry, which is yet to open to the public, on 18 August. Continue reading...
Organisers say people must revive spiritual relationship with food amid double threat of climate crisis and conflictMending the broken food system under the threat of climate-driven weather extremes will require more than economic fixes and intensive agriculture, according to the organisers of a pioneering summit this week, who say the world must revive its spiritual relationship with food.Delegates from more than 60 countries and the UN will gather for the next five days in Paro in the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan for the world's first conscious food summit", which will bring together governments and farmers, mindfulness experts and yoga therapists. Continue reading...
More than 200mm of rain forecast in parts of South Korea, while parts of southern Europe to be 10C above averageSouth Korea's prime minister, Han Seong-sook, met officials to prepare for heavy rain expected this week, with rainfall totals across central and northern parts of the country forecast to exceed 200mm in some areas.South Korea was battered by heavy rainfall earlier this month and some areas were particularly hard hit. Over the weekend further thunderstorms pushed into the region and these are expected to cause disruption through Monday. This heavy rain is caused by a series of severe thunderstorms that developed over the Yellow Sea, on the western side of South Korea, and will slowly push eastwards on Monday before easing on Tuesday. These storms have been strengthened by the very warm Yellow Sea, which now has a surface temperature of 29C, 4C above the climatological average. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: As rescuers search for survivors after catastrophic floods, the disaster offers a stark warning about the climate risks facing the region, and the worldGood morning. Over the weekend, rescue workers in Nepal and Tibet raced to find people who are still trapped in villages affected by catastrophic flash floods. As of this morning, the death toll stands at 903, and more than 4,000 people are missing.For those of you reading this in a place where life continues as usual, the scale of devastation is hard to fathom. In a matter of minutes, a torrent of mud and debris engulfed entire villages, snapped bridges and swept away people's homes and families. Some survivors are marooned on top of buildings that rescue workers can't reach. Others are trapped in tunnels beneath the ground. Many have no idea if their loved ones are still alive.UK politics | PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain in prison after Andy Burnham announced changes to the early release scheme that will see anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, excluded from the scheme.Milo Yiannopoulos | Far-right British media provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported from the US back to the UK by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in connection with what the agency said was expired authorisation to be in the country.US-Iran | Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on airbases in Jordan after the United States attacked Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the strait of Hormuz, the first such strikes in a month.Iceland | In a blow to Brussels, Iceland has held a referendum that has narrowly rejected the government's proposal to hold accession talks with the EU.Nepal-Tibet disaster | A headteacher in Nepal evacuated 900 children from a school moments before a deadly wall of water struck their town amid the devastating flash floods that have killed almost 800 people and left thousands missing.Tuesday | Justice secretary Alex Norris is due to present the government's revised plans for the prisoner early release scheme, which includes a headroom review aimed at freeing up more space in the system.Thursday | In the first UK visit by an EU leader of Andy Burnham's tenure, the prime minister is will host talks with French president Emmanuel Macron.Saturday | Officials from Jamaica will visit the UK to lodge a petition with King Charles to seek legal guidance from the privy council on the country's request for reparations over Britain's involvement in the slave trade, on the anniversary of the 1781 Zong slave ship departure from West Africa. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh in Myla, Kyiv region. Photography by J on (#78236)
As Russia hits another ammunition warehouse, killing at least 38, locals put blame on poorly placed depotsIt is a day and a half since a Russian jet-powered drone smashed into an ammunition dump in Myla, a village 15 miles outside central Kyiv. Volodymyr, 61, a security guard, leads visitors from his family's badly damaged home, its roof blown off, back windows shattered, through the garden towards the impact site 300 metres away.The garden, like so many in Ukraine's villages and suburbs, is a sizeable allotment. But today the greenhouse is shattered, a vegetable patch is blackened and crisp underfoot. Several metres of grapevine have been destroyed. Even so, Volodymyr finds two surviving bunches to hand to the Guardian. Continue reading...
Nationwide research also shows average 14% premium for housing in national landscapes of England and WalesHousebuyers are paying a premium of almost a quarter to own a property located within a UK national park, with the New Forest the most expensive national park to live in, according to Britain's biggest building society.Nationwide found that a property located within a national park cost 24% more on average than a similar property elsewhere, while buyers were also stumping up a 6% premium for homes within three miles of a national park. Continue reading...
by Presented by Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker, produc on (#78238)
Will the UK ever rejoin the EU? Who is funding Andy Burnham? And will the bedroom tax be scrapped? In a special episode, Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker answer some of your questionsPlease keep sending your comments and questions to Pippa and Kiran at politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Continue reading...
by Alexandra Topping Political correspondent on (#781XQ)
Critics say the move, which will keep PC Harper's killers in jail, leaves number of prison spaces too close to the bone'PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain behind bars after a critical intervention by Andy Burnham, but the move has led to warnings that overcrowded prisons will be left one major event away from disaster".Announcing a U-turn on the early release scheme after weeks of intense pressure, Burnham said he understood how strongly people feel about this issue". Continue reading...
Robert Guanco, 41, a pastor at Jesus Living Water church in Eastbourne, described as having touched many lives'A 41-year-old man who died after a large wooden sign fell at a Christian festival on Friday has been named as Robert Guanco, a pastor at a church in Eastbourne, East Sussex.A tribute from his church on Sunday described him as a respected pastor who was a loving husband" and a devoted and caring father". Continue reading...
Trump's threat comes after host described success record of candidates whom president had endorsed as mixed'Donald Trump on Sunday said NBC's Kristen Welker - host of Meet the Press - should face rebuke or punishment" from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).Preceding Trump's comments was a live shot by Welker in which she described the success record of political candidates whom president had endorsed as mixed" on Washington DC's NBC affiliate prior to the airing of Sunday's edition of Meet the Press. Continue reading...
Rajendra Dawadi ordered students to higher ground with moments to spare after receiving warnings from upstreamA headteacher in Nepal evacuated 900 children from a school moments before a deadly wall of water struck their town amid the devastating flash floods that have killed almost 800 people and left thousands missing.Rajendra Dawadi decided to halt classes and order children to higher ground after receiving warnings about the scale of the flooding heading their way. Continue reading...
by Alexandra Topping Political correspondent on (#781TS)
Conservative hopeful says Sadiq Khan has lost passion for the job' and Andy Burnham is very anti-London'James Cleverly has pledged to run a classically Conservative" campaign to become the mayor of London, insisting that his victory in the capital would be a stepping stone for Kemi Badenoch to become prime minister.The former home and foreign secretary denied he had resigned from the shadow cabinet to run for mayor following a shift to the right under Badenoch's leadership. Continue reading...
Nathan Cofnas told by Ghent University to work remotely as US ambassador claims credit for lifting of suspensionProf Jason Arday's accuser Nathan Cofnas has been barred from teaching on Ghent University campus for three months but has been allowed to continue his research position.Cofnas, an American academic, was suspended from his postdoctoral research position at the Belgian institution earlier this month pending a preliminary investigation" launched after Arday's death. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent on (#781TV)
Deal that will reportedly see US take control of 65bn barrels of Venezuelan oil has provoked outrage in her countryVenezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has defended her government's highly controversial energy deal with Donald Trump, insisting the South American country will maintain ownership and sovereignty over its massive oil reserves.Rodriguez, who assumed power in January after Trump ordered the abduction of the president, Nicolas Maduro, took to the airwaves on Saturday to push back against criticism of what the US president has called the biggest oil deal in world history". Continue reading...
Corporate regulator finds insurers settling most claims with cash rather than by managing repairs or rebuilding, warning of unfair outcomes' for homeowners
Manhunt under way after Italian dies from her injuries in the town of Aarau in the early hours of SundayA manhunt is under way in Switzerland after a 22-year-old woman was killed and five people were injured, some seriously, in a shooting at a rave in the northern town of Aarau, local police have said.In the attack in the early hours of Sunday at a techno party at a covered horse-racing track, an Italian woman died from her injuries at the scene, authorities said. All those caught up in the shooting were residents of Switzerland and in their 20s. Continue reading...
State and city lawmakers push to boost regulations after two outbreaks of the disease over the last two summersNew York lawmakers are now trying to better protect residents from the deadly legionnaires' disease by increasing regulations and inspections of cooling towers after two outbreaks of the infection over the last two summers and a raft of new lawsuits.Legionnaires' disease is a serious pneumonia caused by a bacterium called legionella. It often comes from large air-conditioning systems, like those used in hotels, hospitals and high-rise buildings, because the cooling towers contain water to remove heat. If not well maintained, the liquid can foster the bacteria, which can then be swept into fans and circulated through the air. Continue reading...
Rosenheim police detain 27-year-old German man after woman, 31, killed outside train station early on SundayA man has been detained in Germany on suspicion of the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old British woman in Rosenheim early on Sunday morning, local authorities said.According to Rosenheim police, the woman, who was attacked at the city's train station, was taken to a nearby hospital where she died from serious injuries. Continue reading...
Campaigners welcome plan to bring IPP sentences to a close but say the move is long overdueCampaigners have hailed Andy Burnham's pledge to bring an end to indefinite jail terms as a day that thousands of families have spent years fighting for".The prime minister has said he will end the injustice" of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences during this parliament, meaning people will no longer be trapped indefinitely under a sentence abolished more than a decade ago.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Searching for exoplanets and clues on planet formation, the Roman telescope begins million-mile journey from Florida launchpadA $4.3bn space telescope that Donald Trump tried to kill has lifted off from Florida as Nasa embarks on the next stage of its quest to unlock the secrets of the universe.The Nancy Grace Roman space telescope survived two rounds of proposed White House budget cuts, and began a million-mile journey into deep space from a launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday morning. . Continue reading...
More than 100 undercover officers spied on tens of thousands of mainly leftwing activists over decadesProsecutors are examining whether to bring criminal charges against 12 former police officers who were involved in spying on political groups.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is examining a file of evidence that the officers may have committed wrongdoing while working in controversial undercover operations. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#781P8)
City firms tapped for case studies to try to convince global watchdog that London has cleaned up its actThe government is asking bankers and lawyers to provide feelgood stories about how they blocked dirty money from entering the UK, as ministers try to prove the UK's money-laundering controls are working.The Treasury's call for evidence is meant to illustrate that the UK has upped its game when it comes to preventing financial crime, particularly since its last dismal assessment by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) global crime watchdog in 2018, which fuelled allegations that London had become a hub for dirty money". Continue reading...
Deal agreed between Avanti West Coast and Aslef is first to be approved by Burnham governmentTrain drivers have secured a significant pay rise after the threat of strike action was floated on busy routes across the UK, including on the busy London-Manchester line.The deal, which was agreed on Saturday between Avanti West Coast and the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) union, is the first to be approved by Andy Burnham in his premiership. Continue reading...
The no campaign was well-funded and accused of scaremongering, but the wording of the question may also have made a differenceIt was always going to be a close contest. But on the night, the figures showed just how divided Iceland was on the issue of whether or not to restart negotiations with the European Union.After a nail-biting overnight count, the well-funded no campaign rejoiced on Sunday morning as the broadcaster RUV declared it the winner with about 52.8% of the vote. Given the size of Iceland's population - barely 400,000 - the margins were tiny. Continue reading...
Breakdown recovery group's private equity owners reportedly in talks with various suitors to sell companyThe German-based financial services company Allianz is considering a 5bn takeover swoop for AA, the breakdown recovery group, Sky News has reported.Allianz was one of a small number of parties holding talks with advisers to AA about a deal, Sky News said, adding that the private equity outfit EQT was another bidder. Continue reading...
by Alexandra Topping Political correspondent on (#781K3)
PM says anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, will be excluded from the schemePC Andrew Harper's killers will remain behind bars after Andy Burnham announced changes to the early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding, saying he understood how strongly people feel about this issue".The prime minister said anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, would be excluded from the scheme, which would have made two of the officer's killers eligible for early release. It comes after Burnham previously ordered a review of plans for the early release of thousands of killers, rapists and sex offenders from prison in September. Continue reading...
Critics say changes by CMA will allow multinationals to obscure their ownership of vet practicesPet owners have been warned that they could be unknowingly ripped off by private equity firms who have bought local vet clinics, after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) removed requirements for multinational companies to disclose which practices they own.The CMA recently ran an investigation into the monopolisation of vet practices, and found that the lack of competition and transparency of ownership had led to high prices and a lack of information for customers. Pet owners were often unaware their local vet practice could be owned by an international private equity company. Continue reading...
by Krishani Dhanji and Australian Associated Press on (#781KT)
Solomon Islands prime minister cancels his appearance, along with leaders from Fiji, Vanuatu and SamoaSeveral leaders have pulled out of a the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in Palau at the eleventh hour.Solomon Islands prime minister, Matthew Wale, has cancelled his appearance after a no-confidence motion was lodged against him at home by the Solomon Islands home affairs minister, Manasseh Maelanga. Continue reading...
Protester Tess Asplund on the photo that made headlines, and why she sees it as a sign of the change in Sweden todayThe striking photograph showed a lone Black woman, her fist raised, standing in the path of hundreds of uniformed neo-Nazis on parade in 2016, and it made headlines across the globe.At the time, it was held up as a symbol of the resistance to the far right. But 10 years on, as Sweden gears up for elections in which the far right is expected to emerge as the second most-voted-for party, the woman in the photo sees it as a sign of the bewildering change that has gripped the Scandinavian country. Continue reading...
Conditions are deteriorating in city of El Obeid and camps on its outskirts, with more people arriving every dayHumanitarian conditions in the Sudanese city of El Obeid and two camps on its outskirts are dire and deteriorating, according to people on the ground, as civilians displaced by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia continue to pour in from the surrounding countryside.The UN says more than 15,000 families have arrived since mid-July, joining more than 200,000 people who arrived in the first half of the year, according to government figures cited by Save the Children. Continue reading...
Even after a week in which Pauline Hanson and One Nation candidates tripped over themselves trying to explain key policies, voters still backed the partyThe One Nation hype machine went into overdrive after Saturday's Secret Harbour byelection but one thing is clear from the thumping victory.Despite the party's sustained surge in public support, Labor and the Coalition still don't have any idea how to calm an angry electorate and dint support for Pauline Hanson and her insurgent movement. Continue reading...
Saga surrounding purchase for outspoken rightwing regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso refuses to go awayThe outspoken rightwing leader of the Madrid region is under growing pressure to explain why her government spent 6.3m (5.4m) on a residential penthouse purportedly to serve as a temporary workspace while her offices were being renovated.Isabel Diaz Ayuso, a prominent member of Spain's opposition conservative People's party (PP), has been the president of the Madrid region since 2019. Continue reading...
Tories accuse Reform of peddling conspiracy theories' as row erupts in wake of Conservative leader's trip to RomeNigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have spent years trading barbs and fighting for the rightwing vote. But now the party leaders find themselves in a much more bizarre struggle - for the affections of the rightwing Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.The row began on Monday when the Times published an article claiming that during a meeting in Rome, Meloni had advised the Conservative leader against doing a deal with Farage to unite the right. After complaints from Reform - and, reportedly, Meloni's team - the article was amended to remove that claim. Continue reading...
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