World news | The Guardian

US military says it is degrading Tehran's ability to threaten ships in strait of Hormuz; Houthis say tankers violated their blockade; US signs nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia

The Conservative party leader accused the prime minister of still thinking like the mayor of Manchester'Kemi Badenoch is speaking in central London at the moment and is expected to say that Andy Burnham is still thinking like the mayor of Manchester".Going by what he's announced so far, Andy Burnham's ambitions for Britain are too small," she was expected to say.My message to British businesses is quite simple: to British businesses, to British innovators, to British investors: I will back you as your Chancellor, and I'll back you in financial services, in technology, in retail, in industry, in all parts of the economy.I'm just as concerned about the cost of business as I am about the cost of living. Continue reading...

Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran without first seeking congressional approval has sparked further controversy over the National Defense Authorization Act

Exclusive: Analysis of NHS England data reveals stark impact of air pollution in deprived areasChildren living in the poorest areas across England are 40% more likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory infections, an analysis of NHS England data shows, with experts raising the alarm on the impact of air pollution on young people's health.The analysis, based on data obtained via freedom of information requests by the charity Impact on Urban Health, revealed 1,941 out of every 100,000 children living in the most deprived fifth of England were admitted to hospital for respiratory illnesses in 2024-25. Continue reading...

The men were convicted over alleged plan to stage coup and organise deadly demonstrations over fuel prices last yearTwo Russian men have been found guilty by an Angolan court of terrorism and spying, after being accused of planning a coup and helping to organise deadly demonstrations in the southern African country last year.Lev Lakshtanov and Igor Ratchin were sentenced to eight and 11 years in jail respectively. They had denied the charges, claiming they were in Angola for cultural and business activities. Continue reading...

Conflict continues across the region as White House announces nuclear technology agreement. Plus, the artist who flattened a Tesla with a tankGood morning. The US has signed a landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich uranium in the future. The deal will be submitted to Congress for review, where it could face opposition among lawmakers who fear a lack of monitoring safeguards.In lengthy talks stretching over more than one administration, the US has feared that Riyadh would look elsewhere for nuclear technology if the US did not provide what it wanted. Saudi Arabia has long said that if it does not partner with the US, it could do so with China or Russia, which have different proliferation standards.Why is a uranium deal with Saudi Arabia controversial? The full details of the deal have yet to be released, but it comes as the US's war with Iran is being fought in part to prevent Tehran enriching uranium domestically and make it near impossible for Iran to build a nuclear weapon. Saudi Arabia has in the past said it would need a nuclear weapon if Iran acquired one. Kenneth Roth has analysed why Trump would agree it right now.What are the latest developments in the war? The US military launched its 12th successive night of strikes, which have now widened to western and central Iran. In attacks lasting five hours, the US claims to have struck military targets including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defense assets. Yemen's Houthi militia also attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers, the Iran-aligned group said on Thursday, with a Saudi news agency later confirming one of the vessels was ablaze in the Red Sea. Continue reading...

Greater Manchester chief constable says crucial data on phones seized from Heaton Park synagogue attacker was not examinedGreater Manchester police have apologised for a missed opportunity" to act before an attack on a synagogue.The force's chief constable, Sir Stephen Watson, said the phones of the Heaton Park synagogue attacker Jihad al-Shamie were seized by officers but crucial data was not examined. Continue reading...

Woolsey died of a stroke at Washington home after facing Havana syndrome' reported by some government officialsR James Woolsey, a national security expert who led the CIA for two turbulent years after his appointment by Bill Clinton, has died. He was 84.Woolsey, who became CIA director in early 1993, died on Tuesday at his home in Washington, according to several newspapers. Conchita Sarnoff Woolsey, his wife, told the newspapers that he died from a stroke. Continue reading...

Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as traders fear attacks from Yemen and Iran creating two-chokepoint problem'The Houthi attacks off the coast of Yemen targeted Saudi Arabian tankers, but two Chinese vessels carrying Saudi oil appear to be trying to exit the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Reuters reports.From Reuters:Two Chinese supertankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are exiting the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, shipping data showed, even as a Saudi vessel came under attack in the region.The ships' attempt to transit the strait will clearly test how tightly the Houthis will impose the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia they announced on Monday. Continue reading...

Kaja Kallas says the latest round of sanctions are the largest in four yearsEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has offered a bit more detail on the new package of sanctions, saying they are the largest round in four years," and will hit Putin where it hurts most."In a statement, she said:We have agreed on the 21st sanctions package against Russia.It delivers sweeping measures targeting Moscow's financial system, its military-industrial complex and energy sector, that keep Russia's war economy running. Continue reading...

PM says those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared' as scandal spirals into widespread angerNarendra Modi has vowed to set up fast-track courts" to speed up the punishment of officials accused of leaking examination papers, as the Indian prime minister seeks to quell a youth-led cockroach" protest movement that has rocked Delhi and posed one of the biggest challenges to his government.In his first public remarks on the movement, Modi posted on X: Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth ... Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared." Continue reading...

Angel Rampersad, Michael Swinton, Isabella Gonzales and Tyler Feehan were among 18 US troops killed in the warA 30-year-old husband and father of two. A 25-year-old officer just weeks away from earning his MBA. A 19-year-old recent high school graduate. And a 28-year-old from Queens, New York, with a radiant smile".The Pentagon this week identified three American service members who were killed, and a fourth believed to have been killed, in the Middle East over the past week amid an escalation in attacks between the United States and Iranian forces. Continue reading...

CBA chair says contempt charge over closing speech by Rajiv Menon KC has left lawyers fearful of doing their jobThe prosecution of a leading human rights barrister for contempt of court over his closing speech during a trial of Palestine Action activists has left lawyers fearful of doing their job, the chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said.Rajiv Menon KC is due to stand trial next week, accused of breaching the judge's directions in the trial of six people for a direct action protest at an arms factory of the Israeli subsidiary Elbit Systems UK in Filton, near Bristol, in 2024. Continue reading...

Oradea is only major city in EU where local authorities have repeatedly blocked Pride plansCampaigners in a Romanian city have vowed to go ahead with plans for a Pride march after local authorities denied them permission for the fourth consecutive year.Since 2023, campaigners in the western city of Oradea - population 180,000 - have sought authorisation for Pride events. Each year, however, they have come up against opposition, turning Oradea into the only major city in the EU where local authorities have repeatedly blocked Pride plans. Continue reading...

One Nation leader labels family violence leave ridiculous' and decries woke' support of women's rights in November podcast

Budget airline, which has two US investment firms vying to buy it, also affected by passengers booking laterThe low-cost airline easyJet has revealed a 70% slide in profits because of soaring fuel costs and later bookings as a result of the conflict in Iran, only weeks after it agreed to a 5.7bn takeover.The carrier reported a pre-tax profit of 85m between April and June compared with 286m during the same period a year earlier, as its fuel costs increased by 105m after the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East in late February sent energy prices rocketing. Continue reading...

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Alan Greer, who killed himself after officers visited his home, could be Police Scotland's Wayne Couzens moment'A police officer who took his own life in May was a rapist who attacked at least nine women over 14 years.PC Alan Greer's offending came to light when his first known victim, a woman he raped in her home in Glasgow in 2012 after she had called the police to report being the victim of a crime, reported the attack late last year. Continue reading...

NT minister for trade and business Robyn Cahill makes scientifically inaccurate claims while pushing to make territory datacentre capital of the globe'

BMW, Ford, Nissan and Toyota, plus parts maker Bosch, wrote joint letter to ministers in AprilMajor carmakers privately lobbied the UK government to revoke a ban on new petrol and diesel cars after 2035, according to documents that reveal for the first time the efforts to overturn a key decarbonisation policy.BMW, Ford, Nissan and Toyota, plus the parts maker Bosch, wrote a joint letter to ministers in April calling for an open technology approach" including petrol and diesel cars after 2035, when the government had said new cars must produce zero carbon emissions. Continue reading...

No 10 announces reprieve after Andy Burnham previously pledged to raise tax from e-commerce warehouses and channel it to cutting hospitality sector's billsBusiness rates will be cut by 20% for pubs, clubs and live music venues across England from April next year, Downing Street has announced.The discount will apply to nearly 32,000 hospitality businesses and is expected to save a typical pub about 1,100 annually, but will not be available to the very largest live music venues. Continue reading...

Dunedin will be the focal point, having last experienced such an eclipse in 1163 - before any humans reached New ZealandHotels are booking out two years in advance in the New Zealand city of Dunedin as it prepares for the region's first total solar eclipse in more than 850 years.At 4.17pm on 22 July 2028, the moon will pass in front of the sun, casting a roughly 100km-wide shadowy band across parts of southern New Zealand. Everywhere within that band - from tourist hotspot Queenstown in the west to Dunedin city in the east - will be plunged into daytime darkness for 2 minutes and 51 seconds. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Darren Rosheski won NHS payout over partner Helen Dutton's death from rectal cancer after GP misjudged her symptomsI remember the doctor, after he'd examined Helen and found a large lump in her colon, saying it's very sinister - we need to bring you in to be investigated."Darren Rosheski is recalling the moment a consultant doctor at Tameside hospital broke the news to his partner, Helen Dutton, that her symptoms - which also included back pain, passing blood and altered bowel habits - were so worrying that they needed further tests. Continue reading...

Scientists believe sunfish-smashing behaviour could be form of entertainment or to help younger whales feedOrcas have been observed ramming into giant fish so hard that the prey explode, possibly as a form of gory entertainment.On several occasions, orcas were observed to hold sunfish in their jaws while a second whale smashed into the target at high speed, causing it to break into thousands of pieces. Since the fish had already been killed, scientists suggested the behaviour may represent a form of play. Continue reading...

More than 70 attacks have been recorded over past year, including acts of violence, property damage and vandalismOne mosque is attacked in Britain every five days, according to new data released by the government's partner for monitoring anti-Muslim hatred.More than 70 attacks on mosques in the UK have been recorded over the past year, which include acts of intimidation, violence, property damage, harassment, anti-Muslim hate speech, online abuse and vandalism. Continue reading...

New prime minister has made Sarwar - the first senior Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer's resignation - a peerScottish Labour's rivals in Holyrood have slammed Anas Sarwar's shock decision to resign as leader to sit in Andy Burnham's new government, calling him a chancer" and accusing him of lying to voters.The prime minister has made Sarwar - who was the first senior Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer to resign - a peer and given him a ministerial post at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, No 10 announced on Wednesday. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed.The Jordanian army said it intercepted four Iranian missiles on Wednesday with two additional missile falling in an open area, AFP reports.The two missiles that the army did not intercept fell in two remote, uninhabited areas, without causing any human casualties or material damage" the army said in a statement. Continue reading...

Jamieson Greer denies tariffs have pushed up prices during grilling from lawmakers over cost-of-living concernsDonald Trump's chief trade official denied the president's sweeping tariffs have increased prices for US families, as lawmakers challenged him over cost-of-living concerns across much of the country.US inflation surged to a three-year high earlier this year. During a heated exchange before US senators on Wednesday, however, US trade representative Jamieson Greer appeared to claim Trump's controversial economic agenda had not driven prices higher. Continue reading...

In Kentucky and West Virginia, rescuers freed trapped residents as states face catastrophic floods and damageTropical storm Bertha made landfall in St Bernard parish, on the Gulf coast south-east of New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday afternoon, the US national hurricane center said.The Miami-based forecaster added that maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 45mph (75km/h) with higher gusts. Continue reading...

European Commission says Paramount Skydance's decision to end Universal venture addresses merger concernsParamount Skydance's 80bn takeover of Warner Brothers took a step closer to being realised after it won conditional approval from the European Union.The European Commission said Paramount's offer to end a film distribution joint venture with Universal Pictures addressed its concerns over the potential merger. As part of its commitments in the EU, Paramount has 13 months from the date of closing the deal to pull out from the venture. Continue reading...

PM says he wants to ensure everything has been looked at' amid outrage at policy from family of PC Andrew HarperAndy Burnham is immersed in a deepening political row after ordering a review of plans for the early release of thousands of killers, rapists and sex offenders from prison in September.After the family of PC Andrew Harper expressed outrage that his killers may be eligible for release, the prime minister responded by pledging to make sure that everything has been looked at again" before a fresh tranche of about 6,000 offenders were freed on tags. Continue reading...

Campaigners in Ukraine pledge to continue nationwide protests until Mykhailo Fedorov gets his job backVolodymyr Zelenskyy was under growing pressure to reinstate his sacked defence minister on Wednesday, after campaigners said they would continue indefinite nationwide protests until Mykhailo Fedorov got his job back.On Tuesday, Zelenskyy bowed to public demands by firing Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. He appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the country's armed forces, as part of a radical reshuffle of the top military command. Continue reading...

Public prosecutor for the region said suspect had been initially arrested shortly after the murder on 29 April last yearA 70-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of Karen Carter, the British expat found dead in south-western France last year, according to reports.According to the Dordogne Libre and others, the woman was charged on 2 July with Carter's murder in Tremolat, in the Dordogne, and is under judicial supervision". Continue reading...

Party chair queries status of funds Reform leader received from crypto billionaire Christopher HarborneThe Conservatives have asked HMRC to investigate whether Nigel Farage should have paid tax on the 5m gift he received from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.The party chair, Kevin Hollinrake, wrote to the tax authorities questioning whether it was a payment to compensate him for running to be an MP. Continue reading...

UK warehouse landlord says board unanimous in recommendation to accept best and final offer'The board of the UK warehouse landlord Segro has U-turned and said it would be willing to accept a 14bn takeover by Segro's bigger US rival, Prologis, in a deal that would be one of the largest foreign takeovers of a UK-listed company.In the latest blow to the troubled London stock market, Segro said in a statement that its board had unanimously concluded" it would recommend its shareholders accept what Prologis called its best and final offer", made just hours before a deadline. Continue reading...

Brussels talks between senior diplomats now underway in attempt to sign off 21st package of sanctions, after previous failed attemptsThe Venice Biennale said it would challenge a European Union decision to withdraw a 2 million grant in response to the return of Russia to its 2026 edition, despite continuing aggression on Ukraine, Reuters reported.The Italian government sharply criticised the move, while the European Commission warned it would suspend or terminate funding if the Russian pavilion returned. Continue reading...

Proposal throws global south countries under the bus', says ActionAid UK director

Exclusive: Guardian investigation of CT Group uncovers practice that appears to seek hidden influence over public opinionA political lobbying firm founded by the former electoral strategist for David Cameron and Boris Johnson secretly pays journalists to write pieces for British newspapers that are favourable to their clients, a Guardian investigation can reveal.In a practice that appears to create a backdoor for private companies to influence public opinion, lobbyists for CT Group - co-founded by the campaign strategist, Lynton Crosby - told an undercover reporter that they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories in newspapers. Continue reading...

New defence secretary emphasises military will be spending priority over other departments under Burnham

Figures come as large parts of southern Europe endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperaturesFrance recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during its June heatwave, authorities have said, as swathes of southern Europe continue to endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperatures.The French national health agency said on Wednesday that it had recorded 5,764 excess deaths between 17 June and 2 July, an excess mortality rate of 36%. Continue reading...

As measles, hantavirus and cyclospora spread, experts say lost staff and expertise are slowing the responseA series of health challenges - hantavirus, screwworm, Ebola, cyclospora, measles, whooping cough, bird flu - are exposing the widening gaps in America's ability to prevent, identify and halt infectious disease outbreaks.The rapid dismantling of the US public health system at all levels means the US is in worse shape than it was before the Covid pandemic, former top CDC officials say. Continue reading...

New PM says the main perpetrator in the killing of PC Andrew Harper will now not be subject to early release' and he will also review whole policy'Wes Streeting said the US president was right" to demand Europe pays more for its own defence.Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of Europe for relying too much on the US for its security, and has demanded Nato allies reach 5% of GDP on defence spending by 2035.President Trump has called on Europe to carry a greater share of the burden for our own defence, and he is right to do so. The UK has always been a leading light on defence spending, but the world is changing and in these dangerous uncertain times it is clear that we have needed to go further.That's why we've committed 298bn over the next four years, including an additional 15bn on top of last year's spending review settlement. At the recent Nato summit, all members reaffirmed our commitment to 3.5 by 35 [3.5% of GDP by 2035]. Continue reading...

Daniel Siad faced allegations of rape and trafficking in France and appeared in more than 1,000 documents in Epstein filesA modelling scout who recruited women for Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home near Paris, French officials have said.Daniel Siad, 69, was under investigation by the prosecutors specialising in human trafficking in France, accused of rape and other charges. His name appeared in more than 1,000 documents in the US Department of Justice Epstein files that were declassified earlier this year. Continue reading...

US secretary of state says international community should join forces' against authoritarian Ortega regimeNicaragua's congress, controlled by the country's long-serving president, Daniel Ortega, has announced a work plan" to implement the authoritarian leader's order that the country should no longer hold elections.The UN and the US strongly condemned Sunday's announcement by Ortega, who has been in power since 2007 and, after a controversial constitutional change last year, now governs alongside his wife, Rosario Murillo, as co-president". Continue reading...

Anthony Albanese will cast practical' policies as the key to countering the anxiety and frustration in Australia

Isabel Rose, 26, given six-year sentence for blackmail and perverting course of justice after accusing British bankerA British woman who reported being raped to police in Hong Kong has been sentenced to six years in prison for blackmail and perverting the course of public justice.Isabel Rose, 26, from south-east London traveled to Hong Kong in early 2024 to visit a British banker she had met while travelling in south-east Asia. Continue reading...

Clear frontrunner leaves lucrative role at New York's Dia Art Foundation to join UK arts organisation at critical junctureJessica Morgan has been confirmed as the new director of Tate, marking her return to the arts organisation where she worked as a curator for more than a decade, at a critical juncture in its history.Morgan, the clear frontrunner in the race to replace Maria Balshaw, who left this spring after nine years in charge, is currently based in New York, where she has led the Dia Art Foundation since 2015. Continue reading...

Police open investigation into Nottinghamshire service that treated Valdo Calocane, who killed three people in 2023The NHS trust that treated the triple killer Valdo Calocane in the years before the Nottingham attacks is being investigated by police for corporate manslaughter.Calocane, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after he fatally stabbed the 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley Kumar, and the 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates, on 13 June 2023. Continue reading...

Victims of crime say it's no laughing matter' after ministers caught on hot mic ribbing' about scheme

John Neal failed to disclose relationship with female colleague that risked triggering conflict of interest concernsLloyd's of London has ruled that its former boss John Neal breached compliance rules by failing to disclose a close relationship" with a female colleague that risked triggering conflict of interest concerns at the insurance market.An investigation by the Council of Lloyd's, which is responsible for the market's management and supervision, said it could not find any conclusive evidence" Neal was romantically involved with the company's then corporate affairs director, nor that there were any process failures relating to her promotion during Neal's tenure. Continue reading...