World news | The Guardian

Trump says US senator was a true American patriot' while Zelenskyy says he's deeply saddened' by his death

Members of Congress mourn the sudden death of the Republican from South Carolina, who died aged 71; Trump mulls replacement but too soon' to reveal

Ceasefire at the point of collapse after almost a week of tit-for-tat exchanges escalate tensions across Gulf regionDonald Trump has rejected Iranian claims to have closed off the strait of Hormuz as both sides battled for control over the waterway, leaving a ceasefire agreed last month at the point of collapse.US forces said they had attacked 140 targets in Iran on Saturday night and Sunday morning after Tehran struck and disabled a container ship in the strait, whose transit it said had not been approved. In a statement, US Central Command (Centcom) said its targets had included missile and drone sites, naval facilities, ammunition depots, communication networks and surveillance locations. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Party's average registered donation was 137, 496 last year, almost six times that of Labour or ToriesReform UK would have held just 15% of the donations it received last year if a proposed 100,000 cap on political donations had been in force, according to analysis shared with the Guardian.The analysis by Friends of the Earth using Electoral Commission data highlights the party's reliance on a handful of wealthy backers in advance of a showdown over political funding. Continue reading...

Lillard, of Oklahoma, contracted polio when she was five and slept inside cylindrical metal device to help her breatheThe last known US person living with polio and relying on an iron lung has died aged 78.Martha Lillard, who contracted polio at age five and spent most of her life dependent on an iron lung machine that helped her breathe, died on 26 June in Oklahoma, according to an online obituary. Continue reading...

Political leaders in both countries rebuke Mariano Rajoy after he writes team does not have any French players'The former Spanish conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy is facing growing accusations of racism after writing in a World Cup newspaper column that the French national team does not have any French players".Rajoy, who was in office from 2011 to 2018, pondered Spain's looming semi-final showdown with France in an article for the online newspaper El Debate on Friday. Continue reading...

Man reportedly seriously injured by the bison, described as agitated' and charging anything' by photographerAn enraged, 2,000lb (900kg) bull bison hooked a tourist and tossed him 8ft into the air at a campsite in Wyoming's Yellowstone national park on Friday - an encounter captured by a professional photographer who said the animal was agitated, pissed off and charging anything and everything".The tourist was reported to be seriously injured by the male bison while walking with his grandson through the Bridge Bay campground, south of Fishing Bridge. Continue reading...

Owner Christina Bluhme feared the worst after Tokyo began to lose consciousness while climbing the UK's tallest mountainA dog has been rescued from Ben Nevis after falling ill from eating cannabis discarded on the mountain trail.Christina Bluhme was halfway up the UK's highest mountain last weekend when her black labrador, Tokyo, lost the use of her legs and began drifting in and out of consciousness. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Deputy PM says opponents have no solutions' to possible collapse of justice system in England and Wales

Colt Gray, now 16, expected to change plea after pleading not guilty to 55 criminal counts in Apalachee shootingThe teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers during a 2024 shooting at Apalachee high school in Georgia has been scheduled to appear in court later in July for a non-negotiated" plea hearing, according to records.Documents filed on Friday in Barrow county superior court in Winder, Georgia, show that Colt Gray is expected to change his plea at a hearing on 24 July, with the court scheduled to hold proceedings for both the plea and sentencing, as the Associated Press reported. Continue reading...

Stalled legislation aims to prevent cover-ups and help families seek justice after major disastersKeir Starmer is expected to use his final week in office to push the Hillsborough law through its remaining stages in the Commons after months of delays.This bill aims to strengthen support for families seeking justice after major disasters and create new offences for officials who deliberately mislead the public or seek to block accountability. Continue reading...

For many watching their team beat Norway at a south London nightclub the look was as important as the gameThe Carpet Shop nightclub in Peckham, south London, is ordinarily packed with rowdy crowds at the weekend. But Saturday night's liveliness was not congregated around the DJ on the dancefloor, the crowd was at the sold-out venue for England's victorious quarter-final game at the 2026 World Cup, and the young spectators were there for the fashion as much as they were for the football.Luke Grandon and Mattia Guarnera, both 27, are massive" football fans, and their love for the game is expressed in their outfits. I have a massive collection of vintage football shirts," said Guarnera, wearing a white polo shirt with LOVE" printed on the back from a limited-edition World Cup-themed collaboration between Lyle & Scott and the British artist Reuben Dangoor. Continue reading...

Authorities confirm worst toll in more than 20 years, as extreme temperatures in Europe force early closure of Eiffel TowerNearly 100 people, the largest proportion of whom were young men, died by drowning in Germany last month, authorities have said, as extreme temperatures in western Europe that have been blamed for hundreds of excess deaths geared up again.In Germany's worst death toll from drowning for more than two decades, 99 people died in June, according to official figures, after temperatures rose as high as 41.7C (107.1F) in some areas. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Many aged care residents in Australia are charged for services they can't use or understand, prompting an investigation from the regulator

Digital customs declaration to be phased in at all international airports and seaports after successful Qantas trial

Data shows the rightwing party faces an obstacle in the form of urban seats - and the effect of preference flows is harder to predict

Pair airlifted to hospital in two-hour rescue operation after Guardia Civil searched area for survivorsA British couple have been found badly burned and semi-conscious in a Spanish ravine amid deadly wildfires that have swept through the country's Almeria province, according to local media reports.The couple were on holiday in the region and were thought to be out hiking when they were caught up in the wildfire, which has so far claimed the lives of 12 people and burned more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres). At least 23 people are missing. Continue reading...

Vital maritime corridor closes after 90 vessels - including shadow fleet oil tankers - are attacked in under a weekRussia has been forced to suspend shipping in the Sea of Azov after 90 vessels were targeted by Ukrainian drones in less than a week.Ukraine's drone forces chief, Robert Brovdi, said on Sunday that his units had hit 10 tankers and four ferries overnight, as well as a major oil refinery in the city of Syzran. There were multiple strikes on electricity sub-stations in occupied Crimea, he added. Continue reading...

Man in 20s also found with stab injuries after incident over which 44-year-old is being held on suspicion of murderA man has been arrested after a 24-year-old woman was killed and a man in his 20s was injured in a stabbing in west London, police have said.Officers found the woman with stab injuries after being called to a property on Uxbridge Road in Hayes on Sunday morning. The man in his 20s was found outside the property with stab injuries, with police awaiting an update on his condition. Continue reading...

Tehran reportedly attacks Gulf countries following fresh US strikesThere has been almost no visible traffic in the strait of Hormuz so far today, with only two oil products tankers seen approaching the narrow waterway, according to a Bloomberg report.As a reminder, the US president, Donald Trump, has declared the ceasefire over while leaving the door open for talks, and mediators have been trying to salvage a diplomatic solution despite the attacks intensifying. Continue reading...

Timing of Devon switchoff could not be worse', says board, as members face an estimated 2m in lost revenueBritain's biggest community solar project has been forced to shut for the duration of its first summer by the government's energy system operator to avoid overloading the local grid with renewable energy.The north Devon solar farm was ordered to shut weeks before record high temperatures across Europe led to power supply warnings, due to concerns that the large amount of rooftop solar in the area could destabilise the power grid by triggering a thermal overload". Continue reading...

Officers say they are not looking for anyone else after arrest of man, 28, on suspicion of murdering ex-Tory politicianPolice have said there is nothing to suggest the death of Ann Widdecombe was politically motivated.Speaking at a press conference on Sunday morning, the assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, Matt Longman, said detectives were open-minded about the motive for the killing, but stressed there was no evidence to suggest it had been politically motivated. He also said it was not being treated as terrorism. Continue reading...

Miller takes indefinite leave after arm amputation and questions of possible financial improprietiesAn on-air analyst for a top US sports broadcaster says he is pulling back from his role indefinitely as he heals from a car crash in Missouri that forced him to undergo a life-saving amputation - and while he reportedly faces a law enforcement investigation into possible financial improprieties connected to what he billed as side charity work.Matt Miller's announcement on Friday that he was taking indefinite leave from ESPN provided only the latest twist in an unusual case that has drawn significant attention from both media as well as the substantial number of American football fanatics who follow his area of expertise: the process by which NFL teams select, or draft, collegiate prospects. Continue reading...

Gallery director says collection of 140 paintings will offer a more balanced view of Manchester painter's workA new exhibition of work by LS Lowry will bust a few myths" about the Mancunian artist, who the show's co-curator says is still wrongly derided for being naive and uncultured".LS Lowry: the Theatre of Life features 140 paintings by the artist, who captured working-class life in the industrial north-west of England during the early and mid 20th century. Continue reading...

Ed Davey voices concern about the Musk family foundation taking the far-right activist on a visit to MoscowThe UK must do more to defend its democracy after it emerged that Elon Musk's family foundation had taken the far-right activist Tommy Robinson to Russia, Ed Davey has said.Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was brought to Russia by the Musks, the billionaire tech mogul's father told the Guardian. Continue reading...

Chancellor says PM-in-waiting needs worked through plan', in what could be one of her final interviews in No 11Rachel Reeves has urged Andy Burnham to arrive in Downing Street with a worked through plan", saying the incoming prime minister will be tested quickly by a range of incoming shocks and challenges".In what could be one of the first female chancellor's final major interviews while in No 11, Reeves said Burnham should remain focused on the priorities that first brought him into politics. Continue reading...

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Plucky defeats decorated with patches of excellence will not cut it for Australia with a home World Cup now looming largeThe camera found Joe Schmidt shortly after France had completed a 22-point swing. Australia's coach had seen a 21-12 half-time lead obliterated in 16 brutal minutes. Schmidt, one of rugby's sharpest minds, looked short of answers. The trouble was that the questions confronting him had obvious answers but almost impossible solutions.Why had Australia's discipline deteriorated? Because they were under pressure. Why had their tackle intensity and ruck speed fallen away? Because France had introduced fresh power from the bench. Why had the Wallabies gone from a nine-point half-time lead to a 13-point deficit in barely a quarter of an hour? Because one team had more large, skilful, Test-quality rugby players than the other. Continue reading...

Temperatures will stay above 30C on Sunday, with warnings of wildfires and heat health alerts in some areasThe scorching heatwave conditions experienced by much of England and Wales will last until at least next week, the Met Office has said.Temperatures in parts of England and Wales will continue to exceed 30C on Sunday and into next week, the forecaster said. Continue reading...

Nearly 17,000 injured and thousands more listed as missing amid calls by president Delcy Rodriguez and UN for financial helpThe death toll in Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has passed 4,300, the government said on Saturday.At least 4,333 people were killed and 16,740 injured in the back-to-back quakes on 24 June that flattened entire districts in the coastal state of La Guaira, the Venezuelan parliament chief, Jorge Rodriguez, wrote on Telegram. Thousands more people are listed as missing. Continue reading...

Errol Musk says far-right activist is a fine young man' and held meetings with Russian business figuresElon Musk's family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, according to the billionaire X owner's father, who was with the British far-right activist in Moscow as he encouraged anti-migration protests in Britain.Robinson - whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - appeared last month in Moscow, from where he issued calls for supporters to take to the streets after a knife attack in Belfast. He shared video of himself in a luxury Moscow hotel with the older Musk, whose son has been a vocal supporter of Robinson. Continue reading...

A brown huntsman is the quickest of more than 250 species analysed by scientists in the UK and GermanyIf arachnophobes were not frightened enough by the horrific ability of Australia's huntsman spiders to drag dead mice up the sides of fridges, they now have another reason.They might be the fastest spiders on the planet. Continue reading...

Devon and Cornwall force now looking for suspect believed to be a white male' after man arrested on Friday was released without chargeAlison and Simon Gilbert, who have lived in in Haytor Vale for over a decade, said Ann Widdecombe was a well-known figure locally. Ms Gilbert told PA media:She was a nice woman, really nice woman, and she had a great sense of humour. It's a lovely area - you talk to strangers.Everyone saw her as quite an opinionated politician, but to us she was just a person in the community.I never met (Ann Widdecombe) although I've lived here all my life.It's tragic, someone gives all their life to public service and then they end like that. Continue reading...

Watchdog says public being put in danger by closure of premises that accommodate most dangerous offendersNearly one in ten probation hostels where England and Wales' most dangerous offenders live after leaving prison have been closed after a staffing crisis.As ministers prepare the early release of thousands of inmates in September, a leaked memo revealed that staffing challenges" have led to temporary closures of the heavily-supervised approved premises". Continue reading...

Another 20 people were rescued from a campground after a building collapsed due to heavy rain and floodingHeavy rainfall and widespread flooding battered parts of Missouri on Friday, forcing the helicopter evacuations of more than 200 children and staff from a summer camp and the rescues of about 20 people who had moved to safety on a campground building that collapsed.With nearby roads washed away and more rain in the forecast, the children were trapped at Camp Taum Sauk in the small south-eastern community of Lesterville, according Sgt Eddie Young of the state's highway patrol. The army national guard used Black Hawk helicopters to fly them to a nearby elementary school and reunite them with their families, he said. Continue reading...

The former ITV, BBC and Sky News journalist died peacefully at home in London on Saturday, his family sayThe former BBC and Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan has died aged 68 after a period of illness with prostate cancer", his family have said.The journalist, who was long a fixture on British TV screens, was also known for hosting the quizshow Eggheads. Continue reading...

Increase in sightings may not reflect increase in sharks with little evidence that threat to swimmers has risenExperts say that despite recent increased investment in drones to monitor for sharks in states like New York, the machines have limited usefulness as a public safety tool and there does not appear to be evidence that the threat to swimmers from sharks has increased.There have, however, been more reports of sharks around local beaches. Continue reading...

Vigilantes also took part in the fight that raged all night and the following morning, residents sayNigerian soldiers killed more than 300 members of kidnapping and cattle bandit gangs in the north-western state of Zamfara this week, according to a government official.Government troops targeted the gangs in Gummi district in a two-day operation that led to the elimination of more than 300 terrorists", Zamfara's information commissioner, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, said in a statement. Continue reading...

Exclusive: CCRC will test serial killer as part of inquiry into whether Michael Stone was wrongly convicted of 1996 murdersThe serial killer Levi Bellfield will have his DNA taken in an attempt to establish if he murdered Lin and Megan Russell in 1996.Michael Stone has protested his innocence since his conviction in 1998 for the killing of Lin, 45, and her daughter, six-year-old Megan, as well as a vicious attack on Megan's sister Josie, nine, who survived. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Alarming shortfall of specialists stops about 4,000 procedures a day, many for patients in urgent need of surgeryThe NHS is unable to perform 1.5m operations a year because of a drastic shortage of anaesthetists, a report reveals.More than 8 million patients are on waiting lists across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many are in urgent need of a surgical procedure. Continue reading...

Sculpture of Jewish army officer wrongly accused of treason has been moved around the city for decadesFor 40 years, the statue of Capt Alfred Dreyfus has been moved around Paris, never finding a permanent home.The French army twice refused to allow it to stand at l'Ecole Militaire, where Dreyfus, a Jewish officer it had wrongly accused of treason in 1894, was stripped of his rank in one of the most notorious acts of antisemitism in France's history. Continue reading...

The tube cannot easily be adapted to cope with heatwaves, making conditions almost unbearableAs the escalator descends below ground at King's Cross St Pancras station in London, the shift from what was already a hot station entrance to the furnace-like subterranean depths is perceptible.On the tube it's worse: a man leans back in his seat, eyes closed, sweltering; people hold electric fans an inch away from their faces. London commuters are known for their stoicism and the heat appears to be another tribulation to accept. They will need to: heatwaves in the capital are becoming routine. Continue reading...

Devon and Cornwall police say 26-year-old man no longer part of investigation after former MP found dead at home in HaytorA 26-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of the former MP Ann Widdecombe has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation, Devon and Cornwall police said early on Saturday.In a statement, assistant chief constable Matt Longman said: Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined. Continue reading...

Presidential bid by leader of far-right National Rally has no shortage of supporters in scenic MontargisIn the small French town of Montargis, Jean-Antoine, a retired decorator, was pleased Marine Le Pen had again shaken up French politics by launching a bid for the presidency, despite her legal woes.Even the judges said she didn't personally profit from the money, it was for her party," he said of Le Pen's newly upheld conviction for embezzlement. All politicians in France have always been schemers, it's just a fact of life." Continue reading...

As England prepare to take on Norway on Saturday, sales of pints, takeaways and new TVs continue to surgeFrom a cosy Norwegian pub to outdoor fan zones packed with hopeful England football fans, Saturday's World Cup quarter-final between the two nations is expected to generate a multimillion-pound windfall for venues showing the game.The quarter-finals will collectively generate a near half-billion pound sales increase for the wider UK economy, as fans drink 9.3m pints, order takeaways and splash out on new TVs, according to one estimate. Continue reading...

Ex-presenter of BBC Radio 4 show complains in Guardian of gratuitous gratitude' and gushing' between host and guestFor more than three decades, John Humphrys delighted and infuriated listeners in equal measure as he confronted the nation's politicians in his trademark, pointed style on the Today programme.Now a listener himself, the former presenter of the BBC's flagship radio news show is just as pointed in his assessment of the current incarnation of the programme. His verdict? It's irritating. Continue reading...

Teachers call for schools to be urgently adapted for hot weather amid reports of nausea, fainting and heatstrokeThe extreme heat that has hit the UK twice in the past few weeks has left teachers struggling to cope as temperatures in some classrooms climb above 40C, with pupils and staff suffering from heatstroke, nausea and headaches.Teachers say they have been desperately trying to keep children safe, with some covering younger pupils in wet paper towels as they lie on the floor, while older students have been given trays of water under their desks to put their feet in. Continue reading...

Thinktank urges prospective prime minister to reclaim UK's role as an international leader on developmentInfluential backbenchers are calling on Andy Burnham to reclaim Labour's leadership on international development and chart a course back to spending 0.7% of national income on overseas aid.In a collection of essays to be published soon by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) thinktank, MPs lay out proposals for a Burnham-led government to rethink foreign policy. Continue reading...

Ahead of the census in August, campaign group suggests current poll design overstates the nation's religiousness

The airfare for a baby on your lap could cost more than your own ticket. Here's how airline charges and travel taxes can hit youRyanair recently stopped making parents pay to sit next to their children but depending on the airline the hidden extra costs involved in flying with children can be substantial. In some cases, you can even end up spending more for the baby on your lap than you paid for your own flight.Your baby might not need a seat, but you are still likely to pay fees for them to travel. Some airlines offer discounts for children over two, while others whack families with the cost of a full-grown adult. Continue reading...