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The March for Australia demonstrations were promoted by neo-Nazis, anti-lockdown figures and other fringe groupsElon Musk has shared a post on social media that wrongly claims 150,000 people took part in anti-immigration protests in the Australian cities of Sydney and Brisbane, despite police confirming the real total of those in attendance was 21,000.Musk shared a post from an X user showing a video of a protest held in Sydney on Sunday, under the banner March for Australia. Continue reading...

Deputy premier threatens to ban practice that was opened as publicly funded service by previous Labor government and then shut down by LNP

Exclusive: Data gathered by Generation Rent shows 37 councils spent 31m in 2024-25 in one-off payments to individual landlordsCouncils across England are increasingly spending millions of pounds a year in incentive payments to private landlords to persuade them to house homeless families, with campaigners describing it as a senseless waste of public money".Data gathered by the campaign group Generation Rent via freedom of information requests showed that 37 councils spent more than 31m on one-off cash payments to private landlords on 10,792 occasions in 2024-25. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary to say an assessment will be carried out of whether Israel has complied with Keir Starmer's termsDavid Lammy will tell MPs on Monday that the UK still intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September, with Israel having shown no sign of meeting the government's demands.The foreign secretary will say in a Commons statement that government officials intend to carry out a formal assessment in the coming days of whether Israel has complied with the tests set out by the prime minister, Keir Starmer. Continue reading...

Brazil's ex-president is expected to be convicted over failed coup - and Fabiano Leitao, who has provoked him for years, is readyWhen Jair Bolsonaro was Brazil's far-right president, the guerrilla trumpeter Fabiano Leitao would stalk him around the capital, Brasilia, to taunt him with renditions of the anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao.In March, when Bolsonaro was charged with plotting a coup, Leitao changed his tune and began provoking the ex-president by serenading him with Chopin's Funeral March. It symbolises his political demise, which is what we want to see," said the 46-year-old musician. Continue reading...

Report from age assurance trial finds multiple fallback options may be needed, as communications minister says there is no one size fits all' solution

Local authorities could be forced to approve new developments, overturning agreed plans, or risk giving planning control to WhitehallAngela Rayner is poised to introduce tougher sanctions on councils in England that block local housing developments.Councils could be forced to approve new housing developments - overturning locally agreed plans - under stricter rules or risk handing over control of their planning departments to Whitehall officials. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Former PM returns to Middle East politics as civil society groups argue that any real solution must begin with Palestinian agencyGood morning. Tony Blair is back and he has plans for the Middle East.No, you have not woken up and jumped back two decades in time. The former Labour leader, who was put under pressure to resign after the disastrous decision to go to war with Iraq - which led to the death of a million Iraqis and created a vacuum later filled by the brutal Islamic State - is back in the headlines this week.Ukraine | The UK and European Union have summoned their Russian envoys after missile strikes on Kyiv killed at least 18 people and damaged British Council and EU offices.UK news | The Treasury is reportedly considering a tax on landlords in the autumn budget that would target income from rents. The proposals are centred on the expansion of national insurance to include rental income.Iran | The UK, France and Germany have formally notified the UN that they have triggered the restoration of sweeping UN sanctions against Iran, giving Tehran 30 days to make concessions on access to its nuclear sites.US news | The White House named non-scientist Jim O'Neill, a deputy of Robert F Kennedy Jr, to serve as acting head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), amid a standoff over the firing of director Susan Monarez whose lawyers said she could only be removed by Donald Trump himself.Environment | The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event, a study has concluded, making deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions even more urgent to avoid the catastrophic impact. Continue reading...

New charge relates to device allegedly placed in Scottish parliament and follows charges relating to possession of indecent imagesThe suspended Labour MSP Colin Smyth has been charged over allegations a secret camera was placed in toilets inside the Scottish parliament.The PA news agency understands that Smyth, 52, faces a further charge from the police in relation to the allegations. Continue reading...

Shooter tried to enter church to carry out attack but failed since doors had been locked when mass began, officials sayAs Minneapolis grappled with the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Catholic school church in which two children were killed and 17 people injured, police said countless lives" had been saved by the church doors being locked as the shooter had not been able to get inside.Two children, aged eight and 10, were killed in the church pews during morning mass at the Annunciation Catholic school church. Fourteen other children, aged six to 15, were also injured, two of them critically, though officials said they were expected to survive. Three adults, parishioners in their 80s, were also injured. Police said the suspect, Robin Westman, 23, killed themself and was found dead behind the church. Continue reading...

Senator Patty Murray calls Trump's immigration policy fundamentally sick' after incident in Washington statePatty Murray, the Washington senator, has called for the Trump administration to provide immediate answers" about reports that two firefighters were detained by border agents as they were responding to a wildfire in the state.Federal immigration authorities on Wednesday staged an operation on the scene of the Bear Gulch fire, a nearly 9,000-acre (3,600-hectare) blaze in the Olympic national forest, where they arrested two people who were part of a contract firefighting crew, the Seattle Times first reported. The fire is the largest currently burning in the state. Continue reading...

Operation at site south of Damascus is deepest into Syrian territory since ousting of Bashar al-Assad last yearIsraeli forces raided a former air defence base in southern Syria on Wednesday during a series of airstrikes in the area - their farthermost such operation inside Syria since Bashar al-Assad was ousted last December.The site, near the city of al-Kiswah, about 6 miles (10km) south of Damascus, was a strategic base for Iranian militias during Assad's rule. Continue reading...

Stretch of Lake Huron shore was promised to Saugeens in 1854 treaty with Crown but wrongly omitted from mapA stretch of beach will be returned to a First Nation in Canada 170 years after it was mistakenly omitted from its reserve. The sandy sliver of land measures less than two miles long, but has nonetheless sparked an outsized battle, with a nearby resort town claiming the case sets a foreboding precedent for property rights in the country.Canada's supreme court said on Thursday that it would not hear a challenge from the town of South Bruce Peninsula, which is contesting a lower court's ruling that the Saugeen First Nation's reserve was erroneously smaller than promised. Continue reading...

Home Office and Bell Hotel owner are challenging high court injunction granted last week to Epping councilA Reform council leader's decision to ban his councillors from engaging with a prominent local newspaper is a massive attack on local democracy" and a sign of things to come should the party form the next government, the outlet's editor has warned.In an unprecedented move, Nottinghamshire county council's four-month-old Reform administration has said it will no longer deal with the Nottingham Post, its online edition and a team of BBC-funded local democracy journalists that it manages.I've been a journalist for 20 years. We have had our ups and downs with all kinds of councils. We managed to get along fine, because most elected officials accept this is par for the course. You are going to get some negative press. What you don't do is shut the shop up.This is a worrying sign of potentially things to come if Reform wins the next election. What you're seeing here in Nottinghamshire is probably a microcosm of how it will be across the whole of the UK if Nigel Farage becomes prime minister. You are just going to see this kind of shutting down of questioning. Continue reading...

Home Office and the Bell hotel owners are challenging Epping Forest council's injunction to stop 138 asylum seekers being housedA ban on housing asylum seekers at a protest-hit hotel would have a serious impact" on the government's ability to house refugees and could incite further demonstrations, the court of appeal has heard.The Home Office and the owners of the Bell hotel in Essex have launched an appeal against the temporary injunction granted to Epping Forest district council (EFDC) last week. Continue reading...

Struggling brand sold by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos, which is to take strategic investment' in Castore's holding companyBelstaff, the struggling British fashion brand known for its heritage motorcycle gear, has been bought by the sportswear group Castore from the billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos.Under the deal, the terms of which have not been disclosed, Ineos will make a significant strategic investment" in Castore's holding company. Continue reading...

Alleged footage was shared on social media and amplified by figures including Elon Musk and Tommy RobinsonPolice Scotland have warned the public not to share misinformation about an incident in Dundee involving a 12-year-old girl after online speculation was amplified by Elon Musk.Scotland's first minster has also accused the multibillionaire X owner of undermining community cohesion. Continue reading...

Labor announced on Thursday Create NSW's Arts and Cultural Funding Program will provide financial assistance for 62 organisations statewideArts organisations and galleries across New South Wales have voiced their relief after the state government announced $15.4m funding over two years, allaying worries of a looming crisis for NSW's regional galleries.Sixty-two arts organisations across NSW will receive $15.4m funding for the next two years through Create NSW's Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP), the state government announced on Thursday, with $7.5m going to 31 regional arts organisations, including 10 regional galleries. Continue reading...

Loretta Quinn took out a personal safety intervention order against Dezi Freeman after a disagreement about him accessing her property

Phica posted altered photos, with vulgar and sexist captions, of women including prime minister Giorgia MeloniA pornographic website that posted doctored photos of a host of high-profile Italian women, including the prime minister, Giorgia

Overnight raid kills more than a dozen people as European leaders condemn deliberate' targeting of civilians and institutionsUkrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko has now responded to the overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv, criticising Moscow for horrific and deliberate killing of civilians."The Russians are not choosing to end the war, only constant expansion of atrocities," she said.Overnight in Kyiv, dozens of buildings were hit: residential houses, office centers, civilian enterprises. Among them also the building where the European Union Delegation to Ukraine is located.Russians now believe that they have paralyzed Ukraine's allies with feigned plans for negotiations' and endless delays that only serve as methods to buy time with the true goal only of preventing sanctions.My thoughts are with all those affected by the senseless Russian strikes on Kyiv which have damaged the British Council building.Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. Continue reading...

Move by trio of European powers gives Tehran 30 days to improve access for inspection of its nuclear sitesThe UK, France and Germany have formally notified the UN that they have triggered the restoration of sweeping UN sanctions against Iran, giving Tehran 30 days to make concessions on access to its nuclear sites or face deeper worldwide economic isolation.UK officials said the decision had not been taken lightly and there had been intensive diplomacy to try to avert this step. The officials stressed there was still room for some last-ditch diplomacy before the sanctions snapback" comes into force in 30 days' time. The annual high-level UN general assembly in September is likely to host more intensive diplomacy over the situation with Iran. Continue reading...

Production in Norfolk due to restart in early September but sportscar maker announces restructuring proposal'Sportscar maker Lotus has confirmed it will cut 550 jobs in the UK as part of wider restructuring plans that will deliver a fresh blow to Britain's automotive industry.Lotus, which has been struggling with a drop in sales and cash shortages, said it was necessary to slash 42% of its 1,300-strong UK workforce to secure a sustainable future", amid uncertainty sparked by factors including Donald Trump's trade war. Continue reading...

Zelenskyy says Moscow chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table' after strikes on more than 20 locations Europe live - latest updatesRussian airstrikes on Kyiv have killed at least 18 people and wounded dozens in the most deadly night raid on the Ukrainian capital since the Alaska summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.Seventeen people were reported killed when a five-storey residential building in the eastern Darnytskyi district was struck in the middle of the night, said Svitlana Vodolaha, a spokesperson for the state rescue service. Continue reading...

Cellin Gluck alleged in lawsuit that he was subject to excessive force during protest against police brutalityA jury has awarded at least $2.2m to a protester who was shot in the face with a less-lethal munition by a Los Angeles sheriff's deputy during a demonstration against police brutality in 2020.In the verdict last week, the jury found LA county liable for the injuries sustained by the man, Cellin Gluck, and determined that he suffered $3.5m in damages. They also awarded his daughter, who was there with him that day, an additional $300,000 for emotional distress. Continue reading...

Investigation by UK watchdog relates to historical statements on wood pellets for power station from January 2022 to March 2024

Opposition councillor in Taiwanese capital accuses authorities of sending Trojan horse' into citizens' daily livesTaipei City council has come under fire after admitting that a robot dog it bought to help patrol city streets using surveillance cameras was made by a Chinese companylinked to the Chinese military.Hammer Lee, the deputy mayor of Taiwan's capital, introduced a new patrol partner" for the management and repair of pedestrian areas in a post on Facebook on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Government-picked judges consider verdict in high-profile case against pro-democracy media mogulFinal arguments have concluded in the national security trial of the pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong.Government-picked judges are retiring to consider their verdict in the case, seen internationally as a crucial test of the rule of law in the city. Continue reading...

Greens' David Shoebridge calls amendment one of the nastiest, meanest attacks' on multicultural Australia

Lehrmann's solicitor Zali Burrows claims alleged victim was sent messages by lead solicitor in Network 10's defence against an unrelated defamation case

Police to have power to issue on-the-spot' DV orders despite experts and advocacy groups warning victims could be misidentified as perpetrators

Police say heavily armed suspect has not been seen as they continue to scour bushland around rural property where two police officers were killed

Police officers allegedly shot dead on Tuesday identified as detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson and senior constable Vadim de Waart. Follow today's news live

Blowing the whistle can be a tough gig,' Adelaide judge says, while Rex Patrick declares Boyle a hero' for speaking out in 2018

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Queensland MP says he punches blokes in the mouth' for comments on his heritage as he backs anti-immigration March for Australia protests at Brisbane press conference

Former adviser to aged care royal commission says delays in expanded services will raise risk of falls, medication errors and malnutrition

Record ocean heat likely to increase storm severity while increased cloud cover expected to keep night-time temperatures above average over almost entire country

Australian cricketer says the normalisation of gambling in sport for young people is scary and dangerous' as government continues to sit on reforms

Victoria police say alleged shooter remains on the run and armed after two officers killed and a third injured

The Progressive Conservative party of Ontario reportedly paid C$278,910.71 on the viral hats during the province's election campaignDealing with the unprecedented threats from Donald Trump's threats to Canada's economy and sovereignty have required unconventional strategies from federal and provincial leaders, including barring liquor sales and cancelling contracts with Tesla.But among the more unorthodox strategies to hit back against the US is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on novelty hats. Continue reading...

Draft ordinance in Toyoake has triggered a backlash from locals, with some calling it an attack on individual freedomA town in Japan is to urge all residents to restrict their smartphone use to two hours a day in an attempt to tackle online addiction and sleep deprivation.Officials in Toyoake, Aichi prefecture, said the measure would target not only children but also adults, amid growing concern about the physical and psychological toll excessive smartphone use is taking on people of all ages. Continue reading...

Talk of the chancellor looking at a new levy on expensive homes or removing CGT exemption is making buyers warySpeculation that the chancellor could announce new property taxes in her autumn budget is likely to slow down an already price-sensitive housing market, estate agents have said.Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering a tax on the sale of homes over 500,000 and the removal of the capital gains tax exemption on primary residences above 1.5m as ways to boost income for the government. Continue reading...

Former prime minister in Washington DC on Wednesday for talks that reportedly also included Jared KushnerThe former British prime minister Tony Blair has attended a White House meeting with Donald Trump to discuss plans for postwar Gaza, the Guardian understands.After stepping down as prime minister in 2007, Blair took on the role of Middle East envoy until 2015 and spent time in Jerusalem trying to formulate a plan for a two-state solution. Continue reading...

Former health secretary wants to see an overhaul of special educational needs and disabilities system in EnglandChildren and young people are being overdiagnosed with mental health conditions in a society that has lost sight of the reality that child development is messy and uneven", the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.He is the latest senior figure to add his voice to calls for a radical overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system in England. Continue reading...

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Lawsuit has most direct allegations of wrongdoing leveled against Aymond, who denies them, in court filing to dateA lawsuit newly filed against the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans and its top two officials alleges the city's archbishop, Gregory Aymond, personally covered up child sexual abuse by priests and deacons - and asks a judge to reject a guarantee on his future retirement benefits as punishment.The archdiocese responded by saying the allegations brought by the plaintiff, Argent Institutional Trust Co, are baseless. Continue reading...

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu denies sexually assaulting two teenagers and a woman in Epping last monthAn Ethiopian man who became the focus of far-right demonstrations outside a hotel in Epping after being accused of sexually assaulting two teenagers has told a court he did not touch the girls.I'm not a wild animal. I can't do these kind of things," Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an asylum seeker housed at the Bell hotel in Epping, told his trial at Colchester magistrates court on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Agency authorizes shots for those 65 and older, with young people eligible if they have underlying medical conditionsThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated Covid-19 vaccines but has placed new restrictions on who can get them.The agency has authorized Covid vaccines for people 65 and older, who are known to be more at risk from serious illnesses from Covid infections. Continue reading...