Crossbencher asks Lords to imagine bots with higher productivity and lower running costs' as example of risk to UK jobs marketThe House of Lords could be replaced by bots with deeper knowledge, higher productivity and lower running costs", said a peer during a debate on the development of advanced artificial intelligence.Addressing the upper chamber, Richard Denison hypothesised that AI services may soon be able to deliver his speeches in his own style and voice, with no hesitation, repetition or deviation". Continue reading...
Legislation outlaws medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person' and altering gender details in public recordsVladimir Putin has signed legislation that bans people from officially or medically changing their gender, representing a further blow to Russia's embattled LGBTQ+ community.The act, passed unanimously by both houses of parliament, bans any medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person", as well as banning changing a person's gender in official documents or public records. The only exception will be medical intervention to treat congenital anomalies. Continue reading...
South Korean armed forces condemned the two launches as a grave provocation'North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast, adding to a recent streak of weapons testing that is apparently in protest against the US sending naval assets to South Korea.In its third round of launches since last week, North Korea fired the missiles from an area near its capital, Pyongyang, South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said early on Tuesday local time. It said both missiles travelled about 250 miles (400km) before landing in waters off the Korean peninsula's eastern coast. Continue reading...
Uxbridge and South Ruislip byelection win has led to some Tories arguing green measures that drive up costs for people should be delayed or abandonedQ: Why should anyone believe you will build 300,000 homes a year when the government has not been doing that?Gove said he was someone who, when he made a promise, delivered on it. Continue reading...
Israel faces a constitutional crisis after parliament passed a key part of the government's changesIsrael's far-right and ultra-religious government has finally succeeded in passing an element of its wide-ranging changes to the judiciary.Legal action, a general strike and possible refusal from upwards of 10,000 military reservists to report for duty are now on the cards as Israel's largest ever domestic crisis enters a new chapter. Continue reading...
David Harmes, 27, remanded at Chester crown court after pleading guilty to offences against children as young as sixA man who posed online as a scout for child models has admitted 88 sex offences against victims as young as six.David Harmes, 27, had only just been released from prison for grooming children online when he began offending again. His latest offences involved 39 victims in the UK and six in the US between July 2019 and February 2020. Continue reading...
Choudary is charged with three offences, including membership of proscribed organisationThe Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has appeared in court charged with three terror offences relating to the banned organisation al-Muhajiroun, which he is accused of leading.The 56-year-old, from Ilford in east London, is accused of directing a terrorist organisation, being a member of a proscribed organisation and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation. Continue reading...
Mimi Mi Wahng Yuen, daughter of wanted pro-democracy activist Elmer Yuen, taken for questioning, according to local mediaHong Kong national security police have reportedly detained the daughter, son, and daughter-in-law of a wanted activist, in the latest move targeting the families of pro-democracy figures in exile.Mimi Mi Wahng Yuen, the daughter of Elmer Yuen, her brother Derek, and his wife, the legislator Eunice Yung, were taken for questioning on Monday morning, according to local media. Sing Tao Daily reported Mimi had only arrived from Los Angeles on Monday morning. Continue reading...
PM recovering from pacemaker operation amid street protests over judicial overhaul plan and Biden call to scrap voteIsrael's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has arrived at parliament for a key vote related to his government's bitterly contested judicial overhaul, only hours after being discharged from hospital after an emergency heart procedure.Thousands of demonstrators who marched from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last week remained camped out outside the Knesset on Monday before two votes on the plenum floor, in which the reasonableness" clause allowing the supreme court to overrule government decisions is expected to be abolished. Continue reading...
Hiker dies as US national park exceeds 50C, while heatwave in southern Europe is expected to easeThe US, like Europe, has been experiencing extreme heat over the past week and temperatures are expected to remain well above normal in places over the coming days.Death Valley in California, the location of the disputed global record for maximum temperature, exceeded 50C (122F) on several days, which resulted in the death of at least one hiker. Continue reading...
State media says illegally placed construction material on the gymnasium's roof was behind collapseEleven people were killed after the concrete roof of a school gymnasium collapsed in China's Qiqihar city - many of them believed to be young female volleyball players - with authorities saying the illegal stacking of materials on the roof may have caused the cave in.The collapse at the No. 34 Middle School in Longsha District in Qiqihar, located in the north-east Heilongjiang province, was reported in the early afternoon on Sunday, but the last remaining person wasn't pulled out of the rubble until Monday morning. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The country's conservative parties were meant to romp to victory in snap elections, but with 100% of the vote counted, neither the left or right blocs have secured a majority Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.A few days ago it seemed a foregone conclusion that a coalition of rightwing parties were going to win Spain's snap elections. A huge majority was not a guarantee, but most of the polls were in their favour. Election night, however, told a different story.Health | Most NHS staff think they have too little time to help patients and the quality of care the service provides is falling, a survey reveals. Medical and nursing groups said the very worrying" findings showed that hard-pressed staff cannot give patients as much attention as they would like because they are so busy.Environment | Firefighters in Greece were struggling to contain 82 wildfires burning across the country, 64 of which started on Sunday, the hottest day of the summer so far. As well as huge blazes on the island of Rhodes, which forced 19,000 to flee, wildfires also broke out on the islands of Evia and Corfu. Travel firms and airlines are now being urged to reimburse passengers who decide against flying to Rhodes.Politics | Rishi Sunak is being urged by senior Conservatives to go for a spring election next year, with the plan said to be gaining traction" among campaign strategists who believe it may be their best chance to stem losses.Nigel Farage | Britain's biggest banks will be summoned to a meeting with the City minister, as he raised significant concern" over the recent closure of Nigel Farage's bank account with Coutts. Andrew Griffith will send a letter to the bosses of 19 banks including Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest to warn the government is prepared to take the action necessary" to protect freedom of speech.Cinema | Vue cinema chain has reported its biggest weekend for UK cinema ticket sales since before the pandemic, thanks to the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer at the box office. The chain said a fifth of its customers had bought tickets to see both films in a double bill. Continue reading...
Ambulance service allegedly kept information about patients that died hidden from coronerAn ambulance trust accused of hiding information from a coroner about patients that died is keeping a damning internal report about the deaths secret, the Guardian can reveal. A consultant paramedic implicated in the alleged cover-ups continues to be involved in decisions to keep the report from the public.Earlier this month, North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) apologised to relatives after a review into claims it covered up errors by paramedics and withheld evidence from the local coroner about the deceased patients. But a bereaved family left in the dark about mistakes made before their daughter's death have rejected the apology.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org. Continue reading...
Barbie made $377m while Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer took home $174m, making Barbenheimer' biggest box office weekend of 2023 so farGreta Gerwig has made history as Barbie scored a US$377m (293m, A$560m) opening weekend around the world, making it the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman.At the North American box office - combining the US and Canada - Barbie claimed top spot with a massive $155m in ticket sales from 4,243 locations, surpassing The Super Mario Bros Movie and every Marvel film released this year to become the biggest opening of the year. Continue reading...
Comments by CDU leader Friedrich Merz could see erosion of political firewall' separating conservatives and far rightThe leader of Germany's centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has said his party is willing to cooperate with the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) at a local political level, triggering cries of protest from his own party and raising concerns about the firewall between German conservatives and the far right.In an interview with state broadcaster ZDF on Sunday, CDU leader Friedrich Merz categorically ruled out joining a coalition with the AfD at a national level but said such a taboo should not apply to local politics. Continue reading...
Conservative People's party and prime minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialists both declare victory, with weeks of negotiations likely aheadSpain's opposition conservative party secured the most number of seats in national elections but looked unlikely to secure a coalition rightwing majority after a vote that had raised fears of the far right entering government for the first time since the country returned to democracy after General Franco's death five decades ago.Although the polls had consistently predicted that the opposition conservative People's party (PP) would cruise past the Spanish Socialist Workers party (PSOE) to secure an emphatic win in Sunday's election, early results quickly established that the race was going to be much tighter. Continue reading...
by Seán Clarke, Antonio Voce and Pablo Gutiérrez on (#6D77X)
Voters in Spain today went to the polls for a snap general election, called by the Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez. His main rivals, the People's party, may only be able to form a government in coalition with the far-right Vox. Follow the results as the count progresses hereLatest news and reaction - live blog Continue reading...
Pedro Sanchez said Sunday's election was a binary choice between left and right and could affect balances within Europe'The last time Spain went to the polls - in November 2019 - the cover of the satirical magazine El Jueves showed a manic and sweating Pedro Sanchez hunched over a fruit machine, desperately hoping that his gamble of calling the second general election of the year would pay off. It did.Four years later, however, the stakes were even higher for Spain's socialist prime minister, for his country - and for Europe. Sanchez, a politician known for his willingness to take chances, surprised everyone at the end of May when he reacted to his party's poor showing in regional and local elections by calling a snap general election. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England correspondent on (#6D6YJ)
Travel companies cancel holidays to Greek island as holidaymakers describe scenes of chaos on beachesBritish tourists said they had been left in a living nightmare" after wildfires caused the emergency evacuation of 19,000 people on the Greek island of Rhodes.More than 3,000 people were rescued from beaches and another 16,000 taken to safety on land as flames intensified in the south-eastern region of the island on Saturday. Continue reading...
Consumer group says it is aware of rules that could mean its employees in Russia are sent to war in UkraineThe consumer group Unilever, which owns brands including Cornetto ice-cream and Dove soap, has said it will comply with Russian conscription law, meaning its Russian employees could be sent to war in Ukraine if called up.The Anglo-Dutch group, whose products also include Marmite spread and Magnum ice-creams, is facing controversy over its decision to remain operating in Russia, where it employs about 3,000 workers across four manufacturing sites, producing mainly personal care and hygiene products, but also ice-cream. Continue reading...
by Aubrey Allegretti Senior political correspondent on (#6D764)
Andrew Griffith raises significant concern' after Coutts judged ex-Ukip leader did not align' with its valuesBritain's biggest banks will be summoned to a meeting with the City minister after he raised significant concern" over the recent closure of Nigel Farage's bank account with Coutts.Andrew Griffith will send a letter on Monday to the bosses of 19 banks including Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest to warn the government is prepared to take the action necessary" to protect freedom of speech. Continue reading...
BMA committee chair says he fears pay erosion is creating risk of a two-tier health service similar to dentistryA doctors' leader has warned that consultants will not back down in their pay dispute and warned of further strikes next month unless the government offers meaningful talks" on a settlement.Vishal Sharma, chair of the British Medical Association's consultants committee, said the NHS was at a tipping point", with many senior doctors considering quitting over healthcare failures and the erosion of their pay. He said there was a risk of a two-tier service emerging similar to the one in NHS dentistry, with patients going private to avoid long waits. Continue reading...
A key pipeline to the southern Ukrainian port city was hit by a missile early in the invasion, but for now people are managing to keep vital services running
William Majcher accused of obtaining intelligence or services to benefit People's Republic of China'A retired police officer in Canada has been arrested and is facing rare charges under the country's national security laws, police said on Friday.William Majcher, 60, allegedly used his knowledge and his extensive network of contacts in Canada to obtain intelligence or services to benefit the People's Republic of China," the Royal Canadian Mounted police said in a news release. Continue reading...
Johnny Mercer had mocked 25-year-old Keir Mather's lack of real-world experience after he won the Selby and Ainsty byelectionSir Keir Starmer has called the government minister Johnny Mercer a silly sod" who will soon be history" in politics after he compared Labour's new 25-year-old MP to a character from the teen sitcom The Inbetweeners.The minister for veterans' affairs said Keir Mather had been dropped into" the Selby and Ainsty constituency and was an identikit Labour politician". Earlier he had said: [Parliament] mustn't become a repeat of The Inbetweeners." Continue reading...
All the leaders concluded that things had panned out just as they had hoped, if not betterAnd the winner is ... Absolutely everyone. It was the morning after the night before and - slowly, slowly - the leaders of all political parties began to emerge from their bunkers to face the media. And what a tale they had to tell. They had had time to reflect on the results of the three byelections and - amazingly - had all concluded that things had panned out just as they had hoped. Better even. Everyone was on course to win the next general election in 2024 and everyone else was facing an electoral wipeout.Rishi Sunak was first to show his face in a cafe. This is an historic day for the Conservatives," he said. And also for me. By holding - where am I? This part of London all looks the same to me - Oh, yes, Uxbridge and South Ruislip, I have avoided becoming the first prime minister since Harold Wilson to lose three byelections on the same night. So by only losing two safe seats, I have shown I am on course to win a general election. Continue reading...
Police officer and helicopter pilot struck on the way to help victims of earlier blast in Fribourg canton of SwitzerlandLightning never strikes twice, until it does: a police officer and helicopter pilot rushing to help two people injured in a lightning strike on Friday were themselves also hit, Swiss authorities said.A 51-year-old man and 16-year-old boy were struck by lightning around 8.30am while working in a field in Menieres, in the western canton of Fribourg, regional police said in a statement. Continue reading...
Luca Guadagnino-directed love triangle romance will no longer premiere this year and will instead move to 2024Luca Guadagnino's hotly anticipated tennis drama Challengers will no longer open this year's Venice film festival as a result of the Hollywood actors' strike.The MGM/Amazon film, starring Zendaya and Josh O'Connor, had been set for a splashy August debut on the Lido but has now been pulled. The release date has also changed, from September to April next year. Continue reading...
by Hannah Ellis-Petersen South Asia correspondent on (#6D5W4)
As violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities continues in north-east India, campaigners criticise the authorities' reaction and both sides warn of civil warManipur is a state in north-east India with a population of more than three million. It has been embroiled in an ethnic conflict since early May, fought between the majority Meitei community and the minority Kuki tribe. Continue reading...
Report says detention of Ernest Moret was wrong after he was held for almost 24 hours by counter-terrorist policeThe arrest in London of a radical French publisher under counter-terrorist powers has been referred to the police watchdog after the reviewer of terrorism legislation found that it was wrong.Ernest Moret, 28, was held for almost 24 hours by counter-terrorist police and asked about his opinion of Emmanuel Macron and participation in anti-Macron protests after he arrived at St Pancras station in April for a book fair. Continue reading...
Handwash and bubble bath sales also fall in first six months 2023, with cost of living blamedShoppers in Britain are shunning soap and similar items, as leading supermarkets report a drop in the sales of personal hygiene products amid the cost of living crisis.Figures from Britain's leading supermarket chains show demand for soap has fallen by 48% in the first six months of 2023 compared with the same period last year. Sales of handwash are down by 23%. Bubble bath sales decreased by 35% and shower gel by 1%. Only hand sanitiser has bucked the trend, with sales up by 29%. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian