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Experts believe numbers partly reflect effects of lockdowns and trickling down of Jair Bolsonaro's ultra-conservative viewsBrazil saw a disturbing increase in sexual violence against women and children in 2022, according to new figures which paint a worrying picture of a country that is failing to protect its young and female population, particularly in their own homes.The data, published on Thursday by the Brazilian Public Security Forum showed that reported rapes increased 8.2% to an all-time high of 74,930 last year, while rape cases among minors grew 15.3%. Women make up 88.7% of rape victims, and a staggering 61.4% are children aged 13 or younger. Continue reading...

Federal agriculture minister says additional effort' needed after new infestation found on the Gold Coast

Agricultural produce destroyed in latest Russian strike on Odesa; US-supplied cluster bombs now confirmed to be in use by UkraineRussia struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa for the fourth consecutive night after pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal. Odesa's regional governor Oleh Kiper said that 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley were destroyed in a strike on an agriculture facility which injured two people, and saw damage to emergency equipment after it was struck twice in a double-tap" attack. Ukrainian military spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk saying The enemy is continuing terror, and it's undoubtedly related to the grain deal."US-supplied cluster bombs, which are banned by more than 120 countries, have been deployed in Ukraine against Russian forces, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has said. We have gotten some initial feedback from the Ukrainians, and they're using them quite effectively," Kirby told reporters.Russia's navy carried out a live fire exercise" in the north-west Black Sea, Moscow's defence ministry has said, days after the Kremlin said it would consider ships travelling to Ukraine through the waterway to be potential military targets. The Black Sea Fleet carried out live firing of anti-ship cruise missiles at the target ship in the combat training range in the north-western part of the Black Sea", Russia's defence ministry said in a statement on Telegram according to AFP. The target ship was destroyed as a result of a missile strike," it said.Ukraine had warned that it could target all shipping out of Russian and Russian-occupied ports and signalled its readiness to fight on the Black Sea, after Moscow's declaration of a naval blockade and bombardment of Ukrainian ports. The tit-for-tat moves come after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea deal.Poland has decided to move military formations from the west to the east of the country due to the potential threat posed by the Wagner group's presence in neighbouring Belarus. Training or joint exercises between the Belarusian army and the Wagner group is undoubtedly a provocation", PAP quoted Zbigniew Hoffmann as saying.President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed Vadym Prystaiko as Ukraine's ambassador to Britain. Prystaiko was recently critical of Zelenskiy on television in the UK over comments the president had made after UK defence secretary had called for a show of more gratitude from Ukraine.CIA head William Burns has suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is biding his time over deciding what to ultimately do with Yevgeney Prigozhin. In comments at the Aspen security forum Burns said What we are seeing is a very complicated dance. Putin is someone who generally thinks that revenge is a dish best served cold. In my experience, Putin is the ultimate apostle of payback so I would be surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution". He added If I were Prigozhin, I wouldn't fire my food taster."The UN's atomic watchdog says it has been unable to inspect the roofs of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which is occupied by Russian forces. Ukraine accuses Russia of turning the plant into a shield for its artillery guns and dynamiting the reactor roof, turning the site into an atomic bargaining chip.The US imposed Russia-related sanctions against nearly 120 individuals and entities aimed at blocking Moscow's access to electronics and other goods that aid its war against Ukraine. The new measures are designed to reduce Russia's revenue from the metals and mining sector, undermine its future energy capabilities and degrade Russia's access to the international financial system," the treasury department said in a statement.Russia said Thursday it was imposing restrictions on British diplomats, requiring them to give five days' notice of any plans to travel beyond a 120km radius, due to what it called London's hostile actions".Ukraine's deputy economy minister held talks with China's vice-commerce minister in Beijing in the first high-level visit by a Ukraine government official to the country since 2019. Continue reading...

Keir Mather, 25, is Selby's next MP, as Labour narrowly fails to take Boris Johnson's old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Lib Dems romp to victory in Somerton and Frome

State government cited cost blowout for Games from an initial $2.6bn estimation to $6bn-$7bn. This blog is now closed

Pollsters say dramatic swings spell bad news for Rishi Sunak, yet PM's allies say there are still reasons to hope

Quantity of goods bought rose by 0.7%, with supermarkets benefiting from hottest June on recordThe hottest June on record gave an unexpected boost to retail sales last month, with households in Great Britain buying more food and furniture despite continued pressure on budgets.Officials figures showed that the quantity of goods bought rose 0.7% month on month, much higher than average analyst forecasts of a 0.2% bump in sales volumes, with most retailers reporting purchases were up, aside from petrol and diesel sellers. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: a pair of major defeats for the Conservatives, but the PM will be relieved to have at least retained Boris Johnson's old seat Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning and welcome to a special First Edition, brought to you this morning - thanks to a great deal of coffee - with the very latest from a dramatic night in British politics. This was a night, of course, that saw three byelections that put Rishi Sunak's government to an important test, with a general election looming within the next 18 months.And the headline result might suggest that everyone is happy this morning - with each of the three major parties, remarkably, capturing one of the seats on offer.Politics | Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng received about 400 in severance pay for every day they were in office, according to government accounts. The former prime minister and former chancellor each received more than 16,000 on leaving their jobs after just a few weeks, while Tom Scholar, the department's most senior civil servant, received 457,000 after being sacked by Truss.Finance | The head of NatWest has apologised to Nigel Farage for what she called deeply inappropriate comments" about the former Ukip leader in an internal report that led to the closure of his accounts at the group's exclusive private bank, Coutts.UK news | A man who was jailed for stalking Jeremy Vine has apologised in court after being sued by the broadcaster for defamation and harassment.Environment | Hailstorms have hit northern Italy as near-record temperatures begin to ebb, but forecasters have warned of a fourth heatwave hitting southern Europe next week, with temperatures of up to 48C.Monarchy | King Charles III is to receive a huge pay rise from the UK taxpayer. Figures published by the Treasury on Thursday show the royal family's grant is due to increase from 86m to 125m by 2025. It comes against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis. The monarchy's annual budget, known as the sovereign grant, is pegged against the profits from a national property portfolio called the crown estate. Continue reading...

Police recovered the body of Klingender, who was employed by Sotheby's for two decades, off Watson's Bay in Sydney on Thursday

Opposition leader Raila Odinga rallies his supporters to the streets where there have been clashes with armed police in Nairobi and western city of KisumuTeargas and live ammunition were used against demonstrators as pockets of violence broke out in Kenya during a second day of protests against tax increases and rising living costs.Despite relative calm in Nairobi on Thursday morning, there were clashes in the informal settlements of Kibera and Mathare in the capital, and in the western city of Kisumu. Protesters threw stones at police, who had mounted a heavy presence in Nairobi after the deaths of at least six demonstrators and more than 300 arrests around the country on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Some in Extremadura region see local outcome as latest example of People's party putting pragmatism over principlesTowards the end of last month, Maria Guardiola, who leads the conservative People's party (PP) in the Extremadura region of south-west Spain, gave a speech in which she tore into the far-right Vox party for its denial of gender-based violence, its demonisation of migrants and its attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.Guardiola was far from alone in her aversion to Vox's views and tactics. The party's most recent stunt in the run-up to Spain's general election this Sunday - which could put the far right in government for the first time since the return to democracy after the Franco dictatorship - had been the unveiling in Madrid of a massive banner showing a giant hand tossing symbols representing feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, Catalan independence, environmental programmes and communism into a bin. Continue reading...

Certainly motherhood has not blunted her competitive instincts' David Basheer said during Matildas' Women's World Cup match against Ireland

Inspectorate calls for urgent improvements, particularly in treatment of prisoners with mental health problemsScotland's prisons are repeatedly breaching the human rights of inmates put in solitary confinement, particularly those with severe mental health problems, the prisons inspectorate has said.Prisons are routinely failing to provide segregated inmates with at least two hours of human contact a day, are using segregation to contain" inmates with severe mental health issues who need specialist care, and are failing to properly reintegrate troubled prisoners, it found.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. 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...

Isuzu MU-X had been taken from a mother and her three children in carjacking in Gympie on Thursday, police say

Discount chain, owned by Woolworths, says decision is due to feedback from staff and customers

Family of the Indigenous teenager have always questioned the official account of the 17-year-old's death

The 54-year-old Australian quit his corporate job to pursue a solo sailing dream but a sudden storm left him battling to survive

Bragg, who is campaigning for a yes vote, calls for months more work to find a model for the voice that would win bipartisan support

Controversial munitions have been deployed against Russian forces on the battlefield after the US made the decision to supply themUS-supplied cluster munitions have been deployed in Ukraine and are having an impact on the counteroffensive against Russian forces, a senior White House official has said.We have gotten some initial feedback from the Ukrainians, and they're using them quite effectively," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday. Continue reading...

Court action seeks to remove an independent children's lawyer who has opposed 13-year-old's ongoing medical care

Rightmove says average advertised rent in Great Britain is at all-time high of 1,231 a month outside the capitalPrivate rents in Great Britain have soared to fresh all-time highs and the average amount being asked for outside London is now a third higher than four years ago, figures from Rightmove show.Despite rental growth running well ahead of inflation, the property website said homes were continuing to be let quickly, with many landlords still being met with long queues of prospective tenants wanting to view and rent their property". Continue reading...

M&S says short-sighted act of self-sabotage' leaves no choice but to review position on UK's premier shopping streetMarks & Spencer has been refused permission to demolish and rebuild its main store on Oxford Street in the West End of London in a win for campaigners concerned about the carbon footprint of redevelopment.The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed that Michael Gove, the secretary of state, disagreed with the recommendation from inspectors to approve the plans and had decided to refuse permission". Continue reading...

Move by city council follows action to limit public cannabis use and to discourage wild partying by young BritonsAmsterdam's city council has decided to close a cruise ship terminal in its centre, in the latest attempt to limit mass tourism in the Dutch capital.Polluting cruise ships are not in line with the sustainable ambitions of our city," said a statement from the centre-right party D66, which runs the city with the social democrats PvdA and GroenLinks environmentalists. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed. To read our latest news on Ukraine, click here.

This August's festival will mark 75 years since HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury DocksThe organiser of Notting Hill carnival has said the mistreatment of the Windrush generation is a dark stain on our history", as the world famous festival prepares to honour people who moved from the Caribbean to the UK in the aftermath of the second world war.The three-day carnival in west London at the end of August will mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks. Members of the Windrush generation helped found the Caribbean carnival in the late 1950s, the forerunner of today's festival. Continue reading...

Under Treasury proposals, lenders will have to explain why they shut accounts and give 90 days' notice

Exclusive: NHS Confederation boss says some trusts are losing 500,000 for every day that strikes over pay continue in EnglandThe cost of the NHS strike action is eye-watering" and could run into billions of pounds, a health boss has said as he urged ministers to resolve the row over pay.Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents the healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said some NHS trusts were losing 500,000 for every day of industrial action. Continue reading...

Travis King had finished prison term in South Korea for assault and was supposed to be returning to TexasNorth Korea is not responding to US attempts to discuss the American soldier who crossed the heavily armed border and whose prospects for a quick release are unclear when military tensions are high and communication channels inactive.Pte Travis King, who was supposed to be heading to Fort Bliss, Texas, after finishing a prison sentence in South Korea for assault, ran into North Korea while on a civilian tour of the border village of Panmunjom on Tuesday. He is the first known American to be held in North Korea in nearly five years. Continue reading...

Details published by Treasury show royal family's grant is expected to increase from 86m to 125m in 2025King Charles III is to receive a huge pay rise from the UK taxpayer, according to government plans to boost public funding of the monarchy by 45% from 2025.Details of the increase, which comes against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, were contained in a review of royal funding published by the Treasury on Thursday. It revealed the royal family's grant is due to increase from 86m to 125m. Continue reading...

Judge agrees with prosecutors to look into two possible cases as the singer faces trial over alleged failure to pay over 14mPop star Shakira is facing more trouble from Spain's tax office after a court near Barcelona said on Thursday that it had agreed to open an investigation into a second case of alleged tax fraud by the Colombian singer.Shakira is already set to face trial at a date to be determined for allegedly failing to pay 14.5m ($13.9m) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. The entertainer has denied any wrongdoing. Continue reading...

Man in his 30s, believed to be known to woman in her 60s, arrested on suspicion of murderA murder investigation has been launched after a female patient in her 60s died at Cornwall's main hospital.Devon and Cornwall police were called on Wednesday afternoon to the Royal Cornwall hospital in Truro, where the patient came to harm. A man in his 30s believed to have been known to the woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Continue reading...

Michael Gove decided to refuse permission,' in a win for campaigners concerned about the carbon footprint of redevelopmentOn that subject, the maker of Mr Kipling cakes, Oxo cubes and Bisto gravy granules has said it believes recent food cost inflation has peaked, and it is not planning any more price rises for its food products for the rest of the year.The news came as owner Premier Foods reported a 21% increase in sales in the first quarter of the financial year, compared with a year earlier.Evidence to date indicates high food price inflation has not been driven by weak retail competition, but competitive pressure is important as input prices fallNext phase of CMA probe will examine competition and prices across the supply chain for the product categories identifiedRules on unit pricing should be tightened and retailers must comply to help shoppers compare prices easilyNot everyone is able to benefit fully from strong competition, particularly those who cannot travel to large stores or shop online, and therefore may rely on higher-priced convenience stores.Now that some input costs are starting to fall, there are some signs that grocery retailers are planning to start rebuilding their profit margins. The CMA will monitor this carefully in the months ahead, to ensure that people benefit from competitive prices as input costs fall. Continue reading...

Voters are picking new MPs in the constituencies of Somerton and Frome, Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and Selby and AinstyThe education secretary, Gillian Keegan, has confirmed that the controversial guidance to schools on trans pupils will now be delayed.Rishi Sunak had promised the guidance would be published before the end of the school year but it has been beset by ministerial in-fighting and legal wrangles.It is vital that the guidance we publish gives clarity for schools and colleges and reassurance for parents. So, we have made the decision to allow more time - to speak to teachers, parents, lawyers and other stakeholders - in order to ensure this guidance meets the high expectations that these groups rightly have for it.We have been clear from the start that this legislation threatens to undermine the rule of law and access to justice.Whilst the act will soon come into force on paper, it will be unworkable in practice because it doesn't provide solutions to the asylum backlog, and there isn't capacity in the legal aid sector to provide the immigration advice needed. Continue reading...

Alex Belfield called into question Vine's honesty and tried to publish family and friends' phone numbers, court hearsA man who was jailed for stalking Jeremy Vine has apologised in court after being sued over the campaign of harassment and abuse he waged against the broadcaster.Vine sued Alex Belfield for defamation and harassment less than a year after Belfield's conviction for stalking him and others. The high court heard that Belfield had made several untrue allegations against Vine that called into question his honesty, as well as trying to publish his family and friends' phone numbers online and encouraging people to call him while he was working. Continue reading...

The comedian, who died in 2018, will be remembered in a new exhibition that brings together props, costumes and an interactive giggle map'Tickling sticks, a Dicky Mint puppet and a Yorick skull complete with protruding teeth will go on display in September as the Museum of Liverpool pays tribute to the city's beloved comedian Sir Ken Dodd.Dodd, who died aged 90 in 2018, is to be remembered in the exhibition Happiness! which is named after his signature song and will explore the two sides of the much-loved Doddy" said curator Karen O'Rourke. As well as the larger than life, quick-witted performer we know best" it will reveal the deep-thinker and private man off stage, who diligently filled more than 1,000 notebooks with his jokes, observations and philosophy of comedy". Continue reading...

Eugene Shvidler claims oppressive treatment' as he launches case that could set a precedent for oligarchsEugene Shvidler, a long-time ally of the billionaire Roman Abramovich, has accused the UK government of oppressive treatment" as he launched a legal challenge against sanctions imposed upon him after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.In a high court case that experts say could lead to a precedent for oligarchs seeking to free themselves of sanctions, lawyers for Shvidler, who is reportedly worth 1.3bn, are seeking to have his designation for sanctions declared unlawful and quashed, as well as pursuing restitution of his costs. Continue reading...

People urged to stay inside as officials track down dangerous animal' in south-west of capitalResidents on the south-western outskirts of Berlin are being urged to stay indoors after overnight sightings of a loose, dangerous animal", suspected to be an escaped lioness.Brandenburg police advised people living in the districts of Kleinmachnow, Stahnsdorf and Teltow on the borders of the German capital to refrain from walking in the woods and to keep pets or farm animals indoors on Thursday. Nurseries were allowed to open but were urged to avoid letting children play outdoors. Continue reading...

Costume consisting of a silver jumpsuit and a lifelike depiction of a giant pita bread stuffed with meat prompts numerous questionsAt some point over the last decade, the Canadian province of Alberta acquired a costume consisting of a silver jumpsuit and a lifelike depiction of a giant pita bread stuffed with meat.Now, the provincial government has decided to part with the outfit in an online auction that has renewed a longstanding feud over the proper recipe for the beloved late-night snack. Continue reading...

Minutes show two Conservatives and two Labour members of Commons defence select committee tabled no-confidence motionConservative MPs have launched an attempt to oust their colleague Tobias Ellwood as chair of the Commons defence select committee after he posted a video praising the Taliban for improving safety in Afghanistan.Ellwood had sought to draw a line under the row, saying he was sorry for my poor communication" after his actions outraged those in his own party and military veterans. Continue reading...

New Zealand police say shooter had history of family violence, adding there is no reason World Cup opening match shouldn't go aheadTwo people have been killed and six injured after a shooting in Auckland city centre on Thursday morning, hours before the Women's World Cup kicked off there.New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins said the gunman was also dead and that there was no national security risk or rise in the national threat level. Visiting the scene on Thursday afternoon, he confirmed that that the World Cup would proceed as planned and that people should feel safe to attend the matches. Continue reading...

Ex-Ukip leader welcomes prospect of law to stop bank account closures due to customers' political views

Airport only one to be rated as poor' and needs improvement' over all four quarters in year to MarchHeathrow failed to meet the minimum accessibility standards for disabled passengers in the year to March, the sector's regulator has said.The airport was the only one in the UK to be rated as poor" and needs improvement" by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over all four quarters in the period, according to the report. Continue reading...

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Opposition parties hope to overturn government majorities in three constituencies vacated by Tory MPs amid controversyPolls have opened in three parliamentary seats where byelections are being held, with Rishi Sunak braced for an electoral test of his premiership.The Conservative-held constituencies are being targeted by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who hope to overturn large majorities and send Tory MPs off into the summer recess nervous about their own political futures come the general election. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed. You can read our full story on the shooting in Auckland at the link below:

Anthony Albanese among political figures, unionists and family members to pay tribute to former leader

In evidence to the national security law watchdog, the legal team said the NSI Act had fundamental issues and needed reforming

Thursday stoppage is first of three over 10 days by RMT union and will hit start of peak summer getawayRail passengers around Great Britain are facing another day of disruption as train staff in the RMT union begin a 24-hour strike.The strike on Thursday is the first of three in 10 days by RMT members, with two further stoppages on 22 and 29 July, and is taking place during a week-long overtime ban by train drivers in the Aslef union. Continue reading...

Public spaces protection orders being used to crack down on napping in public and climbing trees in England and WalesA record number of on-the-spot fines were issued by councils for what have been dubbed busybody offences", with many cracking down on activities such as feeding birds, swearing and napping in public.The seemingly bizarre nature of some of the fines issued under Public Spaces Protection Order legislation has seen them increase to 13,433 in 2022, up from 10,412 in 2019. More than 150 councils issued at least one penalty in 2022, according to a report. Continue reading...

K8s installed on tube stations between 1968 and 1983 are listed for architectural and historic interestFour rare phone boxes on London Underground stations have been given Grade II-listed status by the government for their architectural and historic interest.The phone boxes are among 11,000 K8 kiosks that were installed across the UK between 1968 and 1983. Only about 50 remain, mostly in Hull where they were part of an independent phone network rather than the property of British Telecom. Continue reading...