Database of 8m handwritten census entries paints portrait of city that was hub for intellectuals, artists and young, single peopleIn 1926, James Joyce was working on his novel Finnegans Wake while living in a spacious apartment in the 7th arrondissement of Paris with his partner, Nora Barnacle, and their two adult children, Giorgio and Lucia.Joyce's neighbours in the elegant stone building at 2 Square de Robiac included a Syrian family whose three children had an English nanny called Jessie, Russian emigres, an Egyptian industrialist, and the US writers William and Elizabeth Placida Mahl. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent on (#6YWJH)
Mental health charity says it plans to move volunteers into larger regional hubs and pilot remote call handlingSamaritans has announced plans to close at least half of its 200 branches across the UK and Ireland, move volunteers into larger regional hubs and pilot remote call handling, in a shake-up that has left some volunteers dismayed.The mental health charity told volunteers in a video last week it hoped within the next seven to 10 years, our branch network will have reduced by at least half" and that it would move to fewer but bigger regions". Continue reading...
Speaking at Comic-Con on Thursday, Trey Parker and Matt Stone revealed they spent days negotiating with producers to show the US president's genitalsSouth Park co-creator Trey Parker had the briefest of responses on Thursday to anger from the White House over the latest season premiere, which showed a naked Donald Trump in bed with Satan.We're terribly sorry," Parker said, followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Continue reading...
Analysts say the Japanese are suffering a crisis of confidence that is feeding xenophobia amid economic insecurity and a record number of foreign residentsThe emergence of a rightwing populist party in Japan's upper house election on Sunday running on a Trump-style Japanese First" slogan has raised concerns of a backlash against the growing foreign presence in the country.The party, Sanseito, has successfully tapped into unease around an expanding immigrant population and a huge influx of tourists after the pandemic. But many see the underlying cause as economic insecurity among a population that both understands the need for overseas labour and visitors, and feels anxiety at the changes they bring and symbolise. Continue reading...
by Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent on (#6YWE7)
President's visit is landmark moment', says first minister, as SNP puts pressure on him to take strong stance on PalestineJohn Swinney has pledged to raise the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza" when he meets Donald Trump over the weekend.The leader of the Scottish National party described the president's four-day trip as a landmark moment" in the relationship between Scotland and the US. Continue reading...
Announcement suggested setback for diplomatic efforts as Gaza endures cataclysmic humanitarian conditionsThe US is withdrawing its negotiating team from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar after Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff pointed the finger at Hamas for a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire".While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith," Witkoff said on Thursday. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza." Continue reading...
Transit will transport concertgoers at a three-day concert series celebrating 60th anniversary of the band's formationThe summer of love is pulling back in to San Francisco - aboard three tie-dye and paisley-wrapped trains and buses.Designed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's formation, the city's Muni transit vehicles will double as transport for concertgoers attending a three-day Dead & Company series at Golden Gate Park. Continue reading...
At least 10 clerks received queries as DoJ ramps up requests to states about how they keep ineligible voters off the rollsSteve Schleiker, the Republican county clerk in El Paso county, Colorado, got home from work on 16 July when he got a text message from a number he didn't recognize with a pressing request.The person sending the message introduced himself to Schleiker as Jeff Small, a political consultant with the 76 Group who had formerly served as Representative Lauren Boebert's chief of staff. He said he was working with the White House and was looking for Republican clerks in Democratic states they could partner with on election integrity. Small wanted to speak soon, Schleiker said, because there was going to be a meeting the next morning between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#6YW8B)
With a huge profile and no one to appease, Your Party' starts on a better footing than new parties of the pastNew political parties have a patchy record in British politics. Take Change UK, which launched amid much fanfare in the spring of 2019 and had disbanded by the end of the same year. So can Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana fare any better? In part it depends on the question you ask.The new and as-yet unnamed leftwing party formally announced by Corbyn and his fellow ex-Labour MP on Thursday, has one major advantage at its disposal: the former Labour leader's very strong public profile. Continue reading...
Portraitist withdrew her National Portrait Gallery show over reports that a transgender Statue of Liberty painting could offend TrumpArtist Amy Sherald has decided to withdraw her upcoming show at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery over fears of censorship.Sherald, who gained wider recognition after her portrait of Michelle Obama, was set to become the first contemporary Black artist to have an exhibition at the gallery. Continue reading...
Jeff Stewart, who played PC Reg Hollis in police drama, sits on suspect's legs in Southampton as officers handcuff himThe actor who played PC Reg Hollis in the TV series The Bill has helped real-life police officers arrest a shoplifter who was trying to escape on a bicycle.Jeff Stewart, who played Hollis for 24 years in the long-running ITV drama, sat on the suspect's legs while officers handcuffed him after he had fallen off the bike in Southampton, Hampshire, on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Hungarian government says scheduled performance at Budapest music festival posed a national security threatThe Irish hip-hop band Kneecap have been banned from entering Hungary for three years ahead of their scheduled appearance at a music festival there.The group, who are outspoken supporters of Palestine, were due to perform at Sziget festival on 11 August. But the Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said it had been banned because its members repeatedly engage in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups". Continue reading...
by Kate Lamb, Rebecca Ratcliffe and agencies on (#6YV74)
Both countries accused the other of opening fire first after weeks of simmering tensions broke out into fighting at six locationsThailand and Cambodia fought in their most deadly border clashes in more than a decade on Thursday as Thai officials said 11 civilians and a Thai soldier were killed in rocket and artillery attacks.Clashes broke out on Thursday morning after weeks of simmering tensions over a long-running border dispute between the south-east-Asian neighbours. Both countries accused each other of opening fire first. Continue reading...
Daniel Gunter convicted for attack on Brendon Staddon, causing skull and neck injuries, while nurses worked nearbyA man has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son in a special care baby unit in Somerset by shattering his skull and breaking his neck while nurses worked less than 5 metres away.Experts said the injuries that Daniel Gunter, 27, caused to Brendon Staddon were like those they would expect to see in someone who had fallen from a high building, but the attack was so swift and silent that staff did not realise what was going on. Continue reading...
Wreckage of Angara Airlines flight found on mountainside not far from its destination of TyndaA Soviet-era passenger plane has crashed in Russia's far east as it prepared to land, killing all 48 people onboard.The flight, operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, and departing from the city of Blagoveshchensk, vanished from radar on Thursday and lost contact with air traffic controllers while approaching its destination of Tynda, a remote town in the Amur region bordering China. Continue reading...
by Tom Ambrose (now) and Kevin Rawlinson (earlier) on (#6YVQJ)
Former Labour leader said he was founding the new party, which is being referred to currently as Your PartyBusiness secretary Jonathan Reynolds blamed Donald Trump's tariffs and competition from China for the slump in vehicle manufacturing.He told BBC Breakfast he was very concerned" about the industry, which he described as the jewel in the crown" of British manufacturing.I'm very concerned about automotive, the pressures on the system which come from the US trade agenda, but also an incredible increase in capacity from China.It's why as a government we've adopted so many measures specifically around the automotive sector.The UK state pension is already one of the worst in the entire developed world, which is a direct result of decades of governments transferring both our national and personal wealth to the super rich.Any decision to squeeze more out of working people by forcing us to work even longer would be a national disgrace. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6YVZM)
Marianne Sorrell, a retired teacher from Somerset, says she is very traumatised' after arrest at Cardiff rallyAn 80-year-old woman arrested for holding a placard at a pro-Palestine rally has said she is deeply traumatised after she was held by police for almost 27 hours, during which officers forced their way into her house and searched it.Marianne Sorrell from Wells, Somerset was detained at a rally in Cardiff on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action, which earlier this month became the first direct action group to be banned under UK anti-terrorism laws. Continue reading...
Officers say triple murder and attempted suicide is one line of inquiry after deaths in County FermanaghPolice have named the mother and two children who were shot dead at their home in County Fermanagh.Vanessa Whyte, 45, a veterinary surgeon, and her son James Rutledge, 14, and daughter Sara Rutledge, 13, were killed on Wednesday at their detached house in Maguiresbridge, a village 8 miles from Enniskillen. Continue reading...
Peer Beeban Kidron says it is not nanny state' to stop firms investing billions on making their platforms addictive from targeting under-18sA leading online safety campaigner has urged the UK government to detoxify the dopamine loops" of addictive social media platforms as tech companies prepare to implement significant child protection measures.Beeban Kidron, a crossbench peer, asked the technology secretary, Peter Kyle, to use the Online Safety Act to bring forward new codes of conduct on disinformation and on tech features that can lead to children becoming addicted to online content. Continue reading...
Former political prisoners face lengthy travel restrictions to stop them speaking out, says human rights organisationSaudi Arabia is banning large numbers of its own citizens from leaving the country in a cruel" attempt to silence criticism, say human rights activists.High-profile women's rights campaigners, including Loujain al-Hathloul, who pushed for the right for women to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Maryam al-Otaibi, one of three sisters targeted by the authorities for their activism, appear to have been given long travel bans. These restrictions frequently extend to family members. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6YVRX)
Jonathan Reynolds says I understand the frustrations people have', as police brace for further unrestProtesters outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping are upset for legitimate reasons", a cabinet minister has said, as police brace for further unrest over the coming days.Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, said there was huge frustration that is shared by the government" about the asylum system and the pressures it created on housing. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: From mandatory age verification to criminal liability for non-compliant executives, the legislation marks a new era of digital accountability in keeping children safe onlineGood morning. From tomorrow social media companies must introduce child safety measures under the Online Safety Act. It is a key moment for a British government attempting, like so many others, to rein in tech firms and prevent children encountering harmful content on the internet.Passed by parliament in 2023, the landmark legislation significantly empowers the regulator Ofcom. Peter Kyle, the science and technology secretary, described the new codes as a watershed moment" that turned the tide on toxic experiences on these platforms".Israel-Gaza war | More than 100 aid agencies issued a dire warning that mass starvation" was spreading across Gaza and urged Israel to let humanitarian aid in.Environment | A clean, healthy and sustainable environment" is a human right, according to judges at the top court of the United Nations, in a landmark advisory opinion about countries' obligations to tackle climate change and the consequences they may face if they do not.US news | Microsoft says Chinese threat actors", including state-sponsored hackers, have exploited security vulnerabilities in its SharePoint document-sharing servers, with research indicating that several hundred government agencies and organisations have been breached.UK politics | Reform UK footed the bill for a 350 bottle of champagne at a luxury lunch and a 989-a-night hotel with hundreds of pounds in room service, its election campaign spending data shows.Media | The BBC is to broadcast a series of MasterChef featuring Gregg Wallace and John Torode, filmed before the presenters were dropped after facing upheld allegations over their behaviour. Continue reading...
Clip turned out to be a stunt, but strength of reaction speaks to genuine affront at Ireland's portrayal on big screenA man in a bar with a flat cap, bloodied knuckles and a dreamy look lays down his whiskey and writes a letter. Dear Erin," he begins, and a soundtrack of fiddles swells as he yearns for his lost love in the distant land of America.The trailer for the upcoming film - tagline: she was the Irish goodbye he never forgot" - ran in recent weeks in cinemas and online and was accompanied by a poster showing green mountains, shamrocks and a rainbow. Continue reading...
Ukraine's president says outcry is not falling on deaf ears' as European leaders voice concern at recent legislation weakening anti-graft watchdogsVolodymyr Zelenskyy promised a new bill to strengthen the rule of law in Ukraine on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to assuage popular anger at his decision to weaken the powers of two independent anti-corruption agencies.Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kyiv for a second day, while European leaders expressed concern at the Ukrainian president's contentious decision. The demonstrators gathered outside the presidential office, shouting anti-government slogans. Continue reading...
CEO Sundar Pichai says robust growth' in AI, search, YouTube and Google Cloud behind $2.31 in EPSGoogle exceeded Wall Street expectations for the quarter ending in June after closing out a few months of AI-related momentum.On Wednesday, the company reported $2.31 in earnings per share (EPS) on $96.4bn in revenue, surpassing analysts' projections of $2.18 EPS on $94bn in sales. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea, Political correspondent on (#6YVGJ)
For Britain, this is a much-needed post-Brexit boost, and for India it shows decades of protectionism are in the pastKeir Starmer and Narendra Modi will sign their 4.8bn trade deal on Thursday morning, concluding three and a half years of negotiations and opening up trade between the UK and India for cars, whisky, clothing and food products.For the UK, the agreement promises a much-needed economic boost and serves as proof that the country can be nimble on the international stage after Brexit. Continue reading...
by Presented by John Harris with Francesca Albanese a on (#6YVCW)
As hundreds of thousands of people face starvation in Gaza, this week the foreign secretary, David Lammy, joined a chorus of global condemnation over Israel's actions, describing the killing of innocent civilians seeking food and water as grotesque. But when will his words be followed by action? John Harris speaks to the UN's special rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese.Plus, will the Tory reshuffle do anything to take the wind out of Nigel Farage's sails? The Guardian's senior political correspondent, Peter Walker, joins John to discuss Continue reading...
by Charlie Moloney (now) and Joe Coughlan (earlier) on (#6YTWJ)
More than 100 aid agencies, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and Oxfam, say our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away'Irish premier Micheal Martin on Tuesday called for the war in Gaza to end, describing the images of starving children as horrific". Mr Martin called for a surge in humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza.In a post on X, he said:The situation in Gaza is horrific.The suffering of civilians and the death of innocent children is intolerable. Continue reading...
Organisations working on route used by people trying to reach Europe say they are punished for saving livesItalian officials have detained NGO rescue vessels five times in the past six weeks, as campaigners criticise an escalating crackdown they fear will lead to more fatalities on one of the world's deadliest migration routes.On Tuesday the Berlin-based NGO Sea-Watch received confirmation that its vessel, the Aurora, had been detained in Lampedusa for 20 days. It was detained after the vessel had helped to rescue about 70 people in international waters, many of whom had been suffering from fuel burns, seasickness and dehydration. Continue reading...
Move is latest in pressure campaign on university over alleged failures to combat campus antisemitismThe state department is opening an investigation into Harvard University's eligibility as a sponsor for the exchange visitor program, the latest salvo in the Trump administration's pressure campaign on the university over alleged failures to combat campus antisemitism and inadequate support of Israel.The department announced the investigation will examine whether Harvard maintains proper standards for hosting international students, professors, researchers and other exchange visitors. All program sponsors must demonstrate transparency in reporting" and commitment to cultural exchange principles while ensuring their activities do not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States", the agency said. Continue reading...
Other expenditures include 989 stay at London hotel but party sources say costs not incurred by Nigel FarageReform UK footed the bill for a 350 bottle of champagne at a luxury lunch and a 989-a-night hotel with hundreds of pounds in room service, its election campaign spending data shows.Receipts submitted to the Electoral Commission show instances of high spending at top London venues in the first half of last year. Continue reading...
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