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Literature lovers braved wintry weather to pass thousands of books from Hill of Content's original Bourke Street premises to its new home

Business rates cuts not enough as people in poorer areas simply don't have money to spend', says Centre for CitiesAs much as 5bn is needed to revive ailing UK town and city centres, with areas including Bradford in Yorkshire, Newport in south Wales, and Blackpool in Lancashire having double the proportion of empty shops as London, a study has found.A report from the Centre for Cities thinktank showed that the health of high streets across the country has varied significantly, and called for authorities to focus on developing homes and high-paying jobs in central locations to increase local spending power. Continue reading...

Managers believed Mohamed Kerita, who was signed off with back pain, was exaggerating his symptoms, tribunal hearsA disabled BMW worker was discriminated against and unfairly dismissed after bosses authorised covert surveillance on him, believing he was exaggerating his back pain, a tribunal has found.Mohamed Kerita, who worked in the firm's manufacturing factory, suffered with back pain from 2017, the tribunal in Reading heard. Continue reading...

Former cabinet minister claims Tories have abandoned the British people' in fresh blow to Kemi BadenochThe former Conservative party chair Sir Jake Berry has joined Reform UK in the most high-profile defection so far to Nigel Farage's party from the Tories.In a fresh blow to Kemi Badenoch, the former cabinet minister said his former party had abandoned the British people" and said he wanted to see Reform UK form the next government. Continue reading...

Doctors say hundreds of people have been wounded by Israeli gunfire while trying to reach convoysMedical officials, humanitarian workers and doctors in Gaza say they have been overwhelmed by almost daily mass casualty incidents" as they struggle to deal with those wounded by Israeli fire on Palestinians seeking aid.Doctors say many of the people they are treating describe being shot as they try to reach distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a secretive US- and Israel-backed organisation that began handing out food in late May. Continue reading...

The direction of travel is clear, we might just take a bit longer to get there

Exclusive: Government-funded pilot in areas where it's easier to buy a vape than an apple' may be extended across UKA mobile greengrocer will deliver fresh fruit and vegetables in areas of Liverpool where it is easier to buy a vape than an apple" as part of a new government scheme to tackle food inequality.Families in social housing will receive visits from the Queen of Greens, a mobile greengrocer in the city, which will be directed to the areas of highest need. Continue reading...

Sam Edmunds hopes to help young people with his play The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt ReturnGrowing up in Luton in the late 90s and early 00s, the playwright Sam Edmunds witnessed an abundance of knife violence that has stayed with him to this day.Me and my friends had knives pulled on us on numerous occasions. We once saw someone being chased with a machete at the back of the field by our school. In drama class, I remember a boy went into his bag to get his notebook out and a massive knife fell out. A boy in my brother's year was stabbed over 10 times on a night out." Continue reading...

Charities say more judge-only trials in England and Wales could lead to more miscarriages of justiceRemoving the right to a jury trial for more offences would disadvantage people of colour and other minorities and lead to more miscarriages of justice, reformers have warned.Sir Brian Leveson's independent review of the criminal courts in England and Wales is expected to be published this week and recommend the creation of intermediate courts, sitting without a jury, to try some offences. Continue reading...

Cook says WA's own policy has meant cheaper gas for local market as Albanese government embarks on six-month review of regulations

Invasive shot-hole borer only found in Perth in Australia, but as WA moves from eradication to management of pest, risk of spread is heightened'

Exclusive: Oxford's Bodleian libraries to put archive items on display for first time, celebrating spy author's tradecraft'The extent of John le Carre's meticulous research and attention to detail are among insights into his working methods that will be revealed when the master of spy thrillers' private archive goes on display for the first time this autumn.His classic cold war-era espionage novels have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide and inspired acclaimed films and television adaptations.John le Carre: Tradecraft opens at the Weston library, Bodleian libraries, on 1 October, running until 6 April 2026. An accompanying book, Tradecraft: Writers on John le Carre, will be released by Bodleian Library Publishing. Continue reading...

Children's commissioner says any Labour strategy to tackle deprivation must scrap the two-child benefit capChildren in England are living in almost Dickensian levels of poverty" where deprivation has become normalised, the children's commissioner has said, as she insisted the two-child benefit limit must be scrapped.Young people said they had experienced not having enough water to shower, rats biting through their walls, and mouldy bedrooms, among a number of examples in a report on the crisis of hardship" gripping the country. Continue reading...

Woman in her 50s remains in hospital after incident on Sunday on the Darling Downs

Former broadcaster is on bail charged with 35 historical sexual assault offences and has denied all wrongdoing

Two crew members are missing after drone attack on Greek-operated Eternity C; Yemen's Houthi rebels say MV Magic Seas sank after Sunday raidTwo crew members of a Greek-managed vessel have been wounded and two are missing after a drone attack off Yemen on Monday, hours after Iran-aligned Houthi militants claimed an assault on another bulk carrier in the Red Sea, saying the ship had sunk.Monday's attack 50 nautical miles southwest of the port of Hodeidah was the second assault by the Houthis against merchant vessels in the vital shipping corridor since November 2024, said an official at the European Union's Operation Aspides, assigned to help protect Red Sea shipping. Continue reading...

Prosecutors allege high level of violence' used by Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, last JulyCCTV footage of the alleged assault of three police officers at Manchester airport has been played to jurors.Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to respond to an incident at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals on 23 July last year, when Amaaz is said to have butted a customer. Continue reading...

Military ordered to turn ruins of Rafah into humanitarian city' but experts call the plan an internment camp for all Palestinians in GazaIsrael's defence minister has laid out plans to force all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp on the ruins of Rafah, in a scheme that legal experts and academics described as a blueprint for crimes against humanity.Israel Katz said he has ordered Israel's military to prepare for establishing a camp, which he called a humanitarian city", on the ruins of the city of Rafah, Haaretz newspaper reported. Continue reading...

Revised bill passed after UK government rowed back on cuts will mean fewer rather than more people in relative poverty in 2030The changes the government made to the welfare bill in the face of a mounting rebellion over its proposals to cut disability benefits will lift 50,000 people out of poverty, an updated impact assessment has found.The prime minister was forced to abandon the central plank of his welfare bill - cuts to the personal independence payment (Pip) - to avert a large Labour rebellion in the House of Commons last week. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Changes to workers' rights bill will prohibit the silencing of staff who suffer harassment or discrimination

Sources confirm claim likely to cast further doubt among Labour MPs about judgment of Downing Street aidesGeorge Osborne was on Downing Street's shortlist to be the next UK ambassador to Washington, it has been claimed, despite the former Conservative chancellor being reviled by many in the Labour party and wider political left.In the new edition of his biography on Keir Starmer, the writer Tom Baldwin suggests the prime minister's senior aides invested considerable effort" in unsuccessfully pushing Osborne's application. Sources confirmed to the Guardian that the former Tory politician was approached about the role. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Phones 4u founder, who switched from the Tories, says wealth tax would be very destructive to growthLabour's most high-profile billionaire backer, who switched allegiance from the Conservatives, has said he is increasingly nervous" about the government's direction and is in despair of politicians".John Caudwell, the Phones 4u founder, said Labour's winter fuel payments cut was a fiasco" and ministers were not doing nearly enough to attract investment into the UK. Continue reading...

Bridget Phillipson says there will be better outcomes for all children than at present but fails to guarantee EHCPs will continue in their current formThe Conservatives will try to change the government's welfare Bill to tighten up access to personal independence payments (Pip) and universal credit, PA Media reports. PA says:Kemi Badenoch will pledge that the Tories are now the only party committed to serious welfare reform" after Keir Starmer shelved plans to restrict eligibility for Pip in the face of a backbench revolt this week.The Tories will look to lay amendments to the legislation - set to be renamed the universal credit bill - and party leader Badenoch is due to deliver a speech on welfare on Thursday. Continue reading...

News of Roman Starovoit's death in his car made public shortly after that of his sacking by Putin, though timeline of events remains unconfirmedRussia's former transport minister has died from a gunshot wound just hours after he was sacked by Vladimir Putin.The body of Roman Starovoit, the ex-minister, was found in his car in a Moscow suburb. He appeared to have killed himself, Russia's investigative committee said in a statement. Continue reading...

Stephen Doohan caused long-term psychological injury' to his victim, judge tells high court in GlasgowA paramedic who tricked a woman into having an abortion by secretly inserting drugs inside her during sex has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.Stephen Doohan, 33, was married when he met the woman on holiday in Spain in 2021 and began a long-distance relationship. Continue reading...

Kayapo chief tells in memoir of seeing former president in his dreams and of warning Lula not to repeat past mistakesBrazil's most revered Indigenous leader, Raoni Metuktire, has said he believes that one of the former president Jair Bolsonaro's goals while in office was to exterminate" the country's Indigenous peoples.According to the Kayapo chief, the far-right populist encouraged invasions, mining and deforestation" in order to hand Indigenous lands over to the kub (non-Indigenous people). Continue reading...

System was unintentionally deactivated with one computer click, it is understood, sparking chaos on Centre CourtWimbledon's electronic line-calling failure on Sunday came after an operator unintentionally switched off a set of cameras on Centre Court with one computer click, it is understood.Bosses earlier defended the new system as they continued to blame Sunday's seven minutes of chaos on human error. Continue reading...

Ukrainian president says he and UK prime minister also discussed additional funding for drone productionThe commission also addressed the reintroduction of Polish border controls with Germany and Lithuania, confirming at its midday media briefing that it had received a formal notification from Poland on Friday.EU spokesperson Markus Lammert confirmed that reintroducing temporary internal border controls is possible subject to certain conditions, as set out in EU legislation, and in particular in the Schengen borders code." Continue reading...

Staff at former UK PM's institute took part in calls with US consulting firm and Israeli business people about proposalTony Blair's thinktank worked with a project developing a postwar Gaza plan that included the creation of a Trump Riviera" and a manufacturing zone named after Elon Musk.The project, led by Israeli business people and using financial models developed by the US consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG), was developed against the backdrop of Donald Trump's vision of taking over the Palestinian territory and transforming it into a resort. Continue reading...

Melissa Mathieson, 18, wrote in a letter that she felt dragged away from my home' when she was placed in BristolA teenager who was murdered by a fellow care home resident wrote a letter that social services had destroyed my life", her inquest has heard.Melissa Mathieson, 18, who was killed by Jason Conroy, said she was dragged away" from home when she was placed at Alexandra House in Bristol. Continue reading...

US trade representative has been collecting evidence of countries freeloading' as part of Donald Trump's tariff campaign

Israeli minister says meeting with Trump will focus on a new Middle East' with 60-day pause discussed in Doha

Industry insiders cite free speech concerns, saying broadcaster overreacted by limiting live streaming of high risk' artistsMusic industry figures have accused the BBC of making arbitrary and disproportionate" changes to its coverage of live music after the fallout from Bob Vylan's Glastonbury festival performance.There is serious concern among artists and music agencies over a BBC decision that means any musical performances deemed to be high risk will not be broadcast live or streamed live. Continue reading...

US president will host Israeli prime minister following joint strikes against IranA US envoy met Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday to discuss a proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah, hours after Israel launched new air strikes and a cross-border ground assault.The Israeli escalation was seen by Lebanese officials and diplomats as an attempt to ratchet up pressure on Hezbollah, whose leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Sunday that the group still needed arms to defend Lebanon from Israel. Continue reading...

Helen Hayes says commitment would help to rebuild trust among parents worried about their children's future

Woman injured in Sunday incident was a much-loved member of the zoo owners' family' and not in animal's enclosure at the time, zoo says

Hacked airline says Australian federal police have been engaged but it won't be commenting any further on the detail of the contact'

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Michael Christian, who made royal family-impersonating prank call with co-host to London hospital, alleges he was fall guy' for his employer's risky behaviour

Storms that led to deadly flash floods were heightened by moisture from the remnants of tropical storm BarryTexas was hit by catastrophic flash floods on Friday after powerful thunderstorms unleashed torrential rainfall across the region. Kerr County, in the south-central Hill Country, received more than 300mm of rain in just a few hours.As of Sunday evening, at least 68 people had been confirmed dead, and 28 girls were missing after flood waters tore through a summer camp. Continue reading...

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Victim walked into service station covered in dirt in 2024, say detectives who allege offenders responsible for another kidnapping and also murder of Rich Choup

Zachary Rolfe, who shot Walker in Yuendumu in 2019, used unnecessary force during five previous arrests, coroner saysWarning: This article contains reference to Indigenous Australians who have died

All England Club's official TikTok account hit 200m views by Wednesday as it aims to connect with young peopleWhether it is a clip of Novak Djokovic hitting a winning backhand volley before taking a tumble or an American influencer presenting fashion tips, Wimbledon's social media posts are vying for the same thing: a new generation of tennis fans.Demographic wise, I think it's no secret that Wimbledon is an event that's trying to attract younger audiences. I want to find a way to engage people who might not be on tennis pages," said Will Giles, the managing editor of digital content for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC). Continue reading...

Campaigners are challenging planning approval granted last year for scheme to develop 39 more courtsI love this tournament, I love what they've done with it, but I do not love what they're developing it into," said Jonathan Pinkess on day five of Wimbledon. Standing in the morning sun, handing out flyers against the All England Lawn Tennis Club's expansion plans, he is one of many local residents who fear the championship will usurp local green space.To ensure Wimbledon maintains its pre-eminence on the tennis circuit, the AELTC has plans to develop a further 39 courts, including an 8,000-seat show court, on the grounds of the old Wimbledon Park golf club. Local opposition, however, has long questioned why the industrial-scale development" is needed. Continue reading...

Author wants to take arts to middle of wonderful nowhere' in far south-west, often missed by people heading for coastThe author Sir Michael Morpurgo has spoken of the importance of taking the arts to places off the beaten track as he prepares for a recital of new poetry inspired by Vivaldi at a festival on and around Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.Morpurgo agreed to perform at the inaugural Music on the Moor festival, partly to draw attention to inland areas of Britain's far south-west often missed by visitors heading for the coast. Continue reading...

Swissport staff at seven airports in UK and Channel Islands eligible for 1.20-a-bag payment through incentive schemeAirport staff are earning cash bonuses for every easyJet passenger they spot travelling with an oversized bag, according to a leaked email.Staff at Swissport, an aviation company that operates passenger gates at airports, are eligible to receive 1.20 (1 after tax) for every gate bag taken", according to the message sent to staff at seven airports in the UK and the Channel Islands, including Birmingham, Glasgow, Jersey and Newcastle. Continue reading...

Bitter rows had damaged trust and dialogue but UK-French relations have thawed amid new geopolitical landscapeWhen Emmanuel Macron rides in a horse-drawn carriage to Windsor Castle this week, it will be to celebrate the return of close political relations between London and Paris, drawing a line under the damaging spats of the Brexit years.The French president's office said the shared interests" of the two countries were what mattered now, hailing France and the UK's essential" close relationship on the international stage. This reinvigorated cross-Channel bond was vital", a UK official said. Continue reading...

PM says those who tried to divide us failed' while monarch says victims and stories of courage should be rememberedKeir Starmer, King Charles and the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, have marked the 20th anniversary of the 7 July attacks in London in which Islamist suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured more than 770.The prime minister said: Today the whole country will unite to remember the lives lost in the 7/7 attacks, and all those whose lives were changed for ever. We honour the courage shown that day - the bravery of the emergency services, the strength of survivors and the unity of Londoners in the face of terror. Continue reading...

Joint attack on Iran puts Israeli PM in powerful position as he dangles prospect of Trump-brokered ceasefire dealDonald Trump will host Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC on Monday as the US president seeks again to broker a peace deal in Gaza and the Israeli prime minister takes a victory lap through the Oval Office after a joint military campaign against Iran and a series of successful strikes against Tehran and its proxies in the Middle East.Netanyahu and Trump have a complex personal relationship - and Trump openly vented frustration at him last month during efforts to negotiate a truce with Iran - but the two have appeared in lockstep since the US launched a bombing run against Iran's nuclear programme, fulfilling a key goal for Israeli war planners. Continue reading...