Ant-Man actor befriends Brody Ridder of Colorado, whose classmates refused to sign his yearbookThe actor Paul Rudd has sent a handwritten letter to a 12-year-old boy after he received just two signatures from fellow students in his school yearbook.The pair also spoke on FaceTime after Brody Ridder, from Colorado, came home from school with the yearbook. Continue reading...

Official figures reveal that number of refugees crossing in small boats has doubled since military brought inThe Royal Navy is threatening to “walk away” from Boris Johnson and Priti Patel’s plan to stem the number of boats carrying asylum seekers across the Channel as official data shows how spectacularly the policy has backfired.Defence chiefs are said to be fed up with trying to enact the prime minister and home secretary’s rapidly imploding plan of using the military to control small boats in the Channel. Continue reading...

Thousands rescued from makeshift camps in Himalayas after sudden deluge in Indian-controlled regionEmergency workers rescued thousands of pilgrims after flash floods swept through their makeshift camps during an annual Hindu pilgrimage to a Himalayan cave in Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens, officials said.Authorities suspended the pilgrimage for two days as the sudden rains continued to lash the region. Teams of rescuers from India’s military, paramilitary and police as well as disaster management officials combed through the slippery mountain tracks and used thermal imaging devices, sniffer dogs and radars to locate dozens of missing people. Civilian and military helicopters evacuated the injured to hospitals. Continue reading...

New education minister Andrea Jenkyns appeared to raise middle finger at Downing Street protesters

Collector in Asia buys 88 bottles of single malt produced at Ardbeg distillery on island of Islay in 1975A cask of rare scotch whisky has set a new world record after selling for £16m to a private collector in Asia.The single malt dates to November 1975 and smashed the previous record of £1m set in April this year, the Financial Times reports. Continue reading...

Health experts slam use of the term ‘pro-life’ and inclusion of US organisation with a history of promoting misinformationA lesson on the BBC’s website promoting the views of an anti-abortion group has been removed by the broadcaster this weekend, following a backlash from health experts.The religious studies revision guide, on BBC Bitesize, the broadcaster’s educational resource, listed “powerful arguments” against abortion, used the term “pro-life” rather than “anti-abortion” and featured a page devoted to a vocal campaign group that wants abortion in Britain to be banned. Continue reading...

Defence secretary had been tipped to stand and was seen as a possible favourite to replace Boris Johnson

Legal team say ‘newly discovered facts’ about juror in defamation case with Johnny Depp mean mistrial should be declaredAmber Heard’s lawyers have stepped up their demands for a new trial in her multimillion-dollar defamation case with Johnny Depp following claims of “improper juror service”.In documents filed on Friday, the actor’s legal team said “newly discovered facts and information” about an individual juror meant that a mistrial ought to be declared. Continue reading...

Conservative MPs fear the race to replace Boris Johnson risks becoming a drawn-out, bitter battle

Up to 10,000 new recruits will train for several weeks to help in their country’s fight against Russia

Soviet-era ports being resuscitated but officials say only way to mitigate global hunger is to end Russia’s Black Sea blockade

Authorities keen to avoid repeat of fatal glacier fall and avalanche but need to protect local tourism industryThe summer season was just getting into the swing in the mountain towns based around the Marmolada, the highest peak in the Italian Dolomites, when a huge mass of ice from a glacier on its north side snapped off last Sunday afternoon, causing a fatal avalanche.Hotels, restaurants and mountain refuges were packed, and trails busy with hikers, climbers and cyclists, many flocking to the mountains in search of slightly fresher temperatures during Italy’s intense heatwave. Continue reading...

Largest celebration of working-class culture for years will send ‘loud and clear message’ to government over fair deal for key workersIt is one of the biggest celebrations of working-class culture anywhere in the world and this year, organisers predict, it will be bigger and louder than it has been for decades.After a two-year hiatus, Durham miners’ gala returns on Saturday with more bands, banners and general oomph than at any time since the UK miners’ strike. Continue reading...

Biosecurity Queensland euthanised the horse in Mackay on Friday after it contracted the virus, which can be fatal in humans

Prime minister says the assassinated former leader of Japan ‘understood instinctively’ the values the two countries shared

Politicians vow not to let assassination stop democratic process, amid reports that gunman had gripe with unnamed religious group he linked to AbeThe body of Shinzo Abe has returned to Tokyo as politicians prepared to resume campaigning for Sunday’s upper house elections in the shadow of the assassination of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister.On Saturday morning, a hearse believed to be carrying the body of Abe accompanied by his wife, Akie, left the hospital in Kashihara where the former prime minister was treated after being shot from behind by a gunman during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara. The hearse was later seen arriving at his residence in Tokyo, national broadcaster NHK reported. Continue reading...

Girl suffers non-life-threatening injuries after being shot outside her home in the southern suburb of Connells Point

Andrew Leigh says stopping ‘excessive market concentration’ is key to lifting competition to benefit workers and consumers

Luhansk governor says Russian forces shelling indiscriminately, Kyiv criticises Moscow at G20 summit, US sends Ukraine more artillery systems

Police believe attacker bore grudge against Abe as some critics question level of security surrounding Japan’s longest-serving PM

Former chancellor and ex-equalities minister say they will run as arch Brexiter throws his support behind attorney general

Complaint that alleged shows hosted by Andrew Bolt, Rita Panahi and Paul Murray spread anti-Islam sentiment was not upheld

Putin declared victory in Luhansk, Ukrainian troops reclaimed Snake Island, and Zelenskiy lays out a $750bn recovery plan

Match screened to fans on Court 2 after hill reaches full capacity as Norrie fever sweeps SW19Cameron Norrie’s hopes of becoming the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final in six years were dashed on Friday as he was defeated by the 20-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic.But a roaring audience gave the British No 1 a standing ovation as he left Centre Court while Djokovic was booed as he blew kisses to his fans. Continue reading...

Emlyn Rees fined £1,600 as judge says he is unable to imprison him for seven-year operation that ‘significantly’ impacted fish stocksThe ringleader of a fish-poaching operation that caused “staggering damage” to salmon and sea trout populations in a Welsh river has avoided prison after a judge expressed regret that he did not have the power to give him a custodial sentence.Bricklayer Emlyn Rees, 35, from the village of Cenarth in Carmarthenshire, headed an operation that caught 989 sea trout and 302 salmon over seven years. Continue reading...

Rogers, which dominates mobile and internet market, says teams working to restore service amid widespread disruptionsA major outage of mobile and internet networks caused widespread disruptions across Canada on Friday, affecting banks, police emergency lines and customers in the second outage to hit one of the country’s biggest telecom providers in 15 months.Customers gathered at coffee shops and public libraries to access alternate networks, while financial institutions reported problems with everything from automated machines to cashless payment systems. Continue reading...

After several days in the company of world leaders, Johnson returned home to what would prove the beginning of the endOn Thursday last week Boris Johnson headed home from the Nato summit in Madrid having spent several days in the company of world leaders. At the preceding G7 in Bavaria, speaking loudly enough for the camera to pick up, he had joked: “Can we take our clothes off?” in a supposed riposte to an old shot of Vladimir Putin topless.At Nato he had at least tried to think long-term, making a public promise to lift defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. Yet his premiership ended one week later – by which time the only military comment he would make was to privately compare himself to a Japanese soldier who had refused to surrender for 29 years after the second world war. The joke was remarkably apt. Continue reading...

Drop in chickpea crop could have serious impact on countries such as India, Bangladesh and PakistanGrowers are warning of a global chickpea shortage, endangering supplies of hummus just as barbecue season gets into gear, in a development which could have serious consequences for countries that rely on the pulses as an essential source of protein.Supplies of chickpeas could drop as much as 20% this year, according to the Global Pulse Confederation, as difficult weather conditions and the war in Ukraine hit production. Continue reading...

Former chancellor throws his hat into the ring in race to succeed Boris Johnson

Former counter-terrorism chief takes over as force is embroiled in crises over women, race and homophobiaSir Mark Rowley is to become the new commissioner of the Metropolitan police, after winning the top job in British law enforcement by promising “urgent reforms” to lead the country’s biggest force out of crisis.Rowley, 57, a former head of counter-terrorism, left the Met in 2018 and returns after time in the private sector. He was selected over the Met assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave, the other candidate to reach the final shortlist of two. Continue reading...

Analysis: Research indicates party members are over 60, male and white, yet do not like the same candidatesThe final decision on who the next Tory leader will be ultimately falls to the party membership, after MPs vote to narrow the candidates down to two.This means the decision on the identity of Britain’s future prime minister will be voted on by 200,000 people, more or less. And they are not just ordinary members of the public, they are fee-paying members of the party’s grassroots with their own sets of beliefs. Continue reading...

Local police confirm weapon used to kill former Japan prime minister was homemade gun

Ketchup, baked beans and soup maker reaches deal with supermarket after it paused deliveriesLorries full of Heinz products will be en route to Tesco on Saturday after the ketchup, baked beans and soup maker said it had reached a deal on price increases with the UK’s biggest supermarket.Heinz paused supplies to Tesco last week in a dispute over cost price rises thought to be as much as 30% but new supplies are expected to arrive over the weekend. Continue reading...

Labour leader will stay in post after pledging to resign if fined for having a beer and takeaway curry with staff

Energy price cap likely to be raised in October and January, adding to cost of living crisis, says research firmEnergy bills could reach more than £3,300 a year this winter in the latest blow to households struggling to cope with the soaring cost of living crisis.The research firm Cornwall Insight published new, higher forecasts that show the energy price cap is on track to rise to £3,244 a year in October, when it is next adjusted, as wholesale prices continue to soar. The default tariff cap is expected to be raised again in January, to £3,363 a year, up significantly from the £3,003 Cornwall Insight forecast just two weeks ago. Continue reading...

Eight-year sentences for 19-year-olds have caused anger, with claims they were found ‘guilty by association’Four 19-year-olds serving eight years in prison for sending text messages as part of a violent conspiracy in Manchester are to appeal against their convictions and sentences, the Guardian has learned.Among them is Ademola Adedeji, a rugby player who had met MPs in parliament because of his community work. Continue reading...

Callum Wheeler ambushed 53-year-old while she was walking her dog near her Kent home in April last yearA man who murdered a police community support officer in Kent has been handed a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 37 years in prison.Callum Wheeler, 22, was found guilty in May of murdering Julia James, 53, as she walked her dog near her home in Snowdown, Kent, in April last year. Continue reading...

Spanish auteur behind the 1973 arthouse hit will direct a new film, Cerrar los Ojos, due for release in 2023Veteran Spanish director Víctor Erice, best known for 1973 classic The Spirit of the Beehive, is making his first feature film in 30 years, it has been revealed.El Diario reports that the new project, titled Cerrar los Ojos (Close Your Eyes), is being funded by Canal Sur, the public broadcaster for the Andalusia region of Spain. No information has been divulged as to its content, other than that José Coronado and María León have been cast in the lead roles, and that it is due for release in 2023. Continue reading...

Alexei Gorinov receives first long-term sentence under harsh laws introduced since Russian invasion

Politics, electronic music and 25,000 people expected at Rave the Planet Parade this weekend, 12 years after fatal Duisburg crushNeon bodypaint, string vests and no-nonsense four-to-the-floor beats will return to the streets of Berlin this weekend as the legendary Love Parade techno event makes a comeback in the German capital after a hiatus of more than 15 years.Saturday’s daytime outdoor event carries a new name – the Rave the Planet Parade – but is being organised by some of the same people who put together the first Love Parade on the eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Continue reading...

Royal Cornwall Museum has been inundated with support and wants emergency meeting with councilIt is the keeper of a million objects, artefacts and manuscripts documenting 4,000 years of Cornish history, a trove beloved by generations of locals and a draw for tourists, academics and people keen to trace their family links to the far south of mainland Britain.But the Royal Cornwall Museum (RCM) in Truro is facing closure after the Conservative-controlled unitary council suddenly pulled the plug on its core funding, a move that has drawn criticism from artists, historians and very many citizens. Continue reading...

Article about prince’s legal claim against Home Office contained ‘defamatory’ words, says judgeAn article in the Mail on Sunday which alleged Prince Harry was trying to keep his legal claim against the Home Office secret contained some words that were defamatory in meaning, a high court judge has ruled in the first stage of the prince’s libel claim.The Duke of Sussex launched the claim against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) days after the Mail on Sunday (MoS) published an article about his legal challenge to the Home Office decision not to allow him to personally pay for police protection for himself and his family while in the UK. Continue reading...

Luhansk head says Russian forces still trying to advance after capturing most of neighbouring region

The 67-year-old died following shooting in Nara in western Japan, and a suspect has been detained

Ashley Alder will join UK watchdog, which is mired in internal strife, in January 2023The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed Ashley Alder, the head of Hong Kong’s securities watchdog, as its new chairman.Alder, who has run Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission since 2011, joins the UK’s financial watchdog at a time of internal strife amid strikes by staff over pay and conditions. Continue reading...

Announcement follows Guardian Australia report on calls to end practice, victim’s $800 bill

This blog is now closed

Senior Conservatives push for full contest involving party members

CMA review found ‘on the whole the fuel duty cut appears to have been implemented’The UK’s competition watchdog has raised concerns over the margins made by refineries amid sky-high fuel prices on forecourts across the country.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has “found cause for concern in the growing gap between the price of crude oil when it enters refineries, and the wholesale price when it leaves refineries as petrol or diesel”. Continue reading...