Ucas data also shows surge in applications from Nigeria, India and China but fall in nursing applicationsRecord numbers of disadvantaged students in the UK have applied to go to university this year, according to official figures that also show international recruitment has held up with a surge in applications from Nigeria, India and China.According to data published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), overall applications for UK 18-year-olds have exceeded all previous records, raising concerns about competition for places on the most popular courses as some universities try to rein in numbers after over recruiting during the pandemic. Continue reading...

Approval of shot widens options against the virus as CDC will meet next week to decide whether to sign off on vaccineThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday authorized Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in people 18 years of age or older, widening vaccine options in the US against the virus as the fourth vaccine to get approval by the agency.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will meet next week to decide whether to sign off on the vaccine and determine who should get the shot before pharmacies and other healthcare providers can start administering them. Novavax is also expected to finish its quality testing “in the next few weeks” before the doses are provided. Continue reading...

The attacks on two young women and one teenage girl occurred last week in a park in BracknellA 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of three sexual assaults that took place in Berkshire last week.Thames Valley police said on Wednesday that the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is currently being held in custody. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary forced to regroup after trailing behind Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt after first round ballotTory leadership: live updatesLiz Truss will seek to reinvigorate her campaign to be the next prime minister by promising an “aspiration nation” on Thursday, after she was unexpectedly beaten into third place by Penny Mordaunt in the first round of voting.Long seen as one of the favourites to be the next Tory party leader, the foreign secretary has the backing of Boris Johnson super-loyalists Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Continue reading...

Local MP and councillor angered by comments about Roundhay school, rated ‘satisfactory’ when foreign secretary attended

Latest updates: Former health secretary failed to get the required 30 nominations, along with the chancellor Nadhim Zahawi

Scotland Yard is likely to question a married couple Farah accused of forcing him into domestic servitudeThe Metropolitan police has launched an investigation into claims by Sir Mo Farah that he was trafficked into the UK and forced into domestic servitude.The four-time Olympic champion told a BBC documentary that he was brought to London by a stranger under an assumed name after escaping war in Somalia aged nine. Continue reading...

Landmark legislation in peril and could be killed off by new PM and culture secretary, says government sourceTory leadership: live updatesMinisters have dropped plans to pass the online safety bill next week amid wrangling in the Conservative leadership race, as they were accused of having “given up on governing” by opposition parties.The final stages of the bill, which have come under fire from some candidates vying to replace Boris Johnson who argue it will infringe on freedom of speech, were due to be completed in the Commons next Wednesday. Continue reading...

District attorney George Gascón says his office has asked to unseal transcripts in effort to re-examine caseThe Los Angeles district attorney’s office will no longer object to the release of documents in the 45-year-old rape case against the film director Roman Polanski, the office said on Tuesday.George Gascón, the Los Angeles DA, said his office had reversed its position and asked to unseal the transcripts of the testimony of the former deputy district attorney Roger Gunson as part of an effort to re-examine the case against the 88-year-old film-maker. Continue reading...

People vote for local projects to improve infrastructure and health and wellbeing in five localitiesAs local councils in England continue to feel the sting of over a decade of budget-slashing austerity policies, Brent council has launched an initiative to give residents the power to decide how they spend £2.25m of funding for local projects.The participatory budgeting process was first pioneered in Porto Alegre in Brazil. It has been trialled in Tower Hamlets, but is a first for Brent council which trialled a much smaller version of the initiative in January, with a funding pot of £500,000. Continue reading...

Analysis: Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s authoritarianism and incompetence ended the family’s political reignFor weeks protesters in Sri Lanka have chanted “Go home Gota.” Now Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president, appears to be looking for one. His first stop was the Maldives, reached last night. The United Arab Emirates may be the final destination.The Rajapaksa family’s fall has been spectacular. It has resonated across the region, and well beyond. The ruler of Sri Lanka has been a high-profile casualty of the global cost of living crisis, analysts have said. In distant South Africa, a talk show host asked if the soaring cost of living there could spell the end for the ruling party. Others are asking the same question. Continue reading...

Former BBC broadcaster bombarded Vine with harassing tweets and YouTube videos, court toldTV and radio presenter Jeremy Vine has given evidence in court against a former BBC broadcaster accused of stalking, describing how he was targeted with an “avalanche of hatred”.Vine, who presents shows on BBC Radio 2 and Channel 5, spoke at Nottingham crown court during the trial of former BBC Radio Leeds presenter Alex Belfield. Continue reading...

‘Damning milestone’ means measures such as mask-wearing and better sick pay needed again, doctors and bereaved families sayDoctors and people bereaved by Covid have described the 200,000th death from the virus in the UK as a “tragic milestone” and called for the return of infection control measures, including mask wearing and better sick pay amid concern about rising cases and new variants.Prof Philip Banfield, council chair of the British Medical Association, said: “This terrible loss of life must serve as an important reminder that Covid-19 has not gone away and remains a serious threat to public health.” Continue reading...

Former minister surfing anti-‘woke’ wave is unlikely to become PM but should land plum cabinet roleKemi Badenoch is unlikely to become the next prime minister, but by the secondary gauge of political party leadership contests – raising one’s profile and securing a prized frontbench post under the winner – she has already done well.The Saffron Walden MP and former levelling up minister has definitely edged ahead of Suella Braverman in the mini-race for prominence among right-leaning culture warriors, securing a top-level endorsement from Michael Gove and some positive polling figures. Continue reading...

UK advertising watchdog pulls up Love Island star for third time as it cracks down on social media influencersThe former Love Island star and social influencer Molly-Mae Hague has had an Instagram post promoting the clothing brand Pretty Little Thing banned for not telling followers it was an advertisement.The 23-year-old, who has now fallen foul of the UK’s advertising watchdog three times for failing to follow social media marketing rules, posted a picture of herself wearing a Pretty Little Thing (PLT) dress on her Instagram account along with a link to buy it. Continue reading...

Figures show deaths per capita are above European average, at 2,689 per million peopleMore than 200,000 Covid deaths have been recorded across the UK, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.There have been a total of 200,247 Covid deaths, including 294 in the last week. The figures cover deaths due to Covid-19 as well as those involving the virus. Continue reading...

‘Tena products’ being deployed as Covid is used as excuse to ‘decimate’ conditions, select committee toldUnion bosses have accused the government and rail firms of exploiting the pandemic to force through changes to conditions, with one claiming that drivers were so short of breaks they had to rely on incontinence products.In evidence to MPs on Wednesday, they also accused the government of meddling in negotiations over pay, despite ministers’ insistence that they were not involved. Continue reading...

Committee says lack of resources affecting other areas of agency’s work and calls situation ‘untenable’MI5 should be given increased funding to help tackle the rising threat of extreme-right terrorism, which now accounts for approaching a fifth of the spy agency’s investigations, a parliamentary watchdog has said.MPs and peers on the intelligence and security committee said the agency had been forced to progress other work – almost certainly relating to Islamist terrorism – more slowly and had been unable to expand other activities as it had hoped. Continue reading...

RMT members at train operators and Network Rail to stage industrial action in dispute over pay and conditionsRail staff will again strike on 27 July in an ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union has announced.Members of the RMT at train companies and Network Rail will walk out for 24 hours on 27 July. Continue reading...

Unexpected move does not directly criticise Boris Johnson and comes after Labour version rejected

Johnson says leaves with ‘head held high’ as Labour leader questions tax affairs and capabilities of those vying to be next PM

Warning in place from Sunday to Tuesday with hot spell expected to peak on Monday or TuesdayThe Met Office has extended its danger-to-life warning for a heatwave set to hit much of England and Wales at the weekend.The warning for extreme heat is in place from Sunday until the end of Tuesday, with the hot spell expected to peak on Monday or Tuesday. Continue reading...

Former Radio 1 star faces new claims of sexual abuse and misconduct from multiple women; he has previously denied wrongdoingThe DJ Tim Westwood is facing allegations from a woman who says he first had sex with her when she was 14 and he was in his 30s.The woman claims Westwood had sex with her on several occasions in the early 1990s, when the age of consent in England and Wales was, as it is now, 16. “I sit here today and face what I’ve been running from for a long time,” she said. Continue reading...

Watchdog says it suspects possible breaches of competition law around purchase of freelance servicesThe competition watchdog is investigating possible cartel-like behaviour by sport broadcasters including BT Group, ITV, Sky and IMG Media, which includes Premier League Productions, around the purchase of freelance services.The Competition and Markets Authority said it believes there are “reasonable grounds to suspect one or more breaches of competition law”. Continue reading...

Heavy shelling thought to be reprisal for Ukraine attack or preamble to renewed offensive on Donetsk cities

David Davis describes flagship legislation as ‘biggest accidental curtailment in modern history’

Processing of unwanted items has become increasing problem for retailers since Covid online boomThe fast fashion website Boohoo has become the latest online retailer to start charging shoppers to return items.Boohoo customers will now have to pay £1.99 when they send unwanted goods back, and the cost will be deducted from the amount they are refunded. Continue reading...

Officer gives evidence of colleagues describing rapes in intimate relationships as ‘surprise sex’, and saying they ‘deserved to be raped’

Seaside town left covered in ‘snow’ after warm trough collides with frigid air mass

Manasseh Sogavare says relationship with Australia is ‘strong’ despite his recent security pact with Beijing

Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum in Winton first discovered 12 sauropod teeth in 2019, with a further five uncovered

Lawyer says settlement will provide compensation for women who suffered pain and complications from pelvic mesh

Omicron variant BA.2.75 has been detected in India, UK, US, Australia, Germany and CanadaVirologists have voiced concerns about the emergence of another fast-spreading Omicron variant, which is rapidly gaining ground in India and has already arrived in the UK.The warning came as MPs called for redoubled efforts to persuade the nearly 3 million adults in England who have not yet received a single dose of Covid vaccine, to take up the offer of vaccination. Continue reading...

Sharma will remain in post until November to cement progress made at Cop26Alok Sharma, the UK cabinet minister who led the Cop26 climate summit last year, will remain in his post to lead international climate negotiations for the next few crucial months, despite the turmoil among his Downing Street neighbours.Sharma, who operates from 9 Downing St, told the Guardian he was focused on continuing the work needed to cement the progress made at the UN Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow last November. Continue reading...

The region’s worst drought in 70 years is expected to hit crop yields significantly, driving up prices by as much as 50%Supplies of olive oil, risotto rice and passata are under threat as northern Italy suffers its worst drought in 70 years, stirring up the cost of living crisis further.Specialist importers are preparing for price rises of as much as 50% or more for rice and tomatoes and are considering looking for new sources of supply, after growers in the Po valley, the home of arborio rice used in risotto, warned of a “significant reduction” in crop yields this year. Continue reading...

Consumer watchdog says most locations relayed 20c cut to motorists, while treasurer confirms concession still likely to end on 28 September

Residents say they have nowhere to go nor the means to leave as frontline encroaches on civilians

Analysis: Israel has transformed itself from regional pariah to ally to many Arab statesJoe Biden has made clear that the Middle East is not a priority for his administration: Ukraine, China and the US midterm elections are all more pressing issues. Still, when Air Force One touches down in Tel Aviv for his first visit to the region as president on Wednesday afternoon, Biden will be faced with a rapidly changing – and still unstable – part of the world.Biden’s main goal is to convince Saudi Arabia of the need to increase global oil supplies to ease the energy crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But the fact that he flies directly to Jeddah after two days in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories speaks to a significant shift: Israel’s transformation from regional pariah to ally for many Arab states. Continue reading...

Twenty-four infected people disembarked in Brisbane before cruise ship travelled on to Eden on NSW south coast

Fijian police escort the men from media space where US vice-president Kamala Harris was making virtual addressTwo Chinese defence attaches have been kicked out by Fijian police from a Pacific Islands Forum meeting at which the US vice-president, Kamala Harris, was giving a virtual address.The men were sitting in on a session of the forum’s fisheries agency at which Harris announced the step-up of US engagement in the region, believed to be in response to China’s growing influence. Continue reading...

Hospital bosses issue warning as government moves to end technical qualifications for healthcare studentsThe NHS will miss out on recruiting thousands of nurses every year as a direct result of the government scrapping BTec courses in health and social care, hospital bosses have warned.NHS Employers wrote in a letter to the education secretary, James Cleverly, that it had “serious concerns” about the plan, which it fears will exacerbate the health service’s acute staffing problems. Continue reading...

Show will feature immersive re-creation of set from Oscar-winning film Parasite as well as props from Squid GameAn immersive re-creation of the Oscar-winning film Parasite’s bathroom set, as well as costumes and props from the hit Netflix series Squid Game are to go on display as part of the first major exhibition on Korean culture in the UK.Hallyu! The Korean Wave will open at London’s V&A in September to celebrate the colourful and dynamic popular culture of South Korea, from its early origins to its place on the global stage today. Continue reading...

Passengers must record a rapid antigen test before disembarking but crew remain onboard

Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Tom Tugendhat and Nadhim Zahawi garner enough support

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will bind a future Labour government to strict borrowing limitsLabour has committed to “ironclad discipline” with the public finances and cutting Britain’s debt burden if it gets into power, in an attempt to draw a clear dividing line with Tory leadership hopefuls promising billions of pounds in tax cuts.Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, will use a speech on Wednesday to bind a future Labour government to strict borrowing limits designed to protect the public finances while allowing it to lay the foundations for a growing economy. Continue reading...

The reductions are being trialled in eight communities but will be rolled out nationally in 2023The speed limit in built-up areas will be reduced from 30mph to 20mph in Wales from next year in a UK first that the Labour-led Welsh government says will improve both safety and the quality of life for its citizens.Some opposition politicians and motorists have opposed the move to lower the default national speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets. Continue reading...

The eight candidates who got through to the first round come from across the party, with Rishi Sunak the early favourite

Met Office predicts heatwave will continue into next Monday with temperatures in mid to high 30sThe Met Office has extended an extreme heat warning for Sunday and Monday, with temperatures forecast to build to over 35C (95F) in south-east England, as an under-pressure hospital declared a major incident.The amber warning comes as extremely high temperatures in Spain and France are expected to push north into the UK this week. Temperatures reached 43C in central Spain on Monday and are forecast to rise further. Continue reading...