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US authorities claim vessel is beneficially owned by sanctioned oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, one of Russia’s richest men

Russia claims control of 97% of Luhansk as UN warns war is creating a human trafficking crisis

Actor thanks his ‘most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters’ following his defamation trial against Amber HeardJohnny Depp has posted a message to his “most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters” on Instagram and TikTok on Tuesday, days after winning a defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.In the post, the 58-year-old actor wrote to his fans: “We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together. You are, as always, my employers and once again I am whittled down to no way to say thank you, other than just by saying thank you. So, thank you. My love & respect, JD.” Continue reading...

Alex Davies was found guilty of being a member of banned group National ActionThe founder of a violent neo-Nazi group created with the aim of inspiring a race war in the UK has been jailed for eight and a half years.Alex Davies, described in court as the “biggest Nazi of the lot”, was found guilty of being a member of National Action (NA) after it was proscribed by the UK government. Continue reading...

Turkish offer to escort ships through Black Sea blockade would face six-month wait for mine clearance, says UkraineA plan mediated by Turkey amid a global food crisis to open shipping corridors out of Ukrainian ports has been dealt a blow as officials in Kyiv said it would take six months to clear the coast of Russian and Ukrainian mines.As Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Ankara on Tuesday, Turkey’s defence minister, Hulusi Akar, said in a statement that his government was making progress with the UN, Russia and Ukraine on reopening ports under Russian blockade in the Black Sea. Continue reading...

The man reportedly fled to the UK after being sentenced to five years in prison for refusing to fire at Iranian protestersPriti Patel has been accused of trying to deport a former senior Iranian police officer who fled to the UK after giving first-hand testimony of potential human rights violations by the Iranian government.Counsel for the Iran Atrocities Tribunal –also known as the Aban Tribunal – in London has written to the home secretary saying that a named former officer in the Iranian police has been detained in the UK and been told he will be sent 4,000 miles to Rwanda next week. Continue reading...

Boris Johnson says ministers should focus on ‘cutting costs of government’ after William Hague says his position is ‘untenable’. This live blog is now closed

Family of Spanish national Ignacio Echeverría and Madrid Catholic church campaign for canonisationFive years after Ignacio Echeverría used his skateboard to take on the London Bridge attackers, the Catholic church in Madrid has joined forces with his family in an effort to have the Spanish “skateboard hero” recognised as a saint.Echeverría, a Spanish national living in London, was among the eight people killed in 2017 when three terrorists rammed into pedestrians in a hired van before attacking passersby in the Borough Market area with 12in knives. Continue reading...

Nationalist party New Hope threatens to exit arrangement after vote on West Bank settlersIsrael’s coalition government is teetering on the brink of collapse after a dramatic Knesset showdown over legislation to extend legal protections for settlers in the occupied West Bank.In what was variously described by Israeli media as “one of the most surreal votes in Israeli history” and “political suicide”, the first reading of a bill renewing civilian legal rights for Jewish settlers in the West Bank failed to pass on Monday night. Members of the Knesset had weighed up their positions regarding whether it was more important to strengthen or weaken the ideologically-diverse government, which recently lost its razor-thin majority. Continue reading...

Local swimmer aims to open chemical-free outdoor pool – plus sauna to warm up in – near OxenhopePlans are being drawn up for the UK’s highest-altitude lido, a chemical-free, “natural” outdoor pool perched up on the West Yorkshire moors.Conceived during the lockdown boom in open water swimming, it is hoped the Yorkshire Swim Works acan be built near Oxenhope, a small village close to Haworth, which was once home to the Brontë sisters. Continue reading...

Online car seller says ‘business realignment’ needed to protect profits in face of tougher economic timesThe online car seller Cazoo announced it is cutting about 750 jobs across the UK and elsewhere in Europe, as it warned of recession and consumer cutbacks.The British company, which opted to make its stock market debut in New York rather than London last year with a value of $7bn (£5.5bn), is looking to cut costs by more than £200m by the end of next year. Continue reading...

Beijing warns Australia of ‘serious consequences’ if it does not stop ‘provocations’ after incident Canberra called ‘very dangerous’Beijing has accused Australia and Canada of “spreading disinformation” over allegedly dangerous manoeuvres by Chinese military pilots in international airspace.China also warned Australia to stop “provocations” or face “serious consequences” after the Albanese government said a Chinese jet intercepted an RAAF plane in a dangerous manoeuvre in late May. Continue reading...

Cineworld cancels all showings of The Lady of Heaven after branches were picketed by Muslim activistsA UK cinema chain has cancelled all screenings of a “blasphemous” film about the daughter of the prophet Muhammad after branches were picketed by Muslim activists.Cineworld said it took the decision to cancel all showings of The Lady of Heaven to “ensure the safety of our staff and customers”. Continue reading...

Another Partygate inquiry, two byelections, a possible reshuffle … life isn’t about to get any easier for the PM

M&S to pay Steve Rowe £1.6m annual bonus atop £1m salary with 4,500 staff also gaining first bonus in five yearsMarks & Spencer’s former boss more than doubled his pay to £2.63m last year after getting his first bonus since 2017 as the cost of living crisis intensifies for customers.Steve Rowe, who stepped down as chief executive last month, will not receive a pay-off but will continue to be employed as a consultant being paid up to £843,000 for up to a year after ceasing full-time employment for M&S after the group’s annual shareholder meeting on 5 July. Continue reading...

Doctors treating 12-year-old boy say ventilator should be switched offDoctors believe a 12-year-old boy at the centre of a life-support treatment dispute is “very likely” to be “brain-stem dead”, a high court judge has heard.Archie Battersbee has been treated by medics at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, after suffering brain damage two months ago. Continue reading...

Actor alleges that Jolie sold her share in their wine company to a rival investor ‘in secret, knowingly and purposefully violating his contractual rights’Brad Pitt has claimed that former wife Angelina Jolie deliberately “sought to inflict harm on” him by selling her share of their wine company to a rival investor.People magazine reports that Pitt has filed legal papers with Los Angeles County Superior Court as part of a long-running legal dispute between the pair over Chateau Miraval, located in south-east France, which the pair acquired in 2008 before their marriage in 2014. Continue reading...

Analysis: 211-148 suggests about two-thirds of backbenchers are against him, and even his fanbase may be crumblingFor Boris Johnson, Monday evening’s win was “decisive”, and his allies were out immediately, briefing that it would “draw a line” under the chaos of the past few months. But faced with the raw numbers – 211 votes to 148 – even his former employer the Daily Telegraph called it a “hollow victory”.It was less convincing than the 63% to 37% victory of Theresa May over her detractors in 2018 – and even at the time that wasn’t really judged to be a resounding win. Continue reading...

Former Alicante mail carrier charged by police after bags of letters dating back to 2012 discovered at sold homeFrom Monday to Friday, he clocked in dutifully at the central post office in the Spanish city of Alicante, picking up bags and bags of mail to be delivered.But exactly what the former letter carrier did next is now under investigation after more than 20,000 undelivered letters – dating back to 2012 and 2013 – were found crammed into bin bags in his home. Continue reading...

Prime minister says there is significant opportunity for Australian companies in Indonesia’s growing economy

Disciplinary action against members of BJP fails to quell growing anger in Muslim world over comments insulting the prophetSix more countries have joined diplomatic protests across the Muslim world over derogatory remarks insulting the prophet Muhammad made by spokespeople for the party of Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi.Indonesia, the UAE, the Maldives, Jordan, Bahrain and Libya have joined Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Afghanistan in lodging official complaints over comments from representatives of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party. Meanwhile hardline party members have reacted angrily to disciplinary action against the pair after their comments went viral in the Middle East. Continue reading...

President says result is ‘great news’, while adviser says ‘the world needs such leaders’Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has declared himself “very happy” at Boris Johnson’s confidence vote win, hours after one of his senior advisers tweeted a picture of the two men and thanked the UK prime minister for helping to protect “the free world from barbaric invasion”.Zelenskiy described Johnson’s narrow victory on Monday evening as “great news”, in remarks via video link to an event hosted by the Financial Times on Tuesday. “I’m glad we haven’t lost a very important ally. This is great news,” he said. Continue reading...

Backers play down large rebellion, hailing ‘third mandate’ and saying Ukraine leader is ‘punching the air’

Police begin process to transport Indian-born pair wanted on criminal and money-laundering chargesPolice in Dubai are coordinating with their South African counterparts to secure the extradition of two wealthy Indian-born brothers wanted by South African authorities on criminal and money-laundering charges who were arrested in the emirate on Monday.Atul and Rajesh Gupta are accused of paying bribes in exchange for lucrative state contracts and influence over ministerial appointments during the chaotic nine-year presidency of Jacob Zuma, which ended amid allegations of systematic corruption in 2018. The brothers fled to Dubai shortly after Zuma’s fall from power. Continue reading...

Decision exceeded predictions from economists while Westpac was the first of the big banks to pass on the rise in full to customers

Long deployments and a lack of training, support, food and equipment all affecting morale as war drags onRussia-Ukraine war latestRussia’s assault on Ukraine’s east has brought it some battlefield success as its military has advanced slowly in fierce fighting in Donbas.But those gains have come at a high price for the Russian invasion force, with evidence that high-level casualties are growing and that some units may be approaching exhaustion as the war moves past its 100-day mark. Continue reading...

Lawyers for Lebanese man tell high court that national security information should not be kept completely secret from parties

Song reaches No 8 in the US 37 years after it was first released, thanks to inclusion in new season of Stranger Things

Prime minister responds to reports of Chinese naval base in Cambodia; nation records 29 Covid deaths. This blog is now closed

Key critic Tobias Ellwood tells PM ‘a lot of work to be done’ with change of direction needed by party conference in early OctoberRebel Conservatives have given Boris Johnson until the party conference to change direction or they warn rules could be altered to allow another challenge, as Dominic Raab said the “democratic result” of the vote should be respected.Johnson lost the confidence of 41% of his MPs in a vote on his leadership on Monday night, after weeks of anger at lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and fears the party’s direction is causing a slump at the polls. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Beykush winery struggled to get bottles to judges in UK from its site on edge of Russian-occupied territory

Retailers and club could face fines after watchdog finds they broke competition lawJD Sports and Elite Sports, along with Rangers Football Club, broke competition law by fixing the prices of some Rangers-branded clothing to keep them high at the expense of fans, Britain’s competition watchdog has found.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has been investigating the matter since December 2020, said sports retailers Elite and JD fixed the retail prices of a number of Rangers-branded replica kits and other clothing products from September 2018 until at least July 2019. Continue reading...

Jim Chalmers responds to Reserve Bank decision to lift cash rate 50 basis points as Anthony Albanese declines to comment during Indonesia trip

New Zealand PM arriving in Sydney on Thursday will be first foreign leader hosted by new Labor government

Toni Melrose-Mikeska said JC confided in her in 1990, after breaking up with Dawson, who has pleaded not guilty to Lynette Dawson’s murder

Dennis Basic pleads guilty in Victoria’s county court to 12 charges related to anti-lockdown rallies

Avi Yemini, who has brought the defamation suit, has said he wants to unmask the person behind the pro-Labor account

February Morning, founded by former Russian MP Ilya Ponomarev, broadcasts to audience in Russia

AFP say Calabrian mafia have been in Australia for decades, laundering money and ‘pulling the strings’ of other gangs

State has lowest per capita spend on mental health, alcohol and drug services in Australia, report says

Artwork by Adam Stone provoked a public backlash, culminating in its attempted decapitation and removal from a Fitzroy streetComedian John Oliver has offered to buy a controversial banana statue that was pulled off the streets of Melbourne after being attacked by vandalsThe $22,000, 1.8m tall anthropomorphic fibreglass banana was commissioned from artist Adam Stone by the City of Yarra. Stone said it was a representation of hubris and climate change. Continue reading...

Supply chain issues cause unprecedented demand and wait times for used cars pushing dealers to contact private sellers directly

Only the most stridently supportive titles stand vocally behind prime minister after 41% of his own MPs vote for his removalA haunted-looking Boris Johnson stares out from the front pages of many of the papers after a dramatic night of Conservative party bloodletting at Westminster.The prime minister is shown being driven back from the Commons to Downing Street after he won a Tory no-confidence vote in his leadership by 211 to 148. Continue reading...

Royal College of Nursing highlights lack of specialist NHS clinics and disparities in care around the UKNHS services for the 2 million Britons struggling with long Covid are “woefully inadequate” given how many people are being diagnosed with the condition, nurses’ leaders have warned.There are too few specialist clinics to handle the soaring demand for treatment, with only a tiny number of sufferers receiving any help, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said. Continue reading...

Court rejects actor’s push to dismiss case of Anthony Rapp, who alleges sexual advance occurred when he was 14A US federal judge has rejected Kevin Spacey’s bid to dismiss a civil lawsuit in which a fellow actor, Anthony Rapp, accused the Oscar winner of making an unwanted sexual advance during a party at Spacey’s Manhattan home in 1986, when Rapp was 14.The US district judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan said on Monday there was a genuine factual dispute about whether the now 62-year-old Spacey had forcibly touched Rapp’s “intimate parts” to gratify his own sexual desire. Continue reading...

Ahead of travelling to Makassar on Tuesday, Anthony Albanese tells Jakarta business leaders Australia will partner with Indonesia to drive clean energy transition

Daughter of Duke and Duchess of Sussex turned one during the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrationsThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared a photograph of their daughter, Lilibet, which was taken on her first birthday during the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations.Named in honour of the Queen’s childhood nickname, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor turned one on Saturday during the couple’s brief UK visit for the jubilee. To mark the occasion, close friends and family were invited to a backyard picnic at Frogmore Cottage, the couple’s home on the Windsor estate, where they stayed during their flying visit. Continue reading...

Business owners at the centre of a scandal that led to former president Jacob Zuma’s resignationTwo wealthy Indian-born business brothers who were allegedly at the centre of a massive web of state corruption in South Africa have been arrested in Dubai, Pretoria announced on Monday.The arrests came as an investigation was concluded into massive plundering of state institutions during former president Jacob Zuma’s era. Continue reading...

Analysis: With 148 votes against him, the task of governing is likely to become more, not less difficult in the months aheadBoris Johnson’s allies had always said about the vote of no confidence that victory by just one vote was still a win, and he would remain in Downing Street and get on with delivering “the people’s priorities”.They will no doubt be cracking opening the bubbly on Monday evening. But the truth is that with 148 votes against him, the task of governing is likely to become more, not less difficult in the weeks and months ahead. Continue reading...

PM retains support of most colleagues but badly weakened after result in which 148 MPs voted against him