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Exclusive: Data reveals invisible crisis' with millions yet to have first specialist appointment or diagnostic testAlmost half of the 6 million people needing treatment from the NHS in England have had no further care at all since joining a hospital waiting list, new data reveals.Previously unseen NHS England figures show that 2.99 million of the 6.23 million patients (48%) awaiting care have not had either their first appointment with a specialist or a diagnostic test since being referred by a GP. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Letter to water company sets out demands, including resolving most severe cases of pollutionThames Water should claw back 2.5m in bonuses that were paid to executives in April, 27 Labour MPs representing constituencies served by the utility have urged.The MPs said it was disgusting" that the company was hiking water bills to pay for executives' failings when those same executives were receiving multimillion-pound bonuses". Continue reading...

Torrential rain batters Beijing and surrounding areas, while intense heat lingers in parts of ScandinaviaAt least 70 people have died in northern China after another bout of torrential rain triggered flooding, the latest in a series of extreme rainfall events in recent months. Between 23 and 29 July, Beijing and its surrounding areas recorded an average of 166mm, equivalent to the monthly norm.The suburban district of Miyun received the highest amount of rainfall, with 543mm recorded, equivalent to the region's annual average. The death toll included 31 people in a Miyun care home, 10 who were swept away in a minibus in Shangxi province, and eight people in a landslide in the city of Chengde. Continue reading...

Architects of Uluru Statement criticise government over lack of progress on Closing the Gap in the absence of a voice to parliament

The execution of Edward Zakrzewski is the ninth death sentence carried out in the state this year, a new recordA Florida man convicted of killing his wife and two children in 1994 became the ninth person to be put to death on Thursday in Florida this year, marking a state record for a single-year execution total since the restoration of the death penalty in the US decades ago.Edward Zakrzewski was pronounced dead at 6.12pm local time following a three-drug injection at Florida state prison near Starke. Continue reading...

Packaging mixup resulted in drinks labeled as Celsius energy drinks actually containing High Noon vodka seltzersAmericans have been advised that some packages of a brand of vodka seltzers have been mistakenly mislabeled as a non-alcoholic high energy drink, triggering a recall announcement from High Noon, the alcoholic beverage brand, that was posted by the the US Food and Drug Administration.In a statement, High Noon said two lots of High Noon Beach Variety 12-packs contain cans mislabeled as CELSIUS(R) ASTRO VIBE Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition". Continue reading...

Acclaimed playwright, director and artist was known for his opera Einstein on the Beach and many A-list collaborationsRobert Wilson, renowned theatre director, playwright and artist, has died at the age of 83.His death was confirmed by the Watermill Center, an arts hub Wilson founded in Water Mill, New York. He died peacefully after a brief but acute illness". Continue reading...

Freed British-Israeli accuses PM of moral failure' over move to recognise Palestine at UN unless Israel changes courseKeir Starmer has said he is listening to hostages taken by Hamas but still intends to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel commits to a ceasefire and two-state solution.The prime minister said he had spoken to the freed British-Israeli Emily Damari, held hostage by Hamas for 471 days, after she accused him of moral failure" over the move to recognise Palestine as a state in September at the UN. Continue reading...

Comptroller general lodged two cases in country's supreme court after failed attempt to sell to consortiumPanama's comptroller general has lodged two cases with the country's supreme court against the owners of two ports at the centre of a geopolitical struggle between the US and China, in a move likely to be seen as a victory for Donald Trump in his attempt to rid the Panama canal of Chinese influence.The decision follows a failed attempt to sell the ports to a consortium headed by the US investment fund BlackRock and Swiss shipping firm MSC. Continue reading...

Singer says on social media living with disease can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically'Pop star Justin Timberlake has said he is suffering from Lyme disease, a serious illness usually contracted after being bitten by a tick and that has seen an upsurge in prevalence across a swathe of the US in recent years.In an Instagram post, the singer wrote: I've been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease - which I don't say so you feel bad for me - but to shed some light on what I've been up against behind the scenes." Continue reading...

Stephenson to take over at equality watchdog even though committees raised concerns about breadth of experienceMary-Ann Stephenson has been confirmed as the new chair of the equalities watchdog, after the government overruled the objections of parliament's equalities committee over her suitability for the job.Stephenson, the chair of the Women's Budget Group, will take on the role at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in December. It includes responsibility for implementing guidance about transgender rights after the supreme court judgment on the definition of a woman. Continue reading...

Muhammad Zaher Ibrahim, 16, has been detained for five months on accusations of rock-throwing and has reportedly developed scabiesThe family of a 16-year-old dual American-Palestinian citizen is trying to secure his release from an Israeli prison where he has been held in detention for more than five months and where they say he has lost a significant amount of weight and developed a severe skin infection.Muhammad Zaher Ibrahim was still 15 when he was arrested at his family's home in the occupied West Bank village of Silwad in February. According to relatives, he was blindfolded and handcuffed before being taken to the Megiddo prison in Israel, where he remains in pre-trial detention accused of throwing rocks - accusations his family denies. Continue reading...

Reversal of curbs adopted the previous week comes as Russia attacks capital with drones and missilesUkraine's parliament has passed a law restoring independence to two anti-corruption bodies, essentially annulling another law adopted last week that prompted the biggest street protests since Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago.Several hundred protesters outside the parliament building in Kyiv erupted into chants of the people are the power" as the bill passed on Thursday lunchtime. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereSyrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani said his country wants Russia by our side" and called for mutual respect" between the two nations following the overthrow of Syria's previous Moscow-backed government last year, AFP reports.The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path," he told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during a visit to Moscow, according to a Russian translation of his comments.The situation in Gaza is utterly deplorable, and Israel is not fulfilling its most basic obligations and agreed-upon commitments regarding humanitarian aid.Sweden therefore demands that the EU, as soon as possible, freezes the trade component of the association agreement. Economic pressure on Israel must increase. The Israeli government must allow unrestricted humanitarian aid in Gaza. Continue reading...

Working first with his wife Jane, and later with illustrators including Raymond Briggs and Bruce Ingman, he wrote more than 150 booksAuthor Allan Ahlberg, who delighted generations of children with colourful characters and nimble rhymes, has died aged 87.Working with his wife Janet, an award-winning illustrator, Ahlberg produced a host of bestselling nursery classics including Burglar Bill, Peepo!, and Each Peach Pear Plum. After Janet's death in 1994, he worked with illustrators such as Raymond Briggs and Bruce Ingman, with his career coming full circle in a series of collaborations with his daughter Jessica including Half a Pig and a pop-up set of anarchic variations on the tale of Goldilocks. Continue reading...

As ministers aim to smash' people-smuggling gangs, milestone passes almost a month earlier than previous record of 2022The number of people arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats has passed 25,000 faster this year than since records began.As ministers aim to smash the gangs" involved in people-smuggling, 898 people made the journey in 13 boats on Wednesday, bringing the total for 2025 so far to 25,436. Continue reading...

As a private developer plans to transform Dandenong with apartments, shops and offices, some say the preservation of the Indian shopping hub is at risk

At the party's state conference this weekend, members and unions will have their say. The question then becomes whether governments - federal and state - will listen

Exclusive: Asylum seekers say accessing mosquito nets impossible' amid warnings virus compounds pre-existing health conditions

The UN has called for a full ceasefire and for Israel to allow humanitarian aid in. Plus, Trump accused of direct attack' on Brazilian democracy over judge sanctionsGood morning.Aid workers have said Israel's new measures - meant to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza - fall far short of what is needed and aid access continues to be blocked amid the population's spiralling famine.How much aid is now needed? The number of aid trucks that have been entering Gaza since the new measures were announced has increased, with more than 200 trucks entering on Tuesday, according to Israeli customs authority (COGAT). But it falls far below the 500-600 trucks the UN has said is necessary to sustain the 2 million residents of Gaza.What did Harris say? I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor. ... But after deep reflection, I've decided that I will not run for governor in this election." Continue reading...

President says it is important the state listens to public opinion' as measure restores independence to two anti-corruption bodiesJust as expected (10:51, 11:19). Notably, 331 votes in favour, zero against.Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko just posted an update after overnight attacks on Kyiv, saying that the death toll from the strikes rose to eight as rescue efforts continue across several districts" of the capital. Continue reading...

Eight children at camp in Stathern, Leicestershire were taken to hospital as a precaution but were dischargedA 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after eight children at a summer camp were taken to hospital.Police and ambulance crews were deployed to the rural camp in Stathern, Leicestershire, after a report that a number of children had said they were unwell. Continue reading...

Warning: this article contains graphic and distressing testimony and imagesResearch documents horrific and extreme' attacks by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces and warns that impunity has meant such atrocities are expanding to new regionsHundreds of health workers across Tigray have documented mass rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy and sexual torture of women and children by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers, in systematic attacks that amount to crimes against humanity, a new report has found.The research, compiled by Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa (OJAH), represents the most comprehensive documentation yet of weaponised sexual violence in Tigray. It reviewed medical records of more than 500 patients, surveys of 600 health workers, and in-depth interviews with doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and community leaders. Continue reading...

Campaigners say passengers are being priced off railways as cost of cheaper advance fares surpasses government capRail fares rose by 5.1% across Great Britain over the last year, with cheaper advance fares increasing by almost double the rate of inflation, official data has shown.Campaigners said passengers were being priced off the railway after the price of tickets surpassed the government cap on regulated fares, which account for about half of rail journeys. Continue reading...

MoJ figures show 10,568 assaults on staff in the last year, while number of people dying in jail rose by almost a thirdAttacks on prison officers and the number of inmate deaths in England and Wales have soared to record levels according to official figures released on Thursday.Ministry of Justice statistics show there were 10,568 assaults on staff in jails between 24 April 2024 and 25 March - up 7% on the previous year. Continue reading...

Former Beauty and the Geek reality TV contestant Tamika Chesser was charged after body discovered in Port Lincoln in June

Public servants and private contractors with access to sensitive national security information are making it easy for spies, including by posting on LinkedIn, Mike Burgess will say in a speech

Earl's portrait of young drovers in central Queensland praised by judges for beautiful insight into reality of life in rural Australia'

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David James, 26, was arrested in late 2024 and charged with 13 offences but details not revealed until now due to court non-publication order

Majority of rough sleepers using site near light rail stop are women, who find it safer due to CCTV cameras and public location

Peta urges UK business secretary to update regulations so wool is no longer grouped under textile'British consumers trying to avoid animal-derived products are being misled by unclear footwear labelling, a leading animal rights charity has said.Under current legislation in the UK, all footwear must be labelled to show the main materials - at least 80% - used in the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Years of preparation and global coordination ensured communities from Japan to Hawaii were not caught off guardGood morning. Yesterday one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded hit a sparsely populated region in far east Russia.It triggered a tsunami that started crossing the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour. What followed was a race against time - early warning systems went into alert mode as waves fanned out towards the coastlines of Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast.Travel | The head of the UK's air traffic control company is facing calls to resign after hundreds of flights were delayed when the system went down for about 20 minutes on Wednesday.Israel-Gaza war | A British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for more than 15 months has accused Keir Starmer of moral failure" after he set the UK on course to recognise a Palestinian state. Emily Damari, 29, who was released in January, said the prime minister was not standing on the right side of history" and should be ashamed.UK news | The co-founder of Palestine Action can bring a legal challenge to the home secretary's decision to ban the direct action group under anti-terrorism laws, a high court judge has ruled.Environment | Ethnic minorities and people living in the most deprived areas of England are at increased risk of dying due to excess heat, according to new research.Technology | Five million extra online age checks a day are being carried out in the UK since the Online Safety Act introduced age-gating for pornography sites, according to new data from the Age Verification Providers Association. Continue reading...

South Korea has experienced a record-breaking streak of tropical nights', while Japan saw its hottest day on record on ThursdayAuthorities in Japan and South Korea have urged people to take precautions to prevent heatstroke, as the region reels from record-breaking temperatures and pressure on hospitals.On Thursday, South Korea's meteorological office said the country had experienced a record-breaking streak of tropical nights" for 22 consecutive days this month. Continue reading...

The lawyer and activist who helped lead the Australian civil rights movement changed the lives of Aboriginal people across the nation'

Hard drive of audio recordings of witnesses and Lehrmann, copies of statements and videos destroyed by police, defence solicitor says

Culture ministry had threatened legal action over planned auction of Piprahwa precious stonesThe Indian government has secured the repatriation of ancient gem relics linked to the Buddha's remains, two months after it halted their auction in Hong Kong.In a post on X, the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said the return of the Piprahwa gems after 127 years was a joyous day for our cultural heritage". Continue reading...

Commission's interim report calls on LNP government to remove so-called Best Practice Industry Conditions' from procurement policy

Loribelle Spirovski's painting of didgeridoo/yidaki player wins the $5,000 prize decided by the public, with more than 40,000 votes cast

After Wednesday's 8.8 magnitude quake, false claims spread online that Winfrey refused to let the public use a private road in Maui - and not for the first timeEven as the threat of a tsunami swamping Hawaii had passed on Wednesday, social media posts were still circulating claims that Oprah Winfrey had refused immediate access to a private road that would allow residents a shorter evacuation route.The warnings followed one of the century's most powerful earthquakes, an 8.8 magnitude quake that struck off a Russian peninsula and generated tsunami warnings and advisories for a wide swath of the Pacific. Posts on X and TikTok contended Winfrey refused to open her private road, or was slow to do so during the evacuation. Continue reading...

Technology will now be used up to 10 times a week across five days, up from four times a week across two daysBritain's biggest police force is to more than double its use of live facial recognition to up to 10 deployments a week.The move by the Metropolitan police comes as it restructures to cover the loss of 1,400 officers and 300 staff amid budget shortages. Continue reading...

Government drive to support small business will include startup loans for 69,000 companies worth 4bnKeir Starmer has warned businesses who persistently delay payments to their suppliers that it is time to pay up" as the government prepares to impose fines and penalties on repeat offenders.In what Labour has billed as the toughest crackdown on late payments in a generation, the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, will say on Thursday that the changes will slash a cost to the economy that has escalated to 11bn a year. Continue reading...

Aid agencies, governments and UN's food security monitor report evidence of worsening starvation, particularly among under-fivesHumanitarian experts and doctors are warning that children, elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk of famine in Gaza.Pro-Israeli activists and Israel's foreign ministry have tried to challenge the veracity of shocking pictures that have appeared in the international media, despite widespread and well-documented evidence of growing and worsening famine under conditions of Israeli restrictions on aid. Continue reading...

Mexican president said citizens held at controversial Florida immigration jail should be repatriated immediately'Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has said that the country is demanding the repatriation of at least 30 of its citizens currently being held in the controversial Florida immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz".The Mexican leader said on Wednesday that a note had been sent to US authorities demanding that any Mexicans who might enter this detention center should be repatriated immediately". Continue reading...

Ruling dashes hopes of campaigners who argue booths are stressful and stigmatising for pupilsThe high court has upheld the use of isolation booths by schools in England, dashing the hopes of campaigners who argue they are stressful and stigmatising for pupils.A judge turned down an application for a judicial review of the use of isolation booths at a secondary school in Leeds, noting that there are few alternatives other than suspension and that behaviour in two of the three cases submitted showed signs of improvement. Continue reading...

Restaurant Le Violon confirms former Canadian prime minister and singer visited but saw no signs of PDA'Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry were seen dining together in Montreal this week.A communications consultant for the restaurant Le Violon confirmed that the former Canadian prime minister and the singer spent about two hours at the fine-dining spot on Monday evening. Photos of the meetup published by TMZ led to speculation of a budding romance. Continue reading...

Alleged driver in car rampage that killed six and injured 300 people sends at least five survivors appeals for forgiveness'The suspect in a deadly car ramming at a packed German Christmas market has written to victims of the rampage in letters sent to their homes with agitated appeals for forgiveness", triggering outrage from recipients.A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office in the state of Saxony-Anhalt confirmed that at least five people injured in the December attack in Magdeburg that killed six people, including a six-year-old child, had received correspondence this month from the Saudi doctor Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, who is in pretrial detention in Berlin. Continue reading...

People in Guam and Japan move to higher ground, while highways in Hawaii busy as residents leave for safe areas

Is Labor's VicGrid bill really as alarming as some believe and what does it mean for property owners?

Derelict property built for textile designer Bernat Klein in 1972 goes for 279,000 after starting price of 18,000A coalition of design and conservation charities has won an auction to buy a threatened modernist building in the Scottish Borders after a fiercely contested bidding battle.The group, headed by the National Trust for Scotland, paid a final hammer price of 279,000 for the Bernat Klein Studio near Selkirk in an online auction on Wednesday morning. The final price of the property, which has lain unused and derelict for more than 20 years, could be in the region of 336,000. Continue reading...