Nick Thomas-Symonds indicates closer ties with Europe in future and promises to agree agriculture deal

Younes Ali Younes, 20, will appear again in December with co-accused Giovanni Laulu although court heard no evidence of links to Iran

Typical annual bill to increase by just over 35 to 1,755 from October when Ofgem raises government price cap by 2%

Two such groups claim they persuaded Alberta to institute sweeping public school book banSocially conservative parents' rights" groups that have emerged as powerfully political lobbying groups in the US are quickly gaining ground in Canada, academics and free speech advocates say, after two such groups claimed they had persuaded Alberta to institute a sweeping public school book ban.Alberta recently directed schools to purge library books from shelves that fit its definition of explicit sexual content" by 1 October. If the policy is applied precisely as outlined, a host of books face being purged, including George Orwell's 1984 due to passages in the text that discuss sexual intercourse and rape. Continue reading...

Charities sound alarm over plan to give asylum seekers just 28 days to find new housing once they have a decision on their case

Market value of Woolworths, Australia's largest supermarket chain, slips from over $40bn to less than $35bn

Victoria police chief commissioner Mike Bush says suspect Dezi Freeman, 56, is heavily armed' and still at large. This blog is now closed

Climate 200 founder beats out at least six other bidders for meeting with opposition leader in charity auction for Parliament's Midwinter Ball

Mohammad A, 16, given 18-month suspended sentence for helping plan foiled attack in ViennaA Berlin court has convicted a Syrian teenager of contributing to an Islamic State-inspired plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.Three dates in the US pop star's record-breaking Eras tour were cancelled last summer after authorities learned of the plot. Continue reading...

Tehran rejects the accusation of orchestrating antisemitic attacks in Australia and says Anthony Albanese is weak'

Angela Eagle accuses other parties of offering fag packet plans' as ministers face mounting pressure on immigrationThe Home Office has promised a big surge" in asylum hotel closures in the new year, with five more to shut in the coming months, as ministers face mounting pressure over the government's record on immigration.Speaking after a weekend of protests and counter-protests over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, Home Office minister Angela Eagle said the government had inherited a border security system in tatters" and accused opposition parties of offering the fag packet plans without the substance on delivery". Continue reading...

At least 20 people, including five journalists, died as they rushed to help those wounded in the first strikeIsrael bombed the main hospital in southern Gaza on Monday and then struck the same spot again as rescuers and journalists rushed to help the wounded, killing at least 20 people including five journalists, health officials said.The first strike hit the top floor of a building at the Nasser hospital, killing the Reuters journalist Hussam al-Masri and others. Journalists and rescuers then rushed to the scene to help the wounded, when a second bomb struck the same spot, 15 minutes later. Continue reading...

Ken Loach collaborator was allegedly wearing a T-shirt that referenced banned group Palestine ActionThe award-winning Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty has been arrested in Edinburgh for wearing a T-shirt that allegedly referenced the proscribed protest group Palestine Action.Laverty was attending a protest outside St Leonard's police station in the city centre to support Moira McFarlane, a member of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who was due to be charged under section 13 of the Terrorist Act for wearing a T-shirt with the words: Genocide in Palestine, time to take Action". Continue reading...

Double-tap strike suggests killing of civilians, rescue workers and journalists deliberate and not a mistakeIsrael's twin strike on the Nasser hospital in Gaza, which killed five journalists including staff working for the Associated Press, Reuters, NBC and Al Jazeera, is a potential violation of international law writ large.The attack targeted a civilian building, specifically a hospital, in a reckless double-tap strike that killed civilians, rescue workers and journalists among them. All categories that should be protected under international law. Continue reading...

Band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh faces terrorism charge in UK for alleged display of Hezbollah flag mid-performanceIrish hip-hop trio Kneecap has cancelled its scheduled US tour dates in October, citing the proximity to a court hearing in London involving band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh's alleged mid-performance display of a Hezbollah flag.O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence in the UK in May after being accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah during a concert in London last November. Continue reading...

Findings suggest since 2004 ONS failed to properly account for fact it received more data from larger employersThe UK's gender pay gap has been underestimated for more than 20 years, according to research that could raise fresh questions about the quality of data used to inform key pay decisions across the UK.The findings, released in the British Journal of Industrial Relations on Monday, suggest that, since 2004, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) had failed to properly account for the fact that it received more data from larger employers, when it reported its annual survey of hours and earnings (Ashe). Continue reading...

The man, in his 30s, was also detained over alleged offence of non-consensual intimate image abuse', says MetA Strictly Come Dancing star has been arrested on suspicion of rape, according to reports.The man in his 30s, who has not been named, was also detained over a separate alleged offence of non-consensual intimate image abuse", the Metropolitan police said. Continue reading...

Labour source says questions around deputy PM's new seaside flat are motivated by political opportunismAngela Rayner's allies have hit back at James Cleverly, accusing the shadow housing secretary of having some brass neck" for criticising the deputy prime minister over her council tax arrangements on a property she bought this year.Rayner acquired the seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex, for more than 700,000. The property is subject to the 100% council tax premium on second homes that was introduced in April, which she now pays in full. Continue reading...

Advocates warn increased costs for basic assistance like showers and wound cleaning will push older people into aged care or hospitalMargaret Duckett is scared for her friends.The 77-year-old pensioner is the recipient of a home care package - which allows her to get support with cleaning, gardening, transport, physiotherapy and podiatry - and some personal care, so she can continue living independently at her home in Sydney's Riverview. Continue reading...

Pair allege platform breached failed to provide them with procedural fairness, claiming firm has permanently removed' their livelihood

Cost may increase as much as 170% from September, but patients warned against a quick switch to WegovyPeople using the weight loss jab Mounjaro have been warned against switching to black market sellers or bulk buying after its manufacturer announced the UK will get a significant price rise this autumn.The US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro, recently announced plans to increase the price of the medication in the UK by as much as 170% from September. The move follows pressure from the US president, Donald Trump, to cut medication prices for Americans. Continue reading...

Arming of some troops in US capital is latest escalation as president vows to target other cities led by Black DemocratsSome national guard units patrolling the US's capital at the direction of Donald Trump have started carrying firearms, an escalation of the president's military deployment that makes good on a directive issued late last week by his defense department.A defense department official who was not authorized to speak publicly said some units on certain missions in Washington DC would be armed - some with handguns and others with rifles. The spokesperson said that all units with firearms had been trained and were operating under strict rules for use of force. Continue reading...

Donald Trump's late announcement left operators with extremely limited timeframe to get prepared'Postal services across Europe have suspended most parcel shipments to the US, citing widespread uncertainty about the impact of new import tariffs announced by Donald Trump.France's La Poste on Monday joined other operators, including Germany's Deutsche Post, Spain's Correos, Poste Italiane and the Belgian, Swedish and Danish postal services, which all halted a majority of US-bound shipments over the weekend. Continue reading...

Workers sound alarm over proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern deal and its risks to jobs, prices and powerA proposed mega-merger of two of the largest railroad companies in the US will hurt jobs, raise costs for consumers and increase the risk of more catastrophic train crashes, according to workers and unions.Union Pacific proposed a $85bn deal to buy Norfolk Southern last month, which would create the first transcontinental railroad network in the US. Continue reading...

Nannies stay home and schools provide transport as Trump takes over policing and Ice rounds up immigrantsEarly Tuesday morning, as parents went to drop off their young children at a bilingual childcare center in north-west Washington DC, they received a message from the administrator saying that unmarked cars were parked directly outside.Shortly after 8am, federal agents in tactical vests arrested two people unaffiliated with the center, the administrator said. Continue reading...

Resignation comes after Media Watch revealed a German defence company bidding for an Australian contract paid for him to visit its shipyards

Pentagon official confirms plan as Hakeem Jeffries says president is playing' with Americans' lives. Plus, the sorrow - and relief - of leaving Trump's US for EuropeGood morning.Planning is under way to send national guard troops to Chicago, an official at the Pentagon confirmed to ABC News on Sunday.What did the government say? We won't speculate on further operations. The department is a planning organization and is continuously working with other agency partners on plans to protect federal assets and personnel," a Department of Defense official said, according to ABC.Is the White House planning to send national guard troops to any other states? Pentagon officials confirmed to Fox News that up to 1,700 men and women of the national guard were poised to mobilize in 19 mostly Republican states to support Trump's anti-immigration crackdown.What did Giuffre say about the book? Giuffre wrote to Wallace 25 days before her death, stating that it was her heartfelt wish" the memoir be released regardless" of her circumstances. The content of this book is crucial, as it aims to shed light on the systemic failures that allow the trafficking of vulnerable individuals across borders," the email reads. Continue reading...

Benedict Bryant has pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving occasioning death

Victorian supreme court also hears that mushroom lunch murderer spends 22 hours a day in cell and has had no contact with other inmates

Treasury estimates new policy will only add 0.5% to home prices over six years, but some experts disagree

Luke O'Neill claims blue Wiggle Anthony Field undermined him' and was responsible for unnecessary costs' and budget overruns

Millennial childhood staples such as Walkers and Nik Naks introduce new flavours amid pressure for brands to stay relevantNostalgia for the 1990s might have reached its peak with Oasis back on tour this summer, but several of Britain's best-known brands are also trying to make a comeback, reinventing themselves with new flavours, packaging or names.Walkers, Nik Naks and Bacardi Breezer are among some of the brands that are adapting to try to stand out in the food and drink market. Continue reading...

ONS data shows they are working for free from 1 September, almost three months earlier than Equal Pay Day for all womenWomen with children earn 302 less every week than men with children: one-third less per week and almost 20% less per hour, according to analysis based on ONS data.This means that Mums' Equal Pay Day falls on 1 September this year, almost three months earlier than Equal Pay Day for all women. From this date, mothers are working for free for the rest of the year compared with fathers. Continue reading...

Kushner says in letter to Macron he's concerned over rise of antisemitism' and lack of sufficient action' to confront itFrance summoned the American ambassador Charles Kushner after he wrote a letter to President Emmanuel Macron alleging France had failed to do enough to stem antisemitic violence, a French foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.Kushner, who is Jewish and whose son is married to US President Donald Trump's daughter, published the open letter in the Wall Street Journal amid deep divides between France and the US and Israel. Continue reading...

Firefighters battle blazes amid dry, hot weather as fires in Napa county and Deschutes and Jefferson counties spreadWildfires in California wine country and central Oregon grew overnight, prompting hundreds of evacuations as firefighters worked on Sunday to try to contain the blazes amid dry, hot weather.The Pickett Fire in Napa county had grown to more than 10 sq miles (26 sq km) and was 11% contained as of early Sunday, according to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection. Continue reading...

Others refuse to leave as aircraft and tanks bomb outskirts of city where about half of Gaza's 2m people now liveIsraeli aircraft and tanks have pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City, destroying buildings and homes, as Israeli leaders vowed to press on with an expanded large-scale offensive on the city.Witnesses reported the sound of continuous explosions overnight from Saturday night into Sunday morning in the areas of Zeitoun and Shejaia. Meanwhile, tanks shelled houses and roads in the nearby Sabra neighbourhood and several buildings were blown up in the northern area of Jabaliya. Continue reading...

Health officials report dozens of casualties in Sana'a, including six deathsIsraeli strikes have hit the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, in retaliation for Houthi missiles fired towards Israel, with Houthi health officials saying the attack had killed six people.The strikes on Sunday were the latest in more than a year of direct attacks and counterstrikes between Israel and Houthi militants in Yemen, part of a spillover from the war in Gaza. Continue reading...

Adler was involved behind the scenes of storied Broadway productions before finding acting success in his 60sJerry Adler, who spent decades behind the scenes of storied Broadway productions before pivoting to acting in his 60s, has died aged 96.Adler died on Saturday, according to a brief family announcement confirmed by the Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York. Adler passed peacefully in his sleep", Paradigm Talent Agency's Sarah Shulman said on behalf of his family. No immediate cause was given. Continue reading...

Corrie Lee Stavers remembered as a much loved colleague' at Spanish City Summer Funfair, which shut for weekendThe family of Corrie Lee Stavers, who has died while working on a fairground ride in North Tyneside, have issued a statement describing the impossible" pain of their loss.Stavers, 28, suffered serious head injuries" in what Northumbria police described as a workplace accident" at the Spanish City Summer Funfair in Whitley Bay on Saturday afternoon. Continue reading...

Olympian joins in Europe's biggest street party, the future of which is at risk from lack of sponsors and fundingAny attempt to move Notting Hill carnival out of its traditional home would kill one of the UK's most important cultural events, Usain Bolt has said.Bolt, the world's fastest man and an eight-time Olympic gold medallist, made his first trip to Europe's biggest street party on Sunday. Continue reading...

The prominent religious order postponed the ordination of Donald B Dickerson, but ultimately allowed his promotion

Met Office predicts remnants of Hurricane Erin will then bring wind and rain for the rest of the weekBank holiday temperatures are expected to soar to near 30C (86F) across parts of the UK on Monday before the remnants of Hurricane Erin bring wind and rain.Maximum temperatures on Sunday will be about 26C or 27C, then those attending Notting Hill carnival in London on Monday can expect it to reach 28C or 29C with widespread sunshine for most, the Met Office said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Figures show proportion of sentences referred back as unduly lenient has risen in England and WalesMinisters have vowed to give victims of sexual violence the justice they deserve" as figures showed that growing numbers of sentences for such crimes in England and Wales were being referred back to judges as unduly lenient.According to internal government figures seen by the Guardian, the number of sentences for rape and sexual assault that were increased by the court of appeal after being referred by the public and the attorney general's office has risen this year. Continue reading...

Ideological tensions to be on full display amid growing list of Liberal state divisions opposed to emissions reduction policy

Staff say customers come into Hook and Catch in Bearsden near Glasgow just to try it and film their first biteMarks & Spencer has always been at the forefront of sandwich innovation, having launched the first pre-packed sandwich in the spring of 1980 and raising eyebrows this summer by selling one with strawberry and cream filling.But now a Scottish chip shop has gone a step further, offering to batter and deep-fry the viral snack. In a video posted on TikTok, staff at Hook and Catch near Glasgow can be seen dipping M&S's controversial Strawberry and Creme" sandwich into batter, before deep-frying it, slicing it in half and serving with strawberry sauce. Continue reading...

Exclusive: The creator of some of cinema's most memorable music says it pales in comparison to the great worksAs one of the greatest composers in film, John Williams has written some of the most memorable music in cinema for masterpieces such as Jaws, Jurassic Park and Star Wars.But despite winning five Oscars, the 93-year-old believes that, as an art form, film music pales in comparison to history's great works. Continue reading...

Tory leader tells Sunday Times she is surprised at amount of racism she has experienced since taking up postKemi Badenoch has spoken openly about the racism she has suffered as the first black woman to lead the Conservative party.The Tory leader told the Sunday Times she had been surprised at the amount of racism she had faced since being elected, having previously insisted that Britain was the best place in the world to be black". Continue reading...

Her critics have reacted with fury but some in party feel nostalgia and sense of loss for independence movement'Nicola Sturgeon's month-long promotional tour for her memoir Frankly comes to an end this Friday at the Southbank Centre in London, the city, according to one of many carefully placed publication interviews, where she is considering moving to escape the goldfish bowl scrutiny" of Scotland.The former first minister's political memoir has generated a blizzard of headlines since its launch on 12 August. Some were diverting but ultimately inconsequential, like her choice of future base, others rubbed salt in raw wounds, reprising two of the most divisive episodes in the SNP's recent history - the Scottish government's investigation into allegations of sexual harassment made against her predecessor Alex Salmond, and her flagship gender recognition law changes. Continue reading...

Yvette Cooper to introduce new system of professional adjudicators' to hear appeals by rejected asylum seekersYvette Cooper will prevent judges from hearing appeals from rejected asylum seekers as part of government plans to clear the claims backlog more quickly.The home secretary will set up a new system of professional adjudicators" to hear cases brought by people who have had their asylum claims turned down as the government looks for ways to process tens of thousands of cases. Continue reading...

The difference between my kids and those kids in Palestine is geography,' one attendee says, as thousands turn out for marches