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Spokesperson says departing PM will serve out remainder of his term representing Holborn and St Pancras

President was due to sign bill aimed at making life more affordable for US voters ahead of midterms

In this week's newsletter: As the EU consolidates, the UK faces renewed debate over the longterm shape of its relationship with the continent Don't get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereThe morning of 24 June 2016, the day after Britain voted to leave the EU, dawned grey and overcast in Brussels, after a stormy night. As the Guardian's correspondent in the city, after a few hours' sleep, I hurried to a breakfast briefing with Conservative MEPs at a smart hotel in the EU quarter. Large trays of eggs, sausages and beans were barely touched, as MEPs fielded questions they couldn't answer: What happens now? When would the UK leave? Would David Cameron resign? A few hours later he did.In the EU institutions officials broke down in tears. A few top British EU civil servants prepared to resign. Anti-EU populists were jubilant. European leaders feared a domino effect of withdrawals. Sadness, shock and anger swirled on that humid day. The then-president of the European parliament, Martin Schulz, told me that EU lawyers were studying whether it was possible to speed up the triggering of article 50, the then-obscure and untested EU exit clause. Then European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker declared he would like to get Brexit negotiations started immediately". The idea of hurrying Britain out the door was soon dropped, but those statements reflected the febrile mood. Continue reading...

Tory leader said Labour MPs were cheering, even though there are 400 knives' in Starmer's backBen Quinn is a Guardian political correspondent.Nigel Farage has made an explicit pitch for support from an international gathering of thousands of social conservatives and hard-right activists, likening family breakdown" to community breakdown" as populations grew more diverse.

Jonathan Anderson's golden touch is on display in Paris with mix of metallics, brooches and ripped jeansFashion brands were tuned to the weather forecast in Paris in the run-up to the menswear shows this week - and aware temperatures would reach 40C on Wednesday. This weekend a decision was made - the Christian Dior show, originally scheduled for the afternoon, would be moved to 9am, to avoid the heat of the day.The change in time certainly made the experience more palatable - as did (in possibly a fashion-week first) the cool towels handed to guests on arrival, umbrellas to block out the sun and personalised fans on seats. In the grounds of the grand Musee Nissim de Camondo, which is under renovation to reopen in 2030, those in the garden even had the benefit of the occasional breeze. Continue reading...

UK issues rare red heat alert as extreme heat causes power outages in parts of France

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Pharrell Williams's menswear collection had a surf theme, while Saint Laurent models wore skinny suitsIn temperatures close to 40C, most of Paris would have loved to go to the beach this week. Guests at the Louis Vuitton show got the look at least - the ground was covered with sand and there was a huge artificial wave as a backdrop.The menswear collection, designed by Pharrell Williams, had a surf theme. There were branded wetsuits, Ugg-style boots and the chunky knits surfers wear at the end of a day. There were some jumpers and slouchy suiting, but the active lifestyle idea took centre stage with board shorts, caps, skate-style sneakers and a gilet. Some models carried surfboards branded with the Louis Vuitton logo and the final look was a model in a monogram wetsuit carrying a bike on his shoulder. Continue reading...

Woman posed as sex worker and drugged men in order to steal from them with accompliceA woman posed as a sex worker and administered a deadly amount of sedative to two men so that she and an accomplice could steal from them.Adina Mihai, 31, and Madalin Dumitru, 30, admitted the manslaughter of an 80-year-old Gloucestershire man and a 37-year-old from Oxfordshire. Continue reading...

Rights activists call UK ambassador morally compromised' for accepting honour from Bahraini king in apparent breach of Foreign Office rulesThe British ambassador to Bahrain has been accused of breaching government rules over accepting an award by the Gulf state's king, a move critics suggest signals diplomats and civil servants are up for grabs".This week, the ambassador, Alastair Long, received the Order of Bahrain from King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, in recognition of his diplomatic tenure, which human rights activists and politicians say is in direct breach" of the Foreign Office's rules on accepting foreign awards. Continue reading...

Interim report says other train it hit had halted on line because warning system wrongly caused it to brakeThe train whose driver died in the Bedford rail crash passed a danger signal without stopping - while the train it hit had halted on the line because its warning system had wrongly caused it to brake, investigators believe.An initial report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch into the crash, which killed a train driver and injured more than 100 people, said it was not yet clear whether the train's automatic warning system alerted the driver of the southbound Luton airport express from Corby that he had passed a red signal. Continue reading...

Controversial agreement under which UK can return people who arrive by small boat will not be further extendedThe one in, one out" agreement on cross-Channel migration between the UK and France is due to end in October, according to French media reports.Under the terms of the deal, asylum seekers who arrive in the UK in a small boat can be forcibly returned to France in exchange for others in France who have not tried to cross the Channel being brought to the UK legally. Continue reading...

Growing number of cases involve police working as rideshare drivers while carrying government-issued gunsWhen the gap between his salary and his family's basic expenses began widening dramatically, Diego - like many other Argentinians - started working as a rideshare driver on top of his day job. He usually does a few hours at the end of his 12-hour shift; and more on his days off.It would be just another story from recession-ridden Argentina, but for the fact that Diego is a federal police officer. Continue reading...

Country is militarily the strongest in Europe', says Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who wants coalition ready in case US pulls troopsThe US's attitude to the defence of Europe has changed permanently and a European coalition of the willing, including Ukraine, should be established to defend the continent, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Nato secretary general, has said.A coalition of the willing compromising 45 states is already in theory poised to act as a reassurance and training force inside Ukraine in the event of a peace settlement with Russia. Continue reading...

Leaked letter to PM and military demands action to stop violence against Palestinians in occupied West BankDozens of Israelis from the country's security, political and cultural elite have threatened legal action against their government over support for Jewish terrorism and an ideology of ethnic cleansing" in the occupied West Bank, according to a leaked letter.Two former prime ministers, former heads of all Israeli security services, former judges, a Nobel laureate and the country's most revered living novelist were among the signatories to a final warning" over violence against Palestinians. Continue reading...

Analysis by more than 150 political scientists finds proportion who back such parties has increased nearly fivefold since 1995Almost one in four voters in Europe now cast their ballot for far-right parties, research shows, a proportion that has grown nearly fivefold since the mid-1990s and climbed particularly steeply over the past three years.Analysis by more than 150 political scientists in 31 countries found the proportion of Europeans voting for a far-right party in their country's most recent national elections had risen to more than 23%, from about 10% a decade ago and roughly 5% in 1995. Continue reading...

Opponents seize on Farrer MP David Farley's decision to vote alongside teals and Greens to wind back fuel tax credits for miners, farmers and others

Tony Abbott says he has lost a good friend as NSW opposition leader pays tribute to force of nature'The former Liberal heavyweight Teena McQueen is being remembered for her contribution to the party despite her defection to One Nation.McQueen, who served as the federal Liberal party vice-president from 2017 to 2023, died on Wednesday after battling severe sickness. Continue reading...

An additional case is suspected in Western Australia, which would bring the total number of bird flu infections to four

Neso issues rare summer warning for Wednesday evening, as households turn on fans and air conditioningGreat Britain's grid operator has released a rare summer power supply warning for Wednesday evening as the heatwave is expected to get more intense, putting pressure on the energy system.The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued an electricity margin notice late on Tuesday, asking power plant owners to provide any extra electricity, as the buffer between supply and expected demand comes under pressure. Continue reading...

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I love you,' Leah Stewart told her mother and partner after coming out of a coma on Tuesday

British disinfectant brand withdraws advert about a man's efforts to find a clean and untouched' womanThe British hygiene brand Dettol has apologised after an advertisement released in China, which it said was intended to criticise toxic men", was widely condemned on social media as offensive to women.The five-minute advert for a multipurpose disinfectant, released across many online platforms at the end of May, features a man comparing his girlfriend with his former partner. Learning that his former girlfriend had previously lived with someone else, the man likens their relationship to a secondhand service". He then tells his friends that he intends to find a clean and untouched" woman with whom he can be the first sexual partner. Continue reading...

LGBTQ+ support service says men from countries where homosexuality is illegal are targeted for attacks via dating apps

Investigators said one of the teenagers who allegedly opened fire on students at a high school had regularly used the GoreBox gaming appPhilippine authorities have temporarily blocked the online gaming app GoreBox days after a rare school shooting in the south-east Asian nation killed three students and injured 20 others.Investigators said that of the two teenagers accused of opening fire on students at San Jose National high school in Tacloban city, one had regularly played the game, which allows players to use various weapons and depicts graphic violence. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: As heatwaves intensify, Britain's ecosystems are being pushed beyond their evolutionary limitsOur green and pleasant land is sizzling. This week, millions of us across the UK are baking in unprecedented heat. The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning from 9am today in parts of southern Wales, and central and southern England. The temperature record for June of 35.6C is almost certain to be broken; Bristol is forecast to hit an alarming 39C tomorrow.In the heat, the country's infrastructure is straining: millions of homes are overheating, rail operators have warned against all but essential travel, and hospital admissions are set to surge. The Climate Change Committee concluded last month the UK is built for a climate that no longer exists - and warned today on the country's policies towards achieving net zero.UK news | Searing heat has swept the UK with schools, hospitals, transport networks and water companies struggling to cope with the extreme temperatures caused by climate breakdown.UK politics | Keir Starmer has met Andy Burnham for the first time since the Makerfield byelection in what sources said was a frosty" meeting to thrash out a transition of power.US news | Marco Rubio is to meet Gulf allies in an attempt to reassure them that the US remains committed to their security and the 60-day ceasefire deal struck with Iran last week will not embolden Tehran.Europe news | Forty people have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas across France in recent days, as people across the country sought respite from a record-breaking heatwave.UK politics | Nigel Farage has said his 5m gift from a crypto billionaire is not any of your business" as it was given unconditionally to be spent on anything from Ferraris to gambling on horses. Continue reading...

Party colleagues concerned opposition leader was missing an opportunity to differentiate Coalition from One Nation

Row over landmark' development in Stirchley has left people homeless and put businesses at risk, say localsA housing development in Birmingham, touted as a model for community-owned housing in the UK, is at serious risk of collapse" due to a dispute over construction costs.The Stirchley Cooperative Development (SCD), which was founded by local residents and businesses in Birmingham in 2016, was meant to provide 39 affordable and landlord-free homes owned and run by the people who live and work there by 2024. Continue reading...

Sharon Graham is urged to withdraw her claim that the energy secretary would cost jobs if he became chancellorMore than 40 progressive economists have written to Sharon Graham, the leader of Unite, rejecting her claim that Ed Miliband would destroy jobs if he becomes the next chancellor.With Andy Burnham almost certain to be prime minister within weeks, there is a fierce debate within Labour about who should succeed Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, with Miliband considered a frontrunner. Continue reading...

Many buildings are in use past their predicted lifespans, but even newer designs lack measures to beat heatTo see the UK's failure to plan for the impacts of climate crisis, look no further than Beaconsfield primary school in west London - where a building more than 100 years old copes with extreme temperatures better than its neighbour, built less than 10 years ago.I've got two buildings on my site - the older building is a Victorian-Edwardian-style building. It's roughly 130 years old. That building is constructed with solid brickwork, very thick walls. It stays warm in winter and in summer it tends to keep the heat out so it is cooler inside. Even this week it's starting to get uncomfortable but it's still tolerable," said Dave Woods, Beaconsfield's headteacher. Continue reading...

Matriarchal groups in east and west exhibit distinct click patterns, used to form social structuresFrom Howdy" to G'day", English - like other languages - is rich in dialects. Now researchers have found sperm whales on different sides of the Mediterranean show similar variations in their vocalisations.Sperm whales communicate vocally using sequences of short clicks called codas. However, the rhythmic pattern of these clicks, known as the dialect, can differ between different matriarchal groups. Continue reading...

Church marks 300 years with exhibition and online archive telling of UK's first Black voters, and history of compassion and protestFrom a family of chimney sweeps including one of Britain's two earliest documented Black voters, to the mystery of a 19-year-old youth believed enslaved, St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square still has secrets to share as it marks its 300th anniversary.Standing at the heart of London's political and cultural life for three centuries, its ranks of engraved memorial stones set into the floor and walls of the crypt and cafe are yielding glimpses into long-forgotten lives of ordinary Londoners. Continue reading...

Autobiographical work Free Me aims to encourage victims to speak out in country where violence against women is risingThere are audible gasps in the auditorium in Nairobi as a husband launches a volley of blows and slaps on his wife and pushes her to the floor. I wish I could spare you this," the wife tells the audience. My husband beat me up as if we were in a bar fight. Except, in a bar someone fights back."The scene comes from Free Me, an autobiographical play by Gathoni Kimuyu, a Kenyan theatre and TV producer who lived through an abusive marriage. Continue reading...

Jane Allan's winning Darling portrait prize painting has raised eyebrows after her Doyles art award piece was compared to artist Nicholas HardingAn Australian painter was clearly influenced" by New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in a major prize-winning work, according to the National Portrait Gallery, after she was accused of winning a separate $20,000 prize with an imitation" of a Nicholas Harding piece.The National Portrait Gallery has declined to comment further on the marked similarities between a 1982 work by Basquiat, Untitled (Two Heads on Gold), and a work by Lennox Head artist Jane Allan, titled Weight of the Mind's Periapt. Continue reading...

Christian Miles berated Oklahoma state troopers near Washington DC landmark subject to botched renovationA Washington DC resident arrested this week near the National Mall's reflecting pool told the Guardian he planned to fight the charges, as Donald Trump continues to blame vandals for the botched renovation of the pool.After the Trump administration spent $14.2m renovating thebody of water in front of the Lincoln Memorial to turn it American flag" blue in time for the US's 250th birthday next month, the pool has been beset with algae blooms and peeling polyurethane liner. Trump has claimed, without evidence, that the pool had been slashed with a knife. Continue reading...

Climate Change Committee chair Nigel Topping says U-turns damage investor confidence and disrupt businessesWeakening the UK's net zero policy would disrupt business and damage the economy, the UK's chief climate adviser has warned.Nigel Topping, chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), said: The U-turns are really damaging to inward investor confidence. If we really want to grow the economy, then investing and getting good at building stuff is essential." Continue reading...

UK regulator has increased its scrutiny of fashion retailers over potentially misleading environmental statementsAds for Calvin Klein, Adidas and Uniqlo promoting recycled" clothing and shoes have been banned by the UK watchdog after the advertisers were unable to prove their green claims.Each of the fashion companies ran paid-for Google ads, with Adidas promoting recycled running shoes", Calvin Klein recycled" tops for women, and Uniqlo advertised fleece coats and jackets made from recycled materials". Continue reading...

However, Imperial College team also find that pollution has worse health impact than previously understoodDeaths linked to air pollution fell by an estimated 40% in London over the five years from 2019, according to new analysis.The city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, welcomed what he called overwhelming evidence" that his ultra-low emission zone was saving lives. Continue reading...

Airbus to inspect 15 Emirates and one Qantas plane after cracks found in structural wing beam of some jets

Decision is one of Makerfield MP's most significant since his Westminster return as he builds his team for governmentAndy Burnham has chosen his Blairite former colleague James Purnell as his chief of staff, the Guardian understands, as he begins to finalise his team for government.The Makerfield MP has picked his former cabinet colleague to be his right-hand man in Downing Street, in one of the most significant decisions he has made since returning to Westminster. Continue reading...

Customers report having to use cash at stores such as Tesco and to buy drinks due to outage at payments processor WorldPayShoppers reported problems with making card payments at British pubs and supermarkets on Tuesday after a power outage affected one of the world's largest payment processing platforms.Customers said contactless payments were not working at a number of stores including Tesco branches at a time when football fans were watching the World Cup group game between England and Ghana at pubs, screenings and restaurants. Continue reading...

Robinson says Pauline Hanson has carried on fighting' despite backlash in since-deleted episode of the Karl Stefanovic Show

Four Republicans joined Democrats to back a measure seeking to limit the US president's military authority

Excerpts of footage of response to incident earlier described as shocking' but review finds use of force justifiedA review of video footage that appeared to show South Yorkshire police officers shoving and drawing batons and stun guns on teenage girls has found the the use of force was proportionate, necessary, and justified to keep all involved safe".South Yorkshire police initially described the footage as appearing nothing short of shocking" but a review by its professional standards department found that while there is an opportunity for learning around de-escalation" the actions were appropriate. Continue reading...

The vehicle was using an automated driving feature at high speed and killed a 76-year-old woman standing in the home

Independent report says by aiming at children Israel is undermining capacity of Palestinian people to existIsrael continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, an independent UN inquiry has found.The report by the UN independent international commission of inquiry examined violations against Palestinian children since the start of the war in Gaza, and said about 30% of the people killed by Israeli forces have been children. Continue reading...

Dan Jarvis, who took the role earlier this month, is said to have secured around one billion pounds more for the plan than his predecessorDan Jarvis, the new defence secretary, promised to publish the delayed defence investment plan (Dip) before the Nato summit in a fortnight amid indications he has already secured around a billion pounds more than his predecessor, John Healey.Haggling between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Treasury is continuing - while a source in Andy Burnham's team said he was happy for a final deal to be concluded while Keir Starmer serves out his last days as prime minister. Continue reading...

Kemi Badenoch, who joined US anti-abortion activists and European far-right parties at ARC, described energy secretary as a villain'Britain's net zero policies and the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, have come under fire at a conference of conservatives, rightwing populists and wealthy US backers linked to Donald Trump.The energy policies pursued by the British government were described as a tragic mistake" by Trump's energy secretary, one of a number of officials from the US administration attending the event. Continue reading...

Great Britain has paid at least six times the normal price for imported power as millions turn on air conditioning and windfarm output sagsThe heatwave has prompted a sharp rise in electricity prices across European markets as millions turn to air conditioners and electric fans to battle record high temperatures, which have also caused a string of power plant outages across the continent.Great Britain imported electricity from Europe at more than six times the normal price on Tuesday as the high-pressure heat dome has slowed wind speeds, hitting renewable energy generation, and led to outages at multiple gas plants across the country. Continue reading...

US secretary of state seeks to reassure UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain over security and US-Iran ceasefire deal