World news | The Guardian

Regulator approval means patients who meet criteria will be able to purchase tablets with private prescriptionPatients in the UK will soon be able to buy the Wegovy weight-loss pill, the medicines regulator announced on Thursday.It is the first GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet for weight-loss to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), making the UK the third country to authorise the pills, behind the US and the United Arab Emirates. Continue reading...

Footage shows Elliot Sudal hauling the shark from the surf before releasing it within seconds, sparking online reactionAn angler who reeled in a rare great white shark at a Nantucket beach said he posted extraordinary video of the encounter to social media as an example of how to safely catch and release one of the ocean's greatest predators.Elliot Sudal said he was testing the waters" off the Massachusetts beach he regularly uses when he inadvertently snagged the shark on Sunday. Continue reading...

Police released photos of person of interest in Tuesday's cross burning, often linked to white supremacy and racismChicago authorities are searching for a suspect after a cross was burned in Grant Park earlier this week.At about 2.30pm on Tuesday, Chicago's fire department responded to reports of a cross set ablaze in the park. No injuries were reported and firefighters quickly extinguished the flames. Continue reading...

The defence secretary's departure was the wrong resignation at the worst possible time for the prime minister

US president warns of further military action as both sides accuse each other of breaching temporary ceasefire

Published for the first time, the data recorded 2,241 daily cases of A&E corridor care, with 699 patients also treated in other inappropriate settingsAlmost 3,000 patients a day in England are receiving care in hospital corridors due to an unavailability of beds in A&E units across the country, according to official figures.Corridor care occurs when a patient receives treatment in a setting that is clinically inappropriate and is deemed to be undignified and unsafe. Continue reading...

Labour leadership hopeful says he does not support payments after backlash but is open to other benefitsAndy Burnham has ruled out paying compensation to the Waspi women" who claim they lost out owing to changes to the state pension age - but said he was open to the idea of giving them other benefits.Burnham had previously indicated he backed compensating as many as 3.6 million women born in the 1950s, some of whom claim they lost thousands of pounds because they were ill-informed about the changes. Continue reading...

Minister accuses Keir Starmer of putting UK's security at risk at a time of growing international threats

PSNI receive reinforcements from Great Britain amid further condemnation of violencePolice have fired plastic bullets and received reinforcements from Great Britain in an effort to contain race riots in Northern Ireland.The force has fired 17 of the projectiles since disturbances erupted on Tuesday, pitting officers against crowds that have thrown rocks, petrol bombs and other missiles. Continue reading...

Pregnant woman in Scotland stressed' and unsure what will happen as result of UK government visa clampdownA heavily pregnant mother living and working in the UK legally fears the Home Office could try to separate her from her unborn baby after her husband and first child were sent go home" letters.Sachintha Warnakulasuriya lives in Scotland with her husband, Indika Kumara and their six-year-old daughter Heily. Warnakulasuriya, 36, has a visa permitting her to work in the UK as a care worker and is sponsored by her employer. Her husband, also 36, and daughter are legally entitled to live in the UK as her dependents. Continue reading...

European Central Bank increases main deposit rate to 2.25%, with two further rises expected by next spring

Broadcaster reveals its revenues from expanded tournament are running about 30% higher than for Euro 2024The World Cup will be the most lucrative sports event ITV has ever aired, the broadcaster has said, with bosses calling the tournament a six-week summer Super Bowl moment" for TV advertising.The channel is airing 51 of the 104 matches across the men's tournament, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, which is the biggest yet after an expansion from 32 to 48 teams. Continue reading...

With some matches being held in nearby Miami, a Cuban response to US military action could mar the tournamentAs Cuba crumbles under a nearly five-month-long US oil blockade, many on the island hope that the World Cup might save the island from US attack - or at least offer a respite until the competition ends on 19 July.The beginning of the World Cup will make it more difficult for the United States to carry out a military action in Cuba," said Carlos Alzugaray, Cuba's former ambassador to the EU. Cuba is very close to the US, and can hit many targets inside the US, especially in south Florida, with drones or other weapons." Continue reading...

Guardian review finds group tied to Cleta Mitchell and Heather Honey funded misleading ads in swing statesAs the 2024 election approached, advertisements began popping up in key swing states suggesting local officials had discretion not to certify elections.The advertisements, reported at the time by ProPublica and Wisconsin Watch, were misleading. Certification is not optional, and officials are required to certify the vote once the proper process for any election challenges are complete and an official challenge is complete. The warnings, nonetheless, arrived at a moment when Donald Trump and allies seemed to be gearing up to contest the election results if he lost. Continue reading...

Iran says US attacks make ceasefire practically meaningless'. Plus, Trump says I love the inflation' when asked about jump to 4.2%Good morning.Has the ceasefire collapsed yet?What is the status of negotiations? Talks to turn the ceasefire into a durable peace deal have stalled for weeks, with periodic flare-ups as both sides continued to launch limited strikes and trade blame for violating the truce.What do the two side want? Iran seeks the lifting of international sanctions, the unfreezing of billions of dollars in assets, and control over the strait of Hormuz. Trump has said any future peace deal must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies it is seeking to do.This is a developing story. Follow our live coverage here.What did Gates say? I support the release of all the Epstein files and sincerely hope that, through your efforts and those of others advocating on their behalf, the survivors of Epstein's crimes can get the justice that they deserve." Continue reading...

Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira faces fraud charges after allegedly persuading family to take her into their homeA 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Brazil accused of pretending to be a 12-year-old girl to deceive a couple who took her into their home for more than a year.Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was charged in the southern state of Santa Catarina with fraud and false identity offences. Continue reading...

London, the east of England and the West Midlands have highest number of cases, as UKHSA urges families to get children vaccinatedTwo children in England have died from measles, health officials say, as data shows more than 100 new reported cases in the last fortnight.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Thursday that two children had died this year, one from acute measles" and the other from the late effects of measles". Continue reading...

Solar supplied 12.8% of US electricity in May even as Trump boosts coal over clean energyEven as Donald Trump boosts coal over clean energy, solar power is hitting new milestones in the US and remains the leading source of new power.Data released Wednesday by global energy thinktank Ember, along with a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (Seia) and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, show the continued growth of solar and decline of coal in the United States despite federal policy. In May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation's electricity than coal, or 12.8%, Ember said. Coal supplied 12.2%, its fourth-lowest monthly share ever. Continue reading...

Sources say firm is asking for more than 1bn in row that could put pressure on two countries' relationship

Mike Ashley's retail group has made a near-2bn takeover bid for fashion house, in which it already holds a 26% stake

Hilary Benn says 16 people arrested and 12 police officers injured during second night of disorderThe Northern Ireland secretary has condemned racist thuggery" in Belfast after a second night of violent anti-immigration protests, in which 16 people were arrested and 12 police officers were injured.Hilary Benn said during the violence, which followed a serious knife attack on Monday, people were stopped in their cars to be asked where they come from and were targeted because of the colour of their skin. Continue reading...

New South Wales police commissioner Mal Lanyon is among witnesses expected to appear at the six-week trial in July next year

A wave of US strikes represents the gravest test yet of the fragile truce. Here's what happened, what officials are saying and whether the deal can survive

Home secretary also urged to force tech firms to share data on stolen devices and if they are reactivatedThe Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has asked the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to force all phone companies to make stolen devices unusable bricks" in order to make them harder to sell on and less desirable to steal.London is widely regarded as the phone-snatching capital of Europe, with between 200 and 300 devices stolen each day. The city accounts for up to three-quarters of all mobile phone thefts in England and Wales. Continue reading...

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Budget airline describes inquiry as bogus' as watchdog says it is only large carrier flying from UK to impose charge

Singer and actor has denied all charges after more than 20 women made allegations against him dating back to 1990sThe French singer Patrick Bruel has been charged with rape and sexual assault in one of the biggest #MeToo cases in the French music industry.The 67-year-old, a major figure in French pop culture, was placed under formal investigation over four cases that included alleged rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: With violent crime declining but hate crime increasing, a look at what we can all do to make our shared spaces saferGood morning. Who is safe on Britain's streets? Two acts of gross violence - the murder of Henry Nowak in Southampton and the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie in Belfast - have been ruthlessly exploited by the far-right and now the spaces we all share are contested.It is an entirely human response to feel unsafe when we watch a clip of an assailant wielding a knife over his victim, or police officers handcuffing a distressed, dying young man. Much as it is when we see ethnic minority families fleeing burning homes in Belfast, or a menacing crowd in Glasgow setting about black people as they pass.Middle East | The US launched new strikes against targets in Iran for the second consecutive day after Donald Trump promised to hit them hard again" as a two-month-old ceasefire appears close to collapse.UK politics | Keir Starmer's closest aides are war-gaming" how to win a leadership contest ahead of Andy Burnham's much-anticipated return to Westminster if he wins the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian understands.Belfast | Elon Musk's X will face no action to remove a mass of posts inciting violence in Northern Ireland for at least two months, despite widespread condemnation of the platform and its billionaire owner.Environment | Temperatures in the Antarctic climbed above 15C this month, shattering the previous winter heat record for the usually frozen region and raising concerns about the speed of climate breakdown.UK news | One of the government's key contractors has launched an investigation into allegations of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate speech among staff working in immigration removal centres, the Guardian has learned. Continue reading...

Explosions reported across Iran after Donald Trump vowed to hit them hard again', with Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan targeted by Tehran

Under US rules, even a distant strike can suspend a game - and some will take place in Florida, the thunderstorm stateHot weather will be a major concern at the World Cup, but lightning may also prove a particular problem. Under US safety regulations, a strike within 10 miles (16km) of a stadium triggers a 30-minute suspension of the game, during which players must leave the pitch.The size of the safety zone was dictated by research on the distance that lightning can strike from a storm even with no clouds overhead. This is more than a theoretical risk. During a game in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998, an entire team was killed by a single bolt of lightning. There have been many other deadly incidents. Continue reading...

Whistleblowers from Mitie allege some employees have made offensive remarks or liked abusive social media postsOne of the government's key contractors has launched an investigation into allegations of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate speech among staff working in immigration removal centres, the Guardian has learned.Whistleblowers from the company, Mitie, have alleged that some staff members working in immigration removal centres and deporting migrants have made offensive comments at work and in social media posts. Continue reading...

Analysis pinpoints areas most vulnerable to hotter, drier weather causing ground to shrink and drag foundations downMillions of homes are at risk from climate-related subsidence, according toan analysis by the British Geological Survey (BGS).As hotter, drier summers driven by global heating become more frequent, the ground under houses can shrink and drag down a property's foundations. The most vulnerable areas include London, Essex, Kent and a tranche of land from Oxford up to the Wash on England's east coast, according to scientists, who say mitigation measures will be needed. Continue reading...

Politicians, social media and far-right agitators convinced people that migrant-targeting violence would solve all their problemsWithin minutes of the footage going online - of a Black man stabbing a white man - there was a sense of inexorability to what came next in Northern Ireland.The grievances, the social media platforms, the politicians' doublespeak and the international cheerleaders all provided a fuse. On Monday night came the spark. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed - our coverage of this crisis in the Middle East continues hereIf the US genuinely wants a deal it will have to engage with Iranian demands on sanctions relief, says Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iran branch of Israeli military intelligence.Today's exchange of strikes shows how easily both Iran and the US can slide towards another round of escalation, says Citrinowicz, who is now a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council.If Washington is unwilling to accept that reality, it should recognize the likely alternative: continued confrontations with Iran that could eventually spiral beyond anyone's control and lead to military conflict under less favorable conditions.Even a limited military campaign designed to weaken Iran would not fundamentally alter Tehran's negotiating position. It has not happened in the past, and there is little reason to believe it would happen now. Iran emerges from the latest exchange of blows convinced that it can absorb pressure and respond to attacks."Legal and moral responsibility of all countries in the region (especially those located along the southern shores of the Persian Gulf) to prevent the US military and Israel from using their territory or facilities to plan, organise, execute, or support hostile actions against Iran. Continue reading...

Orijol Rukaj was on pallbearer duties when he evaded corrections staff - and has been on the run for the six weeks since

The UCL study also found physically punished children were more likely to struggle in schoolChildren smacked by their parents struggle to get good exam results and are more likely to bully others, causing a negative impact on society, according to new research calling for smacking to be banned.The study by University College London (UCL) found that children in England who were physically punished at the ages of three, five and seven were significantly less likely to pass GCSE exams compared with other children, even after factors such as family background were taken into account. Continue reading...

Blundy's investment firm, BBRC International, owns about 13% of the US-listed lingerie brand, giving it a potential platform to launch a hostile takeover

Plan to move 240,000 people off scheme leads states and territories to jointly warn they can't deliver like-for-like services to people who are exited from the NDIS'

Director of Picnic at Hanging Rock and Gallipoli celebrated for defining Australian culture and global influence on craft, form and storytelling'

Man accused of sedating and filming abuse of partner had contact with Pelicot, who was jailed for drugging wife and inviting men to rape herA bodyguard from Lyon is to go on trial for allegedly sedating and raping his partner after he was in contact online with Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted of drugging and raping his own wife, Gisele Pelicot.Pelicot, one of the worst sex offenders in modern French history, is serving 20 years in prison after he was found guilty of drugging his then wife and inviting dozens of men to rape her in their home in the south of France over almost a decade. He and 50 other men were found guilty after the biggest rape trial in French history in 2024. Continue reading...

As the US prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary and Trump turns 80, what state is the country in? And its president?This weekend kicks off an extravaganza of celebrations for the US, marking 250 years of independence from Britain - and for Donald Trump, marking 80 years of being, well, him.Presidents gone-by would have used a milestone anniversary to promote national unity. Trump is organising a cage fight. The president is adamant that every decent, flag-waving American will enjoy the festivities ... or at least be talking about the party rather than what he's brought to it. Continue reading...

South Australian Liberal Tony Pasin says parties should work hand-in-glove' to defeat Labor at the next election

Former Labor foreign affairs minister says belief US would defend Australia in event of an existential attack is a ludicrous delusion'

This blog is now closed. Read our main report here: Police use water cannon against rioters in Northern IrelandHadi Alodid refused legal representation and made no reply to charges which were put put to him through an Arabic interpreter as he appeared in court charged with attempted murder following the Belfast knife attack, the Press Association reports.The 30-year-old, with an address at Duncairn Avenue in Belfast, appeared before the city's magistrates' court on Wednesday morning.He is charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie on Monday, with threatening to kill an NHS radiographer on the same day and with the possession of a knife. Continue reading...

Force disperses crowd of 300 people who burned truck and reportedly planned to target hotel hosting migrantsPolice have used water cannon against rioters in Northern Ireland during a second night of anti-immigration protests.It dispersed a crowd of about 300 people who burned a truck and threw bricks and petrol bombs close to the Sandyknowes roundabout near Newtownabbey, eight miles north of Belfast. Continue reading...

New name, Bristol Dockyards, and museum revamp aimed at becoming more rooted in community, says chief executiveOne of the UK's maritime landmarks is being renamed as part of a drive to make it cooler" and more inclusive.For a decade, the dockland site in Bristol that houses the ocean liner SS Great Britain, which was designed by the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, has been promoted as Brunel's SS Great Britain. Continue reading...

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the only passenger to survive the incident in June 2025, which killed 260 peopleThe only survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people in June 2025 has called for honesty, transparency and answers" a year on from the disaster, and spoken about his significant psychological scars" and financial hardship.Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, has previously described his fate as a miracle" after being the only person to survive the incident, in which a Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. Continue reading...

NSW police say two men and a woman will face court on Thursday over alleged involvement in large-scale drug supply scheme

Shasta county passes measure requiring elections to be held in person on one day and limiting absentee ballots

Surreal scene inside New York court as former city comptroller says he did not block elevators before arrestThe trial against senior New York City Democrat Brad Lander, stemming from his arrest during an attempt to inspect rooms holding detained immigrants, involved six hours of litigating elevator logistics in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday.Lander, the former city comptroller now vying for Democratic incumbent Dan Goldman's congressional district, which encompasses lower Manhattan and north-west Brooklyn, was taken into custody on 18 September last year at 26 Federal Plaza. Continue reading...