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Follow today's news liveFederal parliament is returning from winter break next week.Do you have a question you'd like to ask Guardian Australia's team of political reporters in Canberra? Our political editor, Tom McIlroy, and the team will be answering readers' questions on the Australian Politics podcast. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Neet crisis review to call for teachers to be asked to spot those at risk of leaving education jobless at 16

With the debate over prison overcrowding and what to do about it raging, one initiative offers an alternative solutionAs the prison overcrowding crisis shows no sign of abating and the debate rages over early releases, an initiative in the West Midlands offers an alternative to custodial sentences.The Guardian was offered rare access to the project, under which, instead of being sent to prison, convicted offenders work on the improvement of waterways and green spaces around Smethwick. It is a small part of the community payback scheme, which in total clocked up an estimated 5m hours across England and Wales in the last year. Continue reading...

Barrister alleges account of penis wiggling is an attempt to humiliate' broadcaster who has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching

Slovakia reaches new high of 42C as authorities in Poland forced to shut down Kozienice and Poaniec power plantsTemperature records have been broken in several countries across central and eastern Europe as the extreme weather that has caused wildfires and droughts across the continent continues.Countries including Slovakia, Austria and Hungary registered record temperatures. On Thursday, the Slovakian hydrometeorological agency said a new high of 42C (108F) had been reached in Dolne Plachtince. Continue reading...

Visits down 3.8% after 6.2% fall in June, with many choosing to buy online instead, research for retail body findsShoppers stayed away from UK high streets during last month's heatwave temperatures, with many choosing to buy online instead as the mercury in some areas rose into the mid-30Cs.Trips to high streets were down by 3.8% year on year in July after a 6.2% fall in June, according to research from the monitoring firm Sensormatic for the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Continue reading...

Donald Trump's second term is unlike his first. The politicians who challenged him are gone. The lawyers who once pushed back now choose their battles. What remains is an imperial president with almost no internal checks, using executive power to reshape everything from the economy, immigration and even the presidency itself.Few journalists have covered Trump as closely as the New York Times journalist Jonathan Swan. Jonathan Freedland speaks to him about how the president has consolidated such power - and what it could mean for the US and the worldWatch Jonathan Freedland on our new Politics Weekly YouTube channelYou can find Jonathan Swan and Maggie Habermans' book Regime Change hereSend your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyamerica@theguardian.com Continue reading...

Police say body of 23-year-old found at Eschol Park property with significant injuries, indicating he may have been attacked before death

Ruling comes as part of second phase of landmark trial that found social media company enabled harm against usersA New Mexico court has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to pay $567m into a fund aimed at redressing adverse mental health impacts from the social media giant's platforms.The Thursday ruling comes as a part of the second phase of a landmark trial the social media giant lost in March. At the time, a jury found that the company knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms, and imposed the maximum penalty: a $375m fine. Continue reading...

Westminster council has recommended banning vertical drinking' or ordering at the bar in new draft licensing policyNo 10 has vowed to confiscate powers from local councils which try to restrict customers from standing up while drinking in pubs or ordering at the bar.It comes after the Guardian revealed on Thursday that Westminster council in central London recommended not allowing vertical drinking" or ordering at the bar in its new draft licensing policy. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Academics call for inquiry, saying university must be held accountable for grotesque racism unleashed'The University of Cambridge's leaders deserve blame for the grotesque racism unleashed" by Jason Arday's appointment as professor, according to academics calling for the university to hold an independent inquiry.The Guardian understands that senior dons at Cambridge are circulating a joint letter calling for an inquiry into the processes and circumstances around Arday being given the position, with many suggesting the university wanted a quick fix" to improve the diversity of its staff. Continue reading...

Republican, 84, absent from Senate after fall that led to hospital stay, says he will continue recovery at home

More than $5m in recent weeks have been spent in ads targeting Aisha Wahab and in support of Melissa HernandezSuper Pacs tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) have spent millions in a California congressional race to keep a progressive Democrat from winning Eric Swalwell's former seat.Aisha Wahab, a state senator who has been endorsed by the California Democratic party, is widely considered the frontrunner in the special election for the district covering a swathe of the East Bay. Continue reading...

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Stella Gollovena, 47, has been charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harmA woman has appeared in court accused of stabbing four men in the back with a pair of scissors in one of London's busiest tourist districts.Stella Gollovena, 47, is accused of attacking Patrick De Barr, Thomas Harding, Adrian Lovett and Mantas Jankus during the attack in Covent Garden on Wednesday lunchtime. Continue reading...

Homes of people believed to be asylum seekers attacked during two nights of violence in ThetfordTwo men have been arrested after police were injured as they intervened to protect men believed to be asylum seekers from angry mobs trying to break into their homes.The arrests followed two nights of unrest in Thetford, Norfolk, involving more than 100 people protesting against plans to house asylum seekers in former military barracks near the market town. Continue reading...

Court rules architecture firm not responsible for fatal incident but project managers and engineers found guilty of safety breachesThe architecture firm founded by Norman Foster has been cleared over the death of a man killed by a window that fell 90 metres from a newly constructed London penthouse.Foster + Partners (F+P), the practice behind some of the world's most recognisable buildings such as the Gherkin and revamps of the British Museum and Germany's Reichstag, were not held to be responsible for the death of Mick Ferris, a 53-year-old coach driver, in 2018. Continue reading...

Cases have passed 4,000 and health watchdog plans to go door to door to find patients in major response escalationThe virus causing a massive outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be mutating, health officials fear, as confirmed cases pass 4,000.Africa's public health watchdog said the time for incremental action was over as they announced plans to scale up every aspect of the response and go door to door" looking for patients. Continue reading...

Emma Atkinson, 38, was seven months pregnant when she fell from window of flat in Leeds tower block, inquest toldA pregnant woman who died from a nine-storey fall had her baby safely delivered 30 minutes after her death, an inquest has heard.Emma Atkinson, 38, was seven months pregnant when she fell from the window of her father's flat in Shakespeare Towers in the Burmantofts area of Leeds, on 22 October 2024. Continue reading...

New CEO Dave Lewis lifts investors' spirits by promising strategic overhaul worthy of his nickname Drastic Dave'Diageo's new chief executive has unveiled plans to nearly double Guinness production while hacking back a significant" proportion of its 30,000-strong workforce, in a strategic overhaul worthy of his nickname, Drastic" Dave Lewis.Shares in Diageo bounced on Thursday, as the former Tesco boss faced down the first big test of his initial half-year in the job, after being parachuted in last November to revive the flagging fortunes of the UK-based drinks company. Continue reading...

George Holmes was suspended in 2025 over allegations involving financial mismanagement and other misconductThe University of Greater Manchester's embattled vice-chancellor has had his contract terminated by the university's governing body, ending a period of uncertainty over the university's leadership.Sir George Holmes, who had led the university for two decades, was initially suspended last year over allegations involving financial mismanagement and other misconduct. Continue reading...

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist, has been offered a role as an adviser to the Conservative party by Kemi Badenoch after he withdrew as a Tory candidate for next year's local elections. The role will reportedly be focused on how young men become radicalised.Bonehill-Paine was convicted of harassing a Jewish MP and has previously described himself as a nationalist, fascist, theorist and supporter of white rights'. He says he has carried out counter-extremism work since he was released from prison.Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian political correspondent Ben Quinn - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Family says celebrity blogger remains under medical care after viewers raised alarm over disturbing TikTok broadcastPerez Hilton is able to communicate", according to a new statement released by his family, one day after the celebrity blogger appeared to self-harm during a disturbing TikTok livestream that prompted his hospitalization.In a message posted to Hilton's blog on Wednesday evening, his family thanked supporters for the outpouring of concern. Continue reading...

German authorities investigating whether a foreign state is involved as they say a ripped' detonator stopped device going offA catastrophe with multiple casualties was possibly only narrowly averted by the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig airport, German officials said, as they examined whether a foreign state could be behind the plot.One of the Ukrainian aircrafts next to where the bomb drone was found was loaded with military ammunition, according to a classified police report quoted by the public broadcasters WDR and NDR and the Suddeutsche newspaper. Continue reading...

A spokesperson for the Greens says figures had quadrupled' in the last year since Polanski became leaderA Reform government will introduce national licensing for vape shops, which Zia Yusuf says will see a decrease of 70% in the businesses on British high streets.We will also end financial disincentive," he says. Reform will establish a central prosecution fund for local authorities to pursue businesses employing illegal workers.Corporate CEOs have been making a fortune by hiring illegal workers and undermining British youngsters.Reform will jail them and stop illegal working for good - we will stand up for British workers. Continue reading...

As Australia prepares for the H5 bird flu to potentially rip through hundreds of species, residents of the Limestone Coast are already seeing the impacts

Amid revelations that could damage the Liberals' state election hopes, the NSW government dropped key documents on three contentious issues

Brandon Relph, who founded first company at 13, joins strategy team in much-needed step' for the broadcasterA 26-year-old business prodigy and self-styled gen Z whisperer has been drafted in by the BBC, as it battles to reach young audiences increasingly choosing content creators on YouTube and TikTok over traditional broadcasters.Brandon Relph, who founded his first company aged 13, and has been praised by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, has joined the BBC's strategy team to help counter the existential threat of falling audiences among young people. Continue reading...

Academic who resigned as a Cambridge professor on Wednesday did not specify if amount from Simon & Schuster was in pounds or US dollarsJason Arday, the former Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism and embellishment, claimed he was paid 1.4 million" for his forthcoming memoir detailing his extraordinary backstory.Arday was dogged by a growing series of questions over his academic work and credentials before he resigned on Wednesday night, saying the relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love". Continue reading...

Juan Jesus Vivas has been briefing EU lawmakers on the humanitarian emergency' and says updated death toll now lies at least 100 peopleThe commission also got repeatedly asked about last week's events in Ceuta and media reports that social media accounts seen calls for another attempt to overwhelm the border on 15 August.A spokesperson said the commission was aware of various threats to the EU's external border, and that's why we need to step up our work."I can point you to the solar eclipse next week on the 12th, which will have an impact on energy production.We have established a operational group that is dedicated to the preparation of this and ... my understanding is that they have a meeting tomorrow, Friday, where they are preparing for possible impacts. Continue reading...

Pia Dandiya, a first-time candidate, says voters care more about costs than district lines as she seeks a key open seatWhat is a sanguine new congressional candidate to do when the district they thought they were running in gets torn apart by a governor's best efforts to gerrymander his state at the president's behest?For Pia Dandiya, a first-time candidate for the Democratic party in Florida, the answer was simple: pick up some maps, hit the road, and embrace the challenge of conquering a different part of the state. Continue reading...

Plans involve dredging and expanding the docks to allow larger cruise ships to visit with up to 200,000 passengers annuallyJanavi Kramer had just enjoyed a swim with friends and was sitting on a bench taking in a wonderful Cornish view - headlands plunging into deep water, bobbing boats, a bustling harbour town.We're lucky to have this space," said Kramer, who is an artist and scientific illustrator. We use it for work, recreation and pleasure and it's so scary to think that this could all be harmed. I worry about what we may be living with soon and what we'll be leaving for future generations." Continue reading...

When asked to detail what would make a better life in three to five years, 60% of US adults said greater financial securityAmericans may seem increasingly divided on beliefs and values, but in a new survey of more than 30,000 adults from across the country spanning generations and economic classes, a majority of Americans agree there's a significant barrier to achieving a better life: the rising cost of living.When asked to describe what a better life in three to five years would look like, 60% of Americans said they wanted greater financial security, according to a survey that was conducted by the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the WK Kellogg Foundation in mid-April. Continue reading...

Experts say growing trend on sites such as Polymarket and Kalshi could motivate people to start fires to win moneyA group of US lawmakers is sounding the alarm over prediction market platforms that allow users to bet on wildfires, as experts warn the emerging trend could raise the risk of arson.Democratic senators from six states sent a letter this week to the chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent government agency regulating platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, urging it to rein in the practice. Continue reading...

Washington-Rabat ties under scrutiny as questions swirl over what led to deadly influx into tiny Spanish territoryThe cosy relationship between Washington and Rabat has long been flaunted by both sides, from Morocco's announcement this year that it would be the first African state to join Donald Trump's Board of Peace to the congratulatory message recently sent by Trump to mark King Mohammed VI's 27 years in power.The latest example landed this week. As Spain grappled with the aftermath of the sudden influx - and swift return - of more than 70,000 people into Ceuta, Morocco's monarch confirmed he had named a $1bn highway flanking the disputed territory of Western Sahara after Trump. Continue reading...

Grammy-winning pianist Robert Glasper will headline opening of club's first UK venue in Covent Garden next monthThe world-famous New York jazz club Blue Note will open its first UK venue in London next month.Located in the basement of St Martins Lane hotel, Covent Garden, the club promises the best of British jazz alongside world-class international artists, with a programme featuring emerging and established talent. Continue reading...

Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former NSW premier, asked about messages referencing federal opposition leader and factional group Reformers

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Despite reports the PM wants Labor's bill to be passed in full or withdrawn, Anika Wells insists she is prepared to negotiate

Firm lifts outlook saying it's well placed to benefit from PM's focus on new homes despite ongoing cost pressures of Iran warUK housebuilder Persimmon has lifted its outlook, saying it is well-placed" to benefit from prime minister Andy Burnham's policy agenda, despite growing costs linked to the Iran war.Despite rising cost pressures, Persimmon has lifted its outlook for the full year and now plans to complete 12,500 new homes by year-end, at the upper reach of its previous guidance. Continue reading...

Coffee chain has faced backlash over marketing promotion tied to anniversary of Gwangju massacreSouth Korean police have raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a marketing campaign accused of trivialising the country's 1980s pro-democracy movement.Investigators searched the building in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday. No further details were released, although South Korean media reported that officers also searched the homes of the Starbucks Korea executives. Continue reading...

Former 2UE and 2GB radio broadcaster is facing 22 charges. Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty

Former AFL inclusion manager tells inquiry One Nation leader's conduct is encouraging people to use similar behaviour and words'

Mark Parton defends sending text message but denies he sent it to a sex worker, saying he is a multi-tasker from hell'

Some want the chancellor to exploit newly flexible fiscal rules - others want a more creative approach, such as borrowing from marketsWith just 12 weeks to go until his first budget, new chancellor John Healey is seeking ways to ramp up public investment, without busting the Treasury's fiscal rules - and some economists are urging him to be bold.As he settles into No 11 Downing Street, the former defence secretary's most immediate challenges concern day-to-day government spending. Continue reading...

Investigation by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty and Legal Agenda shows Israel deliberately attacked Amal Khalil and colleague Zeinab Faraj knowing they were civiliansAn Israeli strike that killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured her colleague Zeinab Faraj in April was a war crime, three rights organisations said on Thursday.Investigations from Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International and Legal Agenda showed that Israel deliberately and directly attacked Khalil and Faraj, with apparent knowledge that they were civilians. The organisations called for the attacks to be investigated as war crimes, while HRW called for states to halt arm sales to Israel and put targeted sanctions on Israeli officials responsible for ongoing crimes. Continue reading...

Van Viet Truong was critically injured after coming to the aid of a fellow retail worker in Sunshine

A 45-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were found dead in the Charleville home after a near eight-hour police siege

After Ukraine failed to shoot down a single ballistic missile fired by Russia on Wednesday, the president urged allies to increase supplies of Patriot interceptorsNato is working to get Ukraine the air defences it urgently needs", its secretary general has said, after Kyiv failed to shoot down a single Russian missile in an attack on Wednesday, and as Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was seeking to significantly boost missile production ahead of winter.Speaking at a National Security and Defense Council meeting on winter resilience, the Ukrainian president did not rule out the idea that stalling missile supplies from western allies were aimed at making Ukraine, so to speak, more willing to compromise" in peace talks with Russia. Continue reading...

Chief executive Robert Thomson says crass kleptomaniac' AI companies are in possession of stolen goods'