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Latest daily reductions will further choke one of the world's most important shipping lanesThe Panama canal plans to again cut maritime traffic due to worsening drought caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon, further choking up one of the world's most important shipping lanes.The canal handles 5% of global maritime trade and about 40% of US container traffic; it is favoured by shippers because it usually reduces cost and transit times, especially for companies trading between China, Asia and the US. Continue reading...

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Decision allows states to send ballots under process followed for years even as president tried to limit systemThe supreme court on Monday rejected Donald Trump's mail ballot restrictions for now, capping a flurry of last-minute legal action with voting in the midterm elections already underway.The decision allows states to continue sending out mail ballots under the same processes they have used for years. Continue reading...

In interview, term-limited California governor said running against former VP would waste everybody's time'Gavin Newsom, the California governor, will not run for president if former vice-president Kamala Harris does, he said in a forthcoming interview with CNN.Newsom and Harris, both from California, are widely viewed as two of the top establishment frontrunners in the coming Democratic presidential primary. Newsom, who terms out this year as governor, has increasingly portrayed himself as a foil to Trump and is widely viewed as positioning himself for a 2028 presidential bid. Continue reading...

The 84-year-old said he was prepared to cast his first vote after rampant speculation about his healthMitch McConnell, the former Republican Senate majority leader, returned to the Capitol on Monday and cast his first vote after a monthslong absence that fueled rampant speculation about his health.One of the highest-profile figures in Congress, the 84-year-old senator has been away from the Senate since mid-June, following what his office said was a fall that left him hospitalized. After weeks of silence, that spurred demands for greater transparency and stoked online conspiracies, McConnell disclosed that he had been briefly unconscious" and also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia". He was discharged from a rehabilitation center last month. Continue reading...

Widow's Bay dominated this year's ceremony, with The Pitt, Hacks and Pluribus landing other major categories

Committee to reconsider Harry and Meghan's publicly funded police protection now they are full-time residentsThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have a review of their publicly funded security following their return to the UK.The royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec), which oversees tax-funded security for royalty and public figures, is to reconsider Harry and Meghan's level of police protection. Continue reading...

Plans to strengthen legislation already going through parliament might mean donors having to meet stricter UK residence requirementsAndy Burnham's government could thwart Reform's unprecedented 72m donations with retrospective restrictions on political donors that will include tough new residency requirements, ministers have announced.In a move that is likely to set off furious complaints from Nigel Farage's party, the government will table amendments to legislation going through the House of Lords within weeks that puts the legality of Reform's latest donations in doubt. Continue reading...

Ministry of Defence says person, who has yet to be identified, died in road traffic incident not believed to be result of hostile actionA member of the UK armed forces has been killed in a crash in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence said.The person, who has not yet been named, died in a road traffic incident on Saturday. It is understood the incident was not a result of hostile action. Continue reading...

Firm publishes AI guidelines with Microsoft AI CEO saying: AI must be subordinate and always in service of people'Microsoft published a provisional code of conduct" Monday to apply to the training of new artificial intelligence models, taking a step towards limiting the capabilities of the company's AI as anxiety rises over the prospect that technology companies could lose control of AI products.Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI, published the code on social media early Monday, writing: AI must be subordinate and always in service of people. Continue reading...

Man, who cannot be named to protect anonymity of his victim, admits scores of criminal offencesA man has pleaded guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting his wife over a period of 20 years as he admitted 60 criminal offences.The man, who cannot be named in order to protect the anonymity of his victim, is in his 60s and before his arrest lived in Stockport, Greater Manchester. Continue reading...

Screenwriter points to parallels between two worlds while academic says some of author's characters would make perfect reality show contestants'If Jane Austen's novels run on closed social worlds, courtship rituals, status anxiety, gossip and relentless scrutiny of who's coupling with who, it follows that the obvious contemporary equivalent would be reality television.That's according to Andrew Davies, the writer who has spent decades modernising British period dramas. Continue reading...

Soaring oil prices of above $108 a barrel after Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure stoke inflation fearsUS government borrowing costs have risen to 5% for the first time since 2023 as soaring oil prices fuelled by the war in the Middle East trigger an intensifying sell-off in the global bond market.The yield - in effect the interest rate - on 10-year US Treasury bonds hit the psychologically important threshold on Monday, on a day of renewed selling pressure on Wall Street as the global oil price reached $108 a barrel. Continue reading...

US president blames conflict, and not Iran', for spike in US diesel pricesJennifer Rankin in Brussels and Charlotte Higgins and Amy Hawkins in KyivCatching up with other news from across Europe, the head of Nato has said a Russian drone attack on a train close to Ukraine's border with Poland would not deter Kyiv's western backers. Continue reading...

Centre-left bloc led by Social Democrats has narrow lead with 95% of vote counted, but faces internal policy battleSweden's political parties have launched coalition negotiations as the Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson started the long and difficult process of trying to form a new government.Full results from Sunday's election are not expected until after overseas votes are counted on Wednesday, but with 95% of the votes counted, the Social Democrats and the centre-left bloc had a narrow but growing lead of 176 seats to the right-leaning parties' 173. Continue reading...

In an interview about the donations, he said they are compliant with the law today'Andy Burnham has cancelled engagements today and tomorrow following the death of his father Roy, who was suffering from Alzheimer's, the Press Association reports.Burnham has spoken about his father's illness which meant that he did not know his son had become prime minister.[We] will continue bringing forward further reforms to strengthen confidence in our democracy.Following on from the previous minister for democracy's letter to you of 10 July 2026, we wanted to reiterate the government's concerns, shared by many members of the public and parliamentarians, about the rise in the volume and concentration of money in UK politics. We have to limit the way financial power can end up dominating political power, to get to a politics that works for all people in all places.We believe spending limits on parties and candidates are too high, and ought to be reduced. Continue reading...

Firm, once part of Sanjeev Gupta's empire, fell into administration last year but has failed to find buyer

Military chief had pulled country out over Harry-Meghan nonsense' but U-turned after clarification from the palaceUganda has U-turned on its decision to withdraw from the Duke of Sussex's Invictus Games after the country's military chief said he had been reassured by King Charles that there was no problem" with its participation.Last week, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the eldest son of the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, made the surprise announcement the country would not participate in the games in a post on X. He said he was motivated by his respect for the king amid division over the Harry-Meghan nonsense". Continue reading...

After 2025's wildly lucrative reunion, the Gallagher brothers will tour the UK, Ireland and US, and revisit the Hertfordshire site of their greatest live triumphOasis have finally confirmed new tour dates for 2027, including their long-rumoured return to Knebworth for a run of shows 30 years after they played a historic two nights at the Hertfordshire venue in 1996.Come witness the fitness," Noel and Liam Gallagher said in a new statement. It shall be a sight to behold." Continue reading...

Newly collated data also shows Indigenous Australians experiencing disproportionally high rates of infection

Rainbow clouds are not uncommon in Australia but rarely photographed, and experts say they get their colours when light is diffracted around ice crystals

Exclusive: Advocate says homeless clearances should be halted after man is hospitalised during confrontation in Brisbane park

Pauline Hanson's gas policy and the party's relationship with Rinehart is examined in a new Guardian podcast series, The Populist

St Barts is one of many UK institutions whose benefactors were involved in the trafficking of enslaved AfricansInside the Great Hall of St Bartholomew's North Wing, alongside stately portraits of the apostle from whom London's oldest hospital takes its name and King Henry VIII, extravagant commemorative boards adorn the walls.The Great Hall was a grand, formal space where governors weighed their philanthropic donations and drafted their wills, many while investing in the stock of companies built on the trafficking of enslaved Africans. Today, many of those donors are commemorated in acrylic gold paint on the boards. Continue reading...

Prime minister had been due to speak at the TUC conference in Brighton

Public offering of Aliko Dangote's Nigerian oil refinery business could swell his net wealth by two-thirdsThe fortune of Africa's richest person could swell by two thirds to nearly $60bn (44bn) after his refinery in Nigeria listed publicly in the continent's biggest-ever initial public offering.If Monday's flotation of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals on the Nigerian exchange goes to plan, then Aliko Dangote will add a further $23bn (17bn) to his $35bn net worth. Continue reading...

Impasse comes amid growing Saudi anger with Tehran over Houthi advances and strikes on airbase and pipeline

Project will prepare volunteers across US to monitor polls, encourage early voting and respond to disinformationThe Democrats intend to train tens of thousands of volunteers to monitor the polls and counter possible voter intimidation under a new plan to protect November's US midterm elections from anticipated interference from Donald Trump and his allies.The nationwide initiative, dubbed the New Battlefield Project, will help state Democratic committees build up a vast coalition of volunteers to monitor the polls, push voters to cast their ballots early and create a network to respond to disinformation. Continue reading...

Flooding in West Bengal has led to three deaths, while severe beach erosion has been witnessed in Orange countyFlooding around the city of Malda in the Indian state of West Bengal since Thursday has had a devastating effect. So far, three deaths have been recorded and many areas are still flooded, with numerous villages affected, along with the region of Bhutni. Erosion from the flooding, reported from Khaskol, led to a disruption in river flow which led to a more severe impact in Bhutni. More than 100 boats have been sent out for evacuation.At East Basudevpur, a 20ft (6-metre) embankment collapsed, reducing the channel from 550ft to under 150ft, which could lead to further flooding unless repaired. This flooding resulted after the Ganges River rose about 75cm above its extreme danger" level owing to heavy rainfall. Continue reading...

STC's 2027 program also features Celeste Barber in Amy Sedaris and David Sedaris play, Tim Minchin as Scrooge and the return of The Picture of Dorian GraySix years after the Australian historian Jenny Hocking won her legal battle to release secret correspondence between Queen Elizabeth II, Malcolm Fraser and the governor general John Kerr, her fight to reveal the truth about Gough Whitlam's dismissal is being adapted for the stage.The Palace Letters, announced on Monday as part of Sydney Theatre Company's 2027 program, will have its world premiere at Sydney Opera House in April. It will star Georgie Parker as Hocking, with Jonathan Biggins playing Whitlam. Continue reading...

Richard Tice says contributions are legally compliant after author of review into overseas donations says rules will be applied retrospectivelyReform UK's deputy leader has declined to say when two crypto billionaires who gave a combined 72m to the party returned to the UK, as the architect of a review into overseas donations said anyone here for less than 12 months would be subject to a limit on donations.Richard Tice said that while he was completely confident Reform had complied with all current and proposed laws on donations, he could not say when Ben Delo returned to the UK from Hong Kong, or how much time the Thailand-based Christopher Harborne spent in Britain. Continue reading...

US officials reportedly raided envoy's London home and took him to American airbase without warning Met police

Police in Bali believe the two young children died as a result of violence, while a 57-year-old man is believed to have taken his own lifeIndonesian police are investigating the deaths of three Australians who died in Bali over the weekend, with initial reports suggesting a father killed his two young children before taking his own life.The man, 57, and his two children, seven and four, who are also Indonesian citizens, were discovered deceased in a bungalow in Kuta on Sunday morning. Continue reading...

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A new public consultation has opened on the 150bn-litre above-ground White Horse project in Abingdon, OxfordshireThames Water has amended the blueprint of a planned mega-reservoir in Oxfordshire as the struggling utility tries to convince regulators that construction should go ahead amid warnings of catastrophic consequences".The White Horse reservoir near Abingdon is scheduled to hold 150bn litresof water with a surface area of 6.7 sq km (2.6 sq miles) - almost the same size as Gatwick airport. Continue reading...

Jean Nassif tells inquiry his statements were all talk' borne from frustration with former building commissioner David Chandler and 2GB radio shockjock Ray Hadley

Miki Zohar accuses Oscar-winning directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of treason against the state'

Report by Israeli human rights group says systematic and broad assault being waged on conditions required for Palestinians' existenceIsrael is working towards the systematic elimination" of the conditions that sustain Palestinian collective life in the occupied West Bank, according to a major report published by the human rights group B'Tselem.The Israeli organisation's hard-hitting report, shared with the Guardian in advance of publication, says Israel is dramatically intensifying its attacks on every aspect of Palestinian life in the West Bank", including the ability to get to work, take children to school or university, receive medical treatment or municipal services, meet family and friends, cultivate land or go on vacation ... routine activities that make up human life".1,107

Indigenous senators have criticised One Nation leader saying the comments showed wilful ignorance'

In today's newsletter: As Labour MPs scramble to realign later today around a bill that could stop donations like this in their tracks, a look at new game-changing donations to a party engulfed in financial scandalsGood morning. Nigel Farage has a confirmed talent for upending the laws of political gravity, and this weekend has been no exception, as he declared himself humbled" by two donations of 36m each from cryptocurrency tycoons Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.I'd shoehorn a joke about buses in here but, honestly, this feels too consequential for that.Economy | Former chancellor George Osborne said Britain's economy had fallen off a cliff" since Brexit - and that rejoining the European Union's customs union would be the fastest route to recovery.Technology | Sam Altman and Elon Musk backed Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's call to slow the pace" of AI development. Amodei had cautioned that an AI swarm could otherwise become capable of taking over the entire internet" within a year.Sweden | With most of the votes counted, Sweden's national election remained too close to call on Sunday night, with left-wing parties holding a lead of just a single seat according to a partial tally by the election authority.Ukraine | A train carrying Boris Johnson and the former CIA chief David Petraeus may have been the target of a Russian drone strike that hit a train engine near the Poland-Ukraine border, according to Ukrainian Railways.Travel | The air traffic control outage that caused thousands of flights to be grounded across the UK earlier in the week was caused by a military aircraft entering spurious" flight data into the system, according to a report.Monday | First ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will meet in Cardiff to discuss moves towards self-determination across the nations.Tuesday | The final report of the Thirwall Inquiry into events at the neonatal unit where Lucy Letby worked will be published. Letby was sentenced to 15 whole-life terms for murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others.Thursday | Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, will address the European parliament. Continue reading...

Motorcycle club president Peter Tiki' Mason, 71, crashed and died on the Western Highway at Trawalla, west of Ballarat, on Sunday

Commonsense change' looks to end current confusion and put passengers first, not shareholders' when services are disruptedRail passengers whose trains are cancelled will have the immediate right to travel on other operators' services to finish their journey without further charge, ministers have announced.The commonsense change" will take effect from Sunday 20 September, ending the confusion in Britain where many pre-booked tickets are not valid on other firms' trains. Continue reading...

Attenders will be asked to take part in tests to see if they have become more open to views they do not agree withFestivalgoers sometimes report feeling they have a fresh perspective of the world when they make their weary way home after a stimulating cultural gathering.A new festival of ideas" in Somerset is aiming to measure whether the beliefs and ideas of attenders and speakers really are changed by their event. Continue reading...

Electoral Commission finds abuse, particularly of women, minority ethnic and disabled people, is affecting candidates' behaviourAbuse and intimidation of election candidates is a serious and growing concern", the Electoral Commission has said, as a review of this year's local and mayoral elections in England revealed a surge in threats to those who stood.More than half of the candidates for Labour or Reform UK reported abuse while those most likely to be targeted were women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities. Continue reading...

Alleged victim tells court he froze and was in disbelief' after broadcaster kissed him on corner of his lips at public eventA prominent athlete froze and was shocked and embarrassed" when Alan Jones kissed him on the side of his mouth at a public event, the broadcaster's trial at Sydney's Downing Centre has heard.The witness said the kiss on the corner of his lips happened years after Jones sent him a weekly bouquet of flowers after he had complimented the flowers on Jones's dining table. He said Jones's driver would drop the flowers at his home every week. Continue reading...

TGA issues alert after person was hospitalised after believing they were taking experimental weight loss drug retatrutide

Legal pioneer remembered as an advocate for equality and champion of women in the workplace

This live blog has now closed - you can read the latest news story hereIf you're looking just for a single story to quickly catch up on the story of tonight, let's cross to our Nordic correspondent, Miranda Bryant, for her preview.The prospect of far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats entering the government has understandably attracted a lot of international attention, particularly coming just days after the Alternative fur Deutschland won the regional elections in Saxony Anhalt in Germany. Continue reading...

Twenty-nine-year-old Queenslander was visiting Kelingking beach on a holiday, Nusa Penida police sayThe death of an Australian woman in a cliff fall at a popular Bali tourist destination has been described as incredibly sad".Police say the 29-year-old Queenslander was found stuck on the side of Kelingking beach cliff on Saturday morning, local time. Emergency services rushed to the scene but she fell further before they could reach her. Continue reading...