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Teams expected to use radar equipment that can scan beneath ground as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian BrucknerA new search for Madeleine McCann is under way in Portugal with police officers gathering a few miles from where the British toddler was last seen in 2007.Portuguese and German police are carrying out the search 18 years after the three-year-old disappeared from the resort of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner out, leaving her sleeping in a nearby room with her toddler twin siblings. Continue reading...

Man who led campaign to oust Yoon Suk Yeol comfortably ahead of conservative opponent, according to pollsExit polls in South Korea have projected that Lee Jae-myung will become the country's new president after a snap election triggered by a brief period of martial law imposed by the now-impeached former leader Yoon Suk Yeol.After polls closed in what Lee described as judgment day" for Asia's fourth-biggest economy, the broadcaster MBN put Lee, the Democratic party candidate, on 49.2% of the vote, comfortably ahead of his closest rival, the conservative Kim Moon-soo, on 41.7%. A joint exit poll by three other broadcasters showed Lee with 51.7% and Kim with 39.3%. Continue reading...

The Israeli military acknowledged that its troops shot at Palestinians, in the third such instance in three days. Plus, US man charged for framing immigrant in fake plot to kill Trump

Future of troubled supplier in doubt as US private equity group says it cannot proceed with acquiring 4bn stake

Deputy Liberal leader insists the treasurer would have to radically change the proposal first

One now-deleted post described the best room to goon in on all of campus' and received more than 12,000 likes

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In today's newsletter: The problems and proposed solutions of a major new strategic defence review pitched as a blueprint to modernise the militaryGood morning. The government's strategic defence review was launched on Monday and billed as a blueprint to modernise the military so that, in the words of Keir Starmer, the UK is safer and stronger, a battle-ready, armour-clad nation with the strongest alliances and the most advanced capabilities".Reviews like this one come along every decade or so - but the context now appears more urgent than at any time since the end of the cold war. In the place of the old consensus that the UK simply needed to be ready for (deeply questionable) deployments to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan is a view that the threats now are much closer to home, and much closer to existential. UK armed forces have begun the necessary process of change in response to this new reality," the review said. But progress has not been fast or radical enough."Israel-Gaza war | A series of recent deadly airstrikes on school buildings sheltering displaced people in Gaza were part of a deliberate Israeli military bombing strategy, the Guardian has learned. The strikes followed a loosening of controls on actions targeting Hamas operatives at sites with large numbers of civilians present, sources said.Health | The proportion of people surviving cancer in the UK has doubled since the 1970s amid a golden age" of progress in diagnosis and treatment, a report says. Half of those diagnosed will now survive for 10 years or more, up from 24%, according to the first study of 50 years of data on cancer mortality and cases.US news | Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, has been charged with a federal hate crime and multiple other offences after he allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary devices to burn people in Boulder, Colorado who were raising awareness about Israeli hostages in Gaza.Iran | Tehran is on the brink of rejecting US proposals on the future of its nuclear programme after a US draft insisted on the suspension of enrichment of uranium inside the country. The US proposal also offered no clear route map for lifting sanctions.Scotland | A Scottish Labour councillor has defected to Reform UK on the eve of a pivotal Holyrood byelection, as the rightwing populist party's leader, Nigel Farage, defended a controversial advert attacking Anas Sarwar that has prompted accusations of racism. Continue reading...

Christian Keryakus, 19, pleads guilty to aggravated burglary, common assault and recklessly causing injury

Morocco's commercial centre has brought investment to the continent - but critics say it masks domestic inequalityFor centuries, Casablanca was a significant trading hub for merchants from across the breadth of the Atlantic coast, given its geographical position between Africa, the Middle East and Europe.These days, Morocco's economic capital is merging those historical roots with a strong modern commercial identity. One such manifestation is the Casablanca Finance City (CFC) district, whose high-rise buildings stand as a symbol of the city's dream of being a main gateway for international investment into Africa. Continue reading...

Report argues large-scale public sector job losses can be avoided in part by culling' 450 executive-level roles

Hamit Coskun, found guilty of religiously aggravated public order offence, was motivated at least in part by a hatred of Muslims', judge saysA man has been fined after he set fire to a Qur'an outside the Turkish consulate in London, in an act that was deemed motivated at least in part by a hatred of Muslims" by a judge.Hamit Coskun, 50, who was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence on Monday, called his prosecution an assault on free speech". Continue reading...

Election pitting liberal Lee Jae-myung against conservative candidate Kim Moon Soo comes after months of chaos following Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial lawMillions of South Koreans are voting for a new president in a snap election triggered by the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who now faces an explosive trial on rebellion charges over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.Pre-election surveys suggested Yoon's liberal arch-rival, Lee Jae-myung, appeared headed for an easy win, riding on deep public frustration over the conservatives in the wake of Yoon's martial law debacle. Continue reading...

Strategic defence review will make Britain battle-ready', says Keir StarmerBritain will spend an extra 2bn on drones and seek to introduce weapons and tactics developed during the war in Ukraine under a strategic defence review unveiled by the government.The plan will prioritise cheap one-way attack craft and more expensive reusable systems, as well as the creation of a drone centre to share knowledge and better coordinate across the armed forces.Explore the possibility of reintroducing air-launched nuclear weapons by discussing with the US and Nato the possibility of buying F-35A fighters equipped with US B61-12 bombs.Spending 15bn to develop new submarine-launched nuclear warheads - and committing to build 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines in Derby and Barrow, starting in the 2030s.Investing 1bn in air and missile defence, 6bn on munitions during this parliament and opening at least six weapons factories to increase military stockpiles, which currently may last only a few days in a crisis.Developing a home guard, modelled on the army reserves, to ensure the protection of airports, communications sites and other parts of the critical national infrastructure in a major crisis. Continue reading...

Claudia Sheinbaum defends decision to put 2,600 judges' posts to vote despite record low turnoutMexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum has defended the country's unprecedented judicial elections after just 13% of Mexicans turned out to vote, a record low in a federal election.Roughly 2,600 posts, from local magistrates to supreme court justices, were up for grabs on Sunday, as an entire judicial system was put to the vote for the first time in the world. Continue reading...

Prime minister seeks to shore up his fragile coalition and vows not to back downDonald Tusk says he will call a vote of confidence in his government to try to shore up support for his coalition after a bruising setback in Poland's presidential election.In his first public comments since Sunday's election result was declared, the prime minister sought to regain momentum as he promised to get to work" and submit a number of draft laws. Continue reading...

More than century on, wronged officer is in line for posthumous promotionMore than a century ago he was wrongly convicted of treason in a case that convulsed France and laid bare a rising tide of antisemitism.On Monday, French politicians took the first step towards remedying the injustice - unanimously backing a symbolic effort to promote Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish French army captain, to brigadier general. Continue reading...

Man, 48, arrested at Stansted airport on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger lifeA fourth man has been arrested over suspected arson attacks on two properties and a car linked to Keir Starmer.The 48-year-old was arrested at Stansted airport in Essex on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Continue reading...

Defence secretary says the world is more dangerous' as he addresses MPs about strategic defence reviewHere is the clip of Keir Starmer in his Today programme interview refusing to say when the government will raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.In an interview with the Times published on Saturday John Healey, the defence secretary, said that he had no doubt" that Britain would reach the 3% target by 2034 - ie, before the end of the next parliament. Yesterday he described this as an ambition". Continue reading...

Review says UK must be ready to fight and win' a full-scale war. Here is a summary of its recommendations

The actor, best know for voicing John Redcorn in the long-running animated series, was killed on Saturday in TexasActor Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill, has died in a shooting.San Antonio police confirmed to Variety that the 59-year-old died on Saturday after an incident. Officers were reportedly dispatched while the shooting was in process and found him near the road. After an attempt to revive him, he was pronounced dead on the scene. Continue reading...

Inquiry into Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust follows deaths and serious injuries related to maternity careAn NHS trust is being investigated on suspicion of corporate manslaughter after the deaths and severe harm of potentially more than 2,000 babies and women in Nottinghamshire.Police are reviewing more than 200 alleged failures of maternity care at Nottingham university hospitals (NUH) NHS trust but this figure could rise to about 2,500. Continue reading...

Inquiry head accuses Swedish state of human rights violations, citing child-trafficking cases across four decadesSweden should ban international adoption and apologise after thousands of children were illegally and unethically taken from their home countries including South Korea, Colombia, China and Sri Lanka over several decades, a government inquiry has found.Presenting the damning findings of the almost four-year investigation, the head of the inquiry, Anna Singer, accused the Swedish state of violations of human rights", citing child-trafficking cases spanning from the 1970s to the 2000s. Continue reading...

Attack in Timbuktu comes as Islamist group JNIM claims separate assault near border with Burkina FasoAn al-Qaida-linked group has launched an assault on a Malian army base in Timbuktu, according to military sources and local officials, a day after it claimed responsibility for another attack near the border with Burkina Faso.The terrorists arrived today in Timbuktu with a vehicle packed with explosives," a local official told Agence France-Presse. The vehicle exploded near the [military] camp. Shooting is currently continuing." Continue reading...

Site is home to more than a million petroglyphs, some almost 50,000 years old, but reports say it has been damaged by the Karratha gas plant

Starmer government's own major projects agency says plan to power subs is unachievable'

Top human rights lawyer calls for UK to take case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah to international court of justice

At least 150 people killed, thousands displaced and buildings destroyed after heavy rains in north of countrySignificant flooding affected Nigeria last week, with more than 150 deaths reported so far. Heavy rain struck the north of the country on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday, leading to flooding along the Niger River, displacing thousands and destroying hundreds of homes. The district head said it was the region's worst flood in 60 years.Heavy rain is not unusual at this time of year in Nigeria. The country has a tropical climate and is influenced by the west African monsoon, with the wet season running from April until October. This type of seasonality is linked to land-sea temperature differences, alongside the shifting intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a band of low pressure roughly around the equator that shifts north and south with the angle of the sun. Continue reading...

PM promises to spend billions more on weapons factories, drones and submarines but refuses to set date for spending 3% of GDP on defence

Far-right leaders congratulate nationalist candidate as result deals blow to Donald Tusk's pro-EU agenda

The band's early single I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) was their biggest hit, featuring on the compilation Nuggets, and has influenced generations of musiciansJames Lowe, the singer of psychedelic rock band the Electric Prunes, has died aged 82. His family said in a statement that he died of natural causes.Dad leaves behind a legacy of sound, love and boundless creativity," they said on Facebook. At the centre of it all was our amazing mom, Pamela - his guiding star, enduring muse and wife of 62 years. We know how deeply he cherished this community, and we feel that love too." Continue reading...

Beijing says it will safeguard its interests after Donald Trump claimed it had totally violated' agreement

Parts of eastern NSW recorded wettest May on record as rainfall in Victoria and South Australia was 70% below average for the month

Telecoms groups' 16.5bn tie-up will create largest mobile network in UK with more than 27 million subscribers

Triple murder accused gives evidence as first defence witness in death cap mushroom poisoning case that left three dead after beef wellington lunch

Exclusive: Cost-saving for 2024-25 follows pledge by Wes Streeting to cut the amount going to agencies by 30%Spending on agency staff across the NHS in England dropped by almost 1bn in the last financial year, ministers have said, after a pledge by Wes Streeting to cut the amount going to agencies by 30%.According to the Department of Health and Social Care, the total spent by trusts on agency staff during 2024-25 was nearly 1bn lower than the previous year. Continue reading...

Sadiq Khan seeking urgent review' of decision to ban adverts from British Pregnancy Advisory ServiceThe mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has stepped in to reverse a ban on adverts on the London transport network calling for abortion to be decriminalised.It is understood that the mayor is seeking an urgent review" of a Transport for London (TfL) decision to ban the adverts from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) charity on the grounds they may bring the Metropolitan police into disrepute. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Reform's latest policy shift echoes strategies seen in Europe's far right. Will this approach gain traction in the UK?Good morning. In 2023, Nigel Farage went on a podcast to decry what he described as a culture of welfarism" in the UK, insisting it was making millions of people in the country lazy. I'm too fat, I'm too stupid, I'm too lazy, I don't get out of bed in the morning. I smoke drugs, give me money'," he said. I don't need to work, the state will provide for me' ... We cannot afford it."Less than two years later, the self-styled free-market crusader seems to be singing a different tune. Last week, he publicly backed the removal of the two-child benefit cap - a move that would lift 350,000 children out of poverty overnight and ease hardship for 700,000 more.Ukraine | Ukraine has launched a large-scale" drone attack against Russian military bombers in Siberia, striking more than 40 warplanes thousands of miles from its own territory. On the eve of peace talks, the drone attack on four separate airfields was part of a sharp ramping up of the three-year war.Israel-Gaza war | More than 30 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday as they went to an aid distribution point in Gaza, according to witnesses. Israeli forces were said to have opened fire as Palestinians headed for the aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.Poland | The populist-right opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki has won the presidential race in an extremely close contest. A pro-Trump nationalist, Nawrocki beat the pro-European Warsaw mayor, Rafa Trzaskowski, in a major blow for Donald Tusk's coalition government.Defence | Britain needs to be ready to fight a war in Europe or the Atlantic, a strategic defence review will conclude. But the plan, to be launched on Monday, it is not expected to contain any additional spending commitments.Health | Exercise can reduce the risk of cancer patients dying by a third, stop tumours coming back and is even more effective than drugs, according to the results of a landmark trial that could transform health guidelines worldwide. Continue reading...

Faction influencing No 10 says government should legislate against DEI in hiring, sentencing and wherever else'The Labour faction influencing Downing Street's pitch to Reform UK voters has urged ministers to root out DEI".An article from the Blue Labour campaign group, titled What is to be Done, calls for the government to legislate against diversity, equity and inclusion, echoing the rightwing backlash from Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. Continue reading...

All 29 onboard, including crew and MI5, RUC and army officers, died when RAF aircraft crashed on Mull of KintyreRelatives of intelligence officers and military personnel killed in a 1994 RAF helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre have taken the first step in legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).Twenty-nine people - including officers from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the army, along with the helicopter's special forces crew - died after RAF Chinook ZD576 crashed in foggy weather in south-west Scotland on 2 June 1994. Continue reading...

Premier David Crisafulli says an investigation into the death in custody of Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, will be launched

Masked man opened fire outside Monaghans pub in Fuengirola, MalagaTwo Scottish men have been shot dead outside a bar in southern Spain.The victims were gunned down outside Monaghans, a popular Irish-themed bar in the coastal town of Fuengirola, Malaga, at about 11pm on Saturday. Continue reading...

Reported strikes on four airbases in Siberia mark escalation in cross-border incursions before planned peace talksUkraine has launched a large-scale" drone attack against Russian military bombers in Siberia, striking more than 40 warplanes thousands of miles from its own territory, a security official has said, after it smuggled the drones to the perimeter of the airfields hidden in the roofs of wooden sheds.On the eve of peace talks, the drone attack on four separate airfields was part of a sharp ramping up of the three-year war, with Russia launching waves of drones at Ukraine, while Moscow said sabotage was to blame for two train derailments that left seven people dead. Continue reading...

Dense smoke seen above incident on River Thames in Lechlade and one child was airlifted to hospitalNine people were treated in hospital after a fire broke out on a residential boat along the banks of the River Thames.Emergency services responded to the incident near Lechlade, Wiltshire, at about midday on Saturday, police said. Continue reading...

Witnesses say Israeli forces opened fire on people near distribution point run by Israel-backed foundationMore than 30 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday as they went to receive food at an aid distribution point set up by an Israeli-backed foundation in Gaza, according to witnesses, and a hospital run by the Red Cross confirming it was treating many wounded.Witnesses said Israeli forces had opened fire as Palestinians headed toward the aid distribution site in Rafah run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Continue reading...

Milla Magee, the reigning Miss England, left over claims she had been used as window dressingTheir mantra is beauty with a purpose". But the organisers of the Miss World pageant have been accused of something altogether uglier: being vindictive and very bitter" towards a contestant who left over claims she had been used as window dressing.The reigning Miss England, Milla Magee, said she agreed to take part in the 2025 Miss World pageant because she believed it would be a platform to promote her campaign to have CPR included in the school curriculum. But she said the reality was very different. Continue reading...

Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham also on Freedom Flotilla voyage to deliver aid to devastated territoryThe climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists have set sail for Gaza on a ship aimed at breaking Israel's siege" of the devastated territory, organisers have said.The sailing boat Madleen - operated by the activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition - departed from the port of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy, on Sunday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Pro-Palestine activists who were part of a group who occupied the office of an academic intend to appeal decisions

Predictions of increased risk of heatwaves follow country's sunniest spring on recordThe UK is twice as likely as usual to have a hot summer this year, the Met Office has predicted, warning that there is also an increased risk of heatwaves.The predictions follow the country's sunniest spring on record, with the UK clocking up 630 hours of sunshine since the start of March, in what has also been the driest spring for more than a century. Continue reading...

Israeli forces opened fire on people heading towards aid distribution site run by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, say witnessesThe Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a newly created private logistics group backed by the US and endorsed by Israel, has given a response to reports that dozens of Palestinian people were killed when Israeli tanks opened fire near one of its aid distribution sites in Gaza earlier today.It is false and fabricated. All aid was distributed today without incident," the GHF said, telling BBC News that there have been no injuries or fatalities. Continue reading...