World news | The Guardian

Dragging conflict into the Gulf is a strategic mistake, says Iran's foreign minister after drone strike on coastal facility

Alistair Kitchen says he was detained and questioned about views on Israel and Palestine before being deported from LA to Melbourne

When Sirmione became jammed with visitors during a particularly busy May Day weekend, it proved a tipping pointIn the era of overtourism, every popular holiday destination has its tipping point.For Sirmione, a sliver of land lapped by the blue-green waters of Lake Garda, that watershed moment came during Italy's long May Day holiday weekend, and has led the medieval Italian village to introduce street tutors" to manage the visitor flow and ensure good behaviour. Continue reading...

Cross-party consensus on climate appears to have broken down despite polls showing public support for action

Rose Jones, who cared for mother from age of eight, twice wrongly advised by work coach on joining DWP job schemeA young carer who had looked after her disabled mother from the age of eight was forced to repay more than 2,000 when she unwittingly breached carer's allowance benefit earnings rules after joining a government youth employment scheme.Rose Jones, 22, said she was twice wrongly advised by her jobcentre work coach that her wages earned under the Kickstart scheme would not affect her eligibility for carer's allowance. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. You can find our new Middle East blog hereEmma Graham-Harrison, the Guardian's chief Middle East correspondent, has spoken to families who live in a Tel Aviv neighbourhood that was struck by Iran's retaliatory attacks.

This blog is now closedFancy some female rage, interspersed with humour? Tegan Bennett Daylight on the bloke that pushed her over the edge:Anthony Albanese says he doesn't expect Australia to have any military role in the growing Middle East conflict.I wouldn't expect that there would be a request for Australia to play a military role, but we will continue to play a role in terms of looking after Australian citizens. Continue reading...

Alert to politicians and staffers in Austin issued hours after one Minnesota Democrat was killed and another injuredThe Texas department of public safety warned state lawmakers and legislative staffers of credible threats" to their safety, hours after two Minnesota politicians were targeted early Saturday.An alert was issued just before 1pm local time, alerting legislators planning to attend a No Kings" anti-Trump rally at the capitol in Austin. The area was evacuated soon after, according to the Texas Tribune, which first obtained a copy of the warning. Continue reading...

Police in Culpeper, Virginia, and San Francisco detain suspects and report non-life-threatening injuriesProtesters at No Kings" events in Culpeper, Virginia, and San Francisco, California, have been struck by motorists, according to local news reports.The protests are taking place at about 2,000 sites nationwide, from big cities to small towns. A coalition of more than 100 groups planned the protests, which are committed to a principle of nonviolence. Continue reading...

People came to say goodbye to their homes' before the two-year process of dismantling the building beginsGrenfell residents gathered in London to say goodbye to their homes" on what is likely to be the last anniversary of the tragedy before the tower is dismantled.The 72 people who died in the tower block fire in west London in June 2017 were commemorated with a silent walk through the streets of north Kensington on Saturday evening - just months before the two-year process of dismantling what remains of the building is expected to begin. Continue reading...

America's allies fear US policy is risking a global recession but they have to take care not to alienate the presidentThe G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada is likely to be dominated by efforts to persuade Donald Trump to dilute an America-first strategy, which world leaders fear may put the global economy into recession, and entrench the war in Gaza, Ukraine and Iran - three conflicts Trump once promised to solve.The summit represents the first collective opportunity for western leaders to challenge Trump with the consequences of his unilateralism, but with the world on a knife-edge, the six leaders cannot risk being seen to gang up on him and spark a presidential explosion. Continue reading...

Defence minister Israel Katz says Iranian capital will burn' if more missiles are fired at his countryIsrael has claimed to have gained control of the skies over the Iranian capital and warned that Tehran will burn" if more missiles are fired at its territory, but the Iranian leadership remained defiant, vowing a more severe and powerful response" and threatened to widen the war by striking ships and bases of Israeli allies.The mutual threats reflected the risks of a dramatic escalation in the conflict, as US-Iranian negotiations planned before the war in Oman were abandoned after Tehran said they would be meaningless", and Israel appeared to target Iran's gas industry. Israeli rhetoric reflected its leaders' growing confidence that they have gained the upper hand, and raised questions over whether Israeli war aims could go beyond the stated objective of crippling Iran's nuclear programme. Continue reading...

Military assets to provide contingency support' as PM repeats call for de-escalation after Iran's retaliatory strikes

Aviation ministry says Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached height of 650ft before rapidly descending and hitting ground 2km from airportMayday, mayday," was the final radio message sent by the pilot of the Air India 171 flight bound for London, moments before it crashed to the ground, killing more than 270 people.In a briefing by India's aviation authorities on Saturday, authorities confirmed that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was piloting the flight, sent a distress call to air traffic control less a minute after it took off from Ahmedabad airport at 1.39pm on Thursday. Continue reading...

Guardian analysis sharply contradicts president's claim that officials are targeting criminals' for deportation from USThe federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agency has exponentially increased the arrest and detention of immigrants without any criminal history since the second Trump administration took office, a data analysis by the Guardian shows.The information sharply contradicts Donald Trump's claims the authorities are targeting criminals" for deportation as part of his aggressive anti-immigration agenda. Continue reading...

City leaders claim days-long event will bring in riches but opponents say it will not benefit ordinary VenetiansMarta Sottoriva, a teacher in Venice, has tirelessly campaigned for various causes in her cherished lagoon city, from railing against giant cruise ships to battling soaring rents. Now she is busy preparing banners, handing out flyers and shouting through megaphones in squares as she joins dozens of activists in whipping up resistance to the umpteenth gigantic event" she says that risks turning the world heritage site - which has long suffered from the effects of excessive tourism - into a playground for the rich.Sottoriva is referring to the star-studded nuptials between the billionaire Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, and Lauren Sanchez, a former TV journalist. The days-long shindig, expected to begin from 24 June, will be the biggest wedding held in Venice since George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin in 2014. Continue reading...

Vasili Mitrokhin defected in 1992 after spending years copying top-secret documents on Soviet spies and operationsOne of the most consequential Russian defectors in history was turned away several times by the US before he was eventually accepted by Britain and exfiltrated with his family from Russia, according to revelations in a new book.Vasili Mitrokhin, a KGB archivist who spent years copying top-secret documents on some of the most sensitive Soviet spies and operations, was brought out of Russia in 1992 by MI6. His archive of copied documents was exfiltrated separately. But London got hold of his trove only after Mitrokhin gave up trying to get the US to take him seriously. Continue reading...

Australian prime minister to tell world leaders, including US president, that free trade can help calm rising global insecurity

Northern Ireland faces stark questions over the racism, xenophobia and intolerance that has forced families from abroad to fleeFirst came the shouts as the crowd worked its way through narrow terraced streets, proclaiming its mission to rid the town of scum". Then came the shattered glass as rocks exploded through windows. Then the flames, licking up curtains and spreading to sofas, carpets, books and framed pictures until smoke billowed into the summer night.They might have been scenes from another century, another country, but they played out in Northern Ireland this week in the glare of rolling news and social media, which recorded a soundtrack of glee and hate. Where are the foreigners?" the mob shouted. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Thinktank calls for stronger penalties for corporate negligence in England, including directorship and public-contract bansCompanies responsible for unsafe cladding should face unlimited fines and permanent bans from public contracts, according to a report that also says England's existing laws have not gone far enough to prevent future tragedies.The thinktank Common Wealth said the law fails to effectively hold companies to account for corporate negligence, leaving the door open for another disaster like the Grenfell fire, which killed 72 people in June 2017. Continue reading...

Survivors say careers of many of those involved show there are no consequences for decisions that cost lives'The survivors of the Grenfell fire have condemned a deep and bitter injustice" that many of the officials criticised in the public inquiry in connection to the tragedy have continued working in related fields.We relive the pain every day. They are carrying on with life, careers intact, while we are still here - grieving, waiting and fighting for justice," said a spokesperson for Grenfell United shortly before the eighth anniversary of the fire. Continue reading...

Footage purported to show spy agents launching missiles inside Iran is marked contrast to the intelligence service's history of secrecyIsraelis were celebrating on Friday what many see as a stunning new success by their country's foreign intelligence service, the Mossad.Hours after launching 200 warplanes in a wave of strikes against Iran, Israeli officials released footage they said showed the Mossad agents deep inside Iran assembling missiles and explosive drones aimed at targets near Tehran. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Angela Rayner in race to persuade housing associations to take on social housing projectsLabour is staking everything" on using billions of pounds of investment to reverse Britain's decline, Angela Rayner has said, promising people would feel the housing crisis ease by the end of the parliament.The UK housing secretary is now in a race to persuade housing associations to take on social housing projects, with nearly 40bn for affordable and social homes to be spent over 10 years, the culmination of lengthy negotiations with the Treasury. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. You can follow our new live blog here

Author Pat Barker and stage star Elaine Paige made dames and Antony Gormley becomes a Companion of HonourThe actor Gary Oldman and Roger Daltrey, frontman of the Who, have been knighted in the king's birthday honours list, which also confirms there is a knighthood for David Beckham, while the Angel of the North sculptor, Sir Antony Gormley, receives the top gong of Companion of Honour.Pat Barker, the author of The Regeneration Trilogy, Penny Mordaunt, the former defence secretary, and the ceramicist Emma Bridgewater are among those to be made dames. Continue reading...

Vehicles swept off road by fast-rising waters after Thursday downpour as Texas authorities focus rescue effort on creekAuthorities in San Antonio on Friday said at least 11 people had died in heavy storms and flooding - and that some remain missing.Rescue crews were still searching for missing people following Thursday's downpour as the flooding recedes, San Antonio fire department spokesperson Joe Arrington said. Continue reading...

Israel says Iran has fired up to 100 missiles in retaliation for surprise assault as both sides threaten escalating hostilities

Brent crude hits highest level since April while airline shares slide amid escalation of conflict in Middle EastThe price of oil and gold has soared and stock markets have fallen after Israel's strikes against targets in Iran.The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, the focal point of global oil production, prompted a sharp increase in wholesale prices. Brent crude surged by more than 7% after news of the attacks broke, briefly moving above $75 (55) a barrel to its highest level since April. Continue reading...

Kim Sajet's departure comes after the Smithsonian Institute rebuffed the president's attempt to fire her over DEIThe director of the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet, has resigned just two weeks after Donald Trump attempted to fire her and accused her of being highly partisan and a strong supporter of DEI".We thank Kim for her service. Her decision to put the museum first is to be applauded and appreciated. I know this was not an easy decision. She put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her," Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian secretary, wrote in a Friday internal email that was obtained by multiple outlets. Continue reading...

Accord comes as Mark Carney seeks shift in Ottawa's relationship with New Delhi after long diplomatic spatCanada and India plan to share intelligence in a bid to combat the rising threat of international crime and extremism, according to a new report from Bloomberg, days before a meeting between the two countries' leaders.Canadian officials declined to comment on the report, which, if confirmed, would represent a dramatic shift in relations between the two nations which for nearly two years have been locked in a bitter diplomatic spat after Canada's federal police agency concluded that India planned and ordered the murder a prominent Sikh activist on Canadian soil. Continue reading...

Met Office says mercury peaked at Santon Downham in Suffolk, as it issues amber thunderstorm warningThe UK has recorded its warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures hitting 29.4C, the Met Office has said.However, the forecasting service said thunderstorms were pushing into" the Channel, and an amber weather warning for severe thunderstorms in the east and south-east would come into force at 8pm on Friday. Continue reading...

Lightning air strikes have weakened Iran's military leadership, but its nuclear facilities are deeply defended

Next week's final vote finely balanced, with scrutiny growing over loopholes and who will deliver the systemMedics would not be allowed to raise assisted dying as an option with under-18s, and advertising it would be banned under changes backed by MPs before a final vote expected next week.The Commons voted on Friday on amendments to the assisted dying bill, which would legalise the option for terminally ill adults in England and Wales who have been told they have fewer than six months to live. Continue reading...

Airline's maintenance regime will also be scrutinised as experts offer theories for cause of disasterThe official investigation into Air India flight 171 is focusing on the Boeing 787's engine thrust, wing flaps and landing gear, with the airline's maintenance regime also coming under scrutiny.With one black box now retrieved from the wreckage of the plane, the Indian government's Air Accident Investigation Branch is looking at whether the aircraft's engine thrust and wing flaps failed, and why the landing gear remained open. Continue reading...

Whips increase pressure on MPs and No 10 drawing up contingency plans for ministerial changes as vote nearsThe government is intensifying efforts to quell a growing rebellion over welfare cuts, with whips stepping up contact with MPs and strategists drawing up plans for a mini-reshuffle in case of resignations.Ministers are taking a carrot-and-stick approach by laying out extra support for people who face losing their benefits, while also warning mutinous MPs of the consequences of voting against the plans. Continue reading...

Another motion on agenda at party's state conference calls for withdrawal from Paris agreement

Critics say history shows recreational shooting is not as effective as evidence-based baiting and aerial shooting programs

India's ministry of civil aviation orders airline to carry out safety inspections on fleet with GE Aerospace GEnx engines after crash of flight 171

Foreign ministers condemn strikes amid fears of wider war, but reaction from Iran's proxies is relatively measured

Bishop of Kirkstall says C of E has people deeply resistant to any funding for racial justice' after budget halvedThe Church of England is susceptible to the influence of extreme views from abroad and at home", a bishop has warned after church officials made a brutal" cut in funding to tackle racism.There were people in the C of E who were deeply resistant to any funding for racial justice", said Arun Arora, the bishop of Kirkstall and joint leader of the church's racial justice work. Continue reading...

PM calls for de-escalation as No 10 also indicates RAF did not take any part in downing retaliatory Iranian drones

James Mukhwana prosecuted after death of Albert Ojwang, a teacher arrested after criticising police on social mediaA Kenyan police officer has appeared in court in connection with the death of a teacher in police custody in a case that has caused rage and protests and brought renewed scrutiny on the country's security forces.Constable James Mukhwana is the first police officer to be arrested over the death of Albert Ojwang, a secondary school teacher who was arrested on 6 June in Homa Bay county in western Kenya after criticising a senior police official on social media. After his arrest Ojwang was driven about 350km to Nairobi, where he died two days later. Continue reading...

Officers say 265 bodies found so far as families queue at Ahmedabad hospital to identify loved ones

Many who engage are discriminating and value-driven', with a minority consuming extremely misogynistic content', study for Ofcom suggestsMen who engage in the online manosphere" and the content of Andrew Tate are often able to express a strong commitment to equal treatment and fairness", according to research commissioned by Ofcom.Prompted by growing concerns about internet misogyny, researchers for the UK communications regulator followed the journeys of dozens of men through online content ranging from the US podcaster Joe Rogan to forums for incels" (involuntary celibates). They found that while a minority encountered extremely misogynistic content", many users of the manosphere were critically engaged, selective and capable of discarding messages that did not resonate with their values. Continue reading...

Local authorities say a 5bn shortfall in special needs funding could leave dozens effectively insolvent within monthsCouncil leaders in England have warned that a multibillion pound deficit from years of overspending on special educational needs has become a burning platform" that will push scores of councils into bankruptcy within months.They say time is running out to resolve rapidly growing shortfalls and are concerned the government gave no indication in Wednesday's spending review how it will deal with Send debts, which are expected to exceed 5bn by next March. Continue reading...

Israel has struck dozens of targets inside Iran, including nuclear sites and military installationsIsrael launched a widespread attack on Iran aimed at targets including its nuclear facilities, military commanders and scientists, claiming it took unilateral action because Tehran had begun to build nuclear warheads. Israel said 200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the operation, striking 100 targets. Continue reading...

Transaction tax acceptable' to EU is part of deal to allow greater freedom of movement and link with customs unionGibraltar will apply a 15% sales tax on goods to avoid unfair competition with Spain, as a result of the agreement on the post-Brexit future of the British overseas territory, it has emerged.The territory has agreed to ensure a 15% minimum transaction tax" on goods within three years of the ratification of the agreement, according to a senior European official. Continue reading...

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh says he thought he was dead as plane exploded but escaped through opening in fuselage

Temperatures over 40C recorded in Portugal and Spain, while China endures heatwave conditions in high 40sTemperature records for early June are being broken across large parts of Europe, with the mercury reaching 40.5C (104.9F) in Mertola, Portugal, on Sunday. On the same day, several weather stations in Spain recorded temperatures in excess of 42C, with dozens of sites at record levels for early summer. Across the Balkans, temperatures reached 37C. On Monday, 37.6C was recorded in Tirana, Albania, while in Greece night-time minimum temperatures have stayed mostly over 30C for much of this week.Hot conditions are to intensify across central and western Europe over the next few days, with temperatures across large parts of France, Benelux, Italy and west Germany expected to reach the low to mid 30s celsius. Highs of up to 35C are expected in Paris on Friday, with up to 38C forecast in Rome. Conditions will ease somewhat, but a heatwave will soon develop across Iberia, with Madrid expected to reach the high-30s celsius each day next week. Continue reading...