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Preparations, emergency warnings and recovery grants found lacking following long-running investigation into 2022 disaster

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Police spy who formed relationships with two female activists used tactic permitted by Met', judge toldTwo women who were deceived into sexual relations by the same undercover police officer have called his behaviour degrading and morally bankrupt", a public inquiry has heard.The officer, Trevor Morris, deceived the two women while he spent four years undercover infiltrating leftwing and anti-racist activists. Continue reading...

Olympic rower says men with children also expect their careers will last longer than women who are parentsThe Olympic rower Helen Glover has said fathers on Team GB receive less scrutiny for being parents than female peers and have expectations that their careers will last longer.As the world's No 1 female rower and a two-time Olympic champion, Glover, who has three children, has long been an advocate for working mothers and since announcing her return from retirement a year ago to compete in Paris has been outspoken about the difficulties of juggling parenthood as an elite athlete. Continue reading...

NGN accused of claiming Gordon Brown had seen Rebekah Brooks's emails to justify deleting millions of messages amid phone-hacking investigationDocuments linked to a former News International executive can be searched over claims Rupert Murdoch's media company falsely implicated Gordon Brown and Tom Watson in a fake security threat" to justify" the deletion of millions of emails, the high court heard.News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of the Sun and defunct News of the World, faces accusations it created a false narrative" that the Labour peer Lord Watson conspired with the ex-prime minister to obtain stolen data as part of an attempt to conceal wrongdoing and subvert" police investigations into the phone-hacking scandal. Continue reading...

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador makes unusual public appeal after arrest of top leaders of Sinaloa cartelMexico's president has taken the unusual step of issuing a public appeal to drug cartels not to fight each other following last week's detention of the top Mexican drug lord Ismael El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez.President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at his daily press briefing that he trusted that drug traffickers knew they would only suffer if they stepped up the internal wars that already plague the Sinaloa cartel. Continue reading...

Greater Manchester Police has restricted another officer and referred itself to the IOPCEight officers have been suspended by Greater Manchester police (GMP) after a report of alleged racial discrimination.GMP announced they had also restricted another officer and referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Continue reading...

Infrastructure spending cuts raise waiting list concerns, while end to Stonehenge road project called joyous'The pause by Rachel Reeves on plans to build 40 new hospitals must be as short as possible" to deliver on pledges to drive down waiting lists, the NHS confederation has warned.There was also anxiety across the political spectrum, including among Labour MPs, about what the move would mean for crumbling hospitals affected by the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) crisis. Continue reading...

Tens of thousands of members will now vote on offer that could bring long-running dispute to an end

Hospital and road projects also targeted as chancellor accuses Tories of covering up scale of fiscal shortfall

Former BBC presenter charged with three offences after Met police investigationThe former BBC presenter, Huw Edwards, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.Edwards, who left the BBC in April, will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday on charges relating to images shared on a WhatsApp chat. Continue reading...

Israeli prime minister releases statement following visit to scene of strike in which 12 youngsters died

Dutch artist's 17th-century work said to have inspired tableau that has offended Christian and conservative criticsA controversial tableau in the Olympics opening ceremony denounced by Christian and conservative critics as an offensive parody of The Last Supper was in fact inspired by a 17th-century Dutch painting of the Greek Olympian gods, art historians have said.Does this painting remind you of something?" the Magnin Museum in the French city of Dijon asked (with a wink) on X, inviting people to come and admire" The Feast of the Gods, painted by the artist Jan van Bijlert between 1635 and 1640. Continue reading...

Anita Rose, 57, was found near the railway line at Brantham early on Wednesday morningDetectives investigating the murder of a woman who died after she was attacked while taking her dog for a walk are appealing for information from rail passengers who may have seen something.Anita Rose, 57, left her house to take her springer spaniel Bruce for a walk in Brantham at about 5am on Wednesday, Suffolk police said. Continue reading...

Former president told Christian supporters on Friday it'll be fixed' in four years if he wins 2024 electionDemocrats have expressed outrage after Donald Trump told a group of Christian supporters on Friday that if he wins the presidency in November, they would never need to vote again.Christians, get out and vote, just this time," the former president and current presidential nominee told the crowd at at Turning Point Action's Believers' Summit on Friday. You won't have to do it any more. Four more years, you know what? It'll be fixed, it'll be fine, you won't have to vote any more, my beautiful Christians." Continue reading...

Russian defence ministry says troops continue to make gains in Donetsk province, as Ukrainian president visits frontline in KharkivVolodymyr Zelenskiy said he had arrived in the area of Vovchansk in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, where Russian forces have been trying to advance since May.Today, I had the honour to be there to congratulate our special forces warriors on their professional day and to present them with state awards," the Ukrainian president wrote on X. Continue reading...

Annual report also shows former chief executive was paid 652,569 for his final year, including a 34,345 bonus

Solicitor for young man kicked by officer claims media have focused on him instead of police misconductThe lawyer for the family at the centre of the Manchester airport brawl has said he is stepping aside as investigations into the incident gather pace.Akhmed Yakoob became the focus of criticism after claiming 19-year-old Muhammed Fahir was the victim of an attempted assassination" that had left him fighting for his life". Continue reading...

Gerald Darmanin says activists may have been encouraged to carry out arson attacks that caused disruptionFrance's interior minister has suggested that far-left activists were behind the sabotage of the country's high-speed rail system on the eve of the Olympics opening ceremony.Four days after the attacks, Gerald Darmanin said the investigation into the arson attacks had identified a certain number of profiles who could have committed it". Continue reading...

Exclusive: Asked if he, Katy Gallagher and Murray Watt were uncomfortable about crossing the picket line, Bill Shorten said the AFR cancelled the conference'

Neil McCausland criticises business and tells inquiry Horizon IT system was clunky and creaky'

Temperatures expected to soar to 35C, making some competitions more challenging for athletesThe Paris Olympics had a soggy start but conditions improved over the weekend. Meteorologists now expect temperatures to soar early this week, prompting several warnings.The weather in the French capital has been forecast to climb to 35C (95F) on Tuesday, about 8C above average for the time of year, making some competitions more challenging for the athletes. Southern parts of France are likely to experience the hottest weather, reaching the high 30s celsius, nearly 10C above average. Continue reading...

Fifty potential cases in first three months of this year as rising costs lead to increase in parallel marketThe EU had a record number of potential olive oil fraud and mislabelling cases in the first quarter of this year as inflationary pressures fuelled an increase in the hidden market for the kitchen staple.The cost of olive oil has more than doubled since 2018 with production hit by extreme weather caused by the climate crisis and other factors. Continue reading...

Airwars says move is first step in effort to identify every civilian killed during Israeli military campaignA conflict monitor has named nearly 3,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza in almost 350 separate incidents during the first 17 days of the war - the first step in an exercise aimed at identifying every civilian killed during the Israeli military campaign.Though the 2,993 victims named are a fraction of the overall death total of 39,000 cited by the Palestinian ministry of health in Gaza, Airwars, the group involved, says the effort shows it is possible to name those killed while a war is ongoing. Continue reading...

US defence secretary says China is 'engaging in coercive behaviour, trying to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas'Japanese and US defense chiefs, as well as top diplomats, agreed to further bolster their military cooperation by upgrading the command and control of US forces in the east Asian country and strengthening American-licensed missile production there, describing the rising threat from China as the greatest strategic challenge."US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, joined their Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara, at the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee in Tokyo - known as 2+2" security talks - where they reaffirmed their bilateral alliance in the wake of President Joe Biden 's withdrawal from the November presidential race. Continue reading...

Very cold overnight lows are forecast until Friday or Saturday, while daytime temperatures should return to average by about Wednesday

RSF militia, mired in civil war for 15 months, accused of sexual violence, including rape and torture, in KhartoumGunmen from a notorious militia roamed Sudan's capital gang-raping countless" women and girls, some as young as nine, according to an investigation documenting the shocking prevalence of sexual violence in Khartoum during the country's civil war.Some of the attacks by members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were so brutal that women and girls died due to the violence associated with the act of rape", according to the research by Human Rights Watch (HRW). Continue reading...

The famous costume, worn by Carrie Fisher in Return of the Jedi, was sold alongside a miniature aircraft used in A New Hope that fetched $1.6mPrincess Leia's famous gold bikini worn by the late Carrie Fisher in Star Wars has sold at auction for $175,000 (136,000, A$266,000).The costume, made famous from the 1983 film Return of the Jedi when Fisher's character wore it while chained to Jabba the Hutt's throne, was bought at a sale by Heritage Auctions on Friday in the US. Continue reading...

Far-right activist detained by police at Channel tunnel in Folkestone and later released on bailTommy Robinson has been arrested a day after organising a major demonstration in central London, according to his X account.Thousands of people marched in the city on Saturday as part of an event organised by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, while many others took part in a counterprotest. Continue reading...

The Glaswegian, who became famous in the 1990s, was also an eminent track and field coach of OlympiansJohn Anderson, the referee on the television programme Gladiators, has died at the age of 92.Tributes have been paid to the Glaswegian, who became famous in the 1990s for his officiating on the show. His catchphrases included Contender, ready! Gladiator, ready!" Continue reading...

Australians are continuing to gamble at a new normal' of elevated post-pandemic levels, researchers say

Ministers settle case and agree to reconsider decision to refuse temporary leave to those in need of treatmentThousands of trafficking victims at risk of being forcibly removed from the country will now have their right to recover in the UK from the effects of exploitation considered after the Home Office settled a major case.The Home Office had argued that people could access treatment in their home countries or that they could be removed because they were not midway through treatment in the UK. Continue reading...

British Ports Association reportedly warns government it faces huge losses after investing in border control postsUK port operators have reportedly said they must be compensated by the government if it negotiates a deal to lower trade barriers with the EU, having been forced to invest millions in building post-Brexit border control facilities under the Conservatives.The British Ports Association (BPA) is said to have written to the Cabinet Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs warning of huge losses after operators built sophisticated control points to enforce strict checks on animal and plant imports. Continue reading...

Masoud Pezeshkian says the Iranian people voted for change and promises constructive engagement with westIran's new president has been formally inaugurated by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, opening up the slim hope of improved relations with the west, less internal censorship and a fresh approach to the economy.In a ceremony on Sunday marking the start of his four-year presidency, Masoud Pezeshkian said the Iranian people had voted for change and promised constructive engagement with the west, a step he regards as a precondition for Tehran curbing inflation and securing growth. Continue reading...

The reshuffle is at least as much about redress and reinforcement as refresh - however the prime minister might choose to explain it

Describing case as tragic', supreme court denies 21-year-old bail over 72 charges, including three alleged serious assaults

Carer's allowance cliff edge' means it has to be paid back if a penny is earned over threshold. Carers tell their storiesA report by Carers UK has found teachers, NHS staff and other key workers who balance part-time work with caring for loved ones are quitting their jobs to avoid being hit with huge cash penalties for breaching carer's allowance rules. We speak to people affected by the crisis. Continue reading...

The new centre, staffed by Australians, will enable sharing of information and help Pacific island governments regulate important undersea cables

Changes will be complex and expensive, but so is the moral and economic cost of not resolving this sorry tale of misery and injustice

An extra 40-50 tonnes a week' could be heading to shop shelves because of perfect conditions, says fruit growerThe recent spell of warm weather after a rainy and cloudy start to the summer has provided perfect growing conditions in Britain for as much as 200 tonnes of surprise big, juicy, luscious" strawberries heading to shop shelves, a leading supplier has said.The cold and wet spell earlier in the year, plus the recent mini heatwave, have resulted in pushing more of our predicted crop volume into late July and early August," said Lee Port, the chief executive of the Kent-based fruit grower Mansfields. Continue reading...

Majdal Shams residents tell of scenes of horror after children who had gathered to play football were struckThe funeral lament rang out across Majdal Shams, from the centre of the town, from balconies and from rooftops. Thousands of mourners packed the narrow streets and squares, carrying small coffins covered in white shrouds to their final resting place.Men from the town in the occupied Golan Heights, some wearing traditional white hats topped with red, linked arms and sung a mourners' chant. The mother cries: Where is my son? Don't say he is among the victims,'" they intoned. Oh, children, tears are pouring from the eyes of girls and young men." Continue reading...

Threatened with eternal damnation' and told he was akin to a paedophile, Seth Pinnock says he has finally found acceptance and hopes to help change the trajectory of someone's life'The declaration by a highly influential black Christian gospel star that he is gay has exposed a generational divide in attitudes towards sexuality that could signal a transformation within evangelical churches.Seth Pinnock, who founded a gospel choir and youth orchestra and was hailed by the Tony Blair Foundation as a young leader to watch", experienced depression, anxiety, self-hatred and drug addiction as a result of believing his sexuality was sinful. Continue reading...

Israel warplanes carry out strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, in apparent retaliation for attack on occupied Golan HeightsThe Lebanese government has asked the US to urge restraint from Israel, Lebanon's foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, has told Reuters.Bou Habib said the US had asked the Lebanese government to pass on a message to Hezbollah to show restraint as well. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Sunday he does not want to see an escalation of conflict. Continue reading...

Highway that consolidated Roman empire joins modernist Romanian sculptures as latest sites added to listItaly's Via Appia Antica, or Appian Way, the earliest and most important road built by the ancient Romans, has been named a Unesco world heritage site, making Italy the country with the world's highest number of locations on the coveted list.Known as the Regina Viarum, or Queen of Roads, it connected Rome with the port of Brindisi in the south and marked a revolution in the construction of roads. Continue reading...

Jets strike south of country after rocket attack that killed 12 young people in Golan Heights blamed on Hezbollah

Toxic forever chemicals' linked to low birth weight, reduced sperm counts and infertilitySeveral brands of condoms and lubricants contain alarming levels of toxic PFAS forever chemicals", including styles of Trojan and K-Y Jelly, new research finds.The testing conducted by the Mamavation consumer advocacy blog comes just as researchers found human skin absorbs the chemicals at much higher levels than previously thought. Continue reading...

A group of Muslim men put themselves in danger to calm unrest in Harehills over children being taken into careNadsy Qurban bent his neck to show how the crown of his head was covered in a number of burns, each the size of coins. The smell was like I'm burning some goat or something, like I'm cooking some goat. That's how bad it was," he said.Needless to say, it hurt. But a week on, the burns he gained while putting out fires during unrest in the Harehills area of Leeds are starting to heal. Continue reading...

Clare O'Neil and Andrew Giles axed as Tony Burke steps into home affairs role and also takes on role of immigration minister

Swift response by Renmin University to student's post creates shockwave in a country where accusers are often ignored or suedPublic allegations of sexual harassment are rare in China. Swift responses to punish the accused are rarer still. So a recent case at one of China's top universities, in which a student posted a video online accusing her supervisor of sexually harassing her, leading to his sacking, has created shockwaves.On 21 July, a woman who identified herself as Wang Di posted an hour-long video on Weibo, in which she accused her PhD supervisor at Renmin University in Beijing, Wang Guiyuan, of physically and verbally abusing her for more than two years. The professor, a former Chinese Communist party representative at the university, threatened to block her graduation prospects, Wang Di said. Continue reading...

The legacy of the activist, ANC politician and wife of Nelson Mandela has growing appeal, despite her refusal to apologise for crimesAs votes from South Africa's elections were being counted last month, a senior African National Congress politician, Nomvula Mokonyane, held court wearing a yellow long-sleeved top with the face of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela emblazoned on the back.Across the room at the national vote counting centre, far left Economic Freedom Fighters official Poppy Mailola wore a black T-shirt with an image of Winnie plastered across repetitions of her name. Continue reading...