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Premier Group Recruitment went into administration with debts of 2.9m - including 647,000 owed to HMRCA recruitment executive - who was allowed to buy back the assets of his bust company in instalments despite it accumulating almost 3m of debt - has fallen behind on promised payments after pledging to send staff on an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas.The development is the latest case to raise questions about the practice of phoenixism", accounting's controversial art of liquidating companies to allow directors to rise from the ashes with a new entity, free of debts. Continue reading...

Shinjiro Koizumi says Japan valued as a peace-loving' nation while China expands military capabilities without sufficient transparency'Japan's defence minister took a veiled swipe at China on Sunday, pledging to keep strengthening the military despite Beijing's criticism of Tokyo's increasingly muscular security stance.Under the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, Japan has quickened its pivot to a more proactive defence policy, further shaking off - with US encouragement - its pacifist outlook in place since the end of the second world war. Continue reading...

There is hope that a change to building regulations could resurrect music clubs, which have been hit by rising rents, social shifts and noise disputesA move by the German government to reclassify nightclubs to distinguish them from amusement and adult entertainment facilities could give a much-needed boost to the country's struggling nightlife, industry advocates say.Under a fundamental change to building regulations approved by Friedrich Merz's cabinet last week, nightclubs will be formally recognised as providing cultural and artistic value, making it more difficult for developers to evict venue operators in favour of new construction. Continue reading...

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Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what is possible with the right policiesThe timing was rich with symbolism. As intense heatwaves pummelled Europe and Asia, and oil markets around the world leapt and sputtered, the two big chimneys of one of Australia's largest power stations were being demolished. Meanwhile, the Australian energy minister was holding a media conference to hail a fall of up to 10% in the benchmark electricity price in parts of the country.Quietly, and with surprisingly little fanfare from the rest of the world, Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what is possible with the right policies. The country was already one of the global leaders in domestic solar power, with panels on one in three homes. It also remains, however, a major contributor to the climate crisis through its vast fossil fuel exports. But it is batteries that are giving Australia a new burst of speed. Continue reading...

Minister at Singapore defence summit also reveals Australia to buy only secondhand Aukus submarines from US

Key part of Marc Bolland's government advisory role will be to help disabled or depressed young people find training or jobA former chief executive of Marks & Spencer has been appointed as a government jobs adviser in its latest attempt to tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis.Marc Bolland, who oversaw the retail chain from 2010 to 2016, will lead a summit of business leaders, amid warnings that the country risks a lost generation" without urgent intervention. Continue reading...

Chiedza Nyanjowa, who wanted to be a nurse, died in hospital after getting into difficulties in the seaA 15-year-old girl, who died after getting into difficulties in the sea off the coast of Merseyside, wanted to be a nurse so she could give back", her family said in a tribute.Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire, was taken to Alder Hey children's hospital after swimming at Formby beach on bank holiday Monday, Merseyside police said. Continue reading...

Supporters filling north London pubs said they were already gratified by Premier League winThe streets of Holloway, usually bustling with families and trolly-dragging shoppers, were uncharacteristically quiet on Saturday afternoon. But shortly after the clock struck 5pm, loud roars echoed through the north London high street, located a short walk away from the Emirates stadium, as Arsenal walked on to the pitch for the Champions League final.While the team, still basking in the glory of their Premier League win last week, were in Budapest for their final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain, Gunners - or Gooners, as they are colloquially known - came out to support the team on their home turf. Continue reading...

Reggio Emilia prefect stops gig after Jewish community concerns' over rapper's previous antisemitic remarksA Kanye West concert in Italy has been cancelled over public order and safety issues".The 48-year-old rapper, who changed his name to Ye in 2021, was due to perform at the Pulse of Gaia festival at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on 18 July, but the city's prefect, Salvatore Angieri, stopped the gigs after concerns" from the local Jewish community over previous antisemitic remarks by West. Continue reading...

Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas say party must seek to understand why disenfranchised electorate were attracted to Nigel Farage's partyThe current and former leaders of the Green party have warned that the party should listen to the concerns of Reform UK voters in order to confront inequality.Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas said on Saturday that the Greens needed to understand why voters affected by the cost of living crisis were attracted to Nigel Farage's party. Continue reading...

Four were part of seven-person group that had traveled to US to ascend North America's tallest mountainThree people have died after falling while climbing Alaska's Mount McKinley, according to officials. A fourth climber has been rescued.The four were part of a seven-person group that had traveled to the United States to ascend Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, North America's tallest mountain, according to information released by the Latvian Mountaineering Association. Continue reading...

Former England and Chelsea star arrested on M3 on Thursday under suspicion of driving while unfit through drugsRaheem Sterling has been made to feel disposable" after a decade at the top of football, a source close to the former England star has said, after his arrest on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drugs".The source said the former Man City and Chelsea winger, who is now playing for Feyenoord in the Netherlands, had been suffering from immeasurable" psychological strain after an extremely tough couple of years". Continue reading...

Actor among protesters in central London highlighting laws in 29 countries where same-sex relationships remain illegalIan McKellen has joined a march against the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ people in Commonwealth countries, calling it an appalling situation".The Lord of the Rings star and activist joined protesters in central London on Saturday to highlight laws in 29 Commonwealth countries where same-sex relationships remain illegal. Continue reading...

Former chancellor also tells Hay festival good riddance' to Tory MPs defecting to ReformSajid Javid said that supporting Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership contest that ultimately made her prime minister was his biggest mistake in politics".Speaking at the Hay festival in Wales while promoting his memoir, the former chancellor, who is no longer an MP, said there were friends in the Conservative party he remained in contact with. Continue reading...

Plane landed in Wisconsin and unruly passenger' was taken into custody before flight continued to MinnesotaA United Airlines flight bound for Minneapolis from Chicago was reportedly diverted after an unruly passenger" tried to breach the cockpit late on Friday.The FBI and police responded to reports of a security concern with the passenger, who was detained by police at the Dane county regional airport in Madison, Wisconsin. Continue reading...

President in excellent' health, despite lower leg swelling' and hand bruising after fourth hospital visit in second termDonald Trump has been grappling with lower leg swelling" as well as benign" hand bruising but remains in excellent health, the US president's physician said in a memo released by the White House.Citing the results of a recent examination, the memo from Dr Sean Barbabella said Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function". Continue reading...

Campaigners had hoped to buy property from Nottingham Trent University to maintain public accessBramley apples are a staple in supermarkets across the UK and it all started in a house in Nottinghamshire. But now the future of the original fruit-bearing tree is in question after the garden where it stands has been sold by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).The news has left campaigners aiming to turn it into a heritage site gobsmacked". Continue reading...

More competition and loss-making sites are among the challenges for the new turnaround chief executiveWith its comfy sofas and a menu of gourmet treats including Bearnaise smash burgers and trendy Whispering Angel rose wine at 47 a bottle, Everyman has thrived as the go-to chain for a luxury cinema trip.Yet a quarter of a century after reinventing the movie-going experience, growing from a single venue in Hampstead in London to a national player with 49 sites, the arthouse chain finds itself struggling as rivals ape its successful formula. Continue reading...

Endangered snow leopard had leg amputated and capybara died at Mario Tabraue's controversial roadside facilityAn endangered clouded leopard had a leg amputated and a capybara died following botched breeding attempts at a controversial Miami roadside zoo owned by a convicted drug trafficker featured in the Netflix documentary Tiger King.Federal wildlife inspectors found multiple other violations during a March inspection at Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF), including dilapidated, insecure or unsafe housing conditions for wild animals, filthy cages, and water and food contaminated with algae and dead insects. Continue reading...

Emails appearing to show Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential information were handed to Buckingham Palace in 2020, says BBCEmails handed to Buckingham Palace six years ago appear to show that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential information while he was a government trade envoy, it has been reported.The BBC said on Saturday that an archive of more than 30,000 emails was handed to the lord chamberlain, the most senior officer in the royal household, in 2020. Continue reading...

Guardian investigation shows how US presidency blurs line between policy and enrichment of American ruling family and those around itOn a graffitied Sarajevo backstreet, a path leads past an overgrown patch of garden to a white door. Beyond is the registered office of a company that is on the brink of winning contracts worth more than $1bn.AAFS Infrastructure and Energy is close to securing a concession to build and operate a pipeline across the Balkans to allow fossil gas shipped from the US to replace supplies that come from Russia. This could be the most important infrastructure project ever in Bosnia and Herzegovina," says one of the country's top officials, who, like others, asks to remain anonymous to discuss sensitive negotiations. Continue reading...

The virtually indestructible Pfas waste puts largely low-income neighborhoods at risk, public health advocates sayThe nation's garbage incinerators are largely failing to eliminate Pfas forever chemicals" air pollution, and are putting people in largely low-income neighborhoods at risk, public health advocates and independent experts warn.The powerful waste management industry is increasingly pushing incinerators as a solution to virtually indestructible Pfas waste, and a new industry trade group report alleges Minnesota's incinerators are reducing their forever chemical emissions by 99.6%. Other incinerator operators have made similar reduction claims. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Ana Maria was happy working in the US with an open asylum case. But after ICE detained her for months, she said she requested to go back to her native countryAna Maria had been happy living in the US. She had an asylum case going through the US immigration system and was working, becoming part of the community, living with her boyfriend and was grateful for safe harbor.But after she was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), she had such a horrendous experience that, in desperation, she agreed to be deported back to her native country in South America, back to danger and thousands of miles away from the life she had been building. Continue reading...

Trump's pursuit of policies that drive up prices, including tariffs and war, might be punished in November's electionsFor such an uncannily successful politician, Donald Trump exhibits a perplexing political myopia. His most recent own-goal was endorsing Ken Paxton, a state attorney general, against four-term senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary for Senate in Texas. Trump's endorsement helped push the ethically compromised Maga firebrand over the top, to run against popular Democrat James Talarico in November, complicating the Republicans' chances to keep the seat.But what truly screams I want us to lose the midterms" is what Trump is doing about inflation, which is becoming his most vulnerable issue. According to a New York Times/Siena poll of registered voters earlier in May, Trump's approval on handling the cost of living is underwater by 42 percentage points, poorer than his rating on handling the economy (minus 31 points) and the unpopular war in Iran (minus 34 points). Continue reading...

Stew Peas focuses on obeah, an enduring African magic practice in Jamaica banned by colonisers in the 1700sA new movie from award-winning Jamaican film-maker Sosiessia Nixon shines a spotlight on Jamaica's enduring west African-based magic and spiritual healing tradition known as obeah.Nixon's tense, feature-length suspense, Stew Peas, tells of the story of Jamaican detective Tessa, who is obsessed with an old murder case. Continue reading...

At least six new pubs and taphouses have opened in recent months, including the Pig & Swill in CardiffOn a hot Thursday evening in Canton, a buzzy Cardiff neighbourhood, a steady stream of people in sunglasses, shorts and dresses went back and forth between bar and garden at the city's newest pub, the Pig & Swill.Next door, in Victoria Park, the splash pad was still heaving with families making the most of the tail-end of the May heatwave. Many parents and carers stopped by for takeaway pints and small plates. Continue reading...

Centrepoint warns young people facing huge scarcity of work opportunities' after Alan Milburn's report on crisisThe growing number of young people not in work or education is driving more into unstable housing or homelessness, charities have warned.A government-commissioned review into the crisis facing young people in the UK said there could be a 25% rise in young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) to 1.25 million by the early 2030s without intervention. Continue reading...

Two still missing as divers make their way deeper into cave through muddy water and sharp rocks to find themFour more miners who were trapped in a flooded cave in Laos for 10 days have been freed by divers, but two people are still missing as rescuers continue to crawl through narrow, deluged tunnels and sharp rocks to find them.The first of the party of seven men was rescued on Friday in a perilous rescue mission which has required teams to drain water from the cave and navigate collapse hazards. Continue reading...

North Carolina, Ohio, Maine and Alaska are key targets for a party bullish after a bruising Republican primary in TexasAfter Texas Republicans chose the beleaguered attorney general, Ken Paxton, as their party's nominee for US Senate on Tuesday, Democrats are feeling bullish that they could pull off a victory in the red-leaning state - and maybe win back the Senate in this year's midterm elections.Paxton - whose history includes an impeachment, fraud charges and an alleged affair - beat incumbent John Cornyn after receiving Trump's blessing in the most expensive primary this year. In November he will face James Talarico, a young state lawmaker and pastor, who won the Democratic primary amid a rising national profile. Continue reading...

Sobering reality for president after three-month odyssey that threatens to take him back to where he startedAfter the hubristic beginnings came the reality.The road travelled since the most momentous foreign policy decision of his presidency seems to have delivered Donald Trump to a sobering destination: that Iran has been the nemesis of several US presidents before him for a reason and is an adversary not to be taken lightly. Continue reading...

Entry-exit system, which replaces passport stamps with digital registration, causing huge delays at border checksBritish passengers returning home via European airports should arrive three hours before their flights are due to depart, an airline boss has advised, amid concerns about new security procedures causing large queues.The EU entry-exit system (EES), which replaces passport stamps with a digital registration, has been gradually been introduced in Europe since October 2025 and became fully operational last month. Some passengers have faced huge delays at border checks, airports have said. Continue reading...

Hong Qi, who orchestrated protest against Communist government, claims interpreter on 101 call launched political tiradeA Chinese dissident who orchestrated an anti-government protest in China after fleeing to the UK has claimed that a pro-regime" interpreter used by a British police force berated him when he sought help.Hong Qi, who made headlines last year after using a mobile phone while in the UK to remotely project anti-regime slogans on to a building in his home city, Chongqing, contacted police after discovering that his bank accounts had been frozen. Continue reading...

While some found this week's heat a breeze, many in poorer areas face health risks in furnace-like homesTravelling from his air-conditioned flat to the air-conditioned Elizabeth line to his air-conditioned office, 27-year-old banker Aykhan found this week's heatwave a breeze.Smiling while grabbing lunch in the shopping centre under the gleaming One Canada Square skyscraper in Canary Wharf, he said he'd been sleeping very well over the last few days. It's a new flat, the air-con is great, my bedroom is cool." Continue reading...

Sunday's presidential vote is contest between left and right - and between contradictory proposals for dealing with the decades-long armed conflictMateo Perez Rueda was one internship away from completing a degree in political science. The 24-year-old also worked as a bicycle delivery rider and sold fruit salads and juice to finance his passion: the Colombian independent digital magazine El Confidente.On 4 May he travelled to Briceno, in the western province of Antioquia, to report on the long-running conflict between the army, paramilitaries and dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). Continue reading...

Exclusive: Shams Sadiq says officers offered financial inducements and to turn a blind eye' to certain offencesA cafe owner claims police offered him financial benefits and to turn a blind eye" to certain low-level offences if he informed on Palestine Action.Shams (his nickname) Sadiq, who owns two Manchester cafes, said the inducements were offered when he went to collect electronic devices that police had confiscated during his arrest last year in connection with alleged offences relating to the banned direct action group. Continue reading...

Truck was carrying Afghan families returning Pakistan when it overturned, official saysA truck overturned in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing 18 people on board including 10 children, a provincial official told Agence France-Presse.Deadly traffic crashes are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving and a lack of regulation. Continue reading...

Soho Society, funded by Westminster council, is ferociously opposing all new proposals, venue owners sayA society of residents funded by the council could destroy Soho's reputation on the international stage" as London's entertainment district by ferociously objecting to all new bar and restaurant licences, operators in the area have said.The Soho Society, a group of residents established in 1972 aimed at preserving the character of Soho", voted in its AGM on Thursday for a new licensing mandate, meaning it will challenge all new applications for bars and restaurants in the area, including renewals of existing licences. It will also object to any venue that wishes to open beyond core hours", which Westminster council decrees end at 11pm. Continue reading...

People with coeliac disease say inflation and shrinking ranges are making food staples unaffordableGluten-free versions of everyday staples such as bread and biscuits are becoming a luxury, with shoppers complaining that a decent" small loaf now costs nearly 4.Consumers have always paid a premium for these specialist foods, making any price increases a source of concern, particularly for people who follow a gluten-free diet for medical reasons. Continue reading...

Pentagon chief also tells Singapore defence summit of alarm' at China's military buildup but says US does not seek needless confrontation'The US warned on Saturday it was more than capable" of resuming war with Iran after President Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons.The White House had signalled Trump was close to a decision on an initial deal on Friday after weeks of mixed signals in tenuous negotiations, though Tehran denied there was a final agreement on ending the Middle East conflict that has jolted the global economy. Continue reading...

Some Iranians hoped foreign intervention would unseat the regime but instead the US-Israel war has damaged livelihoods and strengthened those in powerAs Donald Trump swung this week between threats of new military action against Iran and predictions that a lasting ceasefire deal was imminent, many Iranians were left exhausted and gripped by uncertainty.Despite the partial lifting of an internet shutdown that began when the war started on 28 February, fears of worsening repression at home have also fuelled pessimism about the future among some of those to whom the Guardian spoke. Continue reading...

Suggestion the Luce EV should be stripped of prancing horse logo shows strength of feeling from Ferrari fansFor passionate enthusiasts, Ferraris are not merely cars but works of art. The emotion stirred by their classic red curves is, they say, akin to standing before a Michelangelo sculpture, while the sound of the engine revving evokes a sensation comparable to listening to the music of Giuseppe Verdi or Giacomo Puccini.Which is why the sight of the Italian carmaker's first fully electric car, the Luce EV, unveiled this week, left many fans aghast. Continue reading...

Bureau of Meteorology says WA residents should brace for wind gusts higher than 125km/h - the strength of category two cyclones

New digital marking system is aimed at reducing human errors but many students say it has resulted in wrong gradesNational outcry has erupted in India after more than 400,000 students have requested copies of their exam papers and answer sheets amid an outcry over marking errors in the country's most important school-leaving exams.Within days of the grade 12 exam results being issued, students began reporting marking discrepancies they linked to a new digital marking system. Continue reading...

Fireworks displays will replace all drone shows at the iconic festival after a technical issue saw dozens fall from the sky on Monday night

Josh Richards joins international mission to help five found alive and search for missing divers, with one person extracted successfully

Investigation launched in former mining village of Coalsnaughton after residents forced to leave propertiesNearly 100 homes have been evacuated following reports of ground movement in a former mining village in Clackmannanshire.Properties began being evacuated on 18 May and an investigation has since been launched into the cause in Coalsnaughton. Continue reading...

US president did not announce decision on deal that could open strait of Hormuz after two-hour situation room meetDonald Trump has claimed he could approve an Iran peace deal on Friday that contains major concessions from Tehran, including the opening of the strait of Hormuz and the elimination of the country's nuclear programme. However, top Iranian officials signalled a final agreement had not been reached.The two versions indicate Trump may once again be practising his art of the deal" as he seeks to talk his way out of a war that has disrupted global energy supplies and rocked the world economy. Continue reading...

Rare reprieve for people protected by temporary protected status granted after administration misses deadlineThe Trump administration has extended protections shielding about 11,000 Lebanese people from deportation, allowing them to stay and work in the United States for another six months.The decision, announced on Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), marked a rare reprieve for people protected by temporary measures that have been harshly criticized by Republicans. The extension comes amid ongoing fighting in southern Lebanon between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. Continue reading...