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Sacked journalist steps away from high-profile legal proceedings for personal reasons', lawyer tells media

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Former construction union bosses claim forced administration is unconstitutional because it prevents or limits political donations

It follows similar wage theft class actions in Western Australia, where $165m was awarded, and in Queensland, where $190m was awarded

In today's newsletter: Record numbers of pupils are being removed from class, with dire consequences for their attainment levels in later life. But is the pandemic solely to blame for this increase in bad behaviour? Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.School suspensions have been steadily rising since 2015, but in the last few years there has been a particularly sharp increase in the suspension and exclusion rate in England and it is getting worse. Using the most recent data available, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that up to the Easter holidays 2024 there was a 20% rise in exclusions compared with the same period the previous year.Grenfell Tower | Grenfell families have criticised the final inquiry report on the disaster for failing to fully address the disproportionate impact the tragedy had on diverse and marginalised communities. The damning report on the Grenfell Tower fire was published on Wednesday and found decades of failings by central government and corporations. It concluded that all 72 deaths in the 2017 blaze were avoidable.Economy | The UK needs 1tn of fresh investment over the next decade if the government is to hit its economic growth targets, a City taskforce has said. The report said the challenge was to make the UK a competitive market in which to invest".Welfare | The Labour government has confirmed there will be a binding vote on whether to scrap the winter fuel allowance for all but the poorest pensioners, as unease grows within the party about backing the plans.France | Emmanuel Macron has appointed the EU's former Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, as prime minister of France, as he seeks to put an end to two months of political paralysis after a snap election. The French president said he had tasked Barnier with forming a unifying government in the service of the country".Music | The Leeds indie band English Teacher have won the Mercury prize for their debut album, This Could Be Texas. Formed in 2020, the four-piece formed at Leeds Conservatoire and signed to Island records to release their first album. Continue reading...

Review of one of Australia's biggest health systems finds almost five medical errors a day, with some causing death

Maria Corina Machado wants struggle against Maduro's criminal tyranny' to mirror anti-apartheid movementThe Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has called for a global movement, similar to the international campaign against apartheid in South Africa, to help rescue her country from Nicolas Maduro's criminal tyranny".Speaking to foreign journalists as Maduro stepped up his post-election crackdown, Machado said she hoped Venezuela's struggle for democracy would become a world cause" just as South Africa's did in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Continue reading...

Which? crowns Asda Everyday winner of best cuppa 2024 after blind tasting by 79 experienced and committed' tea drinkersThe battle for the nation's best brew is usually a face-off between the usual big-brand suspects. But this year, a supermarket own-brand teabag has come out on top.Asda's Everyday teabags were crowned the best cuppa of 2024 by the consumer group Which?. The budget brew, which costs 1.20 for 80 bags, achieved the top score of 72% in a blind tasting by 79 experienced and committed" tea drinkers. Continue reading...

There is no death which accords with the scripture' , Toowoomba religious group member says in closing statement

Known for its wineries and Roman temples, and as the home of Hezbollah, the Beqaa has become a theatre of war againOn a recent morning near the town of Nabi Chit in Lebanon's eastern Beqaa region, a dozen men were clearing away debris. Israeli jets had thundered through the valley a week earlier, the second such raid in three days. The explosions turned the night sky red, yellow and orange, and filled the air with the smell of dust and gunpowder.They hit Nabi Chit because our village is the mother of the resistance," said Mohammed al-Moussawi, an ardent supporter of Hezbollah, the Shia militant group, political party and social movement known here as the resistance. He stood on the ground-floor terrace of his house in front of a pile of rubble and a twisted metal awning. The windows were blown out, the facade pockmarked with shrapnel. Continue reading...

Peter Dutton says Labor shouldn't do preference deal with Dr Ziad Basyouny after it was reported he shared post celebrating 7 October Hamas attacks

Most shoppers have not seen any price relief and the cost of food is on the rise again

Parents and campaigners have called on education and health authorities to end the practice of requiring children to strip off for school health checksMy chest was completely exposed and I felt embarrassed," writes a Japanese girl after undergoing an annual health checkup at her middle school. Another says: Before the exam our teacher told us we would have to lift up our tops and bra ... I didn't want to do it but I couldn't say no."The testimony from two 13-year-olds, seen by the Guardian, is typical of the discomfort - and in some cases trauma - felt by children attending schools in Japan that can require boys and girls as young as five - and as old as 18 - to strip to the waist during health examinations. Continue reading...

US families have adopted 82,674 children from China, the most of any country, with diplomats seeking clarity for hundreds of families in the process of international adoptionThe Chinese government is ending its international adoption program, and the US is seeking clarification on how the decision will affect hundreds of American families with pending applications.At a daily briefing on Thursday, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said China was no longer allowing intercountry adoptions of the country's children, with the only exception for blood relatives to adopt a child or a stepchild. Continue reading...

Earlier release of killers and rapists on licence among the options suggested to potentially ease overcrowdingFive of the most senior former judges in England and Wales have warned that radical solutions" such as the earlier release of killers and rapists on licence should be considered to ease the prison overcrowding crisis.The four surviving former lord chief justices - Lord Woolf, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, and Lord Burnett of Maldon - and Sir Brian Leveson, the only surviving president of the queen's bench division, have recommended a review at the halfway stage of the determinate sentences of all prisoners serving longer than 10 years.The release of all IPP [imprisonment for public protection] prisoners and two-strike prisoners who are over tariff, with support in the community.A review of the needs and risk levels of older prisoners upon reaching a certain age, followed by a move to a more appropriate secure location if required.Reinstating the provision that releases those prisoners who must serve two-thirds of their sentences to one-half.Regular review of minimum terms" for people serving indeterminate sentences.An increase in the size and number of the open (category D) prison estate to help inmates return to work, education and family for those serving long sentences.Life-sentenced prisoners should be allowed to apply to move to open prison years earlier than the current three years before release. Continue reading...

Maj Gen James Roddis admitted indecent behaviour after drunkenly touching and kissing woman against her willA major general who drunkenly touched and kissed a woman in a karaoke bar after she indicated she wanted him to stop has been dismissed from the army and given a six-month suspended prison sentence by a court martial board for his indecent behaviour.Maj Gen James Roddis, 53, was leading a military delegation overseas when he made his unwanted advances, with the early part of the incident captured on camera with a mobile phone. Continue reading...

TV presenter, explorer and naturalist is the first person of colour to lead organisationThe Scouts have announced Dwayne Fields, the first black Briton to reach the north pole, as the UK's new chief scout.Fields, a TV presenter, explorer and naturalist, is the first person of colour to lead the organisation, which has half a million young members and adult volunteers. Continue reading...

Rosanna King was just six when gunman shot her and nine other girls, killing five, in Pennsylvania community in 2006A woman who was severely injured when a gunman killed five girls and wounded her and four other girls during a mass shooting at their one-room, rural Amish schoolhouse has died 18 years later, a funeral director said on Thursday.Rosanna King, 23, died at her home in the farming community of Paradise, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday and a funeral is planned there on Friday, according to an obituary from Furman Home for Funerals in Leola. Continue reading...

Polling Nostradamus', said to have correctly forecast since 1984 all races except Gore's loss, says Trump on track to loseAllan Lichtman, the historian dubbed the Nostradamus" of US presidential elections, has predicted that Kamala Harris will win the White House in November's poll.Having previously warned the Democrats of the dangers of removing Joe Biden from the ticket, Lichtman nevertheless forecast that the vice-president, who became the party's nominee after the president withdrew in July, would be elected in a video for the New York Times. Continue reading...

Lawrence Hecker, 92 and diagnosed with dementia, will be evaluated again to see if he is capable of defending himselfA court-ordered psychiatrist evaluated self-acknowledged child molester and retired priest Lawrence Hecker for a third time on Thursday, declaring him fragilely competent" to stand trial on rape and kidnapping charges.New Orleans criminal court judge Benedict Willard stopped short of declaring Hecker competent to stand trial and assist in his own defense but kept a 24 September trial date in place. Continue reading...

Rightwing prime minister promises new era', saying priorities will be education, security and controlling immigration

Watchdog report strongly criticises Michael Wynne-Parker, who was middleman for more than 500,000 of donationsA society fixer who acted as a middleman for more than 500,000 of donations to King Charles's charities from a wealthy Russian banker has been disqualified from running a charity after a highly critical watchdog inquiry report.The Charity Commission said the conduct of Michael Wynne-Parker, revealed during its investigation into the Mahfouz Foundation charity, showed him to be unfit to be a charity trustee or director and banned him for 12 years. Continue reading...

Lawyer for relatives says Thirlwall inquiry into case of killer nurse, due to begin next week, is vitally important'Families of some of Lucy Letby's victims are calling for CCTV on neonatal wards, tighter control of insulin in hospitals and more protection for NHS whistleblowers, their lawyer has said before a public inquiry begins next week.The Thirlwall inquiry, which starts on Tuesday, has been set up to examine what happened at the Countess of Chester hospital, where Letby worked. She has been convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more while based there as a neonatal nurse. Continue reading...

Gillian Merron tells Lords the goal of reducing rate of preterm births to 6%, which was set in 2019, may be changedThe women's health minister has admitted there is no chance the government will meet its target of reducing the premature birthrate to 6% in England by 2025.Preterm birth, when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, is the biggest cause of death among children under five in the UK. The previous government set a target in 2019 to reduce the preterm birthrate to 6% by 2025. Continue reading...

Competition and Markets Authority to look at how dynamic pricing' may have been used to increase pricesThe competition watchdog has launched an investigation into the Oasis ticket sales fiasco.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will investigate Ticketmaster's handling of sales for the band's forthcoming tour, including how dynamic pricing" may have been used to adjust the price. Continue reading...

Former Labour shadow chancellor says ministers need to find a way to stop controversy over means testing destabilising governmentSteve Reed, the environment secretary, has given a speech this morning on his plans to tighten the laws on water regulation. The press release from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is here, and here is Helena Horton's preview story from last night.In the light of the report, a reader asks:Andrew the announcement re water bosses from Steve Reed looks pretty strong to me, but Feargal Sharkey, who even campaigned for Labour, says it's a missed opportunity . What am I missing?Feargal thinks this because he has been calling for Ofwat and the Environment Agency to be reformed and Labour is not doing this. They do not use their current powers and have incentivised water companies not to invest, while turning a blind eye to large dividend payments to shareholders. Asking Ofwat and the EA to use their existing powers doesn't require new legislation, nor does doing things like taking away the Tory-introduced growth order which asks Ofwat to prioritise growth over the environment.He thinks that the government should be more serious about putting failing water companies in special measures, and that if they are put in special measures then the shareholders who have made money out of the mismanagement of water companies should pay for it, not the taxpayer. In fact, this new bill is going to make it so operating costs on special administration get passed to billpayers if the sale of the water company does not cover these costs - and if Thames is sold for a very low price after going into special administration and this may need to happen. Continue reading...

The ultimate responsibility for the tower's safety lay with its architect, said the 1,700-page report, which highlighted a widespread failure among the profession'. Why are so many architects now utterly detached from the realities of construction?Lying manufacturers, incompetent inspectors, muddled regulations, contemptuous landlords - the blame for the Grenfell Tower fire has been hurled in all directions, exposing a housing and construction industry that is rotten at every level. But, after seven years of waiting, yesterday's inquiry report makes it very clear that there was one professional actor that bore the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the safety of what was designed and built: the architect.

Antisemitism and Islamism have no place here,' Scholz says after incident also close to Nazi documentation centreThere is no place" in Germany for antisemitism or Islamist extremism, the German chancellor has said after police in Munich shot dead a man carrying a long-barrelled gun" following an exchange of fire near the Israeli consulate.In a joint statement, the Bavarian state police and prosecutors said they believed the man had been planning a terrorist attack involving the consulate general of the state of Israel". Continue reading...

Universities UK likely to recommend smaller increase as institutions struggle with deepening financial crisisTuition fees in England would need to rise to 12,500 a year to break even, according to analysis presented to vice-chancellors, amid warnings of the deepening financial crisis facing universities.But higher education leaders attending the Universities UK (UUK) annual conference were told they would look out of touch" if they asked for a 35% increase in undergraduate fees from the current level of 9,250, with a UUK taskforce likely to recommend a smaller increase. Continue reading...

Lime, Dott and Tier Mobility licences to be cancelled from October due to issues with circulation and parkingMadrid will ban e-scooters rented through mobile apps after the city's three licensed operators failed to implement limits on their clients' circulation or to control their parking, the Spanish capital's mayor has said.Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said on Thursday the licences of Lime, Dott and Tier Mobility would be cancelled from October, adding that the city had no plans to grant new licences to any other operators. Continue reading...

Australian Workers Union says it is a rightwing seat but UWU's Jo Briskey has backing of Queensland powerbroker

Exclusive: Health minister says John Brogden and former deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt respected across the aisle'

PM says plan to end family domestic and sexual violence in a generation will require an all-hands-on-deck approach' but funding questions remain

Exclusive: Alliance for Gambling Reform to ramp up pressure on Albanese government to impose a full gambling ad ban

Bill would no longer require women to request access to period products and instead make them readily availableWhen Kimberly Haven struggled to acquire a tampon in prison, she made one, which she said led to her getting toxic shock syndrome and needing an emergency hysterectomy.Haven's case - emblematic of an issue thousands of incarcerated women still face today - underscores the pressing need for improved menstrual product access in facilities across the US. Continue reading...

CPS says no longer a realistic prospect of conviction' over two charges against disgraced Hollywood producerProsecutors in the UK have discontinued two indecent assault charges against the disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein.The Metropolitan police were given the green light two years ago by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to charge Weinstein with two charges of indecent assault against a woman, in her 50s at the time of the announcement of the charges, in London in 1996. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed, you can read more of our Israel-Gaza war coverage herePalestinian news agency Wafa reports that three people have been killed in an apparent Israeli strike on Gaza City in the north of the territory. The attack happened in the al-Zaytoun neighbourhood.There has been an apparent shooting attack near the Israeli consulate in Munich in Germany on the anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack on Israeli athletes and staff at the Games. There are no reports of casualties, but the suspected attacker has been shot and killed. My colleague Lili Bayer has the latest developments here ... Continue reading...

Online fashion retailer hands control of brand to Jack & Jones owner with sale of 75% stake to help repay debts

Minister for social services commits to committee recommendation for SmartCard, which quarantines 50% of income, to become voluntary

Boy, who cannot be named, to appear in crown court later on Thursday over death of Bhim Kohli in park on SundayA 14-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with murdering an 80-year-old grandfather in a park assault.A murder investigation was launched after Bhim Kohli died from serious injuries suffered while walking his dog Rocky in Franklin Park, seconds away from his home in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, on Sunday evening. Continue reading...

The stoush between Jasmine Chambers and the Bureau of Meteorology began when she took two days of personal leave before a conference

Selling would be bad news for struggling homeowners, but Michele Bullock likely thinks a long period of high inflation would be worse

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Recommendation comes amid wider regulator review of Royal Mail's universal service obligation

Exclusive: Ken Ludwig gives Shakespeare Birthplace Trust largest private donation in its 177-year historyThe charity that cares for historic Shakespeare sites in Stratford-upon-Avon has received an unprecedented donation of 1m from the Olivier award-winning US playwright Ken Ludwig.The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) can now pay for crucial conservation work on Hall's Croft, the home of Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her physician husband, John Hall, who is believed to have advised his father-in-law on medical matters. Continue reading...

Increasing amounts spent on educating pupils outside mainstream where quality and safety is less guaranteed'Suspensions and exclusions from schools in England went up by more than a fifth in the past year, according to analysis of live attendance data in a new report that raises concerns about children being shifted out of mainstream education into alternative provision.Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that cash-strapped councils are spending increasing amounts on educating pupils outside the mainstream schools where quality and safety is less guaranteed". Continue reading...

Brand partnership for pastis, a traditional Marseille aperitif, with arch-rival decried as stab in the back'It is the quintessential pre-dinner apero enjoyed in the Provencal afternoon sun, as unmistakably southern French as the clicking sound of a game of petanque.But the cloudy, aniseed-flavoured aperitif Ricard Pastis is leaving an aftertaste even more bitter than its makers intended in the mouths of some football fans in the southern city of Marseille. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Lord chancellor says she wants to inject energy' into stalling efforts to set up Nuremberg-style trialThe new Labour government wants to inject renewed energy into the two-year-long international effort to set up a special tribunal with the authority to try Russia's leadership for the crime of aggression, the lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, has said.Discussions have been dogged by disputes over the appropriate body to set up the special tribunal, and fears in the US that if an organisation were empowered to strip the Russian leadership of immunity from prosecution in a foreign court, western leaders might face the threat of legal action in the future. Continue reading...

Health bodies say the questions are needed to fill gaps in much-needed research

Some of the 92 now about to lose their seats can trace their family's presence in the Lords back to the middle agesThe UK's 92 remaining hereditary peers are to lose their right to sit and vote in the House of Lords under proposals being put forward by the government. The change, which will probably take effect next year, has been billed as the biggest parliamentary reform in a quarter of a century.It will round off changes begun by Tony Blair's government in 1999, which revoked a 700-year-old right for all peers to sit on and vote from the red benches. Blair excluded 667 hereditary peers from the upper chamber and allowed only 92 of them, elected from the whole group, to continue doing so pending further changes. Continue reading...