World news | The Guardian

Prime minister says it will take years to clean up from Tories after finding a 22bn black hole in public finances

Former athlete sent series of tweets when her LNER train arrived at King's Cross with no one available to help herTanni Grey-Thompson, the former Paralympic athlete, has said apologies are not enough after she had to drag herself off a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train because no staff were there to help her.The multi-gold-winning Paralympian was left stranded on Monday night at London's King's Cross station on a train from Leeds as she tried to make her way to Wednesday's opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Paris. Continue reading...

Met says initial inquiries suggest woman, 32, who attended carnival with her child, was caught up in altercation between two groups of menThree men have been arrested over the stabbing of a 32-year-old woman who attended the Notting Hill carnival with her young child, the Metropolitan police said.A 20-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and violent disorder, while two other men, aged 22 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. The three were detained at separate addresses in Hammersmith and Fulham on Tuesday morning and are in custody. Continue reading...

The man, who cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty to raping five women

Chain may have to foot 30m bill after tribunal hears firm paid 3,500 sales staff lower hourly wage than warehouse workersShop workers at Next have won a six-year legal fight for equal pay in a landmark case that could force the retailer to pay more than 30m in compensation and bolster similar claims lodged against the big UK supermarkets.The employment tribunal ruling will benefit 3,540 claimants, who accused Next of paying its retail sales staff - who are overwhelmingly female - lower hourly wages than its warehouse workers, the majority of which are male. Continue reading...

Joseph DeLucia Jr, 59, fatally shot three of his older siblings and a niece in crime known as family annihilationA man distraught over his mother's recent death - as well as his family's plan to sell the home where he had spent his entire life - fatally shot three of his older siblings as well as a niece before killing himself Sunday on New York's Long Island, according to investigators.The shocking violence attributed to 59-year-old Joseph DeLucia Jr seems to fit the definition of a type of crime known since the 1980s as family annihilations. The overwhelming majority of these cases involve a male killer armed with a gun who ultimately kills themself after murdering multiple close family members.In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. Continue reading...

The 29-year-old man pretended to be a teenage social media celebrity to get sexually explicit content from hundreds of victims

Theme park says Vortex experienced standard ride stoppage' caused by sensor communication fault'

Follow the day's news live

The gigs will mark 16 years since Liam and Noel Gallagher split after a backstage bust-up at a festival in Paris, though the band has no plans to make new music Alexis Petridis: Will an Oasis reunion be a success? Definitely. Will it be worth it? Maybe'Rock's biggest will-they-won't-they finally has an answer: Oasis have announced that they will reunite for a 14-date tour of the UK and Ireland in 2025.They will not, however, be headlining Glastonbury festival as was rumoured over the weekend, nor playing 10 dates at Wembley and Etihad stadiums respectively. Continue reading...

Group of Eight chief executive claims Labor's unexplained' cap will punish universities that have proven most popular with the best global students

Fordham, who reportedly earns $1.5m to host the Nine Radio breakfast show, has a commercial agreement with Uber

Some held overnight in tiny concrete rooms with no running water or toilet, Inspector of Detention Services says

Bureau of Meteorology issues severe weather warnings for damaging winds to hit Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of NSW, South Australia and Western Australia

Exclusive: more than 500 children a day or one every three minutes are referred to mental health services in England

Change to single phone line for 24-hour support hailed by experts, though NHS leaders say 111 already stretched

Pair say system can be hostile towards innocent people, and claim official file shows witness statement that is not mine'A mother and son whose lives have been completely reshaped by living under witness protection have called for a wholesale review of the system, warning that instead of keeping people safe it can be hostile" to innocents.The pair spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity after obtaining their official file, which they say shows that their pleas for help were dismissed and the value of their evidence in an investigation into a gang-related murder may have been exaggerated. Continue reading...

Max Chandler-Mather addresses marchers in Brisbane as Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union members rally across capital cities

Judgment believed to be first case brought over an employer threatening a juror

Doubts expressed that John Swinney is strong enough leader to direct the scale of change requiredThe Scottish National party will lose the next Holyrood election without a fundamental rethink of purpose and policy while carrying out long-delayed internal reforms, senior figures have warned.However, some have expressed doubt that the party's leader, John Swinney, is strong enough to direct the scale of change required. Continue reading...

Lives are being bundled into bags after Ukrainian officials gave people in the city two weeks to leave

Treasurer's speech criticised opposition leader for devoting past two weeks of parliamentary sittings to condemning the issuing of visas to people from Gaza

State treasurer says levy will help in getting the balance right' for mix of housing and prioritising long-term rentals

Greens accuse company of price-gouging, as supermarket attributes sales boost to seasonal campaigns and rising digital revenue

It was a bit of action,' AFL coach says after detaining 16-year-old in Hawthorn who allegedly ran from Mercedes that had flipped onto side

Attack of 127 missiles and 109 drones is one of the biggest' of the war, Zelenskiy says, causing power and water outagesA huge missile and drone attack launched by Russia across Ukrainian territory has left at least seven people dead, including four children, officials have said.Power cuts and water outages were reported in numerous parts of the country including in some districts of the capital, Kyiv, as a result of the strikes, which targeted mainly civilian energy infrastructure. Continue reading...

Largely peaceful festival marred by fresh stabbing on Monday after three people were hurt on SundayTens of thousands of revellers have turned out to enjoy the final day of this year's Notting Hill carnival, flooding the streets of west London with colour, dancing and music.Dancers showed off their flamboyant costumes while floats blasted music for the spectators on the streets of W11. Vendors cooked up a mix of food on open barbecues, as sound systems played everything from rare groove to house, samba, reggae and ska. Continue reading...

Prices down 0.3% in first week of August as food inflation eases and retailers attempt to shift unsold summer stockUK shop prices have dropped for the first time since the cost of living crisis began nearly three years ago, as food inflation eased and retailers offered discounts on clothes and household goods to shift unsold summer stock.New data showed prices were down 0.3% in the first week of August, compared with the same period last year. That compares to a 0.2% rise in July, and the three-month average of 0%. Continue reading...

Former PM and ministers drew criticism for the VIP flights Labour says were symbol of their government'A 40m VIP helicopter contract used extensively by the former prime minister Rishi Sunak is to be cancelled as his successor, Keir Starmer, promises to undo 14 years of rot" under the Conservatives.Starmer and his defence secretary, John Healey, have decided not to renew a contract for helicopter transport which is due to expire at the end of the year after it was extended in 2023 at Sunak's personal insistence. Continue reading...

Investigation into Pavel Durov relates to app's alleged failure to stop spread of child sexual abuse materialPavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire co-founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested in France in connection with an investigation into criminal activity on the platform and a lack of cooperation with law enforcement, prosecutors announced on Monday.Durov, who has French citizenship, was detained at Le Bourget airport, just outside Paris, on Saturday evening after arriving from Azerbaijan on his private jet. His surprise arrest has sparked debate over free speech worldwide and led to an outcry in Moscow. Continue reading...

Extra security measures only introduced after Shea Ryan, 10, fell down a maintenance hole shaft in 2020, inquiry toldA building site in Glasgow where a 10-year-old boy died after falling down a maintenance hole shaft should have had more CCTV, an inquiry has heard.Shea Ryan died in July 2020 when he climbed through an unsecured fence on a building site in Drumchapel and fell about 6.3 metres (20ft) down the shaft. Continue reading...

Trudeau also announces 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum and says China is not playing by the same rules'Canada, following the lead of the United States, on Monday said it would impose a 100% tariff on the import of Chinese electric vehicles and also announced a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum from China.The prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said Ottawa was acting to counter what he called China's intentional, state-directed policy of over-capacity. But he did not specify whether tariffs would be softened or would be the same on Tesla, whose shares were down over 3% on Monday after the announcement. Continue reading...

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of the 65-year-old was foundPolice investigating the murder of a woman in Derry have named her as Montserrat Martorell Elias.A murder investigation was launched after the body of the 65-year-old was found after a horrific" attack and a fire at a flat in the city. Continue reading...

Anger grows over proposed cuts of up to 10m for Creative Scotland affecting freelance artists and performersActors and directors have protested on stage during the Edinburgh festival after anger about proposed cuts to Scottish arts funding escalated into open revolt.Protest messages were read out after performances, including at the Traverse, Lyceum, George Square, Summerhall and Church Hill theatres, to loud applause from audiences, as thousands of artists and performers signed an open letter calling for the cuts to be reversed. Continue reading...

Debate follows TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp's decision to let 15-year-old make independent tripSafeguarding experts and child psychologists have said the risks to teenagers are increasingly far greater" online at home than when travelling independently following the row about the television presenter Kirstie Allsopp allowing her teenage son to go Interrailing.A debate on the protection of teenagers was prompted by Allsopp, who revealed that social services had interviewed her after she posted online about her son, then 15, taking a rail trip around Europe after his GCSEs. Continue reading...

Exclusive: PM's decision seen by some in Whitehall as precursor for role going to more politically loyal candidateKeir Starmer has cancelled the appointment of one of Britain's top generals as the national security adviser, in a move that senior civil servants fear is designed to pave the way for a more politically loyal candidate.The prime minister has overturned the decision made in April by his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, to appoint Gwyn Jenkins, then the vice-chief of the armed forces, to the most senior security position in the government, officials have said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Fabian Society says tax breaks cost 66bn and are skewed towards better-offRachel Reeves could raise at least 10bn a year through a radical shake-up of pensions that would make tax relief less generous to better-off earners, a leading left-of-centre thinktank has said.The report by the Fabian Society says tax breaks for pensions have become markedly more expensive for the government and its proposed changes would fill half the 22bn shortfall the chancellor has identified in the public finances.Creating a single flat rate of tax relief for individual and employer pension contributions for all tax bands (eg 25p or 30p for each pound of gross income). At the moment, pension tax relief depends on an individual's marginal tax band.Levy employee national insurance on employer pension contributions in exchange for a higher government top-up on the first 7,500 of annual pension saving.Reduce the maximum tax-free lump sum to the lower of 100,000 or 25% of pension wealth. At present, the tax-free lump sum can be in excess of 250,000.Fairly tax the inheritance of pensions by subjecting pensions to inheritance tax and levying income tax on all inherited pensions.Charge employee national insurance on private pension incomes (with an allowance to exclude small pensions) in exchange for cancelling the forthcoming cut to winter fuel payment. Continue reading...

The AFP received more than 2,500 allegations of misconduct or police practices over two years

The government's much-anticipated white paper defers key decisions and passes the buck on the crucial issue of landing slots

Benny Gantz and Itamar Ben-Gvir say prime minister needs to remove the threat in the north completely

Police detain two men on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and a man and a woman on suspicion of assisting an offenderFour more people have been arrested by police investigating a house fire that killed a mother and three children in Bradford.Bryonie Gawith, 29, was found dead at the scene in Westbury Road on Wednesday, and her three children, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months, died later in hospital. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Developers say the Fieldworker robot will soon be in use in the UK, Australia and PortugalA new version of the world's first raspberry-picking robot, a four-armed machine powered by artificial intelligence and able to do the job at the speed and effectiveness of a human, is to be employed on farms in the UK, Australia and Portugal over the coming 12 months.The developers claim that Fieldworker 1, nicknamed Robocrop, can detect more accurately than previous models whether a berry is ripe, and can pick fruit faster because its grippers have greater reach and flexibility. Continue reading...

Six properties disconnected in past year but there are thought to be 5,000 unlawful apartments in Spanish cityA court in Seville in southern Spain has ruled that the city council is within its rights to cut off the water supply to illegal tourist apartments.Over the past year the city has disconnected the supply to six illegal apartments. Three owners appealed but the judge, mindful of neighbours' complaints about noise, accepted the council's argument that the apartments were not the owners' residences. Continue reading...

Return of 2016 chief sparks concerns of tensions distracting voters as election looms. Plus, man taking on taking on TikTok's gambling influencers

John Alfred Tinniswood was born the year the Titanic sank and has lived through the tenure of 24 UK prime ministersThe world's oldest living man has turned 112 at his care home in Merseyside.John Alfred Tinniswood, who lives in Southport, put his long life down to just luck", and said he did not follow a special diet, except for eating fish and chips every Friday. Continue reading...

Path of Hurricane Gilma spared damage as Hurricane Hone passes close to Hawaii and Typhoon Shanshan approaches JapanThe Pacific Ocean has become a theatre of dynamic meteorological activity this week, showcasing two hurricanes in the north-east, and a typhoon in the north-west. Hurricane Gilma underwent rapid intensification into a powerful category 4 storm on Sunday as it tracked west through the Pacific. Fortunately, Gilma's path was spared significant damage, but instead generated turbulent sea conditions over the weekend; 3.5-metre-high swells and sustained winds reaching 130mph made it a feature to be avoided by marine vessels. Gilma will eventually approach the Hawaiian archipelago, with models suggesting it will pass to the north of the islands by Friday. By then, however, Gilma is expected to have dissipated into a remnant area of low pressure with little destruction in its path.In contrast, Hurricane Hone made its presence felt on the Hawaiian islands this weekend, passing just 50 nautical miles south of Hawai'i - the Big Island - with sustained winds towards the centre nearing 80mph on Sunday. Despite being classified as a category 1 hurricane, Hone has made a significant impact through elevated surf and sea swells, causing strong breaking waves of up to 4.3 metres, as well as strong winds gusting around 60mph. However, the biggest threat is that of flash flooding and landslides on steep slopes, especially on the eastern windward side of the island. Continue reading...

Dozens from European film industry and other artists write letter warning Andrei Gnyot could face death penaltyDozens of European directors, actors and other artists have called on Serbian authorities not to extradite a Belarusian activist back to Belarus. In an open letter published on Monday, the artists warn that Andrei Gnyot faces imprisonment, torture and even the death penalty" if sent back to Belarus.Gnyot, a film-maker who was instrumental in organising an alliance of athletes to oppose the dictatorial rule of Alexander Lukashenko, was detained on arrival in Serbia last year after Belarus issued a warrant for his arrest on tax evasion charges via Interpol. He says the charges are political. Continue reading...

Proportion was biggest since at least 2010 as cheaper mortgage deals slowed exodus from city, says estate agentAlmost half of house hunters in London at the beginning of this year were first-time buyers as cheaper mortgage deals slowed the exodus from the capital, figures from a leading estate agent show.First-time buyers made up 48% of purchasers in the city between January and June, according to analysis by Hamptons of data from Countrywide estate agents. Continue reading...

Specialty styles and outre toppings proliferating as ready meals seek to replicate restaurant trendsIf you were in the mood for pizza the supermarket choice used to be straightforward - fresh or frozen, thin or thick, margherita or pepperoni - but the UK's growing appetite for posh pizza is bringing little-known Italian regional specialities and outre toppings to the mainstream.The traditionally budget-friendly food's move upmarket is in part driven by demand for fakeaways" where consumers opt for an upmarket ready meal over a takeaway or eating out. At the same time pizza has never been more fashionable with interest in all forms of the Italian staple fuelled by a buzzing restaurant scene. Continue reading...

Goal of equal share of men and women in jeopardy after member states ignore request for male and female candidatesUrsula von der Leyen is set to miss her target of a gender-balanced top team at the European Commission, after EU governments snubbed her request to propose male and female candidates.The first female president of the EU executive, who was re-elected for a historic second term last month, is drawing up her team of commissioners. Akin to government ministers, these are senior EU officials who oversee the bloc's climate, technology and industrial policies, negotiate trade deals, police European law, dole out billions of grants and draw up the budget for the union. Continue reading...