School said it is pivoting away from letter-grading system to curb the mental health crisis' among college studentsThe University of Michigan will pivot to a pass-or-fail-style grading system, instead of letter grades, for first-semester students in an effort to curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals".The school said in a notice on Tuesday that its goal was to help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys" and foster a culture of connection and collaboration - rather than competition". Continue reading...

Prediction comes amid warning of extreme heat' this week with temperatures of 38C possibleThe Guardian's environment editor, Fiona Harvey, has written a useful explainer about the UK public services that are struggling in the extreme weather. You can read it in full here:There's only one solution in the end to the drought now declared across most of England and that's rain, says Hannah Cloke, professor of hydrology at the University of Reading.An important consequence of drought is that very dry soils can become less able to absorb rainfall when it does arrive. This can increase surface runoff and can even contribute to localised flash flooding, particularly if rain falls intensely over a short period.The current situation highlights the need to improve long-term resilience to both drought and flood risk as climate variability increases, and shows one more damaging impact of the burning of fossil fuels. Continue reading...

Union chief says vote is about staff warning they cannot protect the public properly'In his pooled TV interview, Andy Burnham repeated the point he made in his Facebook post earlier (see 9.58am), saying he was confident that more could be done to free up space in the prison system (which would allow the early release system to be changed so that PC Andrew Harper's killers are excluded). Burnham said that since becoming PM he had been pushing the system every single day" to go further.Explaining how extra space could be found (see 9.19am), he particularly singled out the more than 2,000 prisoners on indeterminate IPP (imprisonment for public protection) sentences. He said:[The] plan will include issues like returning more foreign national offenders to their country of origin, and looking at the injustice of IPP sentences, which have led to young people, or young when they were imprisoned, being imprisoned indeterminately, and that clearly is unfair.My office was in touch with the family last night [see 10.04am], and I know the justice secretary is in regular touch as well.So, we will keep close to the family through this whole process because we understand how difficult this process has been for them. Continue reading...

Critics argue US high court justice should recuse himself from upcoming fossil fuel firms' climate accountability caseThe supreme court justice Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from his fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024, a new review of financial disclosures shows.The analysis from the non-profit advocacy group and judicial watchdog Court Accountability, shared exclusively with the Guardian, found that even at the lowest range of estimates, Alito gained almost $400,000 from his oil and gas interests since being tapped for the high court by George W Bush in 2005. Continue reading...

Key tourist route closed and residents rallying round as battle against wildfire expected to go on for several daysThe battle to contain a large wildfire spreading across the New Forest will go on for several days, experts have said, as wind changes and a desiccated landscape fuel the flames.Smoke billowed above the deserted A31 road, the main tourist route into the New Forest national park where tens of thousands of families are on holiday, late on Tuesday while a helicopter flew above the blaze. Firefighters at the scene said they were trying to contain several hotspots across the more than 100 hectares (247 acres) of dried heathland as winds swirled over the area. Continue reading...

The new president is a former judge on the European Court of Human RightsSpanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares visited Ceuta earlier today, as he insisted that Madrid had it all under control despite the most unique and complex" border arrangements there.He said Spain was in direct dialogue with the Moroccan authorities on how to prevent another border crisis. Continue reading...

Prof Wyn Evans, who raised concerns over treatment of female staff at Institute of Astronomy, was subject to baseless' investigation, judge rulesA University of Cambridge whistleblower who alleged bullying of female staff inside the university's Institute of Astronomy has won a tribunal against his employer.Prof Wyn Evans told a tribunal hearing in June that the Institute suffered from a bad history of misogyny". He claimed that one woman in the department had been hounded out of a job", another was left a frightened woman", and a third had faced aggressive professors" at the institute. Continue reading...

Lawsuit challenges executive order targeting international criminal court for investigating Israeli crimes in PalestineFour prominent US human rights organizations have accused the Trump administration of using its crippling" sanctions regime against the international criminal court (ICC) to undermine global efforts to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.In a lawsuit filed in federal court on Tuesday, the groups - the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch and the Open Society Institute - argued that the administration's targeting of the ICC, as well as of groups and individuals affiliated with it or assisting its work, amounts to a blatantly illegal attack on international justice", the groups said. Continue reading...

When it comes to the Reserve Bank, there's a whiff of a parent making a threat they have no intention of carrying out

Poll finds consensus on what makes people proud to be British but deep divisions on issues such as immigrationYou may think it's a commitment to buying a round, the ability to chat at length about the weather, or making a proper cup of tea. But when it comes down to what makes people proud to be British, there is a consensus across all ages, demographics and political groups - and tea, pints and the weather don't get a look-in.Hard work, fair play and community are the values that voters - no matter which political party, age group, social class or region they come from - instinctively believe capture what it means to be British, according to a large-scale study of British values by Public First. Continue reading...

Prime minister says he has asked justice secretary to push through measures to increase the number of prison placesAndy Burnham has said he is increasingly confident he can adapt the early release scheme for prisoners to exclude the killers of PC Andrew Harper and other serious offenders, saying he understood and shared the public's concern about their potential release.Writing on Facebook, the prime minister said on Tuesday he had asked the justice secretary, Alex Norris, to rapidly push through a series of measures to increase the number of prison places, requiring fewer people to be released early to free up room. Continue reading...

Rooms in Icelandic capital Reykjavik cost double usual rate and Spain also enjoying strong bookings

Quake of 7.4 magnitude collapses and severely damages buildings in several major cities, including Cali and PereiraMore than 100 people died after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing and severely damaging scores of buildings in major cities including Cali and Pereira.The US and Colombian geological surveys reported that a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 7.34am local time on Monday, with its epicentre in the western department of Choco. It was felt in neighbouring Venezuela, still reeling from a deadly double earthquake on 24 June. Continue reading...

The wild capture and release of a female big cat into a nature reserve is the first step towards reintroducing a population that hasn't been seen for 70 yearsOn 31 July, Umit" - which means hope in Kazakh - was released into a nature reserve on the edge of Lake Balkhash after more than a decade of careful planning to return the caspian tiger to the region. With this release, Kazakhstan became the first country to restore its tiger range after they had been thought extinct, with the last reliable sighting in the country recorded more than 70 years ago.Umit - a wild-caught female tiger transported from the Russian far east - will be joined by more big cats in the coming years, with plans to establish a self-sustaining population of about 50. A wild-caught male flown from Russia is still being monitored by authorities and will be released when he is judged fit to survive alone. Two wild tiger cubs are also being reared on the reserve in special enclosures, with as little human contact as possible, and are likely to be released into the marshlands next year, to feast on boar, deer and kulans, a type of wild donkey. Continue reading...

Apollo, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and KKR among those working with chipmaker to fund infrastructure

Fair Work Commission issues a new minimum standards order for gig workers to come into effect 17 August

Consultant Jeremy Greenwood gives evidence to Independent Commission Against Corruption as it investigates allegations linked to Christian Liberal group

West London airport reports 7.86 million passengers in July, compared with 8.15 million for Istanbul

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Anthony Albanese facing criticism after appearing to joke on a podcast about a gift of melons from Sanae TakaichiAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese has rejected calls to apologise to Japan's prime minister over a joke he made about melons on a satirical podcast, amid a media frenzy and accusations of sexual innuendo.Government MPs have defended the prime minister as criticism mounted over last month's remarks, branded by the Coalition opposition as grubby". Assistant minister Pat Gorman told media: I don't know why we're still talking about this". Continue reading...

Barclays says survey shows people feel more secure in jobs and have more leeway to spend on non-essentials

Some Liberal and National MPs warned against over-regulation in party room discussion, while others argued for more stringent rules

In today's newsletter: As we enter our fifth summer heatwave, Andy Burnham's government is looking at what the UK should do with its remaining North Sea oil and gasGood morning. What a difference a new job can make. To have a shot at staying within 1.5C global warming, we can't have any new oil or gasfields ... It's irresponsible and shortsighted to be funding new #fossilfuels when we need to be getting to #NetZero."

This blog is now closed - a full report is herePeople remain trapped in Cali, one of Colombia's largest cities, after more than two dozen structures collapsed, mayor Alejandro Eder said.He added that the city had asked authorities in Bogota and Medellin to send disaster teams to support rescue efforts. Continue reading...

Parent-carers of disabled children are exposed to chronic levels of extreme stress and often reach crisis point before help is available - then they face a fight for basic support', experts say. This is Matilda Davis's storyTwo days before she died, Matilda Davis issued a plea on Facebook. Sharing a study that found more than 40% of parent-carers had considered suicide, she called for greater awareness, action and change" in Britain's broken social care system. This speaks the words I can't," she wrote.Matilda, known as Tilly to her family and friends, had spent years battling for support in a regime that close observers and those who rely on it often say is increasingly confusing, fragmented and difficult to navigate. Continue reading...

Supply in nine blocks in Tower Hamlets affected with some residents suspecting nearby building developments

In a widely expected decision, the Reserve Bank of Australia holds interest rate after three hikes earlier this year

Former 2GB and 2UE radio host, now 85, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching

Lord mayor says Town Hall square will be fantastic' - but business advocate says project's scale of demolition presents unwanted disruption'

Federal government also hopes to vaccinate some wild birds but admits catching them once, let alone twice for both doses, is difficult'

Premier Ben Carroll promises if re-elected to close every loophole' used by high-profile accused and convicted criminals to hide their identities in the courts

President and RFK Jr, the health secretary, repeatedly referred to autism during signing, though studies show no link between it and vaccinesDonald Trump has signed an executive order with plans for sweeping changes to the childhood vaccination schedule that attempts to override the authority of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).It is an attempt to undergird the changes made earlier this year to CDC vaccination recommendations, which were halted by a federal judge. The CDC is the federal agency tasked with recommending vaccines, not the White House. Continue reading...

Vape shops in England and Wales to need planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in ScotlandCouncils are to be given powers to stop betting and vape shops taking over their high streets under new plans announced by Andy Burnham.Local authorities will be able to reject new betting shops and adult gaming centres, while vape shops will be subject to planning permission under plans Downing Street said could be in place from the start of next year. Continue reading...

Sara Sanchez, 27, and her daughter died after a speedboat capsized in the New York Harbor over the weekendThe driver of a speedboat that capsized in New York Harbor over the weekend, killing a 27-year-old woman and her infant daughter, was charged on Monday with causing their deaths through misconduct or neglect.Manuel Hernandez, 46, wiped his eyes with his hand as he arrived for his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was not required to enter a plea and was released on bail. Continue reading...

US president's statement is latest sign that negotations to end war and reopen strait of Hormuz have stalledDonald Trump has said he will demand that Iran pay compensation for the deaths of thousands of US soldiers and Iran's own civilians killed in recent decades in the latest sign his negotiations to end the war and reopen the strait of Hormuz have reached an impasse.The US president is trying to end conflicts in Iran, Gaza and Lebanon, and his additional demands of Iran are likely to provoke anger in Tehran at the same time as Israel has rejected Trump's terms for a 15-point roadmap to end the war in Gaza. Continue reading...

Exclusive: FBU calls for more funding as unprecedented summer' puts rising demands on already stretched crewsFirefighters in the UK are under increased pressure as a result of an unprecedented summer of dangerous and volatile wildfires", the Fire Brigades Union has said, as many parts of the country brace for a fifth heatwave of the year.As authorities declared almost three-quarters of England was now in drought, Steve Wright, the FBU general secretary, said the unpredictable environmental challenges the UK was now confronted with meant it was a national priority" to have enough properly equipped firefighters to face these threats". Continue reading...

Police looking into whether Joshua Kerry linked to alleged attempted burglary last year at Reform leader's then homePolice are investigating whether Joshua Kerry, the man charged with the murder of the former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe, had any role in an attempted burglary last year at the then London home of Nigel Farage.Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, was charged with the murder of Widdecombe, 78, who was killed at her Devon home in July, after an investigation by counter-terrorism police. Continue reading...

Prosecutors allege Duane Keffe D' Davis ordered killing and provided gun in Las Vegas drive-by shooting 30 years agoJury selection began on Monday in Las Vegas as the murder trial of a former gang leader finally got under way decades after the shooting of the rapper Tupac Shakur, one of the most high-profile unsolved killings in the US.It was thought likely to take at least the rest of the week to seat a jury for the trial of Duane Keffe D" Davis, in which prosecutors aim to show that Davis, 63, the one-time leader of the South Side Compton Crips gang in California, ordered the killing and provided the gun for the fatal attack on Shakur. Continue reading...

The upgraded alerts will be in place from 9am on Tuesday until 9pm on FridayAn 18-year-old died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Camber Sands beach, East Sussex, yesterday, bringing the number of deaths in open-water incidents over the hot, dry summer to over 40, according to estimates compiled by the Press Association.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has updated heat-health alerts for nine regions in England, warning that rising temperatures this week may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.It's important that everyone is aware of the simple steps they can take to stay safe during periods of hot weather. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day and keeping indoor spaces cool are all things you can do to keep yourself and others safe.For vulnerable groups including older adults and those with existing health conditions, warmer weather than result in serious health outcomes. Continue reading...

Luciana Berger, who was subject to abuse from Joshua Bonehill-Paine, said Tory leader should listen to victims'The Labour peer Luciana Berger has urged Kemi Badenoch to listen to victims" and reverse her decision to give a national advisory role to a former neo-Nazi.Joshua Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2015 for more than three years after posting antisemitic material online before a planned neo-Nazi rally. In 2016, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment for abuse directed at Berger, an MP at the time. He was also the founder and leader of the National British Resistance, a far-right group. Continue reading...

Israeli prime minister's unexpected comments blindsided IDF commanders and could alienate Trump, his main allyBenjamin Netanyahu's public rejection of a US-backed deal for Gaza drew scepticism in Israel, amid reports he was personally hammering out details of a pilot military withdrawal days earlier.The Israeli prime minister is struggling to balance incompatible demands on Gaza policy from his key domestic and international allies. Continue reading...

The former US president will host six episodes of A Great Book for Audible, discussing work from Toni Morrison and John le Carre to James BaldwinBarack Obama is set to host a podcast about books that have profoundly shaped his worldview and our society", from Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre.The podcast, called A Great Book with Barack Obama, will launch on Audible on 24 September. Continue reading...

Four more regions given drought status, with 27 million people now living with restrictions on water useAlmost three-quarters of England is now in drought, as much of Europe braces for its fifth climate crisis-driven heatwave this summer.Four more regions of England have officially been declared to be in drought: the east Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs. Continue reading...

Industry body says use of private investigators against reporters is attack on our democracy' after Banks apparently admitted doing soThe businessman and Reform UK donor Arron Banks is facing calls to lay out the extent of his surveillance of journalists, described by an industry body as an attack on our democracy".The News Media Association (NMA), which represents regional and national media, raised concerns after Banks appeared to admit over the weekend to hiring private investigators to spy on a Sunday Times journalist. Continue reading...

Attack hundreds of miles from border would be among deadliest of war as Kyiv aims to strangle Russian economyA Ukrainian drone strike on an industrial city deep inside Russia has killed at least 13 people, according to the local mayor, as Kyiv steps up its campaign of long-range strikes on targets far from the frontline.Kyiv said it hit the Taneco refinery in the city of Nizhnekamsk, about 750 miles (1,200km) from the Ukrainian border. Footage circulating online appeared to show smoke rising from the refinery. Continue reading...

A spokesperson for the human rights group likened the proposal to financial brutality with British taxpayers' money'Farage and Yusuf are now taking questions.Q: [From Jack Fenwick from the BBC] Are there other countries where you might send foreign offenders? And how much would this cost?We have to admit that there might not be too many colour TVs.It's not going to be a summer camp. It's not going to be particularly fun. But it won't be cruel and it won't be unreasonable.We will rapidly build capacity. We will take advantage of new prefabricated modular technology and build 12,000 prison places in the form of Nightingale prisons on Ministry of Defence land. And the army will be called in to assist.Together, these measures will create an additional 22,000 prison places compared to Andy Burnham's plans. Continue reading...

The RBA's governor, Michele Bullock, has made it clear that the easing' property market is on her mind

Researchers analysed activity in regions of brain when dogs were shown images of different facial expressionsWhile dogs are known to turn the puppy eyes on their owners, it seems our pets are keeping a close eye on us too: research has revealed dog brains can distinguish different types of unhappy human faces.Dr Laura Cuaya, a co-author of the study from the University of Vienna, said previous behavioural studies had shown dogs could tell apart some human facial expressions, but such studies tended to only test two at a time, one positive and one negative. As a result, it was not clear if dogs could distinguish different types of happy or unhappy faces. Continue reading...

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that strikes on such facilities were directly linked with putting more pressure on MoscowA fire broke out at an industrial facility in Russia's Tyumen region in Siberia after several drones fell on it, Tyumen region governor Alexander Moor said on his Telegram channel.This is reported by Reuters. Continue reading...

Northern Spain will be one of the best places in world to view phenomenon with 460,000 extra visitors expectedAuthorities in Spain have warned of an increased risk of fires when hundreds of thousands of people head to the hills and beaches to get a better view of Wednesday's total solar eclipse.The vegetation is extraordinarily dry and the smallest spark or carelessness could lead to devastating forest fires," the environment minister, Sara Aagesen, said on a visit to Niebla in the south of the country, the site of Spain's latest fire. Continue reading...