World news | The Guardian

Rural group argues it's harmful for families to be getting up in the dark' while city dwellers enjoy more outdoor activities after work

Former Liberal staffer retains criminal solicitor Zali Burrows at the 11th hour after previously planning to represent himself in appeal

Former security minister says he would be willing to leave the European convention on human rights in pitch to party's rightTom Tugendhat has said he would be willing to leave the European convention on human rights as he joined the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as the next Conservative leader.The former security minister - who becomes the second Tory MP to announce their candidacy after the former home secretary, James Cleverly - appeared to be pitching to the right to win over party members. Continue reading...

Food Foundation survey finds 14% of households experienced food insecurity in June, with hunger more prevalent in larger familiesFamilies hit by the two-child benefit cap are much more likely to go hungry, skip meals or be unable to afford to eat healthily, according to new data which shows about one in four low-income families with three or more children are suffering food insecurity.The Food Foundation thinktank called on the government to scrap the two-child limit as part of a package of measures that it argued would cut child poverty and reduce hunger. Continue reading...

Police seal off US Capitol in major security operation, using pepper spray on protesters as Israeli prime minister speaks

Study finds 33.3% of squad went to private schools, up nine percentage points from 24% in 2016 teamThe proportion of privately educated athletes in the Team GB squad has increased to a third of all competitors, a study has found.Of the 318 athletes in the 2024 Team GB squad schooled in the UK, 106 or 33.3% were privately educated, up nine percentage points from 24% in the 2016 team that travelled to Rio de Janeiro in 2016, analysis by the Good Schools Guide revealed. Continue reading...

Boat full of people hoping to get to Europe overturns and at least 15 known to have died, UN migration agency saysAt least 15 people have died and more than 150 are missing after a boat full of people hoping to make it to Europe capsized off the coast of Mauritania, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).About 300 people had boarded the long, wooden, fishing vessel in The Gambia, roughly 850 miles (1,350km) to the south, spending seven days at sea before the boat overturned on Monday, the agency said in a statement. Continue reading...

Conductor, artistic director and founder steps down from MCO over deeply regrettable incident' last yearThe conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner has announced he will step down as leader and artistic director of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras after an allegation he hit a singer.The conductor withdrew from engagements including a BBC Prom after the incident last August and said he was seeking specialist help. Continue reading...

Former shadow chancellor claims rebellion a genuine point of conscience, not a coordinated attack on governmentLabour will be pushed to act on abolishing the indefensible" two-child benefit limit, the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has claimed, after Keir Starmer suspended him and six others for the first rebellion of the new government.It came as multiple MPs expressed shock and dismay at the suspensions, including one suspended MP who claimed she felt her experiences of domestic abuse had been weaponised" in conversations with the whips. Labour said it did not recognise those allegations. Continue reading...

Ten activists arrested at Heathrow, over 30 flights cancelled at Cologne-Bonn, and planes delayed or divertedClimate activists acting under the banner oil kills" have glued themselves to the tarmac and grounded flights across Europe as holidaymakers attempt to make summer getaways.In a wave of protests at airports from Oslo to Barcelona, activists disrupted flights and demanded that rich and polluting countries phase out fossil fuels by 2030. The protests, which the activists said had led to several arrests, came a day after climate scientists logged the world's hottest day on record. Continue reading...

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador warns ex-president that campaign pledge will hurt $325bn Mexicans bring to USMexico's president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has written to his friend" Donald Trump warning that any attempt to close the US-Mexico border if he is re-elected would spark a rebellion" on both sides.Trump made the pledge during his speech at the Republican national convention, where he spoke about the massive invasion at our southern border that spread misery, crime, poverty, disease and destruction to communities all across our land". Continue reading...

Man, 24, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder as officers investigate if attack was mental-health related'Police have seized a number of knives" after a British army officer in uniform was stabbed near barracks in Kent.Witnesses described hearing screams as the man in his 40s was repeatedly stabbed near his home in Gillingham just before 6pm on Tuesday by a masked attacker who fled the scene on a moped. Continue reading...

Carmaker's sales declined in first half of 2024 but product updates might lead to turnaroundAston Martin sales went into reverse in the first six months of 2024, but the luxury carmaker said it expects a recovery in the second half as it completes an update of its model line-up.The FTSE 250 company saw the number of cars sold to dealers fall by a third to 2,000, while first half losses rose by 52% to 216.7m. Continue reading...

By removing whip from seven MPs, PM makes clear that he is not about to abandon his ruthless mode of operatingA new Labour prime minister with a landslide majority faced the first real test of his authority with a party rebellion from MPs concerned about a tough stance on welfare.That prime minister was Tony Blair, in December 1997, when 47 Labour MPs voted against the government including a frontbench resignation over a bill to cut benefits for single-parent families. But no one lost the whip. Continue reading...

Emmanuel Macron prepares to welcome world leaders to opening ceremonyArms outstretched, Emmanuel Macron looked out over the white sand of the Olympic beach volleyball arena under the Eiffel tower, marvelling at what promised to be the most Parisian backdrop of the games.This is magnificent," he said as volunteers prepared for the hundreds of thousands of spectators who will watch events at the venue after it opens this weekend. This is the picture postcard of Paris 2024," said, Tony Estanguet, the Paris Olympics organiser, looking up at the Eiffel tower. It's magic." Continue reading...

This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereCabinet secretary, Simon Case, is reportedly being advised to step down permanently from his role for health reasons at the end of this year, writes Politico.The outlet reports:According to people familiar with the matter, Case is likely to need to step down in the new year on the advice of doctors, who are continuing to treat him for a neurological condition diagnosed more than a year ago.Case is currently working at full capacity, but the condition is affecting his mobility and he now walks with the aid of a stick." Continue reading...

At least 39,145 Palestinians killed and 90,257 wounded since 7 October, Palestinian health ministry says

Exclusive: Territory is one of the most, if not the most dangerous place to be a child right now', Catherine Russell says, and we desperately need this conflict to end'

Labelling focused on nutrients such as protein or fat distracts from poor quality' or chemically transformed' products, according to experts

EU officials ask Giorgia Meloni to guarantee independence and funding of public broadcaster amid growing worriesThe European Commission has raised the alarm about the independence of Italy's public service media and Rome's failure to reform the country's strict defamation law, which is widely seen as silencing government critics.In a report issued on Wednesday EU officials identified persisting challenges related to the effectiveness of [the] governance and funding" of Italy's public service media, urging Giorgia Meloni's government to guarantee both its independence and its funding. Continue reading...

Police appeal for information from anyone who saw a grey Porsche 911 being driven in area on SundayA man has been arrested on suspicion of causing the death of two girls, their parents and two motorcyclists in a high-speed crash on a rural A-road.It came as detectives appealed for information from anyone who saw a grey Porsche 911 being driven in the area of the fatal collision on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield on Sunday afternoon. Continue reading...

Prime minister counters SNP questions with statistics on Scottish child poverty after stripping seven MPs of whip

Annual report says climate crisis, conflict and economic shocks leave the global food system disastrously vulnerable'Africa will overtake Asia as the continent with the highest number of people experiencing hunger in the world by 2030, the UN has predicted.In its annual state of food security and nutrition report, five UN agencies said there was a clear trend" of rising prevalence of undernourishment in Africa. Continue reading...

Hundreds also wounded in assault on parts of Khan Younis, including area designated a humanitarian zone by IDFThe Israeli military has launched a fresh attack on the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing at least 70 people according to medics, after ordering Palestinians to leave several neighbourhoods including areas that had been designated by the military as part of a humanitarian zone.Palestinian civil defence in the territory estimated that 400,000 people sheltering in the city were affected by the order, which included the eastern part of Al-Mawasi, a sandy strip of land without infrastructure where Palestinians have sought shelter in tent encampments in recent months. Continue reading...

Galvanized by the 2016 murder of trans sex worker Paola Buenrostro, activists applaud law as critical for feeling safeWhen the trans sex worker Paola Buenrostro was killed by a client in Mexico City, her friend Kenya Cuevas grabbed the man to stop him fleeing and recorded the scene as police arrived amid sirens, screams and red and blue lights.Despite the footage and witness testimonies, a judge considered there was insufficient evidence to hold the man and released him after 48 hours, since which time he has been on the run. Continue reading...

Nasser hospital director pleas for medical supplies and says staff cannot save influx of patients as IDF continues assaultDoctors in the largest hospital in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis pleaded for supplies from a facility overwhelmed by wounded people, as Israeli airstrikes, artillery fire and fighting on the streets continued for a second day.There's no space for more patients. There's no space in the operating theatres. There is a lack of medical supplies, so we cannot save our patients," Mohammed Zaqout, the director of Nasser hospital, told AFP. Continue reading...

UK's biggest airport served almost 40m passengers in first half of 2024, straining its system to the maximum'Heathrow is preparing to announce a fresh blueprint for a third runway for the Labour government's approval as record passenger numbers strain its system to the maximum".The UK's biggest airport served almost 40 million passengers in the first half of 2024, culminating in its busiest day ever on 30 June. Continue reading...

Ben Hughes, 38, charged with murder of Laura Robson, 37, after police received report of a disturbance at a houseA man has been charged with the murder of a woman after reports of a disturbance at a house in Gateshead, police have said.Northumbria police named the dead woman as 37-year-old Laura Robson and said her family were being supported by specially trained officers. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed.

Demonstration organised by Workers for a Free Palestine demands government shifts policy on Israel's war in Gaza

Investigation did not identify sufficient admissible evidence' the person intended to mislead, police say

Victoria police say Briggs became unresponsive during his arrest' in a Hoppers Crossing car park. He was taken to hospital and later died

Coroner grants permission for experts to inspect Hillcrest jumping castle as part of operator's defence against alleged safety breaches

Jim Oppegard, 94, says the schoolchildren he buses can be a challenge but driving them is also a special reward'The newly minted world's oldest bus driver says he has been motivated to keep working past his 94th birthday partially because it allows him to donate to charity.Jim Oppegard discussed his reluctance to retire in an interview published recently on the website of Guinness World Records, which officially recognized the resident of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, as its eldest bus driver in April. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Safeguarding minister outlines measures to protect women and girls, including plans for Raneem's law'Plans to tackle misogyny in schools could take up to 20 years to have an impact on society, the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, has said as she outlined measures to protect women and girls.Phillips spoke the day after the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) estimated that 2 million women were victims of violence perpetrated by men each year in an epidemic so serious it amounts to a national emergency". Continue reading...

Kai McKenzie fought the shark off before catching a wave into North Shore beach, where an off-duty police officer used a dog leash to save his life

PM declares dark and sorrowful day' as royal commission details decades of abuse in state and faith-based institutionsThe treatment of people in New Zealand's state and faith-based care institutions has been described as a national disgrace" after a landmark report revealed the harrowing scale of abuse 200,000 children and adults suffered at the hands of those entrusted with their safety.New Zealand's royal commission into the abuse is by far the largest and most complex royal commission the country has held. Out of similar inquiries around the world, it had the widest scope.In New Zealand: Lifeline Aotearoa's suicide crisis helpline 0508 828 865; the Mental Health Foundation 09 623 4812; Youthline: 0800 376 633In Australia, crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Lebanon's border villages reduced to rubble and 150,000 people displaced in tit-for-tat strikes that commentators say risk turning into a wider conflict Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Nobody wants a war - not Israel, not Hezbollah, not Iran," military historian Prof Danny Orbach told the Guardian last week. But it's very difficult to see how you can solve the situation without one."That is the frightening ratchet that has been operating on the border between Lebanon and Israel since the 7 October attacks, where Israel is engaged in tit-for-tat strikes with Hezbollah that have left hundreds of people dead and 150,000 displaced.UK politics | Keir Starmer has suspended seven MPs from the Labour party in an unprecedented response to an early rebellion supporting an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit limit. The move to suspend MPs from the party's left, including the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, drew criticism from some MPs who voted with the government.Health | The births of babies to black mothers are almost twice as likely to be investigated for potential NHS safety failings, Guardian research has found, in a shocking disparity that has been labelled a national disgrace". The head of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said the issue was purely down to institutional racism".US news | The director of the US secret service has resigned over security lapses that enabled the assassination attempt against Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Kimberly Cheatle quit a day after a contentious House hearing where members of both parties said that she had failed to answer basic questions about a stunning operational failure".Leeds | Roma children who were taken into care, sparking unrest in Leeds last week, have been returned to their extended family. Police and social services removed the four children from a house in Harehills on Thursday to prevent them being taken abroad in breach of a court order.Monarchy | King Charles is set for a huge 45m pay rise with an increase of more than 50% in his official annual income, official accounts reveal. Profits of 1.1bn from the crown estate mean the sovereign grant, which supports the official duties of the royal family, will rise from 86m in 2024-25 to 132m in 2025-26.Both sides would prefer to end the fighting so that civilians can return home, but are entangled in a cycle of mutual escalation. What's going on now is an attrition war,' says Khalil Helou, a retired Lebanese general. One that we are losing, as Lebanon. And Hezbollah is losing. And Israel is losing.' Continue reading...

Video posted online shows people running away to escape the explosion at Biscuit Basin, which is now closed to visitorsA surprise hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone national park has sent sightseers running for safety, after steam and dark-coloured rock and dirt shot up high into the sky.The eruption happened around 10am local time on Tuesday in Biscuit Basin, a collection of hot springs a couple miles north of the famous Old Faithful Geyser. Continue reading...

The 27-year-old's body was found by search crews on Wednesday at Eastern Arthur Range

Record-high 17.78 million foreign tourists came to Japan in the first half of year, with arrivals in June led by travellers from South Korea, China, Taiwan and the USBusinesses in Japan are considering a dual pricing system for foreign tourists and local people amid a surge in inbound visitors and the continued weakness of the yen.The head of the Hokkaido Tourism Organization has called on businesses in Japan's northernmost prefecture, known for its beautiful scenery and winter resorts, to set lower prices for locals. Continue reading...

Ageism standing in way of older writers breaking into the industry, playwrights claimThe phrase emerging playwright" should not be restricted to those under the age of 40, leading UK theatre figures have said, as it risks excluding new talent outside generation z.The novelist and playwright Nell Leyshon told the Guardian that ageism" was standing in the way of progress for writers who come to the world of theatre in later life. Continue reading...

Consumer expert writes to chancellor outlining four changes to help remedy financial injusticesRachel Reeves must overhaul the allowance that has resulted in thousands of unpaid carers being saddled with life-changing debt, and in some cases threatened with criminal prosecution, the consumer finance expert Martin Lewis has said.Lewis has written to the chancellor, identifying four measures that he says are possible to enact without great cost to the taxpayer that would remedy financial injustices, including changes to the child benefit charge and removing withdrawal penalties from lifetime Isas. Continue reading...

Nottingham maternity review finds women were refused interpreters, mocked and treated unkindlyExpectant mothers at a scandal-hit NHS trust have experienced discriminatory and racist behaviour" including midwives mimicking their accents and refusing to provide interpreters, according to the head of an inquiry into its failings.As part of the largest inquiry into a single service in the history of the NHS, Donna Ockenden is speaking with more than 1,900 families who have experienced stillbirth, neonatal death, maternal death or babies diagnosed with brain damage at Nottingham University hospitals NHS trust (NUH). Continue reading...

Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists estimates $7.3bn a year for 30 years could avoid most extinctions, repair soils and restore rivers

Four teenagers sentenced to almost 20 years each after stabbing and stomping defenceless boy to death in Reservoir

Some injured cows were euthanised while others were found dead on the truck at the South Yarra crash scene

Resumption of flights comes after South boosted frontline broadcasts of K-pop songs and propaganda messages across the borderBalloons carrying rubbish sent by North Korea have fallen on the compound of South Korea's presidential office, according to the Yonhap news agency.Other South Korean media reported the balloons caused no damage. AFP reported that the balloons prompted Seoul to mobilise chemical response teams. Yonhap gave no further details. Continue reading...

Fallon had been named in reserves for Parramatta's round one clash with Brisbane this weekend

Michael Safi travels to southern Lebanon where Hezbollah is trading strikes with Israeli forces and one misstep could result in all-out conflictTravelling through a village called Kafr Kila in the mountains of southern Lebanon, all Michael Safi could see was destroyed buildings. Twisted wires and rubble littered the landscape and a solitary yellow Hezbollah flag fluttered in the rubble.It is dangerous territory, patrolled by the UN's peacekeeping force. Airstrikes from Israeli forces happen every few days and are met with volleys of Hezbollah rockets across the border. Ever since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Hezbollah has stepped up its own conflict with Israel. The tit-for-tat attacks are calculated - with neither side wanting to fully escalate. But there is a growing tension and a fear that one misstep could result in all-out war. As Safi tours the country, he finds a population weary of war but also resilient and defiant. Continue reading...