Parentkind charity also says 33% of parents of children with special educational needs reported financial strainOne in three parents have sought a special needs assessment for their child, according to a survey that reveals a surge in demand for special needs support in schools across the UK.The figures were released amid mounting apprehension in England over national plans to reform special needs provision amid rising costs and a severe shortage of dedicated special school places. Continue reading...
by Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent on (#70361)
Commons committee finds women's concerns not taken seriously due to bias, stereotyping and racist assumptionsBlack women in England are still facing poorer outcomes in their maternity care due to systemic racism, alongside failures in leadership and data collection, according to a group of MPs.Across the UK, black women are more than twice as likely to die in childbirth compared with their white counterparts, while babies born to black mothers are at an increased risk of stillbirth. Continue reading...
by Edward Helmore and Ramon Antonio Vargas on (#702TF)
George Zinn, accused of obstructing justice, was also booked in connection with images on his cell of child abuseA man who was detained moments after Turning Point USA executive director Charlie Kirk's killing has been arrested on allegations of trying to thwart authorities by falsely confessing to the fatal shooting.After being arrested on Monday, 71-year-old George Zinn faces a count of obstructing justice - a second-degree felony - in the wake of Kirk's killing at Utah Valley University (UVU). He was also booked in connection with images on his cellphone depicting child abuse, said state authorities, who took Zinn into custody after he was released from a hospital that was treating him for a medical condition. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea, Jasper Jolly, Dan Milmo, Kiran Stace on (#702ZR)
Ministers had hoped to finalise deal this week that would reduce president's steel tariffs to zeroA long-coveted deal to slash US steel and aluminium tariffs to zero has been shelved on the eve of Donald Trump's state visit to Britain, the Guardian has learned.Ministers were poised to finalise a deal this week that would have reduced Trump's tariffs on British steel to zero, according to government officials. Continue reading...
Claims that brothers were sexually abused didn't supersede premeditation and deliberation' of killings, says judgeA California judge has rejected a request for a new trial for Erik and Lyle Menendez, saying the allegations that the brothers were sexually abused did not supersede their premeditation and deliberation" when they killed their parents more than 35 years ago.The ruling Monday by Los Angeles superior court judge William C Ryan comes just weeks after the brothers were denied parole and shuts down another possible path to freedom for the two who have served nearly 30 years in prison. Ryan denied a May 2023 petition seeking a review of their convictions based on new evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse by their father. Continue reading...
The FBI director's seeming fandom of the Premier League club also represents an unexpected clash of politicsFBI director Kash Patel appeared for a hearing in front of the US Senate judiciary committee wearing a tie featuring the logo of English Premier League side Liverpool on Tuesday.The tie drew questions across social media. For one thing, it's extremely unusual for a government official to wear a tie featuring the logo of any business, let alone a sports team. For another, Patel has not publicly expressed fandom for Liverpool in the past - at least not in words. He has previously been photographed wearing Liverpool ties on at least two separate occasions, though. The first, on 12 December 2024, came when Patel was visiting various lawmakers on Capitol Hill after Donald Trump's victory in that year's election, with Patel at the time being rumored to be a part of the administration. The second came about five months later, on 9 April 2025, at a press event touting the US authorities' capture of narcotics. By that time, Patel had been confirmed as director of the FBI. Continue reading...
The 25-year-old claims to be trafficking victim and won high court challenge in what may prove major blow to Labour policyAn Eritrean man has had his deportation to France under Labour's one-in, one-out" scheme halted at the 11th hour after he won a high court challenge.The 25-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is the first to win a challenge in the high court against the removal scheme, which is itself new. The first removal flights were due to take place on Monday and Tuesday of this week but were cancelled. The man had been due to be on a flight to France at 9am on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Labour politicians Simon Opher and Peter Prinsley were due to meet UK diplomats in Jerusalem this weekTwo British MPs have said they were denied entry into Israel during a parliamentary delegation to the occupied West Bank.Labour politicians Simon Opher and Peter Prinsley were travelling as part of the group that was due to meet British diplomats in Jerusalem this week, in addition to Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations. Continue reading...
Court rules former president, sentenced to 27 years for coup attempt, must pay R$1m for cockroaches' comment in 2021Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to pay R$1m (138,000) in collective moral damages for remarks deemed racist" while he was in office.The latest ruling, delivered by a state appeals court, came less than a week after Brazil's former president was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for leading an attempted coup to overturn the result of the 2022 election. Continue reading...
by Sam Jones in Madrid and Lisa O’Carroll in London on (#702MA)
Head of state broadcaster says it is impossible to look the other way' over Israel's actions in GazaSpain has become the latest country to confirm it will not take part in next year's Eurovision song contest if Israel participates, with the head of its state broadcaster saying the genocide currently taking place make[s] it impossible for us to look the other way".The majority decision by RTVE board members makes Spain the first of the big five" Eurovision countries that contribute the most money to the event to take such action in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza. Continue reading...
US president adds that Zelenskyy will have to make a deal' and that Ukraine is in serious trouble' as he departs for UK state visitEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel," spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel." Continue reading...
Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey attack PM's record over US ambassador during commons debate that was skipped by StarmerVikram Dodd is the Guardian's crime correspondent.Police expect to arrest 50 more people following Saturday's large far-right-led march through London, the commissioner of the Metropolitan police said this morning.If you are Conservative right-minded, then the future is Reform. The country is going to change a lot. The same people who thought that Brexit would not happen think that Reform will not happen. They are in for a shock. Continue reading...
Relatives remember a dependable, kind and funny woman and remain traumatised by her deathPerhaps the Kenyan market town of Nanyuki's greatest claim to fame was that it straddles the equator. But now it has become synonymous with something darker. It was here where Agnes Wanjiru was born and lived and where she was brutally killed.Her family searched for her for months before her body was found stuffed into a septic tank at the same hotel where she had last been seen alive. Continue reading...
Second deportation flight takes off from UK without migrants on boardDowning Street has denied that the government's returns deal with France is in chaos after plans to forcibly remove from the UK people arriving in small boats were abandoned for a second day.Asked by reporters if the latest delay meant the so-called one in one out" agreement was a shambles", the prime minister's spokesperson said No". Continue reading...
Intimidation strategy said to be part of broader campaign to quash and bypass independent and critical publicationsAs newsrooms learned that President Trump had filed another multibillion lawsuit against a major outlet to have provoked his scorn - this time his home town paper the New York Times - media executives again puzzled over his long-term aims in repeatedly deploying the law.Different theories abound over the strategy, from creating a chilling effect on the media to feeding an anti-mainstream media sentiment among his most vigorous supporters. One firm conclusion, however, is that the tactic is here to stay. Continue reading...
High court judge issues arrest warrant, saying a suspect has been charged in relation to 2012 death of 21-year-oldA warrant has been issued for the arrest of a British national on suspicion of the murder of the Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru, who was found dead in the grounds of a hotel near an army base in 2012.The high court judge Alexander Muteti issued the arrest warrant earlier on Tuesday in Kenya, with the prosecution telling the court a suspect had been charged with murder, and seeking the application for a warrant of arrest to facilitate his extradition to Kenya. Continue reading...
State forced to stop gathering critical data on pregnancy experiences after Trump administration's shakeupThe Trump administration's shakeup of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has forced Mississippi to stop gathering critical data on women's experiences before, during and after pregnancy - even as the state recently declared a public health emergency over its surging infant mortality rate.Mississippi has suspended data collection for Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (Prams), a national database that has been integral to policymaking on maternal and infant health for nearly four decades, the Guardian has learned. Continue reading...
Investigation uncovers documents and satellite imagery that confirm children being taken to sites for patriotic indoctrination, weapons training and combat drillsRussia is running an extensive network of more than 200 camps to re-educate, Russify and militarise Ukrainian children, a new investigation has found.The facilities, across Russia and occupied Ukraine, include camps as well as schools, military bases, medical facilities, religious sites and universities. Continue reading...
The Manchester mayor has never been shy about his ambitions. But is he planning to capitalise on a weakening Starmer?Good morning. It's been a torrid summer of getting screamed at, dumped on and generally run ragged by those who wouldn't even be there without you. But enough about my paternity leave: today's newsletter is about Keir Starmer's wobbling Labour leadership, and the man some of his own MPs want to replace him in No 10.In some ways, Andy Burnham is not an obvious candidate to replace Starmer: he is a throwback to a past Labour era, a figure once viewed as an uber-Blairite, and he's not even an MP. But in the last couple of weeks, without any explicit challenge, the Greater Manchester mayor has been strikingly prominent. The resignation of senior aide Paul Ovenden yesterday, over offensive messages he sent about Diane Abbott in 2017, will have done little to soothe those sceptical of Starmer's intent to use the visit of Donald Trump to reset his premiership - and story after story has suggested that Burnham is working quietly, but doggedly, to capitalise.Far right | Downing Street has fiercely condemned Elon Musk for using dangerous and inflammatory" language, after he told a crowd of protesters in London that violence is coming" and you either fight back or you die". Police are looking for 11 people suspected of committing violent disorder at the march and have charged eight others.UK politics | The MP Danny Kruger has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK, declaring the Tory party is over" and Nigel Farage is the new custodian" of conservatism and the political right's last hope" of governing Britain.UK news | Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who caused the death of their newborn baby after taking her to live in a tent in wintry conditions to evade social services, have each been sentenced to 14 years in prison.Technology | Jamieson Greer, a US trade representative, said on Monday that Washington and Beijing have struck a framework agreement on transferring TikTok to US-controlled ownership.Espionage | The UK government says it is extremely disappointed" by a decision to drop charges of spying for China against two men, one of whom was a parliamentary aide. Prosecutor Tom Little told the Old Bailey that we simply cannot continue to prosecute" Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, without giving any reason for the decision. Continue reading...
Government's plans in disarray before Trump talks as MSD, Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca moves prompt job fearsBig pharmaceutical companies have ditched or paused nearly 2bn in planned UK investments so far this year, causing suffering" to patients, as ministers gear up for discussions with Donald Trump amid a row over drug pricing.The government's plan for the life science sector, a key pillar of the economy, has been thrown into disarray, after US drugmaker MSD's shock announcement last Wednesday that it would scrap its 1bn London research centre. Two days later, AstraZeneca decided to halt a planned 200m expansion of its research facilities in Cambridge. Continue reading...
Paul McCartney, Kate Bush and Elton John among creatives arguing that Labour's AI proposals could result in an artist's life work to be stolen'Leading British artists including Mick Jagger, Kate Bush and Paul McCartney have urged Keir Starmer to stand up for creators' human rights and protect their work ahead of a UK-US tech deal during Donald Trump's visit.In a letter to the prime minister, they argued Labour had failed to defend artists' basic rights by blocking attempts to force artificial intelligence firms to reveal what copyrighted material they have used in their systems. Continue reading...
Security message has been frequent - and for some, irritating - part of Great Britain's public transport system since 2016It has been described as the most irritating slogan in the history of British transport, and now the infamous See it. Say it. Sorted" security campaign is getting an overhaul a decade after being introduced.However, to the chagrin of those hoping the frequent announcements across the UK rail network could be scrapped, the government has only undertaken a mild refresh" of the slogan, which was launched under Theresa May's government in 2016 to encourage passengers to report unusual items of activity. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#702CK)
Thinktank says an SUV loophole' means UK buyers pay up to 20 times less tax on biggest models than in neighbouring nationsTaxing Britain's SUVs in line with other European countries could raise almost 2bn a year for the public finances, research has shown.The Transport & Environment thinktank has urged the government to use the autumn budget to bring in a levy on the largest vehicles, which it said would reflect the damage they caused to the environment and infrastructure. Continue reading...
Sarah Abu Lebdeh yet to enter plea for other charges related to video in which she and a colleague allegedly said they would refuse to treat Israeli patients
Move is latest push by administration to expand military-led response to urban crime in Democratic-run citiesDonald Trump on Monday signed an executive order that would send national guard troops into Memphis, in a replica" of the administration's expanding military-led response to urban crime in Democratic-run cities.The move was welcome by Tennessee's Republican governor, Bill Lee, who stood behind Trump in the Oval Office as he signed a presidential memo establishing a Memphis Safe Task Force. Continue reading...
Group of people who crossed Channel by boat understood not to have been on Air France plane after legal challengeThe first flight to France carrying people who crossed the Channel under Keir Starmer's one in, one out" deal has not taken place as planned, according to reports.A small group of individuals were removed from an Air France flight on Monday due to travel from Heathrow to Paris after a legal challenge, according to multiple newspaper reports. Continue reading...
Arab states say US should use its leverage and influence as they promise to activate joint defence mechanisms'Gulf leaders meeting at an emergency summit in Qatar have called on the Trump administration to use its leverage to rein in Israel following the unprecedented Israeli attempt last Tuesday to assassinate Hamas negotiators in Doha.Speaking after the meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the group's secretary general, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, said: We ... expect our strategic partners in the United States to use their influence on Israel in order for it to stop this behaviour ... they have leverage and influence on Israel, and it's about time that this leverage and influence be used." Continue reading...
Care and support package, including housing, will help 30-50 young Palestinians for an initial two yearsThe first group of children from Gaza have arrived in the UK for specialist life-saving treatment on the NHS, the Guardian understands.Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, informed the parliamentary Labour party on Monday evening about the news. On arrival in the UK, the patients and their families have been granted access to NHS treatment, appropriate housing and comprehensive support services for an initial two-year period. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#7022S)
Met ask public for help identifying those who aimed kicks and punches' at officers among other offencesPolice are looking for 11 people suspected to have committed violent disorder offences after the large far-right-led march through London on Saturday, and said they had already charged eight people with offences.The unite the kingdom" march was led by the far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson and attracted more than 110,000 people, police said, in excess of what they or the organisers expected. Continue reading...
The former foreign minister says the Les Carlyon award is explicitly for emerging authors', disqualifying Chris Masters's biography of the alleged war criminal
Labour MPs talk openly about replacing PM, as third senior ally in two weeks departs after publication of WhatsAppsThe crisis engulfing Keir Starmer has deepened on the eve of Donald Trump's visit to the UK after the resignation of a third senior ally in two weeks raised further questions about the stability of his government.Paul Ovenden quit as the prime minister's director of political strategy after the publication of old WhatsApp messages in which Ovenden relayed lewd jokes made at a party about the Labour MP Diane Abbott. Continue reading...
Medical tribunal rules very low risk' of Suhail Anjum, who had been dismissed by hospital in Greater Manchester, repeating behaviourA doctor who left a patient midway through an operation to have sex with a nurse is at very low risk" of repeating his serious misconduct, a medical tribunal has ruled.Dr Suhail Anjum, 44, and the unnamed nurse were caught in a compromising position" by a shocked colleague who walked in on the pair at Tameside hospital. The consultant anaesthetist had asked another nursing colleague to monitor the male patient, who was under general anaesthetic, so he could go to the bathroom. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#7022Z)
Nato is responding with unity and strength' to Russian threats, says John HealeyRAF Typhoon jets will be deployed within days to shoot down drones over Poland and other Nato allies in eastern Europe if necessary, after last week's incursion of 19 uncrewed Russian aircraft into Poland.The British fighters, based at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, will join Nato's new Eastern Sentry mission working alongside French, German and Danish counterparts who are acting as reinforcements for Dutch F-35s and Polish F-16s. Continue reading...
Sisters of Leonard Farruku tell inquest they want to know what help there was' for people on the bargeThe family of an asylum seeker who died on the Bibby Stockholm barge say they do not understand why a man whose mental state was clearly not right" was moved there.An inquest into the death of Leonard Farruku, an Albanian asylum seeker whose body was found in a shower room on the barge in Portland Port on 12 December 2023 opened in Bournemouth on Monday. Continue reading...
Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were due to go on trial next month charged with breaching Official Secrets ActThe government says it is extremely disappointed" by a decision to drop charges of spying for China against two men, one of whom was a parliamentary aide.The men, Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, had denied accusations of providing information prejudicial to the interests of the state in breach of the Official Secrets Act between December 2021 and February 2023. Continue reading...
Revelation relating to then Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent, Vincent Kearney, a matter of grave concern'MI5 has conceded it unlawfully" obtained the communications data of a former BBC journalist, in what was claimed to be an unprecedented admission from the security services.The BBC said it was a matter of grave concern" that the agency had obtained communications data from the mobile phone of former BBC Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent, Vincent Kearney. Continue reading...
Soldier F is charged with two murders and five attempted murdersSoldiers disgraced the British army by targeting unarmed civilians in an unjustified" and gratuitous" use of force on Bloody Sunday, the murder trial of an army veteran has heard.The shooting by the former paratrooper and his comrades was unnecessary" and had a profound impact on Northern Ireland, a prosecutor told Belfast crown court on Monday at the opening of the long-awaited trial. Continue reading...
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