Two officials assaulted and held while inspecting avocados in Michoacan in incident unconnected to industry'An attack on two employees of the US agricultural department prompted a temporary suspension of safety inspections on avocados and mangoes in Mexico, potentially disrupting a $2.4bn industry between the two countries.Ambassador Ken Salazar said in a statement that the two officials were assaulted and temporarily held by assailants while they were inspecting avocados in the Mexican state of Michoacan. Continue reading...
Pop star was arrested in New York and held overnight for a morning arraignment, police statement saysJustin Timberlake is facing a charge of driving while intoxicated in the Hamptons in New York, local authorities confirmed to the Guardian.The pop singer and actor was arrested early Tuesday in Sag Harbor and was released on his own recognizance - meaning without needing to post bail - after a brief hearing at the village courthouse, the Suffolk county, New York, district attorney's office said. Continue reading...
Netherlands PM will replace Jens Stoltenberg after making promise not to deploy Hungarian forces in UkraineMark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch prime minister, is expected to become the next head of Nato after winning over Hungary's prime minister with a promise not to deploy Budapest's forces or spend its money supporting Ukraine.Viktor Orban, the leader in Nato seen as closest to Russia, announced he had dropped his objections after discussions with Rutte, prompting the current secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, to declare that the selection process would end very soon". Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6NKZW)
Doreen Lawrence says CPS's refusal to charge those alleged to have botched hunt for her son's killers is a new low'The mother of Stephen Lawrence says she is bewildered, disappointed, and angry" at the refusal by prosecutors to charge senior detectives alleged to have botched the hunt for her son's racist killers.The decision means that despite 31 years of revelations of failures in the case, no officer has been prosecuted. Continue reading...
by Jim Waterson Political media editor on (#6NKYS)
Deepfake videos have failed to disrupt election campaign as some predicted, instead existing as obviously fake memesThe video is clear: Nigel Farage, appearing on screen as a gaming livestreamer, is commentating as he plays Minecraft. The Reform UK party leader explains that he has logged on to Rishi Sunak's server, tracked down the prime minister's virtual home in the video game, and intends to blow it up.Farage's distinctive voice can be heard as he explains what he's about to do: I filled it to the brim with TNT. And for everyone's information there were absolutely no traces of Sky TV services in or around the house." Continue reading...
Investment fund supermarket has been offered 11.40 a share by trio of international investorsBritish investment fund supermarket Hargreaves Lansdown has said it will accept a proposed offer from a trio of private equity investors, meaning another of the UK's biggest companies will leave the FTSE 100 index.In a stock market filing on Tuesday, the company said that US private equity firm CVC, Denmark's Nordic Capital and a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) had made an offer worth 11.40 a share in cash. Continue reading...
Unite union also considering employment tribunal claims for unfair dismissal against WhitbreadWorkers demonstrated at Premier Inn owner Whitbread's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday over plans to cut 1,500 jobs amid rising profits.The employees of restaurants including Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Beefeater protested outside the company's investor meeting in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, on Tuesday and union activists asked about the job cuts and pay inside the meeting. Continue reading...
by Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspon on (#6NKSJ)
Exclusive: Government warns Australians seeking to serve with armed forces of a foreign country to ensure their conduct does not constitute a criminal offence'
GP, celebrity chef and astrologer among defendants in third trial linked to far-right ReichsburgerEight alleged members of the German far-right Reichsburger have gone on trial accused of a plot to violently overthrow the state, in the third in a row of similar court cases being held across the country.The defendants, including a GP, a celebrity chef and an astrologer, are accused of serving as the plot's leadership council and, prosecutors say, were set to become a cabinet in waiting if the group's plan to storm the parliament building and overthrow the government had succeeded. Continue reading...
Report finds alarming' rise in extremism, with Islamist groups and cyber-attacks also posing dangersA surge in far-right violence, Islamist extremism and cyber-attacks from Russia and China are putting German democracy under significant" threat, the interior minister, Nancy Faeser, said as she presented a government report on domestic and foreign adversaries.The wars in Ukraine and Gaza are having strong ripple effects on German security, driving radicalism and attacks, the study by the office for the protection of the constitution (BfV) found. Continue reading...
Ohio Republican senator dismissed efforts by Democrats to ban gun devices, used in 2017 Las Vegas concert shootingPolitical ripples from the supreme court's decision to overturn a Trump White House-era ban on sales of bump stocks" - a spring-loaded stock that uses recoil to effectively turn a semi-automatic firearm into a machine gun - continued to radiate on Monday when Jacky Rosen took exception to comments on the issue made by his Republican colleague JD Vance.Vance, the Ohio senator and potential vice-presidential pick as Trump seeks a second presidency in November had dismissed efforts by senior Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, to pass legislation banning the devices as a huge distraction".Ramon Antonio Vargas contributed reporting. Continue reading...
Girl, 14, named as Khandi, along with Amelia, aged nine, and Malik, seven, may have travelled to LondonPolice are searching for three children who are missing after a day out at theme park in Surrey.A 14-year-old girl named only as Khandi was with two younger children - Amelia, nine, and Malik, seven - at Thorpe Park on Monday, before they were reported missing at 7pm, Surrey police said. Continue reading...
Thaksin appears in court accused of lese-majeste relating to 2015 interview with South Korean mediaThe former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a powerful backer of the ruling government, has been formally indicted for allegedly insulting the monarchy almost two decades ago.
BBC says presenters regularly reminded of guidelines' on promoting clothing after Lineker wore green T-shirtThe BBC has said on-screen presenters and contributors are regularly reminded of the guidelines in relation to clothing" after Gary Lineker appeared to be wearing his own range of clothing on air.While fronting the coverage for the BBC for England's opening Euros game against Serbia on Sunday, the Match of the Day host wore a pale green knitted T-shirt, and put on a sage green jacket at half-time. Continue reading...
Labour leader says families of three people stabbed to death have had horrific experience', as Barnaby Webber's mother challenges him on radio phone-inKeir Starmer has committed to a judge-led inquiry into the Nottingham attacks if Labour wins the election, saying there are too many examples of victims and family members being let down".Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates were stabbed to death last year by Valdo Calocane, who was sentenced to a hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to paranoid schizophrenia. Continue reading...
Don't miss the chance to have your say in the vote to choose the next UK government This article was amended on 13 June 2024. An earlier version said that voters in England" now need to show photo ID at polling stations in general elections; in fact, this is a requirement across the UK. Continue reading...
Country on track to become third in Asia - after Taiwan and Nepal - to legalise same-sex marriageThailand's senate has passed the final reading of a historic marriage equality bill, paving the way for the country to become the first in south-east Asia to recognise same-sex marriage.The bill gained the support of nearly all upper-house lawmakers and will be sent to the palace for the pro-forma endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The law will come into force 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The war has devastated Sudan, destroying much of the country and leaving 18 million facing acute hunger Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.The war in Sudan has caused destruction throughout much of the country. And with every passing week the conflict seems to get worse between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - a paramilitary group who say their main goal is to establish democracy, though the frequent human rights abuses they commit do not support this claim.Conservatives | Jeremy Hunt said Liz Truss's economic ambitions were a good thing to aim for" and her disastrous mini-budget hadn't left an impact on the economy, according to two leaked recordings obtained by the Guardian. The chancellor was recorded at a meeting of students when he said he was trying to basically achieve some of the same things" as the former prime minister, but that he was doing it more gradually".Israel | Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the Israeli war cabinet that had been overseeing the conflict in Gaza, rebuffing his far-right allies who had been seeking seats, and apparently moving to solidify his grasp on decision-making over the fighting with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah across the Lebanese border.Italy | At least 10 people died and dozens were missing after two separate shipwrecks close to the Italian coast, rescuers said. Ten bodies were found on Monday in the lower deck of a wooden boat in the central Mediterranean by rescuers from Nadir, a ship operated by the German charity ResQship.Germany | Eight alleged members of the German far-right Reichsburger are to go on trial accused of a plot to violently overthrow the state, in the third in a row of similar court cases being held across the country. The defendants, including a GP, a celebrity chef and an astrologer, are accused of serving as the plot's leadership council and, prosecutors say, were set to become a cabinet in waiting if the group's plan overthrow the government had succeeded.UK news | Officers who hit an escaped cow with a car probably did the right thing at the time" even if it looks horrendous", a union leader and farmer has said. A video showing a police car hitting the calf on Friday night on a residential street in Staines-upon-Thames was met with widespread outrage, including from the RSCPA which criticised it as disproportionate". Continue reading...
Exclusive: leaked recordings reveal chancellor trying to achieve some of the same things' as former prime ministerJeremy Hunt said Liz Truss's economic ambitions were a good thing to aim for" and her disastrous mini-budget hadn't left an impact on the economy, according to two leaked recordings obtained by the Guardian.The chancellor was recorded at a meeting of students when he said he was trying to basically achieve some of the same things" as the former prime minister, but that he was doing it more gradually". Continue reading...
Mango inspections also suspended until further notice' in state troubled by gang violence, but USDA says produce already in transit not affectedThe US paused safety inspections for avocados and mangos from the Mexican state of Michoacan due to a security incident involving US department of agriculture (USDA) staff, a spokesperson for the agency said.The spokesperson said avocados and mangos already in transit from Michoacan would not be affected but further inspections were suspended until further notice". Continue reading...
by Jennifer Rankin and Lili Bayer in Brussels on (#6NKAY)
European Commission president appears likely to keep her job as meetings continue to decide who gets top EU rolesEU leaders are converging on a second term for Ursula von der Leyen as head of the European Commission but have failed to reach a quick agreement.Meeting for the first time since elections shifted the European parliament to the right, with big gains for nationalist and far-right parties in France and Germany, EU leaders discussed how to fill the bloc's top jobs on Monday. Continue reading...
Actor in good spirits' after fall during Player Kings performance, Noel Coward theatre spokesperson saidIan McKellen is in good spirits" and expected to make a speedy and full recovery" after a fall during Monday evening's performance of Player Kings, a spokesperson for the Noel Coward theatre in London has said.McKellen was taken to hospital after the fall. The audience was evacuated from the West End theatre and informed that the evening show was cancelled. Continue reading...
The 27 heads of state and government meet for the first time since European elections and Macron's decision to call snap vote in FranceDonald Tusk said he is very satisfied with the current cooperation with the president of the European Commission, as she fully understands the fundamental issues for Poland."Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, has endorsed Kaja Kallas, who is a contender to become the bloc's next high representative for foreign affairs. Continue reading...
by Ben Quinn, Pippa Crerar and Peter Walker on (#6NK64)
Leader says election is first step for our party and for me' as Gove dismisses idea of Farage in No 10 as ridiculous'Nigel Farage has unveiled a raft of populist pledges, massive tax cuts and 140bn in spending commitments in a Reform UK manifesto that economists said did not add up".The Conservative party, which has struggled to counter the growing Reform threat, accused Farage of being part of a great entertainment machine" who was not somebody who could govern the country. Continue reading...
The musician, whose real name was Paul Spencer, was diagnosed with stage four rectal cancer in 2023Paul Spencer, the dance music producer known as Dario G, has died at the age of 53.The musician was diagnosed with stage four rectal cancer in 2023 and regularly posted about his condition on social media. Continue reading...
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