Transport secretary had no choice' but to approve cuts - but warns she will take further action if improvements not madeThe transport secretary has expressed serious concern" about railway operator CrossCountry, warning she may take further action amid its ongoing reduction in services.Louise Haigh said she had little choice but to approve the three-month reduced timetable proposed by the train operator, despite describing it as a dire service". Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6PW7Q)
Exclusive: Researchers say hugely alarming' analysis shows more action is needed to protect consumersMore than three-quarters of the bestselling dishes sold in high street takeaways, restaurants and coffee chains are unhealthy, as judged by government guidelines, a new study reveals.Popular products such as pizzas, burgers, chicken dishes, fries and baguettes contain dangerously large amounts of fat, salt, sugar or calories that can damage health, the researchers say.Pizza Hut's pepperoni feast - excessive" amounts of total fat, saturated fat and salt and more calories than is seen as ideal under government guidelinesBurger King's Memphis BBQ king double - too much total fat, saturated fat and saltFino pitta at Nando's - high levels of total fat, saturated fat and salt, and also too many caloriesHalloumi-style fries at JD Wetherspoon - excessive" amounts of salt, saturated fat and total fatPret a Manger's ham and Greve baguette - too much salt, saturated fat and total fat, and also too many calories, as judged against official nutritional analysis criteria Continue reading...
Maeve Boothby O'Neill's parents tell of desperate efforts to find help and their desire to improve treatment for othersIn January 2021, Maeve Boothby O'Neill took stock and summed up her position. I've been tired since I was 13," she wrote. When I was 18, I was diagnosed with ME/CFS. I hoped I would finally get treatment and recover my health. I had every potential to be an asset to humanity and hoped and intended to advance the cause of human flourishing."Maeve, a bright, diligent, determined young woman, and her loved ones did their best over the years to get help but the treatment - and the fundamental understanding of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - just was not available. Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6PW75)
Exclusive: Move highlights ambition to reconnect with Beijing but minister will face pressure over human rightsDavid Lammy is planning a visit to China in September that would fall within the first 100 days of him taking office.The foreign secretary is in talks over a trip to Beijing next month that would signal the UK wants to resume high-level engagement with the country. Continue reading...
New category of widows and widowers on receiving end of DWP errors, says former ministerA new group of people who have been underpaid the state pension appears to have come to light, with many thousands" potentially left out of pocket.The claim has been made by the former pensions minister Steve Webb, who has been a key player in highlighting official errors that have resulted in thousands of people receiving too little state pension. Continue reading...
Building society joins forces with Dementia UK to offer guidance on health and money supportNationwide building society is offering free face-to-face dementia clinics at 200 of its branches, giving health and money support to sufferers and their families.The society is funding 30 Dementia UK admiral nurses, specialist staff who will work onthehigh street and on the charity's helpline. Continue reading...
Two countries expel each other's ambassadors amid growing tensions between Lula and Venezuela's MaduroBrazil and Nicaragua have expelled each other's ambassadors in a tit-for-tat diplomatic row, as Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, appears to recalibrate his approach to authoritarian leftist rulers who were once seen as allies.The dual expulsions this week came amid growing tensions between Lula and another supposedly progressive leader, Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, whose claim of re-election the Brazilian president has yet to acknowledge. Lula and his counterparts in Colombia and Mexico have called on Maduro to release voting tallies from all polling stations to support his win. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday, Mark Brown and Robyn Vinter on (#6PVXQ)
More than 300 people have been charged for their roles in the riots, from teenagers to pensionersThere were teenagers and pensioners. Some with a string of convictions and others with none. There were hardened criminals and baby-faced schoolboys, some with the support of parents and others without.He's a pain in the arse," said one defendant's longsuffering dad. The father of another told reporters his teenage son was a moron". Continue reading...
Actor was set to lead an explicit love story set in 1930s but has left leaving the project to collapseThe Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix has dropped out of a new gay drama, directed by Todd Haynes, just five days before filming was set to begin.According to Indiewire, Variety and Deadline, the actor is alleged to have got cold feet" and sources close to the film-makers have confirmed to the Guardian that the project is cancelled altogether with no plans to recast the role. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray, Rajeev Syal and agencies on (#6PVTV)
People who threw stones, hurled racist abuse and pushed a burning wheelie bin at police also sent to prisonTwo men have been sent to prison for stirring up hatred and violence online after the Southport attack, in the first cases of their kind linked to the recent riots seen across the country.Jordan Parlour, 28, was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred with Facebook posts in which he advocated an attack on a hotel in Leeds as part of the violent public disorder that swept England last week. Continue reading...
Medical tribunal suspends James Gilbert for eight months for the serious misconduct' it uncoveredA transplant surgeon found to have sexually harassed four colleagues has been suspended for eight months.Three of the women James Gilbert, 47, harassed were trainees at the Oxford Transplant Centre, a medical tribunal heard. Continue reading...
Charge relates to speech in which Ricky Jones appeared to ... encourage others to act violently towards far-right protesters', CPS saysThe suspended Labour councillor Ricky Jones, 57, has been charged with one count of encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed addressing a crowd at a London demonstration on Wednesday evening.Jaswant Narwal, the chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service - London North, said: The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan police to charge Ricky Jones, 57, with one count of encouraging violent disorder. Continue reading...
Ulrike Schmidt says police have not investigated incident in Walthamstow, which was interrupted by passersbyA key organiser of Walthamstow's mass anti-racism rally on Wednesday has said someone tried to break into her home after she received threats on social media from the far right.Ulrike Schmidt, an activist with Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and Amnesty International, said she woke up at 5am on Friday to the sounds of someone trying to break into her home in the north-east London borough. Continue reading...
Maeve Boothby O'Neill, who lived with ME for more than a decade, was confined to her bed and unable to chew foodA young woman who lived for years with severe ME died from malnutrition as a result of her illness, a coroner has concluded.Maeve Boothby O'Neill, 27, died in October 2021 at her home in Exeter after living with the debilitating disease, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, for more than a decade. Continue reading...
Vice-chancellors fear weaker institutions need bailout to avert failure due to fewer students and higher costsUniversities in England face a tipping point" this autumn engulfing some of them in financial crisis, according to vice-chancellors who say urgent government intervention may be needed to stop institutions from going under.The warnings come as hundreds of thousands of sixth formers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland await their A-level results next Thursday. Their decisions on where and when to attend higher education will be a make-or-break point for several universities. Continue reading...
Change of government may have come too late for some institutions with no prospect of immediate reliefThe false dawn" is a staple of Hollywood thrillers: where the main characters think they have escaped their nemesis, only to discover they are in more peril than ever.So it is for England's universities. Having slogged through years of frozen tuition fees and lashings from Conservative ministers about bums on seats", grade inflation and low-value" degrees, last month's general election raised hopes that the worst was over. But the plot twist for England's vice-chancellors is that there is still another mountain to climb. Continue reading...
by Zainab Al Mashat and Omar Al Jaffal on (#6PVRC)
Opponents fear proposed bill could allow girls as young as nine to marry, erode women's rights and give greater powers to clericsA draft law in Iraq that would allow the marriage of girls as young as nine has provoked protests across the country, with women's rights activists saying it would legalise child rape".The Shia religious groups that dominate the political system in Iraq have been pushing to erode women's rights in the country for more than a decade. Continue reading...
by Sammy Gecsoyler (now) and Lili Bayer (earlier) on (#6PVEZ)
The IDF dropped leaflets ordering residents and displaced people sheltering in eastern Khan Younis to evacuateJosep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, has said the bloc joins Egypt, Qatar & the US in their call for concluding, without delay, the ceasefire & hostages release deal."We reiterate our full support to their mediation to put an end to the unbearable cycle of suffering," he said, adding that the deal will also pave the way for regional de-escalation." Continue reading...
by Martin Belam (now) and Lili Bayer (earlier) on (#6PVG1)
Prime minister says he believes swift processing of rioters in courts has deterring effect but says police are poised for any further disruptionMinisters will keep the Online Safety Act under review , a government minister has said, after the London mayor called it not fit for purpose" in light of the spread of misinformation, which he said contributed to this month's far-right riots.Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the paymaster general, said Sadiq Khan raised a legitimate policy challenge" when he told the Guardian there needed to be amendments to the Online Safety Act.Our officers dealt with a fifth night of incidents such as criminal damage, disorder and arson. Those who are intent on causing disorder or committing offences, need to think of the consequences of their actions.Yesterday we issued six images of people we want to speak to in relation to this recent disorder. One individual has since been identified and we thank the public for their assistance with this. Continue reading...
by Lauren Aratani in New York and agencies on (#6PVN0)
Downgraded storm left at least eight people dead in the south earlier this week, and is now bringing heavy rains northA downgraded Tropical Storm Debby, now a tropical depression, made its way to the US north-east on Friday after leaving at least eight people dead in the south earlier this week.Debby is currently spiraling northward toward Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, where it is forecast to spawn tornadoes and threaten more flash flooding on some already soaked patches of the US, forecasters said. Continue reading...
by Jim Waterson Political media editor on (#6PVN1)
Corporation says journalist brought BBC into disrepute' and requests return of money paid since his arrestThe BBC has asked Huw Edwards to return 200,000 that he was paid after his arrest in November last year, in the wake of the disgraced presenter admitting making indecent images of children.The BBC chair, Samir Shah, said Edwards is a villain" who betrayed the trust of staff and our audiences in the most egregious possible way" while living a double life". Continue reading...
Iraqi man, 18, said to be an associate of main 19-year-old suspect in terror plot that has led to cancellation of showsA third suspect has been arrested in connection with a foiled terror attack on Taylor Swift's now-cancelled concerts in Vienna, the Austrian interior minister has said.The 18-year-old Iraqi man is understood to have been an associate of the main 19-year-old suspect, identified as Beran A, an Austrian with North Macedonian roots. Continue reading...
Bellway also cites easing of inflation as factor in company exceeding construction target for past yearThe housebuilder Bellway said consumer confidence in the UK had returned, with cheaper mortgage rates fuelling demand from buyers, as it exceeded its housebuilding targets for the past year.The company completed 7,654 homes in the year to 31 July, down from 10,945 in 2023, but above its target of 7,500. The average selling price was 308,000, below last year's 310,306 but also higher than expected. Revenue fell to 2.4bn from 3.4bn last year. Continue reading...
by Rebecca Ratcliffe South-east Asia correspondent on (#6PVHZ)
Outlet, which was hit with order during Rodrigo Duterte administration, hails ruling after eight years of harassment'A court in the Philippines has voided a shutdown order that was issued against Rappler, an independent news outlet known for its scrutiny of the former president Rodrigo Duterte.Rappler, which was co-founded by the Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Ressa, had been issued a shutdown order in 2018, during Duterte's administration, over claims it had violated restrictions on foreign ownership in media. Continue reading...
Congress members are saying asylum seekers are forced to wait in danger' as advocates try to get them legal protectionIn early June, Ofelia Arrellano said a gang in Mexico City threatened to kidnap her younger son if she didn't pay a $160 monthly fee for keeping her toy store afloat.Arellano, 37, and her two sons gathered enough money and fled. She feared the gangs' reach if she stayed in Mexico, so they went north, towards the US, she said. Continue reading...
Fugitive Catalan separatist has returned to Belgium after flying visit to Barcelona in which police failed to arrest himCarles Puigdemont is no longer in Spain and will never give himself up, his lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, said after the fugitive former Catalan president's dramatic flying visit to Barcelona on Thursday.Lluis Llach, a Catalan singer and fervent nationalist, said that Puigdemont was safe and sound and above all, free" while Jordi Turull, the secretary-general of Puigdemont's Together for Catalonia party, said he had returned home to Waterloo in Belgium, adding that before his public appearance on Thursday Puigdemont had arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...
People seeking skilled worker, health and care, or study visas drops to 91,300 in July after curbs introduced by ToriesThe number of overseas workers and students applying to come to the UK has fallen after curbs on visas introduced by the previous government.Workers and their family members applying on skilled worker, health and care, and study visas fell by more than a third in July to 91,300 compared with last year. Continue reading...
Annual results underline fears cost-of-living pressures will limit spending - including on side tables and lamps - so much that the economy will shift into reverse
In today's newsletter: As the opposition accuse President Nicolas Maduro of rigging the vote, we examine the background to this and where it leaves a country already in crisis Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. It is 12 days since elections took place in Venezuela, but there is still no consensus on the winner. The incumbent president, Nicolas Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, claimed he won with 51% of the vote, ahead of rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia with 44%.However, the results were immediately met with suspicion. The president, who was running for a third term to lead a country that has been in a near-constant state of economic crisis during his tenure, made his position clear last month when he said there would be a bloodbath" in Venezuela if he lost.Far-right riots | Laws designed to counter misinformation are not fit for purpose" and must be revisited after the spread of online falsehoods contributed to this month's far-right riots, the mayor of London has said. Sadiq Khan said ministers should act very, very quickly" to review the Online Safety Act.Ukraine | Ukraine has publicly justified its attack into Russian territory for the first time, amid reports that its forces are advancing towards a village 13 miles inside the Kursk region.NHS | The NHS in England has had its busiest summer ever in A&E with 4.6m attendances over the past two months, while 1.5m hospital appointments were rescheduled because of the junior doctors' strikes, according to the latest figures.Economy | Wall Street enjoyed its best day of trading in nearly two years, recovering most of the losses it suffered during a sell-off sparked by US economic fears earlier this week. The S&P 500 rose 2.3% to 5,319.32, its biggest single-day jump since November 2022.Austria | The 19-year-old prime suspect in an alleged plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert that led to the cancellation of the singer's three-night run in Vienna had collected chemicals with the intention of building a bomb, senior Austrian security officials have said. Continue reading...
by Justin McCurry in Tokyo and agencies on (#6PVDS)
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued its first-ever warning of the risk of a huge earthquake along the Pacific coastJapan's prime minister, Fumio Kishida, has cancelled a visit to central Asia this weekend after experts warned that the risk of a megaquake" occurring off the country's Pacific coast had increased following Thursday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the south-west.Kishida, who is battling low approval ratings and faces challenges to his leadership in a ruling party presidential election next month, announced his decision at a press conference on Friday. Continue reading...
Governor declares the day California Panda Day as gentle and lovable' Yun Chuan and Xin Bao make San Diego debutCalifornia's governor flew in for the young bears' debut. Throngs of media gathered inside the zoo, while the city of San Diego warned of traffic jams ahead of the much-anticipated event on Thursday.The San Diego zoo rolled out the red carpet for the first public showing of its newest residents: two giant pandas, the first to enter the US in two decades. Continue reading...
Auto workers president hails Democratic presidential ticket and denounces Trump: the choice cannot be any clearer'At a union hall in the Detroit area on Thursday, Kamala Harris and her running mate, the Minnesota governor, Tim Walz, addressed members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) at a campaign stop intended to play up the Democratic candidates' support for unions.During the town hall-style event, which was held at the headquarters of UAW Local 900, Harris and Walz emphasized their support for organized labor and slammed Donald Trump for his anti-union record. Continue reading...
African disease control centre urges collective and collaborative approach' after cases rise by 160% in a yearThe head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said the agency is likely to declare a continental public health emergency over the growing mpox outbreak.The Africa CDC's director general, Dr Jean Kaseya, said on Thursday that because of the increase in mpox cases and its continued spread across borders, he had resolved to start active engagement" with African Union member states to prevent the outbreak from becoming another pandemic". Continue reading...
Actor discusses son's neurological condition and launches foundation supporting people with intellectual disabilityIn a new interview, Colin Farrell opened up about his son who has a rare neurological condition called Angelman syndrome, and announced that he is launching a foundation to support people with intellectual disabilities.Farrell's son, James, who is now 20 years old, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome when he was a two and a half years old, the Irish actor said in an exclusive interview with People Magazine released on Wednesday. He said his son was previously misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy, which shares many of the same characteristics. Continue reading...
IOPC says it is investigating officer over alleged assault and potential gross misconduct relating to clash on 23 JulyA second officer is under criminal investigation for assault after an incident at Manchester airport, the police watchdog has said.Video footage that showed a police officer kicking and stamping on the head of Muhammed Fahir, 19, as he and his 25-year-old brother were restrained by officers led to protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre after it emerged last month. Continue reading...
Claim by independent presidential candidate follows admission he was behind prank involving dead bear in 2014Robert F Kennedy Jr, recently outed for dumping a dead bear carcass in Central Park a decade ago having intended to skin it and freeze it, told reporters on Wednesday that he had been picking up roadkill my whole life. I have a freezer full of it."The independent presidential candidate was speaking in New York after testifying in a lawsuit seeking to keep him off the state ballot, contending he improperly listed a house in the New York suburbs as his address on nominating petitions. Continue reading...
Charity helping family of Lancashire teenager who died in Tenerife inundated' with reports of scamsOnline scammers have targeted Jay Slater's funeral, offering access to a fake live stream of the event in exchange for money, likes and follows.There is no live stream of Saturday's funeral of the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, in Lancashire, who is believed to have fallen to his death after getting lost in a mountainous area of Tenerife on 17 June. Continue reading...
Black put comedy rock duo on hold' after Kyle Gass joked about assassination attemptJack Black has said Tenacious D, his comedy rock duo with longtime friend Kyle Gass, will continue following controversy caused by a joke Gass made about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.I love Tenacious D ... We had to take a break, but I love the D. Everybody takes a break sometimes," Black said at the Los Angeles premiere for his new action film Borderlands this week. We'll be back." Continue reading...
Builder also says outlook for house sales improving as consumer confidence returns after interest rate cutPersimmon has strengthened its housebuilding forecasts for the year, saying it has been encouraged" by the new Labour government's planning reforms.The company, which is one of the UK's largest housebuilders, said its outlook was already being bolstered by improving consumer confidence, having seen an uptick in visits by potential buyers. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian