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...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6NK3K)
Met police commander Kyle Gordon had been chosen to be force's new head but will not now be taking up roleA police force has been thrown into chaos" after its lengthy search for a new chief constable ended in failure.The Metropolitan police commander Kyle Gordon was chosen to be the new head of the West Mercia force after a recruitment process led by John Campion, the Conservative police and crime commissioner (PCC) for the region. Continue reading...
BMA to lobby next government to change limit, which is one of the highest in EuropeDoctors have called for England's drink-driving limit to be reduced to the equivalent of a small glass of wine or beer, in a proposal supported by a number of medical and road safety organisations.England's legal limit for getting safely behind the wheel is one of the highest in Europe at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, a law established in 1967. Continue reading...
Labour leader says projected rise in number of children hit by policy is powerful' reason to ditch it but refuses to set timelineKeir Starmer has said he is not immune" to the powerful argument for scrapping the two-child benefit cap, after experts said the number of children affected by it would rise by a third in the next five years.The Labour leader refused to set out a timeline for when he would scrap the policy, despite previously saying he would ditch it if he could. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#6NK3Q)
Jens Stoltenberg accused of escalation of tension' as he warns of growing threat from Russia and ChinaThe Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has indicated that the military alliance is considering whether to increase the number of available nuclear weapons, triggering warnings from experts about the possibility of a new arms race.Stoltenberg said Nato could, for the first time, face a significant nuclear threat from two fronts - Russia and China - and that it may be necessary to increase the number of deployable warheads as a deterrent. Continue reading...
Police not looking for anyone else over death of Dora and Peter Leese, whose bodies were found at their home in AprilAn elderly couple found dead with gunshots wounds at their Staffordshire bungalow were devoted" to each other, a neighbour has said.Dora Leese, 77, was found with gunshot wounds to her chest at their home in Meir Park, Staffordshire, next to her husband, Peter, 78, who also had gunshot wounds, on 20 April. Continue reading...
NFU's Hugh Broom says incident in Surrey looks horrendous' but the cow could have hurt someoneOfficers 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 the move as disproportionate". Continue reading...
MP Barry Gardiner told Christine Lee, who is bringing action against Security Service, of suggestion it was trying to shift attention from scandalA Labour MP and key ally of Jeremy Corbyn claimed it had been suggested that MI5 issued a rare alert notice about a lawyer who the Security Service believed was a Chinese mole as a distraction from Partygate, a tribunal has heard.The Security Service issued an interference alert against Christine Lee in 2022, the day after Boris Johnson apologised for the Partygate scandal, warning MPs that she was a suspected Chinese agent who had engaged in political interference activities" on behalf of a branch of the Chinese Communist party (CCP). Continue reading...
by Eleni Courea Political correspondent on (#6NK0F)
Exclusive: almost half of billionaire Tory donor's last 100 reposts were in support of rightwing partyA Tory peer and former party donor has shared dozens of social media posts supportive of Nigel Farage and Reform UK.During the course of the election campaign Peter Cruddas, the billionaire Tory donor who was controversially ennobled by Boris Johnson, has reposted a string of material calling on voters to back Farage and his party. Continue reading...
List of horror stories' highlights need to respect women's personal space and avoid patronising questionsMale mountaineers should be more mindful of women's concerns about their personal safety in remote areas and avoid patronising them by questioning their map-reading abilities, a climbing expert has said.The advice comes in response to female hillwalkers and mountaineers saying sceptical attitudes towards their skills and unwanted attention are discouraging women from taking up the sport. Continue reading...
Inquest opens into death of Connor MacKenzie Clark, 18, who is believed to have taken his own lifeA Royal Marines major who was a member of the bearer party for the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin has denied telling a teenage trainee who is believed to have taken his own life that he was the worst recruit" and a failure".Maj Mark Thrift also said he could not understand why a search for Connor MacKenzie Clark, whose body was found on a railway track in Devon a few metres from the training camp, was not launched when he was reported missing. Continue reading...
Dr Vivek Murthy asks for required labels that state social media is associated with significant mental health harms'The US surgeon general has asked for a warning label to be included on social media platforms, similar to ones included on cigarettes and other tobacco products.In a New York Times op-ed piece published Monday, Dr Vivek Murthy argued that social media platforms have contributed to a mental health crisis among US youth. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Some of the drivers say they were not paid in full and in some cases billed thousands for vehicle damageA group of drivers hired in Spain and brought to the UK to deliver Amazon packages to British households in the run-up to Christmas are taking legal action against the company and one of its subcontractors.The drivers claim the subcontractor promised them earnings of more than 100 a day, free housing, van rental, insurance and free return flights via an online meeting in Spanish. Continue reading...
Six holidaymakers reported dead or missing in nine days as Mediterranean experiences abnormally hot' weatherSearch operations to find three missing tourists on two Greek islands have intensified after police announced that two holidaymakers had been found dead on other islands over the weekend.Rescue teams supported by sniffer dogs, helicopters and drones have been scouring the Cycladic islands of Sikinos and Amorgos for two French women and an American man who went missing last week. Continue reading...
by Martin Belam (now) and Jamie Grierson (earlier) on (#6NJP5)
Move could signal end to coalition and more control by Israeli PM over war in GazaHostilities continue in Rafah and southern Gaza despite the Israeli military's announcement on Sunday of tactical pauses in operations to allow humanitarian aid to enter, Reuters reports Unrwa chief Philippe Lazzarini, told the media in Oslo on Monday.In its latest operational update, Israel's military has claimed it is still operating in the Rafah area of Gaza, where it says IDF troops located numerous weapons and struck a number of structures rigged with explosives that posed a threat to the forces." Continue reading...
by Lanre Bakare Photographs by Graeme Robertson on (#6NJXF)
Though veteran MP was eventually allowed to stand for Labour, the dispute has left many black voters despondentOn a bright sunny June afternoon, sunlight bounces off Thomas J Price's Warm Shores, a pair of 9ft bronze statues of a man and woman that stand proudly outside Hackney town hall as a celebration of the Windrush generation.The statues had a great view when Diane Abbott, whose Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency sits just to the north, made a speech confirming she was determined to run again as an MP after a major row with Labour. Continue reading...
by Jim Waterson Political media editor on (#6NJVS)
Article in US paper claims Robert Winnett, due to join from Telegraph, used material from self-described thief'The Washington Post has published an investigation that accuses its own future editor of using the work of a self-described blagger who stole private records to order.Under the headline Incoming Post editor tied to self-described thief' who claimed role in his reporting", the newspaper claimed that Robert Winnett used material from a self-confessed blagger, John Ford, while working as a journalist on the Sunday Times during the 2000s. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent on (#6NJSX)
The campaign group Best for Britain has launched its guide on how to vote to have the best chance of ousting the Tories. We look at what tactical voting involves and what the group is recommending
Narrow win for supporters after fierce farmers' protests, loss of green seats to far right and political wranglingThe EU has passed a landmark law to protect nature after a knife-edge vote, ending a months-long deadlock among member states spooked by fierce protests from farmers.The law, which has proven to be the most controversial pillar of the European Green Deal and nearly failed at the final hurdle, sets a target to restore at least 20% of the EU's land and sea by the end of the decade. Continue reading...
Paul McNaughton must serve 22 years in jail after admitting to murdering Peter Coshan in Leith flat in 2022A 29-year-old man who admitted murdering a retired Fettes College teacher in a catfishing plot has been sentenced to life in prison with a recommendation that he serve at least 22 years.Paul McNaughton killed 75-year-old Peter Coshan in a flat in Leith on either 11 or 12 August 2022, after using a fake profile on a gay dating site to lure him to the address. Continue reading...
Negotiator Amos Hochstein dispatched by Washington amid anxiety that deepening conflict could trigger warA senior envoy from the Biden administration is due in Israel for talks aimed at averting a deepening conflict with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, after Israel warned over the weekend that the country was on the brink of a wider escalation".Amos Hochstein has spent months in largely behind-the-scenes diplomacy in an attempt to quieten tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Since the war in Gaza began in October, there have been worsening daily exchanges of fire, and tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced on both sides of the Blue Line" between Israel and Lebanon. Continue reading...
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