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Man allegedly ran from Kingswood unit where woman, 21, was found with stab wounds

Stephen Fry and other celebrities join unions and activists in calling on PM to launch review of water ownershipTrade unions, celebrities and river activists are calling on the new UK government to halt attempts by the water industry to raise customer bills in England and Wales by up to 91% and immediately start a root-and-branch review of water ownership.The author Michael Rosen and comedians Nish Kumar and Stephen Fry joined campaigners from Greenpeace, Surfers Against Sewage, River Action, the Rivers Trust and activists across the country in signing a letter to Keir Starmer urging him to step in, days before the regulator Ofwat is to announce whether it will approve huge increases in customer bills across England and Wales. Continue reading...

Another visitor in same motorcycle group hospitalized for severe heat illness' as other four members treated at sceneA visitor to Death Valley national park died Sunday from heat exposure and another person was hospitalized as the temperature reached 128F (53.3C) in eastern California, officials said.The two visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area amid scorching weather, the park said. Continue reading...

Storm roars across Gulf of Mexico, and is forecast to continue gaining strength as it heads towards the USA reconstituted Hurricane Beryl is expected to come ashore in south Texas early Monday, possibly slamming into land as a powerful category 2 hurricane, with the heavily-populated greater Houston area anticipating wind, heavy rain and possible tornadoes.The storm was expected to strengthen into a category 1 hurricane later on Sunday as it travels over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued hurricane warnings across much of the Texas coast. Continue reading...

Proposal is one of several being looked at by Ministry of Justice to address the acute' prison crisisLabour is considering plans to release offenders after they serve just 40% of their sentence in a bid to tackle prison overcrowding, the Guardian has been told.While the proposed plan - first reported by the Daily Telegraph - is just one of several options that the Ministry of Justice is weighing, prison overcrowding has emerged as one of the most urgent issues facing the new government, with governors warning that the prison estate in England and Wales will be effectively full within the next week or so. Continue reading...

Far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen poised to become dominant force in country's national assembly

Just 40 or so hours into his role, Jonathan Reynolds sounded much more sensible than anything we've heard in recent years

Former immigration minister says party failed to deliver, as Suella Braverman and Victoria Atkins also speak outThe Conservatives failed to deliver" on their promises and lost the trust of voters, said the former cabinet minister Robert Jenrick, who did not rule out running for the leadership of his party.Two other potential leadership candidates - Victoria Atkins and Suella Braverman - said on Sunday it was not the time to declare their intentions but that a postmortem was now needed in the party. Continue reading...

Kyiv shouldn't have to fight shameless bondholders' as repayment deadline nears, say campaignersCampaigners are urging Britain's new Labour government to prevent Ukraine being sued in the UK courts if the country defaults on its debts to private creditors.Debt Justice said a two-year suspension of Ukraine's debt payments was scheduled to expire on 1 August, and that action was needed to protect Kyiv from the possibility of legal action from its creditors. Continue reading...

World Wrestling Entertainment great who has also carved out an acting career says he will stop in 2025 after farewell tourThe American actor and wrestler John Cena has officially announced his retirement from competing in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events.Cena made the announcement in front of a packed, enthusiastic crowd at the Money in the Bank event in Toronto, Canada, and said his final competition would be sometime in 2025. Continue reading...

Front Electronique acts as world of the night' to combat rise of Marine Le Pen's National RallyMore than 1,200 artists, DJs and promoters from the French music industry have come together in a bid to galvanise the world of the night" into political action and to protest at the possibility of the first far-right French government since the second world war.Members of the Front Electronique (FE) have organised live debates on video streaming service Twitch and free concerts, and released a fund-raising album Siamo Tutti Antifascisti Vol.1 (We are all Anti-Fascists) featuring 38 artists. The compilation is described as a call to arms". Continue reading...

Jimmy Maladina, the country's petroleum minister, says he is fully cooperating with the authorities to address this matter'

Target of recruiting hundreds of staff to tackle the growing problem has been missed by a large margin, minister warns

Met Office warns showers and temperatures below average set to continue all weekend in UKBritain's wet summer refuses to abate, with the Met Office predicting heavy rain on Sunday afternoon - potentially jeopardising play at Wimbledon and disrupting the British Grand Prix.Rain isn't the only form of weather making the public pine for a more orthodox summer. Temperatures on Saturday were below average by 2-3C, with a high of 21C being reached in Northern Ireland, the forecaster said. Continue reading...

Andrew Fowler's book reveals one of Australia's most important requirements for its submarines was the ability to work alongside the US in South China Sea

Another 50 injured taken to hospital from the Unrwa-run Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat, central GazaThe health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said an Israeli strike on Saturday on a school where displaced people were sheltering killed 16 people.The ministry, which condemned the strike as an odious massacre", said another 50 injured were taken to hospital from Al-Jawni school at Nuseirat in central Gaza. Continue reading...

Met police confirm protesters held on suspicion of public order offences, including one related to placardFour people were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of public order offences while attending a pro-Palestinian march in central London, including one relating to a placard.The Metropolitan police confirmed on X that three people were held on suspicion of breaching Public Order Act conditions imposed on the march, with a fourth man detained on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence relating to a placard. Continue reading...

The Spanish archipelago has welcomed more than 19,000 migrants since the start of 2024Hundreds protested on Saturday in the Canary Islands against an influx of migrants to the Spanish archipelago, which has welcomed more than 19,000 migrants since the beginning of 2024.Located off the coast of northwest Africa, the Canary Islands have become an increasingly popular destination for migrants braving the perilous Atlantic crossing in the hope of finding a better life in Europe. Continue reading...

Workers in healthcare, education and justice are battling crumbling systems. They told us what actions they want to see from the new governmentKeir Starmer opened his first cabinet meeting on Saturday with the words: We have a huge amount of work to do." From the NHS to schools and prisons, the public sector is battling chronic underfunding, staff shortages and record demand for its services. The Observer asked five key workers what Labour's priorities should be in the months and years ahead.Jonathan Clucas (above), headteacher at Layton primary school in Blackpool

Tennis and motor racing affected by downpours and flood alerts remain live near two rivers in Hampshire and GloucestershireIt could be a case of rain stops play for sports fans and revellers alike this weekend with wet weather and even floods forecast.Wimbledon fans faced a tentative wait to see if their favourites would take to the court after heavy rain delayed proceedings in SW19 on Saturday morning. Continue reading...

Starmer reveals relief at 10pm exit poll and pride in high number of state-educated, female cabinet ministers General election 2024: live newsKeir Starmer touched upon a number of difficult topics in his first press conference as prime minister, answering questions on prisons, NHS understaffing and the economy.The 20-minute session also gave way to a few lighthearted moments from a politician who has long been accused of lacking pizzazz. Continue reading...

Police open new scene in Salford park in connection to death of 67-year-old Stuart EverettDetectives investigating the murder of a 67-year-old man whose body parts were found in a Salford nature reserve have cordoned off a new search area.The investigation began after a passerby found a dismembered abdomen in Kersal Wetlands on 4 April. Continue reading...

Labour spelled out the need to hit the ground running and the government's top team face some urgent challenges General election 2024 - live A landslide majority may have been secured, but several cabinet ministers have immediate issues to confront now they are safely installed in Whitehall. With the new government needing to make an early impression, here we look at five figures with pressing concerns. Continue reading...

Many say they feel stuck in middle between far-right National Rally and hard-left France UnbowedAs France faces a high-stakes second round of elections on Sunday, French Jewish people say they are grappling with tough choices and feel caught between extremes amid concerns about rising antisemitism.As part of her longstanding efforts to detoxify the image of the far-right National Rally (RN) - currently leading in opinion polls - Marine Le Pen, to the incredulity of many, has sought to present herself as a friend of Jewish people and Israel. Continue reading...

The reformist's life has been shaped by conscription duty in a deprived city and great personal tragedyThe shock election of Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran's new president is as much a testimony to his personality as to his politics.A former heart surgeon and health minister, he came across in the many presidential TV debates as a man of great personal integrity and humility, desperate to bring the country together after it had been divided domestically and abroad. Continue reading...

Cabaret club's sails collapsed in April and new ones are up in time for Olympic torch to pass by on 15 JulyParis's Moulin Rouge cabaret club, whose landmark windmill sails fell down in April, has inaugurated a new set, a week before the Olympic torch was due to pass by the venue.The home of the can-can was temporarily laid low after the sails of the red-painted windmill tumbled to the ground in the early hours of 25 April. Continue reading...

The journalist, and critics, accuse the Italian PM of leading the country towards authoritarianismThe first time Rula Jebreal came face to face with Giorgia Meloni was for a TV debate in November 2016.It was the day after the US presidential election, six years before Meloni became prime minister, and the pair were invited on to Piazzapulita, a talkshow broadcast on the privately owned television channel, La7, to discuss the victory of Donald Trump. Continue reading...

Forward-looking British front pages reflect the incoming government's work ahead and the post-election-win jubilance of the Labour leader and his wife

From the surprise decision to call a snap election to the divisions inside the doomed campaign machine

Bureau of Meteorology forecasts showery weekend' across the entire east coast of New South Wales and Queensland

Counsellor tells court she took file notes that Haigh expressed concerns for her own safety and the future safety of her baby

Rachel Reeves becomes first woman to hold post in 800-years as Angela Rayner named secretary of state for levelling up

Hurricane warning issued for coast from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel, with coastal residents in Texas told to prepareHurricane Beryl has made landfall as a category 2 storm in Mexico's top tourist destinations, triggering a red alert in the region following its deadly trail of destruction across several Caribbean islands.The storm's core shifted over the Yucatan, with winds slowing to approximately 100mph (160km/h) as it reached the north-eastern region of Tulum, famed for its white-sand beaches, lush landscapes and Mayan ruins. Continue reading...

Former human rights lawyer has pledged stability and moderation' after taking Labour party back into powerKeir Starmer, who has just secured the biggest election victory in the UK this century to become prime minister, is considered reserved by the British public. In marked contrast to his best-known recent predecessor, the joke-telling Boris Johnson, Starmer invests the task of being a political leader with considerable seriousness, reflecting a career in which he was previously a human rights lawyer and, for five years from 2008, Britain's chief public prosecutor.Making his first speech as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street on Friday, Starmer said with characteristic understatement that he would be a leader for stability and moderation" and pledged change, national renewal and a return to the politics of public service". Continue reading...

The likely main contenders to succeed Rishi Sunak, broadly ordered by their place on the political spectrumThe votes have been counted, the dust has largely settled, and the Conservatives are left with 121 MPs. From this rump - about a third of the pre-election total - who will compete to take over as party leader from the soon to depart Rishi Sunak? Here are the likely main contenders, broadly listed from centre to right. Continue reading...

Some disenfranchised voters submitted a protest vote for Reform fearing immigration wouldn't be slowedAt lunchtime on Friday, Marie Bryant, 77, and her husband, Mervyn, 83, had no idea their Kent constituency had fallen to Labour. The couple from Folkestone had submitted their postal votes for the Conservatives weeks ago and were out shopping for pond cleaner.Despite knowing the national result, the Bryants had assumed their seat had stayed blue. Their shock was palpable. Oh my goodness!" Marie said, relaying the news to Mervyn. He was less restrained, barking: God help us!" Continue reading...

Polling has shown that the most likely scenario on Sunday is that National Rally will not win an absolute majority of seatsAnd here's another new poll, conducted for Les Echos.This poll puts the far right National Rally at between 205 and 230 seats. Continue reading...

A senior US official said a new proposal by Hamas could lead to a pact that would be a step to a permanent ceasefireThe director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that further disruption to health services is imminent in Gaza due to a severe lack of fuel".Posting on Thursday evening, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, wrote on X: Only 90,000L of fuel entered Gaza yesterday. The health sector alone needs 80,000L daily, forcing the UN - incl WHO - and partners to make impossible choices." Continue reading...

Former SNP voters stayed away or swung behind Labour, tired of scandal, policy failure and division

Newborns are tuned in to the ups and downs of speech, and even a cry mimics language heard while in the wombThe upward intonation, the guttural ck" and even the cheeky comeback to win the argument: at just 19 months old, baby Orla has mastered the crucial elements of speaking like a scouser.Impressively, the toddler who featured in a viral video this week appears to have done so without the need for actual words. Continue reading...

First Labour prime minister since 2010 promises to serve whole country as he speaks outside No 10

Party co-leader and new MP Carla Denyer says election shows voters have had enough of incremental change'

Ad-funded streamer wades into market with offering it says will appeal to those underserved by rivalsThe Wes Anderson classic Moonrise Kingdom, the Channel 4 sitcom Fresh Meat, a reality TV series about adult content creators, some Bollywood hits and a handful of shark flicks: Tubi's home screen is not short of viewing options, just like the British video-streaming market it waded into this week.Tubi is taking on the likes of Netflix, Disney+, ITVX and the BBC's iPlayer with a free, ad-funded service offering 20,000 films and TV episodes, and an ambition of repeating its success in the US, where it has amassed nearly 80 million monthly users. But will it have a similar impact in the UK, where rival platforms are already well established? Continue reading...

Former neonatal nurse proclaims innocence from dock as she is sentenced for attempted murder of newborn babyLucy Letby cried from the dock: I'm innocent," as she was jailed for attempting to kill a newborn girl in a shocking act of calculated, callous cruelty".The former neonatal nurse made the remark after being ordered to serve a whole-life prison term. Continue reading...

Sunak apologises to country and fires starting pistol on leadership race before going to Buckingham Palace for final audience with king

Anas Sarwar says next step is Scottish parliament, while Sturgeon says numbers are at grimmer end of expectations'

More than 170,000 children are on waiting lists to join the Scouts and GirlguidingYouth groups are clamouring for more volunteers amid a rise in the number of parents seeking affordable and sociable outdoor activities for their children away from screens.Groups including Girlguiding and the Woodcraft Folk are facing substantial unmet demand for their sessions as the Scouts this week said their waiting list has hit a historic high. Continue reading...

Labour leader promises age of national renewal' in which his government will start to rebuild our country'

With nearly all of the 650 seats declared, Keir Starmer is expected to be the new prime minister as the Labour party secures a majority. Follow the final results and find out how your constituency voted

Average house price at 288,455 in June, down 0.2% on May, says Halifax, as property shortage keeps prices highHouse prices remained subdued" for a third month in a row in June, as a shortage of properties kept prices high, according to the mortgage lender Halifax.The average house price hit 288,455 last month, down only 0.2% on the 288,931 recorded in May, while house price growth on an annual basis remained unchanged at 1.6%. Continue reading...