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Ditch the bitch' was emblazoned on a fire truck at a rally against the state's new emergency services levy

Surcharges on Eftpos, Mastercard and Visa card payments would be eliminated from July 2026 under proposal from Reserve Bank

Research finds a third of people rarely meet anyone from a different backgroundThe UK is a powder keg" of social tensions, with a third of people rarely meeting anyone from different backgrounds, research has found.A report from the thinktank British Future and the social cohesion group Belong Network found that a year on from last summer's riots, there was a risk of unrest being reignited unless urgent action was taken to address issues of polarisation and division. Continue reading...

Children from lower-income families also remain significantly behind their peers as impact of pandemic continues to be feltFive-year-olds with special educational needs in England are lagging a record 20 months behind their peers, according to a report that says the country's youngest learners face a deepening crisis", five years after the pandemic.Since Covid closed schools, disrupting learning and triggering falls in attendance, there has been widespread concern about the growing attainment gap that leaves disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs significantly behind their peers. Continue reading...

Northern Ireland secretary cites single soldier's conviction over Troubles-related death in face of opposition to reopening prosecutionsHilary Benn has said that only one soldier" has been convicted over a Troubles-related death since 1998 as he sought to justify Labour plans to repeal the Northern Ireland Legacy and Reconciliation Act.The Northern Ireland secretary, speaking at a debate in Westminster Hall, argued that of the 250,000 British military veterans who had served in the country, the number being prosecuted for offences has been very, very small". Continue reading...

Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, reportedly killed alongside Dutch pilot and co-pilot and European male medical professionalA woman on her first day as a flight nurse was reportedly among four people who died onboard a small medical plane that crashed soon after taking off from London Southend airport on Sunday.Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, was a German citizen born in Chile. She had previously worked as a nurse in the public sector and was understood to have married her partner last year. Continue reading...

Shadow minister crashes and burns as Yvette Copper makes statement on new Channel crossing arrangementsIt was all a bit of a mystery. Just where were the Tories? Had they just got their dates confused? Thought that recess started this week rather than next? Or had they all bunked off to Lord's to see England beat India in a tight finish? Or maybe some - caught up in the entente amicale aftermath of Emmanuel Macron's state visit - had taken the Eurostar to Paris to enjoy steak frites on Bastille Day?You'd have thought the Conservative backbenchers would have wanted to be out in force to hear Yvette Cooper's statement on the new arrangements for dealing with small boats. After all, this is the stuff that Kemi Badenoch and Chris Philp live and breathe. The reason they get up in the morning. To wage a two-person war on those making the Channel crossing. So surely Tory MPs would be desperate to have their say. A show of strength. But weirdly there were only five and most of them were to scuttle off long before the end. Continue reading...

Rights activists say Tehran's crackdown must be on agenda in any talks on future relations between Europe and IranIranian human rights groups are urging MEPs and European governments to escalate the issue of Tehran's mistreatment of political prisoners, arguing that the crackdown on internal dissent must be on the agenda in any talks about future relations between Europe and Iran.The Iranian foreign ministry appears to be in no rush to stage further talks with the west without clear US assurances that it will not be attacked again. Continue reading...

US president says he will send Ukraine Patriot anti-aircraft batteries and interceptor missiles paid for by EU alliesPoliticians in Kyiv have welcomed Donald Trump's announcement that billions of dollars worth of US military equipment will be sent to Ukraine, while officials in Moscow dismissed his threat of sanctions against Russia as hot air.In a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, at the White House, Trump said the US would send Patriot anti-aircraft batteries and interceptor missiles, paid for by European allies. Continue reading...

Controversial Gaza humanitarian city' plan, likened to a concentration camp by a former Israeli PM, is hampering ceasefire talks with HamasA feud has broken between the Israeli government and the military over the cost and impact of a planned camp for Palestinians in southern Gaza, as politicians attacked former prime minister Ehud Olmert for warning that the project would create a concentration camp" if it goes ahead.The humanitarian city" project has become a sticking point in ceasefire talks with Hamas. Israel wants to keep troops stationed across significant parts of Gaza, including the ruins of Rafah city in the south, where defence minister, Israel Katz, says the camp will be built. Continue reading...

EU will buy some US weapons for Kyiv as president credits Melania Trump for his disenchantment with Putin

Exclusive: Labour fighting for survival of NHS, health secretary tells MPs as he prepares to meet BMAWes Streeting has said resident doctors' strikes would be a gift to Nigel Farage" before a meeting with the British Medical Association this week where he will seek to avert industrial action.The health secretary told a meeting of Labour MPs on Monday that ministers were in the fight for the survival of the NHS" and if Labour failed, Farage would argue for it to be replaced by an insurance-style system. Continue reading...

Local authorities want government to make it easier to stop flurry of adult gaming centres' targeting poorer areasHigh-street slot machines are reaping record takings as operators expand apace on Britain's high streets, reigniting calls for the government to give councils more power to curb their spread.Overall, betting and gaming revenues - excluding the National Lottery - reached 11.5bn in the year to March 2024, a 3.5% annual increase and the highest figure on record, according to statistics from the Gambling Commission that corrected previous figures. Continue reading...

Prosecutors accuse the defendant of setting fire to many victims' homes to cover up his crimesHearings have begun in the Berlin trial of a German palliative doctor accused of murdering 15 patients in his care using a deadly cocktail of sedatives and setting fire to many of their homes to cover up his crimes.Prosecutors have charged the 40-year-old defendant with 15 counts of murder with premeditated malice and other base motives", and are seeking a life sentence, which in Germany usually amounts to 15 years in prison. Continue reading...

In first annual statement, environment secretary fought back against climate deniers, but his rhetoric needs to stand up to mounting political pressure

Director general apologises and announces changes but faces growing pressure from culture secretary Lisa NandyTim Davie, the BBC's director general, has admitted the broadcaster made a significant failing" over a documentary about children in Gaza, after an internal investigation found that the programme breached editorial guidelines for accuracy.Senior BBC figures have acknowledged that programme-makers failed to ask the right questions about the making of Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. An internal investigation found viewers should have been made aware of the critical information" that the 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. Continue reading...

Howard Phillips tells court he hoped to trap' agents by offering information about the then defence secretaryA man accused of attempting to hand over the personal details of the then defence secretary, Grant Shapps, to Russian intelligence officers has told a court he was actually trying to expose" the agents.Howard Phillips, 65, was charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service after passing a USB stick containing details relating to Shapps including his home address and the location of his private plane to undercover officers, who prosecutors say he believed to be Russian spies. He previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. Continue reading...

Viewers complain that board allows violence and misogyny in Indian films but not a smooch in a Hollywood releaseAs Indian cinemagoers watched the latest Superman film, many noticed something was amiss. On two occasions as the superhero leaned in for a kiss with Lois Lane, the film suddenly jumped forward, cutting to the aftermath of an embrace.India's censor board had deemed the kissing scenes, including a 33-second smooch, to be overly sensual" for Indian audiences and demanded they be cut from the film before its cinematic release. Continue reading...

Boss of Affinity Water, which serves 3.9 million customers in London and south-east, receives 1.6m

I made every single one of those,' former president insists after claims by Trump over his use of autopenJoe Biden has denied claims that his circle of aides acted without his knowledge when he granted a slew of pardons and commutations in the final days and hours of his presidency.I made every single one of those," the former president told the New York Times in an interview published on Sunday when asked about claims that he was incapacitated and unaware of clemency decisions. Biden called the people making those claims liars", adding, They know it." Continue reading...

Ban on foie gras imports and hunting trophies not brought in, while rules protecting chickens have been weakenedLabour has failed to implement any of its promised animal welfare policies in its first year in office and also weakened protections for chickens, campaigners have said.Among the pledges that have not been implemented are banning the sale of animals with cropped ears, prohibiting imports of hunting trophies and banning imports of foie gras. Some relate to the UK as a whole, others to England, Wales and Scotland and the proposed ban on trail hunting just to England and Wales.End illegal puppy farming and the smuggling of animals including dogs, puppies and kittens.Prohibit the importation of dogs and cats with fashion-based mutilations.Ban the use of snare traps.Ban the importation of heavily pregnant cats and dogs.Accelerate the phasing out of animal testing. Continue reading...

Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, hosting Beyond the Visual, hopes to challenge ocularcentric bias' in galleriesTactile artwork should be commonplace in UK galleries to make sure art is accessible to blind people, while more needs to be done to counter ocularcentric bias", according to the creative team behind a significant new exhibition.In November, the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds will host Beyond the Visual, the first sculpture exhibition curated by and created with the input of blind and partially sighted artists. Continue reading...

Rosario in Sante Fe likely be to 10C above normal, as Japan braces for Tropical Storm NariAn unseasonably mild start to the week is expected in northern and central parts of Argentina, where it is winter. A plume of warm air will sink southwards from neighbouring Paraguay on Monday, lingering through Tuesday, before giving way to a cold front on Wednesday.The maximum daytime temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will be up to 5C (41F) higher than normal in these regions, while Buenos Aires is forecast to be about 7C above average on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Chain reports 147m loss last year as business rates blamed for accelerating closuresThe boss of the pub chain Greene King has called for changes to business rates to remedy unfairness" that he said added to financial pressures on the struggling pubs industry.Nick Mackenzie, Greene King's chief executive, said the business rates system of property taxes should be changed to a tax on profits. Continue reading...

Independent Nicolette Boele defeated Gisele Kapterian with wafer-thin margin of 26 votes after dramatic election recount

Records show company co-directed by Jillian Segal's husband donated $50,000 in 2024 to lobby group which campaigned against Albanese and pro-Palestine protests

Carolina Wilga says she spent 11 nights in outback after leaving van in state of confusion'Carolina Wilga hit her head in a car crash and left her vehicle in a state of confusion" before going missing in the Western Australian outback for 11 nights, the German backpacker has revealed.In the 26-year-old's first statement since flagging down a local woman, Tania, in a passing car on Friday afternoon, Wilga explained the series of events that led to her disappearance. Continue reading...

Prosecutors allege Adam Edward Moule, 34, given instruction to participate in fire and graffiti attack on Newtown synagogue in exchange for payment

Alleged harassment reignited after court hearing in which Nine editors, reporters and lawyers were accused of breaching a suppression order, lawyer tells court

Labour set to point to repercussions of Tory Northern Ireland legislation as justification for repealing itInvestigations into the deaths of more than 200 British soldiers were halted by the Conservatives' Northern Ireland Legacy Act, Labour will announce, as a justification for its intention to repeal the legislation.Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary, is expected to tell MPs on Monday afternoon that 202 live inquiries into the Troubles-related killings of members of the armed forces were brought to a stop in May 2024 and a further 23 involving veterans. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Report into Prevent criticises handling of Southport attacker and man who killed MP David AmessA new scheme to detect people who are obsessed with violence before they kill, such as the Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana, should be considered by the government, an official report will say.The report into Prevent, the controversial programme intended to stop people from becoming terrorists, will also find repeated failings" in the case of the man who went on to assassinate the MP Sir David Amess, the Guardian understands. Continue reading...

Archaeologists, anthropologists and forensic experts aim to identify infants buried at former mother and baby home in TuamA century after Irish nuns first began to bury hundreds of infants in what would become a mass, unmarked grave, archaeologists and other specialists will start excavating the site in Tuam, County Galway.A mechanical digger is to slowly start scraping earth on Monday at the 5,000-sq-metre (53,820 sq ft) site where the Bon Secours order is believed have interred 796 infants who died at the St Mary's mother and baby home between 1925 and 1961. Continue reading...

MP calls for region where Battle of Hastings took place to be included in events surrounding return of artworkThe MP for Hastings and Rye has called on the British Museum to let the Bayeux tapestry spend time in 1066 country" when it comes to the UK, and to ensure the region reaps the benefits of the once-in-a-generation exhibition".The tapestry will return to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years as part of a landmark loan agreement announced by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron. Continue reading...

Former Greens candidate will sue the state of NSW alleging excessive use of force, solicitor says

Treasurer relaxed' about error that saw advice accidentally shared with ABC but says he will not make full unredacted document public

The fire at the Play to Learn centre in Castle Hill caused minor damage and police are looking into whether it is linked to a blaze in Turramurra last week

Witnesses describe the aircraft leaning to the left shortly after takeoff before crashingLondon Southend airport has been closed and flights cancelled after a small plane crashed into a fireball shortly after takeoff.The Beechcraft B200 aircraft crashed about 4pm on Sunday, soon after taking off from the airport, which is in Essex. The plane was seen in flames with dark smoke billowing from it, according to witnesses and photos circulating on social media. Continue reading...

SBU intelligence agency claims to have liquidated' members of Russia's FSB who were suspected of killing Colonel Ivan Voronych last weekUkrainian intelligence agents killed members of a Russian secret service cell wanted on suspicion of having shot dead a colonel last week, the SBU said.The SBU intelligence agency said in a statement that the operation had sought the arrest of the agents of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), who it believes were behind the killing of Colonel Ivan Voronych - also a member of the SBU security service - in Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Deals for homes worth more than 750,000 are up 7% in June over last year with more properties on marketSales of expensive UK country houses rose in June, signalling a possible recovery in demand as buyers are tempted out by lower prices after an extended slump.The estate agency Knight Frank said the number of exchanges of contract for sales of country houses - defined as a rural home worth more than 750,000 - was up 7% in June compared with last year as the number of properties for sale rose while prices fell. Continue reading...

Funding for social impact bonds to help children facing mental health difficulties, school exclusion or crimeRachel Reeves will announce 500m for charities and civil society organisations to invest in youth services on Monday as the government seeks to combat accusations it is not doing enough to tackle child poverty.The chancellor will launch a new better futures fund", which will give money to schemes helping children struggling with mental health difficulties, school exclusion or crime, with the hope of attracting an additional 500m from local government and other organisations. Continue reading...

Leader who ousted Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 three decades after brief stint as military ruler dies after prolonged illness'Nigeria's former president Muhammadu Buhari, who led Africa's most populous country from 2015 to 2023 and was the first Nigerian president to oust an incumbent through the ballot box, died in London on Sunday, a presidential spokesperson has said.President Bola Tinubu's spokesperson said in a post on X: President Buhari died today in London at about 4.30pm [1530 GMT], following a prolonged illness." Continue reading...

Ehud Olmert says forcing people into camp would be ethnic cleansing, and anger at Israel over Gaza war is not all down to antisemitismThe humanitarian city" Israel's defence minister has proposed building on the ruins of Rafah would be a concentration camp, and forcing Palestinians inside would be ethnic cleansing, Israel's former prime minister Ehud Olmert has told the Guardian.Israel was already committing war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, Olmert said, and construction of the camp would mark an escalation. Continue reading...

Creative studio says financial districts deserted in working-from-home shift could host revitalised nightlife sectorCould the future of Canary Wharf lie in thumping beats and dancefloor raves? Could the City of London become a global hub of nocturnal revelry?With financial districts struggling to bounce back to full capacity post-Covid, and the nightlife industry facing an existential crisis, there are suggestions clubs could move into deserted office blocks at evenings and weekends. Continue reading...

Senior Church of England clerics want ministers to intensify sanctions and be willing to suspend Israeli trade agreementFour senior Church of England bishops have called on the UK government to intensify the use of sanctions and to be willing to suspend its trade agreement with Israel over settler violence in the occupied West Bank.The situation there is in freefall with increasing levels of settler violence and intimidation against Palestinians", the bishops say in a letter to the Guardian. The settlers are acting with impunity, they add. Settler violence is state violence by any other name." Continue reading...

Two fathers tell education secretary they will seek judicial review in bid for statutory ban to safeguard childrenTwo fathers plan to take legal action against the government in an attempt to get smartphones banned in schools in England.Will Orr-Ewing and Pete Montgomery wrote to the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, on Friday warning that they would seek a judicial review. They argue that current guidance, which allows headteachers to decide how smartphones are used, is unlawful and unsafe for children. Continue reading...

Recognising Putin is not serious about peace is first step towards strategic neutralisation' proposed by ex-ministerWhile Donald Trump - and other western leaders - are taking their time to catch up with reality, it is obvious that Vladimir Putin has no apparent desire to halt the war in Ukraine. A realistic future military and diplomatic strategy for Kyiv has to accept that fact - and formulate a new approach.The past six months have been dominated by the erroneous assumption that it would be possible for Trump to negotiate a ceasefire, even an armistice. That would be followed by the arrival of an Anglo-French led stabilisation force to secure the future of Ukraine. But Putin has shown no desire to stop attacking. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Labor Friends of Palestine concerned by Jillian Segal's recommendation government adopt IHRA's contested definition of antisemitism

Gaza health ministry says more than half of the dead are women and childrenA funeral has been held for two men - 20-year-old Palestinian-American Sayfollah Saif" Musallet, and Razek Hussein al-Shalabi, a 23-year-old Palestinian man, who were killed by Israeli settlers in a town in the north of the occupied West Bank at the end of last week. Here is a report containing some video of the funeral on Sunday:Hospitals in Gaza say Israeli airstrikes killed at least 19 people on Sunday, including six children at a water collection point.In Gaza, officials at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza said it received 10 bodies after an Israeli strike on a water collection point in Nuseirat, also in central Gaza. Among the dead were six children, the hospital said.

Nine killed in separate bombing of a home on Sunday and 31 others shot dead near aid distribution site on Saturday

Fresh plea for funds to repair copy of frigate that carried Louis XVI's promise of aid in American revolutionary warFrench maritime enthusiasts are battling to save a replica of an 18th-century warship that became a symbol of the country's historic relationship with America.The copy of L'Hermione, a three-mast, 32-gun frigate that carried the Marquis de Lafayette across the Atlantic to announce France's support for American independence from Great Britain in the revolutionary war, has been in dry dock at Anglet, near Bayonne, since its oak hull was found to be riddled with fungus four years ago. Continue reading...