I greatly admire the resolve you are showing,' former PM said in handwritten note released to National ArchivesMargaret Thatcher privately praised Tony Blair over his support for the US after the 9/11 attacks, according to newly released government files.You will have found, as I did, that just as one international crisis subsides, another soon threatens," she wrote in a handwritten note dated 4 April 2002, seven months after al-Qaida passenger jet hijackers carried out four suicide attacks, including on the Twin Towers in New York City. Continue reading...
BBC investigation uncovers claims of intimidation, bullying and racist slurs in some outletsMcDonald's has apologised after more than 100 current and recent UK restaurant staff alleged sexual harassment was rife at some outlets and said they regularly faced mistreatment.The publication of a BBC investigation on Tuesday caused a storm in Westminster. The chair of the business and trade committee, Darren Jones, said the claims were some of the most appalling" he had heard, while a spokesperson for the prime minister said the allegations were deeply concerning". Continue reading...
Ash cloud from Shishaldin volcano, which began erupting 11 July, is angular and sharp and can cause jet engine to shut downAn ongoing eruption of a remote volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Islands produced an ash cloud so large on Tuesday that warnings were sent to pilots about potentially dangerous conditions.The ash cloud with an initial height of around 5.5 miles (8.9km) was drifting south-south-east from Shishaldin volcano, the Alaska Volcano Observatory said in a statement. The eruption was described as moderate with ashfall drifting toward the Pacific Ocean, creating a potential concern for air traffic or boats, said Matt Loewen, a research geologist with the US Geological Survey at the observatory. Continue reading...
by Lisa O'Carroll Brussels correspondent on (#6D2W9)
Celac president declares first summit of its kind in eight years a success despite late wranglingEU leaders have failed to persuade all of their Latin America and Caribbean counterparts to strongly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, despite watering down a joint statement closing a two-day summit in Brussels.Ralph Gonsalves, the president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), brushed off a row after Nicaragua failed to agree to the sole paragraph on the war in the final 41-paragraph communique. Continue reading...
Labour leader says there will have to be more tough choices ahead if party is to win the next electionKeir Starmer has doubled down on his decision not to scrap the two-child benefit cap, warning his party that there will have to be more tough choices ahead if Labour is to win the next election.The Labour leader, who faces pressure from senior party figures to row back from his position on the policy, instead told them they had to be even more" focused and disciplined in the months ahead. Continue reading...
by Mabel Banfield-Nwachi, Martin Belam and Helen Livi on (#6D2D7)
Gen Mark Milley and US Defence Secretary reassert backing for Ukraine and say its forces are making progress against Russia. This live blog is closedUkrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak has commented on Russia's overnight attacks. He posted to Telegram to say:The Russian night attack on Odesa and Mykolaiv with the use of rockets and kamikaze drones is more proof that the terrorist country wants to endanger the lives of 400 million people in various countries that depend on Ukrainian food exports.Thanks to our air force for their efficient work.This is Martin Belam taking over the live blog in London. You can contact me at martin.belam@theguardian.com. Continue reading...
Workers could be fired if they wear masks without a doctor's note, though rule doesn't apply in California and OregonIn-N-Out Burger, the popular fast food chain, has told employees in five states that they will no longer be allowed to wear medical masks at work and could lose their jobs if they refuse to comply unless they have a note from their doctor.According to a company memo leaked on Twitter, the guidance is being introduced to emphasize the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates' smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals". Continue reading...
Capital breaks its temperature record and a Naples A&E has its busiest day since height of CovidHospitals across Italy have seen a sharp rise in the number of people seeking emergency care for heat-related illnesses as a heatwave continues to grip the country, with temperatures in Rome setting a new record.Some hospitals reported a 20-25% increase in the numbers arriving at emergency units suffering from dehydration or other illnesses caused by over-exposure to the heat. Continue reading...
Lawyer for Juan Carlos urges high court judge to strike out Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn's claimThe former king of Spain has asked a high court judge in London to dismiss a 126m claim for damages made by his ex-lover over alleged harassment, in the latest round of their long-running legal battle.Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, a Danish businesswoman who has homes in England, has sued Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014, and is seeking damages for personal injury. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England correspondent on (#6D2JA)
Charities had seen case as watershed' moment for relatively novel charge of coercive controlHe is the most decorated footballer of the English game but Ryan Giggs may celebrate the end of his court case more than any medal he won on the pitch.Almost 1,000 days after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and domestic abuse, the former Manchester United player was told on Tuesday that the charges had been dropped because his ex-partner, Kate Greville, no longer wished to give evidence. Continue reading...
DJ and producer whose ghetto house' sound became widely celebrated had suffered numerous health issues in recent yearsDJ Deeon, the dance music pioneer whose exuberant productions helped popularise Chicago's ghetto house" style, has died aged 56.An administrator for his Facebook page announced the news, confirmed by his press representative, who said Deeon had been battling with on going health problems and heart complications. He passed peacefully in hospital with his family around him." Continue reading...
Brian Molko criticised Giorgia Meloni during a concert at the Sonic Park festivalItalian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the frontman of the British rock group Placebo, who called the far-right Italian prime minister racist" and fascist", according to local media reports.Brian Molko, 50, was performing last week with the band at the Sonic Park festival in Stupinigi outside Turin when he hurled insults from the stage about Giorgia Meloni. Continue reading...
Judge halves and suspends woman's 28-month sentence and says she needs compassion, not punishment'A woman who was jailed for terminating her pregnancy after the legal time limit during lockdown will be released for prison and reunited with her children, after winning a court of appeal bid to reduce her sentence.A court of appeal judge said Carla Foster, 45, needed compassion, not punishment", saying her 28-month sentence would be reduced to 14 months and suspended. Continue reading...
The I Should Be So Lucky singer will play a specially created character' in the touring show which will feature a string of pop hits by the songwriting trioKylie Minogue is to step back in time for a new musical featuring the songs of Stock Aitken Waterman that shot her to chart success in the late 1980s. The Australian singer, currently enjoying a summer hit with Padam Padam, will digitally appear" throughout the tour of the show, playing what is described as a specially created character unique to the musical".I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman musical is written and directed by Debbie Isitt whose series of Nativity! films also inspired a stage musical. The show uses more than 25 numbers created by the songwriting and production trio Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, including the title song from 1987 which brought Minogue her first UK No 1 hit. Continue reading...
Scene which has long been the holy grail for fans will feature in a new box set marking the 50th anniversary of the star's deathLong-lost unseen footage of the celebrated log fight" scene from the Bruce Lee film Game of Death is to be released in a new box set marking the 50th anniversary of the famed actor and martial artist's death.Lee, who shot to fame around the world with the 1973 film Enter the Dragon, died on 20 July 1973 before he could complete shooting on Game of Death, which eventually emerged in 1978, incorporating some of the original footage in a largely reshot and rewritten version. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England correspondent on (#6D29X)
Ex-footballer denied coercive or controlling behaviour against his former partner and assaulting her sisterRyan Giggs will not face a second trial on charges of domestic violence after prosecutors dropped the case.The former Manchester United footballer, 49, had been due to go on trial on 31 July charged with coercive or controlling behaviour against his former partner and assaulting her sister. However, prosecutors told Manchester crown court on Tuesday that they would not be pursuing the case. Continue reading...
Mark Rowley says he is frustrated at slow progress of review of perverse' disciplinary rulesThe head of Britain's biggest police force has said he is frustrated with the Home Office for its slow progress at reviewing perverse" rules that prevent him from being able to sack his own officers.Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, which has some UK-wide responsibilities, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had expected results from the review in May but was yet to see them. Continue reading...
Coffee and bakery chain's growth helped by international expansion, with 600 stores outside UKPret a Manger returned to profit for the first time since 2018 last year as the launch of a subscription service helped the coffee and bakery chain bounce back after the Covid crisis.The group, which suffered during the pandemic lockdowns when office workers stayed at home, said salesjumped 20% to 430m in the six months to the end of June. It relaunched its subscription service - which kicked off in September 2020 - as Club Pret, upping the cost by a fifth to 30 a month but adding a 10% discount on food and snacks alongside up to five hot drinks a day. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Data analysis shows people severely penalised for relatively minor infractions of coronavirus lawsMore than 28,000 people in England and Wales have been convicted of breaches of Covid-19 regulations, despite the government's insistence that it never intended to criminalise people for minor infractions during the pandemic.The convictions are for Covid-related offences, such as attendance at gatherings during lockdowns or arriving at airports without the proper evidence of a coronavirus test. Almost 16,000 of the convictions - or 55% - involved people under 30. Continue reading...
Bricklayers and other construction jobs added to list alongside care workers and engineersBricklayers, plasterers and other construction jobs have been added to the government's shortage occupation list", making it easier for foreign builders to come to Britain amid labour shortages partly caused by Brexit.The UK government has relaxed visa restrictions for a number of sectors that face severe worker shortages, and has added bricklayers and masons; roofers, roof tilers and slaters; carpenters and joiners; plasterers and other construction workers to the list. Fishing jobs have also been added to the list. Continue reading...
The Coalition now opposes the type of social media regulation it supported in government - and its about-face is aimed at fuelling the campaigning journalism of Labor's critics
Britons using Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury's Nectar more as costs at the checkout continue to riseGrocery price inflation has eased to 14.9%, the lowest rate since Christmas, as supermarket shoppers sought out loyalty card promotions.The fall in inflation over the four weeks to 9 July was partly the result of shoppers spending more via schemes such as Tesco's Clubcard and Sainsbury's Nectar, but it was also driven by a comparison with a step up in inflation a year ago. Continue reading...
Bank left cash rate unchanged in July and meeting minutes state squeeze on households means consumption could slow more sharply than implied by the current forecasts'
NCA estimates one in 50 men poses risk to children as AI threatens to exacerbate radicalising effect of internetArtificial intelligence could further fuel an epidemic of child sexual abuse, Britain's top law enforcement agency has warned, as it said that one in every 50 men pose a risk to children.The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that up to 830,000 adults - 1.6% of the adult population - represent some degree of sexual danger to children, a figure labelled extraordinary" by its director general, Graeme Biggar. He added that online abuse images were having a radicalising" effect that normalised" such behaviour. Continue reading...
by Anna Bawden Social affairs correspondent on (#6D1ZT)
People with recent mental health issues three times more likely to be behind on at least one key bill, research findsUp to 3 million people in the UK who are behind with at least one bill have experienced a mental health problem in the last two years, according to research.YouGov polling for the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute charity found that 12% of all people were behind on at least one payment such as energy, rent or credit cards, of whom half - 3 million - had a mental health problem. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#6D1ZS)
Outgoing defence secretary due to unveil defence strategy paper with no new money for armed forcesBen Wallace has said he would be prepared to speak out from the backbenches if Rishi Sunak does not stick to his promise to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP in the run-up to the election.The defence secretary, who announced over the weekend that he would resign his post in the next cabinet reshuffle, was speaking before unveiling a defence strategy paper on Tuesday that will lead to no extra money allocated to the armed forces despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...
Dr Gail Bradbrook, a co-founder of the group, attacked a window of the Department for Transport while protesting against HS2, court hearsThe co-founder of Extinction Rebellion caused more than 27,000 worth of damage when she took a hammer to the window of a government building to protest against the environmental impacts of HS2, a court heard on Monday.Dr Gail Bradbrook climbed on top of the glass canopy at the Department for Transport building in London on the morning of 15 October 2019. She stuck posters on the glass referencing the climate risk that HS2 posed, Isleworth crown court heard. Continue reading...
Commitment to keep controversial policy has opened splits ahead of national party meetingKeir Starmer's decision not to scrap the two-child benefit cap if Labour wins power has exposed deep splits within the party, as he faces mounting calls to rethink the policy.Facing the prospect of a battle at this week's national policy forum (NPF) over the controversial decision, shadow cabinet ministers were sent out to defend his position. They argued that if Labour wanted to appear fiscally credible at the next election, it could not make any spending commitments without saying how they would be funded. Continue reading...
Officers had sexual relationships with women after attending their homes in response to domestic violence reportsTwo West Midlands police officers who had inappropriate sexual relationships with domestic abuse survivors have been found guilty of misconduct in public office.PC Anthony Ritchie, 46, and former officer Steven Walters, 55, were each found guilty of two counts of misconduct in public office at Birmingham crown court, with one count involving the same victim of domestic abuse. Continue reading...
Energy secretary backs voluntary price comparison scheme in meeting with supermarket bosses rather than new lawThe energy secretary, Grant Shapps, appears to have rowed back on plans for a law to force supermarkets to make fuel prices more transparent, instead backing a voluntary price comparison scheme in a meeting with supermarket bosses.Shapps on Monday endorsed the non-mandatory scheme, which had been suggested by the competition regulator, after a summit with retailers that he had promised would involve him holding rip-off retailers" to account. Continue reading...
The World Food Programme's Haiti response is only 16% funded with more than half of the country's population regularly hungryThe World Food Programme (WFP) will be unable to feed 100,000 Haitians this month as the UN agency has insufficient funding to meet burgeoning humanitarian needs in the embattled Caribbean nation.Haitians grappling with dire malnutrition will have to endure the absence of vital food and financial support amid the worst hunger crisis the country has ever witnessed, the WFP announced on Monday. Continue reading...
Bethany Cox appears at Teesside magistrates court charged with procuring her own miscarriage shortly after first Covid lockdownA 22-year-old woman has appeared in court accused of procuring poison" to abort her child shortly after the first Covid lockdown.Bethany Cox, from Eaglescliffe in Stockton-on-Tees, appeared before Teesside magistrates court on Monday charged with child destruction" and procuring her own miscarriage by poison/use of instrument". Continue reading...
Celtic authorities to work together on areas such as holiday homes crisis, offshore wind and language conservationThey are separated by choppy waters - and different political ideologies.But the leaders of Wales and Cornwall have come together to sign an agreement vowing to work together on shared issues, ranging from the crisis of holiday homes to the prospect of cooperating on offshore wind power projects in the Celtic Sea. Continue reading...
Six metre wide abyss in Prestwich believed to be caused by a collapsed sewerAn enormous sinkhole has opened up in a street in Greater Manchester, swallowing several wheelie bins and becoming an instant local attraction.A sewer running under Heywood Road in Prestwich collapsed on Monday after heavy rain, creating a crater at least six metres (20ft) wide. Residents closed access to their own road using wheelie bins, some of which ended up falling victim to the hungry abyss. Continue reading...
Former equalities minister hopes rights will become uncontentious in interview for 10th anniversary of equal marriageDebates within the Conservative party on LGBTQ+ issues have become toxic", a Tory MP has said in an interview marking the 10th anniversary of equal marriage becoming legal in the UK.Speaking to PoliticsHome, the former equalities minister Mike Freer said he hoped that in the future issues regarding LGBTQ+ rights would no longer be seen as a debate. Continue reading...
Singer gives evidence in trial of actor accused of committing sexual offences against four men between 2001 and 2013Elton John has told a court that Kevin Spacey attended a charity ball at his home and stayed overnight after arriving by private jet.The singer also quipped that he was always in a mad rush" when leaving West End theatres, saying: It could be the queen and I wouldn't notice her." Continue reading...
Driscoll raises funds needed to pay for campaign after leaving Labour and announcing plans to run against former partyIn his interview for broadcasters this morning Rishi Sunak also paid tribute to Ben Wallace, following the defence secretary's announcement that he expects to leave cabinet at the next reshuffle and to stand down as an MP at the next election.Asked if he was sorry to see Wallace go, Sunak replied:Of course I am ... Ben's been a great defence secretary. I've enjoyed working with him and he's got a track record he can be very proud of.[Wallace has] been in politics and public service for a very long time, and, as he said, he wants to be able to spend more time with his family, and as a dad myself I completely understand and sympathise with that.Sunak said the policy partly intended to reinforce the message that you don't have to go to university to succeed in life". He explained:For many people university is the right answer and it does brilliantly, but actually there are a range of people who are being let down by the current system.They're being taken advantage of with low-quality courses that don't lead to a job that it makes it worth it, leaves them financially worse-off. That's what we're clamping down on today - but, at the same time, making sure that young people have a range of fantastic alternative opportunities, whether that be apprentices or higher technical qualifications, for example.Sunak brushed aside concerns that the policy would cut revenue for some universities. When this point was put to him, he said what mattered was the overall financial sustainability" of the university system. He said the policy would make higher education better value for taxpayers. He explained:I think it's important that the system is also fair for taxpayers, because ultimately as taxpayers that fund the system - and we've got a situation at the moment where around half of people who go to university don't end up paying back the cost of that degree - that costs the taxpayer money.So, we need to make sure the system is not just fair for students and they're getting the right outcome, but it's also fair for taxpayers.He stressed that it would be for the Office for Students, not the government, to decide what might count as rip off courses". He said:What the regulator will do is look at a range of different outcomes for courses. So, what kind of jobs are students going on to, do they complete the course, how much do they earn in later life?On the basis of all of that, they'll be able to figure out well, hang on, that course actually isn't delivering value for money. It's letting people down and we should not put students on it because we're letting them down'. Continue reading...
Andrew Mitchell says funding to lowest-income countries will nearly double but not return to earlier levelsThe UK's bilateral overseas aid budget will start to increase in 2024-25 after taking a terrible hit" over the previous three years, Andrew Mitchell, the minister for development and Africa, has said.The overall aid budget, covering multilateral and bilateral aid, is to rise from 7.4bn this financial year to 8.3bn next year, he said. It was 6.9bn in 2022-23. Continue reading...
Knesset races to pass bill eliminating reasonableness' standard before summer recessIsraelis are bracing for a turbulent week of protests and potential strike action as the country's governing coalition races to pass a key component of its wide-ranging judicial overhaul before the parliamentary summer recess.The Knesset's constitution, justice and law committee on Monday discussed sending a bill eliminating the reasonableness" standard that allows the supreme court to overrule government decisions back to the plenum for its second reading. Continue reading...
Justine Greening says proposal to cut numbers on low-value' courses would affect less privileged studentsA Conservative former education secretary has criticised Rishi Sunak's plans to limit access to university degrees in England, accusing him of anti-levelling up in action" if he presses ahead with the policy.Justine Greening, who ran the Department for Education from 2016 to 2018, said the proposal would disproportionately affect more disadvantaged people from the poorest communities. Continue reading...
Furniture retailer says cost-cutting has helped offset impact on its profitsThe sofa retailer DFS has warned the market has been significantly worse than expected" as demand for big-ticket items has been hit by the cost of living crisis.It said the tough economic climate, in which mortgage rates have hit their highest level since 2008, pushed sales volumes 15% to 20% lower across the market. Continue reading...
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