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Burnham says no one in government loses when power is shared' as he revives Brown-era national economic council

TGA says product information for some diabetes and weight loss drugs updated with warning of NAION disorder

Landlords say high costs of running hospitality business outweigh potential savings of business rates discountOne of Andy Burnham's first policy measures as prime minister is a 20% reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues.The policy, announced on Thursday, is part of a broader agenda to support the high street and will cost 100m. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Westminster survey finds one in two staffers experiencing clinical levels of psychological distressStaff employed by MPs are calling for urgently tightened security after reports of some being physically attacked and hundreds receiving threatening calls and messages.A survey of more than 500 MPs' staff members found that 78% had received threatening communication and nearly one in three fear for their own safety or that of colleagues. Continue reading...

Team in Ohio finds swapping to electric has very large' impact, despite study being scaled back by Trump cutsA US study has found a 70% drop in hospital admissions and days off from work or school when people with poorly controlled asthma had their gas stove and hob replaced with electric.Ohio's publicly owned MetroHealth began the study in December 2024 but funding was terminated early by the incoming Trump administration. It had been designed to investigate if replacing gas cooking improved asthma for 1,200 people living near Cleveland, Ohio. Continue reading...

Digital billboards from environmental groups, targeting Labor MPs attending national conference, cancelled with airport stating they are too political'

Sonam Wangchuk halted strike amid concerns about possible violence' in India as protest movement urges demonstrations across country on Friday over police brutalityThe Indian cockroach" activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended a 26-day hunger strike over an exam paper scandal that has spiralled into a wide ranging, youth-led wave of demonstrations against Narendra Modi's government.Supporters meanwhile have called a nationwide day of protest on Friday. Continue reading...

Edmund Rice Education Australia can be sued over abuse committed by Catholic order, after receiving much of its property holdings

Writing from year after gross indecency arrest challenges isolated mathematician' image, says Cambridge academicWhen people think of Alan Turing, they might imagine he was arrogant, isolated, humourless, tortured. A better way of remembering the father of modern computing would be, an academic argues, as playful, funny, cheeky, literary, and someone who really liked sex".The Cambridge University English literature professor Sarah Dillon has transcribed and studied a little-known short story that Turing wrote in the year after his arrest in Manchester for gross indecency. Continue reading...

Irish politicians concerned about Daniel Tatlow-Devally's treatment in jail want Micheal Martin to send observers to Ulm 5 trialA cross-party delegation of Irish politicians has urged Dublin to send observers to a high-security trial of pro-Palestinian activists in Germany and to raise concerns about the Irish defendant's detention when the German chancellor visits next week.Mairead Farrell of Sinn Fein, a member of the seven-member delegation, said she and her colleagues had attended the hearing in Stuttgart on Wednesday of the so-called Ulm 5 activists, who are facing charges over an attack on an Israeli arms company. Continue reading...

Black-crowned night heron one of many species thriving at Holnicote Estate where river reset' has transformed area into lush oasisA rare black-crowned night heron has been spotted on an estate in the south-west of England where an innovative river reset" is transforming the area into an oasis for birdlife.The heron was caught on camera in a jungly corner of the Holnicote Estate, where conservation experts have been restoring the landscape by allowing a river to return to its natural course. Continue reading...

Marat Ganiev, 55, fails in attempt to permanently halt remaining charge of perverting the course of justice

This live blog has not closed, you can read our latest story from the region hereEarlier in the US day, before Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump issued this threat on his Truth Social platform:From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran. Continue reading...

South Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen on the Cockroach movement - and the students driving India's biggest protests in yearsI've never seen this many young people out on the streets,' says Hannah Ellis-Petersen.For days, tens of thousands of Indians have been marching under the banner of the Cockroach Janta party. Continue reading...

Airbus A350-1000ULR becomes most watched plane on flight tracking websites as Qantas tests new aircraft for its Project Sunrise

IRGC claims base in south-west England was used by US to launch bombing missions, making it legitimate target'

Elon Musk's EV company lost a quarter of its value after revealing weak profits and high spending on AI and roboticsTesla's stock fell about 13.5% on Thursday in one of the biggest single-day market losses in the company's history.Elon Musk's automaker has struggled throughout the year, losing about 27% of its market value as huge capital expenditures and weaker-than-expected profits worry investors. Continue reading...

Residents in Ladera Ranch in Orange county voice concerns after six children diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma

Conservative leader is becoming more confident and forging a message for her party, but faces a new opponentSo, Andy Burnham seems like a nice guy." Those were the slightly unexpected opening words of Kemi Badenoch's first speech since the change in prime minister. But make no mistake: she was there to bury her opponent.Even Badenoch-sceptics inside the Conservative party and farther afield agree the Tory leader is becoming more confident, and has been able to forge an increasingly coherent message for her party, one based on a promise of economic competence. Continue reading...

MPs and others condemn behaviour of CT Group, which offered cash for positive coverage of clientsA political lobbying firm secretly paying journalists for articles favourable to its clients is facing calls to reveal full details of the payments, after the practice was denounced as a dangerous attack on democracy".MPs, senior lobbyists and transparency campaigners all condemned the behaviour of CT Group, the firm co-founded by the campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, an election guru previously hired by David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Clinical assessments concluded Rudakubana could not be safely managed in prison, sources sayThe Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been moved from prison to a psychiatric hospital after an assessment by psychiatrists, the Guardian can disclose.He was transferred to Broadmoor high-security hospital from the category A prison Belmarsh this week after it was concluded that he could not be managed safely in a prison environment, sources confirmed. Continue reading...

Hospitality businesses call on Andy Burnham to cut VAT and extend help to hotels and restaurantsPubs, clubs and live music venues in England will receive a 20% discount on their business rates bills as part of a 100m aid package but Andy Burnham has immediately faced calls to be more ambitious.The prime minister said the measure, aimed at supporting the high street and easing cost of living pressures, would be fully funded, including through a review of relief for businesses deemed not to make a positive contribution to communities, such as vape shops. Continue reading...

Mykhailo Fedorov says only in his former post could he combat procurement corruption and complete the army's transformation'EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has offered a bit more detail on the new package of sanctions, saying they are the largest round in four years," and will hit Putin where it hurts most."In a statement, she said:We have agreed on the 21st sanctions package against Russia.It delivers sweeping measures targeting Moscow's financial system, its military-industrial complex and energy sector, that keep Russia's war economy running. Continue reading...

New PM says no prisoners will be released under the policy until there is an urgent review of schemeKemi Badenoch is speaking in central London at the moment and is expected to say that Andy Burnham is still thinking like the mayor of Manchester".Going by what he's announced so far, Andy Burnham's ambitions for Britain are too small," she was expected to say.My message to British businesses is quite simple: to British businesses, to British innovators, to British investors: I will back you as your Chancellor, and I'll back you in financial services, in technology, in retail, in industry, in all parts of the economy.I'm just as concerned about the cost of business as I am about the cost of living. Continue reading...

September exercise called off after Kenya raises concerns over funding and jurisdiction for criminal offencesThe British army has been forced to cancel training for its troops in Kenya after the Kenyan government refused to ratify a bilateral defence agreement.While the UK government wanted to renew the existing agreement, Kenyan lawmakers had sought changes to give local authorities greater powers to hold British soldiers accountable for any offences committed in the country. Continue reading...

Benchmark rises sharply over fears Houthi militia could strangle Saudi exports as US-Iran fighting intensifiesThe oil price has climbed back above $100 a barrel for the first time in two months, as a fresh escalation of the Middle East conflict threatens to compound disruption to global oil supplies.The benchmark oil price rose sharply on Thursday, after reaching $95 a barrel the day before amid fears that Yemen's Houthi militia could strangle Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea while US-Iran tensions over oil flows through the strait of Hormuz intensify. Continue reading...

The men were convicted over alleged plan to stage coup and organise deadly demonstrations over fuel prices last yearTwo Russian men have been found guilty by an Angolan court of terrorism and spying, after being accused of planning a coup and helping to organise deadly demonstrations in the southern African country last year.Lev Lakshtanov and Igor Ratchin were sentenced to eight and 11 years in jail respectively. They had denied the charges, claiming they were in Angola for cultural and business activities. Continue reading...

Greater Manchester chief constable says crucial data on phones seized from Heaton Park synagogue attacker was not examinedGreater Manchester police have apologised for a missed opportunity" to act before an attack on a synagogue.The force's chief constable, Sir Stephen Watson, said the phones of the Heaton Park synagogue attacker Jihad al-Shamie were seized by officers but crucial data was not examined. Continue reading...

Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as traders fear attacks from Yemen and Iran creating two-chokepoint problem'The Houthi attacks off the coast of Yemen targeted Saudi Arabian tankers, but two Chinese vessels carrying Saudi oil appear to be trying to exit the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Reuters reports.From Reuters:Two Chinese supertankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are exiting the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, shipping data showed, even as a Saudi vessel came under attack in the region.The ships' attempt to transit the strait will clearly test how tightly the Houthis will impose the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia they announced on Monday. Continue reading...

PM says those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared' as scandal spirals into widespread angerNarendra Modi has vowed to set up fast-track courts" to speed up the punishment of officials accused of leaking examination papers, as the Indian prime minister seeks to quell a youth-led cockroach" protest movement that has rocked Delhi and posed one of the biggest challenges to his government.In his first public remarks on the movement, Modi posted on X: Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth ... Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared." Continue reading...

CBA chair says contempt charge over closing speech by Rajiv Menon KC has left lawyers fearful of doing their jobThe prosecution of a leading human rights barrister for contempt of court over his closing speech during a trial of Palestine Action activists has left lawyers fearful of doing their job, the chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said.Rajiv Menon KC is due to stand trial next week, accused of breaching the judge's directions in the trial of six people for a direct action protest at an arms factory of the Israeli subsidiary Elbit Systems UK in Filton, near Bristol, in 2024. Continue reading...

Oradea is only major city in EU where local authorities have repeatedly blocked Pride plansCampaigners in a Romanian city have vowed to go ahead with plans for a Pride march after local authorities denied them permission for the fourth consecutive year.Since 2023, campaigners in the western city of Oradea - population 180,000 - have sought authorisation for Pride events. Each year, however, they have come up against opposition, turning Oradea into the only major city in the EU where local authorities have repeatedly blocked Pride plans. Continue reading...

One Nation leader labels family violence leave ridiculous' and decries woke' support of women's rights in November podcast

Budget airline, which has two US investment firms vying to buy it, also affected by passengers booking laterThe low-cost airline easyJet has revealed a 70% slide in profits because of soaring fuel costs and later bookings as a result of the conflict in Iran, only weeks after it agreed to a 5.7bn takeover.The carrier reported a pre-tax profit of 85m between April and June compared with 286m during the same period a year earlier, as its fuel costs increased by 105m after the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East in late February sent energy prices rocketing. Continue reading...

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Alan Greer, who killed himself after officers visited his home, could be Police Scotland's Wayne Couzens moment'A police officer who took his own life in May was a rapist who attacked at least nine women over 14 years.PC Alan Greer's offending came to light when his first known victim, a woman he raped in her home in Glasgow in 2012 after she had called the police to report being the victim of a crime, reported the attack late last year. Continue reading...

NT minister for trade and business Robyn Cahill makes scientifically inaccurate claims while pushing to make territory datacentre capital of the globe'

BMW, Ford, Nissan and Toyota, plus parts maker Bosch, wrote joint letter to ministers in AprilMajor carmakers privately lobbied the UK government to revoke a ban on new petrol and diesel cars after 2035, according to documents that reveal for the first time the efforts to overturn a key decarbonisation policy.BMW, Ford, Nissan and Toyota, plus the parts maker Bosch, wrote a joint letter to ministers in April calling for an open technology approach" including petrol and diesel cars after 2035, when the government had said new cars must produce zero carbon emissions. Continue reading...

Dunedin will be the focal point, having last experienced such an eclipse in 1163 - before any humans reached New ZealandHotels are booking out two years in advance in the New Zealand city of Dunedin as it prepares for the region's first total solar eclipse in more than 850 years.At 4.17pm on 22 July 2028, the moon will pass in front of the sun, casting a roughly 100km-wide shadowy band across parts of southern New Zealand. Everywhere within that band - from tourist hotspot Queenstown in the west to Dunedin city in the east - will be plunged into daytime darkness for 2 minutes and 51 seconds. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Darren Rosheski won NHS payout over partner Helen Dutton's death from rectal cancer after GP misjudged her symptomsI remember the doctor, after he'd examined Helen and found a large lump in her colon, saying it's very sinister - we need to bring you in to be investigated."Darren Rosheski is recalling the moment a consultant doctor at Tameside hospital broke the news to his partner, Helen Dutton, that her symptoms - which also included back pain, passing blood and altered bowel habits - were so worrying that they needed further tests. Continue reading...

Scientists believe sunfish-smashing behaviour could be form of entertainment or to help younger whales feedOrcas have been observed ramming into giant fish so hard that the prey explode, possibly as a form of gory entertainment.On several occasions, orcas were observed to hold sunfish in their jaws while a second whale smashed into the target at high speed, causing it to break into thousands of pieces. Since the fish had already been killed, scientists suggested the behaviour may represent a form of play. Continue reading...

More than 70 attacks have been recorded over past year, including acts of violence, property damage and vandalismOne mosque is attacked in Britain every five days, according to new data released by the government's partner for monitoring anti-Muslim hatred.More than 70 attacks on mosques in the UK have been recorded over the past year, which include acts of intimidation, violence, property damage, harassment, anti-Muslim hate speech, online abuse and vandalism. Continue reading...

New prime minister has made Sarwar - the first senior Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer's resignation - a peerScottish Labour's rivals in Holyrood have slammed Anas Sarwar's shock decision to resign as leader to sit in Andy Burnham's new government, calling him a chancer" and accusing him of lying to voters.The prime minister has made Sarwar - who was the first senior Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer to resign - a peer and given him a ministerial post at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, No 10 announced on Wednesday. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed.The Jordanian army said it intercepted four Iranian missiles on Wednesday with two additional missile falling in an open area, AFP reports.The two missiles that the army did not intercept fell in two remote, uninhabited areas, without causing any human casualties or material damage" the army said in a statement. Continue reading...

Jamieson Greer denies tariffs have pushed up prices during grilling from lawmakers over cost-of-living concernsDonald Trump's chief trade official denied the president's sweeping tariffs have increased prices for US families, as lawmakers challenged him over cost-of-living concerns across much of the country.US inflation surged to a three-year high earlier this year. During a heated exchange before US senators on Wednesday, however, US trade representative Jamieson Greer appeared to claim Trump's controversial economic agenda had not driven prices higher. Continue reading...

In Kentucky and West Virginia, rescuers freed trapped residents as states face catastrophic floods and damageTropical storm Bertha made landfall in St Bernard parish, on the Gulf coast south-east of New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday afternoon, the US national hurricane center said.The Miami-based forecaster added that maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 45mph (75km/h) with higher gusts. Continue reading...

European Commission says Paramount Skydance's decision to end Universal venture addresses merger concernsParamount Skydance's 80bn takeover of Warner Brothers took a step closer to being realised after it won conditional approval from the European Union.The European Commission said Paramount's offer to end a film distribution joint venture with Universal Pictures addressed its concerns over the potential merger. As part of its commitments in the EU, Paramount has 13 months from the date of closing the deal to pull out from the venture. Continue reading...

PM says he wants to ensure everything has been looked at' amid outrage at policy from family of PC Andrew HarperAndy Burnham is immersed in a deepening political row after ordering a review of plans for the early release of thousands of killers, rapists and sex offenders from prison in September.After the family of PC Andrew Harper expressed outrage that his killers may be eligible for release, the prime minister responded by pledging to make sure that everything has been looked at again" before a fresh tranche of about 6,000 offenders were freed on tags. Continue reading...

Campaigners in Ukraine pledge to continue nationwide protests until Mykhailo Fedorov gets his job backVolodymyr Zelenskyy was under growing pressure to reinstate his sacked defence minister on Wednesday, after campaigners said they would continue indefinite nationwide protests until Mykhailo Fedorov got his job back.On Tuesday, Zelenskyy bowed to public demands by firing Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. He appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the country's armed forces, as part of a radical reshuffle of the top military command. Continue reading...

Public prosecutor for the region said suspect had been initially arrested shortly after the murder on 29 April last yearA 70-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of Karen Carter, the British expat found dead in south-western France last year, according to reports.According to the Dordogne Libre and others, the woman was charged on 2 July with Carter's murder in Tremolat, in the Dordogne, and is under judicial supervision". Continue reading...