Adam Carruthers of Wigton pleads not guilty at Newcastle crown court, while Daniel Graham is unavoidably detained'A trial date has been set for two men accused of felling the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland.Daniel Graham, 38, of Carlisle, and Adam Carruthers, 31, of Wigton, have been accused of causing criminal damage to the tree and to Hadrian's Wall. Continue reading...

Food 4 Less workers to vote on action if new deal is not reached, as employees say wages and benefits lag behindAbout 6,000 grocery store workers are set to vote on strike action after the expiration of their union contract with the Kroger-owned Food 4 Less chain.The contract with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) expired on Saturday. Members are voting on whether to authorize a strike if a new deal is not reached, and results expected late on Friday. Continue reading...

PM has said Sky - once derided by snobs as council house TV' - was among lots of things' he went without as a child

Kasikai Chinyanga arrested in connection with death of 42-year-old Chitsidzo Chinyanga in BroxburnA 46-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder after the death of a much-loved'" mother in Broxburn, West Lothian.Kasikai Chinyanga was arrested in connection with the death of 42-year-old Chitsidzo (Veronica) Chinyanga, originally from Zimbabwe. Continue reading...

Insurance and asset management group's new chief promises a simpler' business, focused on three divisions

Party has vowed to end sewage scandal if it wins power, but experts say it will have to act quickly and ambitiouslySince the UK's general election was called, the Labour party has been seeking to capitalise on voters' fury over the sewage filling England's rivers and seas.The debt-ridden, leaking, polluting water industry, owned largely by foreign investment firms, private equity and pension funds, has overseen decades of underinvestment and the large-scale dumping of raw sewage into rivers. It has become one of the touchstone issues of this election, with voters across the political spectrum angry at the polluting of waterways treasured by local communities. Groups have sprung up to look after rivers and lakes; protests pop up most weekends along the coast. Continue reading...

Some users say they were forced into overdrafts because past transactions were repeated

Legislation to ban live export of sheep by sea by 2028 introduced to parliament but all farming lobby groups oppose the move

Jacinta Allan says no place for misogynistic conduct' as police investigate allegations fake nude images of students circulated online

Victorian supreme court hears closing arguments in trial of ex-Jetstar pilot who has pleaded not guilty to murdering Russell Hill and Carol Clay

But Greens say the consulting services inquiry report does not go far enough, calling for stronger action and penalties

Warnings of concentration risk' for sector as cap on international students anticipated

Animal welfare groups have called for better regulation of the sale of wildlife after a fire swept through the pet zone of one of Bangkok's biggest marketsAnimal welfare experts have called for a crackdown on the sale of wildlife in Thailand, after a fire swept through the pet zone of Bangkok's most famous outdoor market, killing more than 1,000 animals.Puppies, cats, fish, snakes, swans, cockatoos and rabbits kept inside cages were all reportedly killed in the blaze, which began early on Tuesday morning and burned through about 1,300 square metres of the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Continue reading...

Legal firm says group failed to update shareholders on problems with bribery and corruption at its former Turkish operationInvestors could seek more than 100m in compensation from the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral for failure to update them on issues with bribery and corruption at the group's former Turkish operation.The planned action, led by the legal firm Fox Williams, follows Entain's agreement to pay almost 600m - one of the largest financial penalties ever imposed in the UK - in a deal with HM Revenue and Customs finalised in December 2023 after an investigation into alleged bribery. Continue reading...

Party's housing pledges include introducing rent controls and ending right to buy system for social propertiesThe Greens are reaching out to renters with a huge election commitment on new and environmentally-friendly housing, including a plan to let councils requisition empty properties or ones without proper insulation.Among other housing commitments in the party's manifesto being launched today is a proposed 49bn investment programme over the next five years to insulate homes and public buildings, and to fit properties with heat pumps. Continue reading...

Lady Gaenor Meakes told NSW tribunal Lehrmann also owes $6,000 in lost rent after leaving the Balgowlah property early

NSW court of criminal appeal orders new trial, which would be former NRL star's fourth, but whether he faces another will be up to prosecutors

More than half those who left recently headed to Australia with promises of higher pay and better working conditionsNew Zealand citizens are leaving the country in record numbers, with large numbers heading to Australia, new figures show.Stats NZ's provisional international migration data shows there were an estimated 130,600 migrant departures in the year to April - the highest on record for an annual period. Continue reading...

James Conlan of Merri-bek council says the change would make investing in the area less attractive' and free up more homes for first-time buyers

A teenager at the private school in regional Victoria was held after images created with artificial intelligence were circulated in the area

The industry that has traditionally powered about a quarter of GDP has been in a downward spiral that policymakers have struggled to haltAll across China, from Beijing in the north, to Shenzhen in the south, millions of newly built homes stand empty and unwanted. There were nearly 391m sq metres of unsold residential property in China as of April, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. That is the equivalent of Manchester and Birmingham combined - and then some - sitting as vacant, unwanted property.This glut of idle property has caused a headache for the government, shaken the world's second largest economy and raised tensions over the purpose of housebuilding in a nation where property investment had been viewed as a safe bet. Continue reading...

Andreas Pantziaros given prohibition order from NSW Health Care Complaints Commission after purporting to be a paramedic

Mayor Adrian Schrinner says property owners would now need appropriate planning approvals, body corporate support and a 24-7 property manager for short-term rentals

No evidence of gross human rights violations, says state department; formerly far-right group are heroes in Ukraine for Mariupol's defence. What we know on day 840 Continue reading...

Hamas was reportedly seeking some amendments to the proposal, as Antony Blinken puts pressure on both sides to accept the dealThe US has said it is evaluating" Hamas' formal response to its Gaza ceasefire proposal, as the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, attempts to channel global support for a UN security council resolution backing the proposal into pressure on the Palestinian militant group and Israel.Late on Tuesday, a Hamas official said they had submitted a response to Egyptian and Qatari mediators, seeking some amendments", and that their priority was to bring a complete stop" to the war. A separate Hamas spokesperson, Jihad Taha, said the response included amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction and [prisoner] exchange". Continue reading...

PM recalls his parents' sacrifices for his education in interview recorded after his return from D-day celebrationsRishi Sunak has said that he went without lots of things" as a child growing up in the UK, citing Sky TV as an example.In an interview with ITV to be broadcast on Wednesday, the prime minister said a lot of sacrifices were made by his parents as education was their priority. Continue reading...

Party pledges to defer new A27 bypass to fund repairs and break down planning barriers to facilitate upgradesLabour has pledged to fix 1m potholes every year if elected on 4 July and turn the tide on the neglect" of the UK's roads.Last year pothole damage cost drivers almost 500m, with the average damage worth 250, the party has claimed. Continue reading...

Scott Peden, whose partner and two children died after battery exploded, calls for compulsory regulationA man who narrowly survived an ebike battery fire that killed his partner and two children says he is tormented by grief and guilt but determined to fight to change the law to avoid similar tragedies.Scott Peden, 31, was placed in an induced coma for a month after suffering 15% internal burns when he tried to wrestle his burning ebike out of his Cambridge flat last June. He also smashed his heel in three places jumping from his bedroom after the battery exploded. Continue reading...

Four in five Britons dissatisfied with how they are governed, with collapse blamed on Partygate, Brexit and poor servicesPublic trust and confidence in government and politicians is at a record low, fuelled by anger over Partygate lies, perceived broken promises over Brexit and crumbling public services, according to the latest British Social Attitudes survey.Plummeting faith in the effectiveness and integrity of MPs and the wider UK political system reflects what the BSA calls significant changes in the public mood" as a result of political and economic turmoil since the last general election in 2019. Continue reading...

First minister John Swinney under fire over public services and cost of living during ill-tempered TV showdownAnas Sarwar has said there will be no austerity under a Labour government as he fended off accusations from the SNP during an ill-tempered BBC Scotland leaders' debate.The first minister and SNP leader John Swinney repeatedly claimed on Tuesday evening that independent experts said there would be 18bn of cuts after this election whether the Conservatives or Labour party form the government". The audience loudly applauded Sarwar when he countered: Read my lips: no austerity under Labour." Continue reading...

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz banned in Indian River county after opposition from parents linked to Moms for LibertyA book about book bans has been banned in a Florida school district.Ban This Book, a children's book written by Alan Gratz, will no longer be available in the Indian River county school district since the school board voted to remove the book last month. Continue reading...

Following a mystery disappearance sparking outrage and rumour, the original damaged and fragile figure has been replaced by a very fine' copyA shadow has been lifted over a corner of Paris: Voltaire is back in the City of Light.The statue of the 18th-century philosopher, a key figure of the Enlightenment, vanished from its plinth almost four years ago, sparking a series of increasingly sombre rumours. Continue reading...

Joining founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay in new five-piece lineup for November tour will be Mudhoney singer Mark Arm

Leaders of Scotland's five main political parties clash during live TV debate

Mette Frederiksen gives first interview since assault, saying it was a kind of attack on us all'Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has said she is still not doing great" but will continue to work, in her first interview since she was assaulted in a Copenhagen square last week.Frederiksen, 46, suffered minor whiplash in the attack last Friday, which is not thought to have been politically motivated. A 39-year-old Polish man was detained on suspicion of assault. Continue reading...

Cubs killed by cars earlier in the day before spooked Nakoda ran on to highway, where another vehicle struck herNational park staff in Canada are mourning the devastating" loss of a rare white grizzly bear and her cubs after all three were killed in separate vehicle collisions on the same day.The bear formally referred to as GBF178 but named Nakoda by locals had in recent months been spotted with her two cubs foraging on spring dandelions along a stretch of highway between Lake Louise and Yoho national parks. Continue reading...

Eric Ciotti's announcement welcomed by Marine Le Pen as brave choice' but seen as betrayal by members of mainstream rightThe leader of France's mainstream right has said he would back an alliance with the far right in the snap legislative elections later this month, shocking opponents and party members and throwing French politics into further disarray.Eric Ciotti's announcement, welcomed by Marine Le Pen as a brave choice", is a historic departure for the opposition right and sparked accusations of betrayal from high-profile members of Les Republicains (LR). Continue reading...

Backed by Annie Lennox and Susan Sarandon, Daly had appeared on state-leaning media in China and RussiaClare Daly, Ireland's outspoken and controversial Dublin MEP candidate, has lost her seat despite celebrity endorsements from Annie Lennox, Susan Sarandon and other prominent figures.The leftwing candidate was eliminated on Tuesday after falling behind rival candidates in the Dublin constituency on the 17th count. Continue reading...

Critics say funding of Tory manifesto's policies is implausible' and they would mainly benefit wealthier votersRishi Sunak has unveiled a 17bn tax giveaway as the centrepiece of the Conservative manifesto, an offer that was immediately condemned for being implausible" and mainly benefiting wealthier voters.The policy programme set out by the prime minister, seen by many Tory MPs as probably the party's last big chance to win over voters, contained few big surprises and was centred around cuts to national insurance and stamp duty, higher thresholds for child benefit and help for pensioners. Continue reading...

Ukrainian president appeals in Berlin for funding to repair and rebuild energy infrastructure and for defence

Aaron Myers, 51, faces second-degree murder charge in fatal shooting of Hazrat Ali Rohani, 17, at Big 5 store in RentonA teenager who tried to return a malfunctioning replica gun that shoots plastic projectiles to a sporting goods store in Washington state was shot to death by an off-duty security guard who believed the boy was holding a real gun and planned to rob the business, according to authorities.The man arrested in the killing, 51-year-old Aaron Myers, told police that he was not working at the time he shot and killed Hazrat Ali Rohani, who was returning a malfunctioning airsoft gun to the Big 5 store in Renton. But he had offered to keep watch due to alleged rising crime in the area. Continue reading...

More grave violations' committed in occupied territories and Israel than anywhere else in world, report saysMore grave violations against children were committed in Gaza, West Bank and Israel than anywhere else in the world last year, according to a UN report due to be published this week.The report on children and armed conflict, which has been seen by the Guardian, verified more cases of war crimes against children in the occupied territories and Israel than anywhere else, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, Nigeria and Sudan. Continue reading...

Alex Chisholm, who led business office during Hinkley Point C negotiations, appointed UK chair of energy firm

Port that processes the most cars and farm equipment in US opens to original depth and width after 26 March incidentThe main shipping channel into Baltimore's port has fully reopened to its original depth and width following the 26 March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which blocked most maritime traffic into the harbor.Officials announced the full reopening in a news release Monday evening. It comes after a massive cleanup effort as crews removed an estimated 50,000 tonnes of steel and concrete from the Patapsco River. Continue reading...

Two Animal Rising supporters cover monarch's face with Wallace character in protest against RSPCA-assured farmsAnimal rights activists have pasted a picture of the stop-motion cartoon character Wallace, from Wallace and Gromit, over the new portrait of King Charles, in a protest highlighting alleged cruelty at RSPCA-accredited farms.Two supporters of the group Animal Rising entered the Philip Mould gallery in central London after midday on Tuesday and carried out what they described as a comedic redecoration" of the portrait with apparently self-adhesive posters pressed into place with paint rollers. Continue reading...

Coal and gas-fired power plant owners say interim target an important step to net zero by 2050

Calls intensify for the federal government to fully explain why it no longer publishes the information

Sydney house rents still nation's highest but an expected rise in vacancy rates this winter could provide some relief to tenants, expert says

Ukraine has fulfilled all necessary reform requirements to join bloc, European Commission president saysRussian tactical nuclear drills were made necessary by the tensions in Europe and the hostile actions of the US and European powers, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.Peskov told a briefing that drills such as the ones Russia is carrying out together with Belarus were normal practice. Continue reading...

Official briefed by mediators says that neither Hamas or Israel has yet given a formal response to US-backed planIsrael's military has said it has intercepted some of a barrage of about 50 projectiles fired towards the Golan Heights from the direction of Lebanon. In a statement the IDF said:Following the sirens that sounded in northern Israel a short while ago, approximately 50 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into the area of the central Golan Heights. The IDF aerial defense array successfully intercepted a number of the projectiles. The rest of the launches fell in open areas. No injuries were reported. Continue reading...