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Drop in first half of year driven by fall in demand and some growth in clean power, study saysThe European Union is stoking its power plants with fewer lumps of coal and barrels of oil and gas than it has ever recorded, data shows.The 27 member states burned 17% less fossil fuel to make electricity between January and June 2023 than over the same period the year before, a study from the clean energy thinktank Ember found. The EU made 410TWh of electricity from sources that release planet-heating gases, which analysts say is the lowest level since 2015 - the first year for which they have monthly data - and very likely" since 2000. Continue reading...

Planes hit in Russian city near border with Latvia and Estonia, with reports of drones downed in other western regions

Julie Fujishima, now president of Japan's biggest boyband talent agency, had long been aware of accusations but failed to investigate, experts sayThe current president of Japan's biggest boyband talent agency, who is the niece of its late founder Johnny Kitagawa, should resign over allegations that Kitagawa sexually abused recruits for decades, a panel has said.The panel, commissioned by Johnny and Associates to address the allegations of abuse, recommended on Tuesday that Julie Fujishima should resign because she had long been aware of the allegations but neglected to conduct a probe". Continue reading...

Investigators believe player died in an accidental fall in Brittany, which is hosting World Defence Rugby competitionA British armed forces rugby player has been found dead in France, where the World Defence Rugby competition is being held.Investigators believe the player may have died in an accidental fall in northern Brittany, a prosecutor said. Continue reading...

Sgt Graham Saville had been trying to help distressed man on tracks near Newark Northgate stationA police officer has died after being hit by a train while trying to save a distressed man on the tracks, Nottinghamshire police have said.British Transport Police said they were called to the line near Newark Northgate station at about 7.10pm on Thursday evening after reports of a casualty on the tracks. Continue reading...

Lauren Handy and other anti-abortion protesters invaded a Washington DC clinic in 2020 and blocked people from enteringLauren Handy, the anti-abortion activist who kept five fetuses in her Washington DC home, was on Tuesday found guilty of breaking federal law by blockading an abortion clinic.The charges stem from an incident in October 2020, when Handy and nine other anti-abortion protesters invaded a Washington abortion clinic, according to an October 2022 indictment of the group. Handy used a fake name to book an appointment at the clinic, then blocked people from entering the waiting room while other defendants chained themselves together inside the clinic, prosecutors alleged. One of the clinic's nurses sprained her ankle after she was pushed by a protester, according to the indictment. Continue reading...

Russian president ordered urgent removal of Graceful from Hamburg shipyard, investigation claimsVladimir Putin moved his $100m (75m) superyacht from a German shipyard to Russia just weeks before he ordered the invasion of Ukraine, according to secret documents released in a new investigation.A Russian anti-corruption organisation set up by the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny claims emails show that the Russian president ordered the urgent moving of the 82-metre superyacht, called Graceful, from a shipyard in Hamburg, where it was undergoing a $32m refit, by 1 February 2022. Continue reading...

Developers welcome end to rules but say amending levelling up bill risks months of delaysMichael Gove's plan to repeal water pollution rules in an attempt to kickstart housebuilding will not solve England's housing crisis, developers have warned, thanks to delays in implementation and other planning burdens.The housing secretary announced on Tuesday he intends to remove the regulations regarding nutrient levels in rivers, prompting outrage from green groups but relief from housebuilders, whose shares promptly rose. Continue reading...

Jargon for handling of nuclear warheads spotted in budget details about US air force dormitory at RAF Lakenheath in SuffolkThe US air force has secured $50m (39m) funding next year for a project that could pave the way for American nuclear weapons to return to British soil for the first time in 15 years.In justifying the expenditure on a 144-bed dormitory at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, the USAF told Congress the building was intended to house the increase in enlisted personnel as the result of the potential surety mission", which is jargon typically used by the Pentagon to refer to handling of nuclear weapons, according to experts. Continue reading...

Singer had described the treatment for trans children as absolutely desolate', but now says fixed views are not helpful'Pop singer Roisin Murphy has apologised after criticising the use of puberty blockers by transgender children.The Irish musician, formerly the frontwoman of Moloko who has since released a series of acclaimed solo albums, had dismayed swathes of her fanbase - which includes a sizeable LGTBQ+ quotient - with a statement posted on her personal Facebook account. Continue reading...

PM flew to Norwich for the event where it was announced the government scrapping of nutrient neutrality rulesA multimillionaire businessman with close links to the Conservative party has been told to knock down part or all of a luxury hotel that hosted the signing of Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal because he breached planning regulations.A planning enforcement notice issued by Runnymede borough council said Surinder Arora's hotel company had until 7 October to take action at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel near Windsor. Continue reading...

Maddy Lawrence, 20, was injured in match and died in hospital 16 days later after picking up an infectionA 20-year-old university student who died after being injured in a rugby match and acquiring an infection in hospital laid in agony on the pitch for more than five hours while she waited for an ambulance, an inquest has heard.Maddy Lawrence, who sustained a dislocated hip when she was tackled during a game for UWE Bristol, could be heard screaming and crying during 999 calls made by a physiotherapist desperately trying to get help but was told an ambulance would take several hours" because the city was so busy. Continue reading...

Slowdown in household spending is finally flowing through to Australia's jobs market, according to the latest forecasts from Deloitte Access Economics

Man, 20, charged under anti-LGBTQ+ law introduced this year with offence punishable by deathUgandan prosecutors have charged a man with aggravated homosexuality" under anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced this year that makes the offence punishable by death.The law - considered one of the harshest of its kind in the world - also includes penalties for consensual same-sex relations of up to life in prison. Continue reading...

Artwork of murdered Northern Ireland writer and activist at Zebra youth centre was defaced with swastika and anti-LGBTQ+ graffitiA mural of the murdered Northern Ireland writer Lyra McKee has been defaced in the US with a swastika and anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti.It was one of three artworks vandalised this week at the Zebra youth centre, which provides services to LGBTQ+ people in Orlando, Florida. Continue reading...

Restructuring specialist M2 makes potential offer alongside HMV owner Doug Putman

Move is likely to further sour relations after months of stoppages over pay disputeNetwork Rail has withheld annual bonuses from its union members who took part in strikes, in a move that threatens to further sour industrial relations.The state-owned railway infrastructure manager settled the pay dispute with its workforce in March this year, after RMT members voted to accept a rise worth 9% over two years. Continue reading...

James Cleverly to say during visit to Beijing this week that China has a responsibility on the global stage'

President's presence not envisaged' at funeral of Wagner chief who was killed in plane crash last week

Trump's White House chief of staff argues he acted in capacity as federal officer and that case should be moved to federal court. Plus, has humanity finally broken the climate?

Surinder Arora told to demolish all or part of Fairmont Windsor Park hotel where Northern Ireland deal was agreed

Uncertainty over whether ex-PM will be released from jail due to other court orders allowing for his arrestA Pakistani court has suspended the former prime minister Imran Khan's recent conviction on corruption charges, his lawyer has said, though it is unclear whether this will lead to his release from jail.The 70-year-old former cricketer has been at the centre of political turmoil in the crisis-ridden state since his ouster in a parliamentary vote of confidence in April 2022, and his relations with Pakistan's powerful generals have deteriorated over the past year. Continue reading...

PM weighs in on expiring credits but government defends blocking Qatar airways from increasing its flights to Australia

Charge sheets show the man allegedly assaulted children over 15 years at centres all across Brisbane

Meta spokesperson says suspension was decided after voice opponents raised criticism and apparent lapse in accreditation

Property developer's value fell by more than $2bn as stock resumed trading after 17-month suspensionShares in Evergrande fell another 13% on Tuesday after more than $2bn was wiped off the Chinese property developer's market value when it resumed trading for the first time in almost 18 months on Monday.Evergrande, the world's most indebted property firm with liabilities of $328bn (260bn), has lost more than 99% of its share market value over the past three years. Continue reading...

Exclusive: prominent Indigenous journalist, who recently left the ABC, says he is being targeted by News Corp paper which ran story about a bullying' incident

Committee hears every family Austism Partnerships Australia worked with who challenged their NDIS funding rejection was eventually approved for intensive support

Officer feared for his life when he used his Taser to shock Ashley Charles Washington who later died in hospital, inquest hears

Father of veterinarian who took own life calls for more education on how much it really costs to own a pet

In today's newsletter: Despite a lower cap on energy bills, the cost of heating could remain crippling high and leave millions in fuel poverty Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.August is coming to an end and as the days begin to get shorter and temperatures start to drop, many people are paying closer to attention to their energy bills, particularly those who struggled last winter. They may be pleased to hear that Ofgem has lowered its price cap by about 7%, from 2,074 to 1,923 for the average household. It should be cause to celebrate, even if the decrease is relatively slim. However, the news will probably be of little comfort for millions of people who could still end up paying extraordinary sums. How could that be? The government has rolled back its financial support that proved to be a lifeline for many last winter. Continue reading...

ACT government also reveals Sofronoff report appeared to present paragraph from Australian newspaper as opinion of NSW supreme court judge

Gangs target minors who are out of school and BBC report shows rise in exclusions and suspensions in biggest drug-exporting areasHundreds of extremely vulnerable children at risk of being recruited by criminal gangs are being thrown out of schools in county lines hotspots.Figures obtained by BBC Radio 4's File on 4 programme revealed there were more than 1,200 exclusions and suspensions of children assessed by social services to be grooming targets in England's four largest drug-exporting regions between 2021 and 2023. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Pupils in north-east and London most likely to never have a teacher of similar ethnicity, study findsPupils in parts of England are likely to never have a teacher of the same ethnic background, in part because minority ethnic applicants are less likely to be accepted on to teacher training courses, research has revealed.The north-east has the least diverse teaching workforce in the country, with students of Pakistani or black-African origin likely to never have a teacher of similar ethnicity in their classrooms. Continue reading...

Despite Tom Tate's support, the Palaszczuk government has indicated it is focused on the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic events

Leo Hardiman has spoken at length to a Senate inquiry about how his complaints about a massive freedom of information backlog were ignored by OAIC leadership

China's eastern county of Changshan has made the offer in an effort to promote age-appropriate marriage and childbearing'A county in eastern China is offering couples a reward" of 1,000 yuan ($137) if the bride is aged 25 or younger, the latest in a series of measures to incentivise young people to get married amid rising concern over a declining national birthrate.The notice, which was published on Changshan county's official WeChat account last week, said the reward was to promote age-appropriate marriage and childbearing" for first marriages. It also included a series of childcare, fertility and education subsidies for couples who have children. Continue reading...

Police hopeful discovery may lead to closure for Victorian woman's family but say more forensic testing needed

Three hundred people packed into Armidale town hall to hear the yes campaigner, four months after New England hosted no campaign event

Exclusive: Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says opposition leader is seeking to cast doubt on legitimacy' of voice referendum

Decision by independent remuneration tribunal takes backbench MP salary from $217,060 to about $225,742, while Albanese's pay will rise to $586,929

State department says allegations against Robert Shonov are wholly without merit', as rare footage of detained US citizen Paul Whelan emergesThe United States has accused Moscow of attempting to intimidate and harass US employees, after Russian state media reported that a former US consulate worker had been charged with collecting information on the war in Ukraine and other issues for Washington.The FSB security service has accused Robert Shonov, a Russian national, of relaying to US embassy staffers in Moscow information on how Russia's conscription campaign was affecting political discontent ahead of the 2024 presidential election in Russia, according to Russian state news agency Tass. Continue reading...

Up to 150 killed in Enga Province as experts say weaker legal systems, weapons access and loss of hope' fuel deadly clashesAn outbreak of violence has killed up to 150 people in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, local police said, in what one expert described as a bushfire that has got out of control" as more forces are sent to calm clashes in the region.While tribal fighting is not unusual in parts of Papua New Guinea, the issue attracted international attention last week after disturbing footage appearing to show three naked men, tied-up and dragged behind a truck as onlookers cheered, circulated on social media. Continue reading...

Trump's White House chief of staff argues he acted in capacity as federal officer and that case should be moved to federal courtThe sprawling 41-count indictment of Donald Trump and 18 other defendants in Fulton county had its first test on Monday as Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff, took the stand before a federal judge over his request to move his Georgia election interference case from state to federal court.Meadows testified for nearly three hours before the court broke for lunch, defending his actions as Trump's chief of staff while avoiding questions regarding whether he believed Trump won in 2020. Continue reading...

Embattled president increasingly isolated in World Cup kiss row after urgent meeting between chiefsThe Spanish football federation's regional presidents have demanded that Luis Rubiales immediately resign", pulling support for the football chief days after its members heartily applauded his vow to stay on.On Monday, more than a week after Rubiales grabbed forward Jenni Hermoso by the head and planted a kiss on her lips, the federation's regional presidents were summoned to an extraordinary and urgent" meeting in Madrid to assess the impact of the crisis. Continue reading...

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, famous for arguing with Barack Obama on the campaign trail, died of pancreatic cancerSamuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, who shot to brief fame during the 2008 US presidential election as Joe the Plumber", has died aged 49. Cause of death was pancreatic cancer, his wife, Katie Wurzelbacher, told news outlets.Fifteen years ago, Wurzelbacher became famous after arguing with the then Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, on the campaign trail in Toledo, Ohio. Wurzelbacher asked Obama if he would pay more taxes if the Democrat won. Obama, then a US senator from Illinois, conceded that he might. Continue reading...

Tests part of NHS drive to cut heart attacks as study finds risk for men twice as high as for womenMen are to be offered blood pressure checks in barbershops as part of an NHS drive to prevent heart attacks, as research reveals they face double the risk of women.Having high blood pressure raises the risk of a heart attack, but many men and women remain unaware they may be affected because typically there are no symptoms. Continue reading...

Prosecutor Monique Worrell says law enforcement agencies in central Florida were all working against me'An elected Democratic prosecutor whose removal Ron DeSantis boasted about during the first Republican presidential debate said the hard-right Florida governor and his allies ousted her because she was prosecuting their cops".Law enforcement agencies in central Florida were all working against me", Monique Worrell told the Daily Beast, because I was prosecuting their cops, the ones who used to do things and get away with them". Continue reading...

National air traffic services say they have fixed the issue that has caused a network-wide failure but significant flights backlog remains

Technical meltdown in air traffic control causes bank holiday misery, with 500 flights cancelled and others delayed