Brian Monahan suggests Republican leader in US Senate, 81, may be suffering effects of concussion sustained during fall in MarchMitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the US Senate, is not evidently suffering from a seizure disorder", a stroke or a movement disorder such as Parkinson's disease", the congressional physician said on Tuesday.The doctor's remarks came a little less than a week after the 81-year-old senator suffered a second worrying freeze in front of reporters. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#6EFAT)
Tank could be one of 14 UK gave to Ukraine that Kyiv was keeping in reserve for frontline breakthroughA battlefield video circulating on social media overnight showed the destruction of a British Challenger 2 from a mine and Russian drone in Ukraine, which would be the first time one of the tanks has been destroyed in combat.At the beginning of the clip, filmed from a car involved in the fighting, the Challenger 2 with its distinctive gun barrel is seen shrouded in thick, grey smoke after the battlefield incident. Continue reading...
Authorities unsure whether the aerated concrete at risk of collapse is present anywhere on the estateInvestigations are under way into whether the Houses of Parliament have any reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), the material at risk of collapse that has led to the closure of more than 100 schools.Maintenance teams are trying to establish whether the dangerous concrete is present in any parts of the parliamentary estate, Bloomberg reported. A source told the Guardian that parliamentary authorities are unsure whether Raac is present and are trying to find out. Continue reading...
Only four schools were rebuilt in 2021 in government scheme intended to cover 500 schools over 10-year periodMore than half of English schools that are so dilapidated they are at risk of partial closure were refused money under the government's school rebuilding scheme, Department for Education (DfE) statistics show.Amid mounting concerns about a wider apparent neglect of the schools estate in recent years, beyond the immediate alarm about crumbling concrete panels, it emerged that of 500 rebuilt schools planned for England over 10 years from 2020, just four were completed in 2021. Continue reading...
Authorities want to cut number of tourists as Unesco considers putting Italian city on heritage danger listVenice will trial a ticketing system from spring next year, with day visitors charged 5 to enter the Italian city's historic centre in an attempt to reduce tourist numbers.The city's council executive backed the move on Tuesday, just weeks after Unesco recommended Venice be added to its list of world heritage sites in danger, in part due to the impact of mass tourism. Continue reading...
Major incident declared and number of passengers injured after crash on Cleddau Bridge in west Wales, police sayOne person has been killed and another is critically injured after a collision involving a 52-seater bus and a car on a bridge in west Wales.A major incident was declared on Tuesday and a health board asked people not to attend the local hospital unless they had life-threatening injuries to ensure there was enough capacity to treat the people injured in the collision. Continue reading...
Girls who refused to remove banned garment given letter saying secularism is not a constraint, it is a liberty', says ministerOn the first day of the new academic year French schools sent home dozens of girls for refusing to remove their abayas, the education minister said on Tuesday.Defying a ban on the Muslim garment, nearly 300 girls showed up on Monday morning wearing an abaya, Gabriel Attal told the BFM broadcaster. Most agreed to change, but 67 refused and were sent home, he said. Continue reading...
Proposed extension would threaten city's cultural life, say protesters, as 20 nightclubs would be demolishedBerlin clubbers have united with environmental campaigners to fight plans to extend a city autobahn that threatens the future of about 20 nightclubs in the east of the city.Thousands of techno fans and a broader clutch of protesters standing up for the city's cultural life took to Berlin's streets at the weekend in the latest in a string of demonstrations which have caused parts of the German capital to grind to a halt. Continue reading...
by Aamna Mohdin Community affairs correspondent on (#6EFMZ)
Portrait unveiled at country house once owned by plantation owner who enslaved actor's relatives in 18th centuryThe actor David Harewood has described his new portrait at Harewood House as a powerful example of his ancestor's resilience and the enduring legacy of descendants of enslaved people.Harewood House in Leeds, West Yorkshire, this week unveiled a portrait of the actor and author as part of its Missing Portraits series, which was launched in 2022 to redress the balance of artwork in its collection by depicting people of African-Caribbean heritage who have connections to the country house and its owners, the Lascelles family. Continue reading...
People caught producing or selling nitrous oxide could face 14 years in prison under new rulesNitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, is to become an illegal class C substance by the end of the year, the government has said.Those caught producing or selling the drug could also face up to 14 years in prison under the new rules. At present, the supply of nitrous oxide for recreational use is banned, but possession is not. Continue reading...
Home Office to introduce new measures as part of plan announced earlier this year to ban nitrous oxideKemi Badenoch, the business and trade secretary, was smiling as she left No 10 after cabinet this morning. Perhaps she has been reading the latest ConservativeHome survey of Tory members, which asks them to rate all members of cabinet. Ben Wallace used to regularly come top when he was defence secretary, but he is out of office now, and Badenoch is the clear leader.Rishi Sunak is near the bottom - with his ratings down significantly compared with last month. Continue reading...
Closed branches to be named tomorrow as administrators try to save majority of jobs and shopsMore than 50 Wilko stores are to shutand more than 1,300 jobs lost, as administrators continue to hold talks over a deal that would save most of the stricken retailer's outlets and employees.PwC confirmed that 52 Wilko stores will be closed with the loss of 1,016 jobs. Continue reading...
World leaders attending summit in New Delhi at weekend asked to dinner with president of Bharat'India was buzzing with speculation over rumoured plans to scrap official use of the country's English name, after a state-issued invitation to the G20 summit referred to it as Bharat.The government of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, has been working to remove lingering symbols of British rule from India's urban landscape, political institutions and history books, but this could be the biggest move yet. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6EFDD)
NHS trusts told to familiarise themselves with evacuation plan in event buildings containing Raac start to fall downNHS bosses have told hospitals across England to be ready to evacuate staff and patients if buildings containing concrete that are at risk of collapse start to fall down.NHS England issued the instruction to all 224 health trusts on Tuesday in the wake of the row over reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete (Raac), which has led to the closure of more than 100 schools. Continue reading...
Terms such as steak', grill' and spare ribs' to be removed from plant-based foods if agriculture ministry's decree is accepted by EUFrance's long-running battle over vegan food names has escalated as the government published a decree banning meaty terms such as steak", grill" or spare ribs" being used to describe plant-based products.Marc Fesneau, the French agriculture minister, said the new government decree on products such as vegan ham" or plant-based steak" was about helping shoppers and an issue of transparency and honesty responding to the legitimate expectations of consumers and producers". Continue reading...
Havana says it is dismantling network seeking to recruit Cubans as mercenaries as Moscow attempts to boost its forcesCuba has uncovered a human trafficking ring aimed at recruiting Cubans to fight as mercenaries for Russia in its war in Ukraine, its foreign ministry has said, as Moscow seeks to increase the size of its forces in Ukraine.In a statement, the Cuban foreign ministry said that the authorities were working to neutralise and dismantle" the network which it said was operating within the Caribbean island nation and in Russia. Continue reading...
UK upgrades heat health warning from yellow to amber as hottest day of year predictedUK health officials have upgraded their warning for the escalating heat as southern England will experience an official heatwave this week, forecasters have confirmed.Temperatures are on the rise for much of the UK, most likely peaking on Wednesday and Thursday with 32C expected across parts of the south and south-east, the Met Office said. Continue reading...
Launch of weight-loss drug in UK helps Danish firm to market value of $428bnThe success of the weightloss drug Wegovy has helped its Danish manufacturer to overtake the French luxury group LVMH as Europe's most valuable company.After Novo Nordisk, which specialises in diabetes and weight loss treatments, launched Wegovy in the UK on Monday, its share price rose 0.7% to Danish kronor 1,310.80 ($190). Continue reading...
Ofcom consults on universal service obligation, which requires deliveries to all UK addresses six days a weekRoyal Mail is hoping to end Saturday letter deliveries after the postal regulator called for evidence on how its services might change as the popularity of paper post continues to fall.Ofcom, which has previously estimated Royal Mail could save up to 225m annually by dropping Saturday delivery and conducted research that found consumers were largely indifferent" to the idea, is beginning a process to establish how services might need to evolve to better reflect the changing needs of postal users". Continue reading...
Officers and civilian staff in Northern Ireland feeling frightened' and betrayed', Commons committee toldCatholic officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been asking if they should bring their personal firearms to mass, such is their concern in the wake of a disastrous data breach, MPs have been told.PSNI officers and civilian staff felt frightened" and betrayed" by their employer, members of representative bodies told the House of Commons' Northern Ireland affairs committee, and were looking towards the UK government to provide large-scale funding to help. Continue reading...
Republicans showcase range of hawkish policies designed to counter perceived threat amid diplomatic push by BidenThe United States' tangled and increasingly fraught relationship with China is emerging centre stage in the 2024 presidential campaign in a rare case of foreign policy capturing the limelight in the race for the White House.Half-a-century since a Republican president, Richard Nixon, made a historic visit to communist China to carve out a lauded strategic opening in the election year of 1972, Republican candidates vying to succeed him in the Oval Office are showcasing a range of hawkish policies designed to counter the perceived threat from Beijing. Continue reading...
by Lisa O'Carroll Brussels correspondent on (#6EF8S)
Report says homelessness is worsening across EU and UK, with only Denmark and Finland making progressAlmost 1 million people are homeless on any given night across Europe, a new report has estimated. Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6EEQ8)
Items include an archive from John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 peace protest and a curious birthday card sent by George HarrisonAn archive of material from John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 peace protest is among the items to be sold this month at one of the most expensive Beatles auctions ever held.Memorabilia will go under an online hammer with an upper estimated value of $8m (6.3m). It includes a section of TV set wall that formed the backdrop to the Beatles' breakthrough Ed Sullivan show appearance, clothes, speakers, signed contracts and a curious birthday card from George Harrison to his caretaker signed Adolf Schinkengruber". Continue reading...
Ten-year-old spent eight hours in a tree to escape flash floods that have left at least five people deadA 10-year-old Spanish boy has been rescued after clinging to a tree for eight hours to escape the flood waters that have claimed at least five lives as much of the country was lashed by record heavy rains over the weekend.The boy's family were staying at their holiday home in Aldea del Fresno, to the west of Madrid, when the storm hit on Sunday. Alarmed by the flash flooding, they climbed into their car late on Sunday night but soon found themselves swept away. The boy was found, dirty and bruised but still alive, the following morning - as were his mother and sister. His father is still missing. Continue reading...
Organisers of the event in the Nevada desert have asked people to stagger their exits after thousands were stranded over the weekendBurning Man festivalgoers began their slow exodus from the campsite in the northern Nevada desert after muddy roads that left tens of thousands of people stranded for days dried up enough to make travel possible.Festival organisers said they started to let traffic flow out of the main road about 2pm local time (2200 BST) on Monday - even as they continued to ask revellers to delay their exit to Tuesday to ease traffic. As of Monday afternoon, they said about 64,000 people remained at the festival site. Continue reading...
Prosecutors say ex-chair and CEO were complicit in atrocities by Sudanese army and militiasThe former CEO and the chair of a Swedish oil firm go on trial in Sweden on Tuesday, accused of complicity in war crimes in Sudan between 1999 and 2003.Prosecutors say the then-Lundin Oil - which has since changed name several times and in 2022 sold most of its business - asked Khartoum to secure a potential oilfield in what is now South Sudan, knowing this would mean seizing the area by force. Continue reading...
Suspects admit using excavator to smash hole in Ming-era section in Shanxi province, state media sayTwo people have been detained after using an excavator to dig a hole in the Great Wall of China, said the state broadcaster CCTV.Police in Shanxi province followed tracks made by machinery used to dig a shortcut through a segment of the wall - remains of the immense structure built by China's emperors to deter foreign invaders. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: After 18 months of brutal fighting, the country has stunned the world with its warcraft, even as our foreign correspondent details the mood among citizens, reports of corruption and prospects for peace talks Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Today marks 559 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with no sign of resolution in sight.First Edition today is for those of you who, like me, need a recap on where the conflict is at. Maybe you are feeling a bit guilty for taking your eye off this relentless battle and want to understand why Volodymyr Zelenskiy sacked his defence minister on the weekend. Perhaps you were wondering whether Ukrainian defiance is waning after 18 months of brutal warfare, or whether the Ukrainians in your spare room are likely to be able to return home any time soon.Conservatives | The school buildings crisis is threatening to engulf Downing Street, with Rishi Sunak accused of slashing the budget for repairs while his education secretary was caught claiming colleagues had done nothing to stop it. Rishi Sunak faces the prospect of a byelection after the former Tory MP Chris Pincher lost an appeal against an eight-week suspension from parliament.North Korea | Kim Jong-un will reportedly travel to Russia this month to meet Vladimir Putin and discuss the possibility of supplying weapons to the Kremlin for the war in Ukraine.Labour | Angela Rayner will become deputy prime minister if Labour wins the next election and has been named shadow levelling up secretary during Keir Starmer's long-awaited shadow cabinet reshuffle. MPs on the Blairite right made significant gains at the expense of the centre-left. Lisa Nandy is taking on the international development brief, her second demotion in two years.Crime | Two people have been charged with murder after the discovery of partial human remains in Boscombe, Dorset police have confirmed. The force said the victim had been identified as 49-year-old Simon Shotton from Bournemouth. His family have been informed.Healthcare | Ministers are considering introducing Martha's rule in England to make it easier for patients and their families to get a second medical opinion. Martha Mills, who would have been 16 on Monday, died after developing sepsis while under the care of King's College hospital NHS foundation trust in south London. Continue reading...
Sato Kilman also hits back at reports on his political alignments as western nations grapple with China for influence in PacificVanuatu's new prime minister says the Pacific island nation will likely need to rethink a security agreement signed with Australia.Less than a day into his tenure, Sato Kilman said the parliament was unlikely to ratify the agreement, with questions raised about it being in Vanuatu's best interests. Continue reading...
Traders close shops, electricity bills are set alight and utility firm staff are attacked as anger rises over living costs and political strifeProtests against rising electricity and petrol prices have rocked Pakistan over the past week, with thousands taking to city streets and setting their electricity bills alight.The cost of electricity has doubled in the last three months to about 50 rupees (12p) a kilowatt. Petrol prices have shot up from 262 rupees a litre in June to 305 rupees this month. Continue reading...
Court in Karlsruhe decides against extradition of Albanian man in view of the state of the British prison system'A German court has refused to extradite to the UK a man accused of drug trafficking because of concerns about prison conditions in Britain, in what is thought to be the first case of its kind.The decision has been described as a severe rebuke" and an embarrassment for the UK" by a member of the Law Society. Continue reading...
by Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent on (#6EF23)
Leader of a secondary school in Essex warns upheaval could have similar negative impact to that caused by Covid lockdownsA headteacher whose 830 pupils must learn semi-remotely for at least a term because of the schools concrete crisis has warned that the upheaval could cause a recurrence of the negative mental health impact of Covid lockdowns.James Saunders, the leader of Honywood school in Coggeshall, Essex, fears that year-seven students entering their first term at secondary school could face future struggles after the Department for Education last week ordered the closure of 22 classrooms as part of a nationwide safety alert. Continue reading...
Frequent collaborator of George Harrison and synthesiser pioneer was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementiaGary Wright, the singer of pop hits Dream Weaver and Love is Alive, has died aged 80.His son Dorian confirmed the news to the Guardian. His other son Justin told TMZ his father died on Monday at home in California, and had been diagnosed with both Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. Continue reading...
by Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington on (#6EF1F)
Individual charges against Andrew, James and Peter Buttle dropped, though their company still faces charges over deadly eruptionThe three brothers who owned Whakaari/White Island at the time of its deadly eruption had the individual charges against them thrown out by a New Zealand judge on Tuesday, two months into their trial.The sudden eruption in December 2019 came as tour groups were visiting the island volcano. The explosion killed 22 people, 17 of them Australians, and seriously injured 25 others. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian