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Police say alleged offences include breach of the peace after 200 people march to plant and four climb on roofFive people have been arrested after environmental activists staged a day of resistance at the Ineos oil refinery near Falkirk.Four people climbed on to the roof of the Ineos gas power station at Grangemouth and held up a banner on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, about 200 people marched to the fence of the Ineos plant, which powers the oil refinery, from a climate camp approximately a mile away. Continue reading...

Titanic director and deep-sea expert tweets he is not in talks about OceanGate movie after report published in the SunJames Cameron has debunked the rumors that he is working on a film about the recent implosion of the OceanGate submersible, an accident that took the lives of all five people on board, and called the claims offensive".The director and noted deep-sea expert tweeted an impassioned note to followers on Saturday after the Sun published a report titled: DIVE DEEP Titanic director James Cameron in talks with major streaming network to create drama series on doomed Titan sub." The piece claimed that an insider" told the publication that Cameron is first choice for director" of a film about the events on the Titan submersible. Continue reading...

In one week, the allegations and responses to them have plunged the national broadcaster into yet another crisis - and raised serious questions about the Murdoch tabloidIt was a grim sort of guessing game played across Britain last week: who was the mystery BBC broadcaster who had reportedly paid 35,000 to a young person in exchange for sexual images? By Tuesday the field of suspects had narrowed, as horrified presenters, misidentified in social media posts, attempted to distance themselves. Then on Wednesday came the revelation: the hidden man at the centre of this tabloid newspaper accusation was Huw Edwards, the BBC's lead news anchor, whose calm and authoritative voice had announced the death of the Queen.The astonishing allegations carried in the Sun newspaper last weekend have split the nation and put many leading commentators at loggerheads, to say nothing of pitting an endangered BBC against Rupert Murdoch's news empire. Continue reading...

Observer investigation reveals Meta Pixel tool passed on private details of web browsing for targeted advertising purposesBritain's biggest police force gathered sensitive data about people using its website to report sexual offences, domestic abuse and other crimes and shared it with Facebook for targeted advertising, the Observer has found.The data was collected by a tracking tool embedded in the website of the Metropolitan police and included records of browsing activity about people using a secure" online form for victims and witnesses to report offences. Continue reading...

Police open investigation into deaths of two people found at shooting school near HumberA murder investigation has been launched after a man and woman were found dead at a shooting school.Humberside police were called to White Lodge shooting school on College Road near Thornton Curtis, about 6 miles (10km) south-east of the Humber Bridge in Lincolnshire, at about 3.40pm on Friday after reports of a concern for safety. Continue reading...

FSB says it has detained people carrying out reconnaissance near the homes of Margarita Simonyan and Ksenia Sobchak

Mary Somerville, 39, died in Edinburgh following loss of Jaime Carsi, 40, in Mallorca, which was blamed on a faulty fridgeA woman has died two months after her husband was killed by a suspected gas leak from a broken fridge while on honeymoon in Mallorca.Mary Somerville, 39, was found unconscious lying next to Jaime Carsi at a holiday home on 6 May. Continue reading...

Israeli prime minister, 73, thought to be suffering from dehydration and is undergoing medical tests in hospital near Tel AvivBenjamin Netanyahu has said he feels very good" after being taken to a Tel Aviv hospital for what doctors determined was likely to be dehydration.Israel's prime minister issued a video statement hours after he was hospitalised. In the statement, Netanyahu said he had been out in the sun on Friday without a hat and without water. Not a good idea," he said. Continue reading...

Downing Street said to be discussing measure to win votes in blue wall' seats in next general electionDowning Street is reportedly holding talks about making the scrapping of inheritance tax (IHT) part of its manifesto pledge in an attempt to win over votes in the next general election.No 10 is discussing whether to make abolishing the levy a key commitment in its manifesto to try to shore up votes in blue wall" seats, according to the Times. Continue reading...

The party has warned its campaigners about their attitude to Conservative voters in true blue constituenciesLabour activists campaigning before a byelection in a safe Conservative seat have been told to leave if they feel unable to be respectful to Tory voters, as the party attempts to tackle the assumption that it cannot compete in true blue heartlands.Direct Tory attacks are also being scrapped or significantly toned down as Labour strategists try to convince voters in the Mid Bedfordshire seat that their candidate will put the constituency ahead of the party" if necessary, should he win the seat. Continue reading...

Fire started early hours of Saturday morning in wooded area in north-west of La PalmaSpanish authorities have evacuated about 500 people from the vicinity of a wildfire that has broken out on the island of La Palma.The fire started in the early hours of Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north-west of the island in the Canaries. Continue reading...

Increase in non-lethal military and humanitarian aid came after Yoon Suk-yeol made surprise visit to Kyiv

Exes are alternating periods at home with time in a rented flat: it can work well for children and save money - as long as they get alongDivorcing couples with children are increasingly turning to an unconventional living arrangement know as birdnesting" in order to save money in a time of soaring housing costs.Under the agreement, both parents take turns living in the family home, often on a week-by-week basis, with the rest of the time spent in a rented flat nearby. The name comes from the similarity to birds taking it in turns to leave the chicks while they search for food, and the arrangement was also the focus of ITV's four-part drama Our House last year. Continue reading...

Amid Wimbledon finals, gusts up to 55mph forecast in south England and Wales while Scotland and Northern Ireland braced for thunderstormsWeather warnings have been issued across the UK ahead of the Wimbledon finals this weekend.Yellow weather warnings for wind are in place for large parts of the south of England and south Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland facing a yellow warning for thunderstorms. Continue reading...

Drummond Street, a south Asian hub, is under threat from HS2 works at Euston station in London but now moves are afoot to revive the areaFriday lunchtime and the dining room at Chutneys is in full swing. Happy customers, many longtime regulars, are tucking into the buffet, returning for many helpings of mild, sweet matar paneer, dark-green, minerally sag aloo, freshly cooked parathas and - of course - housemade chutneys. At 9.95, it's a steal.Things look rosy, but for manager Abdul Mubin, the opposite is true. Trade is down 60% since the pandemic, says Mubin, who grew up in London's Euston area and has worked at Chutneys and Diwana Bhel Poori House, the landmark sister restaurant on the other side of the road, since 1987. Continue reading...

The Thick of It creator will collaborate with actor Sean Foley on first authorised adaptation of director's 1964 apocalyptic comedyStanley Kubrick's classic film Dr Strangelove is to be adapted for the stage for the first time.The 1964 apocalyptic comedy, about a rogue US general who triggers a nuclear crisis and puts the world on the verge of catastrophe when he orders an attack on the Soviet Union, will be adapted by Armando Iannucci, the writer and broadcaster known for political satires including the TV series The Thick of It and the film In the Loop, and the Olivier award-winning actor Sean Foley. Foley will also direct. Continue reading...

Cameron Caldwell wins retiring member Stuart Robert's seat with Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro conceding less than 90 minutes after polls closed

Sharon Graham, of UK's second largest union, says party lacks ambition and is not showing itself as distinct alternative to ToriesLabour should talk about what they can do to change Britain", the leader of the UK's second largest trade union has said.Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, said the union could reduce the amount of money it gave to Labour if the party's leadership did not back more of its policy priorities,saying people want something to vote for". Continue reading...

Stakes are high in contest for Queensland seat. This blog has now closed

Retailers should be forced to display detailed price information on loyalty card deals, says consumer groupSupermarket food prices have increased by more than 25% over the past two years according to the consumer group Which?, with the size of the rise reinforcing the case for retailers to be forced to display detailed price information on loyalty card offers and promotions so shoppers can find the best deal.Which? said the government needed to close loopholes that result in confusing and inconsistent" pricing practices of some supermarkets. Last month it reported Tesco to the UK's competition watchdog because it does not provide unit prices - such as the price for each 100g or 100ml - for the loyalty card offers it uses as a sales tactic to pull in shoppers. Continue reading...

Government-backed NS&I increases its rates, as building societies and banks launch better dealsAmid the mortgage misery, there was more good news this week on savings rates, with a growing number of accounts now paying 6%-plus interest.Meanwhile, the government-backed NS&I - a favourite of many in these uncertain times - has upped the rates on some of its popular fixed-rate accounts. Continue reading...

S Iswaran on bail along with hotel magnate and Singapore Formula One GP promoter Ong Beng Seng as case rocks city-state's clean reputationSingapore's transport minister has been arrested in connection with a rare top-level corruption investigation that has also ensnared a billionaire hotel tycoon, the country's anti-graft body has said.S Iswaran, the minister, was arrested on Tuesday and subsequently released on bail", the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in an emailed statement late on Friday, confirming the arrest for the first time. Continue reading...

The new chief was one of the board members raising interest rates, but has been brought in to reform the central bank

Zelenskiy says Russia doing everything it can to stop Ukrainian troop advance; Putin says he tried and failed to have Prigozhin replaced as Wagner leader in Ukraine

Keir Johnston, 38, from Colonsay in Scotland, is alleged to have conducted 11-year campaign of serious domestic violenceA man who found fame after a dress worn by his mother-in-law at his wedding went viral due to its unusual colour properties has reportedly appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of his wife.Keir Johnston, 38, from the Isle of Colonsay in Scotland, is alleged to have conducted an almost 11-year campaign of serious domestic violence and coercive control which resulted in him attempting to kill his wife, the Times reported. Continue reading...

Kimberley Sampson and Samantha Mulcahy died in 2018 after caesarean sections by the same surgeon in KentA coroner has criticised an NHS trust over the deaths of two new mothers with herpes.Kimberley Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, died in 2018 after having caesarean sections six weeks apart by the same surgeon at hospitals in Kent. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Sir Henry Parkes memorial school of arts - home of the 1889 Tenterfield oration - to close in a fortnight

New York and Vermont suffer severe flooding, while European heatwave expected to continue into next weekIn the US, what is being termed as a one in 1,000 years flooding event has occurred, with a state of emergency called in New York and Vermont. From Sunday to Tuesday, vast quantities of rain fell across the two states. More than 30 locations in Vermont recorded more than 150mm (5.9 inches) of rain, with Plymouth and Mt Holly recording 230mm and 220mm respectively. At least four bridges are reported to have collapsed in the Plymouth area, leaving some families stranded in their homes. Meanwhile, storms in the state of New York brought more than 175mm of rain in a four-hour period at West Point on Sunday afternoon.Such large amounts of rainfall led to fluvial flooding as rivers such as the Hudson in New York and the Winooski in Vermont breached their banks. A 43-year-old woman died in the Hudson Valley as floodwaters swept her and her dog away. Continue reading...

Borrowers will be eligible for forgiveness if they've made 20 or 25 years of monthly IDR payments, education department saysJoe Biden's administration will cancel $39bn in student debt for more than 804,000 borrowers, the education department said on Friday, describing the relief as the result of a fix" to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans.Borrowers will be eligible for forgiveness if they have made either 20 or 25 years of monthly IDR payments, the department said. The IDR program caps payment requirements for lower-income borrowers and forgives their remaining balance after a set number of years. Continue reading...

Ukraine claims to have shot down 16 drones overnight; Pentagon says Wagner mercenaries no longer participating in Ukraine

British brand's sales jump by 18% year on year on back of post-Covid bounceback in ChinaBurberry has reported a sales surge of almost a fifth thanks to a bounceback in China, but the luxury British fashion brand has warned that London is losing out to rivals such as Paris and Milan, which are enjoying a stronger tourist shopping boom.The British fashion brand, best known for its signature check bags and raincoats, said that global sales grew 18% year on year to 589m in the quarter to 1 July - its fastest growth rate in two years. Continue reading...

Speculation he could move to crossbench if appeal is unsuccessful as allies suggest he may run as an independent at next election

The Reserve Bank of Australia's first female governor will begin her appointment at or very near the end of the cycle of rate rises

Simon Geoffrey Raymond, 39, has been in custody since Tuesday after he was arrested over alleged threats against Anne Webster

Police allege former husband also breached his bail and an AVO, after Christine Formosa Rakic's body was found in Western Sydney home

Union-negotiated deal the latest in the tussle between financial institutions and employees over work-from-home arrangements and pay

Supreme court judge drops demand for broadcaster to reveal source, stating former commando already knew their identity

Report calls for urgent reform to NHS services with some people unable to access care said to be using pliers to extract teethNHS dental services are not fit for purpose and need urgent reform, according to MPs who have warned that people are resorting to DIY treatment using pliers.A report published on Friday by the health and social care select committee said it was totally unacceptable in the 21st century" that large numbers of patients had to experience pain and distress because they could not see an NHS dentist. Continue reading...

Campaign aims to put onus on men to stop violence against women as figures suggest most already feel country safe place for womenA campaign aimed at making young men reflect about violence against women and domestic abuse is being launched in Wales as new figures suggest most already feel the country is a safe place for women and almost 40% believe enough has been done to fill the gender equality gap.The Sound" campaign, which the Labour-controlled government hopes will help tackle the crisis of toxic masculinity, is aimed at men between the ages of 18 and 34, and will try to reach them via social media, podcasts, digital television and streaming channels.75% of men think Wales is a safe place to be a woman.37% believe the country has gone far enough in closing the gender equality gap.39% believe efforts to achieve women's equality have led to discrimination against men.43% believe traditional masculinity is under threat.64% underestimate the prevalence of violence against women.There was a very low understanding of terms such as love-bombing, gaslighting and coercive control.Younger men were both more likely to agree that traditional masculinity is under threat - and to describe themselves as feminists. They also perceived scenarios involving physical abuse as less harmful and wrong compared with older age groups. Continue reading...

NSW supreme court judge rules newspaper article by former political editor was a one-off mistake'

Bullock replaces current Reserve Bank of Australia chief Philip Lowe, whose term expires in September

Simultaneous strikes by WGA and Sag-Aftra are expected to halt the majority of Hollywood's film and TV productionThe union representing Hollywood actors formally announced a strike on Thursday, expanding the standoff between Hollywood workers and studio executives over wages, AI technology and how to divide the profits of the new digital streaming era.The strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra), and marks the first time in 63 years Hollywood writers and actors are striking simultaneously. Continue reading...

The bombs, which open in air to deploy scores of deadly bomblets, are banned in 120 countries, but not in the US, Ukraine or RussiaCluster munitions provided by the United States have now arrived in Ukraine, the Pentagon confirmed on Thursday.The munitions - bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets - are seen by the US as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian frontlines. US leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week. Continue reading...

Council orders contractor to immediately remove material made by firm implicated in 2017 disasterMaterials made by a company implicated in the Grenfell Tower disaster have been installed on a pair of nearby council tower blocks during fire safety works, in a move met with outrage in the west London community.Insulation made by Kingspan, the firm that provided some of the combustible foam on the tower, which went up in flames on 14 June 2017 killing 72 people, was discovered last week on the Adair and Hazelwood towers, a few hundred metres from Grenfell. Continue reading...

US president plays down worries during Finland visit when asked about whether Russian president could escalate action in Ukraine. This live blog is now closed

The government has offered rises of between 5% and 7% to workers including teachers and doctors

Fines on list given to the Guardian were levied by agency created at Ron DeSantis's behest to investigate voter fraud, which is rareFlorida Republicans have hit dozens of voter registration groups with thousands of dollars of fines, the latest salvo in an alarming crackdown on voting in the state led by Governor Ron DeSantis.At least 26 groups have cumulatively racked up more than $100,000 in fines since September of last year, according to a list that was provided by Florida officials to the Guardian. The groups include both for-profit and nonprofit organizations as well as political parties, including the statewide Republican and Democratic parties of Florida. Continue reading...

The ISC's warnings are unlikely to act as much of a brake on Britain's approach to ChinaIf there is one constant in the UK's policy towards China over the past three decades it has been its short-termism and inconsistency, the scathing intelligence and security committee report on China rightly finds, comparing Britain's to Beijing's capacity to think strategically about how to advance the global interests of the Chinese Communist party.If Downing Street thinks in terms of the next news bulletin, China has a planning cycle that in some of its documents takes it to 2049, as the ISC was told by one of its intelligence agency witnesses. Continue reading...

Iger, 72, says decision by Sag-Aftra to recommend strike action will have a very, very damaging effect on the business'As a strike by Sag-Aftra appears imminent without a contract, Disney chief executive Bob Iger has said writers and actors preparing to picket are not being realistic" with their expectations, and that the threat of a strike is disturbing".In an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box on Thursday morning, Iger said the decision by the actors and writers unions to go on strike is very disturbing to me. We've talked about disruptive forces on this business and all the challenges we're facing, the recovery from Covid, which is ongoing, it's not completely back. Continue reading...

Sources claim corporation journalists may have made early inquiries into allegations of workplace improprietyFor six days, the BBC's top journalists have gathered at Broadcasting House in central London and dedicated themselves to investigating Huw Edwards, the corporation's most famous news presenter.Up above them, on the building's fourth floor, the BBC director general, Tim Davie, has been working non-stop to get a grip on the scandal, receiving updates on the allegations, and fighting for the broadcaster's reputation. Continue reading...