World news | The Guardian

Two government Airbuses to be scrapped after Annelina Baerbock was unable to get to AustraliaThe cancellation of an official visit by Germany's foreign minister to Oceania after her government plane twice developed a fault has drawn widespread scorn and derision and led to calls for change.The German tabloid Bild called Annalena Baerbock's 50-hour odyssey" a disgrace" and a humiliation" for Germany and said it could result in the rest of the world no longer taking Europe's largest economy seriously. Continue reading...

Health secretary made the false claim while trying to defend opposition to junior doctors' pay demandsSteve Barclay, the health secretary, got it wrong when he claimed in an interview this week that NHS consultants received tax-free pensions, the Department of Health has admitted.Barclay had come under fire after trying to defend the government's stance on junior doctors' pay demands in England by claiming that consultants retiring at 65 would get a tax-free pension of more than 73,000 a year. Continue reading...

Institution says companies won't constrain or edit' research, but public health expert Sean Cowlishaw calls funding relationship unprecedented'

Data shows a long-term decline in average and peak snow depths in the Australian alps, but direct causes are not easy to unpick

Church claims it cannot get fair trial over alleged abuse by the notorious David Joseph Perrett in legal tactic that has drawn widespread criticism

Blacktown's Kerry Robinson warns rates would need to rise by 40% to pay for community facilities for more than 250,000 expected new residents

New report suggests glut will last years, even if Beijing drops tariffs early, while prices of Australian red wine grapes plummet by more than half

Exclusive: Influential leftwing unions to tell Labor's national conference party it must seize most significant economic opportunity since the Industrial Revolution'

Close associates of ex-president - and possibly Bolsonaro himself - have been accused of selling off expensive giftsEvery Rolex tells a story," the luxury watchmaker once claimed.Brazilian police believe that slogan is particularly true when it comes to the diamond-set timepiece at the centre of an investigation into the suspected pilfering of high-priced official gifts by close associates of Jair Bolsonaro - and possibly the former president himself. Continue reading...

Kyiv angrily rejects suggestion by general secretary's chief of staff, saying it would reward Russian aggression

Thousands of fans crowded into the area before some attempted to break through barricades in the lead-up to the Australia v England gameFootball fans knocked down barriers outside Melbourne's Federation Square, allowing hundreds more to enter the already crowded site where many gathered to watch the Matildas match.Thousand of fans were already crowded in the fenced fan zone, waiting for the Matildas v England game to begin on Wednesday night, before people attempted to break through barricades outside the Fifa Women's World Cup Fan Festival. Continue reading...

Hannah Ingram-Moore reportedly paid via family firm for appearances linked to charity that bears father's nameThe Captain Tom Foundation is under renewed scrutiny after reports its co-founder Hannah Ingram-Moore was paid thousands of pounds via a family company for appearances linked to the charity that bears her father's name.According to the BBC, Ingram-Moore helped judge Virgin Media O2 awards ceremonies featuring the Captain Tom Foundation. Although she was at the time the 85,000-a-year interim chief executive of the foundation, her appearance fee was paid via a private company owned by her and her husband, Colin. Continue reading...

Salah Soltan, a US green card holder and critic of Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi, claims he faces death in Cairo jail and urges Biden to actA prominent Egyptian prisoner of conscience has told his family that he faces death in detention, spurring them to accuse the Biden administration of abandoning their father, despite previous promises on human rights.In a letter smuggled out of prison, Salah Soltan, a US green card holder and Islamic jurisprudence scholar, said he felt as if I stared death in the eyes while lying on the ground, paralysed and denied help and medicine for days," after collapsing in his cell earlier this year following complaints of chest pains. His family say the letter was his first unsupervised contact in two and a half years. Continue reading...

Up to 17,000 more children a day lack food, Save the Children say, as global indifference to humanitarian crisis condemned as racist'The past four months of fighting in Sudan has pushed millions into food insecurity - with an additional 1.5 million children expected to fall into crisis levels of hunger by September - as aid agencies say they are struggling to reach people.Up to 17,000 children a day have been falling into crisis levels of hunger, Save the Children warned on Tuesday. With 4 million people displaced so far, the charity said more people were facing hunger in Sudan than at any point since records there began in 2012. Continue reading...

Lord Garnier calls miscarriage of justice jaw-dropping' after Guardian revealed police had key DNA evidence 16 years agoA former solicitor general has called for a public inquiry into the wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson after the Guardian revealed that the police had key DNA evidence 16 years before he was cleared of rape.Lord Garnier KC, who was David Cameron's first solicitor general, described the miscarriage of justice in Malkinson's case as jaw-dropping". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said a public inquiry was needed to establish what went wrong. Continue reading...

Officials hope Fifan Marongo who went missing off Aceh on Sunday has safely stranded on an island on the western side of Sumatra

Technical issue' allowed transfers and withdrawals beyond customer limits and made online banking unavailableBank of Ireland has apologised for an IT glitch that meant some customers were able to withdraw money they did not have in their accounts at cashpoints.The bank said it had resolved the technical issue", which had also allowed transfers beyond customer limits and had made its online banking and mobile app services unavailable. Continue reading...

Senator criticises push to enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution, saying it is an insult' to First Nations people's intelligence

Social media comes alight with tributes to Australia's Women's World Cup heroes ahead of their semi-final

In today's newsletter: England and Australia meet in the World Cup semi-finals today, in another landmark moment in a tournament making history Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. The Lionesses' World Cup campaign reaches fever pitch today as they face co-host nation Australia, or the Matildas, in the semi-finals in Sydney. The winner of today's match will secure a place in the final against Spain.Regardless of who wins, the stage is set for history to be made. Neither Spain, England, nor Australia have competed in a World Cup final, let alone won the trophy. It's been an extraordinary tournament in a competition that has been dominated by the USA for decades; and a healthy sign for the women's game as it continues its remarkable growth. Continue reading...

Indian Medical Association says that testing is substandard in the manufacture of generic medicines with no guarantee of quality'Indian doctors have been told they can no longer prescribe branded drugs for their patients, provoking vehement protest from the Indian Medical Association [IMA].New government guidelines demand a wider use of generic drugs, which are 30%-80% cheaper, reducing the cost of medicines for millions. When doctors prescribe a medicine for fever, for example, they will have to give paracetamol, not drugs such as Panadol or Calpol. Doctors liken this to running trains without tracks" because the quality of generic drugs cannot be guaranteed. Continue reading...

Top midwives are calling for 350 additional midwives to help women struggling with mental healthHalf of cases of anxiety and depression among new and expectant mothers in the UK are going undiagnosed, top midwives have warned, as they called for a boost in staff numbers to help spot more cases of mental ill health.The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said that 10% to 20% of women develop a mental illness during pregnancy or within the first year after having a baby, which can include anxiety and depression and severe mental health issues. But too many cases of perinatal cases of anxiety or depression are being missed, despite contact with professionals, it said in its report. Continue reading...

Burston, a one-time senator for One Nation, was ordered to pay his former leader's legal costs for the initial defamation case and appeal

Woman at centre of Victoria mushroom lunch that left three dead says she feels trapped in her home because reporters are camped outside

Biosecurity officers near Queensland border can search cars and trucks for now-illegal high-risk' material that could contain red fire ants

When Britain's wonkiest pub was destroyed in a fire and the ruins demolished, it sparked protests and made headlines around the world - but why?Thanks to a bad case of subsidence the Crooked House in the Black Country, had become a landmark. Punters talked about how its alarming lean made you feel drunk before you got to your pint, while badly made shelves were said to be as straight as the Crooked House'.But then it was bought by developers, caught fire and was immediately demolished. For many people it seemed like a symptom of how loved, local pubs were disappearing, while the nature of the pub's destruction also raised interest across the country - and beyond. Continue reading...

A successful Australian trial of a urine test to detect whether an abortion has worked will be welcomed by rural and remote patients, say clinicians

After spending 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, the 57-year-old's conviction was finally overturned last month

No action taken despite 2007 discovery of searchable male DNA profile on rape victim's top that did not match Malkinson's

Leith Arches said it cancelled comedy listing at which gender-critical writer was due to appearAn arts venue in Edinburgh has cancelled an event featuring the gender-critical scriptwriter Graham Linehan after complaints from customers.Leith Arches, which often hosts queer and drag events, wrote on Instagram that it had cancelled a comedy listing where Linehan was due to appear on Thursday evening. Continue reading...

Grave concern' after latest example of conservative lawmakers limiting education on racial historyAdvocacy groups are outraged after the Arkansas department of education warned state high schools not to offer an advanced placement course on African American history.The admonition from Arkansas education officials is the latest example of conservative lawmakers limiting education on racial history, sexual orientation and other topics they label as indoctrination". Continue reading...

Met want to identify man after attack in south London, which is being treated as homophobicPolice have released a CCTV image of a man they want to identify after an attack, being treated as homophobic, in which two people were stabbed outside a south London nightclub.The Metropolitan police are searching for a man pictured on CCTV, after two men were injured outside the Two Brewers in Clapham High Street. The image was taken at about 10.15pm on Sunday, the same time as the attack. Continue reading...

The Ukrainian air force said it destroyed 16 out of the 28 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnightRussia's central bank has announced it will hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to discuss the level of its key interest rate after the rouble fell to its weakest point in almost 17 months.The currency has been steadily losing value since the beginning of the year and slid past the psychologically important level of 100 to the dollar on Monday morning. Continue reading...

As the island recovers from the deadly fires, those visiting for leisure are being requested to avoid the regionWith hundreds of people still missing following the deadly wildfires that swept through parts of Maui on Tuesday, residents and local officials are imploring the thousands of tourists who normally line the island's coastline to stay home.Some residents and officials pointed at examples of tourists crossing citizen aid convoys or trying to enter the Lahaina area over the weekend. Continue reading...

Blaze in popular tourist area in the Pyrenees forced evacuation of 2,000 people before it was brought under controlA fire in the south of France burned through 500 hectares (1,240 acres) of land and destroyed a campsite, with 2,000 people evacuated before the blaze was brought under control on Tuesday.The French environment minister said the climate crisis was exacerbating conditions of drought that fed the fire. No one was injured in the fire, authorities said. Continue reading...

Four-month-old among victims and over 50 people also injured in explosion at commercial center in San CristobalThe death toll from a powerful explosion near the capital of the Dominican Republic has risen to 10 as firefighters searched through smoldering rubble, authorities said.More than 50 people also were injured in Monday's explosion at a bustling commercial center in the city of San Cristobal, said Joel Santos, minister of the presidency. At least 36 of the injured remained hospitalized, Santos said. Continue reading...

Coalition urges health secretary to back changes as long-term sickness levels reach record high

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our UK political coverage hereBack on the PSNI data leak for a second, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has questioned how the details of PSNI officers and staff were all kept in one system.What's happened, why it's happened, I don't know, I don't get it - how 10,000 people were all in one system, particularly intelligence people - but I'm sure that will all come out in the wash," PA Media reports he told Newstalk. Continue reading...

Manju Malhotra, who joined retailer 25 years ago, is understood to have disagreed over pace of changeThe boss of Harvey Nichols has quit the retailer she first joined 25 years ago after tensions over its strategy and a member of the owning family will take the reins.Manju Malhotra started at the Knightsbridge store in London in 1998 as a newly qualified accountant and worked her way up through the ranks before becoming chief executive in January 2020, just before the pandemic forced stores to shut. Continue reading...

Trio detained in February after counter-terrorism investigation are accused of working for Moscow's security services, BBC reportsThree Bulgarian nationals suspected of spying for Russia while living in the UK have been arrested and charged, police have said.The defendants were among five people detained in February after a long-running counter-terrorism investigation. Three of those were then charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention, according to the Metropolitan police, which is responsible for espionage cases. Continue reading...

Exclusive: David TC Davies accused of whipping up opposition against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communitiesConservative party chair, Greg Hands, has been urged to launch an internal investigation into the Welsh secretary, David TC Davies, over unacceptable" and racist" comments against the Traveller community.Earlier thjs month Davies circulated a leaflet that warned voters: Gypsy and Traveller site coming to your area soon!" before asking them: Would you like to see a Traveller site next to your house?" Continue reading...

Clevedon town council chairman says he cannot reveal why insurance policies were revokedThe seafront tennis courts have been shut and walkers told to stay away from a popular park. Allotment holders have been barred from their plots and classes at a community centre cancelled.At what should be its busiest time of the year, the Somerset seaside resort of Clevedon has been forced to close down many of its amenities after its town council lost its insurance. Continue reading...

Protection group appeals for funds after accepting 12,000 animals since beginning of summerFrench animals rescue centres say they have reached saturation" with abandoned pets this summer.More than 100,000 pets are abandoned to fend for themselves in France every year, more than half of them dumped just before or during long summer holidays when they are often found next to routes heading for the coast or countryside. Last summer, 60,000 pets were dumped, and animal rescuers say the figure is expected to be higher this year. Continue reading...

The Airbus A340 taking Annalena Baerbock to the region twice had to turn back to Abu Dhabi after refuellingGermany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has been forced to abandon a trip to Oceania after a problem with her government plane twice forced it to return to Abu Dhabi.Baerbock set off from Berlin on Sunday, but a mechanical problem with her ageing German air force Airbus A340's landing flaps meant it had to turn back to Abu Dhabi after a refuelling stop there. The aircraft took off again on Monday night, but the technical problem resurfaced and the plane had to return to the Emirati capital again. Continue reading...

Open letter calls on Jewish leaders to speak out against ultimate purpose' of PM's judicial reforms - upholding regime of apartheid'Hundreds of Israeli and American public figures have called on US Jewish groups to speak out against the occupation of the Palestinian territories as the elephant in the room" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's deeply divisive judicial reforms.The statement has drawn international attention because of the prominent Israelis who have signed its forthright declaration that Palestinians live under a regime of apartheid", including the renowned Israeli historian Benny Morris, and the former speaker of the Israeli parliament, Avraham Burg. Continue reading...

Americans had spent a night under the stars in a spot normally closed to the public but did not pose any apparent threat'Two American tourists have been found sleeping off a heavy night in the heights of Paris' Eiffel Tower, after dodging security the night before, the monument's operator said on Tuesday.Security guards roused the men in the early morning" as they were making their rounds before the French landmark's 9am opening time on Monday, publicly-owned Eiffel Tower operator Sete said. Continue reading...

Personal information of people including victims of crime was included in freedom of information responses, forces sayThe personal data of more than 1,000 people, including victims of crime, was included in freedom of information (FoI) responses issued by Norfolk and Suffolk police, the forces have said.In a statement, the two East Anglian constabularies said a technical issue" meant raw crime report data was included in a very small percentage" of FoI responses issued between April 2021 and March 2022. Continue reading...

Ursula von der Leyen aide reported to have ruled out returns agreement' in leaked copy of memo

Risks of interest rate overkill rising fast even though wages grew strongly in last quarter

Three children among those killed in blaze that started in vehicle repair shop in Dagestan and spread to petrol stationA fire at a petrol station in the southern Russian region of Dagestan has killed at least 30 people including three children, Russia's emergency services ministry said on Tuesday.The fire started at a car repair shop beside a main road in the Dagestani capital, Makhachkala, and caused explosions as it spread to the nearby filling station, officials said. It's like a war here," a witness said. Continue reading...