PBS chief says cuts package goes against the will of the American people' as smaller outlets could face total closurePublic broadcast station leaders are condemning Donald Trump's latest victory after the Senate approved a bill on Wednesday that will cancel all federal funding for public broadcasting programs including PBS and NPR.Following the Senate's decision to pass $9bn in spending cuts to public broadcasting as well as foreign aid, PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger saying that the Senate's approval of the package goes against the will of the American people". Continue reading...
Ince was also fined 5,000 and ordered to pay 2,000 statutory surcharge and 85 costs over incident in JuneThe former England footballer Paul Ince has been banned from driving and ordered to pay 7,085 for drink-driving.The 57-year-old appeared at Chester magistrates court on Friday where he admitted driving his Range Rover while over the limit on 28 June in Neston, Cheshire. Continue reading...
The blockbuster adaptation of Homer's epic has not finished filming and has no official runtime. But super fans - and scalpers - already have seatsThe first tickets to Christopher Nolan's take on Homer's Odyssey have gone on sale - before he's even finished filming it and a year before the film is even out, in what is likely the longest pre-sale in cinematic history.The Odyssey, which stars Matt Damon as the cunning Odysseus as he fights his way home after the end of the Trojan war, will be released on 17 July 2026. But on Thursday, Imax released tickets to the first screenings at the 26 Imax cinemas around the world that have the staff and equipment required to project in 1570 format. Continue reading...
by Benita Kolovos Victorian state correspondent on (#6YQR9)
Exclusive: Liberal MP urges people to make submissions to inquiry as Labor insists it will look into harmful and coercive groups, not target trans communities
In today's newsletter: In failing to leverage its economic influence, the bloc is showing its threats are empty - and is breaking its own rulesGood morning. Before we get into the news of the day, a bit of housekeeping.I've been away from the newsletter for a few months, but this isn't the grand return I'm sure you've all been eagerly awaiting. Instead, this will be my last First Edition (cue sad music). After three and a half years, I'm moving teams to join the Guardian's international desk. So, farewell readers! It's been real and a proper privilege to be the first port of call for many of you each morning. Apologies for the countless times I'm sure you've opened your inbox, bleary eyed, to be greeted by some alarming event. You'll be in excellent hands with my brilliant colleagues Aamna Mohdin and Phoebe Weston over the summer.UK news | The voting age will be lowered to 16 across the UK by the next general election in a major change of the democratic system. The government said the reform would bring in more fairness as 16- and 17-year-olds already work and are able to serve in the military.US news | Donald Trump said on Thursday he had directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking case as he sought to tamp down controversy over a story published by the Wall Street Journal alleging he contributed a sketch of a naked woman to Epstein's 50th birthday album.Israel-Gaza | An Israeli strike has hit the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing two people and injuring several others, including the parish priest, who used to receive daily calls from the late Pope Francis.Labour | Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour party for a second time after saying she did not regret her past remarks on racism. In a statement to Newsnight on Thursday evening, Abbott said: It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out. My comments in the interview ... were factually correct, as any fair-minded person would accept."Sudan | Children in Sudan, caught up in what aid organisations have called the world's largest humanitarian crisis and threatened by rising levels of violence, are increasingly vulnerable to deadly infectious diseases as vaccinations in the country plummet. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Customers are told the carmaker is allowing more time for testing and for demand to pick upBritain's largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, has delayed the planned launches of its new electric Range Rover and electric Jaguar models to give it time for more testing and for demand to pick up, the Guardian can reveal.JLR has written to customers waiting for the Range Rover Electric to inform them that deliveries of the new version of the model will not start until next year, after initially aiming for late 2025. Continue reading...
Sectarian divisions prompted the worst unrest in Syria since March as the Druze population of Sweida province suffered massacres and executionsBahaa* had no choice but to keep on working as patient after patient came through the doors of the Sweida National hospital in southern Syria. Almost all bore similar injuries: gunshot wounds and bodies shredded by shrapnel from nearby exploding artillery.There were hundreds of wounded, no less than 200 bodies in the hospital. Many of them shot in the head, as if executed," said Bahaa, a surgeon speaking of the events of this week in Sweida under a pseudonym for fear of retribution. Continue reading...
by Presented by Helen Pidd with Dan Sabbagh; produced on (#6YQP5)
Dan Sabbagh on the data leak that may have cost hundreds of millions of pounds - and put Afghan lives at riskThis week an email was sent to people in Afghanistan. It told the recipients, who had all worked for British forces in Afghanistan, that some of their personal data may have been compromised". All had applied for asylum in the UK, fearful because their work for Britain made them a target for the Taliban. Now they were told their asylum applications had been leaked into the public domain.They were advised not to take phone calls or respond to messages or emails from unknown contacts, to limit access to their social media, to consider closing their accounts, and to only go online via a private connection. Understandably, they were terrified. Continue reading...
City watchdog publishes details of its plans to regulate the BNPL market, which has now grown to 13bnLenders may have to carry out affordability checks on even the smallest buy now, pay later loans under new rules drawn up by the City watchdog.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)on Friday published details of its plan to regulate the 13bn buy now, pay later (BNPL) market. Continue reading...
Conflict restarts in southern province as Druze groups reportedly target Bedouin villages in revenge' attacksThe Israeli military has carried out an airstrike on the outskirts of Sweida city as clashes between tribal fighters and Bedouin fighters intensified on Thursday night.The clashes started a wave of tit-for-tat retaliatory violence earlier on in the day after Syrian government forces withdrew from Sweida. Continue reading...
Oscar-winning writer-director, known for Jojo Rabbit and Thor sequels, attached to new take on comic book characterOscar-winner Taika Waititi is set to take on a new Judge Dredd movie.According to the Hollywood Reporter, the writer-director will take the reins of the latest attempt to bring the comic book character to the screen with Drew Pearce set to take on the script. Continue reading...
Twenty-one people taken to hospital after collision on A396 and firefighters had to free some passengersA child was killed when a coach carrying pupils returning from an end of term day trip to a zoo flipped on to its roof and plunged down an embankment in Somerset.Twenty-one passengers were taken to hospital by vehicles and a helicopter, some with serious injuries. Others were treated at the scene. Continue reading...
Riot police deployed to anti-immigration flashpoint in Epping as far right seeks to exploit local tensionsFar-right supporters have attacked police as violence erupted following a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex.Hundreds of people had earlier staged a fresh demonstration outside the hotel in Epping that has become a flashpoint of anti-immigration protest, days after two security guards were seriously assaulted during a previous gathering. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6YQD6)
Brian Eno, Fontaines DC and Kneecap say group will support those subject to aggressive, vexatious campaigns' by pro-Israel advocatesMassive Attack, Brian Eno, Fontaines DC and Kneecap have announced the formation of a syndicate for artists speaking out about Israel's military assault on Gaza, who they say have been subjected to aggressive, vexatious campaigns" by pro-Israel advocates.Posting on Instagram, the musicians said their aim was to protect other artists, particularly those at early stages of their careers, from being threatened into silence or career cancellation" by organisations such as UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). Continue reading...
Analysis of $20m spent on Alligator Alcatraz' shows some contracts went to governor's donors or alliesOfficials in Florida diverted crucial disaster preparedness and response resources to support the hasty construction of the so-called Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention jail by the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, a newly published report has claimed.Some of the $20m in contracts analyzed by Talking Points Memo (TPM) before they inexplicably disappeared from the Florida department of financial services website went to donors or political allies of DeSantis, the report said. Continue reading...
US president has suggested the central bank mismanaged funds for renovations at the Federal Reserve headquartersThe White House is pushing for an inspection of the US Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington after Donald Trump suggested the central bank had mismanaged funds for building renovations.The scrutiny comes as Trump has unsuccessfully tried to pressure the Fed chair, Jerome Powell, to quit and demanded he and other officials lower interest rates. Powell has said that lowering rates prematurely could lead to higher inflation, and that Trump's tariffs had contributed to price increases. Continue reading...
Hopes 225m Isambard-AI in Bristol will unleash new era of technological, medical and social breakthroughsBritain's new 225m national artificial intelligence supercomputer will be used to spot sick dairy cows in Somerset, improve the detection of skin cancer on brown skin and help create wearable AI assistants that could help riot police anticipate danger.Scientists hope Isambard-AI - named after the 19th-century engineer of groundbreaking bridges and railways, Isambard Kingdom Brunel - will unleash a wave of AI-powered technological, medical and social breakthroughs by allowing academics and public bodies access to the kind of vast computing power previously the preserve of private tech companies. Continue reading...
Contractor BAM ends Danny Sullivan Group's involvement following investigation into compliance issues'An HS2 subcontractor has been terminated from its role supplying labour to build a 100m bat tunnel" following an investigation into allegations of overinflating rates for staff.BAM Nuttall (BAM), part of a consortium that is the main works contractor for the much-delayed 80bn-plus high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham, said it had ended the involvement of Danny Sullivan Group (DSG) on projects where compliance issues have been identified". Continue reading...
by Bethan McKernan Wales correspondent on (#6YQ6Y)
If individuals are convicted and sentenced, council may go to court to seek repossession of their home, letters saidCardiff council has written to several council tenants warning they could be evicted if a member of the household is convicted for offences related to the riots sparked by the death of two teenage boys in Ely in 2023, the Guardian has learned.The notices, which were sent to 17 homes on 9 July, said south Wales police had informed the council that at least one member of the household had been charged in relation to the disorder, which it called a serious incident which caused severe alarm and distress throughout the community". Continue reading...
Shareholders sued Zuckerberg and others in hopes of holding them liable for fines and legal costs that Meta paidMark Zuckerberg and current and former directors and officers of Meta Platforms agreed on Thursday to settle claims seeking $8bn for the damage they allegedly caused the company by allowing repeated violations of Facebook users' privacy, a lawyer for the shareholders told a Delaware judge on Thursday.The parties did not disclose details of the settlement and defense lawyers did not address the judge, Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware court of chancery. McCormick adjourned the trial just as it was to enter its second day and she congratulated the parties. Continue reading...
by Presented by Jonathan Freedland with Ali Breland, on (#6YQ71)
Donald Trump really wants people to stop talking about Jeffrey Epstein, but his Maga base, including some prominent commentators such as Laura Loomer, want his administration to release the files'. Jonathan Freedland speaks to Ali Breland of the Atlantic about the tricky situation the US president finds himself inArchive: ABC News, CBS News, PBS, NBC News, KVUE, Theo Von podcast, Benny Johnson podcast, CBC The National, After Party podcast Continue reading...
Exclusive: Thousands of small business owners face charges of 9.99 a month from October despite previous written guaranteeSantander customers have accused the bank of misrepresentation after it announced it would start charging for business accounts it had promised were free for ever".Thousands of small business owners have been informed they face charges of 9.99 a month from October despite a written guarantee that they would never incur fees. The free accounts were withdrawn for new customers in 2011. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6YQ4W)
Possibility of direct services is most eyecatching part of a commitment to collaborate on transport links and mobilityPlans for possible direct trains from London to Berlin will be drawn up by a joint UK-German taskforce, reigniting hopes for better rail connections across Europe.The partnership, announced as part of the bilateral treaty to be signed by Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz, could eventually lead to direct rail services between the two countries after previous plans for London-Frankfurt trains hit the buffers. Continue reading...
Court overturns 1970s convictions of Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, and Ronald De Souza, one of the Stockwell SixThe court of appeal has quashed the convictions of two men who were framed by a corrupt and racist detective in the 1970s.Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, and Ronald De Souza are the 12th and 13th people to have their convictions quashed because they were based on evidence from the disgraced British Transport Police (BTP) officer DS Derek Ridgewell. Continue reading...
by Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent on (#6YQ2F)
Food Standards Agency warns that the drinks can cause decreased consciousness and low blood sugarChildren under seven should not drink slushies containing glycerol because of the serious health risks they can cause, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.Glycerol is a naturally occurring alcohol and sugar substitute that helps slushies maintain their texture by preventing liquid from freezing solid. Continue reading...
Large and growing group fear ministers may pull their punches when drafting new legislation to appease donorsThe embattled Labour leadership is facing a challenge from backbench MPs pushing for wholesale reform of gambling regulation, putting Keir Starmer on a potential collision course with some of the party's largest donors.The Guardian understands that a large and growing group of backbenchers are concerned that ministers may pull punches on further regulation of the UK's betting and gaming sector, which took a record 11.5bn from punters last year. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6YPXN)
Officers accused Laura Murton who also had a sign saying Free Gaza' of supporting a proscribed organisationArmed police threatened a peaceful protester with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and having signs saying Free Gaza" and Israel is committing genocide", accusing her of supporting a proscribed organisation.Officers told Laura Murton, 42, that her demonstration in Canterbury, Kent, on Monday evening expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, which was banned under terrorism legislation earlier this month. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6YPXR)
Concern raised that end of central funding and of monitor's oversight could lead to post-BLM plan being deprioritisedA police race action plan for England and Wales, which was partly a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, is at risk of being deprioritised when central funding finishes, a monitoring group has said.The Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board (ISOB) fears that local forces have not been adequately prepared to take over responsibility for the plan when central police funding and oversight ends at the end of March next year. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6YPXQ)
Hospital chiefs warn next week's strike in England will cause chaos' in NHS, as BMA pushes for 29% rise on top of last year's 22% dealResident doctors have been accused of being very greedy" over their 29% pay demand, before talks with Wes Streeting on Thursday and a planned five-day strike next week.The Guardian spoke to hospital trust bosses and senior medics, all of whom criticised the walkout in England and warned that it will cause absolute chaos" in the NHS. Continue reading...
by Juliette Garside, Manisha Ganguly and Ariane Lavri on (#6YPWG)
Exclusive: Britain has paused some weapons sales to Israel, but a Guardian investigation shows revenues from the GBU-39 bomb generated by the US arm of MBDA flow through the UKEurope's largest missiles maker, MBDA, is selling key components for bombs that have been shipped in their thousands to Israel and used in multiple airstrikes where research indicates Palestinian children and other civilians were killed.With concerns mounting about the extent to which European companies may be profiting from the devastation of Gaza, a Guardian investigation with the independent newsrooms Disclose and Follow the Money has examined the supply chain behind the GBU-39 bomb, and the ways in which it has been deployed during the conflict. Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#6YPWJ)
Coram survey in Great Britain finds 4% rise in holiday childcare club costs and shortage of places, especially for children with SendWorking parents who depend on childminders to look after their children during the British school summer holidays face bills of as much as 1,800 for six weeks' childcare, according to new research.A survey by the children's charity Coram found families in inner London can expect to pay an average of 306 a week for a holiday childminder, compared with a British average of 234 a week. Continue reading...
Plan, which also includes levies on tobacco and electronic waste, ignites major political scrap to define bloc's futureThe European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for new EU taxes on large companies, tobacco and electronic waste as part of a proposed 2tn (1.7tn) budget.Announcing the planned EU budget for 2028 to 2034, she effectively fired the starting gun on a major and complex political fight to define the EU's future. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6YPWK)
Most airports charge up to 7 for a brief stop and 11 of the 20 biggest have raised their fees, RAC analysis showsCar drivers have been warned of soaring charges at UK airports to drop off passengers this summer, while major European airports continue to allow motorists brief stops without charge.With most UK airports raising charges to up to 7 to briefly park near terminals, the cost of some drop-offs is now more expensive per minute than peak-season holiday flights. Continue reading...
by Benita Kolovos Victorian state correspondent on (#6YPVC)
Nido Early School confirmed it terminated Brown from its Werribee childcare service during his probation period but not because of any behaviour towards children
by Presented by Helen Pidd with Denis Campbell; produ on (#6YPVE)
When Labour came to power it moved fast to end the public sector strikes. But now resident doctors are demanding a 29% rise in pay. Will they get it and will it put Labour's plans for the NHS at risk? Denis Campbell reportsWhen Labour came into power they agreed to give resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, a 22% rise over two years to end their strikes. They then turned their attention to updating the NHS, unveiling an ambitious 10-year plan to change the way the system is run. But now doctors have gone back to the ballot box.The Guardian's health policy editor, Denis Campbell, tells Helen Pidd that the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors' union, says the value of their salaries has dropped 29% since 2008 thanks to inflation and serial low pay rises. They want this restored. But with public finances more stretched than ever, Wes Streeting is unlikely to accede. Continue reading...
by Anne Davies NSW state correspondent on (#6YPTP)
Exclusive: Health minister's diaries show no formal events in the Snowy Mountains town, but trips for private purposes were allowed under the rules at the time
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