World news | The Guardian

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...

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Exclusive: more than 430,000 people in England and Wales awaiting review of personal independence paymentsDisabled people in England and Wales are missing out on an estimated 24m a month as record numbers wait for their personal independence payments (Pip) review, according to Citizens Advice.More than 430,000 people are awaiting a Pip review as the benefit backlog deepens, with some facing delays of more than two years, the charity network's report says. Continue reading...

Canberra man Muhammad Arif charged after Kuala Lumpur-bound Malaysian Airlines flight turned around on Monday because of alleged disturbance onboard

Some are spending life savings to stay out of the war, but such actions are seen as treasonous by those already fightingAt the last military checkpoint before he exited Ukraine in April, a 39-year-old man from Odesa handed over papers showing he had a serious spinal injury, thus exempting him from military service and from the ban on adult men leaving the country.One of the soldiers said, That hospital really likes this diagnosis, huh?'" recalled the man. I could see they knew exactly what was going on, and it wasn't the first time. But they were powerless to do anything, so waved me through," he said. Continue reading...

The father of Elliot Foote says he has been told his son, along with Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short were all found by rescuersFour Australians who went missing when their boat encountered poor weather off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province on Sunday have been found alive.Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short were found floating in the water on surfboards on Tuesday. Continue reading...

The grand jury in Fulton county court has issued an indictment accusing Donald Trump of efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss

Spokesman for Indigenous voice to parliament no campaign also condemns comments by Advance board member questioning Stan Grant's skin tone

Unprecedented merchandise sales have led to major stockists running low. Here's how to buy Matildas merch, or make your own to dress the part

Massive housing estates on the fringes of Sydney and Melbourne could be affected as Country Garden shares plunge

The wage price index figures show that despite a tight labour market, there has not been a breakout in wage growth

Minutes from the Reserve Bank's August meeting show the board considered lifting the cash rate to 4.35% but decided to allow more time to look at economic data

Group proposes Medicare reforms and a standard billing structure with $860 out-of-pocket cost to improve access

Odesa hit by three waves of missile strikes; Russia's rouble falls to lowest point in almost 17 monthsRussia launched three waves of drones and missiles against the southern Ukraine port city of Odesa, officials said on Monday, though the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted all the airborne weapons. Falling debris from the interceptions of 15 Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles damaged a residential building, a supermarket and a dormitory of an educational facility in the city, Odesa governor Oleh Kiper said. Two employees of the supermarket were hospitalised, Kiper said. Video showed a huge blaze at the store during the night and, the next day, the large building's charred and mangled wreckage.Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, visited troops at brigade headquarters in the eastern Ukrainian frontline region of Donetsk on Monday, his website said. Zelenskiy reportedly visited brigades involved in attacks on the section of the frontline facing Soledar, the Russian-held town north of Bakhmut.US ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy met jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on Monday, a state department spokesperson said, her third such visit since his detention in March on espionage charges that he denies.

The Scissor Sisters singer will play the Emcee while Self Esteem will make her theatrical debut as Sally Bowles in Rebecca Frecknall's Olivier-winning musicalThe musicians Jake Shears and Self Esteem are to join the cast of the West End hit Cabaret. Shears, best known as the lead singer of Scissor Sisters, will play the Emcee in the musical while Self Esteem (AKA Rebecca Lucy Taylor) will make her theatrical debut as Sally Bowles.Director Rebecca Frecknall's intimate revival, which opened in 2021 and won seven Olivier awards, originally starred Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee and Jessie Buckley as Sally. Shears and Taylor will take over their roles from Mason Alexander Park and Maude Apatow respectively. Their first performances will take place on 25 September at the Playhouse theatre, transformed by designer Tom Scutt into the debauched Kit Kat Club of Weimar Berlin. Continue reading...

Thinktank warns that government's promises of levelling up are being undermined by system that is not fit for purpose'The government's levelling up plans for England are being hampered by a funding system that is not fit for purpose" and deprives the poorest areas of the financial support to match their needs, a leading thinktank has said.The Institute for Fiscal Studies said that the method for allocating money to pay for public services is out of date, based on inadequate data and skewed in favour of the better-off south-east. Continue reading...

Prescriptions for new drugs soon to be available as health service unable to offer enough face-to-face servicesWeight-loss jabs are among a range of measures that will soon be made available by the NHS via prescription on apps in an attempt to tackle obesity, as demand for traditional face-to-face services surges.The four programmes - Liva, Oviva, Roczen and Second Nature - can be downloaded via an app or computer, allowing specialists to provide care online. They have been recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in new draft guidance and will bring together various specialists, including those providing psychological support. Continue reading...

Proposals to streamline' treatment, which government says are clinically led, would cut number of targets from nine to threeKeir Starmer has accused the government of moving the goalposts" as the number of NHS cancer waiting time targets is expected to be reduced.The government has been consulting on the proposed measures to streamline NHS cancer care, which would replace the nine existing cancer targets with just three. The target of all patients seeing a specialist within two weeks of an urgent referral for cancer tests by the GP is expected to be scrapped. Continue reading...

Tribunal member Sandra Gamble says embedded network customers need protections from unreasonably high prices'

Suspects may have fled the country after girl, named locally as Sara Sharif, died last weekThree people sought by detectives over the murder of a 10-year-old girl in Woking were known to the victim and may have fled the country, police have said.The child, who has been named as Sara Sharif in reports, was found dead at a house in Horsell, a village to the north-west of the town last Thursday. Surrey police believe the trio left the country the previous day. Continue reading...