World news | The Guardian

Agriculture Victoria says it is working with local veterinarians and experts to investigate the cause of multiple sudden horse deaths at three properties'

Official figures show in a 15-month period at least 50% of disqualified bosses are accused of fraud or abuse of coronavirus support schemesMore than half of all company directors struck off in Britain in the past 15 months were involved in alleged fraud or abuse of Covid-19 financial support schemes, official figures have revealed.There were 1,200 directors disqualified between 1 April last year and 30 June this year, with 611 of the cases involving abuse of Covid-19 schemes, mainly in relation to taxpayer-backed bounce-back loans. About 1.1bn of loans have already been flagged as suspected fraud or error. Continue reading...

No-entry signs are up around the beautiful Taymouth estate as a US developer plans to build luxury homesAt one time, locals and those visiting the village of Kenmore on the north-eastern banks of Loch Tay, Perthshire, were able to take a leisurely walk through the woodlands of the 180-hectare Taymouth estate, enjoying local wildlife, Victorian landscaping and views of imposing 19th-century Taymouth Castle. Today, in high summer and peak tourist season, would-be walkers are instead met with path closed" signs and security warnings, while the castle - clad in scaffolding - is only visible from the roadside en route to nearby Aberfeldy.According to campaigners, this, alongside the recent closure of local amenities such as a post office, hotel and boat hire company, is symptomatic of the strangling" of Kenmore by developers who have bought up much of the village. Now an online campaign, Protect Loch Tay, aims to put a stop to plans by the US firm Discovery Land Company (DLC) to build a 320-hectare gated community on the Taymouth estate and neighbouring Glenlyon estate. Continue reading...

Charities, unions and politicians say divisive' policy will damage UK economy by squeezing workers from overseasThe government's plan to fund a public sector pay rise by hiking the fees charged to migrants for visa applications and NHS access has been described as deeply unfair" and deliberately divisive" by charities, unions and politicians.Unison, which represents 1.3 million public service workers, warned that the increases would push more people into poverty", while the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants accused the government of a blatant attempt to pit worker against worker and divide our communities". Continue reading...

Defence secretary rows back comments about Ukraine needing to show gratitude' and says he will not contest next general electionBen Wallace is to leave government at the next cabinet reshuffle after four years as defence secretary and will not stand in the general election.Wallace, who has played a key role in responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and was a close ally of Boris Johnson, told the Sunday Times he was not standing next time" but he ruled out leaving parliament prematurely" and forcing another byelection on Rishi Sunak, of whom he remains supportive. Continue reading...

Party needs record swing from Tories to overturn 20,000 majority in seat left vacant by Johnson ally Nigel AdamsA series of senior shadow cabinet ministers are being dispatched to Selby from this weekend as Labour makes a last-ditch push to secure what would be a historic byelection win for the party.Wes Streeting, Yvette Cooper and Lisa Nandy, among Labour's most recognisable names, are all scheduled to visit the North Yorkshire seat in the next 48 hours as the party seeks an unlikely win. Securing the seat after Thursday's vote would set a new record for Labour overturning a Tory majority, which stood at more than 20,000 at the last general election. Continue reading...

Soaring temperatures lead some to reconsider travel plans or adjust itineraries, as sweltering weather is expected to continueBritish holidaymakers aiming to travel to mainland Europe this summer are worried they are not going to be able to cope with temperatures that may exceed 40C, with some having to cancel their tourist plans.Others already on holiday were having second thoughts. We did this for a treat," said one 61-year-old woman from London, who has gone on a cruise around the Mediterranean with her son before he heads to university. We had booked excursions but by the looks of it we will stay on the boat the whole time because it will be too hot to do anything really. Continue reading...

Premier Daniel Andrews says reforms will provide the strongest gambling harm preventions and anti-money laundering measures in Australia'

This blog is now closed.

Accused, 51, due to face court on Monday after one woman killed and another woman, 22, taken to hospital in a stable condition

Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of shelling civilians; Moscow issues criminal charges against seven in alleged plot to kill top Russian journalists

Phoenix, Arizona, logged its 16th day above 110F, and California's Death Valley reached 122F as cities offered cooling centersA dangerous heatwave threatened a wide swath of the south-west with potentially deadly temperatures in the triple digits on Saturday as some cooling centers extended their hours and emergency rooms prepared to treat more people with heat-related illnesses.Near record temperatures are expected this weekend!" the National Weather Service in Phoenix warned in a tweet, advising people to follow its safety tips such as drinking plenty of water and checking on relatives and neighbors. Continue reading...

Plans to have historic 1297 edition back on display in Canberra by the end of next year have been revealed

Archbishop of Canterbury says he had a messy childhood due to alcoholism in the family but he loved Jane Williams deeplyThe archbishop of Canterbury has paid tribute to his mother, Jane Williams, who has died at 93, saying she had lived a full human life, with all its ups and downs".Justin Welby said it had been a privilege to be her son. I am the person I am in part because of her love, example and encouragement." Continue reading...

An 18-year-old man is being held on suspicion of murder after fatal stabbing following birthday party in Granville Road, BrentA teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old boy, who was stabbed to death after a birthday party in a street fight in north-west London.The boy died in Granville Road, Brent, at about 11.30pm on Friday during a fight that is believed to have taken place on several roads nearby. Another male, also believed to be 17, was taken to hospital, as was a woman in her early 20s, who suffered a hand injury. Continue reading...

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