Tianjin encounter comes as India and China aim to normalise ties in geopolitical repositioning prompted by Trump's tariffsThey stood together like old friends, heads thrown back in jovial laughter, clutching one another's hands affectionately. Except this was no ordinary gathering of three men, but a meeting of three of the most powerful non-western leaders: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi.The overt displays of intimacy were widely regarded by observers as a telling message of defiance aimed at their western counterparts, in particular Donald Trump, who just a few days earlier had slapped India with 50% import tariffs, among the harshest of the US president's trade penalties. Continue reading...
by Hannah Ellis-Petersen and Haroon Janjua on (#6ZQCZ)
Taliban appeal for aid, with casualties expected to increase as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated areasThe Taliban have called for international aid as Afghanistan reels from an earthquake that killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands more injured.Rescuers searched into the night for survivors after the 6.0-magnitude quake struck on Sunday destroying entire villages across the country's eastern Kunar province, which borders Pakistan. Continue reading...
Foreign minister says move is not aimed at Israeli people but ensuring their government respects international and humanitarian law'. This live blog is closedAt least 63,633 Palestinian people have been killed and 160,914 others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.At least 76 Palestinian people, including 12 aid seekers, were killed in the last 24 hours alone, the ministry said. Continue reading...
Synthetic opioids known as nitazenes, linked to more than 100 deaths, can be hundreds of times stronger than other drugsHealth experts have warned that Scotland faces a fresh drug deaths crisis due to highly potent synthetic opioids already linked to more than 100 fatalities.The warning comes after the publication of official data which showed the total number of deaths from drug abuse in Scotland fell by 13% last year to a 1,017, the lowest annual figure since 2017. Continue reading...
Greens senator David Shoebridge accused Tony Burke of doing his Peter Dutton impression, dog-whistling and punching down on migrants'Up to 80,000 people in Australia may be affected by the Albanese government's proposed powers to strip basic legal protections from the non-citizens it plans to deport to Nauru, refugee lawyers warn.The proposed federal powers, revealed last Wednesday, are expected to pass parliament this week with the Coalition's support at a snap two-hour committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday night. Continue reading...
Based on a Renaissance kunstkammer, museum's basement to house a collection of exquisite silverware, paintings, bronzes and ceramicsBeneath the Georgian city of Bath, a gleaming treasury of Renaissance masterpieces created for kings, queens, church leaders and scientists is about to be unveiled.Based on the idea of the Renaissance kunstkammer - an art chamber - the basement room at the Holburne Museum is crammed with scores of exquisite pieces of silverware, paintings, bronzes and ceramics. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Experts say the move could be part of Beijing's greyzone' grab for disputed territoryChina is drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a move that analysts believe is likely part of Beijing's unilateral grab for disputed territory that could also aid a future invasion of Taiwan.During July and August at least 12 oil and gas vessels and permanent structures were detected inside Taiwan's EEZ - including one within 50km of the restricted-waters border of the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands - as well as several steel supports for fixed offshore drilling platforms, called jackets. Their presence inside Taiwan's EEZ have not been previously reported. Continue reading...
Protester who unfurled banner below clock face removed by cherry picker after almost four hoursA man holding what appeared to be a pomeranian dog who climbed the clock tower at King's Cross station in London to unfurl a banner calling for freedom for Iran has come down.As rain began to pour, the protester packed his banner away. He spoke to mediators and was brought down by a cherry picker at 11.50am, bringing the standoff to an end after nearly four hours. Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6ZQKK)
Seller of seven-bedroom house says she was inspired by Cara Delevingne to create space that is so relaxing'It was the model Cara Delevingne who said you can never be sad in a ball pit - so why wouldn't you install one in a room you don't quite know what to do with?A large Victorian house for sale in Southport has gone viral not because it is, as estate agents say, a hidden gem" and an oasis of calm" with viewing absolutely essential" but because just off the master bedroom is a vestibule that is presently adorned by numerous plastic balls to create a ball pool all of your very own." Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Poor teacher recruitment and retainment puts children on the back foot before they barely step in the classroomGood morning. It's back-to-school week, and the daily ritual (or, perhaps, panic) begins as uniforms are being donned and lunchboxes packed across the UK to start a new year. My sympathies to you teachers setting early morning alarms, and parents dragging children out of bed after six weeks of lie-ins.Last year, Keir Starmer promised to leave no stone unturned to give every child the very best start at life", but how is that going? More than half a million GCSE students in England will start the year with no physics teacher, while many kids from poorer families feel they cannot afford to have their children study geography or languages, new Guardian reporting shows.Afghanistan | The Taliban has called for international aid as Afghanistan reels from an earthquake that killed more than 800 people and left thousands injured.Israel-Gaza war | A plan circulating in the White House to develop the Gaza Riviera" as a string of high-tech megacities has been dismissed as an insane" attempt to provide cover for the large-scale ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian territory's population.Politics | Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has been moved to a new senior role in Downing Street as Keir Starmer attempts to get a grip on delivery before what is likely to be a tumultuous autumn for the government.Health | A three-minute brainwave test can detect memory problems linked to Alzheimer's disease long before people are typically diagnosed, raising hopes that the approach could help identify those most likely to benefit from new drugs for the condition.UK news | Prominent women including cultural figures, politicians and campaigners have signed a letter criticising rightwing attempts to link sexual violence in Britain to asylum seekers. Signatories include the musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church and Anoushka Shankar. Continue reading...
by Sally Weale Education correspondent on (#6ZQFS)
Institute of Physics says critical' shortage means 700,000 pupils are deprived of a subject specialistA quarter of state secondary schools in England will start the new term with no dedicated physics teacher, with schools in poorer areas worst affected, analysis has found.The lack of specialists means more than half (58%) of pupils studying for a science GCSE will have the physics component taught by a teacher who has not studied a physics-related subject beyond the age of 18. Continue reading...
Fernando Fontoura, who moved to the UK aged 12, detained in drive to find people illegally working' as delivery driversA motorcycle rider out on a shopping trip was arrested and detained for a month as part of a high-profile government crackdown on undocumented migrants working for food delivery apps.Fernando Fontoura, 33, who moved from Portugal to the UK when he was 12, was arrested by immigration enforcement officers after he parked his motorbike near a grocery store in south-east London on 22 July. He was taken to a detention centre near Gatwick airport where he was held for 29 days. Continue reading...
Members to co-own event that organisers say will cut costs by up to 40% after 78 independent festivals closed last yearA group of festival organisers and grassroots venues have launched a pioneering, gamechanging music collective" to counter what they say is the slow collapse of the UK's alternative live circuit.Blaming soaring costs and corporate dominance for pushing dozens of smaller events to close, the not-for-profit festival will bring together independent festivals, venues and collectives to share resources, cut costs and pool audiences. Continue reading...
Mass protests first erupted last week, prompted by anger over the perks and benefits given to lawmakers, including a controversial housing allowanceAt least 20 people are missing following violent protests that have gripped cities across Indonesia over the past week, a human rights group has warned.Mass protests first erupted on 25 August, prompted by anger over the perks and benefits given to lawmakers, including a controversial housing allowance. Public fury escalated further when a motorcycle taxi driver, 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, was run over by a police vehicle at a protest site. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Open letter says politicians are exploiting violence against women to fuel hate and division'Prominent women including cultural figures, politicians and campaigners have signed a letter criticising rightwing attempts to link sexual violence in Britain to asylum seekers.Signatories include the musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church and Anoushka Shankar as well as Labour, Green and independent MPs including Kim Johnson, Ellie Chowns, Diane Abbott and Zarah Sultana. Continue reading...
by Presented by Helen Pidd with Jean Lee; produced by on (#6ZQDS)
What does North Korea's involvement in Ukraine mean for Kim Jong-un's geopolitical ambitions? With Jean LeeWhen Hyun-Seung Lee was 17 he was conscripted into the North Korean army. Meals were basic and conditions were poor.Most soldiers wash their clothes and bathe in streams or rivers ... Soldiers must gather their own firewood from nearby mountains for heating and cooking," he says. Continue reading...
Those in UK aged 11-17 said seeing a celebrity gambling or advertising it made them want to emulate them, survey findsChildren as young as 11 feel tempted to try betting after being flooded" by celebrities and sports stars promoting it, according to two reports that found nearly 90% of children aged 13-17 are exposed to gambling content online.The UK's leading gambling charity, GambleAware, which commissioned the reports, urged regulators and policymakers to address social media accounts and influencers producing betting content on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Twitch in light of the findings. Continue reading...
by Bethan McKernan Wales correspondent on (#6ZQBR)
Campaigners say only 82 sites have been fully examined and classified as contaminated, so scale of threat not knownResearch from Friends of the Earth Cymru has found that at least 45,000 sites across Wales could be contaminated with toxic waste but have never been adequately inspected, leaving communities and wildlife vulnerable to a potential environmental crisis.Despite Wales's extensive industrial history, Tuesday's publication found that due to a lack of funding and oversight, only 82 sites across the country have ever been fully examined and classified as contaminated, meaning the actual scale of the threat is unknown. Continue reading...
Police believe Logan Carter was killed after e-bike wheels were used to propel roundabout at Wharton recreation groundA teenager has been arrested after a 12-year-old boy died after falling in a park playground in Cheshire.Police believe Logan Carter was killed after the wheels of an e-bike were used to propel the roundabout at the Wharton recreation ground in Winsford on Friday 29 August. Continue reading...
Swiss multinational finds Laurent Freixe breached code of conduct as it names Philipp Navratil as his replacementNestle has dismissed its chief executive, Laurent Freixe, after an investigation into an undisclosed romantic relationship" with a subordinate that was found to have breached its code of business conduct.The Swiss-headquartered multinational named Philipp Navratil as his replacement. Continue reading...
What Rayner may be asked to explain about the arrangements behind her purchase of an 800,000 homeAngela Rayner is under pressure to explain her property arrangements after she bought an 800,000 flat in Hove, far from her constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne.Most of the criticism has centred on the complicated tax arrangements surrounding the purchase, though the deputy prime minister's allies insist she has done nothing wrong and she is not under investigation by the prime minister's adviser on ministerial standards.
by Andrew Gregory Health editor in Madrid on (#6ZQ69)
NHS equips all centres with life-saving software that will increase number of patients avoiding serious disabilityHalf of all people who experience a stroke in England will now recover thanks to a revolutionary AI scanning system that increases the number of patients avoiding serious disability.The NHS has equipped every stroke centre in England with life-saving software that quickly tells doctors if they need to perform emergency surgery and can triple the rate of recovery. Continue reading...
Announcement comes a day after a US federal judge halted the deportation of 10 unaccompanied Guatemalan minorsGuatemala is ready and willing to receive about 150 unaccompanied children of all ages each week from the United States, the country's president has said, a day after a US federal judge halted the deportation of 10 Guatemalan children.Those children had already boarded a plane when a court responded to an emergency appeal on Sunday. They were later returned to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Continue reading...
Yvonne Hayward and 46 others, including a senior NHS doctor, charged under section 13 of the Terrorism ActAn 81-year-old woman is among 47 more people charged for allegedly showing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action during protests this summer.More than half are over 60, according to details released by the Metropolitan police. The overall number of people charged now stands at 114. Continue reading...
Home secretary under fire over suspension of family reunion system that she said was at risk of exploitationYvette Cooper has been accused of pushing children into the arms of people smugglers" after halting a scheme allowing refugees to bring their family to the UK.The home secretary said the refugee family reunion route was at risk of exploitation and she would temporarily suspend new applications until tougher rules were introduced next year. Continue reading...
Prospectus proposes forced displacement of entire population and puts territory into US trusteeshipA plan circulating in the White House to develop the Gaza Riviera" as a string of high-tech megacities has been dismissed as an insane" attempt to provide cover for the large-scale ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian territory's population.The Washington Post published on Sunday a leaked prospectus for the plan, which would see the forced displacement of Gaza's entire population of 2 million people, and put the territory into a US trusteeship for at least a decade. Continue reading...
Meeting, co-chaired by France's Emmanuel Macron and UK's Keir Starmer, will focus on Russia's refusal to end warEU transport spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen also offered a bit more detail on the issue of GPS jamming and its impact on operations.She said:Generally, we have been seeing a quite a lot of such jamming and spoofing activities, notably in the eastern flank of Europe.Europe is the most concerned region in the or most affected region globally, on this.We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are [a] regular component of Russia's hostile behaviour.Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine."This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the President is carrying out in the frontline member states." Continue reading...
by Presented by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey, produc on (#6ZQ3J)
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey are back, talking through all of the challenges the government faces as MPs return to Westminster. Plus, they discuss the prime minister's shake-up of his Downing Street team Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6ZQ3K)
Departures and new hires expected to give PM more direct oversight on delivery of key government prioritiesA reshuffle on the Monday morning before parliament returned from recess had been long rumoured, but many in Westminster had expected a shake-up of junior ministers rather than Downing Street.Staff in No 10 were gathered in awkward silence at 9.30am in the Pillared Room to wait for the prime minister to explain the changes, many of whom had thus far only read about them online. Continue reading...
Jaguar Land Rover says required safety levels cannot be achieved' for EVs so PM must to stick to petrol versionWould-be car buyers considering ditching petrol for electric tend to fret - not always correctly - about higher upfront costs, access to chargers and whether their battery will last on long journeys.But Keir Starmer has an unusual obstacle to making the switch - Britain's largest carmaker has claimed electric vehicles (EVs) do not offer adequate bomb protection. Continue reading...
Objects including three-metre spears were collected in late 19th and early 20th centuries and donated to city's museumFor decades, they have languished in storage in the basement of a museum in the English West Country.Finally, an extraordinary collection of weapons and ceremonial objects taken from the Larrakia people more than a century ago is beginning a winding journey home to the saltwater landscapes of the Northern Territory in Australia. Continue reading...
Foreign ministry says US will be dictating what happens once UN-wide sanctions are reimposedEurope is on the verge of abandoning its role of a mediator between the US and Iran and instead handing the Iran nuclear file over to Donald Trump's veto, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said in an interview with the Guardian in Tehran.Esmail Baghaei said that as soon as UN-wide sanctions are reimposed at Europe's demand in less than 30 days, the US will regain its security council veto over what happens next, including the continuance of the sanctions. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Darren Jones appointed to new senior role in charge of day-to-day delivery of PM's prioritiesDarren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has been moved to a new senior role in Downing Street as Keir Starmer attempts to get a grip on delivery before what is likely to be a tumultuous autumn for the government.The senior MP, whose new title will be chief secretary to the prime minster, has been put in charge of day-to-day delivery of the prime minister's priorities after No 10 spent the summer struggling to get on the front foot on issues including the economy and migration, and lags behind Reform UK in the polls. Continue reading...
International Association of Genocide Scholars resolution backed by 86% of members who votedAn overwhelming majority of members of the world's leading genocide scholars' association have backed a resolution stating that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of the crime.Eighty-six per cent of those who voted in the 500-member International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) supported the motion. The resolution states that Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide in article II of the United Nations convention for the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide (1948)." Continue reading...
Woman who testified at producer's trial says despite mixed verdict she is proud to have stood up and told her storyVictims of sexual crimes and #MeToo harassment have, on multiple fronts, seen setbacks in the US in recent months.The movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is now looking at a third trial on sexual assault charges after previous cases delivered mixed results for his victims. A high-profile case of federal racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking against the rapper Sean Combs returned a verdict only on lesser charges. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian