by Vincent Ni China affairs correspondent on (#61A6F)
Authorities says some customers will start getting their money back after angry crowd in Henan was broken up by heavy-handed security guardsA rare large-scale protest in China’s central Henan province has been violently broken up by unidentified security personnel, amid outcry over a financial scandal that has exposed the fragility of the country’s banking system.A crowd of more than 1,000 protesters, according to some estimates, had gathered on Sunday in front of the Zhengzhou sub-branch of the People’s Bank of China to attempt to recover frozen savings held in rural banks. Continue reading...
Opposition leader calls withdrawal from PIF an ‘extreme move’ and claims the reasons offered by Kiribati’s president were just excusesKiribati’s decision to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum on the eve of the event was an extreme move driven by pressure from China, the Micronesian nation’s opposition leader says.Tessie Lambourne, a former top diplomat who was elected to Kiribati’s parliament in 2020, said she was “shocked and extremely disappointed” by the government’s move to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Continue reading...
by Samantha Lock (now); Richard Luscombe, Léonie Cha on (#618ZN)
This live blog is now closed, you can find our latest coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war hereThe death toll from a Russian rocket attack that hit an apartment block in eastern Ukraine over the weekend rose to 18 this morning, and rescuers were still trying to reach survivors in the rubble, the emergency services said.
Attorneys respond to request by Heard’s lawyers, who say the verdict was nonsensical and a juror was misidentifiedLawyers for Johnny Depp have urged the judge in the dueling defamation case with Amber Heard to leave his $10m judgment intact after attorneys for Heard requested that the verdict be set aside, including on grounds that one juror on the panel was misidentified.In court papers filed on Monday, Depp’s lawyers dispute arguments from Heard’s team that the jury’s verdict was nonsensical and unfounded. They also say that the Heard team’s complaints about the juror’s identity are irrelevant. Continue reading...
Critics accuse ministers of introducing a ‘scab charter’ that risks public safety and workers’ rightsMinisters have approved controversial plans to allow agency workers to replace striking workers, voting through the regulations on Monday night by 289 votes to 202.While the business minister, Jane Hunt, said the change, which was accelerated as a result of the ongoing rail strikes, was needed to remove the “outdated blanket ban” on using agency workers to cover official industrial action, critics say the measure is akin to a “scab charter”. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#61A26)
Almost two-fifths of children in north-east live in poverty after a decade of decline as campaigners warn of worse to comeThe north-east of England has the highest rate of child poverty of anywhere in the UK, for the first time overtaking London as the nation’s hotspot for hardship and deprivation, new analysis shows.Although the latest UK-wide figures show child poverty rates overall fell slightly in the first year of the pandemic due to the temporary £20 weekly uplift to universal credit, detailed breakdown shows child poverty continued to rise in areas like Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough. Continue reading...
Police order dispersal of crowds awaiting rapper at Cafe Koko after numbers threaten public safetyA meet and greet scheduled in Camden for Nicki Minaj had to be cancelled due to overcrowding.Adoring fans descended upon Cafe Koko in their droves after the rapper took to social media to reveal she would be at the venue from noon on Monday. Continue reading...
Chair of 1922 Committee says candidates will now need 20 MP backers to enter, in move to speed up processBritain’s new prime minister will be announced on 5 September, it has been announced, as the starting gun was fired on a Tory leadership race that will see the hopefuls whittled down to two by Thursday.With just two contenders so far having the support of the 20 Tory MPs needed to get them on to the ballot, the nine remaining hopefuls were scrambling to shore up support by Tuesday night before knockout votes begin on Wednesday afternoon, with the first results announced later that day. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot, Aubrey Allegretti, Heather Stewart on (#619YV)
Ex-chancellor to kick off his Tory leadership campaign as speculation grows over who could back himRishi Sunak will kick off his leadership campaign on Tuesday with a promise to grip inflation and lower taxes, as speculation mounted over which candidates could swing in behind the former chancellor.Sunak will promise “a return to traditional Conservative economic values – and that means honesty and responsibility, not fairytales.” Continue reading...
UK data watchdog said there had been extensive use of such channels within the health department, which risked transparencyThe UK data watchdog has urged ministers to review the use of private correspondence channels after reprimanding the Department of Health and Social Care for sharing official information via WhatsApp, texts and private email accounts.The Information Commissioner’s Office said there had been extensive use of such channels within the department, which represented real risks to accountability and transparency within government. Continue reading...
Temperatures in south-east could exceed 35C at weekend and pose potential risk to life, says forecasterThe Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat across a large part of the UK next weekend as temperatures on Monday reached 32C and rail services were disrupted.The alert, starting from Sunday 17 July, came as sales of fans, ice-cream, sun lotion and parasols soared in the heatwave. The Met Office said temperatures in the south-east could exceed 35C (95F) this weekend, posing a potential risk to life. Continue reading...
Local district attorney accused of blocking release of footage, taken from surveillance video at Robb elementary schoolTexas officials have agreed to make public video footage from inside Uvalde’s Robb elementary school during the deadly mass shooting there, an official said on Monday, though the district attorney in the local county is being accused of blocking the video’s release.State representative Dustin Burrows, the chairperson of a special legislative committee investigating the shooting, said Texas’ department of public safety had agreed to release surveillance footage from inside the hallway at the school. Continue reading...
by Jennifer Rankin in Brussels, Angela Giuffrida in R on (#619JN)
EU executive responds following claims Neelie Kroes lobbied Dutch PM and othersThe EU executive has announced that it will write to its former vice president, Neelie Kroes, “for clarification” following revelations that she secretly helped Uber lobby the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, and a string of other national politicians.The European Commission has been facing calls to open an immediate inquiry and “defend the EU’s integrity” in the wake of the reports, which showed that Kroes called Dutch government authorities about Uber less than six months after leaving her post as the EU’s top official on internet policy. Continue reading...
Typical amount borrowers pay rises to highest level in 13 years at 5.06% after successive interest rate risesThe average standard variable rate paid by UK mortgage borrowers has topped 5% for the first time in more than 13 years, piling more pressure on households.The financial data provider Moneyfacts said the typical SVR rose to 5.06% at the start of July and is at the highest level since January 2009, when it stood at 5.14%. Continue reading...
Composer whose work is indelibly associated with 007 also worked on a string of successful West End musicalsMonty Norman, composer of the instantly recognisable James Bond theme music, has died aged 94. The BBC first reported the news, saying his family had confirmed his death.Norman’s most famous work was created as part of the score for the first Bond film, Dr No, which was released in 1962, and starred Sean Connery in the lead role. Norman said he based the distinctive rolling phrase, which first appeared as part of a medley during the film’s opening, on an earlier piece called Good Sign, Bad Sign, which he created for a musical adaptation of VS Naipul’s A House for Mr Biswas. A jazz arrangement by John Barry for the film led to Barry often being mistakenly identified at the composer; Norman went to court, winning an action for libel against the Sunday Times in 2001, to defend his credit. Continue reading...
Monday’s sitting was delayed as police draped coverings over the central table and buckets were placed around the green benchesThe latest leak to hit parliament has come not from another scandal or high-profile resignation, but water pouring through the House of Commons chamber ceiling.Monday’s sitting of the house was delayed as police officers were seen entering the chamber carrying water-absorbent blankets as a protective covering was draped across the central table and numerous buckets were placed around the green benches catching the falling water. Continue reading...
Three-month pause will not affect the nearly 18,000 people expected to arrive in coming months, says governmentScotland is to pause its Ukrainian refugee sponsorship scheme for three months as it faces a lack of suitable accommodation, the government has announced.Pausing the scheme would “ensure that those displaced people who are already here, and those who will arrive in the coming months, will be safe, secure and supported for as long as they need, after the dangers they have faced at home”, a government statement said. Continue reading...
Airport asks airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air France to remove flightsHeathrow airport cancelled more than 60 flights on Monday and warned it may have to ask airlines to remove more as it struggles to cope with the rebound in travel demand after the pandemic.The flights were spread across Terminals 3 and 5, with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air France among the airlines affected, disrupting plans for about 10,000 passengers. Continue reading...
by Samantha Lock, Richard Luscombe, Léonie Chao-Fong on (#618XF)
At least 18 people dead after Russian missile attack on eastern Ukrainian town; residents in two southern regions urged to evacuate as Ukraine prepares to launch counteroffensive
Stabbing of 12-year-old during row about a Snapchat video caused ‘shock and revulsion’ across the cityA teenage boy has been jailed for a minimum of 13 years for murdering the 12-year-old Liverpool schoolgirl Ava White in a stabbing that caused “shock and revulsion” in the city.The 15-year-old boy, who has a legal right to anonymity, stabbed Ava in the neck in a row about a Snapchat video at the switching on of the Christmas lights on 25 November last year. Continue reading...
Almost all European countries have reported surge in infections, driven mainly by Omicron variant BA.5European regulators have recommended a second Covid-19 booster jab for everyone over 60 as well as all medically vulnerable people across Europe amid mounting infections and hospitalisations.The EU’s health and medicine agencies had previously recommended a second booster for people over the age of 80 in April. But with concerns growing over the rise in cases in Europe, driven mainly by the Omicron variant BA.5, the advice has been widened effective immediately. Continue reading...
Indian police say gang went to great lengths in betting scam reminiscent of the 1973 film The StingA gang set up a fake “Indian Premier League” tournament with farm labourers acting as players to dupe Russian punters in a betting scam reminiscent of the 1973 film The Sting.The so-called “Indian Premier Cricket League” reached the quarter-final stage before the racket was busted by police in India. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#619AP)
Junior medics in England being sent home from day shifts and told to come back to plug gaps at nightHospital doctors are being sent home from daytime shifts and told to come back and work overnight in the latest stark illustration of the NHS’s crippling staff shortage.Medics are having to change their plans at the last minute because hospitals cannot find any others to plug gaps in the night shift medical rota and need to ensure they have enough doctors on duty. Continue reading...
Man, 23, was trying to retrieve mobile phone and he and his family now face charges for entering forbidden areaAn American tourist sustained minor injuries after he fell into the crater of Mount Vesuvius as he scrambled to retrieve his phone.The 23-year-old and his family reached the 1,281m-high (4,202ft) summit of the volcano towering over the southern Italian city of Naples after bypassing a visitor turnstile and proceeding along an out-of-bounds path. Continue reading...
Miles Teller, who stars alongside Tom Cruise in the hit action blockbuster, says he is keen, but ‘it’s all up to Tom’Top Gun: Maverick actor Miles Teller has said he is “having conversations” with the film’s producer-star Tom Cruise about a sequel to the hit action blockbuster.Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at a charity golf event, Teller was responding to a question about the likelihood of a third Top Gun film. “That would be great, but that’s all up to [Tom Cruise]. It’s all up to Tom. I’ve been having some conversations with him about it. We’ll see.” Continue reading...
Tory MPs are ambivalent on the issue and there is uncertainty over what a caretaker government can doChannel 4’s privatisation could be dropped by the next prime minister, with plans to sell the channel unlikely to be published before September.Boris Johnson had already signed off on proposals to sell the publicly owned broadcaster, and the culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, had been preparing to push the law authorising the change through parliament in the autumn. Continue reading...
Rasoulof and colleague Mostafa Al-Ahmad were taken into custody for calling on security forces to lay down their weaponsIranian authorities have arrested two film-makers over an appeal they posted on social media, accusing them of links with opposition groups based outside the country and plotting to undermine the nation’s state security, Iran’s state-run news agency reported on Friday.According to IRNA, award-wining director Mohammad Rasoulof and colleague Mostafa Al-Ahmad were taken into custody for posting a statement on social media urging members of the Iranian security forces to lay down their weapons. Continue reading...
Rescue services urge caution when swimming as boy’s body recovered at Dawber Delph, Appley BridgeA 16-year-old boy has drowned in a flooded quarry in Lancashire, as rescue services urged caution when swimming in open water during the heatwave.The teenager, who has not yet been named, got into difficulty on Saturday night at Dawber Delph, Appley Bridge, Lancashire constabulary said. Continue reading...
Black Widow actor rails at ‘how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman’s body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see’Florence Pugh has hit back at “vulgar” social media users who criticised her body, after she posted photographs of herself wearing a sheer dress at a fashion show.“What happened to you to be so content on being so loudly upset by the size of my boobs and body?” said Pugh in an Instagram post on Sunday to her 7.4 million followers. Continue reading...
Opinions from Breyer, Kagan and Sotomayor send stark warning about increasingly radical court abandoning long-held principlesThe US supreme court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, ending nearly 50 years of federal protections for abortion access, was “catastrophic”. The ruling amounted to a “curtailment of women’s rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens”. The drastic decision “undermines the court’s legitimacy”, and the consequences of it will set off an “upheaval in … society”.Those are voices from the supreme court itself: the words of its three liberal justices – Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor – in their scorching and thorough joint dissenting opinion on a decision by their body which has fundamentally altered the lives of millions of Americans. Continue reading...
English sprinter Jonnie Peacock edited out of promotional content, along with footage of Oscar Pistorius, after complaintThe Paralympic athlete Jonnie Peacock is among several public figures who have asked to be removed from the promotional video released by the Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt as she launched her party leadership bid.On Sunday morning, Mordaunt, the MP for Portsmouth North, posted the video on her Twitter account with the caption “Our leadership has to change. It needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship.” Continue reading...
Campaigners call for reforms to allow those who claim to be wrongly convicted – such as Kevin Nunn, jailed for murdering his ex-girlfriend – to obtain information to appealPrisoners convicted of serious crimes who may be the victims of miscarriages of justice are being blocked from access to crucial forensic information that could prove their innocence, experts have warned.Campaigners are calling for legal reforms to provide improved access to evidence that may help prove the innocence of the wrongly convicted. They say a supreme court ruling in 2014 is effectively being used to deny access to police files and evidence. Continue reading...
Five-month programme of special events will take place before relocation to new home in SmithfieldAn “epic leaving party” potentially lasting all night will be the final public event of the Museum of London before its building is demolished ahead of a move to a new site, its director has said.The doors will close for the last time on 4 December, the museum has confirmed, “and we are really gearing up for that last weekend”, the museum’s director, Sharon Ament, said. “If there is demand, we will stay open 24 hours – we really want everybody who hasn’t been to the Museum of London to come and see it.” Continue reading...
Artist Patricia Piccinini says she is in ‘absolute shock’, while National Gallery of Australia says a dedicated team is working to repair damagePatricia Piccinini’s much-loved Skywhale was grounded in Victoria over the weekend after strong winds in Ballarat ripped a gash in the balloon – but according to the National Gallery of Australia, her wounds are not serious.The hot-air balloon sculpture has been regularly taking to the skies across Australia, as well as Japan, Ireland and Brazil, for almost a decade. But over the weekend, Skywhale failed to become airborne in Ballarat, after high winds ripped a one-metre gash between its breasts. Continue reading...
PM reacts to Beijing’s four-point advice on improving relations following high-level G20 meeting between the two countries• Get our free news app, morning email briefing and daily news podcastAnthony Albanese has said Australia “doesn’t respond to demands”, after China listed four ways the relationship between the two countries could be improved.“We respond to our own national interest,” Australia’s prime minister said on Monday.Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading...
The US secretary of state flies to Japan to give condolences to nation as country’s ruling LDP holds muted celebrations for poll victoryThe US secretary of state, Antony Blinken has described assassinated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe as a “man of vision”, as the country’s ruling party held muted celebrations following a resounding election victory.The Liberal Democratic party (LDP), which Abe led for almost a decade, and its junior coalition party increased their majority in the upper house on Sunday, two days after Abe was shot during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara. Continue reading...
by Presented by Michael Safi with Johana Bhuiyan and on (#618XX)
A leak of internal documents from inside Uber reveals evidence that the company broke laws, duped police, exploited violence against drivers and secretly lobbied prime ministers and presidents in an effort to break into markets long held by taxi companiesBack when Uber was starting up, barely more than a concept and attempting to break into new cities, it had a playbook. First it would attract drivers to switch to its service from the competition. Then it would encourage customers to try it out by subsidising fares. And then, when it had gained a foothold, it would heap pressure on local regulators to grant them approval to continue operating.As Johana Bhuiyan tells Michael Safi, the Uber model was spectacularly successful. The company grew from its San Francisco beginnings to be a truly global company in a matter of years. But as it grew, it attracted controversy, and the scandals started to mount up. Continue reading...
The group of 10 people, including nine from UK, managed to take shelter when avalanche struckTen people, including nine Britons, are reported to have survived after a huge avalanche swept over them in the Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan.Footage uploaded on Instagram by Harry Shimmin, one of the people on the trekking tour, showed snow starting to break down a mountain in the distance, before sweeping towards them and forcing the group to take cover as the snow went over the top of them. Continue reading...
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