World news | The Guardian

Andy Mitchell received bonuses on top of £489,000 salary last year as forecast tunnel cost rose to £4.3bnThe executive overseeing construction of London’s “super sewer” under the Thames has been awarded bonuses that doubled his pay to nearly £1m despite delays and cost over-runs on the flagship project.With executive pay in the water industry already under scrutiny, Tideway has revealed it paid its chief executive, Andy Mitchell, a total package of £928,000 for the year to 31 March 2022, up 7.5% from £863,000 a year earlier. Continue reading...

Former PM says the powers he assumed could have been ‘misinterpreted and misunderstood’ and caused unnecessary angst if made public

Forests in Russia are most affected, as scientists warn of escape of huge quantities of buried carbon dioxideThe boreal forests in the far northern latitudes have suffered more tree cover loss owing to fire in the last decade than any other place on Earth, with Russia losing more trees to fire than any other country, data has shown.The boreal region is a huge stretch of coniferous forests that encircles the northern hemisphere taking in parts of Scandinavia, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Alaska and Canada, among other countries. Continue reading...

Protesters say station is part of gentrification scheme aimed at altering historically leftwing areaThe battle lines are drawn early in Exarchia Square – and in the depths of summer, they are rigorously defined. “By 6.30am we’re here,” says Chrysoula Papageorgiou, a bespectacled schoolteacher now involved in the fight of her life to stop a metro station being built in the historic plaza. “That’s just before the first construction workers arrive. As for them, they’re here 24/7.”The “them” in this case is a shifting platoon of police, some equipped with shields and teargas, others in full battle dress and yet others in uniforms of simple blue. Papageorgiou is among the protesters who in energy-sapping temperatures have been meeting daily and chanting themselves hoarse at the lower end of the square. Continue reading...

The bill aimed to prevent publicly funded hospitals from refusing to perform abortions across the state

Independent inquiry into the 2022 floods finds existing agencies failed, and calls for conversion of flood plain land

Judgement rules ‘a hyperlink is merely a tool’ in case between search engine and Melbourne lawyer George Defteros

Russian-backed self-appointed leader writes Kim Jong-un a letter, shortly after Vladimir Putin said Moscow and Pyongyang would expand relationsNorth Korea and the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine will develop “equally beneficial bilateral cooperation”, its self-appointed leader has said in a letter to Kim Jong-un, according to state media.Denis Pushilin made the pledge in a message congratulating Kim on the 15 August Korean liberation day, North Korean state news agency KCNA reported, two days after reporting a similar message from Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to Kim. Continue reading...

The wage index rose 2.6% from a year ago, as unions call for more support to address cost of living pressureAustralia’s wages rose at the fastest rate in almost eight years but still less than half the headline inflation rate, a gap likely to fuel calls at next month’s jobs summit for more steps to halt the decline in household’s real incomes.The wage price index rose 2.6% in the June quarter from a year ago, seasonally adjusted, and 0.7% from previous three months, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Clare O’Neil compares the former PM to ‘a despot’ but John Howard says criticisms are ‘over the top’

Key Zelenskiy adviser says counteroffensive will aim to create ‘chaos within Russian forces’; Ukraine hints it was behind a series of recent strikes in occupied Crimea

Brisbane Broncos and players rally around Robinson after she was targeted by social media trollsThe Brisbane Broncos have strongly condemned trolls who targeted NRLW player Julia Robinson with body-shaming comments after a picture of the three-time premiership winner was posted by the club on their social media platforms.Robinson called out the trolls on Tuesday after the innocuous photograph, which showed the Queensland and Australia representative player in a singlet at training, attracted derogatory comments about her muscular physique. Continue reading...

In early August the former prime minister registered Triginta, ‘30’ in Latin, a private company whose sole shareholder was himself

Aboriginal women more likely to be sentenced for nonviolent and minor crimes than non-Indigenous women, research shows

Guardian, BBC and Times seek release of documents about policy of sending asylum seekers abroadA Foreign Office official raised concerns about plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing state surveillance, arbitrary detention, torture and killings by the country’s government, the high court has heard.The court has been asked to consider an application by the foreign secretary to keep parts of certain government documents secret for fear the contents could damage international relations and threaten national security. Continue reading...

Train driver was in process of reversing train out of danger when panicked passengers broke the windows to escapeAs many as 20 passengers have suffered burns, three of them seriously, after they jumped from a train when it was engulfed by a forest fire near Castellón in north-east Spain.The train, en route from Sagunto in the eastern province of Valencia, to Zaragoza, stopped while the driver, seeing that the fire meant it was too dangerous to proceed, was preparing to reverse the train. Continue reading...

Victorian election battle takes shape as opposition leader says fixing the ‘broken health system’ must be prioritised

Whitehall review is also said to suggest cycling speed limits, along with licence penalty points and finesBikes could be made to have registration plates and insurance as ministers weigh up bringing speed limits for cyclists into line with those for drivers.The government is also considering the possibility of cyclists receiving licence penalty points and fines if they break speed limits or run red lights, the Daily Mail reported. Continue reading...

Salma al-Shehab, a Leeds University student, was charged with following and retweeting dissidents and activistsA Saudi student at Leeds University who had returned home to the kingdom for a holiday has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for having a Twitter account and for following and retweeting dissidents and activists.The sentencing by Saudi’s special terrorist court was handed down weeks after the US president Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia, which human rights activists had warned could embolden the kingdom to escalate its crackdown on dissidents and other pro-democracy activists. Continue reading...

Body of Juan Arjón López, 14th journalist to be killed in Mexico in 2022, identified by tattoos in border city of San Luis Río ColoradoAn independent journalist has been found dead in northern Mexico, bringing to 14 the number of reporters and media workers killed so far this year, which has been one of the deadliest ever for the profession.Prosecutors in the northern border state of Sonora said on Tuesday that tattoos on a body found in the border city of San Luis Río Colorado matched those of journalist Juan Arjón López. Continue reading...

Latest updates: leaked audio reveals favourite to be next PM said British workers lacked the ‘graft’ of their foreign rivalsKeir Starmer said the biggest cause of division in Scotland was the Conservative party.The Labour leader said:The single biggest driver of division in Scotland is the Tory party in Westminster.I want to hold our UK together, I want to make a positive case for the UK as we go forward.I think that this assumption that most people can afford these massive hikes in their energy bills is completely wrong.I think the government in making that argument is completely out of touch. Continue reading...

Police are appealing for information after the man, believed to be in his 80s, was killed in GreenfordAn elderly man who had been riding a mobility scooter in west London has been stabbed to death.Metropolitan police officers were called at 4.06pm on Tuesday to Cayton Road, Greenford, to reports of a man with stab injuries, and despite the efforts of paramedics he was declared dead at the scene. Continue reading...

Rival candidates questioned in Perth after frontrunner Truss makes belligerent remarks about Sturgeon

Consensus on migration and increasing subsidies for apprentices could pave way for policy reform at government’s jobs and skills summit

Exclusive: Tory leadership frontrunner suggested Britons lacked ‘skill and application’, in echo of ‘idlers’ rowLiz Truss, now the Tory leadership frontrunner, launched an astonishing broadside against British workers, saying they needed “more graft” and suggesting they lacked the “skill and application” of foreign rivals, the Guardian can reveal.In a leaked recording, the then No 2 at the Treasury also risked pitting Londoners against the rest of the country by attempting to explain the difference between the capital and other regions in the UK. Continue reading...

Analysis: comments made while at the Treasury suggesting some workers are not grafters confirm what seems to be a long-held viewThe Tories like to portray themselves as being on the side of hard-working British people.It’s safe territory not just among the party membership but also – crucially – key to holding together their fragile post-2019 electoral coalition of the former Labour heartlands and the true blue south. Continue reading...

Singer and actor found dead in Minnesota, US, on 11 August but cause of death remains unknownThe former Pop Idol contestant and theatre star Darius Campbell Danesh has died at the age of 41, his family have announced.The singer and actor was found dead in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota, on 11 August. The cause of death is as yet unknown. Continue reading...

German film-maker was known for action and suspense thrillers, including In the Line of Fire, Outbreak and The Perfect StormThe German film-maker Wolfgang Petersen has died at the age of 81.The Oscar-nominated writer-director was known for films such as Das Boot, Air Force One and In the Line of Fire. He died of pancreatic cancer at home in the company of his wife, Maria Borgel Petersen. His death was confirmed by his representative. Continue reading...

Yuan Wang 5 is officially described as a ‘scientific research ship’ but India suspects it has military functionsA Chinese navy vessel has arrived at a southern Sri Lankan port that Beijing leases from the government, prompting renewed security fears from India.On Tuesday morning, the Yuan Wang 5 sailed into the Hambantota port, which was built by Beijing, and was welcomed by senior Sri Lankan and Chinese officials in a traditional ceremony that involved red carpet and a massive banner that read: “Hello Sri Lanka, Long Live Sri Lanka-China Friendship.” Continue reading...

Dania Al-Obeid brings human rights claim after being found guilty of breaching Covid restrictions without court hearingA woman who was arrested and charged after attending the vigil for Sarah Everard in Clapham last year has launched civil proceedings against the Metropolitan police.Dania Al-Obeid was convicted for breaching coronavirus restrictions when attending the vigil in 2021 under a single justice procedure (SJP), which allows a magistrate to decide on a case without the need for a court hearing. Continue reading...

MP for Hazel Grove reveals his struggles and says he looks forward to returning in better mental healthWilliam Wragg has said he is taking a short break from his duties as an MP as he is suffering from a period of severe depression and anxiety.The Conservative MP for Hazel Grove, who is chair of the public administration committee, revealed his struggles in a statement on Twitter titled “banishing the black dog”. Continue reading...

Jason Grant’s appointment in Tay region receives incredulous responseThe appointment of a man to a new regional role promoting period dignity has provoked criticism and consternation.Jason Grant, who has previously worked in tobacco sales and as a personal trainer, was announced as the period dignity regional lead officer for the Tay region earlier this week, in what is believed to be the first role of its kind in the country and prompted by groundbreaking women’s health legislation. Continue reading...

Ex-footballer tells court he cheated on partners ‘many times’ but says he has never abused womenRyan Giggs has admitted cheating on his ex-wife and girlfriends “many times” and said his reputation as a “love cheat” was justified – but told a court he had never abused women.The former Manchester United and Wales footballer said he had never been faithful to any of his partners but denied using coercive or controlling behaviour. Continue reading...

Blasts reported in Simferopol and Mayskoye; eight Russian soldiers suspected of war crimes in Bucha identified by UkraineRussia’s Black Sea fleet is struggling to exercise effective sea control, with patrols generally limited to the waters within sight of the Crimean coast, according to the latest British intelligence report.The Black Sea fleet continues to use long-range cruise missiles to support ground offensives but is keeping a defensive posture, the British Ministry of Defence said in its daily intelligence bulletin. Continue reading...

Disruption including strikes, severe weather and Covid-related staff absences saw 3.6% of planned trains cancelled or part-cancelled in the 12 months to 23 JulyBritain’s trains have had their least reliable year since records began, new data has revealed, as it emerged that only a fifth of services will operate on Thursday and Saturday due to the latest rail strikes.The figures show that 3.6% of planned trains were cancelled or part-cancelled in the 12 months to 23 July, according to an analysis of Office of Rail and Road data by PA Media. The news agency said it is the highest number in records dating back to 2015. Continue reading...

Greens senator David Shoebridge and independent MP Sophie Scamps among those calling for investigation of former PM

After Covid thwarted two attempts to bring out Christian Spuck’s acclaimed Messa da Requiem, the festival has finally announced it as next year’s centrepiece

Opponents say the events pose a fire risk and water is being wasted in attempt to make them safeOrganisers of the “Rhine in Flames” firework displays have come under heavy criticism for staging the event during this summer’s drought, as water levels in the river continue to drop.The annual event has become a flashpoint, with climate campaigners and others furious about the fire risk and waste of precious water as the Rhine risks becoming unnavigable. Continue reading...

Zheng Zeguang says Britain would face serious consequences if it were to ‘follow in the footsteps of the US’China’s ambassador to the UK has said Britain would face “serious consequences” if it crossed the “red lines” over Taiwan and warned against following in the footsteps of the US.In a Guardian opinion piece that comes days after Liz Truss said China’s actions “threaten peace and stability in the region”, Zheng Zeguang wrote that Taiwan had become a “touchstone” for bilateral relations that he warned were “at an important juncture”. Continue reading...

Doctor killed along with a nurse and another woman at a hospital in the suburb of Ecatepec, on the outskirts of Mexico CityA Cuban doctor has been shot to death at a hospital in a rough neighborhood on the outskirts of Mexico City, prosecutors in the state of Mexico confirmed late on Monday.The doctor, whose name was not provided, was killed on Friday along with a nurse and another woman at a hospital in the suburb of Ecatepec. Continue reading...

Gary Connery, who parachuted into London 2012 opening ceremony, convicted of grievous bodily harmA stuntman who acted as a double for the Queen during the London Olympics has been jailed for pushing his then girlfriend down the stairs.Gary Connery, who parachuted into the 2012 opening ceremony dressed as the head of state as part of a skit, was convicted by a jury of grievous bodily harm in a case of domestic violence. Continue reading...

Artist Philip Chatfield hopes river journey will alert people to damage being done by poultry excrementIt was not the most elegant start to the day. The sculpture was trundled down to the Herefordshire riverbank on a sack truck borrowed from a builder before being bolted and strapped to a makeshift catamaran constructed out of two canoes.But after that, it was much more graceful and serene as the peculiar vessel was pushed off into the current, and craft and carving, Our Lady of the Waters and the Wye, began to meander downstream. Continue reading...

Company is trying to boost UK business as workers prepare for strike action that it says will push it into lossRoyal Mail has announced it will offer doorstep parcel collection for free until the end of the year as it tries to boost its UK business in the face of significant losses.The service allows customers to arrange for a package being sent or returned to be collected directly from their home by a postal worker as part of the daily post round. Continue reading...

Rotherham-born actor and comedian played Ted Spear in ITV soap and starred in Last of the Summer WineThe comedian and actor Duggie Brown, who starred in Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine, has died at the age of 82, his manager has said.Rotherham-born Brown found fame in Ken Loach’s 1969 film Kes, based on Barry Hines’s novel, and became one of the most well-known comedians of his generation. Continue reading...

Campaign to force vote on motion contradicting Keir Starmer’s stance will be launched by sacked shadow minister

While not formally confirming responsibility for mystery strike, Kyiv officials react with glee on social media

Exclusive: Opinium poll also shows overwhelming support for Labour’s policy to freeze price capMore than two-thirds of Conservative voters say that the government should temporarily renationalise energy companies if they cannot offer lower bills.The poll, released by the campaigning organisation 38 Degrees, also shows overwhelming support for Labour’s policy to freeze the price cap this year, keeping it at its current rate of £1,971. The Opinium poll found 86% of the public and 85% of current Conservative voters back keeping the price cap. Continue reading...

Analysis: You may be amazed by that answer, but the area of land used for grazing is vast compared with the meat and milk produced

Travel disruption expected as rain and thunderstorm warnings remain in place for much of UKFlooding has hit parts of the UK as official warnings for rain and thunderstorms remained in place for much of the country, while a drought has been formally declared in Yorkshire.The Environment Agency placed Yorkshire into drought status, joining eight other areas of England declared dry on Friday. Continue reading...