World news | The Guardian

Exclusive: more than 500 children a day or one every three minutes are referred to mental health services in England

Change to single phone line for 24-hour support hailed by experts, though NHS leaders say 111 already stretched

Pair say system can be hostile towards innocent people, and claim official file shows witness statement that is not mine'A mother and son whose lives have been completely reshaped by living under witness protection have called for a wholesale review of the system, warning that instead of keeping people safe it can be hostile" to innocents.The pair spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity after obtaining their official file, which they say shows that their pleas for help were dismissed and the value of their evidence in an investigation into a gang-related murder may have been exaggerated. Continue reading...

Max Chandler-Mather addresses marchers in Brisbane as Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union members rally across capital cities

Judgment believed to be first case brought over an employer threatening a juror

Doubts expressed that John Swinney is strong enough leader to direct the scale of change requiredThe Scottish National party will lose the next Holyrood election without a fundamental rethink of purpose and policy while carrying out long-delayed internal reforms, senior figures have warned.However, some have expressed doubt that the party's leader, John Swinney, is strong enough to direct the scale of change required. Continue reading...

Lives are being bundled into bags after Ukrainian officials gave people in the city two weeks to leave

Treasurer's speech criticised opposition leader for devoting past two weeks of parliamentary sittings to condemning the issuing of visas to people from Gaza

State treasurer says levy will help in getting the balance right' for mix of housing and prioritising long-term rentals

Greens accuse company of price-gouging, as supermarket attributes sales boost to seasonal campaigns and rising digital revenue

It was a bit of action,' AFL coach says after detaining 16-year-old in Hawthorn who allegedly ran from Mercedes that had flipped onto side

Attack of 127 missiles and 109 drones is one of the biggest' of the war, Zelenskiy says, causing power and water outagesA huge missile and drone attack launched by Russia across Ukrainian territory has left at least seven people dead, including four children, officials have said.Power cuts and water outages were reported in numerous parts of the country including in some districts of the capital, Kyiv, as a result of the strikes, which targeted mainly civilian energy infrastructure. Continue reading...

Largely peaceful festival marred by fresh stabbing on Monday after three people were hurt on SundayTens of thousands of revellers have turned out to enjoy the final day of this year's Notting Hill carnival, flooding the streets of west London with colour, dancing and music.Dancers showed off their flamboyant costumes while floats blasted music for the spectators on the streets of W11. Vendors cooked up a mix of food on open barbecues, as sound systems played everything from rare groove to house, samba, reggae and ska. Continue reading...

Prices down 0.3% in first week of August as food inflation eases and retailers attempt to shift unsold summer stockUK shop prices have dropped for the first time since the cost of living crisis began nearly three years ago, as food inflation eased and retailers offered discounts on clothes and household goods to shift unsold summer stock.New data showed prices were down 0.3% in the first week of August, compared with the same period last year. That compares to a 0.2% rise in July, and the three-month average of 0%. Continue reading...

Former PM and ministers drew criticism for the VIP flights Labour says were symbol of their government'A 40m VIP helicopter contract used extensively by the former prime minister Rishi Sunak is to be cancelled as his successor, Keir Starmer, promises to undo 14 years of rot" under the Conservatives.Starmer and his defence secretary, John Healey, have decided not to renew a contract for helicopter transport which is due to expire at the end of the year after it was extended in 2023 at Sunak's personal insistence. Continue reading...

Investigation into Pavel Durov relates to app's alleged failure to stop spread of child sexual abuse materialPavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire co-founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested in France in connection with an investigation into criminal activity on the platform and a lack of cooperation with law enforcement, prosecutors announced on Monday.Durov, who has French citizenship, was detained at Le Bourget airport, just outside Paris, on Saturday evening after arriving from Azerbaijan on his private jet. His surprise arrest has sparked debate over free speech worldwide and led to an outcry in Moscow. Continue reading...

Extra security measures only introduced after Shea Ryan, 10, fell down a maintenance hole shaft in 2020, inquiry toldA building site in Glasgow where a 10-year-old boy died after falling down a maintenance hole shaft should have had more CCTV, an inquiry has heard.Shea Ryan died in July 2020 when he climbed through an unsecured fence on a building site in Drumchapel and fell about 6.3 metres (20ft) down the shaft. Continue reading...

Trudeau also announces 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum and says China is not playing by the same rules'Canada, following the lead of the United States, on Monday said it would impose a 100% tariff on the import of Chinese electric vehicles and also announced a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum from China.The prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said Ottawa was acting to counter what he called China's intentional, state-directed policy of over-capacity. But he did not specify whether tariffs would be softened or would be the same on Tesla, whose shares were down over 3% on Monday after the announcement. Continue reading...

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of the 65-year-old was foundPolice investigating the murder of a woman in Derry have named her as Montserrat Martorell Elias.A murder investigation was launched after the body of the 65-year-old was found after a horrific" attack and a fire at a flat in the city. Continue reading...

Anger grows over proposed cuts of up to 10m for Creative Scotland affecting freelance artists and performersActors and directors have protested on stage during the Edinburgh festival after anger about proposed cuts to Scottish arts funding escalated into open revolt.Protest messages were read out after performances, including at the Traverse, Lyceum, George Square, Summerhall and Church Hill theatres, to loud applause from audiences, as thousands of artists and performers signed an open letter calling for the cuts to be reversed. Continue reading...

Debate follows TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp's decision to let 15-year-old make independent tripSafeguarding experts and child psychologists have said the risks to teenagers are increasingly far greater" online at home than when travelling independently following the row about the television presenter Kirstie Allsopp allowing her teenage son to go Interrailing.A debate on the protection of teenagers was prompted by Allsopp, who revealed that social services had interviewed her after she posted online about her son, then 15, taking a rail trip around Europe after his GCSEs. Continue reading...

Exclusive: PM's decision seen by some in Whitehall as precursor for role going to more politically loyal candidateKeir Starmer has cancelled the appointment of one of Britain's top generals as the national security adviser, in a move that senior civil servants fear is designed to pave the way for a more politically loyal candidate.The prime minister has overturned the decision made in April by his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, to appoint Gwyn Jenkins, then the vice-chief of the armed forces, to the most senior security position in the government, officials have said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Fabian Society says tax breaks cost 66bn and are skewed towards better-offRachel Reeves could raise at least 10bn a year through a radical shake-up of pensions that would make tax relief less generous to better-off earners, a leading left-of-centre thinktank has said.The report by the Fabian Society says tax breaks for pensions have become markedly more expensive for the government and its proposed changes would fill half the 22bn shortfall the chancellor has identified in the public finances.Creating a single flat rate of tax relief for individual and employer pension contributions for all tax bands (eg 25p or 30p for each pound of gross income). At the moment, pension tax relief depends on an individual's marginal tax band.Levy employee national insurance on employer pension contributions in exchange for a higher government top-up on the first 7,500 of annual pension saving.Reduce the maximum tax-free lump sum to the lower of 100,000 or 25% of pension wealth. At present, the tax-free lump sum can be in excess of 250,000.Fairly tax the inheritance of pensions by subjecting pensions to inheritance tax and levying income tax on all inherited pensions.Charge employee national insurance on private pension incomes (with an allowance to exclude small pensions) in exchange for cancelling the forthcoming cut to winter fuel payment. Continue reading...

The AFP received more than 2,500 allegations of misconduct or police practices over two years

The government's much-anticipated white paper defers key decisions and passes the buck on the crucial issue of landing slots

Benny Gantz and Itamar Ben-Gvir say prime minister needs to remove the threat in the north completely

Police detain two men on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and a man and a woman on suspicion of assisting an offenderFour more people have been arrested by police investigating a house fire that killed a mother and three children in Bradford.Bryonie Gawith, 29, was found dead at the scene in Westbury Road on Wednesday, and her three children, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months, died later in hospital. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Developers say the Fieldworker robot will soon be in use in the UK, Australia and PortugalA new version of the world's first raspberry-picking robot, a four-armed machine powered by artificial intelligence and able to do the job at the speed and effectiveness of a human, is to be employed on farms in the UK, Australia and Portugal over the coming 12 months.The developers claim that Fieldworker 1, nicknamed Robocrop, can detect more accurately than previous models whether a berry is ripe, and can pick fruit faster because its grippers have greater reach and flexibility. Continue reading...

Six properties disconnected in past year but there are thought to be 5,000 unlawful apartments in Spanish cityA court in Seville in southern Spain has ruled that the city council is within its rights to cut off the water supply to illegal tourist apartments.Over the past year the city has disconnected the supply to six illegal apartments. Three owners appealed but the judge, mindful of neighbours' complaints about noise, accepted the council's argument that the apartments were not the owners' residences. Continue reading...

Return of 2016 chief sparks concerns of tensions distracting voters as election looms. Plus, man taking on taking on TikTok's gambling influencers

John Alfred Tinniswood was born the year the Titanic sank and has lived through the tenure of 24 UK prime ministersThe world's oldest living man has turned 112 at his care home in Merseyside.John Alfred Tinniswood, who lives in Southport, put his long life down to just luck", and said he did not follow a special diet, except for eating fish and chips every Friday. Continue reading...

Path of Hurricane Gilma spared damage as Hurricane Hone passes close to Hawaii and Typhoon Shanshan approaches JapanThe Pacific Ocean has become a theatre of dynamic meteorological activity this week, showcasing two hurricanes in the north-east, and a typhoon in the north-west. Hurricane Gilma underwent rapid intensification into a powerful category 4 storm on Sunday as it tracked west through the Pacific. Fortunately, Gilma's path was spared significant damage, but instead generated turbulent sea conditions over the weekend; 3.5-metre-high swells and sustained winds reaching 130mph made it a feature to be avoided by marine vessels. Gilma will eventually approach the Hawaiian archipelago, with models suggesting it will pass to the north of the islands by Friday. By then, however, Gilma is expected to have dissipated into a remnant area of low pressure with little destruction in its path.In contrast, Hurricane Hone made its presence felt on the Hawaiian islands this weekend, passing just 50 nautical miles south of Hawai'i - the Big Island - with sustained winds towards the centre nearing 80mph on Sunday. Despite being classified as a category 1 hurricane, Hone has made a significant impact through elevated surf and sea swells, causing strong breaking waves of up to 4.3 metres, as well as strong winds gusting around 60mph. However, the biggest threat is that of flash flooding and landslides on steep slopes, especially on the eastern windward side of the island. Continue reading...

Dozens from European film industry and other artists write letter warning Andrei Gnyot could face death penaltyDozens of European directors, actors and other artists have called on Serbian authorities not to extradite a Belarusian activist back to Belarus. In an open letter published on Monday, the artists warn that Andrei Gnyot faces imprisonment, torture and even the death penalty" if sent back to Belarus.Gnyot, a film-maker who was instrumental in organising an alliance of athletes to oppose the dictatorial rule of Alexander Lukashenko, was detained on arrival in Serbia last year after Belarus issued a warrant for his arrest on tax evasion charges via Interpol. He says the charges are political. Continue reading...

Proportion was biggest since at least 2010 as cheaper mortgage deals slowed exodus from city, says estate agentAlmost half of house hunters in London at the beginning of this year were first-time buyers as cheaper mortgage deals slowed the exodus from the capital, figures from a leading estate agent show.First-time buyers made up 48% of purchasers in the city between January and June, according to analysis by Hamptons of data from Countrywide estate agents. Continue reading...

Specialty styles and outre toppings proliferating as ready meals seek to replicate restaurant trendsIf you were in the mood for pizza the supermarket choice used to be straightforward - fresh or frozen, thin or thick, margherita or pepperoni - but the UK's growing appetite for posh pizza is bringing little-known Italian regional specialities and outre toppings to the mainstream.The traditionally budget-friendly food's move upmarket is in part driven by demand for fakeaways" where consumers opt for an upmarket ready meal over a takeaway or eating out. At the same time pizza has never been more fashionable with interest in all forms of the Italian staple fuelled by a buzzing restaurant scene. Continue reading...

Goal of equal share of men and women in jeopardy after member states ignore request for male and female candidatesUrsula von der Leyen is set to miss her target of a gender-balanced top team at the European Commission, after EU governments snubbed her request to propose male and female candidates.The first female president of the EU executive, who was re-elected for a historic second term last month, is drawing up her team of commissioners. Akin to government ministers, these are senior EU officials who oversee the bloc's climate, technology and industrial policies, negotiate trade deals, police European law, dole out billions of grants and draw up the budget for the union. Continue reading...

White paper's 56 initiatives includes passenger rights charter which could see cash compensation for cancelled or delayed flights

Stein, 33, receives maximum sentence of life in prison without parole after shooting partner's daughter and dumping her body in a barrel

Beloved author and TV presenter, 79, sustained fractures in her Barossa Valley home

Metropolitan police say 32-year-old woman is in hospital after stabbing on SundayA 32-year-old woman is in a life-threatening condition in hospital after being stabbed at the Notting Hill carnival, the Metropolitan police have said.The force said on Sunday it was aware of three stabbings at the annual west London celebrations, with a 29-year-old man in hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and a 24-year-old man also stabbed whose condition had yet to be confirmed. Continue reading...

Care homes and homecare providers wait weeks for people to be brought from hospital, report revealsMore than 14,000 NHS hospital beds are being occupied every day by patients who are well enough to be discharged, figures show, as experts urged ministers tackle the crisis.The data emerged as a damning report revealed that almost a fifth of care providers were waiting weeks for people to be transferred into their care. Continue reading...

IDF launches waves of what it calls pre-emptive' strikes into Lebanon as Hezbollah fires hundreds of rockets in major escalation of tensions

Issa Al H, a 26-year-old Syrian, appears before a judge in Karlsruhe after attack in which three people diedSolingen stabbings: what we know so farProsecutors have said the suspect arrested over a stabbing rampage in the western German city of Solingen shares the ideology of the Islamic State group and was acting on those beliefs when he attacked.The 26-year-old Syrian, who had turned himself in, was identified by federal prosecutors as Issa Al H, with his last name omitted in line with German privacy laws. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Richard Hermer tells officials he can't approve decision to ban arms without knowing if their use would breach international lawKeir Starmer's most senior legal adviser has intervened in the contentious decision over whether to ban UK arms sales to Israel, the Guardian has learned, as officials struggle to distinguish between offensive" and defensive" weapons.Sources say Richard Hermer, the attorney general, has told Foreign Office officials he will not approve a decision to ban some weapons sales until they can say for sure which could be used to break international humanitarian law. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Children in disadvantaged areas three times as likely to be sent away as pupils in wealthier places

With everything from coffee to mining equipment now being delivered by drone, operators are exploring technology to stop connection black spots sending drones dropping from the sky

Greenpeace among 150 groups expressing outrage after preemptive arrests led to cancellation of protest campGreenpeace and Friends of the Earth have accused police of acting as private security" for the UK's biggest carbon emitter after dozens of preemptive arrests forced the cancellation of a climate protest camp near Drax power station.In a statement signed by almost 150 groups, they called the operation against activists who had spent months planning the camp near the wood-burning power station an unreasonable restriction of free speech". Continue reading...

Starmer and Reeves unlikely to reverse winter fuel and two-child benefit cap decisions, says Pat McFaddenA senior cabinet minister has warned of more economic pain to come as the government prepares to restrict public spending in ways MPs and campaigners say could exacerbate the cost of living crisis.Pat McFadden, the cabinet office minister, said on Sunday that voters should expect the government to take further difficult decisions, as Keir Starmer prepares to give a speech accusing the Conservatives of leaving the country in rubble and ruin". Continue reading...

Shift reflects change in how people are talking and thinking about death amid climate crisis and increasing secularismDavid Bowie was ahead of his time when he said he would like his death to be as interesting as his life - now, a raft of funeral directors and undertakers are shifting the dial on what the end of life can look like.The most tangible differences are the products on offer. Choices range from coffins made of weatherbeaten willow, banana leaf and wool to bespoke Scrabble- or piano-themed ones, or a Bauhaus-inflected urn in lapis lazuli-blue. As for methods of transport, coffins are being carried in converted electric Nissans or VW camper vans. Motorcycle hearses are also available. Continue reading...

Protection agent says it was impossible to keep a professional distance from genuine and loving' familyThe armed guard assigned to Mike Lynch while he faced fraud charges has described how close he became to the loving" tech entrepreneur and his family.Appointed by the court, Rolo Igno, said he was supposed to stay distant but that the professional relationship quickly dissolved" when Lynch invited him to spend time with his family. Continue reading...