World News Hub

‘Extensive’ devastation caused by major fire in England as 150 million in Europe to experience temperatures above 35C – Europe live

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Four people taken to hospital in Stourbridge, West Midlands as extreme heat continues to grip Europe todayFour taken to hospital and homes damaged in West Midlands firesHarriet RichardsAssistant environment editorOn Thursday UK foreign secretary Ed Miliband posted a stark message on Instagram warning that climate breakdown is a national security threat to British people.“I feel this so deeply. We ...

Little rain on the horizon as England and Wales experience driest July on record

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

England received only 10% of its average July rainfall and some areas may just get the odd shower for rest of AugustEngland has experienced its driest July since records began in 1836, receiving only 6.5mm of rainfall – 10% of the country’s long-term meteorological average for the month. Wales also experienced its driest-ever July, while Northern Ireland recorded it was its eighth driest. Scotland...

Three firefighters and a child hospitalised in England as 150 million in Europe to experience temperatures above 35C – Europe live

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Four people taken to hospital in Stourbridge, West Midlands as extreme heat continues to grip EuropeFour taken to hospital and homes damaged in West Midlands firesWhile the temperatures might be slightly dropping in the UK today, it’s not really the case elsewhere as still some 150 million people in Europe are going to experience temperatures of 35C or above today, an AFP analysis showed.Temperatu...

Nigel Farage investigation reopened by parliamentary watchdog after Clacton byelection win – UK politics live

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Reform UK leader’s re-election restarts inquiry into £5m gift from cyrpto-billionaireWatchdog resumes investigation into Farage over financial giftsFarage wins Clacton byelection Analysis: Futile Clacton byelection has done Farage no favourThis election is a novelty with a record 34 candidates, including Howling Laud Hope of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party and Marcus White from the Everyon...

Futile Clacton byelection has done Farage no favours

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

The Reform UK leader forced a vote that failed to make financial questions disappear, only the man himself• Clacton byelection – UK politics liveDawn had long broken in the Essex town of Clacton-on-Sea when the results for the byelection came in. After a gruelling count, an atmosphere of deep exhaustion had settled over the room. Even the man with a dustbin on his head looked weary.As it was decla...

Standards watchdog resumes investigation into Nigel Farage over financial gifts

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Reform UK leader’s return to Clacton restarts inquiry into £5m gift from cyrpto-billionaire and support from fraudsterThe suspended parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage over accusations he failed to declare gifts and donations has resumed after the Reform UK leader’s re-election as the MP for Clacton.The twofold investigation by Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner f...

Pocock and crossbenchers call Labor’s NDIS overhaul ‘too far, too fast’ in scathing Senate inquiry report

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Greens say Labor’s reform set to ‘rip life-changing supports away from disabled people instead of raising additional revenue through taxing gas exports’Crossbenchers have slammed the Albanese government’s proposed overhaul of the NDIS as going “too far, too fast” as the changes to curb the growth of the $52bn program appear set to pass the parliament as early as next week.The Greens and independen...

Lending to property investors falls sharply in ‘tiny’ step towards fairer housing market in Australia, expert says

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

ABS data shows an almost 9% slump in new lending to investors after three interest rate hikes this yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn what one economist is describing as a “tiny step” toward a fairer housing market after decades of bad policy, property investors are shying away from established homes, and putting ...

‘They do look majestic’: tears and pride as first white storks set free in Cornwall

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Twenty-one birds released on Bodmin Moor where it is hoped they will one day return to produce their own youngThey took a little coaxing at first – after all, they had got used to a safe, comfortable aviary tucked away in woodland on the edge of Bodmin Moor. But after a few minutes, the birds stepped out into freedom and the bolder ones were soon soaring into the blue, the first white storks to be...

Alleged victim says Alan Jones groped him at lunch and describes fear of being seen as broadcaster’s ‘toy’, court hears

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Former 2GB and 2UE radio broadcaster is facing 22 indecent assault and sexual touching charges. Jones, 85, has pleaded not guiltyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA young driver for Alan Jones felt “violated” and “trapped” when the broadcaster allegedly touched him on the penis in the car and kissed him in a lift, but d...

Three firefighters and a child hospitalised in England as fires blaze in UK, Greece, France and Croatia – Europe live

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Four people taken to hospital in Stourbridge, West Midlands with 500 people evacuated in southwest FranceFour taken to hospital and homes damaged in West Midlands firesUK prime minister Andy Burnham also responded to the wildfire in West Midlands, saying his thoughts are with everyone affected.“I’m in touch with local leaders like [West Midlands Mayor] Richard Parker and will be speaking to emerge...

Teachers demand more scrutiny of Catholic school funding amid allegations of ‘sham arrangement’ with NSW Liberal group

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Independent Education Union ‘deeply concerned … public funding for Catholic schools may have been wrongfully spent on Liberal party matters’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe union for independent school teachers in New South Wales has demanded greater scrutiny of Catholic schools as the chief executive of their governing body told a corruption inquiry payments to a lob...

Teachers demand more scrutiny of Catholic school funding amid Icac inquiry into ‘sham arrangement’ with Liberal group

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Independent Education Union ‘deeply concerned … public funding for Catholic schools may have been wrongfully spent on Liberal party matters’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe union for independent school teachers in New South Wales has demanded greater scrutiny of Catholic schools as the chief executive of their gove...

Bet365 apologises after children wear gambling logos in charity race – as it happened

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

This blog has now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese says gambling inducements are ‘over the top’Albanese said gambling inducements are “over the top and need to be wound back”.Look, we’re working constructively across the parliament to put in place these reforms. They are important.The problem is addiction and when someone has an addiction, if there are indu...

Engine parts shattered Ryanair window that passenger was partly sucked out of, report says

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Preliminary findings show fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff on 10 July flight from Greece to GermanyBroken engine parts were responsible for shattering a window on a Ryanair plane, causing a passenger to be partly sucked out mid-flight in July, US investigators have said.A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found an engine fan blade broke off shortly afte...

‘This is hell’: British widow ‘sick’ with worry after losing Brexit deportation appeal

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Joyce Thomas, 78, faces being forced to leave Sweden after 21 years in growing row over country’s approach to EU withdrawalBritish widow, 78, told to leave Sweden under Brexit rulesThe 78-year-old British widow threatened with removal from Sweden after 21 years has said she has been left feeling sick with worry after being told she had lost an appeal against deportation in a growing row over the c...

‘This is hell’: British widow ‘sick’ with worry over threat of being removed from Sweden

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Joyce Thomas faces being forced to leave country after losing appeal against deportationBritish widow, 78, told to leave Sweden under Brexit rulesThe 78-year-old British widow threatened with removal from Sweden after 21 years has said she has been left feeling sick with worry after being told she had lost an appeal against deportation in a ongoing row over the country’s handling of Brexit.“I am i...

Australia news live: Bet365 apologises after children wear gambling logos in charity race; search for 18-year-old bushwalker continues

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese says gambling inducements are ‘over the top’Albanese said gambling inducements are “over the top and need to be wound back”.Look, we’re working constructively across the parliament to put in place these reforms. They are important.The problem is addiction and when someone has an addiction, if there are indu...

Iris Murdoch artworks from secret room go on display – including self-portrait

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Second world war paintings and sketches show novelist ‘engaging with her world in a new light’For decades, they lay in a secret room in her attic gathering dust. Now, newly discovered artworks by the Booker prize-winning author Iris Murdoch – including the only self-portrait she is known to have painted, four surrealist landscape paintings and three sketches of female nudes – will go on display fo...

Clacton byelection: Farage beats Count Binface but skips result announcement – UK politics live

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

The Reform UK leader said he would not be present at vote count in byelection he tried to frame as the ‘people versus the establishment’Nigel Farage set for decisive but arguably empty victory in ClactonThis election is a novelty with a record 34 candidates, including Howling Laud Hope of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party and Marcus White from the Everyone is God Party.They have pounded the ...

Nigel Farage wins Clacton byelection in contest boycotted by other main parties

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Reform UK leader fails to appear for result, despite beating nearest challenger, Count Binface, and 32 other candidatesClacton byelection – UK politics liveNigel Farage has seen off Count Binface to win the Clacton byelection in a contest boycotted by every other major political party.The Reform UK leader in July triggered the byelection in an attempt to shake off a deepening scandal over a £5m gi...

Nigel Farage wins Clacton byelection in contest boycotted by every other major party

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Reform UK leader beats nearest challenger, Count Binface, in byelection he caused amid deepening scandal over £5m giftClacton byelection – UK politics liveNigel Farage has seen off Count Binface to win the Clacton byelection in a contest boycotted by every other major political party.The Reform UK leader in July triggered the byelection in an attempt to shake off a deepening scandal over a £5m gif...

Hot topic: why is Burnham so reluctant to talk about the climate crisis?

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Extreme heat is harming the wellbeing of the ordinary people the PM champions, yet he has ignored the subjectFrom the first day Andy Burnham came into office, climate scientists, campaigners and some of the ordinary people surviving through this summer of extreme heat began to wonder when he would start to talk about the climate crisis.Up until this week, many held back from criticism. After all, ...

Searches for UK homes with air conditioning more than double

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

Most owners would consider installing aircon as heatwaves lead buyers to focus on ability to stay cool, Rightmove saysSearches for homes for sale in the UK with air conditioning have more than doubled this summer as heatwaves push staying cool up the list of priorities for homebuyers, alongside nearness to good schools and transport links.In the week of the UK’s fifth heatwave, in which temperatur...

Builders, bakers and cheeseburger-makers: the UK workers struggling in extreme heat

The Guardian • 3 weeks ago

From chefs to paramedics, workers tell the Guardian how they are coping and unions outline the changes needed in the workplaceIn the sweltering kitchen of the Plimsoll pub in north London, the head chef, Joshua Swinney, has a frozen tea towel wrapped around his neck to combat the heat.As temperatures exceeded 35C (95F) in the capital, workers who were not lucky enough to be in air-conditioned offi...