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Politics
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Pakistan precinct suspends all 78 officers and staff over alleged rape at police station
Lahore police official says all personnel were responsible for preventing and reporting wrongdoing at station The alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman with intellectual disabilities in a police station in Lahore, Pakistan has prompted authorities to suspend all 78 police officers and staff at the precinct, in one of the country’s biggest-ever disciplinary actions against its police force. The woman alleges that an assistant sub-inspector apprehended her, took her to Ghaziabad police station, and raped her in a room on the second floor. The woman’s family said she disappeared on the street, before returning home in tears and stating that she had been sexually assaulted at the station. Continue reading...
Nearly 1,500 properties bought using Australia’s first home buyers' 5% deposit scheme converted into investments
New data shows the federal government scheme has been used by high-income borrowers, including one couple earning an annual $674,000 Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The government’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers has enabled the purchase of nearly 1,500 properties that were turned into investments, new data shows. The scheme is also helping hundreds of Australians earning more than $300,000 a year, after Labor stopped excluding high-income borrowers. Continue reading...
‘Just an easy cash grab’: why Jetstar is charging customers for carry-on luggage
Add-on fees such as the new overhead locker baggage charge can make it harder to compare air fares, experts say Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Cut-price fares may now be merely a facade for seemingly endless add-on fees after Jetstar’s new carry-on luggage charge meant the airline joined a growing number monetising basic services in the sky. The new structure, announced by Qantas’s low-cost carrier on Wednesday, will mean from next year tickets will only include one “under seat bag”, such as a backpack, handbag or laptop bag. Continue reading...
The events at Ceuta show how Europe’s hard right now set the tone on immigration
The narratives of the right are seeping into mainstream EU policy, and Spain finds itself increasingly isolated in its humanitarian stance on borders • Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up here It was over almost as quickly as it began. But the human cost of the mayhem in Ceuta over the last seven days, and the disunity it exposed within the EU, will take a lot longer to fix. To recap: more than 70,000 people swam or waded into the tiny Spanish enclave in north Africa from neighbouring Morocco in a matter of hours at the end of last week. The exact circumstances in which the heavily securitised border came suddenly to be open are still unclear. Continue reading...
Gene-edited beagles may offer a future option for people with dog allergies
Scientists at a biotech company have used gene editing to create two hypoallergenic beagles that don't trigger allergies Matt Walker couldn’t pet a dog without sneezing – until he and other scientists used a gene editing technique to produce a hypoallergenic beagle named Bailey. Now, he can feed Bailey spoons of peanut butter while she lies on his lap and play fetch with her in Central Park. His allergies didn’t go away: Bailey’s saliva and hair no longer contain a key allergy-causing protein. Continue reading...
Woman arrested after four men stabbed in Covent Garden – latest
Police arrested a woman in central London after four men were found with stab wounds in the shopping and entertainment district Four men were stabbed in central London on Wednesday, with police arresting a woman in connection to the attack. Police responded to reports of a stabbing at Endell Street in Covent Garden at 12:27pm, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Continue reading...
Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in defining race for Democrats
Leftwing candidate will now face Republican Mike Rogers in race to represent midwestern purple state in the Senate US politics live – latest updates Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for US Senate in Michigan, becoming the latest leftwing candidate to win the party’s nomination ahead of November’s midterm elections. El-Sayed, a progressive, beat Haley Stevens, a moderate US representative backed by the party’s establishment. He will now face Republican Mike Rogers in the race to represent the midwestern purple state in the Senate. Continue reading...
Trump administration targets children amid push to ‘deport at all costs’
Federal lawsuit alleges kids are being repatriated despite many of them qualifying to remain in the US legally The Trump administration is deliberately targeting children who came to the US unaccompanied by a parent or guardian as it pushes to quickly return them to the countries they fled – amid “drastic policy changes” in immigration courts, according to allegations in a federal lawsuit shared with the Guardian. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are trying to prevent imminent deportation to the places from where they escaped danger or harm. Continue reading...
The Democratic party chair is a handy scapegoat. But the party’s problems are much bigger | Norman Solomon
Much of the criticism of Ken Martin is deserved. But his actions are symptomatic of a party that fails to listen to the grassroots Ken Martin is now a convenient scapegoat. As chair of the Democratic National Committee, he has stumbled into disrepute as a dubious fundraiser and bad-tempered boss who bungled an autopsy report on the 2024 election disaster. Much of the criticism is justified. But Martin is just a symptom of what deeply ails a party that does not live up to its name. As the Democratic party’s governing body, the Democratic National Committee has long operated as a fortress for party elites who expect to get their way. Martin seemed to offer a bit of a departure when, as Minnesota party chair, he won the committee leadership election last year in part because of his close ties with other state party chairs. They remain among his strongest supporters. That’s one reason why Martin is very well-positioned to fend off any challenge to his hold on power when the full committee meets next week in Austin. Continue reading...
‘Alarming’ surge in bluetongue disease among UK sheep
Farmers advised to vaccinate after recent hot weather provides ideal conditions for virus-carrying midges There has been an “alarming” surge in the number of sheep affected by an outbreak of bluetongue in the UK, with farmers whose livestock are at risk being urged to move them out of areas where midges are plentiful. The virus, which does not necessarily kill sheep but makes them ill and can have a long recovery time, presents as high fever and swelling of the lips and tongue, with a one-week incubation time. The tongue may go blue and even protrude from the mouth. More than 590 cases were reported last week, according to the National Sheep Association (NSA). Continue reading...
Woman arrested after four men stabbed in London’s Covent Garden
Metropolitan police say 47-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of possession of offensive weapon and assault A woman has been arrested after four men were stabbed in Covent Garden in central London, police said. Four people were taken to a major trauma centre after the incident on Endell Street on Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading...
Two US men charged for allegedly using snakes, a lemur and a monkey for exotic photoshoots
Men allegedly used exotic animals for photoshoots featuring a ring of fire in a parking garage in Maryland Two Baltimore, Maryland, men are facing charges for allegedly using exotic animals – including snakes, a lemur and a spider monkey – in photoshoots featuring three semi-clothed models and a ring of fire in a garage beneath a luxury shopping complex. Photographer Vernon Crowfey III, the 32-year-old owner of the company Photogeniks, was arrested in Towson, Maryland, on 16 July after an undercover officer arranged a shoot with the animals. Continue reading...
FAA investigates air ‘safety incident’ involving Trump’s Marine One
Controllers allegedly failed to halt flights, leading to a ‘loss of separation’ with a departing passenger jet An air “safety incident” in which Donald Trump ’s Marine One helicopter came closer than permitted to another aircraft over Washington DC is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Air traffic controllers are believed to have mistakenly failed to halt commercial flights at Ronald Reagan national airport in northern Virginia on Tuesday afternoon when the military helicopter lifted off from the White House with the president on board. Continue reading...
‘Leicester Square, please guv’: Self-driving taxis cleared for London streets ‘later this summer’
Wayve Uber wins first minicab licence for autonomous cabs from TfL but vehicles will have a safety driver (at first) The taxi app company Uber and the autonomous technology developer Wayve have been granted the first minicab licences in London, allowing them to offer self-driving taxi rides to paying customers – but with a human safety driver in place, for now. The companies said they would start trips in the UK “later this summer” before the full public launch. Continue reading...
Parents in the US: do you have a program similar to Mamdani’s 2-K rollout?
We would like to hear from US parents about whether they have a program comparable to New York’s 2-K rollout The New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani , has rolled out a 2-K program providing free early care and learning for two-year-olds. The program has two thirds more applicants than spots available , indicating high demand. With this in mind, we would like to hear from parents across the US about whether they have a program comparable to Mamdani’s 2-K rollout. If so, how has it helped or changed your life? Continue reading...
Republican Chuck Edwards drops bid for re-election after report finding sexual harassment of staffers
Congressional ethics panel had recommended Edwards face censure over its findings on ‘hostile work environment’ US politics live – latest updates Chuck Edwards announced he would not run for re-election after the US House of Representatives ethics committee determined the US congressman “fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment” by giving gifts and lavishing attention on two young female staffers. Edwards, a Republican for North Carolina, said he would complete his current term, which is due to end in January. Continue reading...
What kind of society fast-tracks early release for domestic abusers? This is gambling with women’s lives | Joan Smith
Andy Burnham inherited the crisis in our prison system – but the solution cannot be to further endanger the women and girls who have survived violence It’s time to be blunt: the government is about to expose hundreds of vulnerable women to the risk of death or serious injury. Survivors of domestic abuse, including women who have suffered years of physical violence and intimidation, are now preparing for the moment in October when 5,000 prisoners begin to be released early . What are these women supposed to do? Where are they supposed to go? Their abusers know where they live. They know where their children go to school. Following an outcry, rapists and some child sex offenders have been excluded from the early release scheme. But by refusing to exclude men convicted of domestic violence, this government is sending a message that this category of crime – serial in nature and implicated in the deaths of one woman every five days – is simply not a priority. Joan Smith is an author, journalist and a former chair of the mayor of London’s VAWG board Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...
Head of drone manufacturer critically injured in car bomb in Russia
Assassination attempt demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to continue clandestine operations deep inside Russian territory Europe live – latest updates The head of a leading Russian drone manufacturer has been critically injured in a car bomb near Ekaterinburg in what appears to be the latest in a series of assassination attempts targeting figures linked to the country’s war in Ukraine. Vladimir Tkachuk, founder of the private drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, was rushed to intensive care on Wednesday after a bomb planted beneath his Mercedes exploded, according to Russian state media, citing emergency services. His bodyguard was killed in the explosion. Continue reading...
Italy to place all 27 of its major cities on highest heat alert
Move comes as fourth heatwave of summer intensifies, edging temperatures in some areas close to 40C Italy is to place all of its 27 major cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, under the highest heat alert as the fourth heatwave to hit the country this summer intensifies. A red alert means there is a higher chance of an emergency owing to the health risk posed by prolonged extreme temperatures to the entire population. Continue reading...
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has a hard job. Here's how to make it easier | Jordan Robinson
Engelbert helped vault the league to new financial heights, but still draws the ire of stakeholders. A co-commissioner for player relations would be a welcome add Sign up to get the WNBA 30 newsletter in your inbox every Tuesday Being the WNBA’s commissioner may be one of the most unwanted jobs in the world right now. That’s in no small part because Cathy Engelbert, the person who holds that title, makes it look like a rough ride. She has helped usher the league into new financial heights and unprecedented popularity, but her players continue to bash her in the public sphere. The job is not an easy one, and by many measures Engelbert has done it well, but today I want to talk about what I would do in her shoes. That means starting with how we got here. Continue reading...
Trump’s university ‘compact’ is gone. That doesn’t mean the assault on education is over | Kenneth Roth
The administration’s proposed agreement met a scathing response. But universities must remain vigilant The Trump administration has quietly abandoned the poisonous deal it tried to foist on American universities. Under its so-called Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, the administration offered select universities privileged access to federal grants if they agreed to conform with Donald Trump’s ideology on how they should be run. Universities widely pilloried the proposal, demonstrating the power of a collective defense. Higher education in the United States certainly needs reform , as many university leaders and the public would acknowledge , but not according to the dictates of Trump. Kenneth Roth is a Guardian US columnist, a senior fellow at Yale University, and former executive director of Human Rights Watch. He is the author of Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments Continue reading...
Middle East crisis live: US and Iran signal hope for Hormuz deal but terms unclear
While Trump suggests deal could come as soon as today, Iran indicates that ongoing talks with Oman would not lead to its immediate reopening Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East. US officials, including Donald Trump, have said a deal over the strait of Hormuz could be reached today, with continued diplomatic efforts potentially paving the way for US-Iran talks to resume. The possible agreement between Iran and Oman on arrangements for vessels to pass through the strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the immediate opening of the strait. Negotiations regarding arrangements for vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz are purely Iranian-Omani and have no connection to the United States. If US violations continue, the strait of Hormuz will not open even with an agreement between Iran and Oman. The opening of the strait of Hormuz depends on a change in behaviour and correction of US violations. Continue reading...
Michigan Democratic race to close to call with El-Sayed in narrow lead First Thing
Haley Stevens trails progressive in Senate primary as counting continues. Plus, meet the man who names cockroaches after Tolkein and Pokémon characters Good morning. A Democratic Senate primary in Michigan remains too close to call , with Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official, holding a narrow lead over the establishment-backed congresswoman Haley Stevens. The battleground state is crucial to the party’s hopes of winning back control of the Senate in November. Who won in the crowded primary in Washington state? Democratic representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez secured one of two spots in the all-party primary , overcoming criticism from both the left and the right. She will face the Republican state senator John Braun in November. Why are citizens being denied a voice in Missouri? The state’s top election official has rejected a petition seeking a statewide referendum on redistricting. Hundreds of thousands of petition signatures had been submitted in an effort to force a vote on whether to use a new US House map approved by the Republican-led state legislature. The Republican secretary of state, Denny Hoskins, said the number submitted did not matter because challenging a congressional map was unconstitutional under Missouri law. What is the dispute about? The US Department of State said Viotti’s visa had been cancelled in retaliation for Brasília’s refusal to approve Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Brazil and its decision last month to deny visas to two US diplomats. Brasília swiftly condemned the decision, calling it part of a deliberate campaign to influence the outcome of the presidential election in Brazil this October. Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term against Flávio Bolsonaro, the senator son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro, and a close political ally of Trump. Continue reading...
Drone found at German airport after cargo plane collides with object mid-air
Investigators looking into whether incidents at Leipzig are linked after DHL plane forced to make emergency landing A DHL cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing after colliding with an unknown object as it was climbing away from Germany’s Leipzig airport, where police later found a drone on the ground. The German government on Wednesday confirmed the incident, which led to serious disruption of air traffic. Continue reading...