section
Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
3889 stories archived
Rapid endometriosis tests to be made available on NHS in England and Wales
Saliva and gut sensor-based tests hailed as ‘gamechanger’ for millions of women who can wait years for diagnosis Two tests that can dramatically speed up diagnosis of endometriosis are to be made available on the NHS in England and Wales, in a move hailed as a “gamechanger” for millions of women. One in 10 women of reproductive age are affected by the condition, where tissue similar to that found in the womb lining grows elsewhere, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Symptoms include painful periods, painful bowel movements, pain when urinating and pain during or after sex. Continue reading...
Student loan promotion in England and Wales amounted to mis-selling, MPs say
Treasury select committee also says ministers have moral obligation to reverse last year’s repayment threshold freeze Slideshows that compared student loan repayments with the cost of a mobile phone contract, and YouTube videos that did not mention the fact that loan terms could change amounted to mis-selling by the government, MPs have said. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, caused a furore last year when she announced that the repayment threshold on plan 2 student loans would be frozen at £29,385 for three years from April 2027. Continue reading...
Nato braces for difficult summit as Trump puts pressure on spending
Meeting of 32 member states comes at crucial time for alliance after tensions with US over Iran and Greenland Nato leaders will gather in Ankara on Tuesday after a turbulent six months. And as the US continues to pressure its allies to increase defence spending , the other 31 members of the alliance will be hoping to mollify an unpredictable Donald Trump. On Monday, Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general, called for the allies to present “clear, concrete and credible plans” to reach the organisation’s spending targets. “President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency,” he said. Continue reading...
Europe faces up to prospect US may be unable to arm Nato allies
Wars in Iran and Ukraine have expended stockpiles of sought-after missiles, leaving gap in military resources There are growing concerns in Europe that the US defence industrial base is no longer providing the weapons pledged to Nato allies with US stockpiles depleted owing to the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, leaving allies to consider new avenues to arm and defend themselves. As Nato leaders including the US president, Donald Trump, convene in Ankara , Turkey, the US plans to address European defence spending and concerns over the Trump administration’s future commitment to the military alliance. Continue reading...
Marine Le Pen’s political future at stake with ruling on electoral ban imminent
Leader of France’s far-right National Rally and a contender for the presidency set to hear appeal decision on Tuesday Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right figurehead and a leading contender for its presidency, will learn on Tuesday whether she can run in next year’s election when a Paris appeals court rules on her attempt to overturn a ban on holding elected office . The ruling will determine whether the far-right National Rally (RN) will be led by Le Pen, 57, or her young protege, Jordan Bardella, 30 in next year’s general elections. Continue reading...
Dowry murders in India no longer spark public anger or debate, study finds
Thousands of women are killed in dowry disputes each year, despite the practice being banned in 1961 Dowry deaths in India no longer provoke the public anger they once did, despite thousands of women’s lives still being lost every year, according to new research. The killings – women who are murdered or driven to suicide following dowry disputes between families – have also faded from political debate, despite an increase in cases. Continue reading...
‘Overturn this’: victorious Belgium throw barb after Balogun red-card controversy
Red Devils beat USA to advance to World Cup last-eight Team had been angered by suspension of red card For Belgium, Monday’s 4-1 victory over the United States was doubly sweet. They advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals, as well as overcoming what they saw as injustice off the field. The buildup to the match had been tinged with controversy after Fifa had suspended the red card US striker Folarin Balogun was given in the last 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. That meant Balogun was free to play against Belgium instead of serving a one-match ban. When it emerged that Donald Trump had lobbied for Balogun’s red card to be overturned, Belgium – and other nations – were outraged: Uefa called the decision “incomprehensible and unjustifiable”. Continue reading...
Ragged USA crash out of World Cup with last-16 defeat to Belgium
The United States are out of the World Cup as Belgium eliminated the co-hosts in the last 16 at Seattle Stadium on Monday night. The US were looking to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002 but they looked nervy and unsettled from the start of the match, and quickly fell behind when Charles De Ketelaere poked home in the ninth minute. Continue reading...
Tributes flow for ‘deeply loved’ Melbourne teacher who died after a head clash during Australian football game
Mernda school community in mourning after Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, dies in hospital Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A Melbourne teacher who died following a horror head clash during an Australian football game has been remembered for the profound impact he left on his school community. Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, was taken to the Royal Melbourne hospital after he fell to the ground and hit his head on a covered cricket pitch during an Australian rules football game in Lalor in Melbourne’s north on Saturday. Continue reading...
Details scarce as Mitch McConnell ‘continues recovery’ in hospital
Staff decline to give updates on senator’s health and whether he will be at Capitol when Senate returns Staff for Mitch McConnell said last week that the Kentucky senator was “continuing his recovery” in a hospital while the Senate is out of session. But his office has released no details about the former Republican leader’s condition during his weeks-long hospitalization or whether he will be at the Capitol when the Senate returns next week. McConnell was admitted to the hospital on 14 June, according to a statement from his office that only said he was “receiving excellent care”. A statement a week later said that he would not be voting that week. And on Thursday, a new statement said that he “continues to improve” and ”appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital”. Continue reading...
World Cup 2026: USA v Belgium – in pictures
Tournament co-hosts USA take on Belgium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals. We look at the best images from the action from the showdown in Seattle Continue reading...
Sri Lanka prison riot kills 26, with more than 100 others wounded
Victims with cuts and gunshot injuries rushed to hospital after fighting between prisoners from two drug gangs Clashes at a Sri Lankan jail have killed 26 people, including seven guards, and wounded more than 100 in the country’s deadliest prison riot in years, officials said. Victims with cuts and gunshot injuries were rushed to Negombo hospital, north of the capital Colombo after overnight fighting between prisoners from two drug gangs, police said on Monday. Continue reading...
Chinese government tells critics not to ‘overinterpret’ missile test in Pacific as criticism grows
The Australian government says there was ‘insufficient notice’ as details of missile path are released by Taiwan government China’s missile test in the Pacific did not comply with international law and was conducted with “insufficient notice” to nearby countries, according to the US and Australia as international condemnation grows. But a Chinese government spokesperson claimed the test was “safe” and part of “routine” military training, telling critics to “not over-interpret it.” Continue reading...
Prison education cuts driving drug use, self-harm and violence, says watchdog
Report by HM inspector of prisons for England and Wales comes as spending on frontline education falls by up to 50% “Brutal” cuts to prison education and training by Labour ministers are leading to an increase in drug use, self-harm and violence, a watchdog’s withering final annual report has said. Charlie Taylor, who steps down as HM inspector of prisons for England and Wales in the autumn after six years, has also warned the authorities must keep a “close eye” on the impending release of thousands of prisoners later this year. Continue reading...
UK abuse scandal ‘ignored because victims were working-class boys from north’, minister says
Jake Richards announces measures to prevent abuse like that at Medomsley detention centre in County Durham One of the UK’s most horrific and shocking child custody scandals was collectively ignored for decades because the victims were working-class boys from the north of England, a government minister has said. The sentencing and youth justice minister, Jake Richards, has announced he is implementing a number of recommendations to prevent abuse such as that which took place between 1961 and 1987 at Medomsley detention centre in County Durham from ever happening again. Continue reading...
Melbourne police in standoff with graffiti artist perched above Pam the Bird tag on Bolte Bridge tower
Man on bridge refuses to come down after posting tax complaint on social media Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Police in Melbourne are stuck in a standoff with a man on top of a major inner-city bridge after a dangerous graffiti stunt. Emergency services were called to the Bolte Bridge at 3am on Tuesday over reports a graffiti artist had climbed up one of the bridge’s 120-metre high pillars. Continue reading...
USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 – live
⚽️ Kick-off time: 5pm local/10am AEST/1am BST/8pm EDT ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail Beau Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a look at this matchup from Graham Ruthven’s daily guide: Continue reading...
Starmer to rally European allies at Nato summit amid concerns over US stance
Outgoing PM will stress British commitment to defence spending at meeting in Ankara to counter Trump rebukes Keir Starmer will seek to work with European allies to shore up support for Nato at its summit in Ankara on Tuesday amid concerns that Donald Trump could further destabilise the military alliance with threats over defence spending. Downing Street said the prime minister and other international leaders would be focused on “building a stronger and more European Nato” as they attempt to address the US president’s concerns in the Turkish capital. Continue reading...
Australia news live: Wong says China’s missile test in Pacific a ‘destabilising act’ that could ‘lead to miscalculation’
Foreign affairs minister says Australia made clear its displeasure at China’s long-range missile test and will keep doing so. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action. Western Australia’s Labor premier, Roger Cook , has conceded his party will have a tough fight to retain a previously safe seat after a retiring MP triggered a byelection in which One Nation could launch a strong challenge. More coming up. Continue reading...
Woman accuses Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexual assault
Democratic candidate for Senate, who has faced series of scandals, denies allegation reported by Politico A woman has accused Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for US Senate in Maine, of sexual assault, according to an exclusive report by Politico. Jenny Racicot, 41, dated the oyster farmer former marine veteran and alleges he forced her to have sex despite repeated objections. Continue reading...
Trump’s World Cup intervention has ruined the game | Robert Reich
We try to teach our children to follow the rules. Now an American president has chosen the opposite tack I’m rooting for the US as we take on Belgium today in Seattle for a place in the World Cup quarterfinals. But the game isn’t what it was – before Trump asked the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, to review the suspension of the US’s top scorer, striker Folarin Balogun, who got a red card in a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and would otherwise have been suspended from Monday’s match. Continue reading...
Idaho woman who said infant twins died from vaccines charged with murder
Andrea Shaw and husband appeared on RFK Jr-linked podcast after deaths in May last year of 18-month-olds An Idaho mother who said her 18-month-old twins died last year after receiving three vaccines has been charged with murder in their deaths, officials said last week. Andrea Shaw, 23, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her toddlers, Tyson and Dallas, who were found dead in a shared bed on 1 May last year. Continue reading...
Lauren Bennett, singer on LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem, dies aged 37
British-born vocalist competed on The X-Factor before joining the girl groups Paradiso Girls and G.R.L. Lauren Bennett, member of the girl group G.R.L. and featured artist on LMFAO’s global smash hit Party Rock Anthem, has died at the age of 37. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Lauren,” the group wrote on their Instagram page. “Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us.” A cause of death was not specified. Continue reading...
Do bees have inner lives? Slow-motion video reveals bumblebee behaviour similar to ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’
Bees respond to tasty treats or plain water based on context, study that may provide support for establishing insect sentience shows Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast When bumblebees taste something good, they reach out their glossa – or insect tongue – for a while afterwards, almost as if they are licking their lips. And when they don’t like something, the insects will shake their heads and wipe their mouths. Scientists who captured the miniature facial expressions on slow-motion video say the behaviour is consistent with “liking” and “disliking” responses observed in mammals. Their results have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Continue reading...