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The Guardian view on apprenticeships: young people need help getting started at work | Editorial
Existing staff are taking too much of a fund intended for new recruits. Ministers must take charge of redirecting it For the roughly 64% of young people who do not go to university, apprenticeships are vital gateways to the world of work. The way that funding has flowed away from them and towards older workers in recent years was flagged as a problem in the interim report from Alan Milburn’s review on young people and work in May. Mr Milburn’s recommendations are still some months off. Apprenticeships are not solely for school‑leavers: people of all ages should be able to apply for paid trainee posts. But it is clear that the way incentives in the system have tilted against younger adults is one reason behind the huge rise in the number who are not in education or jobs. The positive signs are that ministers will not wait for Mr Milburn to do something about this. A letter from Jacqui Smith , the skills minister, to the recently formed agency Skills England, last month, asked for urgent advice about which apprenticeship programmes should receive funding increases. It also announced an ambition for 50,000 more young apprentices, annually, by March 2029 – reversing almost half of the decade-long decline. 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...
More than 300,000 pupils estimated absent from school after England World Cup win
Exclusive: Initial figures yet to be confirmed by Department for Education, which said schools ‘at the heart’ of the celebration About 332,000 fewer children were in school on Monday morning than a week earlier, according to initial figures, as attendance fell after England’s 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico . School registers were down more than three percentage points on last week, after England manager Thomas Tuchel advised parents to “write an excuse for school and let them watch” . Continue reading...
Cuba suffers third nationwide blackout in six months
The impoverished island was already struggling to keep the lights on before the US imposed a blockade in January Cuba on Monday suffered its third nationwide power outage since the start of the year, the state electricity company said. The impoverished island was already struggling to keep the lights on before US president Donald Trump imposed an oil blockade in January, which has depleted the already dwindling supply of fuel for Cuba’s power plants. Continue reading...
Keir Starmer intervened to oppose Fifa’s plan to move England kick-off time
PM stepped in over proposal to shift World Cup match to an earlier time, amid concerns it would benefit Mexico Keir Starmer intervened through diplomatic channels to oppose Fifa’s plan to bring forward England’s World Cup game against Mexico, amid concerns the change would hand the hosts an unfair advantage, it is understood. The prime minister instructed officials to argue against proposals to move the kick-off from 1am UK time (6pm local time) to earlier after being alerted by the Football Association that it would reduce England’s time to acclimatise to the high altitude in Mexico City. Continue reading...
‘Attacked behind the scenes’: Children of Blood & Bone author Tomi Adeyemi distances herself from film adaptation
The Nigerian-American writer says she ‘will not watch’ Gina Prince-Bythewood’s adaptation of her fantasy bestseller Tomi Adeyemi, the author of the popular YA fantasy Children of Blood and Bone, has distanced herself from the forthcoming film adaptation of her book. “There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work,” the Nigerian-American author said in group chat messages shared to TikTok . Continue reading...
Farage is on the brink but if he goes, Labour can’t rest easy: people still need something worth voting for | Gaby Hinsliff
The Reform funding scandals could yet bring down its leader – and give Andy Burnham a head start. The biggest pitfall would be complacency No politician is greater than their party. However bright you shine, you’re never so indispensable that you couldn’t be replaced tomorrow – or so, at least, convention has it. But there’s one man at Westminster to whom convention rarely applies, and that’s why the multiple funding scandals now engulfing Nigel Farage are such a watershed moment in British politics. For without him – should it ever come to that – what exactly would be left of Reform UK? We’re getting ahead of ourselves here, obviously. But no further ahead than most of Westminster, now agog with speculation over Farage’s future. The parliamentary standards commissioner has yet to rule on whether the Reform leader should have declared the £5m the Guardian revealed he had taken from the British-Thai crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, never mind the extra wedge he is now alleged to have received from “Posh George” Cottrell, a longstanding sidekick formerly jailed for wire fraud in the US. (For the record, Farage insists he broke no rules because he wasn’t active in politics at the time, though the Cottrell money was allegedly spent in part on staff to beef up Farage’s social media, and MPs are obliged to declare significant benefits of a non-personal nature for a year prior to getting elected.) Perhaps the commissioner’s ruling, when it comes, can help shed some light on whether Farage simply has a lot of rich friends anxious for him to live his best life and perfectly oblivious to what he could do for them in power, or whether something rather seedier might have been going on. Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist 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...
Canada buys 12 hi-tech German-Norwegian submarines after bidding war
TKMS beats South Korean rival to multibillion-dollar contract that will deepen Canada’s Nato ties Canada has selected a German-Norwegian consortium to build a dozen cutting-edge submarines in one of the country’s largest-ever defence contracts that will further deepen its Nato ties before a crucial summit this week. On Monday the prime minister, Mark Carney, announced the winner of a tightly contested battle for the lucrative government contract to replace their fleet of ageing, secondhand subs, most of which are undergoing maintenance. Continue reading...
Angela Rayner goes full beige in her push for an Andy Burnham promotion
Angie did her best to not say anything controversial in a presenting gig on LBC. Let’s hope it was a one-off It’s been quiet. Too quiet. There was a time, not so long ago, when Angela Rayner was being widely tipped to be the UK’s next prime minister after Keir Starmer. Not least by sources – ahem – extremely close to Ange herself. Just as soon as she had settled her outstanding tax bill to HMRC . Then along came Andy Burnham. The momentum seemingly unstoppable. And Angie faded into the background. Her leadership challenge consigned to the dustbin of Westminster gossip. She was happy where she was. Turning down Keir’s offer of becoming health secretary while hoping for a more permanent promotion under Andy. They also serve who only stand and wait. Continue reading...
EasyJet shares jump almost 10% after it agrees £5.5bn takeover bid
Airline’s board to recommend offer of £6.90 a share in deal analysts say shows UK firms are being bought on the cheap Shares in easyJet surged nearly 10% after the airline agreed to a £5.5bn takeover at the fifth attempt, but analysts said that it showed UK firms were being bought on the cheap. The low-cost carrier’s board will recommend shareholders accept an offer price of £6.90 a share from Castlelake, a US private equity firm, after rejecting four previous bids of as little as £5.60 per share. EasyJet shares closed at 610p on Monday. Continue reading...
Farage cries ‘witch-hunt’ but this may be Reform’s Partygate moment
Media scrutiny of party leader’s finances has undermined his claim to be a politician in tune with typical voters UK politics live – latest updates With his personal funding once again under media scrutiny, Nigel Farage, the rightwing Reform UK party leader, is adamant he is the victim of an “establishment plot” trying to stop him from reaching Downing Street. This time, Farage is facing questions about support for his lifestyle from the convicted criminal George Cottrell, just months after it was revealed by the Guardian that he also took £5m from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne as a personal gift. Continue reading...
Cuban zoo celebrates birth of Bengal tigers amid energy crisis
Arrival of endangered cats, including rare white cub, revitalises team straining under fuel and medicine shortages For the Cuban zookeeper Ángel Cordero, the sight of four Bengal tiger cubs playing in a cage at the Cuban national zoo is a small miracle on an island stifled by shortages of fuel, medicine and days-long power outages. The birth of these endangered big cats – including an exceedingly rare white tiger – has revitalised a team of zoo workers, he said. Continue reading...
Uefa has put European football on war footing with Fifa over Balogun decision | Matt Hughes
European governing body’s dramatic move could have major implications for the future of the sport Perhaps the only globally renowned figure who has been more conspicuous by his absence at this World Cup than Donald Trump is the Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, although both men have more than made up for their silence over the last 24 hours. By endorsing a statement in which Uefa accused Fifa of crossing “a red line” in making the “incomprehensible and unjustifiable” decision to lift the USA striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension for Monday’s last-16 tie with Belgium, Ceferin has effectively put European football on a war footing with the world governing body, a dramatic move that could have major implications for the future of the sport. Continue reading...
Waking up to the good news of England’s win was strange and unfathomable. Let’s embrace it while we can | Zoe Williams
Years of unremitting disasters have convinced me not to go to sleep with hope in your heart. But that footballing victory took me back to more innocent times When I went to bed on Sunday, football commentators were killing time waiting for the England match by talking about Donald Trump, Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Folarin Balogun’s red card, waived for the US because of reasons . None of the available words – “unacceptable”, “cheaty”, “absolutely stinks” – covered it. There’s no chance of Trump’s US playing nicely in an international tournament, especially when it’s hosting most of it. Does the US just get the trophy, whatever happens? Do they fashion two trophies, one for the winner and one for most winning host? It was all a big deal for geopolitics, but for the more immediate matter of how to take seriously a competition in which there were no longer rules, it wasn’t the end of the world. Whatever happened, it definitely wouldn’t end in a showdown between the US and the UK, fixed in advance by a president determined to celebrate 250 years in style. Because, by tomorrow, I thought, England would be out. If we’ve learned anything from the past decade, it’s not to go to sleep waiting for news. Whatever the dawn breaks over will be bad. Continue reading...
Farage under pressure over gifts from convicted fraudster – The Latest
As Nigel Farage awaits the findings of a standards watchdog investigation into a £5m gift he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne, fresh allegations about his finances have emerged related to benefits received from the crypto entrepreneur George Cottrell, who has previously been convicted of fraud. The Reform UK leader says he is the victim of an ‘establishment hit job’ and that he has ‘done no wrongdoing’. Lucy Hough speaks to senior political correspondent Peter Walker – watch on YouTube Continue reading...
Belgium are looking for a new beginning at the World Cup against USA | Jonathan Wilson
Parts of 2018’s Golden Generation still remain, but there are more than enough good players in this Belgian side to give the US headaches • Predict the winner | Daily podcast | Download our app The whiff of unfulfilment lingers around Belgium. The Golden Generation – and the fact it never quite achieved what it might have done – has dominated coverage of their last three tournaments.This perhaps isn’t quite fair – either on those who were part of that group or those who have followed. Beating Brazil in the quarter-final to reach the semi-final in Russia 2018 was a fine achievement, but that side featuring Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne then lost 1-0 to France in the semi. The squad was good enough to win a tournament, but that was as close as they came. Courtois, Lukaku, De Bruyne, Axel Witsel and the right-back Thomas Meunier have all endured since 2018. The 2026 Belgium squad is not, as 2022 felt, the Golden Generation redux, just a little bit older and a little bit more tired. A new wave is emerging and, while the likes of Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, Jérémy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere may not have quite the star quality of the previous generation, they’re still decent players – perhaps not World Cup winners, but certainly not to be dismissed. And remember, this is Belgium, a country of just under 12 million; it’s not realistic to think it can consistently produce potential world champions. This is an extract from Soccer Desk: World Cup edition, a newsletter from the Guardian US that will run regularly during the tournament. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Italy ordered to compensate woman who was told her rape allegations were ‘normal’
ECHR rules that Italian prosecutor’s remarks perpetuated ‘sexist stereotypes’ and downplayed gender violence The European court of human rights has ordered the Italian state to pay compensation to a woman whose allegations of repeated rape by her partner were dismissed by a prosecutor as “normal” for men who struggle to overcome resistance from “tired” women. The court ruled that the remarks perpetuated “sexist stereotypes” and downplayed gender violence, resulting in the woman being subjected to further victimisation. Continue reading...
Reform UK row: who funds Farage? – podcast
Nigel Farage claimed he was the victim of an ‘establishment hit job’ after it was revealed he accepted money from his friend, the convicted felon George Cottrell. The parliamentary standards commissioner is currently investigating whether Farage broke the rules previously, in relation to an undisclosed gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Farage has always said the money was for personal use, and denied breaking any rules. But where does this leave him and the future of Reform UK? Read the Guardian’s report from this weekend: Could Farage quit? Questions swirl over Reform UK leader’s future And Anna Isaac’s report from April 2026: Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024 Continue reading...
Trump confirms he asked Infantino for review of Folarin Balogun red card
Trump says he asked Fifa to review red card US president defends Balogun intervention Trump insists that he did not pressure Fifa Donald Trump said on Monday that he personally asked Fifa president Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun, saying he believed the dismissal was unfair but insisting he did not pressure football’s governing body to overturn the suspension. “All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Continue reading...
Higher-earning Australians flocking to 5% first home deposit scheme with some borrowers earning over $200,000
Exclusive: Economists warn Labor’s removal of caps could be pushing up prices as support flows to people in better financial positions Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Most Australian first home buyers are using the government’s 5% deposit scheme, with one in three new participants earning more than the scheme’s previous cap for high income earners. The influx of high income earners into the first home guarantee program, economists warn, has pushed up property prices by increasing buying capacity for people who would have bought anyway. Continue reading...
Extreme high temperatures double young people’s risk of mental health admissions, Australian research shows
Exclusive University of Sydney study finds heat-related hospital admissions to increase by 6% to 7.7% by the end of the century Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Extreme high temperatures in warmer months double the risk of young people being admitted to hospital for a mental health condition, according to research. The analysis, which looked at 720,000 New South Wales hospital admissions of young people aged up to 24, suggested the climate crisis would aggravate the already declining mental health of young people. Continue reading...
Labor’s draft policy platform waters down rather than scraps its longheld opposition to mandatory jail sentences
Updated document also commits party to cracking down on inducements for online gambling, putting pressure on Albanese government to toughen reforms Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Labor will water down its opposition to mandatory jail sentences but has abandoned an earlier draft of its policy platform that would have seen the party scrap its longheld stance entirely. The draft platform obtained by Guardian Australia also commits Labor to cracking down on inducements for online wagering, putting pressure on the Albanese government to toughen up its proposed reforms to gambling advertising. Continue reading...
Celtic leaders doubt Burnham’s devolution drive will go beyond England’s borders
Would-be prime minister has made basic missteps in pitches to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Andy Burnham’s devolution promises are yet to impress sceptical Celtic administrations hoping for a reset with Westminster, sources in Cardiff and Edinburgh have said. Burnham, who is expected to take over from Keir Starmer as prime minister on 20 July, has made much of his support for the devolution of power and resources in England, pledging in an agenda-setting speech last week to make a new “No 10 North” the “nerve centre of a rewired Britain”. Continue reading...
Trump denied latest bid to delay $5.8m judgment payment to E Jean Carroll
Carroll was awarded damages after New York jury concluded Trump sexually abused her, then defamed her after she publicly described the attack Donald Trump ’s latest attempt to delay payment of a $5.8m judgment for defaming a magazine columnist whom a jury determined he sexually abused has been emphatically rejected by a federal court judge. In a single-sentence 4 July order, US district Judge Lewis Kaplan denied the president’s request for more time to pay the civil judgment owed to E Jean Carroll , who was awarded the damages after a New York jury concluded that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 – then defamed her after she publicly described the attack in 2019. Continue reading...
Trump rings New York Stock Exchange bell to mark first trading day for ‘Trump accounts’
US president rings bell from White House and showcases initiative that gives children a $1,000 investment account Donald Trump rung the bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) from the White House to mark the first trading day for Trump accounts, a government initiative that provides children with a $1,000 investment account. The US president hosted leaders from the NYSE and the Nasdaq stock exchange at the Oval Office for a press conference Monday morning. It is the first joint opening of the exchanges, and the first time the bell had been rung at the White House. Continue reading...