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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Cornwall van dwellers face homelessness amid council crackdown
Half of county’s planning infringement notices target caravans in fields, fuelling eviction fears for vulnerable people People living in caravans and horseboxes on farms in Cornwall because they can’t afford or find a house to rent are facing homelessness after a crackdown by the council. Cornwall council recently announced that it was one of the top five authorities in England for enforcing infringements of planning regulations. Half of those notices, it said, were served on caravans in agricultural fields. Continue reading...
Burning flags, busty blondes and bison skulls: 48 photographs that capture America at 250
From the gold rush to civil rights, the moon landing to 9/11, the US has always understood, mythologised and sold itself through the power of the still image The United States was founded in 1776, but did not begin to see itself until the autumn of 1839, when daguerreotypes, the first form of photograph, reached American cities. You could argue the US began again on the morning it could look at its own face. At first photography seemed to answer the democratic promise of 1776. A portrait was no longer reserved for the rich; almost anyone could now leave a trace of their existence. The gold rush became one of the first great American dramas to find the camera: ordinary diggers squinting into the lens, looking beyond it for gold. A more emblematic American scene can scarcely be imagined: what would be called the American Dream, a lottery everyone plays and very few win. The myth was not that they all found gold – it was that the search itself made them American. Continue reading...
Sydney records hottest June since 1859 as expert warns new high a ‘signature’ of global warming
Bureau of Meteorology says city’s mean temperature reached 16.1C, surpassing the previous record of 15.7C set in 1991 Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Sydney has officially experienced its hottest June since records began, following a winter month of spring-like warmth. While early weather data suggested the month was merely among the warmest, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed on Friday that June 2026 broke the all-time mean temperature record at Observatory Hill, where tracking first began in 1859. Continue reading...
Chris Minns admits NSW Labor needs to ‘climb Everest’ to stay in power as protesters interrupt state conference
The New South Wales premier warns of One Nation threat as he addresses party conference Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, admits the Labor party needs to “climb Everest” to stay in power amid rising threats posed by One Nation. But Minns, who received a standing ovation as he circled Sydney’s town hall before addressing the NSW Labor conference on Saturday, did not avoid the protests over conflict in Gaza which have marked party conferences in previous years. Continue reading...
Fans and A-list stars gather for the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in New York – in pictures
The couple were married in a star-studded ceremony at Madison Square Garden Full report: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry at New York City’s Madison Square Garden Continue reading...
Third teenager charged after 15-year-old Melbourne boy allegedly left to die from stab wounds
Darweish Mohamed was found critically wounded outside Craigieburn community hospital on Wednesday evening Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A third teenager has been charged over the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy found outside a Melbourne hospital. A 14-year-old from Victoria’s Hume area was arrested on Friday evening and was charged with murder, police said.He has been scheduled to appear before a children’s court. Continue reading...
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married at New York City’s Madison Square Garden
The couple had an array of celebrity guests, including Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, and Adam Sandler officiated their nuptials Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially wed. The couple hosted their wedding celebration on Friday in New York City, nearly three years after first meeting. The wedding was held at Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan, where screens outside the venue displayed a celebratory message around 7.20pm local time: “JUST&T MARRIED.” Continue reading...
Starmer warns Burnham he cannot spend less time on diplomacy
Prime minister also speaks of his ‘intensely personal decision’ to step down in first interview since resigning Keir Starmer has warned his likely successor Andy Burnham that it will not be possible to spend less time focusing on international affairs. Speaking during a BBC interview, he also spoke of his “intensely personal” decision to announce his resignation last month after two years as prime minister. Continue reading...
Two people dead and a third injured in shooting at Michigan shopping mall
A fight between two groups of young people who knew each other escalated into gunfire, police said A shooting altercation between two groups of young people at a shopping mall in Dearborn, Michigan, left two people dead and a third injured over what is typically the most violent weekend of the year in the US, police said. The shooting occurred as the US began celebrating the Fourth of July, historically a holiday weekend that sees higher rates of gun violence across the country. In 2024, the Gun Violence Archive reported more than 500 shootings over Independence Day weekend. Continue reading...
‘A total disappointment’: revelers face unbearable heat at Great American State Fair
Attendance had been thin to Trump’s ‘unbelievable’ event before an increase on Friday – and then the high temperatures swept in Even by Trumpian standards, the event was promoted with intense hyperbole: nothing short, the US president suggested, of the “the most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen”. “It’s gonna be great,” Donald Trump proclaimed on the opening night of the Great American State Fair, the centerpiece of the US 250th anniversary celebrations. “It’s gonna be unbelievable.” Continue reading...
CDC investigates parasite that’s caused cases of ‘explosive’ diarrhea in 18 US states
Parasite cyclospora spreads through produce and water contaminated with feces and causes the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis The US Centers for Disease Prevention has been working to find the source of a parasitic illness that causes “explosive”, watery diarrhea, with more than 400 cases of the sickness reported across 18 states. The parasite, cyclospora, spreads through raw produce and water contaminated with human feces – and it causes the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis, whose symptoms include cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, low-grade fever and vomiting. The most commonly reported symptom is “watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements”, according to the CDC . Continue reading...
Taylor Swift fans brave the New York heat to be (at least somewhat) near wedding to Travis Kelce
People gather outside Madison Square Garden despite security keeping them from seeing anything noteworthy Taylor Swift ’s fans gathered in the heat outside New York’s Madison Square Garden on Friday for her wedding – or at least the celebration of it – to Travis Kelce, and the sense of being close to the superstar singer-songwriter and her NFL champion groom on their big day. Whether or not Swift and Kelce have already tied the knot, as at least one outlet already reported citing anonymous sources, fans said they were thrilled at the union – and the location. Continue reading...
‘It’s been surreal’: USMNT’s Folarin Balogun moves on from controversial red card
Striker’s one-match ban will not be increased Balogun says yellow card would have been fair Pepi and Wright among options against Belgium Folarin Balogun fielded questions on the morning of his 25th birthday, though the cards being discussed weren’t filled with kind notes and two-dollar bills. Per Fifa rules, the striker was unable to speak to the media following the United States’ World Cup last-32 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he opened the scoring in a commanding 2-0 win but was sent off after receiving a red card in the second half. Continue reading...
Two Romanians jailed for stabbing Iranian journalist in London
Judge says Pouria Zeraati was targeted outside Wimbledon home because of his criticism of Tehran regime Two Romanians who took part in a “targeted” knife attack on a television journalist in London “on behalf of the Iranian state” have been jailed. Pouria Zeraati, who worked for the Persian language channel Iran International, which is critical of the Tehran regime, was left bleeding in the street after being stabbed three times outside his home in Wimbledon. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on Labour’s next chancellor: send for Ed Miliband | Editorial
Andy Burnham needs the Treasury to serve devolution, raise living standards and renew the economy. The energy secretary meets that test There are few things on which this column would agree with George Osborne. Voting to remain in the European Union was one. Backing Labour’s Ed Miliband to be the next chancellor is another. Mr Osborne, whose austerity programme redistributed pain downwards while protecting privilege at the top, had only a week ago on his podcast, Political Currency , dismissed Mr Miliband as too difficult a sell to business and the press. He now recognises what should have been obvious: if Andy Burnham is serious about governing differently, he needs a chancellor with the authority, knowledge and political relationship with the prime minister to bend the Treasury to the project. 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...
Reform UK-led council fails to attract any sponsors for union flag scheme
Party had justified plan to hang flags in Nottinghamshire on basis that local businesses would foot £75,000 bill A £75,000 scheme by a Reform-led council to hang union flags at sites across the county, which the party said would “not cost the taxpayer a single penny” as it would be sponsored by local businesses, has failed to attract a single sponsor, it has emerged. The plan to attach the flags to brackets on about 180 lamp-posts and other places was agreed in the autumn by Nottinghamshire’s council, won by Nigel Farage’s party in last year’s May elections. Continue reading...
Americans disgusted at Trump earning $1bn from crypto as president: ‘Obviously a grift’
Hundreds of Guardian readers expressed concerns over greed in the White House and a billionaire president unconcerned with high gas and grocery prices Donald Trump has earned more than $1bn from his crypto businesses since returning to the White House, according to recent financial disclosures. Amid questions of conflict of interest, more than 400 Americans expressed feelings of outrage, disgust and despair at their president. They answered a Guardian call for their views on Trump’s fortune . Continue reading...
Pope praises US history of welcoming immigrants in implicit rebuke to Trump
Pope Leo urged Americans to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence in his first major address to the US Pope Leo has used his first major address to his home country to praise the United States’ history of welcoming immigrants, urging Americans live up to the ideals put forward in the Declaration of Independence. In his latest implicit rebuke to Donald Trump, the first US leader of the Roman Catholic church said the word “America” had become a “byword for freedom” across the world because of the way the country welcomed immigrants. Continue reading...
Hundreds join support group for survivors of drug-facilitated rape
Zoe Watts and Amanda Stanhope launched network after being repeatedly assaulted by partners while unconscious Two women who were drugged and raped by their partners while they were unconscious have said hundreds of people – including about 80 in the UK alone – have come forward to a support group for victims of the crime. Zoe Watts and Amanda Stanhope, who were both repeatedly assaulted by their partners while unconscious, are calling for tighter laws to stop men sharing images and videos of sexual assaults and rape online. Continue reading...
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding: everything we know so far – The Latest
The US superstar golden couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are finally tying the knot in a rumoured major event in New York’s Madison Square Garden. The couple – who got engaged 10 months ago, announced via an Instagram post that received 14m likes in its first hour online – held an intimate rehearsal dinner at MSG with a rumoured guest list of 1,000 for today’s ceremony and construction of a custom-made fairytale castle inside. But with tight security, NDAs and New York streets on lockdown – what do we know? Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian writer Elle Hunt Continue reading...
Man charged with manslaughter over Tesla crash originally blamed on car’s self-driving mode
Tesla said Michael Butler disabled his car’s self-driving mode before it plowed into Martha Avila’s home in June A man whose Tesla Model 3 was allegedly in self-driving mode when it crashed into a home near Houston and killed a 76-year-old woman inside recently has been jailed on a count of manslaughter. Michael Butler’s arrest in the 19 June death of Martha Avila was announced late on Wednesday in a Facebook post by the sheriff of Harris county, Texas, Ed Gonzalez. Continue reading...
I used to revere the great experiment that is the United States. After Trump, I’m not so sure | Jonathan Freedland
On paper, the US constitution is a thing of beauty. But the would-be emperor in Washington has revealed its great weakness America’s big birthday has come at a bad time. On Saturday it will be a divided nation that marks 250 years since 13 North American colonies declared their independence from the Great Britain of George III. Many will be anxious that the republic they established that day is fragile – not least because of the would-be emperor in the White House. Some will console themselves that hope and angst have always been intertwined in the American story. From the very start, confidence in a bright, exceptional US future was combined with foreboding and doubt. At the close of the 1787 constitutional convention, a woman approached one of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, to ask if the delegates had established a monarchy or a republic. Franklin’s answer: “ A republic, if you can keep it. ” Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
London has lost ‘catastrophic’ 89% of car club vehicles since Zipcar exit
Only 330 car club vehicles available for rent after big provider left British market, data reveals The number of car club vehicles in London has fallen by a “catastrophic” 89% since Zipcar ended its service in late 2025, with former users being pushed to consider buying or leasing. Car clubs allow drivers to use vehicles parked around a city, using apps to book and unlock them. Zipcar dominated London’s car club market before the US company’s shock decision to pull out in December 2025. That left a gap that has yet to be filled for Londoners without a car. Continue reading...
New pipeline in Canada to proceed after C$150bn pledged to ease BC and First Nations concerns
Port expansion and protections for whales part of BC and Alberta plan to expand country’s presence overseas The governments of Canada and the province of Alberta will move forward on a major new oil pipeline after the pair announced a plan to ease concerns of British Columbia and First Nations on the Pacific coast. Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, shuttled between British Columbia and Alberta on Thursday to announce more than C$150bn in new investments in both provinces, part of a broader project of reducing trade with the United States and expanding his country’s presence in overseas markets. Continue reading...