Top World News
Washington sees this Senate race as a key test for Democrats. Michigan voters just want to get by
Daily realities of healthcare, prices and Gaza driving wave of anti-establishment sentiment among Democratic voters in closely watched contestIn Macomb county, Michigan – a blue-collar Detroit suburb that twice voted for Barack Obama before backing each of Donald Trump’s three runs for the US presidency – residents are exhausted.Time and again, township trustee Shannon King, a Democrat still making up his mind, hears similar complaints. “You’re going backwards in your paycheck. You’re going backwards in your healthcare,” he said. “You go to work every day. You might have a side hustle. Your significant other has a side hustle, too. And you’re still struggling to do childcare.” Continue reading...
Britain’s markets attracting generation of highly educated entrepreneurs
Nearly a quarter of market traders now hold master’s degree, PhD or medical doctorate, research showsOne in five young market traders now holds a master’s degree, PhD or medical doctorate, according to exclusive figures shared with the Guardian, in a sign of how Britain’s markets are attracting an unexpected new generation of highly educated entrepreneurs.Separate data from Kerb, the street food collective behind some of London’s best-known food markets, points in the same direction. Almost three-quarters of its founders have university degrees, including one in four with postgraduate qualifications. About 95% work in their businesses full-time rather than treating them as weekend side hustles. Continue reading...
‘If he wants to spend summer arguing with a bin’: Reeves to approve Farage’s resignation – UK politics live
Chancellor set to ignore Ed Davey’s request to block Reform leader’s resignation until standards inquiry concludesFor anyone involved in British politics, an invitation to be interviewed on Radio 4’s Today programme is the ultimate badge of seriousness. There are probably hundreds of MPs who have never made it onto the programme because they have not been deemed important enough.But, as if to prove the point that the Clacton byelection really is a “farce” (see 7.59am), this morning Today had an interview with Count Binface, the serial joke byelection candidate who may turn out to be Nigel Farage’s main opposition in Clacton.Probably not, but then you know my job is to celebrate and defend the wonders of British democracy.And look at this, eh? The fact that you are interviewing me on the Today Programme, because all the other parties aren’t standing, says more about them than it does about me.I don’t believe that single-handedly will tackle homophobia, racism or indeed any hate crime. But I do strongly believe that returning power back to people’s hands is a huge part of the role we should all be playing as elected public servants – and it’s how we build trust again. Continue reading...
Austrian court rules ski resort hotel’s burkini ban is discriminatory
Hotel did not allow two Muslim women to wear the full-body bathing suit, which has become bugbear of European far rightAn Austrian court has found an Alpine hotel’s ban on burkinis discriminatory, a politically explosive ruling in a country where the far right is on the rise.The full-body bathing suit worn by some Muslim women has become a bugbear of the European far right, which has campaigned to restrict Muslim dress in public spaces. Continue reading...
Trump's strange Putin glitch spurs uproar: 'Dude is gonzo'
President Donald Trump repeatedly erred while talking to reporters at his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in Turkey on Wednesday, referring to him as "Putin" — then trying to reword things to make it sound intentional."Do you have a question for President Putin?" asked Trump, as the reporters buzzed. "Do you have a question for President Putin?" he pointed at Zelensky.A second later, he added, "What would you like to ask him, because I'm going to ask him that question," as though referring to a separate meeting at a later date.The whole exchange went viral on X, with commenters drowning the president in ridicule."Dude is gonzo," wrote Democratic political commentator Joanne "JoJoFromJerz" Carducci."What is incredibly disturbing is how Trump literally thought Zelensky was Putin and once he caught his dementia slip he tried to rebound doubling down on the slip up," wrote YouTuber Vince Wilson."First, the 'Islamic Republic of Japan.' Now, 'President Putin,'" wrote criminal defense lawyer and Simple Justice blogger Scott Greenfield. "Something is seriously awry."
US and Iran trade strikes around strait of Hormuz as ceasefire is violated again
Ceasefire appears close to unravelling after three commercial vessels are hit and two militaries target each otherMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesIran has accused the US of violating the agreement intended to end the war between the two countries and Donald Trump has said he thinks the ceasefire is over after Washington launched strikes around the strait of Hormuz and revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Tehran to export oil.Speaking at the Nato summit in Turkey, Trump said: “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time … They’re a bunch of liars … They’re liars, they’re cheaters, they’re sick people.” Continue reading...
Ruth Ellis, last woman hanged in UK, granted posthumous conditional pardon
Ellis, 28, was executed in 1955 after fatally shooting her abusive partner David BlakelyUK politics live – latest updatesRuth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK, has been granted a conditional pardon in light of evidence that she was a victim of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.Ellis was executed in 1955, aged 28, after she shot and killed her partner, David Blakely, whom she met two years earlier while working in the nightclub she managed. Continue reading...
First Thing: Trump calls Iran’s leaders ‘scum’ and declares fragile ceasefire over
Hostilities between US and Iran resume as US president lashes out at ‘vicious, violent people’. Plus the fallout from the USMNT’s exit from the Fifa World CupDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. Hostilities have resumed between the US and Iran. Tehran accused the US of violating the agreement intended to end the war, after the US military launched strikes around the strait of Hormuz and revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian oil exports. The attacks were the latest in a string of ceasefire violations by the two sides, despite a truce that came into effect in April, and have led to an immediate 3% rise in oil prices.Speaking at the Nato summit in Ankara, Donald Trump said the memorandum of understanding with Iran was over and called the country’s leaders “vicious, violent people” whom he would not deal with because they were, in the US president’s words, “scum”. He nevertheless appeared to indicate that talks would continue. Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, backed the US attacks, saying: “When you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully react.”What occurred to break the fragile ceasefire? The US military said that it had hit more than 80 targets in the early hours of Wednesday in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels passing through the strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Iran responded by launching attacks on US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said 85 facilities had been targeted.How could Democrats replace Platner? It is possible for Democrats to select a new Senate nominee in Maine, but the clock is ticking. To have a new candidate on the ballot for November’s midterm elections, Platner needs to end his campaign by 5pm ET on 13 July, according to state law. That would give the Democrats a two-week window – until 5pm ET on 27 July – to pick a replacement. Continue reading...
Democrats accuse Graham Platner of trying to put ‘thumb on the scale’ of process to replace him
Maine’s embattled US Senate nominee has faced calls to withdraw after a sexual assault allegation he deniesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailGraham Platner, the embattled Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, has been accused of trying to influence the process of picking his replacement amid a chorus of calls for him to withdraw from the race.Platner has publicly said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” after an allegation of sexual assault, which he denied, was published on Monday. Continue reading...
Inside US' 'Operation Hard Ball' Against Lawrence Bishnoi, India-Based Gangs
US investigators claimed Bishnoi projected himself as a "patriot," "nationalist," and "deeply religious" individual through social media and media interviews.
Race discrimination case over child’s swim puts ‘Dutch paradox’ in focus
Father of boy refused entry to pool says case is reminder that some Dutch do not acknowledge reality of racismWhen Henri Duiker went to check whether his 12-year-old son and his friend were enjoying their first “disco” swim evening alone, he was baffled. Instead of being in the water, Henri’s son was standing alone by the desk at the Watergeus pool, in Zoetermeer in the Netherlands.He did not have any ID to prove he was under 13 and pool attendants had told him he could not swim – although his friend of the same age and size had not been not asked for his documents. Continue reading...
Trump declares ceasefire with Iran over during angry broadside at Nato summit
President calls Iranian leadership ‘scum’, rails against alliance, repeats demand for Greenland and threatens SpainMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump has declared that the ceasefire with Iran is over as he arrived at the Nato summit in Ankara, launching an angry broadside in which he complained about the military alliance and repeated his demand for Greenland.The US president, sitting alongside the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, called Iran’s leadership scum and “sick people”, and added that he was “very upset” with the alliance and even threatened to cut off all trade with Spain in a row over defence spending. Continue reading...
