Albanian ambassador attacks UK right wing for ‘unhinged’ fixation with 2022 migrant surge

• UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to aid Colombia. • The funding is designated to support the humanitarian response following a devastating earthquake that struck the region.

• A declassified Pentagon report reveals that U.S. military operations in Yemen resulted in the deaths of 153 civilians last year. • Tensions rise in the Middle East as firefighters accuse Israeli forces of starting wildfires in Southern Lebanon, while MSF condemns an Israeli blockade of essential supplies as a "policy of attrition."

President visiting police academy in Long Island as he looks to boost Republicans in battleground races ahead of November midterms Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump plans to highlight his record on crime and safety during a visit to New York on Friday, pivoting to one of his strongest issues as he looks to boost Republicans in battleground races ahead of the November midterms.Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty as early as Friday in the federal case accusing him of stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to a person familiar with the matter. There will be a live blog following the trial later today.The battle over the Kennedy Center’s future escalated Thursday as President Donald Trump’s allies on the board took new steps to commemorate him with physical changes to the iconic performing arts institution that could defy a federal court order.The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington began heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln.White ⁠House deputy ⁠national ⁠security adviser Andy ​Baker is ⁠leaving the Trump ⁠administration ​in ‌the coming ‌weeks, Axios ‌reported on Friday. The White House ‌did not respond ​to a request ⁠for comment outside ​business hours. ​The report has not been independently ​verified.Tropical Storm Lala formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to become a hurricane while approaching the Big Island of Hawaii, where it could bring heavy rain and flooding this weekend, forecasters said. The storm is forecast to bring rain to the Hawaiian Islands starting late Friday as well as high winds and dangerous surf, the National Hurricane Center said. Continue reading...

Mangione also faces separate state trial over killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, due to start on 8 SeptemberA hurriedly scheduled hearing for Luigi Mangione’s federal case in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is set for later on Friday morning, fueling speculation that he might plead guilty in these proceedings.Mangione faces two stalking counts in his federal case, as well as murder and weapons charges in a separate New York state case. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases. Both the federal and state cases could lead to a life prison sentence. Continue reading...

Kevin Rideout, who was abducted by unknown assailants in Niamey, said to be in good health and in care of US officialsAn American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger in October has been released, his organisation has said.Kevin Rideout “is in good health in the care of US officials” and would soon be reunited with his extended family, SIM International said in a statement. Continue reading...

England received only 10% of its average July rainfall and some areas may just get the odd shower for rest of AugustEngland has experienced its driest July since records began in 1836, receiving only 6.5mm of rainfall – 10% of the country’s long-term meteorological average for the month. Wales also experienced its driest-ever July, while Northern Ireland recorded it was its eighth driest. Scotland was the only country in the UK not to set new records but still received only 69% of its average rainfall for July compared with the long-term average. Southern England has faced the worst of the dry conditions with some areas, including the Sussex coast, receiving less than 0.2mm of rain in July. This has resulted in widespread low moisture content within the soil, enabling temperatures to reach the high 30s celsius.Looking ahead, despite notable spells of rain in the north, parts of southern England may receive only the odd shower for the rest of August. Throughout summer, forecast models have hinted at more unsettled weather reaching the south-east of England at a 10-day range. However, as time edged closer the rain was largely been confined to north-western parts of Britain, failing to reach the south-east with any significance. With much uncertainty within forecast models, the risk of this dry period persisting is not out of the question. Continue reading...

The Reform UK leader forced a vote that failed to make financial questions disappear, only the man himself• Clacton byelection – UK politics liveDawn had long broken in the Essex town of Clacton-on-Sea when the results for the byelection came in. After a gruelling count, an atmosphere of deep exhaustion had settled over the room. Even the man with a dustbin on his head looked weary.As it was declared that Nigel Farage had, as expected, won, there was no cheering in the room, which had been boycotted by the Reform UK leader and his supporters; instead there was only an overwhelming sense of futility. Continue reading...

Reform UK leader’s return to Clacton restarts inquiry into £5m gift from cyrpto-billionaire and support from fraudsterThe suspended parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage over accusations he failed to declare gifts and donations has resumed after the Reform UK leader’s re-election as the MP for Clacton.The twofold investigation by Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, was paused after Farage resigned from his seat and called a byelection in protest at what he said was unfair scrutiny of his finances. Continue reading...

ABS data shows an almost 9% slump in new lending to investors after three interest rate hikes this yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn what one economist is describing as a “tiny step” toward a fairer housing market after decades of bad policy, property investors are shying away from established homes, and putting money into new builds instead, new data shows.New lending to property investors fell sharply in the three months to June, slumping almost 9%, ABS data showed, while the number of total new home loans dropped by 5.4% in the June quarter. Continue reading...

Greens say Labor’s reform set to ‘rip life-changing supports away from disabled people instead of raising additional revenue through taxing gas exports’Crossbenchers have slammed the Albanese government’s proposed overhaul of the NDIS as going “too far, too fast” as the changes to curb the growth of the $52bn program appear set to pass the parliament as early as next week.The Greens and independent ACT senator, David Pocock, delivered scathing assessments of the bill they warn will enable blunt and indiscriminate cuts to individual budgets supporting more than 770,000 Australians with disabilities in a final Senate inquiry report released on Friday afternoon. Continue reading...

Twenty-one birds released on Bodmin Moor where it is hoped they will one day return to produce their own youngThey took a little coaxing at first – after all, they had got used to a safe, comfortable aviary tucked away in woodland on the edge of Bodmin Moor. But after a few minutes, the birds stepped out into freedom and the bolder ones were soon soaring into the blue, the first white storks to be released into the wilds of Cornwall.Yan Swiderski, the founder of the Cornwall Stork Project, had tears in his eyes. “I do feel a bit emotional,” he said. He sounded a little like a proud father wanting to play down the achievements of his offspring – and failing. “They’re a little bit clumsy at the moment. They aren’t used to flying free … but they do look majestic, don’t they?” Continue reading...