‘It’s utter surrealism’: Venezuela’s Chavistas lament government’s embrace of Trump

• Acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov reported that Palestinians in Gaza are seeking a return to normal life. • The UN is currently working to overcome major challenges regarding humanitarian access, the restoration of essential services, and reconstruction efforts.

• King Felipe VI described the migration crisis in Ceuta as unacceptable two months after the events occurred. • The situation was contained without escalating into an open diplomatic confrontation between Spain and Morocco.

• UN teams are working to protect families in Gaza from the upcoming rainy season as of Wednesday. • UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that restricted land access and shortages of critical supplies are hindering these protection efforts.

• Jewish settlers are seizing and destroying Palestinian property in an escalating campaign of violence across the West Bank. • The Israeli authorities are actively supporting these efforts to dispossess Palestinians of their land.

Content provider part-owned by Ladbrokes, William Hill and Betfred owner signed deal with Santeda network, Casino Secrets leak revealsThree UK bookmakers that have repeatedly warned of the dangers of the illicit market have also benefited from a lucrative deal with one of the world’s largest offshore casinos, the Guardian can reveal.Details of the arrangement emerged as a result of last week’s Casino Secrets leak, which saw the release of thousands of confidential files held by the gambling regulator on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, a haven for offshore betting sites. Continue reading...

Deal would mark return of Canadian family to UK after it sold Selfridges department store for £4bn in 2022Business live – latest updatesThe private equity owner of high street pharmacy Boots is reportedly closing in on a deal to sell the business to the Canadian branch of the billionaire Weston family for $9bn (£7bn).Sycamore Partners, which bought the wider Walgreens Boots Alliance for $23.7bn in 2025, is said to be in advanced talks with the Westons, with the Financial Times reporting that a deal could be completed as soon as next week. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Greens for Palestine group has links to activists who say pro-Israel ‘infiltrators’ must be rooted out of UKAn organisation pushing the Green party to equate Zionism with racism has encouraged people to join the party specifically to support that agenda, and has links to activists who say that pro-Israel “infiltrators” must be rooted out of the UK, the Guardian has learned.Some Green members are increasingly concerned that the party risks being manipulated by extremist outsiders over a motion to be voted on at the party’s annual conference this weekend, which states that “Zionism is racism”. Continue reading...

Greens sources say the relationship between new leader David Shoebridge and runner-up Mehreen Faruqi is seriously strainedSarah Hanson-Young has spoken out about major divisions in the Greens party room, offering support to newly elected leader David Shoebridge and describing politics as “brutal”.The South Australian senator contested Wednesday’s leadership ballot, finishing behind Shoebridge and outgoing deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi. Continue reading...

Fears that US borrowing costs are unsustainable drive Britain’s 30-year bond yield to level not seen since 1998Business live – latest updatesThe turmoil in global bond markets intensified on Thursday amid fears that the US deficit is reaching unsustainable levels, helping drive UK long-term borrowing costs to a 28-year high.The threat of a renewed round of inflation from the persistently high cost of oil has spooked investors, who believe central banks will be forced to raise rates in the coming months to prevent price increases from becoming embedded. Continue reading...

Tories suggest ‘tough love’ approach amid issue of one million young people not in employment, education or trainingGood morning. The Conservatives start their conference at the weekend and Kemi Badenoch is kicking off proceedings by announcing a significant plan for welfare reform – stopping many under-25s from being able to claim universal credit, the main unemployment benefit.Instead, they would get a new Get to Work Allowance – which would be subject to conditions from day one intended to help people find work. If after six months they are still out of work, they would go on to a new benefit, a Subsistence Allowance, worth just 70% of their previous claims.It’s unfair to the people who get up and go to work, having others earn more than them for not working. Even families on benefits know that the system is out of control. But no one wants to be the one to get off the treadmill first. We need to force that. Government has to do that.The Conservatives will require all 18-24 year olds who attempt to claim universal credit and who have not previously worked for a continuous period of 6 months to participate in a Get to Work scheme in exchange for welfare. Participants will receive a new ‘Get to Work Allowance’ which is contingent on their participation in the scheme. To be exempt from these requirements 18-24 year olds will have to demonstrate that they have previously been in continuous employment for a period of 6 months or more, for a minimum of 16 hours a week. Young people on UC who are not subject to work-related requirements, such as for health reasons or due to caring responsibilities, will be exempt.The programme would last up to six months. Participants could leave earlier if they secure a job, apprenticeship or qualifying education or training place. Continue reading...

Infrastructure damage reported in Kyiv and Odesa overnightRussia has continued its attacks on Ukraine overnight, with infrastructure damage reported in Kyiv and Odesa, among others.The latest attacks come as part of an air campaign against Ukraine’s energy grid, hitting power facilities and infrastructure ⁠around Kyiv and other regions in the ⁠heaviest combined attack on energy sites in ​months. Continue reading...