Starmer could have been told about Mandelson’s vetting failure, claims No 10 with release of briefing paper – UK politics live

• A new book titled "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump" reveals that a former cabinet member referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "special needs child for the Europeans." • The derogatory comment reportedly occurred during a meeting focused on discussing a proposed minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine.

• China is expanding its mediatory diplomacy to address intensifying international conflicts and a weakening global order. • The strategy consists of three reinforcing components: multi-level peace-brokering roles, the Global Security Initiative (GSI) conceptual framework, and the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed).

• The Sudanese crisis, which began in April 2023 as a power struggle between two generals, has evolved into a complex regional proxy conflict. • Qatar is playing a significant role in the geopolitics of polarization, influencing the reengineering of power within the war-torn nation.

Oxfam predicts PNG will be worst-hit country in Pacific from the weather pattern, with up to 3 million people affected nationwideFamilies across Papua New Guinea’s Highlands are facing depleted harvests and the threat of hunger after the El Niño weather pattern brought frost and prolonged dry conditions that have destroyed food gardens providing sustenance and income for thousands of households.The effects of El Niño emerged in recent weeks, bringing drought conditions, falling water levels and frost that are threatening food security in some of the country’s most agriculturally productive regions. Continue reading...

Queensland boy, now aged 17, wrote of ‘autistic interest in bombs’ alongside notes speaking to his troubled state of mind, court toldFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA teenager accused of plotting nailbomb attacks against the then opposition leader Peter Dutton and a Labour Day march has been found not guilty of preparing a terrorist act.The jury returned its verdict on Thursday after two days of deliberation. Continue reading...

President on National Mall rattles off list of apparent victories and says ‘I am thrilled to declare America is back’ Donald Trump kicked off what was intended to be a “spectacular birthday party” for American’s 250th year of independence with a political rally touting his presidency.“I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” Trump said at the opening ceremony for the Great American State Fair in Washington DC, held on the National Mall. “As you know very well, a short time ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected by everybody. Nobody’s laughing at us any more.” Continue reading...

Police confirm they are investigating as sources close to accused MP say he vehemently denies the allegations and is considering legal actionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA female Victorian Liberal MP has accused a member of her party room of assaulting her at a community event, throwing the party into turmoil just five months out from the state election.Sources close to the accused MP said he vehemently denies the allegation and is considering a defamation legal action against his colleague. Continue reading...

World’s sixth-most famous duck falls short of dreamTwo-year-old must watch Czechia game from distanceMerlín the duck’s bid to see his beloved Mexico live has hit a snag after he was barred from El Tri’s match with Czechia on Wednesday.Merlín has become a folk hero in Mexico after becoming a symbol of El Tri’s World Cup campaign on home soil. His fans had launched a campaign for Merlín to attend Wednesday’s match alongside his human family. But his journey was cut short by Fifa regulations. Continue reading...

Two powerful earthquakes – with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 – sent residents running into the streets as buildings shook and collapsedVenezuela earthquake: powerful back-to-back quakes collapse buildings in capital CaracasBack-to-back powerful earthquakes hammered Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas.The US Geological Survey said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 and its epicentre was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168km (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 13km (8 miles). Continue reading...

Homes and buildings collapse in first magnitude 7.1 earthquake, with tremors felt in neighbouring ColombiaA strong earthquake shook north-central Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, west ⁠of Caracas, with residents in neighbouring Colombia also reporting feeling tremors.The earthquake registered at ⁠a magnitude 7.1 ⁠in ​Venezuela, about an hour west of the city Valencia at a depth of 13km (8 miles), according to the ⁠US Geological Survey. Continue reading...

Home affairs minister Tony Burke says return permit ‘has to be issued’ following advice from agencies and lawyersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn Australian woman linked to the Islamic State group has been given authorisation to return to Australia, after the government was advised it could no longer enforce a criminal exclusion order.The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the woman would face an unprecedented level of security monitoring once she arrives in the country, including constant monitoring and requirements to report to authorities regularly. Continue reading...

Sadiq Khan said procurement rules had been broken but allows police another 12 months to operate pilot in LondonThe Metropolitan police has been granted a 12-month extension to a pilot project with the spy tech firm Palantir while the force carries out a procurement process.The development comes weeks after the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, blocked a £50m deal between the Met and the US company to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations. Continue reading...