Plan

Ex-Tesco boss known as ‘Drastic Dave’ for his cost-cutting zeal pledges more of the same at flagging Guinness ownerShares in Diageo have bounced after the Guinness owner’s chief executive, “Drastic Dave” Lewis, passed the first big test of his plan to revive the flagging fortunes of the UK-based drinks company.Lewis, a former Tesco boss known in the City for his cost-cutting zeal, promised to deliver $1bn of savings over two years through a “significant” restructuring aimed at making the company more agile. Continue reading...

Reform say employers would be held responsible even if they were unaware of the worker’s immigration statusHello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.Reform UK says it will fine firms 10% of their global revenues and imprison bosses who employ illegal migrant workers under the party’s latest plans to bring down immigration.Under a Reform government, Britain will have the harshest penalties in the world for employing illegal migrants.Bosses of companies employing illegal migrants will be sent to prison, and their companies fined 10% of their global revenues.Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime.We are already closing the loopholes that allow illegal migrants to work in the UK by extending right to work checks to the gig economy and delivery sector.Jewish leaders have turned down a meeting with a former antisemitic internet troll as Kemi Badenoch defended his selection as a Conservative council candidate. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) have declined an offer from the Conservatives to meet Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who has been selected to fight the Crewkerne South ward in Somerset next May.But they said they would meet with the Conservatives to “discuss their decision-making process” and urge them to drop Mr Bonehill-Paine as a candidate. Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016 after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment of Labour peer Baroness Luciana Berger, who is Jewish.Ministers continued to defend the release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers as part of the government’s early prisoner release scheme, despite a potential legal challenge from the Police Federation. Justice minister Jake Richards acknowledged the “unimaginable pain” of the deceased officer’s family but said “difficult decisions” must be made because law and order could “collapse” without a functioning prison system.The government is not “actively” considering an inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s UK activities, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson has confirmed. They said that while the department was “reviewing what is possible” and would “look at all options to support victims”, a public inquiry was “not being actively considered”. Continue reading...

Investigators looking into whether incidents at Leipzig are linked after DHL plane forced to make emergency landingA DHL cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing after colliding with an unknown object as it was climbing away from Germany’s Leipzig airport, where police later found a drone on the ground.The German government on Wednesday confirmed the incident, which led to serious disruption of air traffic. Continue reading...

• EU Migration Commissioner Gunnar Brunner criticized Spain's plan to regularize undocumented migrants, stating that such a scheme sends a "not a good signal" to the rest of Europe. • The comments follow a crisis meeting in Ceuta and a decision by Italy to reintroduce air and sea border checks with Spain for one month. • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned Italy's border restrictions, claiming they were driven by "prejudice, fake news, ignorance and political interest."

As home affairs minister’s National Press Club address is postponed, refugee advocates lament missed ‘opportunity to bring Australians together’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor will introduce new rules to cut net overseas migration and push temporary residents to leave Australia, despite a major speech on the subject by the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, being delayed.But government sources told Guardian Australia the policy changes would not push net overseas migration lower than the existing target of 295,000 people this financial year. Continue reading...

Missouri’s top election official has rejected a petition for a referendum on new congressional districts Missouri’s top election official has rejected a citizens’ petition seeking a statewide referendum on the states redistricting plan backed by Donald Trump.Supporters of the referendum had submitted hundreds of thousands of petition signatures in a bid to force a November election on a new US House map approved by the Republican-led state legislature. But the Republican secretary of state, Denny Hoskins, asserted Tuesday that the petition is void because congressional redistricting plans cannot be subject to voter referendums. Continue reading...

• A new critique of the White House's strategic plan for U.S. science argues that the current approach is too narrow to achieve a "new golden age for science." • The analysis suggests that the government is over-prioritizing technology and engineering while neglecting critical funding for the humanities, public health, and social sciences. • This gap matters because a holistic scientific ecosystem requires interdisciplinary support and "open borders" to attract and retain global talent.

Migration commissioner says scheme regularising undocumented people ‘not a good signal’ for EuropeExplainer: Why is Ceuta a migration flashpoint?The EU’s top official on migration has criticised Spain’s plan to regularise undocumented migrants as “not a good signal” for Europe, after an emergency meeting intended to draw a line under divisions on the Ceuta crisis.Magnus Brunner, the European commissioner for migration, said that while the EU could not currently see a direct link between events in Ceuta and Spain’s regularisation plan, the policy was “definitely not a good signal for the rest of Europe”. Continue reading...

Education minister Jason Clare says the results showed ‘real challenges’ but numeracy scores were hearteningFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReading and writing scores are going backwards for almost every age group in Australia’s national standardised school tests, with one in three students still failing to meet Naplan benchmarks.This year’s tests were taken in March by 1.2 million students across years 3, 5, 7 and 9 to measure literacy and numeracy proficiency, with results released on Wednesday by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara). Continue reading...

PM Péter Magyar says country nearly forced into decision as extreme heat and low water levels in Danube pose challenges in regionHungary has come “within millimetres” of having to shut down its nuclear power plant overnight, prime minister Péter Magyar said, as low water levels in the Danube continue to pose challenges for countries in south-eastern Europe.“Around 1:30 a.m. we were a few millimetres away from completely shutting down the Paks Power Plant, but then the water level stopped falling and by morning it had risen 1.5 centimetres. The last turbine is currently operating safely,” Magyar said on social media. Continue reading...

• Bangladesh has requested that India clarify its position regarding a planned virtual address by exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from New Delhi. • The speech is scheduled for August 5 at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia, marking the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted her government. • Bangladesh warned that permitting political activities by a fugitive could jeopardize the current efforts to improve bilateral relations between the two nations.

• President Trump has labeled Iran "unbelievably duplicitous," warning that current opportunities represent a "last chance" for Tehran to reach a deal and avoid further escalation. • Despite these remarks, U.S. officials informed CBS News that no new formal negotiations with Iran are currently planned. • Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeidi is reportedly attempting to mediate between the two nations, carrying messages from the U.S. to Tehran following a White House visit.

• NASA is scheduled to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on August 30, 2026, using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. • The telescope features a mirror similar in size to Hubble's but possesses a field of view approximately 100 times wider, allowing it to map dark energy and search for exoplanets. • By monitoring roughly 200 million stars for gravitational microlensing, the mission aims to discover over 1,000 planets, specifically targeting cold, distant worlds that current detection methods often miss.

• In his work "Despite it All," author Fred Pearce argues that the environmental disruptions of the Anthropocene are accelerating plant evolution and adaptation. • Pearce highlights that many plant species are finding innovative ways to survive and thrive despite the ongoing climate crisis. • The author contends that humans must shift their perspective to embrace these evolutionary changes rather than clinging to rigid, outdated notions of how nature should look.

• Engineers from Katalyst are working from a control center near Denver to recover the Link satellite, which was deployed to support NASA's Swift mission. • The team is currently implementing a technical fix to regain control of the Link satellite after it encountered critical issues. • This recovery effort is vital because the Link satellite is essential for the continued success and operational stability of the Swift mission.

Nigel Farage has promised that Reform UK would call in the navy to tackle small boat Channel crossings. Will this familiar-sounding immigration policy distract from the party’s internal problems? Plus – as we learn more about Andy Burnham’s plans for devolution, is this the biggest rewiring of the UK state since the second world war?Read about Richard Tice being investigated by parliament’s standards watchdog hereYou can read Alexandra’s report on Andy Burnham’s trip to Dover here and about constitutional reform herePlease keep sending your comments and questions to [email protected] can watch Politics Weekly on our YouTube channel here Continue reading...

Exclusive: court records reviewed by the Guardian show medical procedures included force-feeding, intravenous forced hydration and involuntary blood drawsHomeland security officials under the Trump administration have quietly attempted to subject at least 10 hunger strikers in US immigrant detention to involuntary medical procedures, including force-feeding, a Guardian investigation has found.In 2025 and 2026, officials had definitely performed the procedures on at least three detained immigrants and likely subjected two more to the forced treatment – widely considered torture by human rights groups. The other five people gave in and broke their hunger strike at the last minute as force-feeding procedures loomed.One Kurdish asylum seeker and hunger striker detained at the privately-run Port Isabel service processing center in Los Fresnos, south Texas, was subjected to force-feeding for nearly eight months, according to a series of filings in the southern district of Texas federal court, beginning in May 2025 and ending only when he was deported.Another hunger striker at the same facility was subjected to involuntary medical procedures, including force-feeding, for nearly six months between September 2025 and March 2026, filings in the same court show.Someone detained at the Krome service processing center in Miami, a privately-run ICE jail, was subjected to forced medical procedures for nearly three months, filings in the southern district of Florida federal court show. DHS seemingly began the forced practices three days before Trump’s 2025 inauguration for a second term, then continued.Two other hunger strikers, one at the Northwest ICE processing center in Washington state and another inside the Montgomery processing center on the outskirts of Houston, Texas, were likely subjected to forced medical procedures, according to filings in the western district of Washington and in the southern district of Texas federal courts.In at least five cases, hunger strikers detained in Texas, Arizona and Florida, ended their hunger strike right before officials began with the forced medical procedures, filings in the southern district of Texas, district of Arizona and southern district of Florida federal courts show.The forced procedures were performed inside the detention centers.In six cases reviewed by the Guardian, detained immigrants did not have any legal representation during the court proceedings granting the involuntary medical procedures.DHS and ICE have conducted these procedures throughout the years, regardless of which presidential administration is in power. In 2024, under Joe Biden, the Guardian found that DHS attempted to subject at least 10 hunger strikers in ICE detention to forced medical treatment. It definitely proceeded with at least two people, and likely subjected at least four more people to them. However, since the return of Trump to the White House and the dramatic increase in immigration arrests and detention , medical experts and advocates worry more hunger strikes will occur and strikers will be subjected to the practices.Look out for Force-fed by ICE parts two and three in the coming days Continue reading...

Retired commander says policy lacks substance as party accused of trying to distract from Nigel Farage’s scandalsUK politics live – latest updatesA Reform UK proposal to use the military to stop small boats bringing migrants to the UK from France lacks substance, a former Royal Navy officer has said, suggesting the UK’s warships would be better used countering actual military threats.Reform’s political opponents have claimed its plans have more to do with distracting from the financial scandals surrounding its leader, Nigel Farage, than about solving the small boats issue, after the party proposed having the navy pick up people trying to make irregular Channel crossings and take them to France. Continue reading...

• Researchers discovered that H5N1 bird flu targets cows' udders rather than lungs because the virus's preferred receptors are concentrated in mammary tissue. • This scientific breakthrough, reported on June 23, 2026, provides critical insight into how the virus infects livestock. • Understanding these specific receptor locations allows scientists to better develop targeted interventions and vaccines to prevent further spread.

• Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are testing new plant growth experiments to develop sustainable food sources for long-term space travel. • The research focuses on the challenges of growing vegetation in weightlessness, which is essential for missions to the Moon and Mars. • These biological systems are critical because they provide nutrition and help recycle oxygen and carbon dioxide for crew members.

Body providing care in east London and Bedfordshire accused of ‘unfathomable and unacceptable’ moveAn NHS mental health trust plans to cut a wide range of its services and axe hundreds of jobs to close a £25m hole in its finances.The move by the East London foundation trust (ELFT) and the scale of potential cuts involved have been called unfathomable given demand for NHS mental health support is rising rapidly. Continue reading...

David Crisafulli says ‘Queenslanders will enjoy for generations’ as opponents point to lack of detailGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland government has released new concept images for a parkland precinct to surround the 2032 Olympic stadium, as it seeks to quell concern at the loss of Brisbane’s largest inner-city parkland.But opponents of the plans – now entering the early construction phase – to build a stadium at Brisbane’s Victoria Park say the concept images are a “fantasy vision” with no detail, and which overlook the likely need for carparks, roads, transport links and plazas to accommodate large crowds. Continue reading...

PM argues for codified model of decentralisation that would fundamentally change centuries-old workings of stateAndy Burnham has said his programme of devolution strengthens the case for a written constitution for the UK, a move that would fundamentally alter the workings of the state that have developed over centuries.The prime minister has long believed the UK’s “antiquated” political system needs a dramatic overhaul if opportunity is to be shared equally across the country. Continue reading...

Plane crashes into field after departing from the nearby city of Ica, according to local authoritiesAt least 13 people have died after a plane carrying tourists crashed into a field in Peru, local authorities said.Nazca’s municipal government said the plane was taking tourists on a sightseeing flight of the Nazca Lines, a group of extensive geoglyphs scraped into the desert around Nazca hundreds of years ago by Peru’s Indigenous inhabitants. The lines form images of animals that can only be fully appreciated from planes or viewing towers. Continue reading...

• The U.S. and Israel are planning joint military strikes targeting energy sites in Iran, with bombing operations potentially continuing throughout the weekend. • These plans were discussed during a cabinet meeting at Camp David, where President Trump reportedly ordered fresh strikes to force the Islamic Republic to surrender. • In a separate legal development, a Turkish man was arrested in the UK for allegedly using a sham humanitarian organization to funnel money and supplies to Hamas.

• President Donald Trump has signaled that the U.S. will continue bombing operations in Iran, with officials indicating fresh strikes could occur as early as this weekend. • The decision comes despite increasing domestic pressure within the United States to wind down the ongoing conflict. • Separately, Trump announced a new agreement on Thursday aimed at disarming Hamas in Gaza, sparking intense political reactions in Israel ahead of October elections.

• President Donald Trump announced a deal requiring Hamas to disarm and Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza, following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire nine months prior. • Hamas confirmed the disarmament agreement on Friday, though significant hurdles and complex conditions remain regarding the implementation process. • The agreement is a critical step toward winding down the war and initiating the long-term reconstruction of Gaza's infrastructure.

Donald Trump has declared a breakthrough in negotiations over the disarmament of Hamas in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, but Israeli government officials have voiced scepticism over the deal.Lucy Hough speaks to Julian Borger, the Guardian’s senior international correspondent – watch on YouTube Continue reading...