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Mohammad Sharifullah, 28, was convicted of aiding the terrorist group that took credit for the suicide bombing An Islamic State group member was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison for aiding the terrorist organization that took credit for a suicide bombing that killed 13 US service members and about 160 Afghans at the Kabul airport five years ago during the US military’s chaotic withdrawal from the country.A federal jury in Virginia had convicted Mohammad Sharifullah in April of providing material support to the IS affiliate known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). But jurors could not agree whether he bore some responsibility for the airport bombing on 26 August 2021. Continue reading...

• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned an alleged drone attack attempt on Mecca and praised Saudi armed forces for stopping the strike. • The Prime Minister described the attempted attack as "dastardly and heinous" while the Houthis in Yemen denied any involvement. • This diplomatic tension highlights the volatile security situation in the region and the strategic military cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned an alleged drone attack attempt on Mecca and praised Saudi armed forces for stopping the strike. • The Prime Minister described the attempted attack by Yemen's Houthis as "dastardly and heinous." • This diplomatic response highlights the tension between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels over regional security and the protection of holy sites.

Register of British Slave Traders shows clergymen financed company that trafficked enslaved Africans on hundreds of voyagesNearly 250 years after the abolitionist Ottobah Cugoano made the Christian case for reparative justice, the archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, visited the Ghanaian shore where he was enslaved as a boy.After witnessing the dungeons beneath the chapel at Cape Coast Castle, once run by the Royal African Company (RAC), Mullally recommitted the Church of England to its “journey of repentance” for its role in slavery. Continue reading...

• Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson is poised to return as Sweden's leader after her centre-left coalition took a narrow lead in the recent election. • The election authority reported that left-leaning parties are projected to win 176 seats in the 349-seat parliament, while the hard-right bloc is seen winning 173 seats. • A victory for the opposition would reverse the rightward shift of the last four years, which saw Sweden implement some of Europe's toughest asylum rules for migrants.

James Vlassakis was 18 when he became involved in the Snowtown killings, later pleading guilty to four of the 11 murdersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe youngest person jailed over the notorious Snowtown killings will walk free after serving a 26-year sentence behind bars.A decision to release James Vlassakis by South Australia’s Parole Board was upheld by the Parole Administrative Review Commissioner on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Country heads to the polls as latest polling shows 0.3-point gap between left and right wing blocsin StockholmHej, that’s hello in Swedish, from Stockholm, where I spent this morning eating Swedish pastry and meatballs talking to voters about the country’s prospects as they cast their votes in today’s parliamentary elections. Continue reading...

Fire survivors and bereaved urge Barnet Group to ‘reconsider’ appointment of Laura Johnson, who pushed for cheaper contractorGrenfell survivors and bereaved relatives have criticised the “outrageous decision” to hire a director who oversaw cost-cutting at Grenfell Tower in a £150,000-a-year senior council housing role.Laura Johnson, the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) at the time of the 2017 Grenfell fire, has been appointed the permanent director of development and property at the Barnet Group, which manages the borough’s 13,000 council homes. Continue reading...

Party with neo-Nazi roots is in line for key ministerial positions if rightwing bloc wins the electionVoting is under way in Sweden in a high-stakes election that could lead to the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) entering government for the first time.It comes after an unusually heated and polarised campaign punctuated by personal attacks between leaders, accusations of misinformation and Maga-inspired ads. Polls suggest an extremely tight race, with one showing just 0.3 percentage points between the left and right blocs. Continue reading...

• World leaders will gather in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, for the 18th BRICS Summit to discuss cooperation and sustainability. • India will serve as the Chair of the summit, taking responsibility for facilitating discussions and coordinating negotiations among member nations. • The event occurs during a period of high geopolitical tension and conflict in regions including Iran and Ukraine.

Dow Jones convicted of one count of deterring Selina Cheng from role at Hong Kong Journalist Association but cleared of second chargeA Hong Kong court has convicted the publisher of the Wall Street Journal of deterring a reporter from taking up a trade union role, in a case that raised concerns about press freedom in the city.The newspaper dismissed Selina Cheng just weeks after she was appointed chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA) in 2024. She was told at the time her termination was officially due to restructuring. Continue reading...

Brothers, convicted of parents’ killings and denied parole last year, permitted to apply for another hearing earlier than expectedErik and Lyle Menendez will be before a parole board again in March, about 17 months earlier than expected.The brothers were originally sentenced in 1996 to life in prison for the 1989 fatal shootings of their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. A Los Angeles judge reduced their sentences to 50 years to life in May 2025, making them eligible for parole because they were under age 26 when they committed their crimes. Continue reading...

• Dannii Minogue went shopping for a Rolex watch in Melbourne on Friday with her father Ron and brother Brendan. • The singer appeared almost unrecognizable to onlookers during the family outing. • This public appearance highlights the Minogue family's current activities and personal style in Australia.

Oscar-winning actor says she and other outspoken critics of Israel have found it ‘impossible’ to get hired by major studiosThe Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon has said she is still losing work because of her outspoken support for Palestinians, despite what she ⁠described as a broader shift ⁠in public opinion against ​US support for Israel.Speaking at the Venice film festival, where she is promoting her latest movie The Echo Chamber, Sarandon said some parts of the film industry continued to ⁠shun her over her activism. Continue reading...

Fox announced host’s departure Thursday but gave no explanation, only saying it was effective immediatelyMaria Bartiromo’s lawyer sharply denied that she was fired from her job at Fox News on Friday, after reports that she was dismissed after divulging the network’s editorial guidance to the White House.Fox announced Bartiromo’s departure on Thursday but provided no explanation, saying only in a statement that it was effective immediately. Continue reading...

• The Spanish government is facing a political crisis following a leaked report alleging that Moroccan forces actively assisted migrants in crossing the border into Ceuta. • Madrid has officially denied claims that it ignored prior warnings regarding an imminent breach of the border. • This incident has created significant internal disarray and tension between Spain and Morocco over border security and migrant management.

Pay and shares deal nearly matches $58m award to John Ternus, his successor as CEO at the $4.7tn tech companyBusiness live – latest updatesTim Cook has received a $47m (£35m) pay deal as Apple’s executive chair, a remuneration package that nears the level set for his successor as chief executive.Cook, who handed over to John Ternus on Tuesday, will be paid a base salary of $2m and $45m worth of shares. Half of the share award will be based on performance targets being met, while the remaining half will be paid out over four years. Continue reading...

• Apple has appointed John Ternus as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Tim Cook. • Tim Cook will transition into the role of Executive Chair with a newly established compensation package valued at $47 million. • This leadership shift ensures Cook's continued strategic involvement in the company's operations while elevating Ternus to the top executive position.

Exclusive: Research says sector is fixated with young talent, with most women experiencing unconscious bias or sexismWomen working in the arts believe they do not have equal opportunities for roles, especially as they get older, according to a report saying that the industry is fixated with “young and emerging” talent.Nearly all (95%) women working in the arts thought gender inequality persisted, while three-quarters (75%) reported experiencing unconscious bias or sexism, according to a survey of 76 arts professionals. More than two-thirds (69%) felt that age negatively affected their career success – a figure that rose to 100% among those working in artistic rather than managerial roles. Continue reading...

• Media narratives and expert analyses are increasingly focusing on a projected 2026 war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. • Current discourse largely portrays Iran as the primary antagonist in the lead-up to this potential conflict. • The situation highlights critical underlying political, economic, and diplomatic tensions that extend beyond simple military aggression.

NSW parole authority says Mohommed Farhat followed ‘extremist ideology of antisemitic character’ while separately judge ruled ‘Fuk Israel’ was ‘political comment’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Sydney man convicted of writing “Fuk Israel” on cars and setting another vehicle alight has had his release on parole rejected a second time, despite a supreme court judge stating the case appeared to be a “serious miscarriage of justice”.Mohommed Farhat, 22, was initially due to be released on parole in December after serving 10 months in prison following the November 2024 vandalism in Woollahra. Continue reading...

Reports say Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have returned to Britain due to ‘top secret’ acting role for Meghan – we try to guess what it might be?In 2022, two years after she and Prince Harry bolted to California in an unhappy exit from the royal family, the Duchess of Sussex was asked if she could foresee ever returning to acting. “No, I’m done,” she told Variety magazine. “I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.”Well guess what – she’s back! At least according to news reports that claim the couple’s otherwise wholly unexpected return to the UK can be explained by one key factor – a new acting role for Meghan. Continue reading...

Victorian court of appeal also to consider whether triple murder and attempted murder convictions should be quashedErin Patterson argues mushroom murder convictions should be quashed due to ‘catastrophic’ failure of justiceGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWelcome to day two of our live coverage of Erin Patterson’s appeals. We are expecting today’s hearing to begin at 10.15am.Yesterday, the Victorian court of appeal heard the seven grounds of appeal Patterson’s legal team is arguing against her convictions for three murders and one attempted murder. Continue reading...

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her position at the end of August. • President Trump announced that Leavitt will transition into a role as an outside adviser to the administration. • Potential replacements include Anna Kelly, Steven Cheung, Tricia McLaughlin, Alina Habba, and Jason Miller, the latter of whom is noted for his deep media relationships and experience.

Youngest White House press secretary in history says she wants more time to ‘be the best mom’. Plus are we losing the battle against AI slop in the music charts?Good morning. A familiar face in Donald Trump’s administration is departing, as the US president announced that Karoline Leavitt was stepping down to spend more time with her family. The president said Leavitt, who became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary on his return to office in January 2025, “will now be one of my top outside advisers” in a post on his Truth Social platform.Trump’s most prominent spokesperson is departing while his approval rating is at a historic low, as voters express discontent over rising prices and a war in Iran that has no end in sight.Why did Leavitt say she was stepping away? Leavitt wrote: “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House press secretary – and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life.”How will Leavitt’s time in the role be remembered? At 27 when she was appointed, Leavitt was the youngest White House press secretary in history. And when she announced she was pregnant in December last year, she became the first ever expectant press secretary. She has faced criticism for saying that “Gen Z and those younger than me have been raised with just silver spoons in their mouths” and for attacking reporters trying to hold the White House to account.What are conditions said to be like on board? In April, there was a flurry of public criticism about dire conditions onboard the carrier. Photos emerged of poor-quality and rationed food, and there were reports of water shortages, moldy showers and broken laundry machines. Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, dismissed the accounts as “more fake news”.How long has the ship been at sea? The warship left San Diego on 21 November and was originally intended for the Pacific but was redirected to the Middle East once the US-Israel war with Iran began. Since then the 5,000-plus crew has had only two days on land. The deployment was scheduled to end in May but has been extended a couple of times amid Trump’s ongoing war. Continue reading...

Attorney general grants former army lawyer’s release after 27 months in jail Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDavid McBride, the former army lawyer jailed for his role in stealing secret defence documents about the Afghanistan war and leaking them to the media, has been released from prison in Canberra on Thursday.McBride was sentenced to a maximum five years and eight months in jail in May 2024, but is being released on parole after serving his full non-parole period of 27 months. Continue reading...

Police looking into whether Joshua Kerry linked to alleged attempted burglary last year at Reform leader’s then homePolice are investigating whether Joshua Kerry, the man charged with the murder of the former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe, had any role in an attempted burglary last year at the then London home of Nigel Farage.Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, was charged with the murder of Widdecombe, 78, who was killed at her Devon home in July, after an investigation by counter-terrorism police. Continue reading...

Luciana Berger, who was subject to abuse from Joshua Bonehill-Paine, said Tory leader should ‘listen to victims’The Labour peer Luciana Berger has urged Kemi Badenoch to “listen to victims” and reverse her decision to give a national advisory role to a former neo-Nazi.Joshua Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2015 for more than three years after posting antisemitic material online before a planned neo-Nazi rally. In 2016, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment for abuse directed at Berger, an MP at the time. He was also the founder and leader of the National British Resistance, a far-right group. Continue reading...