The Guardian

Treaty came into effect at midnight, eliminating border controls on land frontier with British overseas territory Europe live – latest updates Spain and Gibraltar are celebrating the fall of the last frontier fence in western Europe after the signing of a post-Brexit deal that brings an end to border checks for residents, tourists and the thousands of Spanish workers who cross into the British ov…

Police investigating Hamish Tait – who faces 329 child abuse charges – have released list of 55 locations where he worked or attended Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A federal police investigation into an accused paedophile facing more than 300 child abuse charges has expanded to a remote community in South Australia. Hamish Tait, 35, faces 329 charges of child abuse …

Divine Playhouse promoter and founder says venue faces significant operational, legal and financial challenges Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A former church turned arts venue at the centre of a culture war is exploring legal action after receiving a notice from its landlord that forced its organisers to close the space and cancel planned events. Divine Playhouse is …

Organisation’s experts say pledge puts pressure on UK public finances and ‘adds significant fiscal risks’ Labour should ditch the triple-lock pensions promise to help tackle the UK’s straitened public finances, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has urged. In its latest survey of the UK economy, the Paris-based club of industrialised nations added its voice to those calling…

Canadian scientists visit remains of polar exploration vessels in ‘golden era for shipwreck investigating’ Moments after devouring the final glimmers of light, the seafloor offered nothing but darkness and silt. Then the bow appeared. More than 1,000ft (305 metres) below the surface of the Labrador Sea, off the coast of Canada, the skeleton of the final ship used by the famed polar explorer Ernes…

Annual results show struggling firm’s net debt has risen to £18.5bn, up from £16.8bn a year earlier Business live – latest updates Thames Water has said it has sufficient funding to survive until the end of the year, as it scrambles to recapitalise to avoid nationalisation. The UK’s largest water company, which serves 16 million customers in London and the south of England, said it continued to w…

Police say suspect stole three-and-a-half-month-old tuxedo kitten Magnolia before attempting to rob a PNC bank In this day and age, law enforcement agencies worldwide are accustomed to dealing with cat burglars – but now a Maryland police department is saying it grappled with a cat-wielding bank robber. The Prince George’s county police department said its officers arrested a man suspected of ste…

In Brussels EU ambassadors will be trying to work out the details of the 21st sanctions package for Russia Here is your daily briefing on Ukraine from Warren Murray : European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is in Kyiv today with plans to announce “new initiatives to integrate our defence industries,” a day after both European and Ukrainian armies were involved in the Bastille Day parad…

The outgoing Labour leader will have final talks with his senior ministers in No 10 before taking his last PMQs Good morning. Everyone likes a leaving do and today it’s Keir Starmer’s, or at least his parliamentary one. If the colleague who is going is someone you like and admire, then the chance to see them thanked and celebrated is welcome. And if the colleague who is going is someone that you …

Ex-minister who helped write draft calls for bolder action on voting reform, crypto donations and social media The government was “timid” and “incremental” when deciding what to include in its elections bill, a former minister who helped write it has said, as she urged the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to go further. Rushanara Ali, who resigned as democracy minister last August, said the…

Alleged attack may have been motivated by a social media post, police prosecutor tells court Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A Brisbane child accused of stabbing a fellow student was allegedly subjected to months of “racist” abuse and threats, a court has heard. The 16-year-old child was arrested after allegedly s…

Vulnerable people more at risk as research finds only half of local authority plans require cooling strategies England risks constructing a new generation of “death trap” buildings that can fatally overheat unless the government tightens standards and prioritises climate safeguards, planning experts have said. Fears are growing about the plight of vulnerable people in heatwaves, with research thi…

Officials set up traps and electric fences after 14 break-ins recored in one town in two weeks, amid fears of a repeat offender Authorities are searching for a bear that sneaked into the home of an elderly couple and raided their fridge amid concerns it may be behind 14 break-ins across a Japanese town in the past fortnight. On Monday evening, Mitsuo Matsubara, 87, was confronted by a large Asiat…

Catholic Schools NSW’s alleged donations to Liberal party show the need to ensure public money is spent for approved purposes, expert says Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An education funding expert says alleged donations by Catholic Schools NSW to the Liberal party, under investigation by the state corruption wat…

Bloomberg’s editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, stands by reporting, saying ministers who sued ‘imposed an extremely strained meaning on what was a solid ​story’ Bloomberg News and one of its reporters have been ordered to pay S$460,000 (US$355,734) in damages after an article it published was found to have defamed two Singapore government ministers, the city-state’s high court said in a judgment…