The Guardian

In today’s newsletter: A small chorus of right-leaning critics are trying to convince politicians that climate action is deeply unpopular, downplaying its seriousness in the process Good morning. Half of England and all of Wales are officially in drought, wildfires have burned through parts of the Cairngorms, Suffolk and the Isle of Wight, and reservoirs are running low . Farmers have warned that…

Winter flu season is putting pressure on the health system, with medical staff bracing for the ‘worst three weeks of the year’ Sick patients in New South Wales have been told to avoid the emergency room unless their life is at risk after a record day for winter presentations put the hospital system under strain. The New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, said just under 10,000 people present…

Campaigners say people who have had cancer face discrimination in areas including bank loans, adoption of children and insurance German politicians who have survived cancer have spearheaded proposals to protect people long in remission from what they call rampant discrimination in areas including bank loans, adoption of children and insurance. The policy known as “the right to be forgotten” (RTBF…

Campaigners decry Angela Rayner’s backing for Brick Lane project that has only 11 affordable homes A £500m redevelopment of the Truman Brewery estate in Brick Lane, east London, has been approved, clearing the way for the construction of a datacentre, offices and apartments despite opposition from Tower Hamlets council and local campaign groups. The housing secretary, Angela Rayner, made the deci…

Findings prompt calls for review of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence criteria Young women in England who later develop breast cancer are not being referred for early tests or preventive treatment because current guidelines used by GPs miss 95% of patients, research suggests. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) criteria used to decide who should be referre…

Exclusive: Environment Agency is considering whether to prosecute Huntsman Polyurethanes over emissions of carcinogenic benzene A plastic manufacturer in the north of England is facing potential legal action over emissions of benzene, a carcinogenic chemical with no safe level, the Guardian can reveal. The Environment Agency (EA) is considering taking legal action against Huntsman Polyurethanes i…

A week after his elevation to premier and four months out from an election, the priorities of the Carroll government are becoming clearer Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast It’s been exactly one week since Ben Carroll became Victorian premier, promising to differentiate himself from his predecessors Jacinta Allan and…

Farmers warn impact of high temperatures, drought and wildfires on range of foodstuffs means costs will increase Farmers across Europe are warning of a slump in food production and rising prices as crops from maize to salads suffer as a result of extreme heat, drought and wildfires. Olive groves have also been hit as the climate crisis drives temperatures across the continent to fresh record high…

Betting firms respond to claims made by anti-gambling campaigners Tim Costello and Luke Bateman at parliamentary inquiry Betting giants Sportsbet and Tabcorp say there is no evidence to substantiate allegations that account managers sourced drugs and sex workers to incentivise vulnerable people to bet more, calling for information about the claims to be provided to regulators. The anti-gambling c…

Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, was arrested in New Jersey in June, and died after a ‘medical emergency’, agency said An immigrant being held at a New Jersey ICE detention center died on 1 August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday . Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, is the 22nd person to die in ICE custody this year, according to agency data . Lopez-Cornejo, who is originally from El …

Residents and farmers say contractors have tapped border aquifers that threaten water supply for those nearby Construction crews building a border wall in New Mexico were ordered to stop drilling new wells after ranchers said that pumping groundwater to produce concrete could threaten their livestock amid a severe drought. The order comes as crews across the southern border race to complete one o…

Prime minister Sanae Takaichi visited Kumamoto prefecture almost a week after a magnitude 7.1 quake hit, killing 38 people Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has visited the south-western prefecture of Kumamoto, where recovery efforts are being hampered by heat and a lack of water supplies, almost a week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed dozens and caused widespread damage. Thirty-eigh…

Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback calls failure to pay Briana Whatley money owed ‘an oversight’ A far-right Republican candidate in Florida’s governor’s race has been accused of stiffing a high school debate champion over the better part of $11,000 in scholarship money she won from a company he founded. Student Briana Whatley landed the awards as regional and national champion of Inc…

Former 2UE and 2GB radio broadcaster is facing 22 charges. Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty Warning: This live blog may contain graphic content when discussing evidence in the trial Jones allegedly gifted cash and car to teenager he kissed after commenting on sprinter’s penis, trial hears Welcome to day two of the Alan Jones indecent assault trial. On Monday, a former schoolboy athlete told the …

Survey reveals medics were called ‘monkeys’ and ‘dirty foreigners’, and patients refused to be seen by black or Asian staff NHS radiographers are experiencing racist abuse by patients, who have called them “monkeys” and refused to be seen by black and Asian staff, according to a report. A survey of 381 members of the Society of Radiographers revealed a “noticeable” rise in instances of overt raci…