The Guardian

Capital’s schools hardest hit in England and Wales by rising housing costs and falling birthrate, with further falls predicted in coming years Schools in London continue to be hardest hit by housing costs and the falling birthrate. Further closures and mergers of primary schools are expected after a sharp fall in the number of children entering reception classes in the capital. London’s boroughs …

Exclusive: Opinions split on ‘unprecedented’ release of files, despite demand for ‘all papers’ related to ex-US ambassador’s appointment Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision Five key questions: who overruled decision to deny Mandelson security clearance? Senior government officials have been considering whether to withhold from parliament sensitive documents th…

E H Shepard drawings go on display for book’s centenary, showing how he brought AA Milne’s character to life Previously unseen drawings of Winnie-the-Pooh that show the honey-loving bear before he was introduced to generations of readers in the 1926 book have come to light. Two preliminary pencil sketches by E H Shepard have been shared for the first time by his family to mark the centenary of on…

Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassador Officials debate withholding Mandelson vetting documents from parliament Five key questions: Who overruled the decision to deny Mandelson security clearance? Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office to …

US calls free-market capitalism ‘surest path to prosperity’ and seeks to forgo direct aid to developing countries Middle East crisis – live updates The Trump administration has moved to formally enlist foreign governments in a sweeping reorientation of global development policy, directing American diplomats worldwide to seek official support for a “trade over aid” declaration before its introduct…

Data shows 85% of those infected in the state have been not vaccinated against measles as dozens are hospitalized Measles: how does it spread and how can I protect my child? Utah has emerged as a major center of measles infections in the US, as an outbreak that has been building for some time continues to expand. State officials reported a total of 602 measles cases on Wednesday tied to an outbre…

Resolution needed two more votes to pass, but Democrats now appear solidified in opposition Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox The US House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly rejected a war powers resolution that would have prevented further military action against Iran, as Democrats united against continued US involvement in the conflict amid peace…

US Commission of Fine Arts reviews plan while judge lets below-ground work at White House ballroom site proceed President Donald Trump’s design for the triumphal arch he wants built at an entrance to the nation’s capital moved a step forward on Thursday after a key agency reviewed the proposal for the first time. One commissioner suggested changes, including losing the Lady Liberty-like statue an…

The defense secretary said his prayer drew on Ezekiel, but wording closely matches Quentin Tarantino dialogue It was perhaps inevitable that a braggadocious Christian nationalist defense secretary elevated from his role as a weekend Fox News television host would pluck a fake Bible verse from a violent Hollywood blockbuster and present it at a Pentagon prayer session to rally the troops for the “…

Critics say efforts to rescue the animal, nicknamed Tommy, unlikely to succeed and could lead to further harm A last-ditch effort to rescue a wayward whale that has transfixed Germans for weeks has begun in the Baltic Sea despite criticism it has little chance of success and could further harm the 12-tonne creature. The male humpback whale was first spotted last month near Timmendorfer Strand on …

Exclusive: Minns government announces contract with Snowy Energy to power public transport in seven-year contract Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Electric bus, train and light rail services in New South Wales will run on fully renewable energy from next year under a new $1.9bn deal, the state government says. The Minns government on Friday announced it had signed a co…

Users of share cars will need to pay for fuel themselves before seeking reimbursement, leaving them temporarily out of pocket Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Australia’s two biggest car-share companies, GoGet and Flexicar, have removed fuel cards from their Melbourne vehicles after a spate of break-ins and thefts that a senior GoGet executive described as “one of the …

Experts say US market ‘may have run ahead of itself’, while the ASX 200’s more modest recovery is due in part to Australia’s reliance on fuel imports Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast One day the IMF warns of a global recession , the next day stocks on Wall Street hit a record high . From looking at the complete U-turn in fortunes in America, you wouldn’t know the world…

More than 100 injured across country after Russia launches nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles Europe live – latest updates Russia has carried out its deadliest attack against Ukraine this year, killing at least 17 people, and injuring more than 100, in a wave of drone and missile strikes across the country. Nine people died in the southern port city of Odesa, with four …

US defense secretary said Iran’s energy infrastructure is ‘not destroyed yet’ at presser where he also lambasted the media Iran’s energy infrastructure is “not destroyed yet” and the US is “locked and loaded” to finish the job, Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, said on Thursday as he called many of the press corps gathered the moral equivalent of the Pharisees who conspired to destroy Jesus Ch…