The Guardian

Chair of prisons and detention watchdog concerned about intimidating effect as wide-ranging and damning review published Grim reality of prison conditions laid bare in damning report Staff at an immigration detention centre wore England flags pinned to their uniforms while guarding migrants, a report from the prisons and detention watchdog has revealed. Their use by staff at one of the Home Offic…

Amazon and Sony among firms that may have sourced coltan, used in phones, from supply chains controlled by the M23 rebels, says Global Witness Leading global brands including Amazon, Ericsson and Sony are “likely” to have sourced minerals linked to a militia accused of widespread sexual violence, summary executions and torture, a new investigation claims. The companies allegedlybut unknowingly, a…

Australian human rights lawyers and refugee advocacy groups are lauding the decision as a ‘significant outcome’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Millions of dollars in compensation could be paid out to more than 350 unlawful non-citizens held in indefinite detention after the high court ruled against the Australian…

MP Melanie Ward calls on Charity Commission to look into 32 organisations she says have given at least £28m Thirty-two charities in England and Wales have donated at least £28m to Israeli settlements that are illegal under international law, an MP has said. Labour’s Melanie Ward said that if gift aid were claimed against the donations in the usual way, it would mean taxpayers had subsidised illeg…

Diamond Light Source and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source face cuts of up to 20% as Science and Technology Facilities Council seeks savings Britain’s scientific capabilities face “serious damage” with some national facilities at risk of closure under spending cuts that are being considered to meet spiralling costs at the government’s infrastructure funding agency. The concern surrounds sites funded a…

Survey in run-up to byelection also finds support for water renationalisation, wealth tax and cap on political donations A majority of voters in Makerfield say they would be less likely to vote for an election candidate if they have posted offensive content on social media, polling shows. The polling for the campaign group 38 Degrees, undertaken by Survation, asked 518 voters in the Makerfield co…

Exclusive: poll across 15 countries finds ‘deep mistrust’, with majority doubting US would come to their aid in an attack European confidence in an American “security guarantee” has hit a historic low, a survey suggests, with only one in 10 people across 15 countries seeing the US as an ally and majorities in all doubting it would come to their aid if they were attacked. The survey, published on …

Conservationists say cherished creatures such as whales, dolphins and seabirds are being killed in large numbers by fishing tackle Thousands of Britain’s most charismatic and protected marine wildlife, including whales, porpoises, dolphins, seals and seabirds are being killed as “collateral damage” by fishing vessels every year, according to the first-ever analysis of bycatch data. The analysis, …

State admits former Greens candidate entitled to damages and agrees to pay medical costs, but denies malicious prosecution and malfeasance in public office Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The state of New South Wales has admitted that a police officer punched Hannah Thomas in the eye while holding a torch at a pro…

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps says it has targeted an airbase in Jordan hosting US forces, as well as Kuwait and Bahrain, in response to US strikes Trump launches strikes against Iran after downing of US army helicopter Nearly all the missiles and drones launched by Iran over the last few hours were intercepted, a US officials has told the Reuters news agency. The US official said that the mi…

Former UK political operative endorsed by Trump will face off against Democrat Xavier Becerra in November election Republican Steve Hilton, the former UK political operative turned Fox News personality, has advanced to the November general election in the race to become California ’s next governor, facing off against Democrat Xavier Becerra , a former congressman, state attorney general and US he…

Lieutenant governor and attorney general advance but result signals decisive defeat for controversial Nancy Mace Donald Trump-backed Pamela Evette, South Carolina’s lieutenant governor and Alan Wilson, the state’s attorney general, have advanced to a runoff in a competitive race to represent the Republican party in South Carolina’s gubernatorial election. The winner of the Republican primary is f…

Hilton has worn many hats since he arrived in the US 14 years ago, and now faces steep odds of defeating Democratic Xavier Becerra in November After years of working in the background of Conservative party politics in Britain, Steve Hilton has passed the first major test as his own front man: clinching a spot in the November run-off to become California’s next governor. The outcome was far from a…

Platner, whose campaign was hit by series of negative headlines, to face Susan Collins in key midterm contest Graham Platner , a Marine veteran, oyster farmer and progressive activist, has scaled a mountain of personal controversies to win the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Maine. Victory on Tuesday caps a remarkable rise for a candidate who has never held elected office and whose cam…

Texas trial, which lasted a week, drew national attention due to race, as Anthony is Black and Austin Metcalf was white Following a trial that lasted just one week from jury selection to verdict, a Collin county, Texas, jury found Karmelo Anthony, now 19, guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf last year. The closely watched trial drew national attention, with viral social media …