RSS Feeds

Court ruled last week against policy to reduce protections for asylum seekers facing removal under one in, one out scheme

The Home Office is set to ignore a high court ruling and continue sending asylum seekers to France without looking into claims they have been trafficked, which last week was found to be unlawful.

On Friday Mr Justice Sheldon ruled against the home secretary’s policy to reduce protections for trafficking victims earmarked for forced removal to France. Home Office sources told the Guardian that operational activity could continue despite the ruling. Home Office removed certain protections for this group because they could delay removals to France by at least 30 days.

Firework displays cancelled as Paris military parade asserts ‘France’s rearmament … and Europe’s strategic awakening’

Emmanuel Macron has presided over his final Bastille Day parade in Paris amid a searing heatwave and wildfires that forced authorities around the country to cancel traditional firework displays and balls celebrating France’s national day.

The French president was joined for the annual military procession and flypast by his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the British ‌prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and two dozen other national leaders.

PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2; Marimittu Games
A soft puzzle game makes a sharp point about the over-optimised future ahead

In the far future, on a planet that is not Earth, AI is in charge. This entity is no Skynet-esque killer robot but a machine that cares for humanity. Manifesting most visibly as cute droids, the technology is pervasive – embedded in everything from the design of the sleek architecture to the gorgeous, mostly sunny artificial weather. The so-called Optimization System has but one responsibility: ensuring the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

In less skilled hands this game might have felt like an undergraduate seminar on the limits of utilitarianism. But Japanese studio Marumittu Games elegantly marries its philosophical concerns with smart design choices. You play as a young, unnamed Facilitator tasked with tending to both the city’s bots and its human residents. Each morning you wake up, sleepily loping off to the bathroom before sitting down for an exquisitely rendered breakfast, and then embark on your day’s work. Like everything else in this near-future scenario, labour is designed to cause as little frustration as possible, amounting to simple maths brain teasers on a grid – nothing too taxing, but enough to keep you engaged.

Kyiv to anchor European alternative missile defence system called Freyja; more sanctions against Russian state hacking outfits. What we know on day 1,602

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed an agreement with allies ⁠for ​a European-backed anti-ballistic missile shield as an alternative ⁠to the US Patriot system – but the Ukrainian president stressed that Kyiv ⁠still needs the American interceptors for ​now and ‌the coming ‌winter. Zelenskyy said the Freyja ‌defence project, originated in Ukraine, would be developed over the coming 12 months.

“One of the main ways to ‌strengthen our collective position should be a winter ​package of air defence missiles,” Zelenskyy posted. “We have calculated ⁠that this package should ​include 100 ​Patriot missiles per ​month, 300 missiles ​for ‌the winter.” Donald Trump has promised Ukraine a licence to build Patriot missiles, but although Kyiv has stunned the world with its ability to innovate and muster homegrown weapons production, the interceptors’ extreme complexity and US subcontractors’ slow output of critical parts means production is likely some time away.

As Angelique Chrisafis writes, Ukraine and nine other countries including the UK, Germany and France will build the shared missile protection programme for Europe using Kyiv’s experience in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion for more than four years. Leaders on Monday met Zelenskyy for talks in Paris. The UK signed up to participate in the EU’s €90bn (£77bn) support loan for Ukraine, meaning UK firms will be able to provide more weapons paid for by the funds.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, announced a roadmap for Kyiv to get 16 Rafale fighter jets, the first of which are due to “take to the skies” by 2028-2029. Kyiv would also acquire an initial batch of new-generation SAMP/T missile defence units, Macron said at the Paris meeting, “which will complement the systems due to be delivered with their missiles in the coming weeks”. Macron also said on Monday that the multinational force for Ukraine, to be deployed in the event of a ceasefire, would hold exercises in neighbouring countries in the coming months. This would “validate our deployment plans and demonstrate that we are ready, determined and credible”, Macron said.

Russian forces attacked ⁠the ​Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with missiles and drones early on Tuesday, triggering fires ⁠in widely separated districts of the city, senior officials said. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital’s ‌military administration, said two storage areas were hit and set on fire in the Holosiivskyi district just outside the city centre. The mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said cars burned in an open area in an eastern suburb after drone strikes. In the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, Russian ⁠drones struck residential and other areas, injuring 11 ​people, emergency ​services said.

A drone ​attack in a town outside ​Kharkiv injured six people, said the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov. The Russian-installed head of ⁠the part of Ukraine’s Donetsk region under Moscow’s ⁠control said ⁠on Monday that ​Ukrainian drone attacks had killed eight ⁠people, including a family of four. Reuters said it could not verify ​the report independently. Ukraine denies targeting civilians.

The EU and Britain targeted Russia on Monday with coordinated sanctions over cyber-attacks in Europe, accusing Moscow’s FSB intelligence agency of involvement. Brussels said it was imposing sanctions on nine people and four entities, while London said it was adding 24 names to its blacklist. Among those subjected to asset freezes and visa bans were officers of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, and alleged “cybercriminals” working together with the Russian state.

The EU and Britain said a recent attempted cyber-attack targeting critical infrastructure in Poland, including the power grid, was the latest in a raft of such moves by the FSB’s Centre 16 spying hub. The French foreign ministry added that among the sanctioned targets was “a group that claimed destabilising actions against the Paris 2024 Olympics”. The EU said that “among others, France, Germany, Poland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania and Finland have been targeted” in a campaign stretching back years.

Recent strikes have sent oil prices climbing again, with average gas price per gallon up by 70 cents on last year

Inflation cooled to an annual rate of 3.5% in June as the brief US-Iran ceasefire, which has since ended, brought energy prices down, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The consumer price index (CPI), which measures a basket of goods and services, has been elevated since the start of the war, largely because of higher energy prices. After mostly staying under 3% since mid-2024, CPI reached a three-year high of 4.2% in May – up from 2.4% in February. Month-over-month, CPI fell 0.8% in June, the largest one-month decrease since April 2020.

Firework displays cancelled as Paris military parade asserts ‘France’s rearmament … and Europe’s strategic awakening’

Emmanuel Macron has presided over his final Bastille Day parade in Paris amid a searing heatwave and wildfires that forced authorities around the country to cancel traditional firework displays and balls celebrating France’s national day.

The French president was joined for the annual military procession and flypast by his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the British ‌prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and two dozen other national leaders.

• St Louis Cardinal homers on final six swings

• 24-year-old outfielder wins $1m and title

• Schwarber, Contreras finish second and third

Jordan Walker silenced Philadelphia’s boo birds by homering on his last six swings, chasing down Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in the final round and becoming the first St Louis Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night.

Schwarber hit 11 homers during his 15-swing turn in the final round. Philly fans, who loudly booed everyone but Schwarber and Bryce Harper throughout the night, quietly headed toward the exits when Walker’s winning shot soared over the left-field wall.

Aid worker flown to Berlin as Trump administration bars Americans from traveling to US on commercial flights

A US national who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has arrived in Germany for treatment, the health ministry in Berlin said on Monday, weeks after another American infected with Ebola in the DRC was treated in Berlin.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday said it was blocking American citizens in ⁠the DRC from traveling to the US on commercial flights, Reuters reported, citing a White House official.

PM to declare Australia the first country worldwide to bring economic, social, security and environmental issues from AI under single office in major speech

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Anthony Albanese says the federal government will introduce faster approval processes for AI projects, including datacentres, across Australia, seeking to shore up investor certainty and maintain community confidence in the rapidly advancing technology.

Announcing the creation of a new office of AI to be established within his department in a major speech on Wednesday, the prime minister will declare Australia is set to become the first country in the world to bring the economic, social, national security and environmental issues stemming from AI into a single, national framework.

Aid worker flown to Berlin as Trump administration bars Americans from traveling to US on commercial flights

A US national who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has arrived in Germany for treatment, the health ministry in Berlin said on Monday, weeks after another American infected with Ebola in the DRC was treated in Berlin.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday said it was blocking American citizens in ⁠the DRC from traveling to the US on commercial flights, Reuters reported, citing a White House official.

Shania Care-Slede, 20, arrested over incident at Dovestone reservoir on Saturday in which fireworks were launched

A woman has been charged with aggravated arson in connection with a major moorland wildfire, as large parts of Greater Manchester were covered in smoke.

Shania Care-Slede, 20, from Hyde, was arrested on Monday by Greater Manchester police in Oldham. She has been charged with two offences: aggravated arson, while being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving.

The United States plans to reinstate a blockade over the Strait of Hormuz today. And, several states are suing to stop the massive Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.

(Image credit: -)

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Jerk aubergines, lentil-stuffed courgette, griddled pineapple with maple syrup … Meat-free doesn’t need to mean treat-free when it comes to barbecue season

I’ve recently turned vegan. How do I have a great barbecue?
Nia, by email
Happily, most vegetables benefit from a bit of barbecue action, but the key is not to get too carried away, says Genevieve Taylor, author of How to BBQ: “There’s a real leaning for people to overdo barbecues, but you should approach it just as you would any meal, with one central star and a few sides. After all, there’s no other meal where you’d be expected to eat a chop, a sausage, a kebab and a chicken wing.” Not a meal you’d find Nia devouring, sure, but you get the general idea.

Shaun McAnuff, author of Original Flava: Easy Caribbean, would be inclined kick things off with tostones. “They’re a bit like crisps,” he says. “Boil green plantain, which are more dense and not as sweet as yellow ones, then peel and cut into thick circles.” Smash those flat with the bottom of a mug, then barbecue until nice and crisp and serve with guacamole or salsa. Alternatively, grab some aubergines, Taylor says: “They’re such a sponge for smoky flavours.” Slice lengthways, brush with oil, season and grill until soft. “Spread a filling, such as walnut paté with spices, herbs and pomegranate molasses, over the slices and roll up.” Those would be nice at room temperature, which also helps with getting ahead.

Got a culinary dilemma? Email feast@theguardian.com

Konstantin Sokolov, who gave undisclosed sum and has not held government job before, to chair Tripp+ trade project

Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor in Chicago, will serve as chairman of a new state department enterprise fund overseeing more than $200m designated for a central Asia trade corridor, including investments in transportation, energy infrastructure and critical minerals, the Guardian has learned. The state department confirmed his appointment on Friday.

Sokolov was one of 36 donors, including 21 corporations and 15 individuals and family foundations, who Donald Trump said contributed over $350m to his ballroom project.

Svetlana Grković says she grabbed her husband’s legs while he was ‘outside up to his chest’ for two minutes

• Ryanair passenger almost sucked out of window during flight

• Ryanair has axed family seating policy – but kids’ fees add up

A woman who saved her husband from being completely sucked out of a Ryanair plane mid-flight has said she thought as she held on to his legs: “If we die, we die together.”

Ljubisa Karović was sucked out headfirst on the flight on Friday after an engine failure resulted in parts smashing the acrylic window.

US preventive services taskforce’s members have not issued binding recommendations since March 2025

The overhaul by the health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, of an influential federal advisory group has stalled an update that would have highlighted “encouraging” new evidence on helping children quit tobacco, according to a recently departed member of the group.

The Trump administration has postponed or canceled all meetings of the US preventive services taskforce since March 2025, effectively preventing taskforce members from issuing binding recommendations for more than a year. As a result, 14 topics under consideration have been stalled – including on cervical cancer screening, perinatal depression and autism screening.

Konstantin Sokolov, who gave undisclosed sum and has not held government job before, to chair Tripp+ trade project

Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor in Chicago, will serve as chairman of a new state department enterprise fund overseeing more than $200m designated for a central Asia trade corridor, including investments in transportation, energy infrastructure and critical minerals, the Guardian has learned. The state department confirmed his appointment on Friday.

Sokolov was one of 36 donors, including 21 corporations and 15 individuals and family foundations, who Donald Trump said contributed over $350m to his ballroom project.

Former minister says decision suggests ‘intolerance of criticism’ but source says it was for problems with conduct

• UK politics live – latest updates

The Conservatives have denied they are purging prominent centrists after Gavin Barwell lost the whip in the wake of warnings from Kemi Badenoch that supporters of policies such as targets for net zero were no longer welcome in the party.

Lord Barwell, who was an MP and minister before becoming Theresa May’s chief of staff, said he was saddened at the decision and that Badenoch risked putting off large numbers of potential voters because of her stance.

Svetlana Grković says she grabbed her husband’s legs while he was ‘outside up to his chest’ for two minutes

• Ryanair passenger almost sucked out of window during flight

• Ryanair has axed family seating policy – but kids’ fees add up

A woman who saved her husband from being completely sucked out of a Ryanair plane mid-flight has said she thought as she held on to his legs: “If we die, we die together.”

Ljubisa Karović was sucked out headfirst on the flight on Friday after an engine failure resulted in parts smashing the acrylic window.