The Guardian

IMF upgrades UK growth forecast as fears over impact of Iran war diminish

July update projects GDP growth of 1% this year, making UK the third fastest-growing economy in the G7The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its growth forecast for the UK, while leaving those for other G7 countries weaker or unchanged, amid hopes the economic impact of the Iran war may be less severe than feared.In a July update of its World Economic Outlook, which was finalised before the latest outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East, the Washington-based organisation projected

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

Marine Le Pen launches France presidential campaign after court decision to shorten ban

France’s far-right leader plans to take part in 2027 vote after court of appeal upholds her conviction for embezzlementThe French far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campaign on Wednesday, after a decision by a court of appeal shortened her ban on running for office, allowing her to take part in the 2027 vote.Le Pen said voters would decide her future. Continue reading...

general  Jul 8, 2026

NY Times World

NATO Summit Gives Trump New Chance to Bust Out Old Grievances

President Trump brought his combative side to the meeting of world leaders in Turkey, kicking off a day of diplomacy with a panoply of complaints and insults against U.S. allies.

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

Democrats accuse Graham Platner of trying to put ‘thumb on the scale’ of process to replace him

Maine’s embattled US Senate nominee has faced calls to withdraw after a sexual assault allegation he deniesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailGraham Platner, the embattled Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, has been accused of trying to influence the process of picking his replacement amid a chorus of calls for him to withdraw from the race.Platner has publicly said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” after an allegation of sexual assault, which he d

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

Police hunting man after wife and two daughters found dead in Bedfordshire

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, believed to have left UK before bodies of partner and children were discoveredPolice are hunting for a man after the deaths of his wife and two daughters in Bedfordshire.Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, known as Zandile, and Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were found dead in a detached house in Great Denham, near Bedford, on Monday. Continue reading...

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

First Thing: Trump calls Iran’s leaders ‘scum’ and declares fragile ceasefire over

Hostilities between US and Iran resume as US president lashes out at ‘vicious, violent people’. Plus the fall out from the USMNT’s exit from the Fifa World CupGood morning. Hostilities have resumed between the US and Iran. Tehran accused the US of violating the agreement intended to end the war, after the US military launched strikes around the strait of Hormuz and revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian oil exports. The attacks were the latest in a string of ceasefire violations by the

general  Jul 8, 2026

NY Times World

Iran targets sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

Modern forensic analysis leads to arrest in Georgia 1985 murder cold case

Items analyzed were discarded behind a Cracker Barrel and led to charges in the killing of John WarrenItems that were found discarded behind a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Georgia in 1985 have led to charges against a suspect in an Ohio killing committed at about that time, investigators announced recently.As told by authorities, the case centering on killed traveling salesman John Warren is among the latest in the US criminal justice system to illustrate how the application of modern forensic t

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

Race discrimination case over child’s swim puts ‘Dutch paradox’ in focus

Father of boy refused entry to pool says case is reminder that some Dutch do not acknowledge reality of racismWhen Henri Duiker went to check whether his 12-year-old son and his friend were enjoying their first “disco” swim evening alone, he was baffled. Instead of being in the water, Henri’s son was standing alone by the desk at the Watergeus pool, in Zoetermeer in the Netherlands.He did not have any ID to prove he was under 13 and pool attendants had told him he could not swim – although his f

general  Jul 8, 2026

NY Times World

Zelensky is to meet with Trump after a brutal week of Russian attacks on Ukraine.

general  Jul 8, 2026

BBC World

Nigeria's president demands to know how fake agency was allegedly set up in his office

Adeniyi Adeyemi allegedly forged a letter of appointment and secured funding for an agency the presidency knew nothing about.

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

German car industry warns of job collapse unless ‘bold decisions’ made to address Chinese threat

VW to propose 100,000 job losses to board and says car plants could be put under foreign ownership to save jobsEurope live – latest updatesThe German car industry has warned of a potential collapse of employment in the sector in Europe unless society and workers accept that “bold decisions” are needed to address competition from the Chinese and other rivals.Volkswagen is preparing to formally propose up to 100,000 job losses to its supervisory board on Thursday, a move that has triggered a wave

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

Housebuilder Vistry warns of losses amid heavy discounting on unsold homes

Group blames expected £30m loss in first half of year on weakening market and lower consumer confidenceVistry Group, one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders, has warned it will make a loss in the first half of the year, after it resorted to heavy discounting to attract buyers for unsold homes .Vistry shares fell by 8% after the firm also announced its finance director was leaving. Continue reading...

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

More Reform UK transactions worth millions reported to National Crime Agency

Exclusive: Bankers have raised potential money-laundering concerns over loans and donations involving senior party figuresUK politics live – latest updatesA host of transactions involving Reform UK’s most senior figures and donations to the party caused bankers to report potential money-laundering concerns to the National Crime Agency, a Guardian investigation has found.On Tuesday, the Guardian revealed that the undisclosed £5m gift provided to the Reform leader, Nigel Farage, by a cryptocurrenc

general  Jul 8, 2026

NY Times World

Iraqis Turn Out in Droves to Mourn Khamenei in Show of Solidarity

In the cities of Najaf and Karbala, home to two of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites, hundreds of thousands attended commemorations for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who extended Iran’s influence in Iraq.

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

Unions in Europe press for new worker protections to counter heat stress

Climate crisis prompts calls for workplace temperature limits and rights to heat breaks and adjusted working hoursAs Europe’s sweltering summer continues, trades unions are mounting a push for new laws to counter deadly heat stress that is linked to an estimated 230 workplace deaths a year.This year’s toll may be even higher, with 1,300 excess European deaths already connected to the June heatwave by the World Health Organization, and other estimates running as high as 20,000. Continue reading..

general  Jul 8, 2026

The Guardian

US Food and Drug Administration rejects petition to set Pfas limits in food

Environmental protection agency and independent studies have found food biggest source of chemical exposureThe US Food and Drug Administration has rejected a legal petition demanding it set limits on toxic Pfas “forever chemicals” in food, marking another setback for public health advocates’ push to limit exposures to the dangerous compounds.The agency is refusing to set limits despite a growing body of science and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finding food is the biggest source of P

general  Jul 8, 2026

BBC World

Cubans protest after third nationwide power cut this year

While Cuban officials said that power had been mostly restored, those still left in the dark vented their anger.

general  Jul 8, 2026

NY Times World

Tensions Escalate Between Russia and NATO’s European Members

Moscow has directed extra hostility toward countries that have strongly supported Ukraine and praise at President Trump.

general  Jul 8, 2026

NY Times World

Iran Live Updates: Trump Casts Doubt on Future of Cease-Fire After Latest Strikes

“I think it’s over,” President Trump said, referring to the preliminary truce. Iran’s armed forces earlier said they had targeted U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to the latest U.S. attacks.

general  Jul 8, 2026