Labour blocks proposal for ‘swift bricks’ in all new homes

MPs had previously backed Conservative amendment to ask developers to provide hollow bricks for endangered birds

Providing every new home with at least one “swift brick” to help endangered cavity-nesting birds has been rejected by Labour at the committee stage of its increasingly controversial planning bill.

The amendment to the bill to ask every developer to provide a £35 hollow brick for swifts, house martins, sparrows and starlings, which was tabled by Labour MP Barry Gardiner, has been rejected by the Labour-dominated committee.

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British students at Harvard report ‘growing anxiety’ over US government attacks

Trump administration’s effort to ban foreign enrolment could force students to disrupt their studies and careers

British and international students at Harvard report “growing anxiety” over their fate, as the Trump administration’s latest attack on the university could force them to disrupt their studies and careers.

On Thursday, the administration said it would revoke Harvard University’s eligibility to enrol international students, which was later temporarily frozen by a US federal judge on Friday.

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NSW floods: recovery effort begins with 50,000 stranded people urged ‘be patient’

After fatal flooding and disruption, rain moves south and SES aims to resupply isolated communities. But strong winds will pose new threat

Over 50,000 people remain isolated on the NSW mid-north coast with recovery efforts expected begin on Saturday after the heavy rainfall that has battered the region moved south out of the state.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) said on Friday that 50,000 people in 15 communities, including Kempsey and Taree, remain isolated by flood waters with 160 active warnings, 39 of which were at emergency warning and 76 at watch and act.

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British Chagossians accuse UK government of betrayal over sovereignty deal

Bertrice Pompe and Bernadette Dugasse won a brief victory in bid to stop transfer of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Two women who brought an 11th-hour legal challenge to try to stop the UK transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius have accused the government of betrayal.

British Chagossians Bertrice Pompe, 54, and Bernadette Dugasse, 68, who were both born on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia, vowed to keep fighting to try to realise their dream of returning to their place of birth.

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‘Better than anything’: Tottenham fans toast Europa League win

Supporters gather in north London to celebrate end to football club’s 17-year wait for trophy

For the first time in nearly two decades, a trophy arrived in north London without any red ribbons attached. The streets were a sea of white as thousands of fans descended on the Tottenham Hotspur stadium to celebrate the team’s Europa League triumph.

It was a blissful atmosphere as supporters gathered to toast an end to the club’s 17-year wait for silverware, each one uttering the same seven-letter word: “Finally.”

Frank Hunter had been to Bilbao, not bothering to book a hotel and instead making use of the Basque city’s park benches for sleep as he and his friends endured what he called “the most excruciating experience” of his life. But he said it was all worth it.

“Words can’t describe what it means to see all the boys all together, celebrating – it’s the best day,” said Frank. “To have days like this with your family is unreal. Here’s to many more.”

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No 10 delays child poverty strategy with tens of thousands more facing hardship

Exclusive: Flagship policy put back until at least autumn amid fears cost of removing two-child benefit cap will outweigh political benefit

Labour’s flagship child poverty strategy has been delayed until at least the autumn, the Guardian has learned, even though tens of thousands more children will fall into poverty as a result.

The decision to push back the strategy comes amid Treasury concerns about the cost implications of ending the two-child limit on universal credit and questions inside No 10 over the political benefits of scrapping it.

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Israel’s reinvasion of Gaza is a strategic disaster – Financial Times

  1. Israel’s reinvasion of Gaza is a strategic disaster  Financial Times
  2. Netanyahu Was at His Diabolical Best in His Latest Conspiratorial Horror Show  Haaretz
  3. Why Israel's New Gaza Operation Is Different  Newsweek
  4. IDF to expand operations in Gaza, sounds of explosions expected to be heard in South - report  The Jerusalem Post
  5. Netanyahu says Israel will control ‘all of Gaza’ after latest offensive  Al Jazeera
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NCA freezes £90m of London property linked to former Bangladesh regime

Two men linked to Sheikh Hasina prevented from selling properties, including apartments in Grosvenor Square

The UK’s serious and organised crime agency has frozen almost £90m of luxury London property belonging to two men linked to the deposed ruler of Bangladesh.

In a development that comes after mounting pressure on the UK to assist Bangladesh in tracing assets linked to the former regime, the National Crime Agency (NCA) obtained nine freezing orders, official records show.

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Iran-US nuclear talks end with no agreement but ‘possibility of progress’

There were fears latest meeting could collapse but both sides appear willing for more talks on uranium enrichment

Talks between Iran and the US on whether Iran will be allowed to continue to enrich uranium inside the country have ended without an agreement, but apparently without the feared breakdown.

The indirect talks between the two sides were mediated by Oman and held in Rome.

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Sibanye-Stillwater rushes to rescue 260 trapped gold miners – Mining.com

  1. Sibanye-Stillwater rushes to rescue 260 trapped gold miners  Mining.com
  2. 289 miners trapped in shaft at South African gold mine  NBC News
  3. Sibanye workers begin to surface after accident at South African gold mine  Reuters
  4. Hundreds of workers remain underground after 'shaft incident' at South African gold mine, company says  ABC News
  5. Hundreds of Gold Miners Trapped Underground Rescued  Newsweek
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