‘Family values’ African charter condemned by rights groups as regressive and dangerous

Draft treaty claims sexual and reproductive health and rights are an existential threat to the African family

An African treaty that rejects longstanding international human rights obligations moved a step closer to becoming policy this week as governments across the continent met in Ghana.

The draft African charter on family, sovereignty and values, seen by the Guardian, asserts that African values and culture are under attack from “foreign ideologies” and urges states to withdraw from any agreements that do not align with the principles of the charter, including the 2003 Maputo protocol, which promotes gender equality and protects the reproductive and health rights of women and girls.

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Woman illegally strip-searched by police ‘reasonably thought’ officers would call her a liar, judge says

NSW seeking leave to appeal against successful class action including aggravated damages of $20,000 awarded to woman strip-searched at music festival

The woman awarded $93,000 after an illegal strip-search by NSW police thought until “just before” the trial that she would be called a liar in the proceedings by the officers who conducted the search.

This was despite the officers submitting statements 12 months before her appearance that they had no recollection of the woman or the search, a court was told on Friday.

Lawyers acting for the woman, Raya Meredith, and 6,000 music festivalgoers appeared before the NSW court of appeal on Friday in the final day of a two-day hearing where NSW is seeking leave to appeal after losing a class action over unlawful strip-searches conducted at music festivals between 2018 and 2022.

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UK house prices fall for third successive month amid Iran war uncertainty

Unexpected monthly drop of 0.1% in May leaves price of typical home at £298,806, says lender Halifax

UK house prices fell unexpectedly in May as rising mortgage rates fuelled by the war in Iran affected affordability and homebuyer demand.

The average price of a typical UK home fell by 0.1% in May to £298,806 compared with April, the third consecutive monthly drop recorded by the lender Halifax. Analysts had been expecting a return to growth, with a consensus of a 0.1% rise forecast for May. The monthly drop followed falls of 0.1% in April and 0.5% in March.

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US government criticises ‘two-tier’ UK policing after Henry Nowak murder

State department warns of ‘ideological conditioning’ in message of condolence to family of murdered student

The US state department has criticised “two-tiered policing” in Britain in a message of condolence to the family of the murder victim Henry Nowak in a thinly veiled rebuke of the UK government.

The 18-year-old student’s murder has been claimed by some as evidence of two-tier policing in the UK – the argument that some groups of people are dealt with more harshly than others for ideological reasons.

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Peruvians will vote in a runoff to pick a ninth president in 10 years as crime fears dominate – AP News

  1. Peruvians will vote in a runoff to pick a ninth president in 10 years as crime fears dominate  AP News
  2. Leftist Sanchez gains traction ahead of Peru runoff vote, Ipsos poll shows  Reuters
  3. Fujimori vs Sanchez: What to know about Peru’s presidential run-off election  Al Jazeera
  4. Peru election could be the next right-wing victory in Latin America  WBUR
  5. Perú dispatch: second round of presidential election set for June 7  Jurist.org
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Get set for a painted lady summer: big year for orange butterflies in Britain

Migrant insects have been seen in large numbers along east coast thanks to heatwave and benign southerly winds

If you’ve spotted a pale orange butterfly dashing at frenetic pace through streets, fields or gardens, you’ve noticed the new migrants that will add colour to the summer in record-breaking numbers.

What is expected to be the largest arrival of painted lady butterflies in Britain for 17 years is under way after heatwaves and favourable winds ushered thousands if not millions of the insects northwards.

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Sexism and bullying keeping women out of careers in sport, MPs told

Women coaches routinely overlooked, undermined and denied opportunities despite qualifications, say experts

Women are being shut out of careers in sport by entrenched sexism, discrimination and workplace bullying, MPs have been told.

Female coaches are routinely overlooked, undermined and denied opportunities despite their qualifications, experts told a parliamentary select committee on Thursday.

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Australian cockroach kingpin caught with 100,000 illegal insects in record bug bust – AP News

  1. Australian cockroach kingpin caught with 100,000 illegal insects in record bug bust  AP News
  2. Australia seizes 100,000 cockroaches in record bug bust  DW
  3. Giant hissing cockroaches among $200,000 worth of illegal insects seized in Australia  BBC
  4. More than 100,000 cockroaches worth $200,000 seized from NSW breeder in record-breaking bust  The Guardian
  5. Australia seizes 100,000 cockroaches in bug-breeder bust  Yahoo
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Putin says Russia will bolster air defenses in response to Ukrainian drone attacks – NPR

  1. Putin says Russia will bolster air defenses in response to Ukrainian drone attacks  NPR
  2. Putin faces Ukrainian drone threat and stagnating economy at ‘Russian Davos’  NBC News
  3. New Pantsir-SMD-E Air Defense Systems Installed on Rooftops of Civilian Buildings in Moscow  Мілітарний
  4. Russian region to create ministry to protect against Ukrainian drones  Українська правда
  5. Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will strengthen its air defenses to counter Ukrainian attacks  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
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Iran Strikes US Military in Kuwait, Major Media Fail to Provide Key Detail – CounterPunch.org

  1. Iran Strikes US Military in Kuwait, Major Media Fail to Provide Key Detail  CounterPunch.org
  2. Israel, Lebanon agree to renew ceasefire as Iran launches deadly attack on Kuwait airport  CBS News
  3. Iran's IRGC attacks US Fifth Fleet headquarters, airbase, local media reports  Reuters
  4. Israel and Lebanon Agree to Renew Cease-Fire  The New York Times
  5. Iranian attack leaves 1 dead, dozens injured in Kuwait  The Washington Post
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New claimants seek to sue Elon Musk’s xAI after Labour MP’s test case

Jess Asato’s lawyer says others want to take action over demeaning sexualised material created by Grok AI tool

New claimants have come forward to take legal action against Elon Musk’s company xAI after the Labour MP Jess Asato launched a test case against the firm over demeaning sexualised material created by its Grok AI tool.

A handful of complainants contacted Asato’s lawyer on Thursday in response to coverage of the MP’s decision to sue Musk’s company for damages over its creation and circulation of fake images of her in a bikini and an AI-created video that she said showed her “being chloroformed and prepared for a sexual assault”.

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Friday briefing: How Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have found themselves caught in an escalation without end – The Guardian

  1. Friday briefing: How Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have found themselves caught in an escalation without end  The Guardian
  2. Gaza, Iran, Lebanon: If ceasefires are in place, why do strikes continue?  Al Jazeera
  3. Opinion | End the Phony Cease-Fire With Iran  WSJ
  4. How Trump's ceasefires are failing to stop Middle East violence  Reuters
  5. There are supposed to be ceasefires across the Middle East, but the fighting is worsening  AP News
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All EU members greenlight first step in accession talks, Ukraine PM says – Reuters

  1. All EU members greenlight first step in accession talks, Ukraine PM says  Reuters
  2. Ukraine's Zelenskiy pledges clear timetable of talks on EU membership  Reuters
  3. Ukraine ready to close some accession chapters 'immediately': Costa  Euronews.com
  4. Hungary lifts block on Ukraine’s E.U. bid, but long timeline could put Kyiv at risk  The Washington Post
  5. Ukraine, Moldova To Start EU Accession Talks After Minority Rights Breakthrough  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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Friday briefing: How Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have found themselves caught in an escalation without end

In today’s newsletter: ​Global powers​ are focused on oil markets and elections​ but those living through conflict in the Middle East feel abandoned

Good morning. It’s been another week of brinkmanship via Truth Social and ceasefires broken before they’ve been announced.

While US president Donald Trump claims an agreement with Iran could happen soon, for those living in the Middle East it does not feel like peace is anywhere near. People have seen more bombs dropped in Lebanon this week; and the death toll continues to rise, national economies falter, and displacement abounds.

UK politics | Andy Burnham has signalled he would begin transforming the broken social care system this year if he became prime minister, he has said in an interview with the Guardian, accusing Westminster of “flinching away” from tackling difficult policy problems.

Environment | Humanity can raise living standards, reduce inequality and keep global heating within a 2C rise, according to a sweeping vision for planetary survival.

Ukraine | The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has called for face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

England news | The poorest and most nature-deprived communities in England will be further left behind in their access to green spaces if proposed changes to planning laws go ahead, a report finds.

UK news | Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received private income from subletting three cottages on his Windsor Royal Lodge estate while paying a “peppercorn rent” to the crown estate, a report into royal property arrangements has revealed.

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UK shoppers return to high street as warm weather brings respite from shadow of war

British Retail Consortium figures show footfall rose in May, with consumer confidence improving after spending squeeze

Greater numbers of consumers went shopping last month as spring sunshine brought welcome relief to retailers, which have faced a squeeze on spending since the US-Israel war on Iran.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and a separate survey by the accountancy firm BDO showed a bounce-back in footfall during May, reversing a sharp decline in April.

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Why are European governments breaking up with Palantir? – Euronews.com

  1. Why are European governments breaking up with Palantir?  Euronews.com
  2. The Guardian view on NHS records: patients are not raw material for big tech | Editorial  The Guardian
  3. Real NHS delivery means sticking with Palantir  The Times
  4. Palantir’s £330 Million NHS Deal Under Fire From UK Lawmakers  Bloomberg.com
  5. Britain's reliance on US tech group Palantir is an 'unacceptable weakness," report says  Reuters
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