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Andy Burnham has said he has “concerns” about plans to reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales and wants to look in detail at the proposals.The proposals were put forward under Sir Keir Starmer’s government by former justice secretary David Lammy, who has since been fired by Burnham.Lammy had said reducing the number of jury trials would help tackle the huge backlog in Crown Court cases, but critics – including most barristers and many Labour MPs – fear it will undermine the justice system.Speaking to reporters on a visit to Sheffield, the prime minister said: “My instincts…

Pursuing poachers: These striking images show the forensic evidence left by the illegal wildlife trade — a handprint on a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and fingerprints on an elephant tusk; both confiscated at London Heathrow Airport, UK. The photographs earned Britta Jaschinski first prize in the 2026 Earth Photo Award. Jaschinski worked with border-force operations and wildlife crime units to document elements of the illegal poaching trade, which is worth an estimated US$23 billion per year. Credits: 1. Britta Jaschinski, Forensics Fingerprints 2025, UK. Earth Photo 2026 Award 2. Britta Jaschinski, Every Crime Leaves a Trace, 2025, Wildlife Crime Lab, Institute…

Anthony OlivieriJul 31, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseAnthony Olivieri is a staff writer for ESPN. He has a degree in communications with a concentration in journalism from Marist College. He’s been with ESPN since 2012.Multiple AuthorsTHERE ARE TWO sets of skid marks on FM 159, a rural stretch outside of College Station, Texas: The first two are dark, parallel streaks of burned rubber marking where a car came to a sudden stop. A second set marks the point, according to police, where the driver rapidly accelerated in reverse.They are indelible remnants of boxer Hannah Rapp’s fatal encounter with Charles Eric Medina…

To mark Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, a short film will premiere at this year’s Venice film festival. Entitled Flesh Impact, the film has been written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and will star two versions of Monroe. The first, played by Ellen Burstyn, will apparently be “a version of Monroe the world never got to see”, while Dakota Johnson will play Monroe in her pomp.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.Ahead of its premiere, a photo of Johnson dolled up as Monroe has been released. And it has…

By Adegboyega Adeleye South Africa national team head coach Hugo Broos has left his position after five years in charge, with South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan confirming the Belgian’s departure on Friday. Broos’ contract officially expired on Friday, bringing an end to his tenure, which began in May 2021 after Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. The 74-year-old coach leaves behind a period that included several notable achievements for South Africa. Under Broos, Bafana Bafana finished third at the 2023 AFCON, which was eventually staged in early 2024 in Ivory Coast after…

Iran said it struck two tankers trying to pass through the strait of Hormuz under the escort of the US military, as Donald Trump gathered his cabinet at to discuss the stalling war and rising prices as midterm election in the US loom.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said they had hit two tankers trying to pass through the strait on Friday.The IRGC said the “non-compliant oil tankers … were struck and brought to a halt, while four other oil tankers quickly changed course and returned to their previous positions”. The military body said the ships had tried to pass through…

Nigeria’s government has no plans to raise electricity tariffs above their current level, Joseph Tegbe, minister of power said, pushing back against speculation that had unsettled consumers. “There is no policy by this administration to increase electricity tariffs beyond its current level,” Tegbe said at an event in Nigeria’s commercial capital. “Our priority is not tariff increase in the immediate term,” he added. Instead of increasing electricity tariff, the government is betting that fixing the mechanics of electricity delivery, metering, grid stability and revenue collection,can shore up the sector’s finances without touching the tariff line. “Our priority is service improvement,…

Tesla is reportedly considering cleaving off its entire business in China to grease the wheels of a merger with SpaceX, according to the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reports that “some Tesla executives have been told to prepare for a separation of the China business,” which could include a “spinoff, sale or closure,” citing unnamed sources. The company reportedly would be able to do this fairly quickly because CEO Elon Musk had already tasked executives to prepare for a split in the event that Beijing invades Taiwan. Separating China from Tesla’s global operations could make it easier to integrate the…

Chancellor John Healey has announced the date of his first Budget will be Wednesday, 28 October.In a video message,  he said: “This will be a Budget that moves money and power out of Westminster, and into every postcode around Britain.”It will be built on fiscal discipline. It will meet our fiscal rules. It’ll give businesses and families some of the stability they need to plan for the future.”Now, let’s get on with the job.”

When Andy Burnham became the United Kingdom’s prime minister last week, among his first acts was to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), folding it into a new superministry for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. The …