Half of Calgary Chamber member businesses would consider leaving if Alberta separates, poll finds

Open this photo in gallery:Supporters carry boxes of signatures to submit for a separation referendum to Elections Alberta in Edmonton, on May 4.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian PressShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountA poll commissioned by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce suggests almost half of its members are prepared to move their businesses out of Alberta if the province votes to separate from Canada. Probe Research conducted the online survey of 137 chamber members between June 8 and June 22.

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Venezuela earthquakes live: state of emergency declared after officials warn of widespread damage and high casualties

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has announced a state of emergency. “We ask the population to remain calm and united,” she said on state TV.Rodríguez said the country’s main airport had been closed after suffering “severe damage” and announced that the metro and train systems had been halted.

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Duck off: World Cup hero Merlín barred from Mexico game due to Fifa’s animal ban

Merlín has taken Mexico – and the World Cup – by storm. Photograph: Mario Guzman/EPAView image in fullscreenMerlín has taken Mexico – and the World Cup – by storm. Photograph: Mario Guzman/EPAWorld Cup 2026Duck off: World Cup hero Merlín barred from Mexico game due to Fifa’s animal banWorld’s sixth-most famous duck falls short of dreamTwo-year-old must watch Czechia game from distanceGuardian sport and agenciesThu 25 Jun 2026 02.08 BSTLast modified on Thu 25 Jun 2026 02.23 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleMerlín the duck’s bid to see his beloved Mexico live has hit a snag after he was barred from El Tri’s match with Czechia on Wednesday.Merlín has become a folk hero in Mexico after becoming a symbol of El Tri’s World Cup campaign on home soil.

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Venezuela earthquake: powerful back-to-back quakes collapse buildings in capital Caracas

Rescue workers carry a person on a stretcher out of a collapsed building after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Caracas, Venezuela. Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenRescue workers carry a person on a stretcher out of a collapsed building after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Caracas, Venezuela.

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Brazilian federal police arrest Spanish citizen at São Paulo airport for racism

Passengers at Guarulhos international airport in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2024. Photograph: Bruno Escolastico Sousa Silva/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenPassengers at Guarulhos international airport in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2024. Photograph: Bruno Escolastico Sousa Silva/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesBrazilBrazilian federal police arrest Spanish citizen at São Paulo airport for racismWoman detained at airport after allegedly making racist remarks directed at workers unloading baggage, police sayAssociated Press in Rio de Janeiro Wed 24 Jun 2026 18.34 BSTLast modified on Wed 24 Jun 2026 18.57 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleBrazil’s federal police have detained a Spanish citizen in São Paulo’s international Guarulhos airport for racism, in the latest of a series of high-profile arrests of foreign tourists on similar grounds.Brazil has some of the strictest anti-racism laws…

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Colombia’s leftwing candidate concedes election to Trump-endorsed millionaire

The leftwing candidate Iván Cepeda speaks during a press conference in Bogotá, Colombia, on Wednesday. Photograph: Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda/EPAView image in fullscreenThe leftwing candidate Iván Cepeda speaks during a press conference in Bogotá, Colombia, on Wednesday. Photograph: Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda/EPAColombiaColombia’s leftwing candidate concedes election to Trump-endorsed millionaireLeftist Iván Cepeda conceded to far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella who won by razor-thin marginTiago Rogero South America correspondentWed 24 Jun 2026 16.48 BSTLast modified on Wed 24 Jun 2026 20.46 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe defeated leftwing candidate in Colombia’s presidential runoff has conceded to the far-right, Trump-admiring millionaire lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella.Since Sunday night, the preliminary count had already pointed to a De la Espriella victory by a razor-t…

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Australia politics live: NSW opposition leader quotes Eminem in budget reply; Labor to tweak death clause in tax reforms

The NSW opposition leader, Kellie Sloane, says the Minns government has missed its opportunity to improve lives in NSW in its first term as she gives her reply to this year’s budget.The opposition has said it supports the modest cost of living measures in Tuesday’s budget, the final before the March 2027 election, but said the offering lacked a plan for growth after Treasury revised down its December growth forecast from 2.5% to 1% amid the global oil shock and rising interest.The Coalition’s flagship policy is a significant reduction of payroll taxes for small and medium-sized businesses. Amid the threat posed by One Nation and the controversial renewable rollout in regional areas, they have announced a plan for Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, as well as an “outback” REZ in Broken Hill.

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Last Islamic State-linked Australian woman from Syrian camp to return despite previous ban

The Australian home affairs minister, Tony Burke, says the government was advised it could no longer refuse a return permit to an Australian woman detained in Syria. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP/APView image in fullscreenThe Australian home affairs minister, Tony Burke, says the government was advised it could no longer refuse a return permit to an Australian woman detained in Syria.

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Teen found not guilty of plotting terror attack on Peter Dutton after court hears of ‘edgy joke’

A Queensland teenager has been found not guilty of carrying out acts in preparation for a terrorist attack, after being accused of identifying Peter Dutton as an alleged target. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The GuardianView image in fullscreenA Queensland teenager has been found not guilty of carrying out acts in preparation for a terrorist attack, after being accused of identifying Peter Dutton as an alleged target.

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Victorian Liberal party in turmoil as MP denies colleague’s accusations of assault

Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson said ‘the parties involved deserve due process, the presumption of innocence and their privacy respected while this is investigated’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPView image in fullscreenVictorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson said ‘the parties involved deserve due process, the presumption of innocence and their privacy respected while this is investigated’.

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Four in five under-16s in Australia using social media despite ban, study shows

About 85% of under-16s in Australia said they were still using social media three months after law came into force. Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersView image in fullscreenAbout 85% of under-16s in Australia said they were still using social media three months after law came into force.

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Germany’s railways grind to halt as IT maintenance snag takes down network

Information screens at Munich’s main station advise passengers not to board trains after an IT outage on Tuesday evening. Photograph: Christine Uyanik/ReutersView image in fullscreenInformation screens at Munich’s main station advise passengers not to board trains after an IT outage on Tuesday evening.

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AI helps read papyrus scroll burnt to crisp during Vesuvius eruption

The scroll was recovered from the library of a luxury Roman villa in Herculaneum, near Naples, that was blasted by heat and buried under ash in AD79. Photograph: Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/GettyView image in fullscreenThe scroll was recovered from the library of a luxury Roman villa in Herculaneum, near Naples, that was blasted by heat and buried under ash in AD79.

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Israel says IDF is staying in southern Lebanon, undermining Iran peace talks

Israel Katz told a conference in Tel Aviv there was no pressure from the US administration for the Israel Defense Forces to retreat from southern Lebanon. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/ReutersView image in fullscreenIsrael Katz told a conference in Tel Aviv there was no pressure from the US administration for the Israel Defense Forces to retreat from southern Lebanon. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/ReutersIsraelIsrael says IDF is staying in southern Lebanon, undermining Iran peace talksDefence minister says troops not withdrawing though Tehran sees end to war in Lebanon as part of deal with USWilliam Christou and Andrew RothWed 24 Jun 2026 22.49 BSTFirst published on Wed 24 Jun 2026 18.57 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, has said that Israeli troops would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, further complicating Iran peace talks as fighting in Lebanon …

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Pakistan police rescue French woman and children allegedly held captive by husband for 12 years

Yasmina and her children were rescued after one of her sons managed to leave the house and reach the local police station. Photograph: XYasmina and her children were rescued after one of her sons managed to leave the house and reach the local police station. Photograph: XPakistanPakistan police rescue French woman and children allegedly held captive by husband for 12 yearsHusband arrested after Sylvie Yasmina, 54, and five children found at home in north-western provinceAssociated Press in PeshawarWed 24 Jun 2026 19.30 BSTLast modified on Wed 24 Jun 2026 20.12 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GooglePakistan police say they have rescued a French woman and her five children after she told authorities she had been held captive by her husband for more than a decade and subjected to years of domestic abuse in the country’s north-west.The woman, identified as 54-year-old Sylvie Yasmina, was res…

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Met gets extension to Palantir AI project after Sadiq Khan blocked deal

New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan police whose pilot with Palantir focuses on detecting misconduct by officers. Photograph: Kin Cheung/APView image in fullscreenNew Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan police whose pilot with Palantir focuses on detecting misconduct by officers.

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Man who died in suspected murder at Peak District stone circle named by police

Undated family photo issued by Derbyshire police of Isaac Clare-Watts. Photograph: Family handout/PAView image in fullscreenUndated family photo issued by Derbyshire police of Isaac Clare-Watts. Photograph: Family handout/PAUK newsMan who died in suspected murder at Peak District stone circle named by policeA 41-year-old man has been arrested after Isaac Clare-Watts, 26, found at Nine Ladies monument on Monday Nadeem BadshahWed 24 Jun 2026 20.56 BSTLast modified on Wed 24 Jun 2026 21.04 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleA 26-year-old man who died in a suspected murder during a summer solstice event at a Bronze Age stone circle has been named by police.Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, was found at the Nine Ladies stone circle in Stanton Lees in the Peak District in Derbyshire at about 1.38pm on Monday.Police have said “a young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way”.A 41-…

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‘Horrific’ maternity care failings at Nottingham NHS trust prompt calls for public inquiry

Families affected by the Nottingham maternity care scandal hold a minute’s silence during a press conference after the publication of Donna Ockenden’s report. Photograph: Jacob King/PAView image in fullscreenFamilies affected by the Nottingham maternity care scandal hold a minute’s silence during a press conference after the publication of Donna Ockenden’s report.

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Shabana Mahmood’s immigration and asylum bill to go before MPs next week

The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is also proposing to limit asylum applications under human rights law. Photograph: Ian Davidson/SOPA Images/ShutterstockView image in fullscreenThe home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is also proposing to limit asylum applications under human rights law.

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Officials will lobby Burnham to revive ‘war bonds’ idea to pay for higher defence spending

British defence spending ‘went from 2.9% in 1936, to 9% in 1939, to 52% of GDP in 1945​,’ well beyond the 2.7% target spend next year. Photograph: Cpl Daryll Knott/MoD/Crown Copyright/PAView image in fullscreenBritish defence spending ‘went from 2.9% in 1936, to 9% in 1939, to 52% of GDP in 1945​,’ well beyond the 2.7% target spend next year.

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Trump kicks off America’s 250th celebration with campaign-style rally

Trump dances on stage as he opens the fair in Washington. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/APView image in fullscreenTrump dances on stage as he opens the fair in Washington. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/APWashington DCTrump kicks off America’s 250th celebration with campaign-style rallyPresident on National Mall rattles off list of apparent victories and says ‘I am thrilled to declare America is back’ Uwa Ede-OsifoThu 25 Jun 2026 03.00 BSTLast modified on Thu 25 Jun 2026 03.02 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleDonald Trump kicked off what was intended to be a “spectacular birthday party” for American’s 250th year of independence with a political rally touting his presidency.“I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” Trump said at the opening ceremony for the Great American State Fair in Washington DC, held on the National Mall.

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