World news | The Guardian

Ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon and former CEO of party is due to appear in Glasgow court next FridayThe former chief executive of the Scottish National party (SNP) Peter Murrell has been accused of embezzling 459,000 from the party over a period of more than 12 years, according to court documents that emerged ahead of a hearing.Murrell, the ex-husband of the former first minister and party leader Nicola Sturgeon, is due to appear at the high court in Glasgow next Friday for a preliminary hearing in the case. Continue reading...

Roblox says it has removed account after massacre that left nine people including the shooter deadThe 18-year-old suspect in a high school shooting on Wednesday in British Columbia had previously created a mass shooting simulator on the gaming platform Roblox, it has been revealed.The simulator, set in what appeared to be a virtual shopping mall, allowed users - represented as Roblox-style avatars - to pick up weapons and shoot other players, 404 Media first reported on Thursday. Continue reading...

Dean Hamilton pleads guilty of rape of Joanne Young, former wife of ex-Tory Swindon councillor Philip YoungA man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman who was also raped and drugged by her husband for years, police have said.Dean Hamilton, 47, appeared at Winchester crown court on Friday, where he admitted one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault against Joanne Young, 48, who can be named as she has waived her right to anonymity. Continue reading...

Police acknowledge unusual circumstances' around the ruling and say they will focus on gathering evidenceThe high court upheld two grounds of challenge, including that the ban was a disproportionate interference with the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.The president of the king's bench division, Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mr Justice Swift and Mrs Justice Steyn, said that Palestine Action is an organisation that promotes its political cause through criminality and encouragement of criminality", but that proscription was still disproportionate".I am disappointed by the court's decision and disagree with the notion that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate.The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process, endorsed by parliament. The proscription does not prevent peaceful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, another point on which the court agrees. Continue reading...

New border controls require certificate of entitlement' to attach to second nationality passport that costs 589Dual British nationals have been warned they may be denied boarding a flight, ferry or train to the UK after 25 February unless they carry a valid British passport.The warning by the Home Office comes amid scores of complaints from British people living or travelling abroad who have suddenly found themselves at risk of not being allowed into the UK.If you are affected by the change and want to share your story, email lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com Continue reading...

Rai uses altered image with genitals removed in opening credits, prompting backlash from media and politiciansItaly's state broadcaster, Rai, has been accused of censorship after removing the genitals from the image of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man in the opening credits for its Winter Olympics coverage.The image of the 500-year-old drawing appears at the start of the clip before transforming into the bodies of ice skaters, skiers and other winter sports athletes. Continue reading...

Western Australia and Madagascar struck by destructive winds and rain, while Finland and Norway have coldest January since 2010Tropical Cyclone Mitchell hit the coast of Western Australia last week. It initially developed as a weak tropical low over the Northern Territory in early February, then tracked eastwards over Western Australia's Kimberley region and eventually reached the Indian Ocean.Fuelled by warm waters, Mitchell intensified into a tropical cyclone and moved south-west, hugging the coast of Western Australia and eventually deepened to a category three storm. Continue reading...

Logan Hayes jumped into pond to save Sheldy Apollon after she pulled over and accidentally drove into waterA passerby jumped into a frigid Florida pond to save a pregnant woman from her sinking car recently - giving her the opportunity to safely birth her baby hours later, according to authorities and those at the center of the riveting rescue story.As she told it to local news outlet WPTV, Sheldy Apollon of Florida's Port St Lucie community was 34 weeks pregnant, with pre-eclampsia, and driving to a prenatal massage arranged for her by her fiance on the morning of 6 February when she began feeling dizzy. Apollon, who was also celebrating her birthday that day, stopped to try to let it pass before resuming her trip. When she realized she wasn't feeling better, she attempted to pull over again. Continue reading...

All stones in Cortina are made from granite found on tiny island in Firth of Clyde and crafted in East AyrshireIt takes 60m years and about six hours to make a curling stone," shouts Ricky English above the whine of the lathes. The operations manager at Kays Scotland is surrounded by wheels of ancient granite in varying states of refinement.It is a small business with a big responsibility: the only factory in the world to supply the Winter Olympics with curling stones. Competitors don't travel with their own stones, which weigh about 18kg each, and with 16 required for a game. Instead, this year, 132 stones were crafted in the East Ayrshire town of Mauchline and shipped to northern Italy. Continue reading...

Councillors vote for 3.99% council tax increase while mounting attack on the vulnerable', opposition saysReform UK's showcase council in Kent faces extreme risk" and instability", opposition politicians have warned, after it passed its first budget.The party's councillors voted it through on Thursday night after their leaders announced a 3.99% council tax increase, one percentage point under the limit before a referendum is required, despite promising before their election win not to raise tax. Continue reading...

Conservationists estimate coal exported from expanded mine to release CO2 equivalent of about half Australia's annual carbon footprint

Union urges Leonard Blavatnik to scrap Channel 13 deal, saying it is part of Netanyahu plan to capture the media'Israeli journalists have appealed to a British billionaire not to proceed with the sale of a stake in an Israeli television channel, which they warn would represent a severe blow to the independence of the country's media.Sir Leonard Blavatnik, listed by the Sunday Times as the UK's third richest person, is selling a nearly 15% share in Channel 13, a commercial channel that has run critical news coverage of Benjamin Netanyahu's government in recent years, including investigations into the prime minister's financial dealings. Continue reading...

Donald Day discussed extreme conspiracies with Queensland family before they killed two police officers and a neighbour at rural property

Ley says she will step away completely and comprehensively from public life' after losing Liberal leadership ballot to Angus Taylor

Exclusive: Manufacturers tell European Commission proposed ban would cause unnecessary confusionMore than a dozen food companies have urged the European Commission not to ban the use of words such as sausage" and burger" for non-meat products.Companies including Linda McCarney Foods, Quorn and THIS have signed a joint letter calling on commissioners to let common sense prevail" ahead of a debate on the proposed ban, which they say would cause unnecessary confusion" for customers without helping anyone". Continue reading...

Ex-PM's thinktank urges more drilling and fewer renewables, ignoring evidence that clean energy is cheaper and better for billsA thinktank with close ties to Saudi Arabia and substantial funding from a Donald Trump ally needs to present a particularly robust analysis to earn the right to be listened to on the climate crisis. On that measure, Tony Blair's latest report fails on almost every point.The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) received money from the Saudi government, has advised the United Arab Emirates petrostate, and counts as a main donor Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle, friend of Trump and advocate of AI. Continue reading...

UK officials have seized almost 20m fake pills since 2021, many containing incorrect doses or toxic ingredientsMen have been warned against buying illegal erectile dysfunction pills online after nearly 20m pills - enough to fill two doubledecker buses - were seized in the last five years.The stigma and embarrassment" of erectile dysfunction is being exploited by criminals", according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Continue reading...

Angeliki Stogia tells Matthew Goodwin, who turned up to event with security, women are scared to leave the house'Labour and Reform candidates came head-to-head at a hustings in Greater Manchester for the Gorton and Denton byelection, with Labour's candidate saying women in the constituency were scared to leave the house because of her rival's rhetoric.Angeliki Stogia hit out at Reform's Matt Goodwin, who arrived at the offices of the Manchester Evening News, which was hosting the event, with security. Continue reading...

Unions accuse government of acting in bad faith after Wes Streeting announces details of increaseHealth unions have criticised the 3.3% pay rise imposed on 1.4 million NHS staff in England as an insult", with one threatening to strike over the below-inflation award.They described the increase announced by Wes Streeting, the health secretary, as a betrayal" of the frontline workers - including nurses, midwives and porters - who will receive it for 2026-27. The 3.3% is less than inflation, which stood at 3.4% last month, but above the rate of inflation that is expected during the next financial year. Continue reading...

Progressive Christians speak of pain and anger as issue is put in deep freeze after London meeting The General Synod debate on equal marriages - a timelineThe hopes of progressive Christians in the Church of England have suffered a big blow after years of bitter and divisive debate, with the C of E's ruling body agreeing to halt work on LGBTQ+ equality.At a meeting in London on Thursday, the General Synod backed a document from bishops concluding that consensus between conservative and liberal camps within the church could not be reached. Continue reading...

CMA and Ofcom to examine DMGT takeover amid fears merger could curb diverging editorial stances' in pressLisa Nandy, the culture secretary, has referred the Telegraph's proposed sale to the publisher of the Daily Mail to the competition and media watchdogs, weeks after she raised concerns about the consolidation of rightwing newspapers.Nandy said she was using her powers to refer the 500m deal for the Telegraph titles, which include the Daily Telegraph and its Sunday sister paper, to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the media regulator Ofcom. Continue reading...

Elbridge Colby tells meeting in Brussels that US plans to reduce conventional forces in Europe, but remains committed to Nato allianceThe Pentagon's policy chief, Elbridge Colby, has told European Nato defence ministers in Brussels that they need to step up their combat capabilities - and take the lead in protecting their continent from the Russian threat.The influential undersecretary for war, sent by the White House in place of his boss, Pete Hegseth, said the US would reduce conventional forces in Europe - but insisted Washington remained committed to the military alliance. Continue reading...

Monaco-based Manchester United co-owner responds to politicians' and football fans' anger at disgraceful' words

The commitment includes US-made interceptors and lightweight missiles for Ukraine's air defencesWhile Ukraine is reeling from last night's barrage of attacks, the Kremlin said it expected the next round of peace talks to happen soon.We have a certain understanding (of the details), and we will keep you informed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Continue reading...

Teenager is accused of stabbing pupil in neck in classroom and stabbing another child in playground at school in BrentA 13-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of stabbing a pupil in the neck with a kitchen knife in front of other children in a north-west London classroom.The child sustained three stab wounds, a spinal fracture and injuries to the neck and hands that required surgery, Westminster magistrates court was told on Thursday. Continue reading...

Supporters raise 73,000 to secure future of Welsh valleys chapel where beloved hymn was first sungThe Welsh valleys chapel where the beloved hymn Cwm Rhondda - also known as Bread of Heaven - was first sung is safe in the hands of local people after a successful fundraising campaign.A community group has taken ownership of Capel Rhondda in Hopkinstown, near Pontypridd, after raising more than 70,000. Continue reading...

At a press conference to open the 76th edition of the Berlin film festival, the jury president said cinema has an incredible power' but little influence on political decision makersVeteran director Wim Wenders has hailed the power of cinema to help heal a broken planet as he takes up the jury presidency of the Berlinale, the most politically charged of Europe's big three international film festivals.Asked about the role of movies in the current climate of war and social upheaval, the auteur behind Wings of Desire and the Oscar-nominated Perfect Days said he saw film-making as an act of bridge-building and generating empathy. Continue reading...

South Korea's spy agency monitoring whether girl, believed to be 13, will appear at political conference this monthSouth Korea's spy agency has told lawmakers it believes the teenage daughter of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator, is close to being designated as the country's future leader, as Kim moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation.The assessment by the national intelligence service (NIS) comes as North Korea is preparing to hold its biggest political conference later this month, where Kim is expected to outline his main policy goals for the next five years and take steps to tighten his authoritarian grip. Continue reading...

Opposition leader ousted as Barbados Labour party wins all 30 seats in assemblyThe prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has won her third election victory, with her Barbados Labour party sweeping all seats in the House of Assembly, state TV reported.Mottley's BLP won all 30 seats available in the lower house of parliament, unseating the opposition leader, Ralph Thorne, after the prime minister - who has built one of the strongest global profiles of any Caribbean leader - won the support of voters across the island country, CBC Barbados reported early on Thursday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Countdown lexicographer urges families to read, talk and play word games to help language development

A handful of votes may decide the next Liberal leader, with Sussan Ley to stare down her challenger, Angus Taylor, on Friday morning

Prime minister stresses importance of repairs to graves in Gaza being conducted as soon as possible in meeting with Isaac Herzog

The call for a leadership ballot followed a wave of resignations from the shadow frontbench on Thursday morning

Police charge Kempsey man for alleged attacks between 1991 and 2002

Chris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would never have disrupted a prayer service ... unless it was in the middle of a riot'

Exclusive: Calls for urgent action' as study also finds stark ethnic and socio-economic disparities in child mortality and consanguinityOne in 14 children who died in England in a four-year period had parents who were close relatives, according to stark" figures revealed by the first study of its kind.The figures, published by the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), based at the University of Bristol, analysed all 13,045 child deaths in England between 2019 and 2023. Of these, 926 (7%) were found to be of children born to consanguineous parents, meaning the mother and father are close blood relatives, such as first cousins. Continue reading...

Rics surveyors report inquiries from new buyers, agreed sales and house prices were less negative in JanuaryThere are tentative signs" that the housing market in England and Wales is recovering from a months-long slowdown after uncertainty around the autumn budget and economic pressures, estate agents and surveyors have reported.The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said its members were feeling more optimistic about the year ahead than at any time since December 2024, as inquiries from new buyers, agreed sales and house prices became less negative in January. Continue reading...

Matt Murray defends paper's strategy as demoralized' staffers ask tough questions in contentious town hallTop Washington Post editor Matt Murray acknowledged a widespread sense of loss, of genuine trauma" in a contentious town hall meeting with staff on Wednesday after the company laid off nearly a third of its employees a week ago - though he expressed confidence that the Post was now on a path to success.There's no doubt that just the sheer depth of the cuts - and also, with that, the reality of what we face at the Post - has been a very hard thing to wrap our heads around and to grapple with," Murray said, according to a recording of his remarks obtained by the Guardian. Continue reading...

Thames Valley police lead assessment of allegations concerning former duke's links to Jeffrey EpsteinPolice have held discussions with specialist prosecutors over investigations into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's links with Jeffrey Epstein while the former duke was acting as the UK's trade envoy.Oliver Wright, assistant chief constable of Thames Valley police, said on Wednesday that the force was leading the assessment of allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor of misconduct in public office, specifically relating to documents within the Epstein files released by the US justice department. Continue reading...

Chancellor says stronger alignment with Europe is biggest prize' for trade and economic growthRachel Reeves has insisted Labour can win the political argument for a closer relationship with the EU, calling it the biggest prize" for UK economic growth.Some Labour strategists have been wary of making the case for stronger alignment with the EU, believing it could alienate pro-Brexit voters. Continue reading...

Remote coalmining community of Tumbler Ridge struggles to make sense of attack that has left Canada in shock

Labour council says flags must not be surrendered' to far right but there are concerns in town hit by racial tensionA Labour council has been accused of embracing flag terror" after offering 500 grants to groups to erect union jack and St George's flags in a town previously rocked by racial tension.The leaders of Rotherham council, in South Yorkshire, said they wanted the flags to be a symbol of unity" and did not want to surrender them to extremist or far-right groups". Continue reading...

Judges' verdict on embezzlement challenge will determine whether far-right leader can stand in 2027 electionDefence lawyers for Marine Le Pen have told a Paris appeals court she did not orchestrate a system to misuse European parliament funds, at the close of an embezzlement trial that will determine whether the far-right leader can run in the 2027 French presidential election.Le Pen's lawyer, Sandra Chirac Kollarik, told the court on Wednesday: At no moment did Marine Le Pen imagine that she broke the rules." She added: Never in her life would she have deliberately accepted making a false contract." Continue reading...

Masoud Pezeshkian tries to convey message of national unity as negotiations with US hang in balance

Jewish activists interrupt speech at synagogue and accuse party of paving way for persecution of other minoritiesJewish activists have heckled Nigel Farage at the launch of a Jewish members' organisation for Reform UK and accused the party of planning to use the new group as cover for persecuting other minorities.Farage spoke at the inaugural event on Tuesday night of the Reform Jewish Alliance (RJA), which he said would help the party target up to 15 parliamentary seats. Continue reading...

Kwok Yin-sang arrested after he tried to end pro-democracy daughter's insurance policy and withdraw fundsA Hong Kong court has found the father of a wanted activist guilty of a national security violation, after he tried to end her insurance policy and withdraw the funds, drawing international criticism for the targeting of relatives of pro-democracy campaigners.Kwok Yin-sang, 68, is the first person to be charged under a homegrown national security law, also known as Article 23, for attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources" belonging to an absconder. Continue reading...

Shaista Gohir says every group has right to be protected after critics warn proposed definition risks breaking lawFailing to adopt a definition of anti-Muslim hostility would signal to British Muslims that their safety does not matter, a charity's head has warned, as critics argue that adopting a definition risks breaking the law.Shaista Gohir, a cross-bench peer and head of the Muslim Women's Network, was part of a working group on anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia launched by the government in 2025 to define what would constitute unacceptable treatment, prejudice and discrimination against Muslims. Continue reading...

Swedish company claims ruling is ruling is anti-competitive and solely benefits Big Dairy'

PM to use address to call out white supremacy ideology' behind alleged bombing attempt, as annual report shows 15 targets still off track