World news | The Guardian

Producers have a genuine fear' of challenging unfair contracts due to a lack of competition, the National Farmers Federation says

Volodymyr Zelenskiy signs bills lowering age for combat duty from 27 to 25 and requiring those given disability waivers to undergo a fresh assessment

Passengers, who have since rejoined vessel, missed scheduled departure time from Sao Tome and scrambled to reunite with shipEight cruise passengers had to scramble to reunite with their cruise ship after being left behind in Sao Tome and Principe.The passengers, including a pregnant woman and a paraplegic traveller, missed their scheduled departure time from the island of Sao Tome in the Gulf of Guinea, about 250km off the coast of Gabon, after disembarking the Norwegian Dawn to take a local tour. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed. For the latest on the Israel-Gaza war, read our latest report:

PM insists the government is delivering despite Guardian analysis showing deterioration in three areasAt the weekend the Observer splashed on a story by Toby Helm saying government lawyers have told ministers that Israel is breaking international humanitarian law in Gaza.In an interview today, asked about the legality of what Israel is doing, Rishi Sunak said the government believes Israel has the intention and the ability" to comply with international law. He said:Our view is longstanding that Israel has both the intention and the ability to comply with international humanitarian law, I've made that very clear to prime minister Netanyahu whenever I've spoken to him.There have been too many civilian deaths in Gaza, of course we want to see an immediate humanitarian pause so that we can get the hostages out and more aid into the region. Continue reading...

Transparency advocates say source of 20% of donations during referendum campaign won't be disclosed due to Australia's political donations laws

PM Anthony Albanese describes 43-year-old's death as completely unacceptable' as tributes flow for World Central Kitchen worker online

More than 300 artists and cultural workers write open letter to Home venue over cancellation of Voices of Resilience eventMore than 300 cultural workers, theatre and film artists, including Maxine Peake and Asif Kapadia, have called for a Manchester arts venue to reinstate an event celebrating Palestinian voices.Home Manchester last week cancelled the Voices of Resilience evening, scheduled for 22 April, citing recent publicity" and safety concerns for audiences and artists. Continue reading...

Israeli military investigating after World Central Kitchen workers were in convoy struck in central Gaza

Two other children seriously injured in incident in Helsinki suburb described by minister as horrifying'A 12-year-old child has died and two others have been seriously wounded in a school shooting in Finland.The suspect, a fellow pupil, ran off after the shooting but was later arrested, police said. He was holding a licensed handgun owned by a close relative and admitted carrying out the shooting in an initial interview, they added. Continue reading...

Attacks more than 800 miles from border are first in Tatarstan region since beginning of war

Gillian Keegan asks Bridget Phillipson to clarify after party refuses to commit to sticking to plan if it wins powerLabour is under pressure to clarify whether it would keep the government's free hours childcare system, after the party refused to commit to the plan beyond the next election.A shadow cabinet minister said on Monday that Labour will not reduce" the number of free childcare hours parents were entitled to in England if it entered government. Continue reading...

Mohammad Reza Zahedi of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps among dead in Damascus attack, state media saysIsraeli warplanes have destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing six people including a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).Reporters at the scene in the Mezzeh district of the Syrian capital saw smoke rising from the rubble of a building that had been flattened, and emergency vehicles parked outside. The Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers were both seen at the scene. Continue reading...

Senate committee queries new regulations that mean decisions normally made by ministers and officials are now automated

Leftwing parties call for government action after footage of incident in Lavapies spread on social mediaLeftwing parties in Spain are demanding explanations after a video appeared to show a pair of police officers using violent force on two unarmed black men in a central Madrid neighbourhood.The video, shot on Friday in Lavapies, appears to show one of the men on the ground and immobilised by a police officer who seemingly has him in a chokehold. A second police officer appears to then strike the immobilised man twice with a baton before grabbing and punching another man standing nearby. Continue reading...

People gather for a smoke-in' at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate after partial legalisation comes into effectCannabis users have been celebrating in Germany after new laws legalising personal possession came into effect.As of 1 April, adults are allowed to carry up to 25g of dried cannabis on them and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home. Continue reading...

Army claims operation was a success but WHO says patients were killed and over 100 remain in compound

Nick Thomas-Symonds says party would not reduce number of hours of government-funded childcare in EnglandLabour would keep the government's expanded childcare hours, a shadow minister has insisted, after suggestions the party would review the scheme.Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour would not reduce the number of hours of government-funded childcare that working parents would be entitled to in England. Continue reading...

Lowest-paid will be 1,000 short of the figure paid by some employers to reflect actual household costsMillions of UK workers will still be left more than 1,000 a year short of a real living wage, despite the biggest cash boost in the minimum wage set by the government for more than a decade.The national living wage" (NLW) is increasing from Monday from 10.42 to 11.44 an hour, and is being expanded to cover younger workers with a cut in the age threshold from 23 to 21. The increase is worth 1,800 a year for a full-time adult worker. Continue reading...

Singer posts on Instagram she resents lies being told about me for clout and views' and implies she is quitting music industryThe Emmy and Grammy award-winning performer Lizzo seems to have announced her departure from entertainment via a post on her Instagram that ended with: I QUIT."I'm getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet," the singer and flautist wrote. All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I'm starting to feel like the world doesn't want me in it." Continue reading...

A weather system moving in from the south-west will bring rain across southern regions from Monday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology

Keir Starmer expected to accuse Conservatives of failing on levelling up and preying' on hopes of votersMay will mark the beginning of the end of a Tory era of politics as performance art", Keir Starmer will say at the launch of Labour's local election campaign, accusing ministers of having utterly failed on levelling up.The Labour leader will join his deputy, Angela Rayner, and Richard Parker, the party's candidate for West Midlands mayor, to argue that the Tories had given voters false hopes in their apparent mission to reduce regional inequalities. Continue reading...

Eleven found guilty of crimes against humanity after trial that heard testimony on torture, rape and forced disappearancesA court in Argentina has convicted 11 former military, police, and government officials of crimes against humanity committed during the country's last dictatorship in a sprawling trial that heard, for the first time, about atrocities suffered by trans women.The three-year case focused on the forced disappearances, torture, rapes, and homicides that occurred at or were connected to three clandestine detention and torture centres located in police investigative units on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. They were known as the Banfield pit, the Quilmes pit and El Infierno" - or hell" - by the officials who worked there. Continue reading...

Baby murdered by his parents after inadequate safeguarding' by authorities in Derbyshire, says reportA 10-month-old baby, who was killed by his parents just 39 days after a court returned him to their care, should have been one of the most protected children in the local authority area", a review has concluded.Finley Boden died on Christmas Day 2020 after a period of inadequate safeguarding" by authorities, who initially removed him from the care of his parents, Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden, immediately after birth due to concerns for his safety. Continue reading...

Christopher Geidt asked to write apology letter after joining an MoD meeting on behalf of a US satellite firm that was paying himA crossbench peer and former ethics adviser to Boris Johnson has been found to have broken House of Lords rules by joining a meeting with Ministry of Defence officials on behalf of a US satellite company that was paying him.Christopher Geidt, a former royal aide to the Queen, was asked by the House of Lords conduct committee to write a letter of apology after the standards commissioner found he provided a parliamentary service in return for payment or other reward". Continue reading...

A report on the case of the murdered Derbyshire baby finds a number of opportunities were missed to protect him

John Brownlee, deputy head at private Edinburgh Academy, inflicted pain on children as young as eight, sheriff hearsA sadistic" deputy headteacher at one of Scotland's most prestigious private schools has been found to have conducted a systematic campaign of violence and torture against children as young as eight over a 20-year period.John Brownlee was found by a sheriff on Wednesday to have committed more than 30 assaults after the former Edinburgh Academy housemaster was formally excused from trial due to his advanced dementia. Continue reading...

Anger from politicians across the spectrum as Paris principal resigns following online death threatsFrench politicians from across the spectrum have expressed dismay over the resignation of a Paris school principal who had received death threats after asking a student to remove her Muslim veil on the premises.In a show of support, prime minister Gabriel Attal, a former education minister, was set to receive the principal late on Wednesday, his office said. Continue reading...

Prof Sir John Curtice, the psephologist and lead election analyst for the BBC, said the chances of a Tory revival were smallIn the House of Lords peers have just started debating the second reading of the leasehold and freehold reform bill. The bill has already passed through the Commons.Normally, at this stage of the process, the content of a government bill is all but finalised. But, as No 10 admitted on Monday, the government has still not decided how far it will go in terms of cutting ground rents for existing leaseholders. Continue reading...

The former star UBS and Citigroup trader was convicted of conspiracy to defraud by manipulating financial benchmark and served 5 1/2 years in prisonBritain's financial regulator has identified shortcomings in how some motor insurance firms are valuing written-off or stolen vehicles.A review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found evidence that suggests some firms are offering their customers less than their written-off or stolen vehicle is worth and, in some cases, are only increasing that offer when a customer complains.Having your vehicle written off or stolen can be intensely stressful and we expect firms to offer the right support to help their customers.We expect all motor insurers to take note of our findings and we are engaging directly with those that have issues that need to be addressed. Continue reading...

Robert Halfon quits as skills, apprenticeships and higher education minister as James Heappey confirms decision to step downIn interviews this morning Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, admitted that special educational needs provision was in crisis, Ben Quinn reports.Universities in England could be told to terminate their arrangements with foreign countries if freedom of speech and academic freedom is undermined, the government's free speech tsar has said. As PA Media reports, Prof Arif Ahmed, director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the Office for Students (OfS), said many universities and colleges in England have international arrangements" - including admitting overseas students on scholarships and hosting institutes partly funded by foreign governments. PA says:The higher education regulator launched a consultation on guidance about freedom of speech, ahead of universities, colleges and student unions taking on new free speech duties.The guidance includes examples to illustrate what higher education institutions may have to do to fulfil their new duties - due to come into effect in August - to secure freedom of speech within the law.University A accepts international students on visiting scholarships funded by the government of country B. Scholars must accept the principles of the ruling party of country B, and direction from country B's government via consular staff. Depending on the circumstances, these arrangements may undermine free speech and academic freedom at University A. If so, that university is likely to have to terminate or amend the scholarship agreement.If it means that there are people who are employed by an institute who are preventing legitimate protests or shutting down lecturers from covering certain kinds of content regarding that country for instance, or that country's foreign policy ... If that behaviour amounts to a restriction of freedom of speech within the law, and someone brings a complaint to us, then we may find that the complaint is justified and then we make recommendations ...If there are problems, universities will have to do everything they can to act compatibly with their freedom-of-speech duties. Insofar as that means a rethinking of their relationship with other countries, obviously that's something that would be a good idea for them to start thinking about now. Continue reading...

Ken Paxton must pay $300,000 to victims and complete 100 hours of community service as part of dealProsecutors on Tuesday announced an agreement with Texas attorney general Ken Paxton that would ultimately dismiss securities fraud charges he has been facing for nearly a decade.Under the 18-month, pre-trial agreement, the special prosecutors in the case would drop three felony counts against Paxton. As part of the deal, Paxton must pay full restitution to victims - roughly $300,000 - and must also complete 100 hours of community service as well as 15 hours of legal ethics education. Continue reading...

Industry leaders say crisis-hit grassroots spaces are struggling to stay open as costs riseConcert arenas should impose a 1 levy on gig tickets to create a fund that helps prop up grassroots live music, with industry figures telling MPs that rising costs are creating a crisis" for smaller venues.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee heard from promoters, artists and representatives from industry bodies, nearly all of whom backed the call for a levy to be placed on tickets which would then be distributed to smaller venues, 125 of which were forced to shut during 2023. Continue reading...

Parliamentary elections thought vulnerable to fake news will test social media firms and bloc's new DSA lawsSocial media firms including TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram will be required to put an army of factcheckers and moderators in place with a collective knowledge of 24 EU languages amid fears that the European parliamentary elections will be a prime target for disinformation campaigns run by Russia and others including the far right.The new rules flow from the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulates content on social media, and follows a public consultation with civil society and election observation groups in February. Continue reading...

Although forced to water down its original settings, the revised model will help Australia reach its decarbonisation targets

Former chairman Chen Xuyuan accepted millions in return for help with contracting, investment options and event management, state media report court as sayingThe former chief of China's national football association, Chen Xuyuan, has been sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes, state media reported on Tuesday, after one of the biggest anti-corruption probes in the sport in years.The severe sentence for Chen, 67, concludes an inquiry into high-level football officials in China in a sport that has long grappled with corruption, which fans have blamed for the perpetual under performance of the national team. Continue reading...

Heavy snowfall of up to 2ft has already affected millions in New England and thousands left without powerA major snowstorm is sweeping across much of the US, bringing up to 2ft of snow to places as well as causing road accidents and downed power lines.On Sunday, 16 states from California to Michigan were put under weather alerts for snow and blizzards, with heavy layers of snow supplemented with winds whipping up to 60mph in places. Continue reading...

Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer is appealing against conviction and prison sentence for rapeThe former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves, convicted of rape in Spain, has paid his bail of 1m and can leave jail pending his appeal, a court has said.One of the world's most decorated footballers, Alves, 40, was sentenced last month to four and a half years in jail for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub in the early hours of 31 December 2022. Continue reading...

Merlin Entertainments says surge pricing will help offset decline in visitors since Covid pandemic

While the Minns government has made strides on wages, many of its promises - on renting, buses and the environment - remain unfulfilledIt's been a year since New South Wales voters kicked out the Coalition - backing Labor for the first time in a decade.The new premier, Chris Minns, promised to scrap the public sector wages cap, end privatisation, reform renting and get more homes built. But how has Labor fared in its first 12 months in office? Continue reading...

Head of agency says military authorities told UN that convoys will no longer be approved amid man-made famine'The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, said on Sunday that Israel had definitively barred it from making aid deliveries in northern Gaza, where the threat of famine is highest.Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli Authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve any @Unrwa food convoys to the north," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, said on X. Continue reading...

Average monthly donations rose by nearly 40% to 65, with poorest areas among the most generousThe British public donated a record 13.9bn to charity in 2023, with people in some of the country's least affluent areas among the most generous, a report reveals.The total marks a 9% increase on the 2022 figure - which stood at 12.7bn - as average monthly donations increased by nearly 40% to reach 65. Continue reading...

Aid group says one of its staff was killed when tanks pushed back into areas around al-Amal and Nasser hospitalsIsraeli forces have besieged two more hospitals in Gaza, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.All of our teams are in extreme danger at the moment and are completely immobilised," the humanitarian organisation told Reuters on Sunday, adding one of its staff was killed when Israeli tanks pushed back suddenly into areas around al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in the southern city of Khan Younis. Continue reading...

As Princess of Wales begins treatment after cancer diagnosis, we answer some key questionsThe Princess of Wales has begun preventive chemotherapy after her doctors discovered she had cancer following major abdominal surgery in January. What is preventive chemotherapy and how effective can it be? Continue reading...

Sector suffers funding and workforce crisis and warns that people will face unnecessary jail terms, family violence and homelessness as a result

Exclusive: State's 2024 total on track to reach about 20% above 2005 levels, modelling obtained by Guardian Australia shows

Council funding crisis threatens hostels and support workers from next monthHomeless people struggling with addiction and their mental health have attacked a looming wave of council cuts to hostel services as plain stupidity" that will cost lives.A deepening town hall funding crisis is threatening shelters and support workers from Hampshire to Leicestershire, affecting hundreds of homeless people from the start of next month despite rising homelessness.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Drawing on his years at No 10, the UK foreign secretary is happy to ruffle feathers on the international stage while setting the agendaIt is only four months since Rishi Sunak brought him back into government as foreign secretary but already, having felt the pace quicken around them, officials and diplomats have given David Cameron their own title: prime minister for external affairs.Cameron is on a whole other level," said one diplomat on the inside. Before, we had [Boris] Johnson, we had [Dominic] Raab, we had [Liz]Truss and then [James] Cleverly. Cameron can read a room - he immediately sees the elephant in it, if there is one. He constantly comes back on summonses and wants to know: When can I get more on this? When can I get an update on that?'" Continue reading...

Corina Yoris will now take on Nicolas Maduro in presidential election in July after Maria Corina Machado stepped asideVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has named her replacement to take on President Nicolas Maduro in the country's presidential election in July, after the arrest of two of Machado's close aides.The naming of Corina Yoris, 80, as the opposition's candidate comes after Venezuela's attorney general announced the detention of two of Machado's closest allies earlier this week and also said arrest warrants had been issued for seven other people, including rumoured Machado replacement, Magalli Meda. Continue reading...