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Albanese government awarded contracts to MTC despite allegations of gross negligence' in the US involvement with ICE

PM says trip to China has put relationship in stronger place, but possible return visit angers British criticsKeir Starmer has taken a big step towards rapprochement with China, opening the door to a UK visit from Xi Jinping in a move that drew immediate anger from British critics of Beijing.During the first visit by a UK prime minister to China in eight years - a period which Starmer has described as an ice age" - he said talks with the Chinese president had left the bilateral relationship in a stronger position. Continue reading...

The high-profile defendant, who was excused from appearing, pleads not guilty further charges over a car crash in July that left a driver with serious injuries

Former broadcaster, 84, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges of indecent assault and two charges of sexual touching against nine alleged victims over 17 years

Nationals given eight days to reconcile with party before opposition leader appoints permanent Liberal-only frontbench

White House cites Cuba's ties to hostile powers as order ratchets up Trump's pressure to topple its governmentDonald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday laying the groundwork to slap tariffs on goods from countries that provide oil to Cuba, the White House said.The order, which ratchets up Trump's pressure to topple the Communist government, declares a national emergency and establishes a process for the US secretaries of state and commerce to assess tariffs against countries that sell or otherwise provide oil to the island nation. The White House has yet to specify tariff rates for violating its new policy of blocking Cuba from buying oil. Continue reading...

The impact of fires on wildlife can be catastrophic', with some plant species feared extinct

Woman and man accused of sex outside marriage and drinking alcohol faced what is likely to be one of the severest punishments since Aceh province adopted sharia lawSharia police have caned a couple 140 times each in Indonesia's Aceh province for having sex outside marriage and drinking alcohol, likely one of the severest such punishments since the deeply conservative region adopted Islamic law.Sexual relations between an unmarried couple are strictly outlawed in Aceh, the only place in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, to impose sharia law. Continue reading...

General Tchiani accuses France, Benin and the Ivory Coast of links to attack near Niamey's airport and thanks Russian troops for defence effortsHeavy security has been deployed around the main airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, after overnight gunfire and explosions that the country's military ruler blamed without evidence on France, Benin and Cote d'Ivoire.The shooting and detonations began shortly after midnight on Wednesday, according to residents of a neighbourhood near the airport, which is next to Base Aerienne 101, a military base previously used by US and then Russian troops. Continue reading...

Media company also buys digital advertising billboard company QMS for $850mThe nation's biggest media company, Nine Entertainment, has sold its talkback radio stations to a Sydney pub baron for $56m and bought outdoor advertising company QMS Media for $850m, in a major upheaval for Australia's media landscape.Nine Radio, which owns 2GB, 3AW, 4BC, 6PR, 2UE, Magic1278 and 4BH, has been offloaded as talk radio profits dwindle and the audience skews ever older. Continue reading...

US president says he made appeal to Russian leader, but no ceasefire has been confirmed by Moscow or KyivDonald Trump has claimed that Vladimir Putin has agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure for one week after he issued a personal appeal to the Russian leader due to the extreme cold in Ukraine.Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, did not immediately confirm the ceasefire was in place, but said that Trump had made an important statement ... about the possibility of providing security for Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during this extreme winter period". Continue reading...

Boy's friend, 17, winched to safety by emergency rescue team after pair were separated in Blue Gum forest

Met Office issues yellow rain alerts in south-west, with 66 flood warnings - indicating expected flooding - in forceNearly 150 flood alerts remain in place across England as communities continue grappling with the aftermath of Storm Chandra.A yellow rain alert spanning from noon to midnight on Thursday has been issued for parts of south-west England, with the Met Office warning that more flooding could hit roads, homes and businesses. Continue reading...

Federal transportation regulator to investigate after child in Santa Monica sustained minor injuries from incidentThe US's federal transportation regulator said Thursday it had opened an investigation after a Waymo self-driving vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in southern California last week, causing minor injuries.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the child in Santa Monica ran across the street on 23 January from behind a double parked SUV towards the school and was struck by the Waymo autonomous vehicle during normal school drop-off hours. The agency said there were other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked vehicles in the vicinity. Continue reading...

Avaaraq Olsen tells content creators to think before making jokes after German tried to raise Stars and Stripes in NuukThe mayor of Greenland's capital has called on media professionals and content creators to act responsibly after a German comedian's failed attempt to hoist the US flag.Maxi Schafroth, 41, a Bavarian comic, tried to run up the Stars and Stripes on a flagpole near the cultural centre in Nuuk but was confronted by angry passersby. Continue reading...

Deployment of RAF Typhoon squadron to Qatar signals willingness to help protect country from counterattackBritain is unlikely to assist the US in an attack on Iran but a deployment of RAF Typhoons to Qatar last week signals a willingness to assist regional allies if Tehran tries to widen the conflict in retaliation.A first strike on Iran is unlikely be in line with the UK's interpretation of international law, but British forces could become involved if there is a need to help Qatar or other regional allies in self-defence. Continue reading...

Opponents of bill insist government should not give it special treatment as peers delay its passageOpponents of the assisted dying bill have accused its supporters of bullying after key backers said they would attempt to bypass the House of Lords if peers continue to block it.The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and the Labour peer Charles Falconer said the government had a duty to listen to the anger among supporters about how the bill had been handled in the Lords. Continue reading...

Chinese leader bestows a little largesse on the British PM while getting the green light for London mega embassy'Let's face it, this was never going to be a meeting of equals. Keir Starmer had been desperate to squeeze in a trip to China for some time. Another country to tick off his list and he always feels a lot better about himself when he's abroad. Less noise from his unhappy MPs. Plus he loved the pomp and ceremony that came with it. The large flags. The military bands. A country that treated him with respect. Almost. Besides, Mark Carney and Emmanuel Macron had both made recent trips. He had seen their holiday photos. Now it was his turn. He couldn't bear to be left out.The Chinese? Not so much. They couldn't really see the point. But they would schedule in a couple of meetings on the condition the UK government gave the green light to the new mega embassy" near the Tower of London. Consider it done, said Keir. All systems go for the first prime-ministerial visit since Theresa May in 2018. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Branch of Iranian software company TSIT, which makes Gap Messenger, is registered in SussexThe creators of a messaging app accused of handing user data to the Iranian regime live on a windswept hill in a British coastal town, the Guardian can reveal.Hadi and Mahdi Anjidani are the cofounders of TS Information Technology, established in 2010 and now registered at the address of a tax accountancy in Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. It is the UK branch of an Iranian software corporation, Towse'e Saman Information Technology (TSIT). Continue reading...

The EU has just designated Iran's revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed.EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos also strongly criticised Russia for its continuing attacks on Ukraine.Arriving for the EU foreign affairs council this morning, she said:The news we are getting from Ukraine nearly every morning are horrific. What Russia is doing. There is a state terror. It's far beyond the war [as] they are bombing people while they are at home, freezing to death, [and] bombing passenger trains ..."I can't speak about the years; [as] I was saying there is some level of fundamentals which have to be fulfilled. But of course, we also have to consider the very important historical moments. So we will discuss with the member states how to bridge the time we need for the accession process, and of course, to react to this situation."We will work until the end to get the unanimity we need for this process. This is the only way we have to keep going, working also with the Hungary, and this is what we are doing."After more than a decade of hostilities and almost four years of full-scale war, the people of Ukraine continue to endure immense suffering. Daily civilian casualties, widespread infrastructure destruction, and mass displacement are further exacerbating the massive humanitarian needs.With Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, millions in the country are exposed to freezing temperatures." Continue reading...

Downing Street gives no date for when the agreement of 30 days of visa-free travel will come into forceFor more context on today's Starmer-Xi meeting, China is the world's second-biggest economy and Britain's third-largest trading partner - to which it exports 45bn of goods and services a year - so it is no surprise the UK has turned to Beijing in its search for economic reliability.As the Guardian's political editor Pippa Crerar reported earlier today, the UK does not rank among the top 10 of China's trading partners but the Beijing leadership has spied a political opportunity to improve links with one of Washington's closest allies at a time of deep uncertainty in the transatlantic alliance. Continue reading...

Representative Joaquin Castro visited Adrian Conejo Arias and his son Liam at an ICE detention facility in Dilley, TexasJoaquin Castro, a Texas Democratic congressman, has visited the five-year-old boy and his father who were detained last week by federal immigration agents in Minnesota and transferred to a detention facility in Texas, providing an update about the child's health and wellbeing.In a social media post on Wednesday, Castro said he visited the boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, at the immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. Continue reading...

Known as Ms Shirley", she used TikTok to bring food, dignity and hope to Skid Row and beyondShirley Raines, a social media creator and non-profit founder who dedicated her life to caring for people experiencing homelessness, has died, her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz said Wednesday. She was 58.Raines was known as Ms Shirley", to her more than 5 million TikTok followers and to the people who regularly lined up for the food, beauty treatments and hygiene supplies she brought to Los Angeles' Skid Row and other homeless communities in California and Nevada. Continue reading...

Reform UK leader speaks at GB News event also attended by industry minister on second UAE visit in two monthsNigel Farage has paid a visit to Dubai to build diplomatic relations with United Arab Emirates ministers and drum up donations for Reform UK from wealthy expats.The two-night trip was his second visit to the Gulf state in two months, after a 10,000 trip hosted by Abu Dhabi to attend the Formula One grand prix. Continue reading...

Leo Ross was stabbed to death by stranger as he walked home from school in January last yearA teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering a 12-year-old Birmingham boy, Leo Ross, by stabbing him in the stomach during a random attack in parkland.Leo died after being taken to hospital from a riverside path in Shire Country Park, Hall Green, Birmingham, on 21 January last year. Continue reading...

Report into actions of Yaser Jabbar from 2017 to 2022 says 36 of the patients suffered severe harm under his careNearly 100 children suffered harm at the hands of a Great Ormond Street orthopaedic surgeon, a report has concluded.Yaser Jabbar treated hundreds of children from 2017 to 2022 at Great Ormond Street hospital (Gosh) in London, with independent experts saying in the review that his surgery fell well below the level expected in several areas. Continue reading...

Paul Patterson, who represented firm at Horizon inquiry, will become non-executive chair of UK business Business live - latest updatesThe European boss of Fujitsu, the company behind the Horizon software at the heart of the Post Office IT scandal, is to step down from his role in March.Paul Patterson, who is the chief executive of the European division of the company, will become non-executive chair of Fujitsu's UK business, where he will continue managing the company's response" to the inquiry into the scandal. Continue reading...

Turkey hosts urgent mediation as Trump's threats mount and Tehran weighs painful compromises to avoid conflictIran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, will travel to Ankara for talks aimed at preventing a US attack, as Turkish diplomats seek to convince Tehran it must offer concessions over its nuclear programme if it is to avert a potentially devastating conflict.Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, proposed a video conference between Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian - the kind of high-wire diplomacy that may appeal to the US leader, but would be anathema to circumspect Iranian diplomats. No formal direct talks have been held between the two countries for a decade. Continue reading...

Giving passengers right to additional carry-on baggage would be terrible for the consumer', warns airline's CEOEasyJet said proposals to enforce free additional cabin bags on planes across Europe are a lunatic idea", warning of fare rises and flight delays if legislation goes through.The European parliament last week voted overwhelmingly to give all passengers the right to carry on a small case, as well as the free underseat bags currently permitted. Continue reading...

Pan Europe found several pesticide residues in 85% of apples, with some showing traces of up to seven chemicalsEnvironmental groups have raised the alarm after finding toxic pesticide cocktails" in apples sold across Europe.Pan Europe, a coalition of NGOs campaigning against pesticide use, had about 60 apples bought in 13 European countries - including France, Spain, Italy and Poland - analysed for chemical residues. Continue reading...

New video shows the Minneapolis ICU nurse being tackled by federal agents in a previous confrontation. Plus, is this the end of gentle parenting?

Judge says claim brought by Sex Matters should be made instead by individual who says they have faced discriminationA charity cannot bring a high court challenge over rules allowing trans people to use the single-sex facilities at swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath, a judge has ruled.Sex Matters sought to take legal action against the City of London, which operates the men's, women's and mixed bathing ponds in north London. Continue reading...

Projects this year expected to triple global gas capacity, forecast finds, as concerns grow over impacts on planetThe US is leading a huge global surge in new gas-fired power generation that will cause a major leap in planet-heating emissions, with this record boom driven by the expansion of energy-hungry datacenters to service artificial intelligence, according to a new forecast.This year is set to shatter the annual record for new gas power additions around the world, with planned and under-construction projects earmarked for 2026 set to nearly triple the amount of existing gas capacity, a report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) found. Continue reading...

Retail accounts for 5% of the UK economy - but its visibility gives it an outsize influence on public perceptionUp and down Britain there are boarded-up shops. Banks and department stores have been replaced by vape shops, barbers and bookmakers. Shoplifting is at a record high, local services cut, and public frustration is mounting.Politically, high street decline is perfect campaign fodder for Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Continue reading...

Miatta Fahnbulleh accuses Reform leader of politics of grievance' while having no plan to fix UK high streets

Judge jails John Eric Spiby and three others who police said were part of gang running operation worth up to 288mAn 80-year-old man who won 2.4m on the national lottery helped build a multimillion pound drug empire that involved manufacturing counterfeit tablets on an industrial scale, a court has heard.John Eric Spiby was the leader of a drugs operation worth up to 288m that centred around his quiet rural" home near Wigan, Manchester crown court heard. Continue reading...

Policy intended to keep more children sanctioned for non-violent bad behaviour in school in internal exclusion' unitsSuspending pupils from school will be reserved for the most serious cases of bad behaviour including violence, according to the latest government guidance to be issued to schools in England.The Department for Education (DfE) is to announce a consultation on behaviour policy to be included in the forthcoming schools white paper that is intended to keep more children sanctioned for non-violent misbehaviour in schools in units known as internal exclusion", rather than sending them home. Continue reading...

As images of a secret meeting were splashed all over the media, it became clear the internal plot to oust the leader has descended into political melodramaThe images of a cabal of rightwing Liberal men gathering for clandestine talks to overthrow the party's first female leader - hours before a memorial service for a late former colleague, no less - confirmed two things.First, the internal plot to oust Sussan Ley has descended into a political melodrama. Continue reading...

The Green party has made gains under its leader - but there is also uncertainty aheadThe Greens talk of a Polanski effect" - a surge of momentum and visibility since Zack Polanski became leader, as the party gains attention in an increasingly fragmented political landscape.The polls offer the clearest signal so far of whether that narrative is borne out in public support. But they are not the only thing to consider and experts say the reality is hard to be certain about. Continue reading...

Average bills to go up again in April, with Ofwat approving record spending plans amid outrage over sewage spillsWater bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of 33 per household in April, in the latest above-inflation increase intended to fix leaking pipes and sewage treatment works.The increase will push the average annual water bill to 639 in the year from 1 April, up 5.4% on the previous year, according to figures published on Thursday by Water UK, a lobby group for the industry. Continue reading...

Of those affected by midlife challenges such as menopause, nine in 10 do not seek help, therapists' organisation saysAlmost two in three women over 50 in the UK struggle with their mental health as they deal with menopause, relationship breakdowns and changes to their appearance, a survey has found.Brain fog, parents dying, children leaving home and financial pressures can also trigger difficulties such as sleeping problems, feeling anxious or overwhelmed, and a loss of zest for life. Continue reading...

Waymo cars have been earning their stripes by getting used to zebra crossings while awaiting a government green lightAmerican robotaxis due to be unleashed on London's streets before the end of the year have been quietly undergoing training to understand the city's quirks, not least the zebra crossings, their promoters said on Thursday as they showed off one of the UK-specific driverless cars for the first time.The US self-driving ride-hailing company Waymo has a fleet of about 24 cars in London, each rigged with cameras, radar and lidar (light detection and ranging) censors. Continue reading...

As economic grievance grows in the electorate, an interest rate hike is the last thing our fraught politics needs

Opposition deeply unimpressed' with recommendation that adds nothing except confusion', shadow attorney general says

Exclusive: Union claims some offenders are deliberately breaking probation terms in order to deal drugs in jailRecord numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison.Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone - more than a third of the total number released in the year to June 2025. Continue reading...

Beijing has stepped up cooperation with south-east Asian nations to crack down on the multibillion-dollar industryChina on Thursday executed 11 people linked to Myanmar criminal gangs, including key members" involved in scam operations, state media reported.Scam compounds have flourished in Myanmar's lawless borderlands, part of a multibillion-dollar illicit industry. Continue reading...

Ben Saul argues protest restrictions are inconsistent with Australia's international legal obligations. Follow the latest updates live

Holburne museum places renowned photographer's pictures of ancient Roman statutes alongside his images of war and conflictHe is revered for his extraordinary black-and-white images documenting conflict, humanitarian crises and the tougher side of postwar Britain.But an exhibition of work by photojournalist Sir Don McCullin opening this week at the Holburne museum in Bath focuses on a very different subject: Roman sculptures. Continue reading...