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Activists say struggle must go on until their maximum' demands are met over teacher shortages and building repairsFrench children should continue to barricade their schools and take part in street protests, a student union said on Monday after the government announced a package of education measures to try to stem the crisis.Today we're at the negotiating table, we're able to negotiate with the government," Pierre Sourzat of Les Lyceens told France Info television. We're in a power struggle and we still need to call for continued mobilisation to meet a maximum of our demands." Continue reading...

Brand, charged with rape and sexual assault, was sleeping with people day and night', former assistant allegesRussell Brand had an insane sexual appetite" and his bad behaviour was normalised and dismissed" by those around him, his former personal assistant has told a court.Helen Berger alleged she had seen Brand treat women badly and that she once had to stop his mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex with someone in his dressing room. Continue reading...

Israeli prime minister increases alarmist rhetoric as his far-right coalition narrowly trails in pollsBenjamin Netanyahu has resorted to increasingly alarmist rhetoric and reportedly put pressure on Israel's military to take action against Iran as his far-right coalition narrowly trails in the polls ahead of Tuesday's close-run elections.The Israeli prime minister posted an AI-generated image of a nuclear mushroom cloud destroying Tel Aviv, telling Israeli voters to choose him or risk nuclear annihilation. Continue reading...

Company says small number of devices affected by display glitch after posts appear on Reddit and social mediaOwners of the new foldable iPhone are reporting cracks in the device's screen, as Apple confirmed an issue with a small number" of units.Reports of cracks have emerged on Reddit and social media platforms since the handset went on general sale globally on Friday. Experts said there had been too few examples to determine whether there was a more serious problem with Apple's first foldable device, which retails from $1,999 (1,499). Continue reading...

Badr Albusaidi calls for security pact involving Gulf states, Iraq and Iran with US no longer primary provider of securityThe Middle East's ability to solve its problems has been held back by America's 50-year insistence that the Gulf states should view Iran as a security threat, Oman's foreign minister said on Monday in a significant speech designed to break the deadlock over the region's future.Badr Albusaidi called for a non-aggression security pact involving all six Gulf states as well as Iran and Iraq. The US would in future no longer be the primary provider of security, he said. Continue reading...

The actor appeared in the cult 1960s show as well as many of the films but also worked as a writerWalter Koenig, the actor known for playing Pavel Chekov throughout the Star Trek franchise, has died, his representative confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter. He was 90.Koenig died at his home in North Hollywood surrounded by his daughter and niece, according to a Facebook post by Zachery McGinnis, the founder of Galactic Productions, an appearance agency that counted the actor as one of its clients. His death was attributed to old age", with no other details provided.This article was amended on 26 October, 2026 to correct details on Koenig's cameo on Star Trek: Picard. Continue reading...

More strong winds forecast after Austen and Boelo kill two people and bring travel disruption and flooding

Industrial action by senior doctors to begin on 25 November with only emergency cover provided, BMA saysEngland's most senior hospital doctors will strike next month in a dispute over their pay and hours, prompting NHS bosses to warn that patients will suffer pain, discomfort and inconvenience".Consultant doctors, who earn an average of 152,000 a year inclusive of overtime and merit awards, will stage a two-day walkout on 25 and 26 November, as hospitals gear up for the extra pressures winter brings. Continue reading...

Clarification comes after PM fuelled speculation about EU-UK relationship in series of interviews at weekendDowning Street has been forced to clarify Andy Burnham's stance on whether the UK would return to having freedom of movement with the EU after the prime minister said an honest discussion" was needed on the issue.Burnham fuelled speculation about a return to freedom of movement in an interview at the weekend, prompting questions about how close the UK could become to Brussels. Continue reading...

A viral WhatsApp channel and student-led protests played a key role in the veteran Brazilian leftist's election victoryAfter the first round of the Brazilian presidential election three weeks ago, the leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reportedly told allies he could not understand how he finished second after a government he considered the best of his three terms.A mood of dismay swept Brazil's left, and because 9 million voters for the other candidates, all of them on the right, were expected to mostly transfer to senator Flavio Bolsonaro, analysts widely saw the far-right senator's victory as certain. Continue reading...

Mr Justice Saini tells the eight men and six women at Winchester crown court the case is likely to be upsettingJurors being selected for the trial of four men accused of sexually assaulting the ex-wife of a former Conservative councillor, who has admitted repeatedly drugging and raping her, have been warned the case is likely to be upsetting.Philip Young, 50, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of abuse against his former wife, Joanne Young, who has waived her right to anonymity. Continue reading...

Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won a historic fourth term as president, defeating the far-right candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in a dramatic comeback.Lula is the first candidate to win a runoff election after losing in the first round, taking victory with 51.79% of the vote to his rival's 48.21%. His win bucks a regional trend, after the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro had spearheaded a radical populist movement.But with Flavio Bolsonaro refusing to concede defeat, what's next for Brazil? Michael Safi speaks to Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Move comes after claims that killer had history of using threatening behaviour and an obsession with weaponsShabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has launched a review to examine whether opportunities were missed to prevent the murder of the student Henry Nowak.It follows claims that there were several warning signs that the perpetrator, Vickrum Digwa, had a history of threatening behaviour and an obsession with weapons. Continue reading...

The prime minister previously said that he wanted a debate on how Britain can establish a closer relationshipSpeaking at his rough sleeping summit in Downing Street this morning, Andy Burnham expanded on the claim he made on Good Morning Britain about tackling rough sleeping being cheaper than ignoring the problem. (See 11.13am.)He said:We've also got to be conscious when we speak to the rest of the country, the taxpayers of this country, that actually to leave people sleeping rough has financial consequences. It doesn't work for anybody and it doesn't work for the public purse, because if you leave people in a position where they are in and out of A&E, and in and out of a hospital bed, that doesn't make sense for anybody.There is a rock-solid business case to do something to end homelessness, to put people on a path to recovery, so that they can contribute once again. And that should be the thinking that we take to this conversation.Burnham is throwing another 432m at a problem he failed to solve in Greater Manchester. Under Labour, rough sleeping has hit record highs - yet their answer is always more taxpayers' money and more empty promises.[John] Healey must use his budget this week to cut taxes for working people, get the ballooning benefits bill under control, and stop pushing up energy prices.John Healey is expected to confirm on Wednesday that the full state pension will rise by 489 to 13,036 - equivalent to 3.9%.However, the rise will push about one million people on low incomes who rely on the state pension above the 12,570 personal allowance threshold, meaning they would be dragged into paying income tax. Continue reading...

Leaders and governments worldwide congratulate Lula on dramatic comeback seen as an important signal to rest of Latin AmericaLuiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president, has vowed that dictatorship and fascism will never return to Brazil after winning a historic fourth term in power by defeating his far-right opponent, Flavio Bolsonaro.This is God's work - and it's thanks to all of you," Lula told tens of thousands of supporters who had gathered in central Sao Paulo in the early hours of Monday to celebrate his dramatic election comeback. Continue reading...

Hopes raised for a reset in relations with EU and other partners following the defeat of authoritarian president

Application made for group claim seeking compensation for companies for alleged overcharging on customer card payments

Commanders suspected of sexual violence during the largest and fastest slaughter of civilians in more than 30 years have been subjected to travel ban and asset freezeSenior Sudanese commanders implicated in a campaign of rape" have been targeted by the UK on the first anniversary of a mass atrocity that saw tens of thousands of civilians killed over several days.A year after the fall of El Fasher, the British government said it had sanctioned military leaders from both sides in the country's ongoing conflict whom it suspected of sexual violence during the siege of the city. Continue reading...

London sites to remain open as Prospect and PCS agree to Acas-faciliated talks' with museum managementA planned strike at the V&A over half-term has been suspended after an improved offer from management.Museum staff who were members of the Prospect and Public and Commercial Services (PCS) unions had voted to strike on Thursday and Friday in a dispute over pay and working conditions including inadequate toilet and hydration breaks. The strike would have closed the V&A's main galleries in south Kensington, as well as V&A East, V&A Storehouse and Young V&A in east London. Continue reading...

Exclusive: EPA flags oil spill risk from proposed gasfield and threat to pygmy blue whales

R&B singer sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 12 months over incident in Mayfair in 2023The R&B singer Chris Brown has been given a suspended sentence after striking a man twice in the head with a tequila bottle in a central London club.Brown, 37, admitted affray earlier this year after attacking a former friend with a heavy" tequila bottle on the dancefloor at the Tape private members' club in Mayfair in February 2023. Continue reading...

Jump fuelled by fears of further Middle East supply disruptions amid reports of US-Israeli plans to strike IranEuropean gas prices have jumped to levels not seen since 2022 as fears continue to grow around the continent's supply this winter and ongoing conflict in the Middle East.Wholesale gas prices hit 97 (81) per megawatt-hour on Monday, as temperatures across Europe fell and traders priced in stronger demand for heating. Continue reading...

Rapid Support Forces strike five power stations in three states controlled by Sudanese armySudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have launched a coordinated drone attack against five power stations, causing mass power outages across the country's east, a government official said.The drones hit two power stations each in the states of Al-Jazira and Gedaref and one in White Nile state, resulting in power outages across large parts of these three states", the official said on condition of anonymity. Continue reading...

Faced with a stagnant jobs market, many are spurning children or pets in favour of raising bricks'Chinese young adults looking for a cheaper, low-maintenance alternative to having pets or children have found an answer: raising bricks.Bricks may not be as cuddly as cats or as life-affirming as human offspring, but they also cost next to nothing. No cats, no dating, I started raising a brick," wrote one brick parent on social media. Continue reading...

Ninety-plus Labour MPs warn civil service lacks skills to drive growth where it is needed and plan should be steered by Louis Haigh from Manchester

With industrial action over job cuts heading into its 21st week, students at famed London college are unhappyStudents arriving at Goldsmiths, University of London this autumn found a campus embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute that has upended timetables and disrupted courses.I was really excited to start my studies at Goldsmiths," one international student told the Guardian at a gathering of unhappy students on Friday. But when I first arrived, I was quite shocked because almost all the induction sessions seemed to turn into discussions about strikes." Continue reading...

Families forced to flee as Netanyahu tries to prove security credentials after two Israeli soldiers killed days before electionHebron, the biggest city in the West Bank, had paid little attention to Israel's looming elections until it found itself suddenly in the midst of them, a proving ground for Benjamin Netanyahu's security credentials in the run-up to Tuesday's vote.A gun attack on an Israeli military checkpoint on Friday in which two soldiers were killed brought immediate televised visits from Netanyahu and his finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, whose ruling coalition is narrowly trailing with two days of campaigning left. Continue reading...

Calculations from the Center for Global Development say spending next year is likely to be 410m less than anticipatedThe UK is on course to miss its target of spending 0.3% of national income on international aid by an estimated 400m by the end of next year.Calculations from the Center for Global Development (CGD) found the UK was on course for a large shortfall in promised official development assistance at the end of 2027. Continue reading...

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In today's newsletter: As Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured victory in the presidential race, we look the implications for democracy, the environment and international relationsGood morning. Chances are you woke this morning to news of two momentous election results. In Serbia, a student-led movement has ousted the country's long-serving leader, Aleksandar Vui (which you can read more about here). And just hours ago, Brazil's president staged a sensational turnaround against his far-right opponent after a nail-biting vote.Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, won a forth nonconsecutive term as president, seeing off far-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who spearheaded the radical populist movement built by his father and former president, Jair. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election.UK news | Two people have been killed and more than 160,000 properties have been left without power as Storm Boelo continues to batter the UK.Crime | British police are recording a growing number of crimes linked to cocaine, including assaults, domestic abuse and dangerous driving, as figures show consumption has surged across England.France | Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across France on Saturday in largely peaceful protests to support schoolchildren's demands for more teachers and repairs to dilapidated buildings, as Emmanuel Macron faces a social and political crisis in his final months as president.UK politics | Prime minister Andy Burnham's call for the UK to consider a return to free movement with Europe has been backed by senior cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner but risks causing concern among fellow red wall MPs.Aviation | Three in four European airline pilots have taken microsleeps in the cockpit, while almost a quarter routinely fly despite being too fatigued to work, according to a report.Tuesday | Israel goes to the polls on Tuesday, amid orders from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank after recent checkpoint attacks. His government will be fighting for its survival.Wednesday | On Wednesday Chancellor John Healey will deliver his first budget statement in the House of Commons, which is expected to give local authorities more spending powers, as a means to promote growthThursday and Friday | European and Canadian leaders will meet in Montreal for the 21st EU-Canada summit, to discuss security and strategic cooperation. It will be the first opportunity for leaders to iron out details over a proposed invitation for Canada to become the EU's first ever associate member" Continue reading...

Zali Steggall and Monique Ryan say Coalition leader was wrong to deny link between parliamentary debate and political violenceAngus Taylor has been criticised for his response to the alleged attack on Helen Haines, with crossbenchers Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall labelling a speech by the opposition leader tone deaf" and saying he did not read the room".Parliament returned in Canberra on Monday, a week after an alleged attack outside the Indi MP's northern Victorian electorate office, which led to her losing both legs. A 43-year-old man has been charged and the incident continues to be investigated.Sign up for Guardian Australia's Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...

Exclusive: Ministers planning overhaul of apprenticeship funding to increase cost of over-25s training, Guardian understandsBritain's largest employers have told the government that forcing businesses to pay more to train older workers risks damaging its goal to tackle the youth jobs crisis.The Guardian understands ministers plan to overhaul Labour's apprenticeship funding scheme to increase the cost of training a worker over the age of 25 in England by 25%, to encourage firms to train young people instead. Continue reading...

Robert John Crawford on trial after wife found near ride-on lawnmower on their Toowoomba propertyA former RAAF pilot was a love rat" and master manipulator" who staged his wife's death to make it appear a tragic accident, a jury has heard.Robert John Crawford, 49, pleaded not guilty on Monday to murdering his wife Frances Elizabeth Crawford at Upper Lockyer on 29 July, 2024. Continue reading...

Nobel peace prize winner's return after almost a year in exile is unlikely to please interim president Delcy RodriguezThe Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has announced she has returned to Venezuela almost a year after she left the country to receive the Nobel peace prize.I'm here. With you," she wrote on X on Sunday lunchtime. Continue reading...

Monzo says 55% of cardholders' British Museum payments in first hour of latest ticket release were by people under 35A 1,000-year-old embroidery may be an unusual candidate for a pop culture moment, but young people are seemingly more willing to shell out for tickets for the Bayeux tapestry than spend money on Hollywood blockbusters.In the first hour that the second round of tickets to view the tapestry were available last Wednesday, payments from Monzo cardholders to the British Museum reached 14,100 and were 48 times that of a normal Wednesday morning. More than half (55%) of those buyers were aged under 35. Continue reading...

Victorian coroner hears Emily Lal told Stacey Warnecke that her condition and mindset' needed to be solid' to avoid a hospital birth

Former police officer accused of shooting dead Jesse Baird and Luke Davies apologised to friend, acknowledging you're involved because of me'

Paul Edbrooke says he fears for family's safety amid heightened concerns for MPs after alleged attack on Helen Haines

Prohibition of salty, yeast-based condiment in Victoria's prisons remains after convicted murderer claimed it denied him right to enjoy his culture'

Allegra Spender calls Indi MP force for change' as politicians pay tribute in parliament

Report from commonwealth ombudsman finds technological black box' ignores transparency recommendations from robodebt royal commission

The fifth plenum comes against a backdrop of years of purges that have had some analysts wondering if the issue is corruption or a lack of loyaltyWhen Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he pledged to stamp out corruption all through the ranks of the Communist party. More than a decade later, the pace of investigations has not slowed. Last year, China's disciplinary authorities opened investigations into more than 1 million people, including more than 100 officials at or above ministerial or provincial level.As Chinese Communist party (CCP) officials prepare for an important meeting this week discipline - and party loyalty - is high on the agenda. For those who try to read the tea leaves of elite Chinese politics, concern about the apparent lack of discipline is dominating CCP discussions. Continue reading...

Leftist incumbent Lula says unprecedented comeback was a defeat for denialism' as Bolsonaro refuses to accept election result

After a shock defeat in the first round, the incumbent Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has turned the election around to win the runoff.Live blog: latest analysis and reactionBrazil's president is elected purely by the popular vote. A winning candidate needs one more vote than 50% of votes cast; there is no role for the parliament and no electoral college. Continue reading...

Vui's 12-year reign looks to have been ended by record turnout of voters in election provoked by student-led protestsThe long-serving leader of Serbia, Aleksandar Vui, has conceded defeat, ushering in a seismic political shift after a historic election that saw the increasingly authoritarian leader pitted against a student-led movement that had spent two years protesting against his government.Vui pointed to preliminary results that suggested voters had overwhelmingly backed the students, potentially giving them a majority in the country's 250-seat parliament. Continue reading...

Student List movement projected to have 141 seats in the new parliament, well clear of the 126 required for majority

Chancellor is in favour of North Sea project, but energy secretary has said she is leaning towards rejecting itA cabinet split has emerged over whether to approve drilling at the Rosebank oilfield, with the chancellor, John Healey, in favour of the controversial North Sea project.The energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is ultimately in charge of the decision, and the Guardian reported last week that she was leaning towards rejecting it after granting permission for the smaller Jackdaw gasfield. Continue reading...