World news | The Guardian

Police cancelled request for paramedics when Jeffrey Winmar came to, but he collapsed again and later died from suspected cardiac arrest, coroner hears

Fahad Shah, whose case was a symbol of harassment of region's media, says he has different outlook after months behind barsDuring his more than 600 days behind bars, Fahad Shah, a Kashmiri journalist, had begun to lose hope that he would ever see freedom again. It was in February last year that Shah, 34, the editor of the Kashmir Walla, one of the last remaining independent news websites in the region, was arrested on charges of glorifying terrorism" and publishing anti-national content".What followed was a crushing 21 months for Shah as his high-profile case became a symbol of the growing harassment faced by Kashmiri journalists. He was granted bail in one case, only to be swiftly re-arrested and hit with new, more draconian charges. Continue reading...

Commission may be prepared to to give Budapest 10bn after leader threatens to derail EU plans to open accession talks with UkraineThe European Commission has been urged not to appease" Viktor Orban by unfreezing billions of euros for Budapest, as the Hungarian prime minister threatens to derail EU plans to open accession talks with Ukraine and grant Kyiv fresh aid.The Hungarian government's moves in recent years to undermine independent institutions, as well as concerns about corruption and alleged misuse of European funds, have led Brussels to withhold over 27bn (23bn) earmarked for Hungary. Continue reading...

Elon Musk and Barbie film also feature in list of 10 most popular jokes in contest run by TV channel GoldThe British Museum has barely been out of the headlines in 2023. First, there was the theft of 1,500 items from its collection and then it found itself in the middle of a diplomatic row over the Parthenon marbles.Now the institution's annus horribilis has been topped off by becoming the punchline in the year's most popular Christmas cracker joke.Did you hear about the Christmas cake on display in the British Museum? It was Stollen.Why is Elon Musk's Christmas dinner so awkward? He can't stop talking about his X.Why isn't Barbie having turkey for Christmas dinner this year? Chic-Ken is enough.Why aren't any schools allowed to put on a nativity this year? They couldn't find a stable building.What impact will the 20mph speed limit in Wales have on the charts this year? Chris Rea will be driving home for Easter.What happened to Mark Zuckerberg's novelty jumper when he had a cage fight with Elon Musk? He was left with nothing but Threads.What's the difference between The Polar Express and HS2? One's a fantasy about a train and the other's a film with Tom Hanks.What did Robert Oppenheimer get Barbie for Christmas? Atomic Kenergy.Why are the train drivers on the naughty list this year? Because they've already had three strikes!How does Margot Robbie decorate her Nativity scene? With thee wise Ken. Continue reading...

Lizzie Blandthorn accuses the federal government of not providing enough information, but Bill Shorten is quietly positive' reforms can be agreed

This blog is now closed. See our Full report here: Israel extends ground offensive into southern GazaA volunteer with the Palestinian Red Crescent has been killed in an Israeli strike on the al-Faluja neighbourhood north-east of Gaza City, the organisation has said on X.Osama Tayeh was killed at his home, the Red Crescent said, while employee Muhammad Abu Rukba was injured in the attack. Continue reading...

The animal escaped handlers during a rest stop in Ontario while being transported to a zoo in QuebecA kangaroo that escaped its handlers during transport to a new home has been captured east of Toronto after a weekend in the wild, but not before delivering a punch in the face to one of the police officers who brought her run to an end.The female kangaroo hopped over her handlers late on Thursday during a rest stop at the Oshawa Zoo and Fun Farm in Ontario, the park's head keeper Cameron Preyde told CBC. Continue reading...

The new government recently announced it would dial back use of Mori language in government organisations, and scrap Mori Health AuthorityThousands of Mori protesters took to the streets across New Zealand on Tuesday morning, objecting to policies of the new government that Mori say will unravel decades of indigenous progress.Protesters blocked traffic on key roads and lined streets in towns and cities while calling for the coalition to scrap plans to review the Treaty of Waitangi, the country's 180-year-old founding document which was signed between the Crown and Mori leaders. Continue reading...

Tory MPs revolt in vote for amendment to victims and prisoners bill to establish compensatory bodyRishi Sunak has suffered a parliamentary defeat as MPs voted to establish a compensatory body for victims of the infected blood scandal.MPs voted 246 to 242 in favour of an amendment to the victims and prisoners bill that will require the government to set up a body to administer compensation within three months of the bill becoming law. Continue reading...

Sarah Burton, Jonathan Anderson and Valentino Garavani also among winners at one of industry's biggest nightsMore than 3,000 guests including Hollywood stars Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow turned out for the 2023 Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday to celebrate one of the biggest nights in fashion.While the event serves as the main fundraiser for the British Fashion Council, a non-profit that promotes the British fashion industry internationally, it is also a chance to celebrate the industrythat employs nearly 900,000 people and contributes more than 21bn to the UK economy. Continue reading...

Binyamin Needham was born in England but moved with his family to Israel at the age of eightA 19-year-old British national has been killed while fighting for the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza.Binyamin Needham was one of two soldiers killed during an operation in the north of the territory on Sunday, according to a statement released by the IDF. Continue reading...

Staff at Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey took industrial action demanding a clampdowon on unacceptable behaviourA deal has been struck between school staff and an academy where teachers have been striking over pupils' threats and violence.Staff at Oasis Academy, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, had been on strike for three days demanding a zero-tolerance approach to bad behaviour after months of concerns about safety. Continue reading...

Polish prime minister says we will strongly and unequivocally' demand restoration of permits in de-escalation of border trade blockadeIt is 2pm in Kyiv and here is a summary of today's events so far:Maj Gen Vladimir Zavadsky, the deputy commander of Russia's 14th Army Corps, has been confirmed killed in Ukraine, said the governor of Russia's Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev. He said Zavadsky had died at a combat post in the special operation zone", but further details have not been released.The US is running out of time and money to help Ukraine fight its war with Russia, say the White House. Its budget director, Shalanda Young, issued the warning in a letter to the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, and other congressional leaders on Monday.Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 Russian drones and one missile. It also added that a cultural centre and a shop were hit in Kherson.Empty cargo trucks have crossed the border between Ukraine and Poland. In the first steps towards a de-escalation of a border blockade that has crippled Ukrainian trade. Estimates of the Ukrainian trade loss so far, exceed 400m ($440m). Processing of empty trucks began at the Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv checkpoint by customs services at 1am (Kyiv time), in accordance with an agreement between Kyiv and Warsaw announced on Monday.Ukraine's forces attacked an oil depot in Russia-controlled Luhansk on Sunday night using combat drones. A fire that broke out after the attack was extinguished and there was no information about casualties.Russia are opening new fronts in the battle for Avdiivka, say Ukrainian officials, who have accused Russian forces of assaulting the industrial town in the eastern Donetsk region from two new directions.The Hungarian carrier Wizz Air has restarted inbound flights to Chisinau, Moldova, in eastern Europe, having suspended flights to the country in March due to tensions linked to Russia's war with Ukraine. Continue reading...

Travellers advised to cancel journeys as heavy snow brings much of country's rail network to a haltDecades of underinvestment in the German railways have been blamed for chaos in parts of the country after heavy snow led to much of the network grinding to a halt.Snowfall of up to half a metre in Bavaria, southern Germany, led to numerous breakdowns and prompted the cancellation of scores of trains, with signalling systems and electronic information boards frequently malfunctioning. Continue reading...

Residents of Vastogirardi, Molise region, had suspected neighbourly vendetta or mafia-style intimidationIn a mystery that would befit the Sicilian sleuth Inspector Montalbano, police in a mountain village in southern Italy have finally identified the culprit behind a series of slashed tyres.The transgressor first struck in July, targeting cars parked close to the fortified historic centre of Vastogirardi, a village in the Molise region that is home to about 600 residents. Continue reading...

Gen Z slang for charm or attractiveness sees off Swiftie', situationship' and prompt' in judges' decisionDo women twirl their hair when they're around you? Do men laugh loudly at your jokes? Have you noticed you're particularly good at chatting people up? Then you've got rizz.If you're unfamiliar with the word then get to know it, because rizz" has been named as the word of the year by Oxford University Press (OUP), the world's second oldest academic press and the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary. Continue reading...

Dan Harrison, who had escaped from a psychiatric ward when he killed Kim Harrison, also read out poetry via video linkA man who killed his father an hour after absconding from a psychiatric ward has read out poetry at an inquest into the death, paying tribute and expressing regret for what he did.In a highly unusual move, Dan Harrison appeared via video link from the unit where he is being treated at the inquest of his father, the renowned chest consultant Kim Harrison. Continue reading...

Yellow warning in place for ice across north of England and snow warnings for parts of Scotland, Wales and Peak DistrictDrivers have been warned they face very treacherous" icy conditions in parts of the UK on Monday after another night of sub-zero temperatures.A yellow weather warning for ice by the Met Office is in place across much of the north of England until noon on Monday, with further warnings for snow covering eastern Scotland, high ground in Wales and the Peak District until the same time. Continue reading...

Human Rights Watch says country's air pollution is dangerously high but there is little public criticismThe United Arab Emirates' vast fossil fuel production is contributing to dangerously high air pollution levels, creating health risks for its people and migrant workers in addition to heating the planet, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.HRW analysis of data from 30 government ground monitoring stations in September 2023 found that average levels of PM2.5 (very small toxic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and easily enter the bloodstream) were almost three times the daily recommended levels under the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines. Continue reading...

Campaigner claims ministers do not have legal right to alter timeline of carbon budget pledges at willChris Packham has filed a high court legal challenge to the UK government over its decision to weaken key climate policies.The broadcaster and environmental campaigner has applied for a judicial review of the government's decision to ditch the timetable for phasing out petrol and diesel powered cars and vans, gas boilers, off-grid fossil fuel domestic heating and minimum energy ratings for homes. Continue reading...

UK's maths scores predicted to drop after a jump last time, with a less severe decline in EnglishUK scores in tests that compare educational attainment among 15-year-olds around the world are likely to fall when they are published this week, after the disruption that Covid caused to learning.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will publish the results of its latest programme for international student assessment (Pisa) on Tuesday, a year later than expected due to the pandemic. Continue reading...

Contenders yet to unite around a single figure who could challenge incumbent Felix TshisekediAfrica's fourth most populous country, the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo, goes to the polls in three weeks' time with a civil war raging, two international peacekeeping forces starting to depart and an EU electoral observers' mission quitting after the government refused to let them use their own satellite phones.In a country with a history of stolen elections, the chances of preventing the incumbent president, Felix Tshisekedi, from securing a second five-year term turn on the ability of the diverse opposition to unite around a single credible candidate. Continue reading...

Exclusive: children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland found watching or sharing the most abhorrent' images, Guardian investigation revealsSeveral thousand young people are being caught each year sharing or watching indecent images of children - including child abuse material - a Guardian investigation has revealed.Figures obtained through freedom of information (FoI) requests to police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland show that in some regions the majority of people identified by police as watching or sharing indecent images of children are under 18.

Report by Resolution Foundation and LSE calls for economic strategy rethink after 15 years of relative declineBritish workers are missing out on 10,700 a year after more than a decade of weak economic growth and high inequality, according to a major report warning that UK living standards are falling behind comparable rich nations.In a damning report on the economy, the Resolution Foundation and the London School of Economics' Centre for Economic Performance called for an urgent rethink of economic strategy after 15 years of relative decline. Continue reading...

Sian and Jeffrey Edwards regarded shell as old friend' after being told it had sat in courtyard for more than a centuryA couple who kept a live bomb as a garden ornament have said they were sorry that their old friend" had been detonated by a disposal unit.The missile, which had been outside the home of Sian and Jeffrey Edwards, is thought to date back to the late 19th century. Continue reading...

Efficiencies and savings have been made at the broadcaster after the government froze its fundingThe prime minister has said that cuts at the BBC are welcome" and that it is appropriate for the corporation to make savings when things are difficult.It comes amid reports that ministers are planning further curbs on the licence fee which has been frozen for two years. Continue reading...

Drama of grief and new romance starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal wins seven awards, while Mia McKenna Bruce wins best lead performance for How to Have SexAll of Us Strangers, Andrew Haigh's revolutionary romance starring Andrew Scott as a screenwriter grappling with the death of his parents when he was a child, has taken best picture, best director and best screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards.The film had already taken four prizes at the craft division of the Bifas last month, for editing, cinematography, music supervision and screenplay; it added three more at the ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London on Sunday. As well as the wins for Haigh, Paul Mescal took best supporting actor for his performance as a younger man who begins a relationship with Scott's character. Continue reading...

Company is expected to face further scrutiny over its debt when it publishes its results on TuesdayThe parent company of Thames Water has been warned by its auditors that it could run out of money by April if shareholders do not inject more cash into the debt-laden firm.In accounts signed off in July and published on the Companies House website last week, PricewaterhouseCoopers said there was material uncertainty" about whether the main company behind the water supplier can continue as a going concern. Continue reading...

Social workers scrambling to find places for children after net loss of 1,000 foster families in past yearChild protection experts have called for an urgent nationwide hunt for thousands of new foster carers after a net loss of 1,000 families in the past year and a record number of children being placed far from home.Social workers have described scrambling to find friends and family to take children in urgent need of safety, and reported that children are sometimes placed in hotels. Continue reading...

CEO of University Hospitals Sussex urges staff to have courage to raise concerns, despite whistleblowers previously being sackedThe boss of a hospital trust being investigated by police for alleged negligence over 40 patient deaths has been accused of sending a hypocritical email urging staff to have the courage to raise concerns despite the dismissal of whistleblowing doctors.Last week the Guardian revealed that the University Hospitals Sussex trust is under pressure to suspend surgeons whose cases are being reviewed by Sussex police in an investigation that involves more than 100 patients who either died or were seriously harmed between 2015 and 2021. Continue reading...

Ex-Express owner is expected to claim regulator made errors during bidding war for national lottery contractRichard Desmond, the Brexit-backing media tycoon, is invoking EU law to sue the gambling regulator after it rejected his fanciful" bid to run the national lottery, in a suit that could deprive good causes of millions of pounds.The former owner of the Daily Express has vowed previously to seek damages from the Gambling Commission after his company Northern & Shell missed out on a 10-year contract, worth 6.5bn, to run the lottery from next year. Continue reading...

Labor hopes to push new laws through parliament this week to allow courts to order the re-detention of migrants or refugees freed after the landmark NZYQ high court ruling

Man shot in the chest as residents confronted settlers and Israeli soldiers, say Palestinian authorities

Few rushed to buy the book, despite hype over claims two royals discussed skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghan's first childIn the last two centuries London's oldest bookshop, Hatchards on Piccadilly, has sold stories of royal scandals, ructions and rifts.The latest book in the royal genre, Endgame by journalist Omid Scobie, was at the centre of a media frenzy for most of last week, but was barely causing a ripple among shoppers this weekend. It was not on prominent display at the five-storey bookstore, which has royal warrants. The single copy had been put aside on order. At the nearby Waterstones, about 14 copies were stacked on a table near the entrance, but there was limited interest there too. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereAssociated Press have provided a little more detail of the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov's earlier comments in which he said Moscow saw no signs that Kyiv was ready to move towards a political resolution.Speaking at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe conference in North Macedonia, Lavrov also said Russia was not prepared to review its goals" in Ukraine.Russian authorities are attempting to quell dissent from the wives of soldiers deployed in Ukraine, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said. The MoD said in its daily intelligence briefing that some were being paid off while others have been discredited online.Ukraine has become progressively stronger over the past year and will soon be able to reopen Kyiv's international airport, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said.Vladimir Putin has ordered the country's military to increase its number of troops by nearly 170,000, as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine continues into its 22nd month.Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Ukraine needs to improve its mobilisation system, with the issue of recruitment under public discussion for some time. Questions of corruption in the military, particularly in procurement and recruiting, have periodically seized public attention as Ukraine tries to press on with a counteroffensive that has so far produced only incremental gains. Continue reading...

Top expert says bungled opening of Rozelle interchange is bad enough to warrant a formal inquiry into the $20bn WestConnex projectSydneysiders had been promised nirvana" would be delivered by the $20bn WestConnex motorway so they are rightly bemused - if not bitter - about how they seem to have ended up in the other place.The bungled opening of the final stage of WestConnex, the Rozelle interchange, is bad enough that veteran transport experts such as Michelle Zeibots at the University of Technology Sydney say only a royal commission can open the lid on how such debacles can happen.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Vox lays off at least 20 people in second round of cuts this year while Conde Nast to reduce staff by 5% over next few monthsVox Media and Conde Nast announced sweeping cuts this week in various departments, adding to a long list of recent upheaval within media organizations around the world.The two media powerhouses held layoffs on Thursday after losing a hard-fought battle against the declining ad market, which makes up a large portion of revenue for these companies. Continue reading...

Actor played Thelma Ferris, wife of Rodney Bewes' Bob, in popular BBC1 sitcom that aired from 1973-74Brigit Forsyth, who starred in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, has died at the age of 83, her agent has confirmed.The Scottish actor played Thelma Ferris, the long-suffering wife of Rodney Bewes' character, Bob, in the 70s BBC sitcom. She died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family" in the early hours of Friday morning, her agent, Mark Pemberton, confirmed. Continue reading...

Christmas alumni episode had one blind entrant and another who was neurodivergent, both of whom say they did not get helpThe BBC has apologised and pulled a Christmas episode of University Challenge after two contestants complained about a lack of provision for their disabilities.The festive spin-off from the BBC Two quiz show, hosted by Amol Rajan, features teams of distinguished alumni who compete on behalf of their former universities. Continue reading...

Ex-Manchester United player pleaded guilty to using disabled person's parking permit he said he bought for 50 in Old TraffordRavel Morrison, the former Manchester United footballer, has been convicted of fraud after being caught using a deceased person's blue badge to park.During his interview under caution, the 30-year-old had claimed he had bought the badge from someone in Old Trafford" for 50. Morrison, of Westbrook, Warrington, was subsequently charged with one count of fraud. Continue reading...

Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate southern city of Khan Younis, where it says Hamas leadership is based

Actor called critics paedophiles' after they labelled him racist' following his call for boycott of Sainsbury's over Black History Month stanceThe actor and politician Laurence Fox has been accused of insulting the intelligence of everyone present" during a libel trial at the high court over an argument on social media.Fox had called for a boycott of Sainsbury's in October 2020 on X, then known as Twitter, in response to the supermarket chain saying it would provide a safe space for black employees during Black History Month. He was called a racist" by the drag artist Crystal, the former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake, and the broadcaster Nicola Thorp. Continue reading...

More than 170 Palestinians killed as Red Cross head warns nightmarish situation' for civilians has returned

Lead books stolen from artwork, representing loss of more than $1m, according to prosecutorThieves have stolen parts of a lead sculpture by the German contemporary artist Anselm Kiefer from a warehouse in France, representing a loss of more than $1m (785,000), a prosecutor said on Friday.Kiefer, 78, is renowned for his bleak sculptures and installations confronting his country's Nazi past, which sell for millions. Continue reading...

Friday night is expected to be cold and frosty, as Met Office warns of showers in coastal areasThe wintry weather, which has brought snowfall to parts of the UK and reduced overnight temperatures to nearly -10C (14F), is set to continue into the weekend.Many areas of the north of England and Scotland woke to freezing conditions on Friday morning, the start of the meteorological winter, as sleet and snow showers continued through Thursday night. Continue reading...

Girl, who was 15 at time of murder, told boy in message not to be anxious as police are shite here'A 16-year-old girl accused of murdering Brianna Ghey told her co-defendant not to worry about getting caught because the police are shite here", a court has heard.Both were arrested the day after the killing, shortly after the girl's mother rang Cheshire police to say the teenagers had been with Brianna on the afternoon she was killed, a jury at Manchester crown court was told on Friday. Continue reading...

Hearing into death of Caversham primary school head was also told she thought Ofsted inspections were inhumane'Ruth Perry told an NHS clinician she was amazed" that more headteachers did not take their own lives as a result of Ofsted inspections during a conversation a few weeks before her death, an inquest has heard.This is the most inhumane system. It's totally wrong that one person is made to feel like this. I'm amazed that there are not more heads killing themselves," Perry said during treatment she received for her mental health struggles following Ofsted's inspection of her school.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 counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Health secretary during pandemic accepts that consequences of rule-breaking' may have affected public's propensity to adhere to rules'Matt Hancock has told the UK Covid inquiry that long Covid is an issue close to his heart".Inquiry counsel Hugo Keith said Hancock's witness statement to the inquiry makes plain" that from an early stage" he asked NHS England to consider the issue of long Covid.I was alive to it from before the infection reached our shores.Chris Whitty raised the concern about the potential of some kind of post-viral fatigue syndrome, which happens with other viruses as well.I'm sure you acknowledge the incredible offence and upset that was caused by that revelation.Well, what I'd say is that the lesson for the future is very clear. And it is important that those who make the rules abide by them, and I resigned in order to take accountability for my failure to do.Yes. Continue reading...

Shadow chancellor reveals Darling helped shape Labour party's current policies before his death this week

Labour leader says things will be done differently' if he wins the next election