World news | The Guardian

Bondi pavilion becomes centre of mourning with chaplains and mental health volunteers handing out tissues

Extreme heat follows blazes in New South Wales, while winds plunge Brazil's largest city into darknessExtreme heat and bushfires have ravaged the parched landscape of Western Australia. With temperatures expected to continue soaring above 40C (104F) over the coming days, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe heatwave warning across much of the south-west.The conditions follow bushfires in New South Wales this month, which resulted in the destruction of homes and loss of life. Severe heatwave warnings have also been issued for later this week in parts of South Australia and New South Wales, as a ridge of high pressure moves eastward, bringing blazing sunshine to much of the region. Continue reading...

Rights groups dismiss sham conviction' of media tycoon on national security offences in city's most closely watched rulings in decades

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Family friend, sources in Russia and Syria, and leaked data help give rare insight into life of dictator's reclusive householdIn 2011, a group of teenage boys spray-painted a warning on to a wall in their school playground: It's your turn, Doctor." The graffiti was a thinly veiled threat that Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, a London-trained ophthalmologist, would be next in the line of Arab dictators toppled by the then raging Arab spring.It took 14 years, during which 620,000 were killed and nearly 14 million displaced, but eventually the doctor's turn came and Assad was deposed, fleeing to Moscow in the middle of the night. Continue reading...

One moment, Rozen was eating donuts and celebrating light' with her family. Then peace turned to terror as the attack began

Gun law changes including limiting the number of firearms one person can hold to be discussed by federal cabinet, as Coalition accuses government of not doing enough

Government not maintaining effective oversight', with majority of decisions being overturned, commonwealth ombudsman foundAlmost half of all people using employment services received threats to suspend their payments in the last quarter, new data has revealed.The data from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) showed a 23% increase in the number of payment suspension notices issued by Workforce Australia, with 618,000 issued from 1 July to 30 September 2025, up from from 504,000 in the previous quarter. Continue reading...

Mary-Ann Stephenson says official guidance will not usher in toilet police' in businesses and public places

Video shows the man rushing one of the alleged gunmen who shot dozens of people on Sunday evening in Australia

From choosing frozen turkey to shopping supermarket specials, the traditional meal need not break the household budgetFigures show that the total cost of the all-important Christmas dinner is up 5% on a year ago, with the price of important elements such as pigs in blankets and stuffing up by 7%.With the cost of living still biting, however, a supermarket price war is taking some of the sting out of high food costs - with Aldi and Lidl selling the ingredients for a main Christmas meal for eight for less than 12. Continue reading...

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Tree, which was planted more than 10 years ago, was felled hours after its Christmas lights were switched onTwo men have been arrested in relation to a disgusting act of mindless vandalism" after a Christmas tree which had stood in a village for more than 10 years was cut down.On Wednesday, the tree in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was felled sometime between 10pm and 11pm, just hours after the Christmas lights were switched on. Continue reading...

Enfield's family-run Neco Tantuni, which specialises in Turkish street food, secured place among other Michelin-starred restaurants on Vittles 99-strong listOn a list of London's best restaurants, you would expect to see the usual Michelin-starred suspects such as The Ledbury, Ikoyi and The Ritz. But high among these culinary heavyweights sits a humble salonu tucked away in the depths of north London.Neco Tantuni, a small Turkish eatery specialising in the foodie delights of Mersin, a city located on the southern coast of Turkey, has been crowned the fourth best restaurant in London by Vittles, the trendy food magazine that has become a bible for those looking for the best (and more off-the-radar) grub in the capital. Continue reading...

Exclusive: A trio of candidates have been interviewed by the PM, but he could still decide to directly appoint someone elseKeir Starmer is poised to choose a new ambassador to Washington from a shortlist of three as relations with the US are tested over Ukraine and Donald Trump's attacks on European leaders.The prime minister held interviews with three finalists for the role this week, the Guardian has learned, with Downing Street preparing to make an appointment before the end of the year. Continue reading...

Bankstown man, 31, allegedly sent two emails to the communication minister's office in late November making direct threats

King extols early diagnosis which can give invaluable time' and backs launch of screening checker toolKing Charles has hailed a milestone" in his cancer journey" and revealed he is to reduce his schedule of treatment in the new year, describing the news as a personal blessing".His treatment will move into a precautionary phase with its regularity significantly reduced as his recovery reaches a very positive stage, it is understood. His medical team will assess how much longer he will require treatment to protect and prioritise his continued recovery. Continue reading...

A year-long investigation into the Free Birth Society reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors.Lucy Hough talks to the investigative correspondent Lucy Osborne about her reporting - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Rookie Michael Ma leaves Conservative party for steady, practical approach' of Mark Carney's governmentCanada's ruling Liberals have edged closer to a majority government after a Conservative lawmaker crossed the floor, in yet another blow to the struggling Tories.Rookie lawmaker Michael Ma said late on Thursday that he had decided to leave the Conservative party, for the steady, practical approach" of prime minister Mark Carney's government, which he said would deliver on the priorities I hear every day, including affordability and the economy". Continue reading...

Mohammadi violently' detained along with other activists at memorial event in Mashhad, according to her foundationIranian security forces have violently" arrested the 2023 Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi at a memorial ceremony for a lawyer and human rights advocate, her supporters said.Mohammadi, who was granted temporary leave from prison in December 2024 on medical grounds, was detained along with several other activists at the ceremony for Khosro Alikordi, who was found dead in his office last week, her foundation wrote on X. Continue reading...

Protesters say David Lammy is ignoring warnings over deteriorating health of eight hunger strikers awaiting trial

Robert Rhodes acquitted in 2017 on grounds of self-defence after manipulating a child to help in cover-upA man who was previously cleared of killing his wife on the grounds of self-defence has been found guilty of her murder after their child came forward with new evidence under double jeopardy rules.Robert Rhodes, 52, from Withleigh, Devon, was convicted unanimously at Inner London crown court of murdering his wife, Dawn nine years ago on 2 June 2016. Continue reading...

Carl Rinsch, who directed Keanu Reeves action film 47 Ronin, was convicted on fraud and money laundering chargesA Hollywood director was convicted Thursday on charges that he scammed Netflix out of $11m for a show that never materialized, while he instead used the cash for lavish purchases that included several Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari and about $1m in mattresses and luxury bedding.Carl Rinsch, best known for directing the film 47 Ronin starring Keanu Reeves, was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and other charges, according to court records and a spokesperson for federal prosecutors in New York. Continue reading...

Exclusive: The trade and tourism minister flew with his wife from Adelaide to Canberra, listing official duties as the reason for the travel

Private investigator Jonathan Rees denies telling Doreen Lawrence he was involved in bugging herA key whistleblower supporting a legal claim headed by Prince Harry and Doreen Lawrence against the publisher of the Daily Mail appears to have dealt a last-minute blow to the case against the media group.Just weeks before a high court trial, Jonathan Rees, a private investigator who has supported claims of unlawful news gathering at Associated Newspapers, has contradicted a central allegation in the claimants' case. Continue reading...

Department of Finance opts not to take up review's recommendation that public servants only use business class on flights of three hours or more

Plans are response to surge in demand for AI capability and come after government signalled it would curb subsidiesDrax has revealed plans to convert part of its power plant in North Yorkshire into a datacentre as soon as 2027 in response to the increase in demand for AI capability.The FTSE 250 company behind Britain's biggest power plant told investors on Thursday that it had applied for planning permission to build a 100-megawatt datacentre at its site near Selby. Continue reading...

Robert Milne says he fully recognises the seriousness of the behaviours described in the media'Dulwich college's headteacher has responded to allegations of teenage racism by Nigel Farage by saying he recognised the seriousness of the behaviours described in the media".Robert Milne, who joined the school as its master" this summer, said the alleged behaviour was at odds" with the modern-day school in a letter in which he said he understood why 28 former pupils had felt compelled to speak out. Continue reading...

Hackers include Russia-based actors targeting WhatsApp and Signal accounts, parliamentary authorities warnMPs are facing rising numbers of phishing attacks and Russia-based actors are actively targeting the WhatsApp and Signal accounts of politicians and officials, UK parliamentary authorities have warned.MPs, peers and officials are being asked to step up their cybersecurity after a continued rise in attacks that have involved messages pretending to be from the app's support team, asking a user to enter an access code, click a link or scan a QR code. Continue reading...

Votes came as premium tax credits for estimated 21.8 million enrollees of plans set to expire at end of monthThe US Senate on Thursday rejected competing proposals to address the imminent expiration of subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, greatly increasing the chances that healthcare costs will soon rise to unaffordable levels for millions of Americans.The votes, part of a deal brokered between Republican majority leader John Thune and the Democratic senators who agreed to reopen the government after a historically long shutdown last month, came as premium tax credits for an estimated 21.8 million enrollees of the plans are set to expire at the end of the month. Health policy research group KFF estimates that annual premiums will more than double if the subsidies are allowed to expire. Continue reading...

Ukrainian leader says Washington has suggested that Russian troops would stay in region, but not advance furtherNato's Rutte largely sticks to usual pleasantries, but says the clear political signal from Germany and other European partners is that Europe is ready to take on more responsibility," and a signal that burden sharing is not just a slogan."In his opening remarks, Merz says that Nato plays a key role in a time of great geopolitical upheaval," as he recalls his numerous meetings with Rutte in recent months. Continue reading...

The Housemaid actor received backlash in September when she left a comment on Instagram after the rightwing activist was killedThe Housemaid star Amanda Seyfried has said she is not fucking apologising" for describing Charlie Kirk as hateful" after the latter was shot dead in September.Seyfried was speaking to Who What Wear when she was asked about her social media activity, including the backlash around her Kirk comment. I'm not fucking apologising for that. I mean, for fuck's sake, I commented on one thing. I said something that was based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes. What I said was pretty damn factual, and I'm free to have an opinion, of course." Continue reading...

Emergency warning issued for parts of Kenwick, Wattle Grove, Maddington and Beckenham in Perth's south-east

An official report lays out different scenarios for the cost of transitioning away from fossil fuels to net zero by 2050Britain's official energy system operator has attempted to work out what achieving net zero carbon emissions will cost, with its figures showing surging spending in the coming years.The scale and speed of the shift to a low-carbon economy, and how to fund it, are hotly debated by political parties. Continue reading...

Health secretary admitted to being frustrated' with approach to governing in interviewSeema Malhotra, a Foreign Office minister, is responding to the urgent question about President Trump's national security strategy (even though it was addressed to the Cabinet Office - see 10.12am.)The Trump document was published at the end of last week. Peter Beaumont has an analysis of it here. Continue reading...

US forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in a major escalation of Donald Trump's campaign against the country's president, Nicolas Maduro, whose government called the seizure an act of international piracy.The Trump administration is facing increasing scrutiny over a series of attacks on boats off the Venezuelan coast. At least 87 people have been killed in 22 known strikes since early September.Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian's deputy head of international news, Devika Bhat - Watch on YouTube. Continue reading...

Law passes despite fears it will normalise Islamophobia' and fact it could be struck down by constitutional courtLawmakers in Austria have voted overwhelmingly to ban headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14, despite concerns the legislation will deepen societal divisions and marginalise Muslims. The law could also be struck down by the country's constitutional court.The ban was proposed earlier this year by Austria's conservative-led government, which took office in March after a far-right party came first in the elections but failed to form a government. Continue reading...

Case involves allegedly allowing state funds for Indigenous projects to be transferred to government officials' accountsBolivia's former president Luis Arce was detained on Wednesday on charges that he enabled illicit enrichment" by allegedly allowing state funds earmarked for Indigenous communities to be transferred into the personal accounts of government officials.Arce served as Bolivia's president until last month, when he handed over the sash to the centre-right former senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira, who won the runoff in an election that ended nearly 20 years of dominance by the leftwing Movement for Socialism, or Movimiento al Socialismo (Mas). Continue reading...

NSW housing policy states higher density developments must allocate some affordable' units - but in some suburbs these can still fetch up to $1,000 a week

With 53-day wait time for aged care assessment, advocate says some doctors are advising elderly to be admitted to hospital to speed up referral

Greens MP condemns pathetic' level of funding to deal with lead contamination in state's far west

Sarah Mullally accused of mishandling abuse complaint against priest in London, where she serves as bishopThe Church of England is reviewing a complaint against the incoming archbishop of Canterbury over her handling of an abuse allegation.Dame Sarah Mullally is due to take up the role next month after Justin Welby was forced to resign over the way he dealt with a safeguarding scandal. Continue reading...

Lullaby features Palestinian singer, lyrics written by Peter Gabriel and artists including Eno and CelesteThe Together for Palestine fund is trying to get a Palestinian lullaby to Christmas No 1 in the UK charts in an effort to help provide aid to the people of Gaza, but also showcase their culture and creativity.The musician Brian Eno, who performs on the track, said Lullaby, which will be released on Friday, is a chance to support Palestinians over Christmas and potentially stage an unlikely coup by getting to No 1. Continue reading...

Maria Corina Machado thanks those who risked their lives to help her travel to Oslo and says she is hopeful Venezuela will be free'

The mashup Satisfaction Skank was unofficial for years but band allow Norman Cook to remake it using original stems of their 1965 hitA classic bootleg recording by Fatboy Slim which samples the Rolling Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction has finally been released, as the band give it their blessing after 25 years.Satisfaction Skank was a familiar track on turn-of-the-century dancefloors, as Fatboy Slim mashed up his own 1999 hit The Rockafeller Skank with the Stones' 1965 classic, hurling Keith Richards' iconic guitar riff into the big beat" sound of the late 90s. Continue reading...

Gavin Morris, a former NRL referee, found guilty of putting pupils in choke holds and twisting their ears

Attorney general Deb Frecklington says ban was a financial gerrymander' because it didn't apply to trade unions

Former chancellor also says Johnson was least well briefed' of the PMs he had servedSajid Javid told Boris Johnson he was a puppet" of Dominic Cummings before he resigned as chancellor rather than accept a Cummings-led takeover of his Treasury, he has said in an interview about his experiences as a minister.Speaking to the Institute for Government (IfG), Javid also said that his other departure from Johnson's government, shortly before it collapsed in 2022, was because he had lost confidence in the prime minister after being assured that allegations about lockdown-breaking parties in No 10 were bullshit". Continue reading...

Some businesses still waiting for final EHRC guidance while firms that moved early to exclude trans people show no sign of backtrackingOn Monday, a Dundee employment tribunal ruled a narrow win for Sandie Peggie, the nurse who complained about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor. But the lengthy judgment also takes on the pivotal question that has been challenging employers, lawyers and campaign groups since April - does a supreme court judgment mean that transgender people must now be excluded from same-sex facilities that align with their chosen gender? Does it amount to a bathroom ban or not?The supreme court ruled earlier this year that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. Interim advice released by the Equality and Human Rights Commission soon after the judgment in effect banned trans people from using facilities according to their lived gender, and its official guidance is expected to closely reflect that advice. Continue reading...