World news | The Guardian

Corporation is risking its reputation by making an example of its highest-paid star over his tweets on asylum policyThe BBC’s decision to take Gary Lineker off air leaves its most outspoken personality with a potentially career-defining decision, as the corporation looks to risk its reputation to make a public example of one of its biggest stars.Lineker’s politically loaded tweets about the government’s new asylum policy – followed by a pledge to stand by his comments – had left the BBC in an almost impossible position, balancing impartiality with freedom of expression by its staff. Continue reading...

Nadja De Jager, 47, Alexander and Maximus were found at a house in Belvedere after officers forced entryPolice have identified a mother and two boys who were found dead at a house in south London, describing it as a “deeply sad case”.Nadja De Jager, 47 and her sons, Alexander, nine, and seven-year-old Maximus, were pronounced dead at the scene in Belvedere, south London, after officers forced their way in on Thursday. Continue reading...

Court cites France’s constitution in ruling that only French is allowed in exercise of public office on CorsicaA court in Corsica has prompted outrage by banning the use of the Corsican language in the island’s local parliament.The court in the city of Bastia cited France’s constitution it its ruling on Thursday that French was the only language allowed in the exercise of public office. Continue reading...

BBC presenter has been no stranger to controversy before his latest comments about Suella Braverman

British PM arrives in Paris for summit with Macron and marks clear departure from Boris Johnson’s stanceThe war in Ukraine will end at the negotiating table, Rishi Sunak has said, as he vowed to support Volodymyr Zelenskiy to be in the “best possible place to have those talks”.While the prime minister indicated that now is not the time for those peace talks, he recommitted to providing additional support to Ukraine to ensure it has an advantage on the battlefield. Continue reading...

Investigation will only ‘establish facts’ surrounding the claims against deputy PM, on which Sunak will then ruleRishi Sunak is facing fresh calls to order an independent judgment on whether Dominic Raab bullied civil servants, after complainants said they were concerned that the inquiry will not make a final ruling.Raab is under investigation over eight separate complaints across three ministerial departments. The inquiry is likely to be complete within the next month. Continue reading...

Met Office issues three amber warnings with significant disruption to transport and power expectedStorm Larisa battered parts of the UK, with gales and blizzards causing widespread travel disruption and the closure of hundreds of schools.Motorists on the M62 were stranded overnight with mountain rescue teams coming to the aid of some drivers. Continue reading...

This live blog has now closed, you can read more on this story hereThe UK government should reverse “damaging” plans to tackle illegal migration, a senior member of the Scottish Cabinet has warned, adding that SNP ministers are exploring whether the legislation requires Holyrood’s consent, which they would not give.PA reports:The Scottish government does not support the Bill for a variety of reasons and urges you to reverse your plans and not progress this damaging Bill.It will cost money, it has cost money and of course we will be negotiating how we fund that joint work to prevent those migration attempts across the Channel.I’m not going to speculate as to the outcomes of the negotiation but we have been spending money doing this, it’s right and proper that we do and of course we will be spending money in the future. Continue reading...

Woman tells murder trial how Thomas Cashman arrived at her home in agitated state on night of the shootingThe older brother of Olivia Pratt-Korbel has told of how he “knew it was over” when the nine-year-old was not responding to CPR after being shot in the chest.Ryan Korbel said Olivia’s lips had turned blue despite attempts from a neighbour to save her life following the shooting by a masked gunman – alleged to be Thomas Cashman, 34 – in her home in Liverpool on 22 August last year. Continue reading...

Event in which pilots fly over 500 mph at 15 metres off the ground has been evicted from its host airportThe Reno air races, billed as the world’s fastest motor sport in which pilots fly upwards of 500 mph (800 kmh) at 50 feet (15 metres) off the ground, will hold its final event in the Nevada city after being evicted from the airport, the organisers have said.The competition’s board of directors announced in a statement that “with heavy hearts” the September 2023 race would be the last held at the airfield. Continue reading...

Officers were told of concerns about mental health of man who went on to shoot dead four men, two women and an unborn babyA tipoff was received two months ago by the authorities in Hamburg about the gunman who went on to kill seven people including an unborn baby in a Jehovah’s Witness hall, but he had persuaded officials not to take away his gun.An anonymous letter was received by the weapons control authority in January raising concerns about a man named by German police as Philipp F, 35, saying that he appeared angry with his former fellow church members, but officers had found no reason for concern when they visited him last month. Continue reading...

Embassies to reopen in move that could have wide implications for Iran nuclear deal and Yemen warIran and Saudi Arabia, the two great oil-producing rivals of the Middle East, have agreed to restore ties and reopen embassies seven years after relations were severed.The agreement came after Chinese-brokered talks held in Beijing. “As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies … within two months,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported, citing a joint statement. Continue reading...

Bid to maintain ‘strategic equilibrium’ through the Aukus pact and a better relationship with Beijing is quite the needle to thread

Marist Brothers approach in seeking to halt a survivor’s case over a clergy member’s death would be ‘absolutely perverse’, court hears

Labor needs to pick up nine seats, but if neither major party can get to 47 seats the crossbench will determine the next premier

Polar air brings snow to the UK and Finland while temperatures are forecast to reach 30C in southern SpainA tumultuous week of weather has been affecting Europe, with a significant contrast between the north and south of the continent. Across parts of south-east Spain temperatures have been reaching the high 20s this week, and this weekend places such as Valencia and Alicante may reach 30C or a little higher. For Valencia this is about 10C above the climatological average for a mid-March day.In stark contrast, northern Europe, particularly in parts of Finland and the UK, has been unseasonably cold, with polar air shooting southwards at times. So far this month, temperatures have been more than 2C below average around the UK, and on Thursday parts of northern England and Wales experienced the heaviest snow of the winter. Temperatures also dropped to -16C in northern Scotland. Continue reading...

Thirty-five-year-old woman had been hospitalised with injuries sustained at Sunday’s concert in Rochester, New YorkA third person has died after a crowd surge at a concert by US rapper GloRilla.Aisha Stephens, 35, of Syracuse, had been hospitalised after the incident at the concert on Sunday evening in Rochester, New York. Two other women, Rhondesia Belton, 33, and Brandy Miller, 35, died in hospital after being injured. Continue reading...

Bernard Looney’s £10m pay package follows annual profits of £23bn linked to soaring gas prices sparked by Russia-Ukraine warA payout for the boss of BP has been labelled a “kick in the teeth” for consumers battling the cost of living crisis, as chief executive Bernard Looney saw his pay package more than double to £10m after the oil and gas giant landed record profits linked to the war in Ukraine.His package included a salary of £1.4m, a bonus of £2.4m – down fractionally on 2021 – and a £6m share award, as well as benefits. The total package was 120% more than the £4.5m he received in 2021. Continue reading...

Image released of man who allegedly doused 82-year-old in liquid before setting him on fire outside West London Islamic CentrePolice are searching for a suspect who they believe set an 82-year-old man on fire outside a west London mosque last month.The Metropolitan police have released an image of the man, who allegedly doused the victim in a liquid believed to be petrol before setting him on fire using a lighter, at around 8pm on 27 February. Continue reading...

Exclusive: union says severely ill patients being discharged as they are not getting better quickly enoughSeverely unwell eating disorder patients who are not responding to treatment are being discharged owing to a rationing of care, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has said.Patients with extremely low body mass indexes are being dumped from treatment plans in some areas because they are not getting better quickly enough amid increased demand and pressure on services. Admissions for eating disorders have risen by 84% in the past five years. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary says former RAF base in Essex constituency is unsuitable as he enters Paris talks about stopping Channel boatsJames Cleverly has defended his opposition to a new immigration detention centre in his own constituency, even as he urges his French counterparts to do more to solve the small boats issue.The foreign secretary insisted that a former RAF base in his Essex constituency of Braintree would not be suitable for 1,500 male asylum seekers, despite the site having been shortlisted by the Home Office as potential accommodation. Continue reading...

Coronation sets up Xi, who has overseen consolidation of power, to become modern China’s longest-serving head of stateXi Jinping has been handed an unprecedented third term as president, capping an ascent in which he has become China’s most powerful leader in generations.In a carefully choreographed ceremony in Beijing, Xi held up his right fist and placed his left hand on a red leather copy of China’s constitution. In the oath – beamed live on state television across China – he vowed to “build a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilised, harmonious and great modern socialist country”. Continue reading...

Inquiry into the unlawful scheme, which ran from 2015 to 2019, is ongoing. This blog is now closed

Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounce ‘brutal act’ as police search for motive for mass shooting in northern cityGermany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has denounced a “brutal act of violence” after a shooting that reportedly left at least seven people dead and dozens injured at a Jehovah’s Witness centre in Hamburg on Thursday night. The police said the gunman was believed to be dead and that the motive remained unclear.Scholz said his thoughts were with the victims, while the Jehovah’s Witnesses community in Germany said its members had been targeted in a “horrific attack”. Continue reading...

The disease, which has killed 1,500 people since last March, has been aggravated by heavy rains and an overburdened health systemMalawi’s cholera outbreak is the country’s deadliest on record, claiming more than 1,500 lives, according to the UN.More than 50,000 cases have been detected in the landlocked country in south-east Africa since an outbreak was declared in March last year, triggered by two devastating tropical storms that hit the region. Almost 200 children have died. Continue reading...

Comments from NSW premier’s woman of the year come as government minister rules out progress on treaty if re-elected

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit was disrupted by protests against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed judicial changesThe Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, has expressed his concerns over rising levels of violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and warned against acts that could trigger more insecurity.The US defence secretary’s talks in Israel came as Israeli police killed three suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank and a Hamas gunman shot and wounded three people on a Tel Aviv street. Continue reading...

Tamsyn White, who was detained with the Indigenous woman, tells hearing she asked officers to take Tilberoo to the hospital

Ex-PM has been accused of stopping a police investigation into former staff members at a universityFormer Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama has been released on bail and said he “served with integrity,” after pleading not guilty to abusing his power as prime minister by stopping a police investigation.“I served as prime minister with integrity and with the interests of all Fijians at heart,” he told reporters outside a courtroom in Suva on Friday. Continue reading...

Doctors and advocates says move ‘not acceptable’ after judge asked a woman feeding her child while observing a trial to leave

Andrew Abdo has promised the NRL will do all it can to protect its players and eradicate racist fans, after Latrell Mitchell was allegedly abused

This blog is now closed. You can read our story on the attack below:

Match of the Day host says he does not fear BBC suspension for comparing government language to that of 1930s Germany

Health secretary said Forbes had ‘given our opponents so much ammunition’ after she criticised his track record in governmentHumza Yousaf has told Kate Forbes that the Scottish Tories are “rooting for you to win so that your words are on every single leaflet”, as the first UK-wide televised debate between SNP leadership contenders saw further clashes between the frontrunners, while polling for the Channel 4 hosts suggested the contest remains too close to call.Referring to heated exchanges at first minister’s questions earlier on Thursday, when Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross jeered that finance secretary Forbes had “torched” the Scottish government’s record, Yousaf said: “What unfortunately happened in the last TV debate, Kate, was that you essentially gave our opponents so much ammunition to attack us with.” Continue reading...

Paris gathering is first such UK-France summit in five yearsRishi Sunak and a series of his ministers are heading to Paris for a summit at which he will push Emmanuel Macron to assist him over Channel migrant crossings – but with little apparent chance of securing an immediate deal on returning people.The gathering in Paris, the first such UK-France summit in five years, is also based around wider bilateral issues such as defence and Ukraine. However, for Sunak’s domestic focus, it seems set to be dominated by the issue of small boats. Continue reading...

Placing of media boss on resignation honours list despite previous rejection puts Rishi Sunak in difficult positionBoris Johnson has once again nominated Paul Dacre for a peerage as part of a pared-back resignation honours list despite the Daily Mail chief having previously been rejected by the appointments watchdog, the Guardian has learned.Sources with knowledge of the list have said that Johnson has put forward Dacre’s name for a second time. He had been knocked back last autumn after reported doubts raised by the House of Lords appointments commission. Continue reading...

Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf take part in debate hosted by Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-MurthyLucy Frazer won’t be happy. (See 10.40am.) Interviewed by reporters leaving home this morning, Gary Lineker said that he had had a conversation with the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie. He would not reveal what was said. “We chat often,” was all Lineker said.But Lineker did not look chastened. In fact, he was smiling like a Cheshire cat. Asked if he regretted sending his tweet, he replied “No,” and, asked if he stood by what he said, he replied, “Of course.” Continue reading...

Lafrenz was arrested twice by the Gestapo and eventually liberated in April 1945 and settled in the USThe last surviving member of the White Rose resistance movement, which urged Germans to stand up against Nazi tyranny during the second world war, has died, according to the group’s historical foundation.Traute Lafrenz died at her home in South Carolina on Monday at the age of 103, the group said in a statement on Thursday, paying tribute to her “courageous resistance and lasting testimony”. Continue reading...

Mother of murdered Hull student says incidents should be treated as red flags for more serious sex offencesJust weeks before Libby Squire was raped, murdered and dumped in a river, a stranger exposed himself to her on her way home.Her mother, Lisa Squire, said the assault left the 21-year-old University of Hull student feeling “absolutely furious”. “But I never thought to say to her, you need to report that, you need to ring the police, and she didn’t report it either,” said Squire. “We’re almost conditioned to ignore indecent exposure. I didn’t know better then, but I know better now.” Continue reading...

Joe Ucuzoglu posts 20-minute video to Deloitte’s public websiteDeloitte’s chief executive has launched a thinly veiled criticism of rival EY after its controversial plans to split the business into two were thrown into turmoil.EY initially announced plans for a radical breakup of its global operations last year, that would separate its audit and advisory businesses. Continue reading...

Alexander Lukashenko signs bill allowing execution of officials and military personnel for harming national securityBelarus’s authoritarian president has signed a bill introducing capital punishment for state officials and military personnel convicted of high treason.The amendments to the country’s criminal code endorsed by President Alexander Lukashenko envisage death sentences for officials and service personnel who cause “irreparable damage” to Belarus’s national security through acts of treason. Continue reading...

Marathon trial, which lasted a year and a half, sees people convicted on charges ranging from gang membership to murderFifteen people have been convicted on charges ranging from gang membership and gun possession to murder, in a landmark gang-busting trial hailed by Jamaican authorities as a major blow to one of the island’s deadliest criminal organisations.Twelve other defendants were acquitted and the cases against five others were not pursued, but police and prosecutors described the verdicts this week as historic. One defendant was murdered while on bail. Continue reading...

Police estimate 60,000 people joined protests across Greece called by labour unions and student groupsA further three railway employees are to face criminal charges in connection with the train crash last week, Greece’s worst ever, that left 57 dead and scores injured.Judicial authorities investigating the head-on collision of two locomotives in Tempe pressed the charges as outrage over the tragedy showed little sign of abating. Marching through Athens on Thursday, student protesters screamed “murderers” as they directed their fury at state officials blamed for an accident many believe could have been avoided had the nation’s rail network not been so neglected. Most of those killed were young with at least a third of the victims enrolled at university. Continue reading...

Birmingham to Crewe stretch put on hold and major roadbuilding schemes slowed in response to inflation surgeHS2 will be delayed by another two years and major roadbuilding schemes will be mothballed, ministers have confirmed, after soaring inflation added billions to the cost of transport infrastructure projects.Ministers insisted they remained committed to Britain’s high-speed rail network scheme, but the budget constraints have cast further doubt over prospects for the rail project’s full implementation. Continue reading...

City called off its dogs and said it would review its sign approval process after canine owners called the prohibition ‘lunacy’Officials in Canada’s most populous city have their tails between their legs after they were forced to call off an effort to stop dogs barking in local parks.Inhabitants of Toronto are grudgingly accustomed to a daily soundtrack of city life: gridlocked traffic, rumbling trucks, heavy machinery and noisy neighbours. Continue reading...

In video played to jury, Cheryl Korbel recounts seeing bullet wound in daughter’s chest after masked gunman opened fireThe mother of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was shot dead in her home in Liverpool last August, has described seeing a bullet wound in her daughter’s chest after a masked gunman opened fire into her home.Cheryl Korbel recounted how the nine-year-old was “gasping for breath” after being shot by a man, alleged to have been 34-year-old Thomas Cashman. Continue reading...

Increase expected in spring budget, which could also mandate upfront childcare payments from DWPMinisters are considering allowing parents on universal credit to claim back more cash on childcare as a way of easing rising cost of living pressures.The government’s childcare offer is also expected to help boost the number of childminders by making it easier for them to register with agencies rather than signing up via Ofsted. Continue reading...

Harbour Energy says it had to cut jobs and investment at same time as announcing new shareholder payouts taking total to $1bnThe North Sea’s biggest producer has complained that the windfall tax on oil and gas companies “all but wiped out” its profits last year, at the same time announcing new shareholder payouts that take the total to $1bn since the end of 2021.Harbour Energy said on Thursday its pre-tax profits rose by nearly 700% in 2022 to $2.5bn (£2.1bn) on higher production and bigger margins making it the latest oil and gas company to report a huge increase in underlying profits, after the war in Ukraine pushed up wholesale gas prices and sent household bills soaring. Continue reading...

Dominion Voter Systems asks judge to rule in its favour without a full trial as cable news network frames case as free speech issueDominion Voter Systems and Fox News have exchanged further barbs in the $1.6bn defamation case brought by the voting machine company against the rightwing US cable news network over its broadcast of Donald Trump’s lie that his 2020 defeat by Joe Biden was the result of electoral fraud.In a court filing, Dominion asked a judge to decide the case in its favour because, it said, Fox News had “produced no evidence – none, zero – supporting those lies. Continue reading...

Soldiers and analysts suggest defending city has become more of a political than practical issue, as Russian push continues