World news | The Guardian

Chicken used in dog treat was cultivated from single sample of cells taken from one egg, says manufacturer MeatlyA dog treat made from lab-grown meat has gone on sale at Pets at Home in a move the retailer claims is a world first.Chick Bites are made from plant-based ingredients combined with cultivated meat, which is produced by growing cells and does not require the raising or slaughter of animals. Continue reading...

The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, condemns Australian government's response as pathetic'

Hokkaido and the Japan Sea coast have been hardest hit, forcing domestic airlines to cancel flights between cities in the region and TokyoLarge parts of Japan have been blanketed with snow, as the lowest temperatures this winter disrupted rail and air travel, amid warnings that more heavy snowfall was expected through the weekend.Residents struggled to dig out cars that had been buried by snow in just a few hours, with the meteorological agency describing the cold front as the strongest in several years". Continue reading...

Departures halted on popular walking trail and warnings issued for west coast towns as fires ignited by dry lightning remain out of control

Forecasters warn of more wet weather in some locations, including Townsville, as soldiers assist in recovery efforts

Move likely to deepen political rift between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos JrPhilippine vice-president Sara Duterte has been impeached on a range of accusations that include plotting to assassinate the president, large-scale corruption and failing to strongly denounce China's aggressive actions against Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea.Wednesday's move by legislators in the House of Representatives, many of them allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, deepens a bitter political rift between the two highest leaders of one of Asia's most rambunctious democracies. Continue reading...

Poll of polls' gives prime minister's Bharatiya Janata party a majority in the Delhi assembly, which would oust the reformist Aam Aadmi party (AAP)Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's party appears poised to win Delhi state elections, a victory that would end a 27-year drought, according to voter exit polls.If the projections hold, the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) is set to end the reformist Aam Aadmi party's (AAP) nearly decade-long rule in the national capital region and reclaim the Delhi assembly. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Former Labor senator says government's hate crimes compromise is a short-term political assessment'

Experts say discovery raises questions about wider spread of virus and difficulty of controlling infections in animalsDairy cattle in Nevada have been infected with a new type of bird flu that's different from the version that has spread in US herds since last year, agriculture department officials said on Wednesday.The detection indicates that distinct forms of the virus known as type A H5N1 have spilled over from wild birds into cattle at least twice. Experts said it raises new questions about wider spread and the difficulty of controlling infections in animals and the people who work closely with them. Continue reading...

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Prime minister vows to push past nimbyism' and calls on tech firms to help build small modular reactors to power AI datacentresKeir Starmer will unveil plans for a historic expansion in nuclear power across England and Wales, pledging to use Labour's large majority to make new sites across the country available for new power stations.The announcement follows the prime minister's call for tech companies to work alongside the government to build small modular reactors (SMRs) to power energy intensive AI datacentres across Britain. Continue reading...

The UK's food supply has been threatened by recent events, such as the war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemicUrgent action is needed to secure the UK's food supply in the face of climate change-induced extreme weather, the imposition of tariffs and global insecurity, a report has warned.Days after the US president, Donald Trump, warned Europe would be next for tariffs on trade after he imposed tax levies on Canada, China and Mexico, the report said the UK's post-second world war food system was no longer fit for purpose, and the country's food security was in a precarious state. Continue reading...

Tory leader wants Labour immigration bill to include 10-year residence before granting of indefinite leave to remainForeign workers will have to live in the UK for 10 years without claiming any kind of benefit before being allowed indefinite leave to remain under plans announced by the Conservatives on Wednesday.Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said she would push for changes to the government's immigration bill to double the length of time it takes to qualify for settled status, as part of her party's latest promise to crack down on immigration. Continue reading...

Rothschild & Co investigated complaint against the late financier in 2003 and he left shortly afterwardsThe financier Sir Evelyn de Rothschild left the bank that bears his family name in 2004 after an investigation into a sexual misconduct complaint, it has emerged.Staff at Rothschild & Co were told on Wednesday that the late banker, who was a financial adviser to Queen Elizabeth II, left in March 2004 after the complaint in late 2003. Continue reading...

Property from which Sheikh Hasina's father declared break from Pakistan attacked due to link with authoritarianismThousands of protesters in Bangladesh have taken out their anger at exiled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina by destroying a family home that came to symbolise the country's independence - and now, they say, the authoritarianism they believe she stood for.The attack was sparked by a speech that Hasina planned to give to supporters from exile in neighbouring India, where she fled last year during a deadly student-led uprising against her 15-year rule. Critics had accused her of suppressing dissent. Continue reading...

Clashes break ceasefire days before Rwandan and Congolese presidents attend crisis summitRebels of the M23 armed group and allied Rwandan forces have launched a new offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), days before the Rwandan and Congolese presidents are due to attend a crisis summit.The UN said the battle for the key city of Goma, which M23 and Rwandan troops seized last week, had left at least 2,900 people dead - far higher than the previous death toll of 900. Continue reading...

Man charged over incident in Richmond says everyone had consented', including shop manager who killed himselfAn alleged robbery in which 1.38m worth of watches were stolen from a shop in London was staged" and everyone involved consented", including a jewellery store manager who later killed himself, a court has heard.Junior Kunu, 30, and Mannix Pedro, 37, deny charges of conspiring with others to commit a robbery in Richmond, south-west London, on 25 May 2024. A total of 70 watches were stolen from the 247 Kettles shop. Continue reading...

Former nurse is serving 15 whole-life terms in prison yet an appeal is not guaranteed despite findings of expert panelDespite 14 leading experts concluding there was no medical evidence" that Lucy Letby murdered babies, there is no guarantee that her case will be sent back to the court of appeal - let alone quickly.Letby's fate now sits with the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the miscarriage of justice body that has the power to refer convictions back for appeal, and what the outcome will be remains uncertain. Continue reading...

Timetable for Angela Rayner's devolution plans shows many new authorities may not be ready until 2027 or laterSome councillors in England could stay in their role for more than an extra year after Angela Rayner halted their local elections as part of her devolution plans, the Guardian understands.Under the revamp, polls due in May in nine councils are being postponed as part of efforts to combine some authorities and introduce six elected mayors. Continue reading...

Oscar nominee Jacques Audiard has called the social media behaviour of the actor hateful' in a new interviewThe director of Emilia Perez, Jacques Audiard, has responded to the controversial unearthed tweets of his Oscar-nominated star Karla Sofia Gascon, branding them hateful".The French film-maker, who is also nominated for the best director Oscar, has expressed disappointment over the social media behaviour of Gascon, who had shown bigoted views towards people of colour, Muslims and increased diversity at the Oscars. Continue reading...

Normal service resumes after initial suspension, in latest episode of growing trade war between the US and China

It does not seem to occur to US administration that to the rest of the world they might seem to be advocating a second NakbaDonald Trump's vision of Gaza as a US-administered Riviera stripped of Palestinians indulges the fantasies of Israel's extremist right, but also, if taken seriously, builds on an expansionist foreign policy that Trump has articulated since he took on the presidency. The outlook is more akin to mid-19th century US imperial thinking than the era of isolationism his election appeared to herald.Indeed the one moment Benjamin Netanyahu did not look delighted at Tuesday's joint press conference was when Trump, negotiating in real time, referred to the US as being opposed to Israeli ownership of Gaza. Continue reading...

National Rally and Socialists did not back motion tabled by hard-left France Unbowed for forcing through budgetThe French prime minister, Francois Bayrou, has survived an initial confidence vote in parliament called for by the hard left, after the far-right National Rally (RN) and centre-left Socialists did not back the motion against him.On Wednesday, 128 lawmakers voted in favour of the first motion of no confidence, well short of the 289 votes that were needed. Continue reading...

US military academy clubs include Society of Women Engineers, Latin Cultural Club and an LGBTQ+ support group

Some civil servants determined to stick it out' as president and Elon Musk push for mass resignations: We're not even sure what is being offered is legal'

Southport killer was referred to Prevent three times but there was sufficient concern case should have been kept activeThis is from Max Kendix from the Times.EXCLUSIVE: More than five million lose the chance to vote in local elections this year. Elections cancelled in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Thurrock, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire and Isle of Wight - replaced with elections to new unitary councils in 2026 Continue reading...

Eleven people, including attacker, died in country's worst mass shooting with two more in intensive care

Tories call for police investigation into whether Labour leader broke lockdown rules when preparing Brexit speech

Gallery, whose success its director says others have learned from, is now expected to reopen in spring 2027We want to fling open the windows, let the light bounce in," said the architect Stephanie Macdonald in a building that has been known for being the opposite.You will get spectacular views of the Mersey," said Helen Legg, the director of Tate Liverpool. It is going to be magical for people." Continue reading...

Premier Chris Minns flags new measures, which would make certain types of protests a criminal offence, in response to racial hatred and antisemitism'

Lawsuit says its definition of harmful materials' forbidden to under 18s is vague and overbroad' and puts librarians at riskA group of major publishers in the US are suing the state of Idaho over a book-banning law.HB 710, enacted last July, forbids anyone under the age of 18 from accessing books deemed harmful to minors", including those depicting sexual conduct", in school or public libraries. Continue reading...

Combs denies wrongdoing alleged in three new lawsuits filed against rapper and mogul, including claim he effectively imprisoned' male adult entertainerA fresh round of lawsuits alleging sexual assault have been filed against Sean Diddy" Combs, though the rapper and mogul continues to deny wrongdoing.On Tuesday, a man filing in New York's Southern District court anonymously as John Doe alleged that Combs coerced him into sex acts over a number of years. The man, who worked as an adult entertainer in Las Vegas, claims he was hired by Combs in 2007 to perform a strip show, and was subsequently booked on other occasions lasting until 2012 at hotel rooms and Combs residences across the US. Continue reading...

Saints attorney maintains disclosure of messages showing team execs' aid in softening media coverage was violation'An attorney whose lawsuit discovered the existence of emails showing how top executives at the NFL's Saints and NBA's Pelicans tried to help New Orleans' Roman Catholic archdiocese soften critical news coverage about the church's management of a clergy-abuse scandal has challenged the sports teams' assertions that the communications were protected by a court order.Nonetheless, an attorney for the Saints on Tuesday issued a statement doubling down on his position that the material's disclosure to the press was a violation of [a] court order protecting them". Continue reading...

Cost efficiencies' programme planned for UK arm rocked by car loan commission scandal last NovemberStaff at Santander UK are bracing themselves for further job losses, as the bank confirmed it would push ahead with a cost-cutting programme after a 38% drop in full-year profits.An earnings report by the Madrid-based Banco Santander released on Wednesday showed that the UK was its only region to suffer a slump in profits for 2024, apart from a South American arm comprising Peru, Uruguay and Colombia. Continue reading...

Scientists in Nigeria found the insects carry infections resistant to last-resort antibiotics, adding to fears about superbugsFlies buzzing between beds may be spreading drug-resistant bugs among patients in hospitals, according to new research.Researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) found that houseflies in Nigerian hospitals carry bacteria resistant to some key antibiotics, including those used only as a last resort. Continue reading...

Atrocity follows escape of thousands of male inmates amid chaos as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seize eastern DRC cityHundreds of women were raped and burned alive during the chaos after a Rwandan-backed rebel group entered the Congolese city of Goma last week.The female inmates were attacked in their wing inside Goma's Munzenze prison during a mass jailbreak, according to a senior UN official. Continue reading...

Teenager was arrested after stabbing of Harvey Willgoose, also 15, at All Saints Catholic high school on MondayA 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of another boy at a school in Sheffield.Harvey Willgoose, 15, was stabbed on Monday at All Saints Catholic high school, where he was a pupil. Continue reading...

Six teal independents who defeated Liberals MPs at 2022 election all spent more than Labor's proposed cap in their successful campaigns

This blog is now closed

This blog is now closed

Thousands of locals and tourists have fled Greek island amid fears of bigger earthquake or volcanic eruptionOn the second day of feeling the ground shake under her feet, Veroniki Balabonidi decided it was to time to leave Santorini. At 4.30am on Sunday she and her two young children were on a ferry bound for the port of Piraeus, surrounded by other families fleeing the Aegean isle.It was absolutely packed with residents like us who had had enough of the uncertainty," she said, speaking from the home of her parents-in-law in Athens. Continue reading...

Indigenous woman's mother accuses Labor of trampling on our graves' as Anthony Carbines disputes coroner's findings

This blog is closed. Follow the latest on our new live blog hereThe second Israeli soldier killed in the attack at a military checkpoint in the West Bank earlier today has been named as 43-year-old reservist Avraham Tzvi Tzivka Friedman.The other man killed was earlier named as Ofer Yung, 39, a squad commander from Tel Aviv. Continue reading...

Inspectorate points to challenges including ban on using washing machines for knickers and difficulties with family contactWomen in prison are resorting to self-harm because of astonishing gaps" in basic services including strict time limits when contacting their children and bans from using washing machines for dirty underwear, according to a watchdog's report.A survey of women in prisons in England found that the frustrations of day-to-day life" and a lack of basic care" were driving many to hurt themselves. Continue reading...

Public Accounts Committee examined series of site purchases and found troubling culture that repeatedly wastes public money'The Home Office's plans to house asylum seekers reveal a dysfunctional culture of repeated mistakes and weak internal challenge" that wasted nearly 100m, parliament's spending watchdog has concluded.A Public Accounts Committee report said the department had a troubling culture that repeatedly wastes public money" after examining the acquisition of the 15.4m HMP Northeye site to house new arrivals. Continue reading...

Under current rules, civil child sexual abuse cases must be brought within three years of turning 18Hundreds of child rape survivors, including those targeted by grooming gangs, are expected to pursue their abusers in the courts after ministers scrapped a three-year time limit on compensation claims.Under reforms hailed by campaigners as a watershed moment", ministers said civil claims will no longer have to be brought within three years of a child abuse survivor's 18th birthday. Continue reading...

Perpetrator of shooting at Risbergska campus in Orebro believed to be among the dead, say policeAftonbladet daily is reporting, quoting local authorities, that an air ambulance is on its way to the scene.Separately, Dagens Nyheter daily is reporting a conversation with a manager of a pizza restaurant near the campus, who said 30 to 50 people fled to shooting to shelter there - shocked, but unharmed. Continue reading...

Laura Kyrke-Smith says perinatal mental health care in England is postcode lottery', with disadvantaged women more likely to miss outA new Labour MP will speak in parliament on Wednesday of her anguish over her friend's suicide just 10 weeks after giving birth - despite the friend having repeatedly sought help for her anxiety.Laura Kyrke-Smith, the MP for Aylesbury, will call for more specific mental health support to be embedded in maternity services. Continue reading...

Bereaved told police are looking into possible corporate and individual charges, after alleged negligence and cover-upPolice investigating dozens of deaths at an NHS trust are examining possible corporate and individual manslaughter charges, the Guardian can reveal, as bereaved families call for the executive team to resign.Sussex police are investigating a growing number of cases of alleged cover-up and avoidable harm, including at least 40 deaths, in the general surgery and neurosurgery departments of University hospitals Sussex NHS trust. Continue reading...

Navin Ramgoolam says Keir Starmer expressed confidence about finalising agreement within weeksDowning Street has refused to comment on the prospect of an imminent deal over the Chagos Islands, after the Mauritian prime minister said Keir Starmer had told him he was confident about finalising an agreement in the coming weeks.An interim deal on returning sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which would maintain the key UK-US military base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia, was agreed last year, building on work that began under the Conservative government. Continue reading...