World news | The Guardian

Awaab Ishak’s family say they have no confidence in the board of Rochdale Boroughwide HousingThe family of Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old who died as a result of mould in a social housing flat, have said they have no confidence in the board of the landlord body and called for their mass resignation.In a statement on Thursday after a meeting in Rochdale with Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, they said: “While the current board remains, there is an ever present risk and danger to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing tenants.” Continue reading...

Russian billionaire Denis Sverdlov to swap roles with chair Peter Cuneo after chaotic strategy U-turnThe founder of the electric van start-up Arrival has stepped aside as chief executive shortly after a chaotic strategy U-turn in which it shifted focus from the UK to the US.Denis Sverdlov, a Russian telecoms billionaire, will be replaced by Peter Cuneo, the former head of Marvel Entertainment until its sale to Disney. Cuneo led the stock market listing early last year that injected $660m (£548m) into the company at the height of a global electric vehicle investment frenzy. Continue reading...

Actor, one of several high-profile women to reveal neurodiversity, says diagnosis gives reason ‘for chaos I’ve experienced throughout my life’Nadia Sawalha has revealed that she has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in her late 50s.Speaking on Loose Women on Thursday, Sawalha, 58, revealed that she had been living with the condition since childhood, but was only diagnosed after making a film about ADHD for the daytime show. Continue reading...

‘Systemic’ failures led to inaction on warning signals before murder of five-year-old boy, safeguarding board concludesHealth professionals and local authority staff missed a series of opportunities to protect Logan Mwangi, the five-year-old boy murdered by his mother, her partner and his stepson, a damning review into the tragedy has concluded.Staff saw that Logan, whose body was found in a Welsh river last summer, had suffered a series of “significant” injuries almost a year before he died but did not pass on their concerns. Continue reading...

Insurance issue related to diagnosis blamed for his removal from the Channel 4 show he fronted for 18 yearsTV presenter Jonnie Irwin has claimed that he was removed from hosting duties on Channel 4’s property show A Place in the Sun because he had terminal cancer. He said the production company took the decision on the basis of his cancer diagnosis’ impact on their insurance – leaving him feeling hugely upset.“I feel massively aggrieved. I could work on Escape to the Country – which is the same show, albeit better,” he told Good Morning Britain, of his continued work on the BBC house-hunting programme despite his diagnosis. “You know, I can travel away from home for three to four days. Continue reading...

Detention of Voria Ghafouri, former captain of Tehran club Esteghlal, seen as warning to World Cup teamIranian security forces on Thursday arrested one of the country’s most famous footballers, accusing him of spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and seeking to undermine the national World Cup team.Voria Ghafouri, once a captain of the Tehran club Esteghlal, has been outspoken in his defence of Iranian Kurds, telling the government on social media to stop killing Kurdish people. He has previously been detained for criticising the former Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif. Continue reading...

Mark Harper says all parties want rail dispute to end but RMT general secretary says union will not move to end strikes until ‘reasonable offer is on the table’Neil O’Brien, the health minister, told MPs that 90% of the bids to provide PPE for the government during the pandemic that were processed through the so-called VIP lane (because they were referrals via ministers) were unsuccessful. Referring to the process during the urgent question earlier, he said:Over the course of the programme, due diligence was done on over 19,000 companies, and over 2,600 companies made it through that initial due diligence.With huge demand for PPE, all across the world, and with many countries introducing export bans, our risk appetite had to change.Around 9,000 people came forward, and all ministers will have experienced endless people directly ringing them up to try and help with the huge need that there was at the time.It did not give you any kind of successful guarantee of a contract. Indeed, 90% of the bids that went through it were not successful.I want a sustainable, thriving rail network, but with 20% of passengers not having returned following the Covid pandemic, reform is vital. I would urge all trade union leaders to get back around the table with employers to hammer out the detail of that reform.The government will work to facilitate this and to that end I will be meeting with trade union leaders in the coming days.We’re expecting a positive meeting. We’re [hoping for a] constructive approach. And we’ll see what he says. Continue reading...

Official says country is in ‘fully fledged human rights crisis’ as fact-finding mission launchedThe UN’s human rights council has voted overwhelmingly to set up a fact-finding investigation into human rights abuses in Iran, where an estimated 300 people have been killed and 14,000 arrested since protests began 10 weeks ago.At a special session convened by Germany in Geneva the HRC voted by 25 to six to set up the inquiry, with 15 abstaining. The vote is regarded as a significant victory for human rights defenders, since a mechanism now exists to file evidence of abuses by the state, making the possibility of prosecutions in international courts more likely. Continue reading...

‘Until we get tangible outcome, action will be on,’ says RMT leader after talks with transport secretary

Insurance issue related to diagnosis blamed for his removal from the Channel 4 show he fronted for 18 yearsTV presenter Jonnie Irwin has claimed that he was removed from hosting duties on Channel 4’s property show A Place in the Sun due to having terminal cancer. He said the production company took the decision on the basis of his cancer diagnosis’impact on their insurance – leaving him feeling hugely upset.“I feel massively aggrieved. I could work on Escape to the Country – which is the same show, albeit better,” he told Good Morning Britain, of his continued work on the BBC house-hunting programme despite his diagnosis. “You know, I can travel away from home for three to four days. Continue reading...

Agency’s chief executive tells MPs it is missing its own targets after backlog built up during pandemicAlmost 170,000 motorists with health conditions are waiting for driving licences to be issued as civil servants struggle to clear a backlog of nearly 50,000 applications that built up during the pandemic.DVLA’s chief executive, Julie Lennard, confirmed in evidence to MPs on Thursday that 168,000 medical driving licence applications, including new licences and renewals, were pending as of 23 November. Continue reading...

MPs across house condemn what one called ‘sickening, shameful’ disclosures about Covid procurementThe growing controversy over a PPE company linked to the Tory peer Michelle Mone has sparked an angry reaction in parliament, as MPs demanded an investigation into wider concerns over what one called “absolutely sickening, shameful and unforgivable” instances of politically connected firms profiteering from unusable PPE during the pandemic.Parliamentarians asked ministers for more information about how PPE Medpro was awarded more than £200m in government contracts after it was referred to ministers by Lady Mone. Continue reading...

Latest figures also show nearly a third of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England waiting at least half an hourThe NHS is facing a “perfect winter storm” with 10 times more people in hospital with flu than this time last year, and ambulances experiencing deadly delays when arriving at A&E with sick patients.There were an average of 344 patients a day in hospitals in England with flu last week, more than 10 times the number at the beginning of last December. Continue reading...

Author and patron for torture-survivor charity criticises politicians for encouraging ‘mean spiritedness’Julian Barnes has said Britain is a “bifurcated place nowadays” and accused politicians of encouraging “mean spiritedness”.Barnes, who won the Booker prize in 2011 with The Sense of an Ending, has been a patron of Freedom from Torture – a charity which provides therapeutic care to survivors of torture who seek protection in the UK – for 25 years. Continue reading...

Top security official warns that Tehran military in occupied Ukraine areas will be ‘targeted’

Artistic director of English National Ballet decries Arts Council England move to divert money from capitalOne of the ballet world’s biggest stars has accused Arts Council England of “simplistic” decision-making by transferring arts funding out of London.Tamara Rojo, the outgoing artistic director at English National Ballet, told the BBC that “punishing” the capital would not help anyone, and expressed concern about the UK’s future as a global centre for culture. Continue reading...

Letter from 1547 reveals Spanish king’s fears of a French assassination plot against himA team of researchers have cracked a five century-old code that reveals a rumoured French plot to kill the Roman emperor and king of Spain Charles V.Charles was one of the most powerful men of the 16th century, presiding over a vast empire that took in much of western Europe and the Americas during a reign of more than 40 years. Continue reading...

Daniel Libeskind attacks plans to sell off Cumbrian structure once owned by celebrated modern artistThe architect Daniel Libeskind has slammed plans to sell off a unique Cumbrian barn once owned by the celebrated modernist artist Kurt Schwitters.Merz Barn, near Elterwater, is set to be put up for auction next month after funding could not be found to save the studio, which Schwitters, an anti-fascist artist, had made into artwork in itself. Continue reading...

Northern Ireland minister’s proposal comes as PM denies plans for Swiss-style relationship with EUNorthern Ireland minister, Steve Baker, is proposing reopening the Brexit trade agreement David Frost struck with the EU as a means of fixing the problems caused by the controversial Northern Ireland protocol.The proposals comes as Rishi Sunak moved to quell a rebellion in the Conservative party over suggestions Downing Street was mulling a Swiss-style relationship with the EU to ease wider trade barriers on food and agricultural products. Continue reading...

Green lawn-mowing method part of plans for site which include reviving ancient vineyardsA flock of lawn-mowing sheep have been mobilised to trim unruly grass surrounding the ruins of Pompeii as part of an agricultural initiative for the site that also includes plans to revive ancient vineyards.The 150 sheep arrived in Pompeii on Thursday morning and immediately got to work munching away in an unexcavated section of Regio V, a vast area to the north of the archaeological park. As part of a nine-month experiment, the flock will also be deployed to trim other grassed areas as well as maintain ancient and new vineyards as park authorities seek to boost the production of Pompeii wine. Continue reading...

Challenges lie ahead with soaring inflation, slowing growth and former PM disputing election resultAnwar Ibrahim has been sworn in as the prime minister of Malaysia as five days of post-election deadlock were broken by a moment his supporters say has been two decades in the making.The 75-year-old rose from student activist to deputy prime minister in the 1990s, only to be convicted of sodomy before returning to parliament as opposition leader. Continue reading...

Northamptonshire-based footwear group’s half-year results show 5% fall in profits despite 13% rise in salesDr Martens is to step up the price of its boots by 6%, as it says the cost of labour, energy and supplies, including the bouncy soles and leather, has risen.The Northamptonshire-based footwear group will increase prices for the second year in a row on the classic boot, which currently costs about £159, adding £10 to the price. The rise will come next autumn to reflect higher production costs that the company has now locked in over the course of next year. Continue reading...

Irene Montero championed law after revulsion following ‘wolfpack’ gang-rape in PamplonaRight and far-right Spanish politicians have used the controversy surrounding Spain’s new “only yes means yes” consent law to launch bitterly sexist and personal attacks on Irene Montero, the Podemos MP and equality minister who championed the legislation.The law, introduced by Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government after the fury and revulsion that followed the so-called “wolfpack” gang-rape in Pamplona six years ago, made sexual consent a key factor in sexual assault cases. Continue reading...

Bill criminalises promotion of ‘non-traditional sexual relations’ as Moscow pushes conservative values

Nicola Sturgeon says tying general election to independence is only lawful way for Scots to express their willScottish opposition leaders will refuse to engage with Nicola Sturgeon’s plan to run the next general election as a de facto independence referendum, after the first minster said it was the only lawful way for Scots to express their will.Following Wednesday’s unanimous supreme court ruling that the Scottish government cannot hold a second referendum without Westminster’s approval – which four consecutive prime ministers have refused – Sturgeon told a news conference: “We must and we will find another democratic, lawful and constitutional means by which the Scottish people can express their will. In my view, that can only be an election.” Continue reading...

UK cultural institution for central and eastern European people forced to seek alternative supportThe only publicly funded arts and culture organisation for central and eastern European people in Britain is losing its Arts Council funding, which it said would have a devastating impact on communities, including Ukrainian arrivals.Centrala, which supports performers and runs galleries, said its removal from the Arts Council’s national portfolio would have a disproportionate impact on communities from central and eastern Europe (CEE). Continue reading...

Levelling up secretary’s comments come days after coroner said death of toddler Awaab Ishak was caused by exposure to mould

Student archaeologists unearth Huaca Pintada, described as ‘the most exciting and important find of recent years’A team of student archaeologists has rediscovered a 1,000-year-old multicoloured mural depicting a deity surrounded by warriors which was last seen a century ago in northern Peru.Known as the Huaca Pintada, the 30-metre-long wall painted with fantastical images depicting mythical scenes was first found in 1916 by a band of treasure-hunting tomb raiders in Illimo near the city of Chiclayo. Continue reading...

Azka, whose mother died in disaster, probably survived due to being protected by a mattress, while 40 people remain missing in CianjurDriving rain and the danger of landslides disrupted the work of Indonesian rescue workers searching on Wednesday for survivors of an earthquake that killed 271 people, with an official warning that time was running out for anyone trapped.As the search continued, rescuers pulled a five-year-old boy from the rubble, who had survived because he was protected by a mattress. Continue reading...

Tones And I won song of the year for Cloudy Day – the fifth Aria of her career – at the first in-person ceremony since 2019

Arab teams’ performances have changed the mood among Doha’s recent foes who had refused to share in its excitementBefore the biggest event the Middle East has ever hosted, few regional states seemed to share in its neighbour’s excitement.As the host country, Qatar, frantically completed its plans, there were even hints of glee as finishing touches fell short. Potholed atriums, expensive rooms, an overrun airport and even the last-minute beer ban were met with knowing smirks from many Gulf citizens who refused to share in the bonhomie. Continue reading...

Prime minister urged to prevent future tragedies by relatives of 31 refugees who died one year agoSixteen bereaved relatives of 31 refugees who drowned in the Channel have written to Rishi Sunak on the first anniversary of their loved ones’ deaths, urging him to make changes to prevent future tragedies.On 24 November 2021, 31 people slowly froze to death in the Channel. They had repeatedly made SOS calls to French and UK emergency services but no help was sent to them. Of those on board the overcrowded dinghy 27 bodies were recovered. Four are still missing. Continue reading...

With the RBA challenged by the pandemic, surging inflation and calls for reform, one expert says its recent report card has been ‘mixed’The Reserve Bank review is assessing calls for changes to the central bank’s inflation target, the selection of board members and how authorities should manage shocks from asset bubbles to climate change.The review, launched in July with a reporting deadline for next March, has received more than 114 submissions, interviewed 230-plus people and surveyed almost 1,100 current and former RBA staff, the panel told a CEDA briefing in Sydney on Thursday. Continue reading...

Both Labor and the Coalition claim they could achieve forecast surpluses after releasing their costings

Deputy PM’s former private secretaries reportedly preparing to submit formal complaints

Canadian internet celebrity speaks to packed room of rightwing politicians including Pauline Hanson and Matt Canavan at Parliament House

Spokesperson says a ‘small number of roles’ will be lost locally as part of a global restructure of parent company Just Eat Takeaway.com

In today’s newsletter: the UK supreme court shot down a legal attempt to force another vote. But that doesn’t mean the SNP is out of options

Prisons in Xinjiang region ‘are not re-education centres … these are death camps’, says delegate

Bill Shorten tells parliament that using public office to ‘enrich private mates’ is corruption following newspaper report on Coalition MP

The new show, which will explore ageing with the added twist of the migrant experience, leads the ABC TV programming lineup for 2023

Victory in World Cup opener sparks street celebrations and banishes painful memories in Doha of failure to qualify for USA 1994Japan’s shock victory over Germany in Qatar on Wednesday sparked late-night celebrations and calls to mark the Samurai Blue’s momentous feat in their 2022 World Cup opener with a public holiday.The clock was nearing midnight when Takuma Asano rifled Japan’s winner into the roof of the net at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha – a result that had seemed impossible after a poor first half from Japan, playing in their seventh straight World Cup. Continue reading...

Head of Brazil's electoral court rejects claim from outgoing president’s coalition that said voting machines malfunctionedThe head of Brazil’s electoral court has rejected an attempt by outgoing president Jair Bolsonaro’s party to overturn the results of October’s run-off election, which he lost.Alexandre de Moraes, a supreme court justice, also fined the parties in Bolsonaro’s coalition 22.9m reais ($4.3m) for what the court described as bad faith litigation. Continue reading...

Regime refuses to provide consular access as it does not recognise dual nationality, Dfat says

Five-week-old boy was found with ‘distressing’ internal injuries in Daisy Hill in June last year, police say

Volodymyr Zelenskiy calls for UN security council to take action after latest strikes; EU leaders fail to agree on price cap for Russian oil

Airline launches campaign targeting ‘empty nesters’ or people looking for challenge later in life

Guardian analysis of promises targeting single seats shows Labor sandbagging home turf while opponents spend big on marginals

Russia launches 70 missiles in ‘large-scale attack on critical facilities’; cyber-attack hits European parliament after MEPs declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism