World news | The Guardian

Labor will reverse Coalition decision to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This blog is now closed

Film-maker Amiel Courtin-Wilson says Uncle Jack ‘gave people space to be themselves … in a way that afforded them unique dignity’

PM Yair Lapid says he’s ‘deeply disappointed’ in the ‘hasty’ foreign policy shift and has summoned Australia’s ambassador to explain

Fresh protests ignited around Iran by 16-year-old Asra Panahi’s death after schoolgirls assaulted in raid on high school in ArdabilAnother schoolgirl has reportedly been killed by the Iranian security services after she was beaten in her classroom for refusing to sing a pro-regime song when her school was raided last week, sparking further protests across the country this weekend.According to the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, 16-year-old Asra Panahi died after security forces raided the Shahed girls high school in Ardabil on 13 October and demanded a group of girls sing an anthem that praises Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Continue reading...

The Czech-born conductor will take over from Antonio Pappano in 2025. He talks exclusively to the Guardian about what shape the opera house will take under his musical leadershipThe Royal Opera House today announces the appointment of Jakub Hrůša as its music director. Hrůša, 41, will begin his tenure in September 2025. He succeeds Antonio Pappano, who steps down from the post at the end of the 2023-24 season after 22 years in the role – making him the Royal Opera’s longest serving music director. In the 2024-25 season, Hrůša and Pappano will share house responsibilities, and both will appear as special guest conductors.Hrůša was born in the Czech Republic and studied conducting at Prague’s Academy of Performing Arts, where his teachers included Jiří Bělohlávek. He is currently chief conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, a position he has held since 2016, and principal guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic and the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Between 2010 and 2012 he was music director of Glyndebourne on Tour, and he has led opera productions for the Salzburg festival, Vienna State Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Zurich Opera and Frankfurt Opera. Continue reading...

Housing campaigners say growth in holiday lets will turn seaside towns into ‘theme parks for the wealthy’

October meeting notes show Reserve Bank’s smaller hike took into account expected reduced growth due to global inflation

Justice select committee calls Action Fraud ‘unfit for purpose’ as number of victims rises 25% in two yearsThe UK’s justice system is “ill-equipped” to tackle a spiralling fraud epidemic and needs a rapid overhaul, a cross-party committee of MPs has concluded.The justice select committee found that traditional crimes were being wrongly prioritised by police and prosecutors in a report released on Tuesday, and described Action Fraud, the UK’s centre for collating allegations of cybercrime, as “unfit for purpose”. Continue reading...

Former and serving pilots told not to disclose sensitive information, in attempt to ‘mitigate risk’ of schemesBritish defence intelligence is to issue a rare “threat alert”, warning that China’s military is trying to recruit serving and former RAF jet pilots to help train its own air force with generous recruitment packages.Officials expressed “concern and disapproval” of these schemes because they posed “a threat to UK and western interests”. Although they are not explicitly banning pilots from providing training, they aim to take steps to “manage the risk”. Continue reading...

SpaceX CEO says company has withdrawn funding request for system helping to keep war-torn country onlineThe Pentagon is considering paying for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network in war-torn Ukraine, Politico reported on Monday, citing two US officials involved in the discussions.The most likely source of funding would be the US Department of Defense’s Ukraine security assistance initiative, designed to support the country as it fights Russia, the report added. Continue reading...

Fighter plane hits residential building in southern Russian city of Yeysk; Ukraine says it is first all-female exchange with Moscow

Exclusive: Mark Fullbrook said to have acted as Fathi Bashagha’s PR adviser, as officials were lobbied on foreign policyMark Fullbrook, the No 10 chief of staff, accompanied a controversial Libyan politician involved in an attempted military coup to a meeting in the Foreign Office to lobby officials on foreign policy, it has emerged, raising further questions over his influence.Labour has said Fullbrook’s position as Liz Truss’s most senior official is “untenable” after it was revealed that he facilitated unofficial meetings in June with senior cabinet ministers for Fathi Bashagha, a Libyan politician. Bashagha, who is seeking international support as a rival prime minister, has links to the Russian Wagner Group and a military strongman in the east of the country. Continue reading...

Court hears evidence about nurse’s first two alleged victims, twins who suffered sudden collapsesA tearful mother begged medics: “Please don’t let my baby die” as they tried to resuscitate the infant, the trial of the nurse Lucy Letby has heard.Letby, 32, is accused of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of 10 more while working in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital. Continue reading...

Move to reduce duration of help from two years to six months could mean financial cliff edge for millions in April, charities warnThe average annual energy bill will rise to more than £4,000 from April after Liz Truss’s U-turn over her policy to ease the cost of living crisis, according to the sector’s leading forecaster.The price cap for a typical dual-fuel tariff will now be £4,347 in six months’ time if the government does not offer special support, according to the consultancy Cornwall Insight. Continue reading...

Business secretary liaises with Tata Steel and Jingye Group over Port Talbot and Scunthorpe sitesThe business secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has opened talks with Britain’s steelmakers amid concerns that thousands of jobs could be lost from the struggling industry.The government confirmed on Monday it had entered discussions with Tata Steel, owner of the UK’s largest steelworks in Port Talbot, south Wales, and Jingye Group, which bought British Steel out of insolvency in 2020. Continue reading...

Pregnant woman and her partner killed in latest wave of drone strikes on Ukraine’s capital

Nikolai Avtukhovich, leader of group, sentenced to 25 years, says human rights NGO ViasnaA Belarus court has handed down prison sentences ranging from two-and-a-half to 25 years to a dozen opposition activists accused of terrorism and treason, the human rights NGO Viasna has said.Nikolai Avtukhovich, the leader of the activist group, had been sentenced to 25 years, Viasna said on Telegram, in one of the heaviest sentences handed down recently in the reclusive country. Continue reading...

Chancellor says decisions of ‘eye-watering difficulty’ are ahead and admits government partly to blame for market turmoil

First minister says if Scotland won yes vote it would aspire to setting up its own currency and joining EU

Improved offer came as Unite union prepared to ballot members for industrial actionWorkers at London’s biggest bus operator, Go-Ahead, have secured a 10.5% pay deal, heading off the threat of more industrial action in the capital.About 7,700 bus staff, both drivers and engineers, will benefit from the increase, which is slightly ahead of current CPI inflation. Continue reading...

Two suspects appear before judge after body of Lola Daviet was found on Friday not far from her home in north-east of cityFrench police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a 12-year-old girl was discovered in a suitcase outside her home in north-east Paris.The victim, named as Lola Daviet, is believed to have been raped and tortured before being killed. Continue reading...

Lorraine Finlay says state government’s decision means Australia is ‘failing to live up to the promises it made to the world’

Bid follows national broadcaster being turned down last election by Scott Morrison to appear in leaders’ debate despite its broad reach

MP Grace Grace says schools should be ‘supportive environments’, after Livingstone Christian College principal’s investigation

Former member of Corbyn-loyal wing of party was target of tabloid stories during time in parliamentLabour has blocked the former Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad from the shortlist to fight the seat at the next election, a move which has sparked outrage among local campaigners.Dent Coad, who was elected in 2017 in a shock victory over the Conservatives by just 20 votes, is the leader of the Labour group on the council, and lost her seat in 2019 to the Conservatives. Continue reading...

Manchester United footballer is charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviourThe Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on suspicion of attempted rape and other offences.The 21-year-old appeared at Manchester and Salford magistrates court on Monday charged with attempted rape, assault and “repeatedly engaging” in coercive and controlling behaviour. Continue reading...

Sir Mark Rowley says humour cannot be ‘used as an excuse’ after Casey review highlights misogyny and racismThe Metropolitan police commissioner has issued direct orders to officers and staff, saying those who make jokes about violent attacks on women or who fail to stand up to hate speech should expect to be sacked.Sir Mark Rowley issued the instructions, seen by the Guardian, after a review by Louise Casey found racists and misogynists had been left in the ranks of Britain’s biggest police force by a hugely flawed disciplinary system. Continue reading...

UK joins France in saying apparent drone supply for use in Ukraine leaves Iran in breach of 2015 JCPoA

A Message from Ukraine includes 16 speeches selected by the president as well as an introduction setting out what he has learned since the start of the war with RussiaUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy is to publish a collection of his war speeches, which his publisher has described as “a battle cry for the world to speak out and fight for liberty”.A Message from Ukraine will include 16 speeches personally selected by Zelenskiy, which will “explore Ukraine’s journey since 2019”, said publisher Penguin Random House. Continue reading...

Marina Ovsyannikova ‘in Europe’ after leaving country with daughter after being placed on wanted list

Top disease expert warns against prematurely declaring victory over pandemic in interview with the Guardian

Indiscriminate attacks by Russia on Ukraine’s capital sow terror among civilian population

Estate agents Foxtons says an average of 29 renters competed for each property in SeptemberThe average rental in London hit a record £553 a week last month with almost 30 applicants vying for each property, as landlords cashed in on soaring demand and a lack of new properties coming on to the market in the capital.The average rental price in September eclipsed the previous record of £549 set in June, according to the latest data from the estate agents Foxtons, with the fight for property sparking bidding wars, “auditions” and landlords demanding six months to a year rent in advance. Continue reading...

Government’s energy markets financing scheme will also bar dividends to shareholdersEnergy companies attempting to tap a £40bn government scheme to protect them from volatile prices will be blocked from paying bonuses to executives and dividends to shareholders.The energy markets financing scheme (EMFS), devised by the Treasury and the Bank of England, is intended to offer a safety net to help energy firms facing short-term financing problems. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary urged to take action after Hong Kong demonstrator punched and kicked in ManchesterThe UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, is facing demands to take action against the Chinese government after police began inquiries into claims that a pro-democracy protester was attacked inside the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester .The man who was reportedly beaten up, named only as Bob, said he was punched and kicked after being dragged inside the consulate grounds before being rescued by British police and other protesters. A photograph published by VOA Cantonese showed some of his injuries, just below his eyes, which left him bleeding and bruised. Continue reading...

MJ the Musical, based around the making of the singer’s 1992-93 Dangerous world tour, won four Tony awards in New YorkA new musical about Michael Jackson that has been feted in New York yet criticised for its “inherent ickiness” and “sanitised” approach to the singer’s life, is to open in London.MJ the Musical, which was nominated for 10 Tony awards and won in four categories, is written by the Pulitzer prize winner Lynn Nottage and choreographed and directed by Britain’s Christopher Wheeldon. The show is based around the making of Jackson’s 1992-93 world tour to promote his chart-topping album Dangerous. Continue reading...

Announcement ends long debate over whether K-pop group should get exemptionThe seven members of BTS – one of the world’s biggest bands – will perform military service in their native South Korea, their agency has said, ending a long national debate over whether they should receive an exemption.While many fans of the K-pop sensations were hoping the band members would be given special consideration due to their contribution to the South Korean economy and international prestige, the artists will each serve almost two years in the military. Continue reading...

Sir Mark Rowley says police leaders who failed to take action are ‘as guilty as the offender’ in wake of damning review of Met failingsMetropolitan police leaders who have turned a blind eye to racist and misogynist behaviour at Scotland Yard are just as responsible as the perpetrators, the force’s commissioner has said.Sir Mark Rowley vowed to root out those behind the “appalling” culture after a damning review exposed massive failings in how a force weighed down by “systemic” racism and misogyny dealt with wrongdoing in its ranks. Continue reading...

Hitting civilian infrastructure seems to be only effective tactic for Putin’s under-pressure forces

Maythem Kamil Radhi pleads not guilty facilitating the proposed entry of non-citizens into Australia

Richard Blumenthal to sek reassurances from Pentagon that ‘they are on top of’ risk of sharing information with gulf stateA senior Democratic lawmaker has raised alarms about the possibility that sensitive US defense technology could be shared with Russia by Saudi Arabia in the wake of the kingdom’s recent decision to side with Moscow over the interests of the US.Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate armed services committee who has proposed a one-year freeze on weapons sales to Saudi following Opec+’s decision to cut oil production, said he would “dig deeper into the risk” in discussions with the Pentagon. Continue reading...

Leeanne Enoch says email sent to landlords by Brisbane agent comes amid ‘unprecedented pressures’ on market

Daniel Andrews announces a $351m emergency package to begin recovery from the floods

Former nurse, whose husband contracted coronavirus, alleges cruise ship company failed in its duty to take reasonable care of passengers

Move marks a reversal for Fumio Kishida who was reluctant to scrutinise Moonies’ connections with his own lawmakersJapan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, has ordered an investigation into the Unification church as he attempts to revive his political fortunes amid a scandal linking his party to the religious group.Kishida had initially been reluctant to increase scrutiny of the church – whose members are colloquially known as Moonies – but on Monday his education minister, Keiko Nagaoka, said the probe would begin “immediately”. Depending on the outcome, the church could lose its tax-exempt status, media reports said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Former PM Scott Morrison’s decision to formally recognise West Jerusalem has now been reversed by Labor government

Exclusive: total number of homes with at least one subscription fell by 937,000 from January to SeptemberAlmost 1m British households have given up on the streaming revolution so far this year, as the cost of living crisis forces increasingly budget-conscious consumers to stop taking services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.The premiere of two of the most-hyped and expensive shows of all time – the $650m (£580m) productions of Rings of Power and House of the Dragon – failed to prove a big enough draw to reverse a decline of another 234,000 homes with at least one paid streaming service in the third quarter. Continue reading...

Green is latest celebrity to make allegations about 72-year-old’s behaviour, after reports he straddled and kissed female crew member on set

Leftist challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva calls incumbent Jair Bolsonaro a ‘shameless liar’ who ‘fooled around’ with Covid causing huge fatalitiesThe leftist frontrunner to become Brazil’s next president branded the far-right incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro, “a tiny little dictator” and “the king of fake news and stupidity” during a television debate that will help define the political future of one of the world’s biggest democracies.Brazil’s former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who nearly beat Bolsonaro in the presidential election’s first round in September, admonished his opponent over his handling of Covid and soaring Amazon deforestation during the feisty two-hour encounter. Continue reading...

The NSW Independent Casino Commission says taking away the licence would have meant thousands of employees out of work overnight