World news | The Guardian

Anthony Albanese notes 157 countries voted in favour of a Palestinian state, and that former Howard government held a similar position

Magistrate finds high probability of offending due to allegations man repeatedly' expressed ideation for an attack

Fighters led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group rout government troops after five-day battle amid sweeping offensiveIslamist insurgents have captured the Syrian city of Hama in a battle to seize a vital location on the road to Damascus, marking the latest challenge to Bashar al-Assad's control of the country.Militants led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered the city from the east on Thursday after surrounding it during five days of fighting with forces loyal to Assad. Continue reading...

Daniil Brodsky and two board members stepped down after local group said the report had not proved genocidal intent'The chair of Amnesty International's Israeli branch and two board members have resigned over the human rights group's report accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.Daniil Brodsky and the board members stepped down on Thursday, after the group said in a statement the report had not proved genocidal intent beyond a reasonable doubt". Continue reading...

State's governor, a former member of far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's cabinet, said critics can go to hell'A Sao Paulo state police officer is seen leading an unarmed man to the edge of an overpass in an impoverished neighbourhood of Latin America's largest city.Seconds later, the officer pushes the man, who falls backwards from a height of three metres into a shallow stream of murky, sewage-laden water. Three other officers can be seen watching the scene unfold, taking no action. Continue reading...

Scammers developing sophisticated new methods will always find loopholes to access lucrative markets, experts say

Rising prosecutions, higher maximum sentences and soaring number of people on remand driving growth from 86,000 todayThe prison population could top 100,000 within five years in England and Wales, official estimates show.The justice department acknowledged that a perfect storm of rising prosecutions, politicians bringing in higher maximum sentences, and soaring numbers of people on remand - meaning they are in jail awaiting trial or sentencing - are responsible for the projected rise. Continue reading...

Rice wine enshrined as part of cultural heritage of humanity'Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savoured in the country's pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts.Now, the smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions - and is a favoured tipple of celebrities such as Cate Blanchett - has been enshrined by Unesco, which has put it on its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity". Continue reading...

Jailed neonatal nurse's lawyer condemns leaking by police' as possible link to Liverpool Women's hospital emergesLucy Letby maintains her innocence, her lawyer said on Wednesday as he condemned leaking by the police" after it was confirmed the neonatal nurse had been interviewed over more suspicious deaths of babies.Letby, who is serving a whole-life sentence for killing and maiming newborns in her care, was questioned under caution about other unexpected deaths and collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester hospital and, for the first time, at Liverpool Women's hospital where she trained as a student, Cheshire police said. Continue reading...

Opposition parties submit motion to impeach Yoon after his shock bid to put South Korea under martial law for first time in over four decades

Alistair Carns says a casualty rate similar to Russia's invasion could lead to the army being expended' within six to 12 monthsThe British army would be wiped out in as little as six months if it was forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict, a defence minister has warned.Alistair Carns said a rate of casualties similar to Russia's invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being expended" within six to 12 months. Continue reading...

Torode, who has presented alongside Wallace since 2005, confirms he will stay with the programmeMasterChef's John Torode has said he found the recent allegations of harassment against co-host Gregg Wallace truly upsetting".In his first comments since a fresh wave of allegations were made against Wallace, Torode confirmed he would remain part of the programme and supported the investigation that was under way. Continue reading...

UK and foreign law enforcement agencies say networks laundered cash and cryptocurrencies for organised crime gangs across the westOperatives said to be behind a billion-dollar Russian money-laundering network - used by drug dealers, financial criminals and foreign spies - have been sanctioned and arrested in a coordinated international investigation led by the National Crime Agency.The UK law enforcement body, which tackles serious and organised crime, said the actions constituted the most significant money laundering operation" it had undertaken in the past few years. The operation involved America's Federal Bureau of Investigation, France's Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire and Ireland's Garda. Continue reading...

Historical drama depicts Price carrying out 1972 killing of mother and alleged informant Jean McConvilleThe veteran republican Marian Price is taking legal action against Disney+ after she was depicted killing Jean McConville in its show Say Nothing. The historical drama series, which is based on the book by the award-winning writer Patrick Radden Keefe, portrays the murder and secret burial of McConville by the IRA in 1972.McConville is known as one of the Disappeared, a group of 17 people who were abducted, killed and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries during the Troubles. Continue reading...

Royal Albert Hall will host five-day event in October, after bringing in specialist soil and a strengthened stage the last time it was staged thereLondon will host only the second professional Sumo wrestling event ever staged outside of Japan at the Royal Albert Hall next October.The Grand Sumo Tournament will take place at the 153-year-old venue in partnership with the Japan Sumo Association, Nihon Sumo Kyokai, to help mark its centenary. Continue reading...

Lindt and supermarket home brands criticised by consumer group for shrinkflation' on items including chocolates, cakes, and tarts

Country has shortfall over more than five years of pandemic disruption, according to ANU report, contrary to claims of record-high migration

Rightwing broadcaster's ratings surge in month featuring farmers' protest in London and Trump re-election in USIt may be the bane of many liberals, and its provocative broadcasts have certainly kept Ofcom busy since its launch.But despite all the controversy, the audience for GB News keeps rising, and November appeared to be another significant month. Continue reading...

Automaker is restructuring in China after losing about $350m in the region in the first three quarters of this yearGeneral Motors told shareholders on Wednesday that it would write down the value of its China business by more than $5bn.The company's board of directors determined that the non-cash charges were necessary in light of the finalization of a new business forecast and certain restructuring actions" with the joint venture, according to a company filing. Continue reading...

Tory leader asks prime minister why he appointed Louise Haigh after fraud offenceBadenoch adds that the those on the benches are laughing but that Labour have no idea what the general public are dealing with as the government talks about increasing employers' national insurance. She describes the budget as catastrophic".Badenoch says Starmer can't even repeat the pledges that he made a few weeks ago. To increasing jeers she says the Conservatives are there to stop Starmer damaging the economy. Continue reading...

Prime minister refuses repeatedly to give more details on further information' relating to transport minister's resignationThe prime minister has again refused to give more details on the resignation of his transport secretary over a fraud offence before she became an MP.Keir Starmer refused repeatedly to elaborate on the further information" that came to light leading to Louise Haigh stepping down last week. Continue reading...

Statement comes as Ukrainian intelligence says Russia will send mercenaries to support flagging troops allied to DamascusMoscow has condemned external forces" seeking to escalate violence in Syria, despite reports from Ukrainian military intelligence that Russia is to send mercenaries to support flagging troops allied to Damascus.The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova blamed outside actors for instigating a recent sweeping insurgent offensive, after Islamist militants spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the city of Aleppo at the weekend in a shock advance. Continue reading...

Man, 69, held over allegations of fraud linked to campaign for officer killed at Libyan embassy protest in 1984A man has been arrested over allegations of fraud linked to the justice campaign over the 1984 murder of the police officer Yvonne Fletcher.PC Fletcher, 25, was shot while on duty outside the Libyan embassy in London during a protest but no one has ever been charged over her death. Continue reading...

Second adapted rainbow armband worn by skipper will not lead to formal action from Football AssociationThe Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will face no formal action from the Football Association despite wearing an adapted rainbow armband for the second time.The player and the club had been reminded of FA kit regulations after he wore an armband saying I love Jesus" in Saturday's match against Newcastle. Continue reading...

Temporary release is inadequate, activist's family and supporters say, urging her unconditional releaseIran has released the Nobel peace laureate Narges Mohammadi, jailed since November 2021, for three weeks on medical grounds, her lawyer posted on social media.Based on the advice of the examining doctor, the public prosecutor suspended the jail sentence against Narges Mohammadi for three weeks and she was released from prison," Mostafa Nili said on X. Continue reading...

Number of petrol cars on British roads rose to 18.7m this year, but decrease expected amid growth of EVsThe number of petrol cars on British roads has peaked this year but is set to tumble by more than 40% over the next decade, according to a report.Auto Trader's latest motoring forecast estimates there were 18.7m petrol-powered cars on the roads this year, but that this will steadily decrease from 2025 to 11.1m by 2034. Continue reading...

With high scores for friendly neighbours and access to services, Woodbridge in Suffolk has topped Rightmove's annual list for the first timeIt may not have the bright lights of London or Edinburgh, or even the celebrity or notoriety of some of the Great Britain's better known villages and towns.But in one respect, Woodbridge in Suffolk seems to trump them all: it is the happiest place to live in Britain. At least that is the conclusion of a survey by the property website Rightmove.Woodbridge, East of England, 441,569, 1,478Richmond upon Thames, London, 939,329, 3,131Hexham, North East, 313,147, 840Monmouth, Wales, 320,974, 1,335Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber, 394,312, 1,439Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber, 263,479, 1,030Sevenoaks, South East, 881,061, 2,924Leigh on Sea, East of England, 465,542, 1,796Cirencester, South West, 384,013, 1,495Wokingham, South East, 590,949, 2,120Winchester, South East, 578,760, 2,069Stirling, Scotland, 214,441, 1,227Stratford-upon-Avon, West Midlands, 413,115, 1,604Horsham, South East, 458,641, 1,983Kendal, North West, 285,645, 966Kensington and Chelsea, London, 1,667,573, 5,345Chorley, North West, 197,199, 883Hove, South East, 555,193, 1,993Wandsworth, London, 865,205, 3,159Hitchin, East of England, 510,612, 1,730 Continue reading...

Heidi Alexander refuses to confirm cost of setting up Great British Railways but insists it is lower than fees paid to train operatorsThe renationalising of train companies will not necessarily bring cheaper rail fares but should reduce cancellations and late trains, the UK transport secretary has suggested.South Western Railway is to become the first train operator nationalised under the Labour government, ministers announced on Wednesday. Greater Anglia and C2C will also be brought into public ownership next year. Continue reading...

Hedge fund with 197m stake leads push to prioritise Sydney exchange as FTSE 100 firm outlines ambitious copper production targetsAn activist investor in Rio Tinto has demanded the miner scrap its primary London listing and focus on Australia, as the FTSE 100 firm outlined its long-term investment strategy.Palliser Capital called on the metals and minerals firm to drop its outdated" dual listing structure across the London and Sydney financial markets. Continue reading...

England maintained good maths scores and improved in science, coming ninth and fifth among 70 countriesEnglish pupils have made a strong showing in the latest round of prestigious international tests, maintaining their scores in maths and improving in science, a subject in which they rose to fifth in the league tables.They were among students from 70 countries who participated in the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss), which takes place every four years, providing education policymakers with international comparisons. Continue reading...

Timss report finds year 4 students ranked equal fifth internationally out of 58 countries, up from ninth in 2019

Perry Kouroumblis was extradited from Italy and charged over the 1977 deaths of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett

Walmatjarri elder and blues musician wins $50,000 prize for Wirlmarni, saying she hopes it will bring pride to her community in Wangkatjungka

November was Ukraine's worst month since September 2022 for territory lost to Russian forces. These charts and maps show the latest developments in the warUkraine lost an area equivalent to the size of New York City to Russian forces in November - the worst monthly figure for Ukrainian defenders since September 2022.After the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia gained ground quickly before being pushed back in a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Last year, with the conflict mostly at a stalemate, Institute for the Study of War (ISW) data shows that Russian forces took 2,233 sq km (862 sq miles) of territory. Already in 2024 they have taken about 2,656 sq km. Continue reading...

Former radio host allegedly committed 11 offences against employee, according to police charge sheets

Syria's second largest city braces for possibility of president Bashar al-Assad revisiting brutal tactics used in civil warA billboard of the Syrian president that once overlooked a central square in Aleppo has been burned almost beyond recognition, but the influence of Bashar al-Assad is still felt in the now rebel-held city as residents live in fear of bombardment by his regime.The biggest fear, one shared by all the people of Aleppo right now, is the airstrikes," said Mahmoud, a 50-year-old man who declined to share his family name, concerned that Assad could regain control of the city and punish accused critics as he did eight years ago. Continue reading...

Semiconductor restrictions on China announced by Washington a day earlier prompt retaliation involving critical minerals including gallium and germaniumThe Chinese government has said it will ban exports to the US of some key components in making semiconductors, escalating trade tensions a day after Washington announced curbs targeting China's ability to make advanced chips.Among the materials banned from export were the metals gallium, antimony and germanium, China's commerce ministry said in a statement that cited national security" concerns. Continue reading...

This blog is closed - you can follow live coverage on our new liveblogThe White House has said it is closely" monitoring the situation in South Korea.The administration is in contact with the ROK government and is monitoring the situation closely," a spokesperson for the national security council said, using the official acronym for the Republic of Korea, where thousands of US troops are based as parts of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.All political activities are banned in South Korea following the imposition of martial law on Tuesday and all media will be subject to government monitoring.All political activities, including those of the national assembly, local councils, political parties, and political associations, as well as assemblies and demonstrations, are strictly prohibited. Continue reading...

Vote marks a change to the nation's official stance held for more than two decades

Judge rejects One Nation leader's application to halve amount she was ordered to pay Greens deputy leader

Several climbing-related items which police believe belonged to the trio found, as bad weather will likely delay search efforts until ThursdayRescue teams looking for three climbers who went missing on New Zealand's highest mountain have expressed grave concerns" over the party's welfare in the rugged terrain, as bad weather hampers search efforts for the second day in a row.US nationals Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, and a Canadian man flew by helicopter on Saturday to a camp on Aoraki Mount Cook with plans to summit the 3,724 metre (12,218 ft) mountain. Continue reading...

As part of a comprehensive programme of renationalisation, the service will come under public ownership in MaySouth Western Railway will be the first train operator nationalised under the Labour government, ministers have announced.One of the UK's biggest commuter services, which operates out of London Waterloo, it will be taken into public hands in May. Continue reading...

Sean Casten brings resolution calling for disclosure of draft report into Trump's original attorney general pickCongressman Sean Casten introduced a privileged resolution on Tuesday demanding the House ethics committee release its investigative report on former representative Matt Gaetz, even after Gaetz withdrew from consideration after being nominated to be Donald Trump's attorney general, amid sexual scandal.The Illinois Democrat's resolution calls for immediate public disclosure of the committee's draft report, including conclusions, recommendations, and supporting materials, with provisions to protect sensitive information and witness identities. Continue reading...

Van belonging to popular indie group ransacked by thief waving gun outside Starbucks in VallejoThe British band Sports Team was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday while on the US leg of their tour outside San Francisco, the group reports.According to a statement provided by the six-member group, a thief stole stage equipment, laptops, passports, personal items and other valuables while the band stopped for breakfast at a Starbucks in Vallejo, California, at 8.45am local time. In the store, a passerby alerted the band that someone was ransacking their tour van. When band members attempted to intervene, the perpetrator brandished a gun. Continue reading...

South Korean president miscalculated by thinking some MPs would back his declaration of martial law

People will be allowed to use expired identity documents amid real fear' of another Windrush-style scandalPassengers will be allowed to use expired identity documents to travel to the UK because of flaws in the eVisa system, a minister has told the Guardian.Seema Malhotra, the migration and citizenship minister, said the government had postponed a planned full shift to the new digital immigration system amid real fear" of another Windrush-style scandal among minority communities. Continue reading...

Minority government of prime minister faces near-certain defeat in a no-confidence vote that could spark crisisThe Libertes, independants, outre-mer et territoires (Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories, Liot) group, which has about two dozen elected members, will not vote for Wednesday's censure motion (i.e. the no confidence motion over the budget).At this stage, none of the Liot MPs intend to vote for censure tomorrow," Harold Huwart, the MP for Eure-et-Loir and spokesperson for the parliamentary group, was quoted as saying:First of all, because the country is in a difficult moment, censorship is an act whose final consequences no one can measure. Voting for censorship is particularly irresponsible.None of the deputies (of Liot) want to be associated with an act of destabilisation plotted by extremes who come together in a desperate attempt.Let's be clear: a motion of censure is not a coalition or a political agreement, it is nothing other than the expression of a disavowal of the policy and budgetary choices proposed by the Government. Continue reading...

Change in festive schedule comes after Wallace stepped away from hosting cookery show amid allegations about his behaviourThe BBC has pulled two MasterChef celebrity specials from its Christmas schedule as new allegations emerged against Gregg Wallace.Wallace stepped away from presenting the show last week after being accused of highly inappropriate" sexualised comments and behaviour. Multiple people who worked with him on different shows over a 17-year-period have made allegations against him. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Move would be last-ditch attempt to save thousands of UK jobs amid standoff with company's Chinese ownersMinisters are considering renationalising British Steel in a last-ditch attempt to save thousands of jobs, amid a standoff between the government and the company's Chinese owners over a 1bn investment.Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, is locked in talks with British Steel and its owner, Jingye, to agree how much each party should put into a rescue plan for its main Scunthorpe site. Continue reading...

US president remembers stolen men and women and children brought to our shores' and lauds American investment in countryJoe Biden addressed America's history of enslavement in a speech on Tuesday at Angola's National Museum of Slavery, calling it our nation's original sin" during a trip in which he also lauded recent US investment in the region.We remember the stolen men and women and children who were brought to our shores in chains, subjected to unimaginable cruelty," Biden said, as the sun set over the water behind him. Continue reading...