World news | The Guardian

Backbench MP Sam Birrell reserved his position on referendum while Michael McCormack says Nationals could revisit their opposition

Kearne Solanke and Charlie Bartolo were stabbed to death just a mile apart in south-east LondonTwo teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murdering two 16-year-old boys stabbed to death just a mile apart in south-east London, police have said.Kearne Solanke was knifed in Titmuss Avenue, Thamesmead, and Charlie Bartolo was found in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, on Saturday. Continue reading...

Residents have been warned to stay inside as toxic smoke may settle in the area and police are appealing for information on blaze in scrap yard at Trenayr

Thousands of staff, including 999 call handlers and paramedics, to take strike action over pay and staffing levelsAmbulance workers across England intend to strike before Christmas after voting in favour of industrial action over pay and staffing levels.Unison, the UK’s biggest trade union, announced the results of its month-long NHS strike ballot and said thousands of 999 call handlers, ambulance technicians, paramedics and their colleagues working for ambulance services in the north-east, north-west, London, Yorkshire and the south-west are to take industrial action. Continue reading...

Rajwinder Singh was arrested in Delhi, accused of killing Cordingley on a Queensland beach in 2018

Chinese state broadcaster transmits from Chiswick studio despite Ofcom revoking UK licence last yearFrance’s media regulator is under pressure to withdraw a licence that allows the Chinese state broadcaster to beam its programmes across Europe from a studio in west London.Ofcom revoked the organisation’s licence to transmit in the UK last year but the China Global Television Network (CGTN) was able to continue broadcasting following authorisation from the French authority. Continue reading...

Minority ethnic people make up 59% and 51% of respective populations in UK’s first ‘super-diverse’ citiesLeicester and Birmingham have become the first “super-diverse” cities in the UK, where most people are from black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, according to the 2021 census.A total of 59% of people in Leicester are from minority ethnic backgrounds, while 51% of Birmingham’s population are people of colour, as are 54% in Luton, according to the data. Across England and Wales, 18% of people are BAME. Continue reading...

NHS Digital research reveals scale of issues, with even higher number of 20- to 23-year-olds affectedMore than half of older teenagers and young adults in England have a problematic relationship with food, a major survey of young people’s mental health has found.Six in ten (60%) 17- to 19-year-olds have “possible problems with eating”, according to research undertaken by NHS Digital, the health service’s statistical body.One in four 17- to 19-year-olds have a probable mental disorder – up from one in 10 in 2017 and one in six last year.Children and young people from households facing financial difficulties, such as those who cannot afford food, are much more likely to have mental health problems.One in eight 11- to 16-year-olds, and 29.4% of those that age with a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression, have been bullied online.One in six 17- to 24-year-olds have tried to harm themselves. Continue reading...

Avanti West Coast, which received £343m subsidy, had worst punctuality performance among train operatorsLabour has called on ministers to claw back £12m in dividends paid by Avanti West Coast to its shareholders last year, when it was subsidised by £343m by the taxpayer.Figures released by the rail watchdog on Tuesday showed that Avanti paid out £12m in 2021-22 from management and performance fees. Continue reading...

Figures show drop in partnerships with state schools – which Labour says Tories promised would trigger a review of feesLabour has hit back at Conservative attacks on its pledge to put VAT on private school fees, with analysis showing a drop in partnerships with state schools.The party has been accused of starting a “class war” against private schools though Labour sources said the Conservative’s 2017 manifesto had also promised to review whether to charge VAT on school fees if work with state schools did not increase. Continue reading...

Three companies complain over lack of transparency around deal which could be biggest government bailout since RBS and LloydsThe takeover of collapsed bailed-out energy supplier Bulb by rival Octopus faces further delays after three rival companies launched judicial review proceedings, arguing that there are “significant concerns” over a possible £1bn government-funded “dowry”.Octopus agreed to buy Bulb out of a special government-handled administration last month after a year-long process which could cost the taxpayer up to £6.5bn, according to a government estimate. Continue reading...

More than 4,500 people sign petition asking for help for those struggling to find independent accommodation

‘Very real’ threats against Meghan led to prosecutions, says outgoing assistant commissioner Neil BasuThe Duchess of Sussex was subject to multiple “disgusting” threats against her life, a senior police officer has revealed, adding they were “very real” and led to prosecutions.Neil Basu, the outgoing assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, told Channel 4 News the threats were deemed credible, adding that the material would have left her feeling “under threat all of the time”. Continue reading...

Government likely to treat FE sector as ‘big schools’, removing autonomy over borrowing and investmentFurther education (FE) colleges are likely to be treated as “big schools” by the government and lose critical financial independence, after a ruling reclassified colleges in England as part of central government.Sector leaders said the change had major implications for the way colleges are run, removing their autonomy over borrowing and investment decisions and hampering their ability to grow, while allowing few of the benefits in funding, taxes or pension guarantees enjoyed by state schools. Continue reading...

Radio Foyle to be reduced to skeleton service in move that could centralise regional coverage in BelfastThe BBC is planning to make deep cuts to its Northern Ireland coverage, in a move that could centralise the broadcaster’s coverage of the region in Belfast.BBC Radio Foyle, based in Derry, will be reduced to a skeleton service without its own news updates or a breakfast show. The outlet was founded in 1979 at the height of the Troubles to provide more localised coverage of Derry, with its own reporters and presenters. Continue reading...

RCN says further action will be taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland if government does not negotiate over payNurses will begin a series of strikes at dozens of hospitals in December – and will escalate their industrial action if ministers keep refusing to negotiate over pay.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced today that up to 100,000 nurses will stay off work at many, but not all, of the hospitals and other NHS bodies where members have voted to stop work. Continue reading...

The Queen Consort said two of the most powerful ways in which to make a difference were ‘to remember and to listen’The Queen Consort has condemned “a global pandemic of violence against women” at a Buckingham Palace reception attended by 300 guests.Marking the annual United Nations 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, Camilla hosted survivors and their families as well as Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska; Queen Rania of Jordan, the home secretary Suella Braverman; Carrie Johnson; former Spice Girl Mel B and the health secretary Steve Barclay. Continue reading...

Trans claimants want high court to declare that NHSE broke law by failing to meet 18-week target to start treatmentNHS England has acted unlawfully by making thousands of patients with gender dysphoria wait “extreme” periods of time for treatment, ​the high​ court has heard.Transgender claimants, who have suffered ​distress as a result of delays, ​want the court to declare that NHSE broke the law by failing to meet a target for 92% of patients to commence treatment within 18 weeks​.​In the UK and Ireland Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie; and in the UK, the youth suicide charity Papyrus can be contacted on 0800 068 4141 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 800-273-8255 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Servicemen and women to wear combat attire when standing in for union members taking industrial actionSoldiers standing in for striking Border Force staff will wear their uniforms while checking passports at ports and airports, the Guardian can reveal.About 600 servicemen and women will wear combat attire as they provide cover for members of the PCS union who have voted for industrial action. Continue reading...

Billionaire rarely seen in public since criticising attitude of China’s regulators towards tech firms in 2020The billionaire Jack Ma has reportedly been hiding out in Tokyo with his family during Beijing’s crackdown on the country’s star tech firms and its most powerful and wealthy business people.Ma, the founder of the e-commerce giant Alibaba who until the tech clampdown was China’s richest person, has rarely been seen in public since criticising the attitude of Chinese regulators towards tech companies at a summit in Shanghai two years ago. Continue reading...

London-headquartered bank has been struggling to navigate political pressure from both Beijing and the westHSBC has struck a deal to sell its Canadian business to Royal Bank of Canada for £8.4bn as it continues to shrink its global footprint and focus on the Chinese market.HSBC, which once advertised itself as the “world’s international bank”, has been struggling to navigate political pressures from both the west and Beijing following China’s crackdown in Hong Kong. Continue reading...

The most recent census data on religion is significant as the Church of England enjoys considerable privilegeEngland and Wales are now minority Christian countries for the first time since census data collection began, with less than half the population describing themselves as Christian, and a big increase in the proportion of people saying they have no religion.The changes are significant in a country with an established church. The Church of England is afforded influence and privileges that some argue are out of kilter with a falling proportion of the population identifying as Christian. Continue reading...

Posthumous lawsuit brought by Jan Roeg, who worked as a talent scout, alleges a long history of harassment and assaultJan Roeg, a talent scout who worked for Atlantic Records under label founder Ahmet Ertegun from 1984 until the mid 00s, has sued the label and the estate of Ertegun for sexual assault, alleging that Atlantic knew about Ertegun’s misconduct and took a “laissez faire” approach when dealing with it. Rolling Stone reports that Roeg alleges Ertegun sexually harrassed and assaulted her throughout her time at the label, masturbating in front of her numerous times, forcing her head to his crotch in attempts to engage in oral sex, digitally penetrating her and, during a dinner in 1990, drugging her, resulting in her getting her stomach pumped.Roeg also alleges that Ertegun touched her and made inappropriate comments about her, would describe her as his girlfriend, and retaliated against her rejections by withholding money she was owed. Elsewhere in the lawsuit, Roeg says that Atlantic, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, “utterly failed to engage in training or implementation of any policies or standards that would inform employees of the company’s disapproval of and how to report such conduct”. The lawsuit also states that Atlantic failed to institute any policy “that would dissuade employees from engaging in sexual misconduct” while on company premises or time. Continue reading...

Film and TV actor also appeared in Die Hard and Walker, Texas Ranger before joining University of Nevada theatre departmentThe film and television actor Clarence Gilyard – who was known for supporting roles in the movies Top Gun and Die Hard and for starring in the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger – has died, according to the university where he taught. He was 66.Gilyard reportedly had long been ill, but no other details were immediately available when the college of fine arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) announced his death in a news release on Monday afternoon. Continue reading...

Nadav Lapid, chair of the International film festival India, spoke out against work that critics say is anti-Muslim propagandaA row has erupted in India after an Israeli director described a controversial film about Kashmir as propaganda and a “vulgar movie” , prompting the Israeli ambassador to issue an apology.Nadav Lapid, an Israeli film director who was chair of this year’s panel of the international film festival of India (IFFI), spoke out against the inclusion of The Kashmir Files at the event. Continue reading...

State forced to cancel 33,000 fines so far but Revenue NSW argues ‘technical’ supreme court decision ‘does not mean offences were not committed’

Screwball superhero tale takes best feature honour with gongs also going to Till’s Danielle Deadwyler, Tár and AftersunEverything Everywhere All at Once, the ambitious superhero movie starring Michelle Yeoh, has won best feature at the Gotham awards in New York.Picking up the prize, co-director Daniel Kwan said he hoped the film was hoping to heal collective global trauma. Ke Huy Quan also won best supporting performance for his work in the film; the Gothams have had gender neutral acting categories since last year. Continue reading...

Retailer understood to be seeking £30m emergency funding amid falling salesThe owners of Wilko took £3m in dividends this past year despite the cut price chain falling almost £37m into the red before seeking emergency funding.The homewares-to-cosmetics retailer, whose managing director Alison Hands is to exit in January, about 18 months after taking the job, is understood to be looking to secure a £30m debt facility with alternative lenders. Continue reading...

Study by British Chambers of Commerce reveals flagship bill to purge EU laws is low priority for firms

Data shows Leicester and Birmingham have become UK’s first ‘minority majority’ cities in new age of ‘super-diversity’England and Wales are now minority Christian countries, according to the 2021 census, which also shows that Leicester and Birmingham have become the first UK cities to have “minority majorities”.The census revealed a 5.5 million drop in the number of Christians and a 1.2 million rise in the number of people following Islam, bringing the Muslim population to 3.9 million. The changes equate to a 17% fall in the number of Christians and a 44% increase in the number of Muslims. It is the first time in a census of England and Wales that fewer than half of the population have described themselves as Christian. Continue reading...

Inquests could be reopened after review into records of 44 patients who died under care of disgraced former neurologistA review of the clinical records of 44 patients who died under the care of the disgraced former neurologist Michael Watt has found a misdiagnosis rate of 45%.In 2018, more than 2,500 of Watt’s neurology patients in Northern Ireland, including children, were recalled for a case review. Continue reading...

The actor said there were ‘many nuances and complexities’ behind his assault on Chris Rock, but he understood viewers’ revulsionWill Smith has spoken out about the “horrific night” of his now infamous Oscars slap incident on his first late-night US talk show appearance since the incident.Smith, 54, told Trevor Noah there were “many nuances and complexities” behind his actions, but also said: “I just lost it.” Continue reading...

One arrested amid reports of police interrogating protesters, as health authorities announce vaccine drivePolice have been out in force in China to stamp out zero-Covid protests and health authorities have launched a vaccination drive for older people, days after a show of civil disobedience unprecedented since president Xi Jinping assumed power a decade ago.At least one person was arrested, according to social media videos, and there were also reports some demonstrators had been interrogated by authorities over the phone after attending the rare street gatherings in cities across the country. Continue reading...

Airline says it is struggling at quieter times and has increased ticket prices as fuel and other costs riseBookings at easyJet for Christmas, the ski season and other peak periods have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, the airline has said after it dramatically reduced its full-year loss to £178m.“Peak holiday weeks this winter, such as October half-term and Christmas week in the UK, are back to normal levels of volume,” easyJet said, although its boss warned that in quieter times the airline is still struggling to get enough passengers. It expects to have fully returned to 2019 capacity levels by next summer. Continue reading...

Despite premier Daniel Andrews refusing to budge on the issue, Legalise Cannabis party promises to push ‘forcefully’ on drug reform

But one opposition MP, Bridget Archer, says she is ‘inclined’ to support Labor push against the former prime minister

Crocodile trapper, who strenuously denies any wrongdoing, handed himself in at Darwin police station over February crash that killed cast member

Minor party resolves to support a crossbench amendment instead of Coalition on key appointment

Some results expected to take another week as the Victorian Electoral Commission counts absentee, pre-poll and postal votes

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she won’t jeopardise state’s ability to give profits from state-owned power generators back to public

MPs say candidates need to better represent the community, after Natalie Ward loses preselection battle

Defence investment plan ‘fell short of providing accurate, reliable and transparent information’ to the public, report reveals

Andrew Gee breaks ranks to say he will support ‘yes’ campaign while WA branch also states it will back Indigenous recognition in constitution

Industry code credited with helping reduce scam calls by almost 550m since 2020 but text messages said to be more difficult to stop

Mélanie Joly, the foreign minister in Ottawa, says Russia’s targeting of energy grid and civil infrastructure only strengthens allies’ support

Exclusive: Library discovery of undocumented transcripts of German philosopher’s lectures like ‘finding new Beethoven score’A biographer researching the German philosopher Hegel has uncovered a massive treasure trove of previously undocumented lectures that could change perceptions regarding one of the leading figures of modern western philosophy.More than 4,000 pages of notes on Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s lectures were found by Klaus Vieweg in the library of the archdiocese of Munich and Freising. Continue reading...

Protesters in China deploy creative means to make political statements in order to evade censorsBlank sheets of paper, mathematical equations and even alpacas: protesters in China have found creative ways to express anger at the government’s zero-Covid measures, unleashing a wave of dissent against long and severe lockdowns, the deaths of factory workers in Urumqi, and the censorship they’re not allowed to talk about.The extraordinary protests, which began over the weekend and spread to cities across China including Shanghai and Beijing, have been characterised by acts of civil disobedience, including clashes with police. Continue reading...

Withdrawals now suspended at the Brisbane-based cryptocurrency exchange Digital Surge for more than a week

The strike, planned for Friday 9 December at 27 airports nationwide, could result in grounded international and domestic flights, union says

Thomas Mayor has spent 18 months travelling around the country speaking about the Uluru statement and says rural people agree with it