World news | The Guardian

After last year’s countdown was topped by a band for children, Saturday’s countdown is anyone’s guess – but we do have a few hunches

Mayor says she is concerned for safety of staff, but senator says he knows nothing of the group, which used his video warning of ‘climate lockdown’

Fake cryptocurrency or forex broker websites the most common scam in what has ballooned into a billion-dollar industry

Index on Censorship lists UK as only ‘partially' open’ in every key metric for the year 2021The UK has been ranked only in the third tier of a new global index of freedom of expression due to what was described as the “chilling effect” of government policies, policing and intimidation of journalists in the legal system.Countries including Israel, Chile, Jamaica and virtually every other western European state were all ranked ahead of the UK in the measure compiled by the advocacy group Index on Censorship. Continue reading...

Polling comes amid Conservative backbench unrest at government plan to ban conversion practicesMore than 400,000 people who are gay, transgender or non-binary have been subjected to someone trying to change, “cure” or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to new research that suggests a proposed ban on conversion practices will have a wider impact than previously thought.Polling for Galop, an LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity, found that one in five LGBTQ+ people and more than a third of trans people in the UK have been subjected to attempted conversion, which campaigners describe as abuse. Continue reading...

Thinktank says of advanced economies, only Greece would have lower public and private investmentIf the north of England were a country, it would be second bottom of a league table showing levels of investment in advanced economies, according to a report by a leading thinktank.Only Greece has lower levels of public and private investment in a ranking of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries compiled by researchers at IPPR North, the northern branch of the influential Institute for Public Policy Research. Continue reading...

Experts urge governments to reprioritise public health messaging amid fears the anti-vaccine lobby ‘has the floor’ on immunisation

Adult Swim will reportedly recast the titular roles, both voiced by Roiland, while Dan Harmon will become sole showrunnerRick and Morty’s Justin Roiland has been dropped as the voice of the titular characters on the animated series and will no longer work on the show, after it emerged he had been charged with felony domestic abuse in Orange County.The 42-year-old has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial after being charged with corporal injury and false imprisonment by menace, fraud, violence or deceit. The charges relate to a 2020 incident against an unidentified woman Roiland was living with and dating at the time. Continue reading...

Billionaire mogul says in letter that proposal to reunite companies he split up a decade ago ‘not optimal’ for shareholdersFox Corp said on Tuesday that Rupert Murdoch had scrapped a proposal to combine the company with News Corp, in a deal that would have reunited the media empire he split nearly a decade ago.Murdoch sent a letter to News Corp and Fox withdrawing his proposal to reunite the companies, according to a regulatory filing. He indicated that he and his son, Fox Corp chief executive Lachlan Murdoch, had determined that the combination is “not optimal” for shareholders. Continue reading...

Foreign Office confirms Chris Parry, 28, and Andrew Bagshaw, 47, killed carrying out humanitarian work on frontlineTwo Britons missing in Ukraine were killed while trying to carry out a humanitarian evacuation in the east of the country, the Foreign Office has confirmed.Chris Parry, 28, and his colleague Andrew Bagshaw, 47 – who held dual UK and New Zealand citizenship – had been attempting the evacuation of an elderly woman from Soledar when their car was hit by an artillery shell, Bagshaw’s family said in a statement. Continue reading...

Melbourne reportedly the most expensive city for government school costs, such as electronic devices and uniforms

Scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest among assessors for BBC job follows allegations over Boris Johnson loanThe government-appointed panel that approved Richard Sharp as a prime candidate for the role of BBC chair included a Conservative party donor and prospective MP, as well as the wife of the former chair of the Spectator who worked with Boris Johnson when he edited that political magazine.As Sharp faces multiple investigations, amid allegations he helped Johnson secure a loan of up to £800,000 weeks before he was recommended for the job by the latter, the potential conflicts of interest among panel members responsible for interviewing and recommending candidates for the job have come under scrutiny. Continue reading...

Isla Bryson ‘preyed’ on vulnerable women whom she met online, prosecutors saidA transgender woman has been found guilty of raping two women when she was a man.Isla Bryson, from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, committed the crimes before she transitioned to female. Continue reading...

Germany will send its 2A6 battle tanks in conjunction with other countries such as Finland, Sweden and Poland, say reports citing government sourcesBerlin has reportedly succumbed to huge international and domestic pressure and is set to announce that it will send German-manufactured tanks to Ukraine that Kyiv says it needs to push back Russian forces, according to media reports on Tuesday evening citing government sources.It is reported to be planning to send a company of Leopard 2A6 battle tanks – usually comprising 14 of the vehicles – in conjunction with other partners, namely Scandinavian countries in possession of the units. Berlin is also understood to have said it would give its permission for export licences for countries such as Finland, Sweden and Poland who have bought the tanks from Germany, allowing them to be sent to Ukraine. Continue reading...

Leeds crown court hears how invoices submitted by former Labour MP who is facing eight fraud charges were ‘amateurish’Jared O’Mara, the former MP on trial for submitting fraudulent expenses, tried to falsely claim thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money through the parliament disability budget, a court has heard.O’Mara, who served as MP for Sheffield Hallam from 2017 to 2019, is facing eight counts of fraud totalling £30,000 and is accused of submitting fabricated invoices from a fictional autism organisation. Continue reading...

Unclear who has legal responsibility for children placed in hotels, after dozens abducted from street in Brighton and HoveMinisters have been accused of a “dereliction of duty” over their failure to find 76 child asylum seekers who have gone missing from a Brighton hotel managed by the Home Office.The accusation came during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday after an Observer investigation that cited child protection sources and a whistleblower working for a Home Office contractor, who described how youngsters had been abducted off the street outside the Brighton hotel and bundled into cars. Continue reading...

Legal action being considered after report highlights failings that allowed Jordan McSweeney to kill London womanThe family of Zara Aleena are considering taking legal action over the disastrous failings that led to her murder by a recently released prisoner, the Guardian has been told.It follows an official report that found Jordan McSweeney, 29, who murdered the aspiring lawyer in June 2022, should have been assessed by probation officers as a high-risk offender, but was classed as posing a medium risk when he was released part way through a sentence. Continue reading...

Private member’s bill from Bob Seely would enable courts in England and Wales to penalise wealthy figures using vexatious litigation known as SlappsMinisters are being urged to back a private member’s bill designed to penalise wealthy public figures who exploit the court system for “legalised intimidation” of investigative journalists, campaigners and watchdogs.The bill, put forward by Conservative MP Bob Seely on Tuesday, is intended to put pressure on the government to move forward with its own promised legislation to tackle vexatious legal claims designed to silence debate on issues of public interest, known as strategic lawsuits against public participation, or Slapps. Continue reading...

PM’s decision to order an inquiry fails to limit the fallout from Tory chair’s opaque dealings with HMRC

Planning committee to discuss fears project will blight area with light and noise pollutionIt is a giant, globe-shaped music venue that has been described as a “monstrosity”, a “glowing orb” and an “eyesore”.But now the MSG Sphere, a new concert hall planned for Stratford in east London – which would be as wide as the London Eye and as tall as Big Ben – could soon move a step closer to reality. Continue reading...

Downing Street spokesperson also says inquiry into former chancellor’s affairs to be ‘conducted swiftly’There are two urgent questions in the Commons later. At 12.30pm Caroline Lucas (Green) is asking one about the child asylum seekers who have gone missing from hotel accommodation provided by the Home Office, and that will be followed by Ben Bradshaw (Lab) asking one about the Church of England’s stance on equal marriage.After those are over Damian Hinds, the justice minister, will deliver a statement about the probation inspectorate. Continue reading...

Fears security agencies may have been involved in shooting of Thulani Maseko in his home on SaturdayAuthorities in Eswatini have promised a full investigation of the murder of a leading pro-democracy activist amid widespread fears that state security agencies may have been involved.Thulani Maseko, chairperson of a coalition of pro-democracy groups, was shot dead at his home in Luyengo, about 45km from the capital, Mbabane, on Saturday. Continue reading...

Strong showing for Irish actors and directors, with one film, Banshees of Inisherin, up for nine awardsIreland has scooped a record 14 Oscar nominations, prompting jokes that the ceremony should be relocated from Los Angeles to Dublin.Martin McDonagh’s film The Banshees of Inisherin got nine nods, Paul Mescal was nominated best actor for Aftersun, and The Quiet Girl made history by becoming the first Irish-language film to be nominated in the best international feature film category. Continue reading...

Simon Thompson has been summoned back over accuracy of evidence he gave to committee

Owner ABF says its grocery brands such as Twinings and Kingsmill also increased tradingStrong sales of heels, baggy suits and knitwear propelled Primark’s sales ahead of expectations over Christmas as shoppers returned to city centres and consumer spending was more resilient than anticipated.Sales at the cut-price fashion chain’s established stores rose by 11% in the four months to 17 January, compared with the same period a year before, as the owner, Associated British Foods (ABF), said it had sold more items of clothing while prices had also risen by about 8%. Continue reading...

Andrew Malkinson’s case sent to court of appeal after DNA breakthroughA man has been arrested on suspicion of committing a rape for which another man served 17 years in prison.Andrew Malkinson was convicted of raping a 33-year-old woman by a motorway in Greater Manchester in 2003. The case is being sent back to the court of appeal after a DNA breakthrough. Continue reading...

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon last seen on 7 January in east London after buying tent and beddingPolice are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a newborn baby whose parents officers believe are sleeping rough in freezing temperatures.The missing aristocrat Constance Marten and her boyfriend, Mark Gordon, a convicted sex offender, were last seen more than a fortnight ago in east London after buying a tent and bedding. Detectives fear their baby has been exposed to the sub-zero temperatures and has received no medical attention since birth in early January. Continue reading...

Tottenham street renamed La Rose Lane after consultation has been defaced with spray paintA street sign in Haringey has been vandalised less than 24 hours after the road was renamed due to concerns over racist connotations.Black Boy Lane in Tottenham, north London, was officially renamed La Rose Lane on Monday after a consultation by Haringey council, which began in June 2020 in light of the Black Lives Matter protests the same year. Continue reading...

Documents seen by Open Democracy show UK firm got approval to engage with Wagner group founder Yevgeny PrigozhinBritish lawyers were given government dispensation to bypass sanctions in order to help Yevgeny Prigozhin, the controversial Russian businessman and Wagner group founder, sue a journalist, according to documents made available to the website Open Democracy.The documents concern a libel case brought by Prigozhin against Eliot Higgins, the founder of the investigative group Bellingcat, in 2021. The revelations will raise further questions about the abuse of UK libel law by the super-rich. Continue reading...

Spokesperson says they are delighted and that son August is ‘very much looking forward to being a big brother’Princess Eugenie, the Duke of York’s younger daughter, and her husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting their second child due in the summer, it has been announced.The couple, who have a son, August, released a photograph as the news was made public, with Buckingham Palace saying the royal family was “delighted”. Continue reading...

Caroline Nokes says party chair should let investigation take place as story has become a distraction

About 350 out of 900 seats normally left unsold on the first services between London, Paris and BrusselsPeak time Eurostar trains are daily forced to run across the Channel with hundreds of empty seats because border police cannot process passports quick enough.About 350 out of 900 seats are normally left unsold on the first services between London, Paris and Brussels despite “huge demand” for the greenest form of international travel, Eurostar bosses said. Continue reading...

German defence minister says he expects quick response, as application increases pressure on chancellor Olaf Scholz

Andrea Bonafede, 59, is accused of enabling Matteo Messina Denaro to live quiet life in Trapani provinceAn Italian man whose identity was taken by the mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro while he was a fugitive has been arrested by prosecutors in Sicily.Andrea Bonafede, a 59-year-old Sicilian surveyor, described as “Denaro’s alter ego”, was charged on Monday for having helped the mobster avoid arrest and for protecting him while he was on the run. Continue reading...

Cost of labour in Britain up by 30% since referendum, double rise in some EU countries, research findsThe cost of materials and labour for construction have increased more steeply in the UK than the EU since the Brexit referendum, new research has found.Analysis of data from EU member states, the central EU database, Eurostat, and the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show that between 2015 and 2022 the cost of construction materials including cement, timber and steel increased by 60%. Continue reading...

Rail operator SNCF files legal complaint after fire at signals point brings all services to a haltThe French rail operator SNCF has filed a legal complaint over vandalism and arson after a fire broke out at a signals point, forcing Paris’s busy Gare de l’Est station to cancel all trains on Tuesday.The commuter station, which also serves long-distance trains to eastern France, Germany and Luxembourg, was brought to a standstill during early rush hour after an incident that was at first thought to be accidental. Continue reading...

The Brisbane-based firm lost $33m in the collapse of the global platform FTX but now aims to pay back customers over five years

Former prime minister warns of Russian ‘counter-punch’ and criticises US and Germany for tank delays

The government has created a model with ‘significant uncertainty’ around its future financial position, report says

Anthony Albanese also outlined $50m in funding and appointment of central Australian regional controller to coordinate law-and-order plan

Simon Murray says one girl and at least 13 under-16s among those missing after being placed in hotels run by Home OfficeTwo hundred asylum-seeking children who were placed in hotels run by the Home Office have gone missing, a minister has admitted.They include one girl and at least 13 children under the age of 16, the Home Office minister Simon Murray told the House of Lords on Monday. Continue reading...

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Terry Carney, who says robodebt’s legal foundation was ‘completely missing’, was surprised to not be reappointed to tribunal

Ministers block proposal to make menopause a ‘protected characteristic’ under Equalities ActProposals to change UK legislation to protect the rights of women experiencing menopause have been in part rejected by the government due to fears such a move would discriminate against men.The cross-party women and equalities committee last July published a report focusing on menopause and the workplace, which included a recommendation to make menopause a “protected characteristic” under the Equalities Act. Continue reading...

Warmer conditions in north contrast with freezing fog and cold warnings in south of UKTemperatures will plunge to -9C across parts of southern England overnight, the Met Office said on Monday, with the freezing weather expected to last until the end of next week.Freezing fog will remain in some areas on Tuesday morning, as the cold snap shows no sign of abating. Continue reading...

Survivors of alleged abuses at hands of military unite in universal jurisdiction case over atrocities they say amount to genocideA criminal complaint against individuals linked to Myanmar’s military has been filed in Germany by survivors from ethnic groups across Myanmar, in what activists say is a show of unity that once seemed unthinkable.Sixteen survivors and witnesses of military abuses joined NGO Fortify Rights to file a criminal complaint with the federal public prosecutor general of Germany under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows the prosecution of mass atrocities in one country, even if they happened elsewhere. Continue reading...

Lawyers demand support from Australia for five victims of Khaled Sharrouf in test case for international law on torture survivorsFive Yazidi women held as slaves by an Islamic State fighter are appealing to the UN to intervene in their case for compensation in a move lawyers hope will help fix a “lawless” global system that is failing torture survivors.The women, captured in Iraq in 2014, were taken to Syria as slaves by IS fighters, including the Australian citizen Khaled Sharrouf, who was pictured standing next to his young son holding a severed human head. Continue reading...

Government called on to conduct pilot in public sector with employees working four-day week for same pay

The PM may struggle to sell solidarity to the public in light of revelations about tax affairs and ministerial accessAt the Conservative party conference in 2021, Nadhim Zahawi met a multimillionaire Canadian businessman who had spent his career in the education sector and, sources said, was interested in discussing it with the former education secretary.It was not an unusual meeting for party conference, where ministers regularly rub shoulders with lobbyists and campaigners in their various patches at events organised by the Tory party and by external groups, as well as in the bars and restaurants of grand hotels. Continue reading...

Ahead of coroner handing down findings into death of Veronica Nelson, her partner says she ‘shouldn’t have been in jail’