World news | The Guardian

President supports peaceful reunification but will ‘never promise to renounce use of force’ as speech launches event likely to grant him third five-year termXi Jinping celebrated China’s crushing of Hong Kong’s autonomy and warned Taiwan that the “wheels of history” are turning towards Beijing taking control of the island democracy in his speech opening the Communist party congress.The most important gathering in the five-year Chinese political cycle is expected to hand Xi another five-year term running China, cementing his position as the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Continue reading...

Staff member who spoke to the Observer about drive to get workers to join IWGB union claims she was ‘punished’ by arts charityThe Royal Society of Arts has been accused of punishing staff who spoke out about their campaign to unionise the 270-year-old charity.The Observer reported last week that almost half the charity’s workforce below senior manager level had joined the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), with a petition indicating most staff backed unionisation. The RSA senior management team led by Andy Haldane, a former chief economist at the Bank of England, has rebuffed three requests to voluntarily recognise the union. Continue reading...

As cost of living crisis bites, 3,000 volunteers across several organisations sign letter of warning to the prime ministerThousands of food bank volunteers will warn Liz Truss on Monday that they are having to ration provisions, as their services have become “overstretched and exhausted” because of an influx of people needing their help.In a sign of a continuing cost of living crisis that was building even before the economic crisis that followed the government’s mini-budget, a letter signed by more than 3,000 food bank workers will be delivered to Downing Street. Continue reading...

The prime minister ditched her close ally Kwasi Kwarteng to save her own job – but now Conservative MPs are openly plotting to replace her

Chris Minns has promised to build a local fleet of trains to replace the state’s ageing stock and 10,000 extra fixed teaching roles

Ten crews battle fire in high-rise building near Millennium Square as safety cordon put in placeFirefighters tackled a large blaze in a city centre building in Leeds on Saturday night.The blaze broke out on the top floors of a derelict high-rise building in Cookridge Street, near the city’s Millennium Square, at 7.47pm. Continue reading...

Defence minister says two assailants shot dead after attack at training ground in region bordering UkraineAt least 11 people were killed and 15 more wounded at a military training ground in the Belgorod region in south-western Russia on Saturday when two volunteers opened fire on other troops, the Russian defence ministry has said.The ministry said in a statement that the two shooters were nationals from a former Soviet republic and had been shot dead after the attack. Continue reading...

Discovery of man’s body near Loughton industrial estate being treated as suspiciousEssex police have launched an investigation after a man’s body was found in woodland in Loughton.The death is being treated as suspicious after the body was found on land near the Oakwood Hill industrial estate shortly before midday on Saturday. Continue reading...

A man in his 50s dies while trapped in car as extensive damage in seaside villages reportedA man was found dead and two people were missing on Saturday after torrential rain brought major flooding to the Greek island of Crete, emergency workers said.A man in his fifties died while trapped inside his car as the rains began to fall in the southern Greek island, a popular holiday destination. Local media reported extensive damage in seaside villages, where streets have become rivers carrying away everything in their path. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Funding halted from June 2021 without fanfare and after science agency reportedly spent $15m on teams of scientists

Campus authorities argue digital disruption is ‘not protected action’ and ‘unlawful’ while activists say they were forced into the creative tactic

Exclusive: ALP needs to be more ambitious on a treaty with First Nations Victorians to stop younger voters flocking to the Greens

As new chancellor Jeremy Hunt rips up prime minister’s economic plans, Conservatives plot route to replace herSenior Conservatives will this week hold talks on a “rescue mission” that would see the swift removal of Liz Truss as leader, after the new chancellor Jeremy Hunt dramatically tore up her economic package and signalled a new era of austerity.A group of senior MPs will meet on Monday to discuss the prime minister’s future, with some wanting her to resign within days and others saying she is now “in office but not in control”. Some are threatening to publicly call on Truss to stand down after the implosion of her tax-cutting programme. Continue reading...

Drones and missiles hit Kyiv region and Zaporizhzhia as Ukrainian forces make gains around Kherson

CPS also charge footballer with controlling behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harmManchester United footballer Mason Greenwood has been charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.The 21-year-old had been arrested on Saturday morning on suspicion of breaching his bail conditions. Continue reading...

New chancellor vows to be ‘completely honest with country’ amid rumours PM has only weeks left in role

Rules ban BBC, ITV and other broadcasters from filming near government buildings and migrant workers’ accommodationInternational television crews in Qatar for the Fifa World Cup will be banned from interviewing people in their own homes as part of sweeping reporting restrictions that could have a “severe chilling effect” on media coverage.Broadcasters, such as the BBC and ITV, will also be forbidden from filming at accommodation sites, like those housing migrant workers, under the terms of filming permits issued by the Qatari government. Continue reading...

Actor and director was one of many witnesses whose identities were revealed in Los Angeles superior courtMel Gibson can testify about what he learned from one of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers, a judge ruled on Friday in the rape and sexual assault trial of the disgraced movie mogul.The 66-year-old actor and director was one of many witnesses whose identities were revealed in Los Angeles superior court. The judge and attorneys had taken a break from jury selection for motions on what evidence will be allowed and who can testify. The witness list is sealed. Continue reading...

Labour leader says UK is ‘crying out for clear leadership’ and his party ‘must provide it’

Footage appears to show member of riot police grabbing detained woman from behindIranian police have said they are investigating footage allegedly showing a member of their riot squad sexually assaulting a female protester in Tehran after widespread outrage over the video.The footage, recorded during a protest in the capital’s Argentina Square on Wednesday, shows a woman being violently detained and taken towards a motorbike in a street crowded with protesters and riot police. She is surrounded by four armed members of the riot force, and one of them appears to grab her inappropriately from behind. She then slumps to the ground. Continue reading...

Two women are to appear in court charged with criminal damage to frame of Sunflowers at London’s National GalleryTwo women have appeared in court charged with criminal damage to the frame of Vincent van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers.Two tins of tomato soup were thrown over the painting at London’s National Gallery on Friday, although the gallery later said the painting itself was undamaged and had been put back on display. Continue reading...

More than 500 Victorian homes damaged and 500 others cut off in flooding. This blog is now closed

Five contenders who could succeed Truss as the Conservative party’s fifth leader since the Brexit vote in 2016Astonishing as it may sound to someone who has not paid attention to politics since about 2016, after little more than a month in office, a consensus is building that Liz Truss could be finished as prime minister. But who could succeed her as the Conservatives’ fifth prime minister since Brexit, and third since the 2019 general election? Continue reading...

Commissioner says not all officers have had a safe workplace as critics label complaints procedure a jokeThe Queensland Police Service continues to employ frontline officers whose actions resulted in payouts worth millions of dollars to victims of bullying and harassment, Guardian Australia has learned.The commission of inquiry into Queensland police responses to domestic violence has revealed dozens of instances where officers were found to have engaged in racism, sexism, misogyny and bullying. In many of these cases, officers were repeat offenders and not subject to disciplinary action. Continue reading...

Study says the NSW government project could lead to the ‘total loss’ of some sites due to flooding

Unions NSW to release survey results suggesting voters believe healthcare and transport are worsening

Coalition has pledged $19bn more than the government, while claiming it is the better economic manager

Weekly rent on this ‘room with a poo’ is up $140 since 2020, a reflection of Australia’s rental crisis

Adeshina Adio, 20, from south-east London, was arrested after jumping into Thames to evade policeA 20-year-old man has admitted sexually assaulting a young woman by exposing himself and pushing into her from behind as she waited in the queue to attend the Queen’s lying in state.Adeshina Adio, from south-east London, jumped into the River Thames to escape arrest after assaulting the woman at Victoria Tower Gardens as she waited in the queue to pay her respects to the late monarch. He was detained by officers when he came out of the water. Continue reading...

Judges say Home Office’s unlawful targeting of people arriving in small boats was ‘failure of governance’More than 1,300 asylum seekers who arrived in the UK in small boats and had their phones unlawfully seized by immigration officials can claim compensation, the high court has ruled.Judges said on Friday there was “a failure of governance” over the unlawful phone seizures. Continue reading...

Russian president says any direct clash with Nato troops would be ‘global catastrophe’ as he says 220,000 will be called up. This live blog is now closedHere are some of the latest images of the war that have been sent to us over the newswires from Ukraine and beyond.Today is Defenders Day in Ukraine, and the US ambassador to Kyiv, Bridget A Brink, has issued a video message. In it she says:We honour the brave men and women who have served in the defence of Ukraine’s freedom. This year, this holiday has a special symbolic meaning. Since 24 February, virtually every citizen of your country has in some way become a defender of your land, your lives, your future.I know Russia’s war doesn’t stop at the line of contact. And I honour the bravery and resolve of all Ukrainians, men and women, children and the elderly, professional soldiers and volunteers, representatives of every aspect of society from the home front to the frontline. All of you play a vital role in defending Ukraine. We know Ukraine will prevail. Continue reading...

Former PM creates 13 Conservative peers but widely expected honour for former Mail editor goes missingBoris Johnson’s political honours list has seen peerages awarded to a string of former Tory MPs and other allies and party donors – although not to Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail.Dacre had been widely tipped to be made a peer, but there had been calls for this to be delayed or suspended after legal action begun by a series of prominent people over alleged intrusion into privacy by the Mail’s publisher. Continue reading...

Crisis is considered unlikely but officials re-examine plans to provide support for fearful populations

After PM’s latest U-turn, we look at 10 other reversals since her days as a Lib Dem activist

Labour leader says government is ‘completely at end of the road’ and his party is preparing for power

Operator insists service will be turned round by Christmas as travellers report late and overcrowded trainsAvanti West Coast bosses have admitted “we’re still not good enough”, a week after its contract was controversially renewed, but insisted that the failing intercity train service will be turned round by Christmas.The train operator cut back its schedules and stopped selling advance tickets in August, blaming a lack of staff overtime – causing enormous disruption to Britain’s major rail artery linking cities between London and Glasgow. Continue reading...

Watchdog provisionally concludes former Tory MP broke transparency rules when he lobbied on behalf of RandoxThe disgraced former Conservative MP Owen Paterson faces being fined after a Whitehall watchdog provisionally concluded that he broke transparency rules by failing to register as a lobbyist for a healthcare firm.On Friday, Harry Rich, the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, said he proposed to conclude that Paterson had acted unlawfully when he lobbied ministers on behalf of Randox. The watchdog intends to fine Paterson up to £7,500 but gave the former MP an opportunity to overturn the decision. Continue reading...

Images from Netflix series also show Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth and Dominic West as CharlesWhen John Major was prime minister in the 1990s, the actor Jonny Lee Miller was best known for playing the peroxide-haired Sick Boy in Trainspotting and for his tabloid-friendly marriage to Angelina Jolie.Almost three decades later, the first image has been released of Miller portraying the former Tory prime minister – nicknamed “the grey man” – in the new series of The Crown, complete with side-parting and large glasses. Continue reading...

Biopic imagines Brontë’s life in the years leading up to her writing one of English literature’s most feted novelsA new, sensuous drama about Wuthering Heights author Emily Brontë is a chance to introduce the Brontë sisters to younger audiences, one of the film’s stars has said.Released in cinemas on Friday, Emily – directed by Frances O’Connor and starring Sex Education’s Emma Mackey in the titular role – imagines Brontë’s life in the years leading up to her writing one of English literature’s most feted novels. Continue reading...

In England about one in 35 people had Covid in week ending 3 October, according to ONS dataCovid infection levels are rising across much of the UK, with more than 1.7 million people thought to have had the virus in the most recent week, data has revealed.About one in 35 people in England – 2.8% of the population – had Covid in the week ending 3 October based on swabs from randomly selected households, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. It is an increase from one in 50 the week before. Continue reading...

ICRC responds to Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticism, saying it is frustrated at being refused entry to notorious Olenivka prison

Chancellor shares letter saying he has accepted prime minister’s request for him to stand aside

Some attribute Labour’s loss in North Evington to its candidate’s apparent support for India’s ruling BJP partyA Leicester council byelection resulted in a huge swing towards the Conservatives, as they took the seat from Labour who were knocked into third place in an area gripped by civil unrest last month.The Conservatives took 49.6% of the vote in North Evington, with a 32.7-point swing in their favour, while Labour received just 22.5% of votes. Continue reading...

Neil Maxwell, who killed himself in 2019, suspected over disappearance of woman who went missing earlier that yearThe prime suspect in the murder of Leah Croucher, who disappeared in February 2019, has been named as convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell, who killed himself in April that year.Thames Valley police launched a murder investigation after discovering human remains at an address in Milton Keynes on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Survey shows strong support within alliance for tougher sanctions and Nato aid, but more pro-Russia views elsewhere

Move marks rise in younger consumers investing in classic sustainable pieces rather than buying disposable fashionBen Affleck wore a dark suit, while his wife, Jennifer Lopez, chose a pinstripe dress. Laura Dern was in black tie, while Sylvester Stallone was in a smoothly brushed suede jacket.On the eve of his 83rd birthday, the Bronx-born Ralph Lauren, who is in his seventh decade as a designer, staged his first ever catwalk show on the west coast of the US, in the gardens of the Huntington Library in California, and Hollywood dressed up for the event. Continue reading...

Retired teacher from Saxony is suspected of having been the ‘ideological brains’ behind the groupA pensioner believed to be the ringleader of a terrorist group planning to launch attacks on German politicians and power infrastructure has been remanded in custody.Identified only as Elizabeth R in accordance with German legal norms, the 75-year-old retired teacher from the eastern state of Saxony is suspected of having been what investigators have called the “ideological brains” behind the far-right group, which had planned kidnappings and attacks on power facilities meant to cause blackouts across the country. Continue reading...

Andrew Walker’s report says government should consider separate platforms for adults and childrenThe coroner at Molly Russell’s inquest has recommended that the government considers separate social media platforms for children and adults as he called for a review of child use of online content.The senior coroner Andrew Walker, who presided over the inquest into 14-year-old Molly, has issued safety recommendations that focused on child access to social media content. Molly, from Harrow, north-west London, died in November 2017 after viewing extensive amounts of material related to suicide, depression, anxiety and self-harm on platforms including Instagram and Pinterest. Continue reading...

Leave is set to increase by two weeks a year from the present scheme of 18 weeks at minimum wage and can be split between partners

Huge montage in Tehran taken down within 24 hours after protests by those depicted or their relativesThe Iranian authorities suffered a PR fiasco after being forced to take down a giant billboard in a central square in Tehran when women in the poster, or their relatives, objected to being depicted as supporters of the government and the compulsory-wearing of the hijab.The billboard controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps was a montage of about 50 Iranian women wearing the hijab under the slogan “Women of my Land”. It was taken down within 24 hours after at least three of the women pictured said they objected to their image being misused. Continue reading...