Stolen London hire-scheme bicycles sighted in unlikely destinations as annual thefts riseThey have been a feature of London’s streets for nearly 12 years: the docked public bikes for sharing that are billed as one of the easiest and quickest ways for people to make shorter journeys. Or in some cases, it seems, considerably longer ones.Among the hundreds of bikes that go permanently missing from the 14,000-plus fleet every year, a handful have been tracked down to distinctly non-London locations, including Australia, the Gambia and Turkey, a freedom of information request has disclosed. Continue reading...

He may star in The Batman, but his taste is more arthouse thrillers and experimental theatre. He discusses overacting, bad accents – and being cast as a charmer by his wifePeter Sarsgaard peers into the webcam, half-man, half-beard. “I’m in the Kenny Rogers camp right now,” says the 50-year-old actor. “I look like a dropout. Whenever I’m not working, I feel like I’m growing hair in case I need it for the next movie.”His sleepy grin matches the rest of him: bed head, bed eyes, bed voice. It is this apparent languor that makes his glinting wit and flashes of cruelty stand out sharply on screen. He can be creep, charmer or both. “I don’t tell myself I’m the antagonist or the protagonist,” he says. “They can figure that out later.” Continue reading...

Case of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, who has learning difficulties, among four to be heard next weekCourts in Singapore will next week consider arguments by four men who have spent more than a decade on death row, amid fears the city state may push ahead with executions to free up space on death row.The Singaporean government does not disclose how many people are held on death row, though campaigners believe there are likely more than 50 men awaiting execution, the majority of whom have been convicted of drug offences. Continue reading...

Latest updates: US secretary of state says Russia plans to encircle and threaten Kyiv; Ukrainian spokesman condemns ‘totally pointless attack’

Concerts are banned thanks to Hamas hardliners, but the Delia arts centre is determined to give young musicians a chance to playWafaa Al-Najili’s voice, fiery and bright, enchants the group of young people clustered around an audio workstation at the Delia arts centre in Gaza City. Together, they muse over how to mix her vocals with the other tracks of their latest project, a new recording of a traditional choral song.Outside, the neighbourhood still bears scars from last year’s fighting between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in control of the Gaza Strip. The joint Israeli and Egyptian blockade that isolates Gaza from the rest of the world means rebuilding efforts have been slow. Continue reading...

It’s appropriate to question restrictions, but those who want to lift them all immediately won’t be responsible for the consequencesIf the protesters in front of New Zealand’s parliament have anything in common, it is a self-professed opposition to “Covid vaccination mandates”. These, they say, are an unacceptable burden on the individual rights of those who choose not to be vaccinated and so must be abolished immediately.These protesters are correct about one thing. Although the various mandates, which mean around 40% of New Zealand’s workforce face losing their jobs if not vaccinated, are not strictly compulsory in the sense of making it an offence to not be jabbed, they do limit individual rights. Specifically, the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment, as guaranteed by section 11 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Continue reading...

Australian government working with Nato to send nonlethal military equipment and medical supplies to Ukraine and will continue ‘rolling wave of sanctions’

Former Good Morning Britain host, who quit after a spectacular meltdown over Meghan Markle, strikes gold with News Corp. Plus: Hot Albo returns

Photograph of teacher bloodied by Russian attack on Ukraine dominates front pages as Putin sends his troops to war

Protests against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine broke out in 53 cities across Russia, with police making 1,700 arrests.

Anti-war protesters have taken to the streets in Moscow and St Petersburg to voice their opposition to their country's military intervention in Ukraine. Protesters chanted slogans against the war and Russian president Vladimir Putin while police made arrests

Vladimir Putin has plunged Europe back into war and a conflict that ‘I think will reverberate far beyond Ukraine and have huge implications for Europe, for the rest of the world’, says Guardian foreign correspondent Luke Harding. Reporting from Kyiv, he examines why the Russian president launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour, if Putin can be stopped, and what might come next

Latest updates: UK prime minister also says he has urged fellow leaders to remove Russia from Swift as he announces larges set of sanctions ever

Police make more than 1,300 arrests as protesters take to the streets in cities across country

Footage on social media shows lines of cars moving out of cities and heading west

Military helicopters, apparently Russian, were filmed flying over the Dnieper river on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where they were met by Ukrainian counter fire. An ambitious attack by helicopters on the Hostomel military airbase on the outskirts of Kyiv was also recorded.Russian forces have attacked Ukraine by land, sea, and air on a massive scale, bringing to a calamitous end weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by western leaders to avert war

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing or preparing to flee the country after Russian leader Vladimir Putin began an invasion.Videos and photos on social media show lines of cars moving out of cities and heading west, as well as numbers of people on foot near the southern and western borders while reports of casualties mount.We spoke to Maria Romanenko and Alena Dalskaya-Latosiewicz from their cars as they tried to escape the conflict, as well as Romeo Kokriatski a Ukrainian-American, who says he hopes to stay in the capital, Kyiv, for as long as possible.'I love my country. I don't want to leave,' said Romanenko

Critics says statistics undermine Priti Patel’s claim that she is getting grip on immigration and asylum systemThe number of people being deported from the UK is at a record low while asylum applications have soared over the last year, according to Home Office data.Government statistics, which have measured irregular migration for the first time, also confirmed that 28,526 people arrived on small boats in 2021 – slightly higher than previous reports and a huge jump from the 8,466 who came in 2020. Continue reading...

President Zelenskiy calls on Ukrainians to defend country as Russia claims to have neutralised its airbases and air defences

Bringing Spideys old and new together was a masterclass in giving audiences what they want, and points to what Batman v Superman got so wrongFan service has come a long way since 2006, when studio New Line allowed its audience to basically crowd-think the entirety of Samuel L Jackson action epic Snakes on a Plane. Back then, somebody high up thought it would be a really good idea to start borrowing lines for Jackson to say (while fighting off those airborne reptiles) from a hyped-up geek community who had been spending most of their spare time discussing the unreleased movie on fan forums and blogs. The best/worst of them ended up being the legendary (for all the wrong reasons) line: “Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!” Up there with Jackson’s famous Ezekiel 25:17 speech about the path of the righteous man it really wasn’t.This week Marvel and Sony have shown how to do fan service properly. And all it took was a staged meme featuring all three webslingers from global megasmash Spider-Man: No Way Home pointing at each other. The image recalls a famous still from episode 19 of the 1967-1970 animated Spider-Man show, in which a Spidey-impostor – clue, he’s really a criminal – tries to impersonate the masked wallcrawler. It’s since been used millions of times in social media posts, often to illustrate moments when celebrities meet each other (according to the Know Your Meme website). Continue reading...

British PM sets out wide-ranging new measures against Moscow in wake of invasion of Ukraine

Valérie Pécresse hounded over allegations that dog named Douglas signed up for Les Républicains presidential primaryFrench politicians have long embraced domestic animals – from Emmanuel Macron’s rescue dog, Nemo, who once peed on a fireplace during an Elysée meeting, to the far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s hobby of breeding Bengal cats.But a dog called Douglas from the south of France is causing ridicule for the rightwing presidential candidate Valérie Pécresse. Continue reading...

Where is fighting happening and how did we get here

PC Adam Zaman found not guilty after Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against himA Metropolitan police officer has been cleared of rape after prosecutors dropped the case against him.PC Adam Zaman, 28, of Romford, east London, was accused of raping a woman at the Andaz Hotel in Liverpool Street, central London in October last year. Continue reading...

Analysis: Immediate options seem limited, but if Putin wants less Nato, he may ultimately end up with moreIn the wake of what the Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, described as Russia’s “fully fledged invasion of Ukraine”, the west has to decide how to respond to what France’s Emmanuel Macron has called a turning point in European history.Yet can the west now offer Ukraine more than a mixture of prayers, sanctions and diplomatic demarches? Throughout this conflict western intelligence has shown it has been able to predict Putin’s next step, but less capable of stopping it. Boris Johnson told the Ukrainian people “we are with you”, but what this western solidarity means in practice is now up for debate. Continue reading...

Chris Bryant says UK should seize Chelsea owner’s assets as he tells MPs allegations are from leaked 2019 Home Office document

This rotten organisation stood by while the 15-year-old skater and her Olympic dreams were publicly crushedA fish rots from the head. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the head of the Olympic movement, and it is rotten to the core. Long ago, this vile organisation abandoned its stated principles of “excellence, friendship and respect” to embrace greed, corruption and abuse.For many, the enduring image of Bejing 2022 will not be one of Olympic glory, but the tragic and bizarre spectacle attending the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva. Once again, the Russians got caught cheating: Valieva tested positive for a banned medication. Still the IOC allowed her to compete, and then stood by while this child and her Olympic dreams were publicly crushed. After her performance collapsed, her despicable coach humiliated her, badgering her about on-ice failures as Valieva left the rink.Sarah Klein is a civil attorney and advocate for survivors of sexual abuse Continue reading...

Nato has increased its troop presence on its eastern boundary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has said.'This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion,’ Stoltenberg said. 'Russia's unjustified, unprovoked attack on Ukraine is putting countless innocent lives at risk with air and missile attacks.'He said Nato had activated its defence plans, allowing freer movement of troops, but would respond in a defensive rather than combative manner

Zahir Jaffer tortured and beheaded Noor Mukadam, in July last year, in case that sparked outrage over violence against womenA court in Islamabad has sentenced to death the tycoon’s son who raped and murdered Noor Mukadam, a case that sparked outrage in Pakistan.Mukadam, 27, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, was held captive, tortured and beheaded in July last year by Zahir Jaffer, a member of a well-known industrialist family. Continue reading...

The UK prime minister has said that 'a vast invasion is under way, by land, by sea and by air' in Ukraine, as he promised to impose 'massive' sanctions that would 'hobble' the Russian economy.Speaking as world leaders scrambled to respond to the attacks that began in the early hours of Thursday morning, Johnson said Russia had 'attacked a friendly country without any provocation and without any credible excuse'.He said Russia must not be allowed to succeed. 'Diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbaric adventure of Vladimir Putin must end in failure,' he said

Blow to UK nationals as advocate general finds against Alice Bouilliez, who objected to losing voting rightsThe European court of justice has been advised that British nationals living on the continent do not keep the advantages of EU citizenship now the UK has left the bloc, in a blow to campaigners fighting to keep more of their rights after Brexit.Anthony Collins, an Irish advocate general at the court, said in an opinion published on Thursday that British nationals “who enjoyed the benefits of union citizenship do not retain those advantages following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU”. Continue reading...

Government should consider providing Kyiv air support, former cabinet minister David Davis says• Russia-Ukraine crisis: live newsConservative MPs have called for the UK to increase military aid to Ukraine, including the former cabinet minister David Davis, who said the UK should consider providing air support to the Ukrainian armed forces.Boris Johnson said western allies “will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy” – expected to be outlined to House of Commons at 5pm on Thursday. Continue reading...

PM says ‘we will not just look away’ and Putin’s ‘barbaric adventure’ in Ukraine must end in failure

Vladimir Putin announces a military operation in Ukraine with explosions heard across multiple cities and outside eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels Continue reading...

Confident, unpredictable and irresistible, TLC set a benchmark in a golden age for R&B. Thirty years since the release of their debut album, we count down T-Boz, Chilli and the late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez’s best tracksFar sassier than your standard early 90s slow jam, blessed with a laconic Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes rap: let rumour-mongers and spreaders of “crap street yap” beware! Somethin’ You Wanna Know is the sound of a band already far more sophisticated than their cartoonish early image suggested. Continue reading...

PM expected to address parliament and the nation over Ukraine crisis, which he calls ‘a catastrophe for our continent’

Buckingham Palace says audiences will be rescheduled for later date and Queen to continue with light dutiesThe Queen has postponed two virtual audiences after her Covid diagnosis, Buckingham Palace has said.A palace spokesperson said: “The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date. Her Majesty is continuing with light duties. No other engagements are scheduled for this week.” Continue reading...

Fifteen questions on general knowledge and topical trivia plus a few jokes every Thursday – how will you fare?The quiz master is away, recuperating from his recent exertions at the Winter Olympics. Fortunately, before he left, he passed a crumpled piece of paper into the hands of one poor overworked member of Guardian production staff, and said, “This will probably do.” Before you are 15 general knowledge and somewhat less topical questions than usual. There is still a hidden Doctor Who reference to spot among the wrong answers and, of course, along the way you’ll meet some of your favourite familiar friends from the quiz. It is just for fun and there are no prizes, but let us know how you get on in the comments.The Thursday quiz, No 44If you think there has been an egregious error in one of the questions or answers, please feel free to email martin.belam@theguardian.com but remember, the quizmaster’s word is always final, and genuinely he is away so we might just all have to live with it if there are any disputes. Continue reading...

Claim against Associated Newspapers is reportedly related to article on prince’s security arrangementsPrince Harry has launched a libel action days after the Mail on Sunday published claims about problems with his security arrangements.Court filings show Harry made a claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) on Wednesday afternoon. The claims are reportedly related to an article published by the Mail on Sunday under the headline “Revealed: How Harry tried to keep his legal fight over bodyguards secret”. Continue reading...

Russian forces can be seen crossing into Ukraine across the Senkivka-Veselivka border checkpoint with Belarus in border guard CCTV and a separate video shows tanks crossing the border from occupied Crimea.The attack on Ukraine was on the orders of Vladimir Putin, who announced a 'special military operation' at dawn. World leaders have warned the move could provoke the biggest war in Europe since 1945

The former NSW deputy premier advised parliament’s ethics office he may engage with government in his Coronation Property role

Tasty, cheap, but often difficult to catch in the wild, this source of protein is increasingly being seen as a possible answer to food insecurityThe boarding of Uganda Airlines flight 446 from Entebbe to Dubai was momentarily disrupted at the end of last year when two of the passengers started hawking bush crickets in the aisles.Their fellow travellers couldn’t believe their luck: nsenene are a prized delicacy in Uganda, but despite November usually being peak season for the insects, there had been hardly any around. Continue reading...

Nineteen years ago, 24 photographers agreed to document New Year’s Day for the next 24 years. Each was allocated one hour of the day to record their surroundings and each moves forward one hour every year. The work is displayed in Soho Square, London, for 24 days until 19 March Continue reading...

Ralph ‘Terry’ Gibbs was driving home to Queensland after receiving suspended jail sentence when killed in car crash 48 hours after Carol Lisle’s death

Vladimir Putin has declared war on Ukraine and there are reports of Russia attacking several locations across the country

Prime minister extends Russia sanctions to an additional 25 people and four entities involved in sale of weapons; major construction company Probuild goes into administration; Qantas posts $1.3bn loss; at least 42 Covid deaths recorded. Follow all the day’s news

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and the country's border guards, and that explosions had been heard in many cities. He said martial law had been declared across the country and that he had spoken by phone to the US president, Joe Biden.

As members of UN security council poured out calls for restraint, Russian president was already launching attack on UkraineUkraine crisis: latest updatesIt will go down as one of the most surreal sessions the United Nations chamber has ever witnessed, as the very war it was supposed to prevent broke out while it was sitting.Vladimir Putin, with brutal timing, delivered a speech announcing that Russia would start a “special military operation” in Ukraine – while an emergency session of the UN security council was under way. Continue reading...

In Lyari, a slum notorious for violence in Pakistan’s capital, Mehr Ghar offers young people a safe place to hang out and study – and, for many, an alternative path to gang lifeLiving in Lyari was like living on the frontlines of a war, says Nauroz Ghani, who grew up in the Karachi slum notorious for its bloody gang battles. So used to the constant gunfire, he says he would “become restless if a day passed by without hearing the sound of a firing”.“My teenage years were lost to violence,” says Ghani, 24. “I had no interest in getting an education. Instead, I was attracted by their guns and activities.” He saw dead bodies on the street and one boy was killed in front of him. “All of us who lived during those days have such memories. We lived in terror, but it had become habitual.” Continue reading...

‘China is willing to work with Australia to meet each other halfway’, says Xiao Qian after years of growing tensions