World news | The Guardian

More than 70,000 people reportedly evacuated and military mobilised with hurricane close to making landfallCuba is bracing for Hurricane Rafael, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday and compound the misery wrought by a recent blackout and Hurricane Oscar.Early on Wednesday it was about 160 miles (260km) south-east of Havana and packing winds of 99mph (160km/h), making it a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Five is the strongest. Continue reading...

Major cross-party push under way to win over significant number of undecided MPs

Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison send messages as Adam Bandt criticises dangerous demagogue' and calls on PM to cancel Aukus

GP in inheritance row aimed to kill his mother's partner by wearing disguise to administer a fake Covid booster jab

Live election results and map as Trump wins several states critical to electoral success

Home affairs minister says he will introduce new legislation after visa conditions for those released from immigration detention were ruled unconstitutional

If she wins, Harris would become the first president to graduate from a Historically Black College and University

Rising costs and demand are a huge strain on council budgets and services face intolerable pressures', says AdassEngland's overstretched and creaking adult social care services need urgent government intervention to stabilise them financially as rising costs and demand play havoc with council budgets, care bosses have warned.The financial challenge facing adult social care continued to be as bad as it has been in recent history", the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) said, and services are under intolerable pressures". Continue reading...

With contradictory proposals unlikely to mesh, leaders to decide whether there is scope for alliance to continueWhen, in 2021, Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats went into a traffic light" coalition with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats, the new government was riding high on an enthusiastic spirit of cooperation.There were promises to modernise, reinvigorate and green-proof Europe's largest economy. Germany, the coalition partners said, had sleep-walked into a complacent state during 16 years of rule under Angela Merkel. The new trio in power would jolt the country out of its hubris, and deliver it into a new era of vigour and creative transformation. That, at least, was the idea. Continue reading...

Israel's war in Gaza, funded with substantial US support, has inspired some to back the Green party, while others call Kamala Harris the the best of the worst'

Documentary about Billy Mail's connection with orphaned pup Molly airs on National Geographic next weekNational Geographic will be streaming a new documentary about an unlikely bond between a man and an otter in Shetland.Billy Mail met Molly, a starving pup, in 2021 when he saw her jumping off a pontoon into the sea near his Shetland home. Mail wanted to see how close he could get to her before she fled. But it turned out that Molly had no intention of running away.Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story will be available from 14 November on Disney+, and will air on 15 November on National Geographic Continue reading...

Experiment for a term prompted by research showing that sharing every result put added pressure on studentsA secondary school in the Netherlands is blocking parental access to children's grades for a term in an attempt to reduce the pressure on pupils to perform.Like many countries, the Netherlands has a system under which students need a certain grade average to progress to the next year, but Jordan - Montessori Lyceum Utrecht found that a widely-used app which shares every mark with parents was increasing stress among children. Continue reading...

National Literacy Trust finds only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their spare time, a sharp drop on last year to the lowest figure yet recordedChildren's reading enjoyment has fallen to its lowest level in almost two decades, with just one in three young people saying that they enjoy reading in their free time, according to a new survey.Only 34.6% of eight- to 18-year-olds surveyed by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) said that they enjoy reading in their spare time. This is the lowest level recorded by the charity since it began surveying children about their reading habits 19 years ago, representing an 8.8 percentage point drop since last year. Continue reading...

Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats to get back control of the lower chamber - here's what to keep an eye onMuch attention has been paid to the historic race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, but the results of down-ballot elections will determine whether the new president will actually be able to implement a legislative agenda next year.With Republicans defending a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats to wrest back control of the lower chamber, and both parties are going all out to win. Continue reading...

Doctored intelligence files allegedly leaked by Israeli PM's office harmed the achievement of Israel's war aims'

Spokesperson says Dowden will not take part in the rest of the competition owing to foot injuryThe professional dancer Amy Dowden will not be continuing with this year's season of Strictly Come Dancing to recover from a foot injury.The development was revealed on the spin-off show Strictly It Takes Two on BBC Two on Monday and comes after a period of absence from the show for Dowden. Continue reading...

Strong current took child trying to cross The Entrance channel with father and three younger brothers

Polling shows that Australians prefer renewables, climate change and energy minister says

Lead singer takes backwards tumble as Coldplay perform fourth and final show at Marvel StadiumThe lead singer of the British rock band Coldplay has fallen into a hole in the stage while performing in Melbourne.Chris Martin was talking to the crowd at the fourth and final Melbourne show at Marvel Stadium as part of the Music of the Spheres tour when he walked backwards into a large open hole in the thrust stage. Continue reading...

Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster likely to make at least 50m from leasing land to services such as NHS and schools, according to investigationKing Charles and Prince William's property empires are taking millions of pounds from cash-strapped charities and public services including the NHS, state schools and prisons, according to a new investigation.The reports claim the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, which are exempt from business taxes and used to fund the royals' lifestyles and philanthropic work, are set to make at least 50m from leasing land to public services. The two duchies hold a total of more than 5,400 leases. Continue reading...

Muhammad Hassam Ali, 17, was killed by stranger after a four-minute conversation in city centreA 15-year-old boy who followed a teenager he did not know through Birmingham city centre and stabbed him to death after a four-minute conversation has been jailed for life with a minimum of 13 years.Muhammad Hassam Ali, known as Ali, was 17 when he died in hospital on 20 January, hours after he and his friend were confronted by two masked 15-year-old boys they had never met as they sat in Victoria Square, drinking hot chocolate and chatting about cricket. Continue reading...

Chancellor, on a post-budget visit to Newcastle, says markets move all the time'The growth in UK house prices slowed unexpectedly last month, Nationwide said, as it warned buyers to expect a rush in transactions early next year sparked by changes to stamp duty rules in the budget.The building society's monthly index showed that annual house prices grew at a rate of 2.4% in October, a slowdown from the near two-year high of 3.2% recorded in September.The main impact of the stamp duty changes is likely to be on the timing of property transactions, as purchasers aim to ensure their house purchases complete before the tax change takes effect.This will lead to a jump in transactions in the first three months of 2025 (especially March), and a corresponding period of weakness in the following three to six months, as occurred in the wake of previous stamp duty changes."I spoke to him this morning. He said the Border Force officials who had escorted him were very good to him and told him he had conducted himself very well, had adhered to the bail conditions and they didn't have to come look for him this morning.But why give someone three days to pack up their life? You would think they would at least give them 28 days so he could mount a legal case. Continue reading...

Chancellor's clothing choice shrewdly followed fashion footsteps of Thatcher, Harris and 17th-century menswearIt was a budget the chancellor said would match the greatest economic moments in Labour history", and for the occasion Rachel Reeves chose to wear a garment to match the moment: a pussybow blouse.The UK's first female chancellor knows more than most how the way female politicians dress can be picked over and weaponised. While researching her book Women of Westminster, a history of what women in parliament have achieved, she was struck by the way female MPs have used fashion and appearance to tell us something about them and their politics, often to great effect". Her choice of neckline is unlikely to have been an afterthought at such a historical moment. Continue reading...

Weather agency says four regions remain under amber alert because of risk of rains and stormsThe death toll from the floods in Spain this week has risen to 205, as residents in the Valencia region were warned to brace for more rain and an additional 500 soldiers were earmarked to help with the rescue operations.Authorities in Valencia raised the death toll there to 202 on Friday afternoon, bringing the overall toll to at least 205 in what was the deadliest episode of flooding in Spain's modern history. Continue reading...

Shootings in Poitiers are latest to injure children, with minister saying country at tipping point' on drug violenceA shooting and massive brawl linked to drug trafficking has seriously wounded five people, including three teenagers, in western France, officials and media said, in the latest such gunfight to injure children.The shooting began at about 10.45pm on Thursday in front of a restaurant in Poitiers and rapidly escalated into a mass fight, the interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, told BFMTV/RMC radio on Friday. Continue reading...

Warning from comes after Rachel Reeves's record tax-raising budget sent tremors through financial marketsRachel Reeves has been warned an extra 9bn of tax rises may be required to avoid a fresh austerity drive in key public services as her record tax-raising budget sent tremors through the financial markets.Threatening to undermine the chancellor's claim that her budget would restore economic stability to Britain, government borrowing costs rose sharply in the City on Thursday as traders turned on Reeves's tax and spending measures. Continue reading...

Institute for Fiscal Studies says chancellor may have to revisit tax plans to avoid real-terms cuts in some areas

Campaigners criticise fall in company's investments in renewables as it reveals better than expected profits of $6bn in third quarterShell has called on the government to provide certainty" over the future of the North Sea after the chancellor confirmed plans to toughen its windfall tax on oil and gas profits.Rachel Reeves used Labour's first budget in 14 years to raise the headline tax rate of the energy profits levy by 3 percentage points to 78% until 2030 and close the loophole" left by the previous government that enabled fossil fuel producers to reduce their taxes through investment allowances. Continue reading...

Increase in employers' national insurance contributions will affect businesses but is projected to raise 25bn

The fuel duty freeze led to ire, but there were boosts for renewable energy investment and heat decarbonisationSo how did Rachel Reeves' ambition to be the green chancellor" survive contact with battle in the budget? Reactions are, honestly, mixed.The decision to freeze fuel duty and keep the 5p cut made by the Conservatives in 2022 is attracting some fury, not least because the tax relief is estimated to have raised UK greenhouse gas emissions by 7% since 2010. Reeves has been accused of doing completely the wrong thing" for climate by making this decision at the same time as raising the bus fare cap from 2 to 3, and rail fares by 4.6%. Continue reading...

Person diagnosed after developing flu-like symptoms and rash, as UKHSA says risk to UK population remains lowHealth officials have reported the UK's first case of mpox caused by a new strain that is driving an ongoing surge in infections in Africa.The UK Health Security Agency said the individual tested positive for clade Ib mpox after travelling to countries affected by the outbreak and had been transferred to the high-consequence infectious diseases unit at London's Royal Free hospital. Continue reading...

Scientists say violent weather battering Mediterranean is a harbinger of what the rest of Europe can soon expectResidents of Chiva, a small town on the outskirts of Valencia, can expect a grim future of worsening drought as the planet heats up and the country dries out. But on Tuesday, they also witnessed a year's worth of rainfall in a matter of hours.The torrential rains that flooded southern and eastern Spain on Tuesday night, ripping away bridges and tearing through towns, have killed 64 people and counting. Fossil fuel pollution plays a role in warping both extremes of the water cycle: heat evaporates water, leaving people and plants parched, but hot air can hold more moisture, increasing the potential for catastrophic downpours. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer's appeal at PMQs follows Tory leadership candidates questioning police handling of investigationKeir Starmer has warned the two Conservative leadership candidates, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch, against undermining police efforts in the investigation into the Southport attack.Speaking at prime minister's questions, Starmer said it was important to allow police and prosecutors to do their difficult job" and that all MPs had a choice to make to either support the police in their difficult task or they could undermine the police in their difficult task". Continue reading...

Diocese of Southwark says it deeply regrets' distress after interfaith walk visited Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in CatfordOne of the largest dioceses in the Church of England has apologised for including a church accused of abusing its members on a recent interfaith walk in Lewisham, south-east London.The interfaith walk for peace, which was held last month, is an annual event that brings together people of different faiths to walk together, often stopping to visit places of worship along the way. Continue reading...

Daughter of Jamshid Sharmahd says family let down by US and German governments' failure to save himGermany has recalled its ambassador to Tehran and summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Berlin in protest over the execution of a German-Iranian dual national, Jamshid Sharmahd, accused of terrorism by Iran.His daughter, Gazelle Sharmahd, who had pressed the German and US governments hard to save him, said she and her brother felt let down by the failure of both governments to do more. Sharmahd was executed on Monday. Continue reading...

Tony Hinchcliffe's series of racist jokes at Donald Trump's rally on Sunday were widely condemnedSome Americans, particularly those of Puerto Rican descent, said that the racist remarks aired at Donald Trump's Sunday night rally at Madison Square Garden in New York helped them decide who to vote for.The speaker and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe took aim at Puerto Rico, in a series of racist jokes including one in which he called it a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean". Continue reading...

The actor who will be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom said he believed Marvel would never' recreate him on screen without his permissionRobert Downey Jr has said he will instruct his lawyers to sue future executives who attempt to create digital replicas of him using AI.Speaking on the On With Kara Swisher podcast, he said: I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec." Continue reading...

Artist installs new work at his former college in Oadby, as number of arts students in England plummetsThe artist David Shrigley has said Stem subjects should be expanded to prioritise the arts, adding that children's creativity is being stymied by the narrow focus on maths and the sciences.The Turner prize-nominated artist says Stem" - which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics - should be changed to Steam" to include the arts, which he believes are at the core of a rounded education. Continue reading...

Experts fear reports of 124 dead in attack on villages south of Khartoum are significant underestimationSudanese militia have been accused of killings, sexual violence, looting and arson during eight days of attacks on villages south of Sudan's capital, Khartoum.The UN said there were reports of gross human rights abuses" linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group, which has escalated attacks on civilians in el-Gezira state since the area's key commander was reported to have defected to government forces on 20 October. Continue reading...

Hungary PM's visit prompts anger in EU amid widespread concerns about voter intimidation and coercionViktor Orban is heading to Georgia after congratulating the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party for its overwhelming victory" in parliamentary elections despite widespread concerns about intimidation and coercion of voters.Hungary's prime minister will lead a delegation of his senior ministers to meet Georgia's prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, in a two-day visit that is likely to anger fellow EU leaders at a time when Hungary holds the rotating EU presidency. Continue reading...

John Power's band will join Richard Ashcroft as opening acts on the UK and Ireland leg of the tourCast are to join Richard Ashcroft as the opening acts on the forthcoming UK and Ireland leg of the Oasis reunion tour.The former Verve frontman will appear at the 19 sold-out dates in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin between July and September.I'm blown away at the reunion. Oasis are the voice of a generation and the songs that they wrote and sung were and still are the soundtrack to many people's dreams. They are the people's band.I've known Noel and Liam all through the years, we go way back. It's been some ride, some journey. I've felt and known their music personally, as a fan. It inspired me as songwriter, it blew the whole scene open like nothing before and it reached way beyond the stratosphere. Everything changed. We were all part of that and we will all be part of this. I'm especially looking forward to revisiting my family's Irish roots when the tour hits Dublin. Let the opening chords shimmer and shine next July." Continue reading...

Data supports belief that Christmas-themed merchandise, songs and decorations are appearing ahead of seasonHalloween might not yet be upon us, but the creepy thing is, Christmas is coming - and fast.A Guardian analysis shows that the Grinch-like grumble that Christmas is getting earlier every year" is actually justified. Figures from major supermarkets, local news bulletins and the UK Top 40 charts confirm what members of the public have long suspected: that the slow and steady takeover of the calendar by Christmas-themed items, songs and adverts - a phenomenon known as Christmas creep" - is in fact real. Continue reading...

UHY Hacker Young says 92 companies have delisted and only 10 floated on junior stock market in past yearThe UK's Alternative Investment Market (Aim) has shrunk to its smallest size in 23 years as business owners and investors anticipate an abolition of inheritance tax relief in the budget this week.The accountancy group UHY Hacker Young calculated that 92 companies have delisted from Aim, London's junior stock market, in the past year, reducing the total number of companies on Aim to 695. Continue reading...

Chair of parliamentary group against assisted dying says she has been meeting dozens of undecided MPsOpposition to the assisted dying bill is growing in parliament after the interventions of the health and justice secretaries to call for caution - and a backlash among new MPs who are angered by the speed of the legislation.Rachael Maskell, the former Labour shadow minister who chairs the Dying Well all-party parliamentary group against assisted dying, told the Guardian she and others had been meeting dozens of undecided MPs and hoped to persuade them to vote down the bill and push instead for a wide-ranging commission that would explore better palliative care. Continue reading...

Political elite under pressure from variety of sources, with US urging Iran to step back from the brink

Voters will decide if Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, will secure another four-years, having shifted the country closer to RussiaGeorgians have headed to the polls in a pivotal parliamentary election that could determine whether tGeorgia shifts away from its long-held western orientations towards stronger ties with the Kremlin.Voters will decide on Saturday whether the Georgian Dream (GD) party, which has been in power since 2012 and steered the country into a conservative course away from the west and closer to Russia, secures another four-year term. Continue reading...

Independent senator says her doctor ordered her not to travel, after records reveal she attended just 46.2% of votes since the 2022 election

Music mogul's former protege, now a politician, says he was set up to be the fall guy' for 1999 New York shootingShyne, the rapper and former Sean Diddy" Combs protege, says he was absolutely set up to be the fall guy" for a 1999 New York nightclub shooting in which the pair were implicated - and for which only he was imprisoned.One of the most difficult parts of it was watching everyone succeed," the lyricist, born Moses Barrow, says in an upcoming Hulu documentary about his life and career in music as well as politics. Continue reading...

NSW police charge 67-year-old man with murder of Edwin Dobbin, 82, who disappeared from Leppington in late September

Commonwealth leaders have been surprised at Labour's position - and campaigners have even called the PM's stance offensive'It was meant to be a historic moment for the UK: the first time a sitting prime minister has visited a Pacific island nation. But the focus instead has been on the anger and deep frustration sparked by Keir Starmer's blunt refusal to discuss the issue of reparations.No 10 confirmed the government would not issue an apology for the UK's role in slavery in the run-up to Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm). And while travelling to the conference, Starmer told reporters he wants to look forward" rather than have very long endless discussions about reparations on the past". Continue reading...