World news | The Guardian

Iran attacked Bahrain and Kuwait after US strikes, and threatened a complete halt' to talks

Urn with loving messages to Gary Bonsor' to be buried in local churchyard as efforts to find family draw a blankIt is a puzzling story with a still unsolved mystery at its heart: just who is the individual whose cremated remains were left on the counter of a burger van at Newbury racecourse?And why - despite the cremation urn being labelled with a name and a message that hints at a loving family - has no one come forward to claim it? Continue reading...

Any new tax on the rich won't raise much money unless many of the exceptions and loopholes are dealt withIn this new era of rampaging oligarchs, nothing may seem as satisfying as slapping a tax on Elon Musk's new trillion-dollar fortune. What most bothers Americans about federal taxes is that billionaires don't pay their fair share. As the race to develop artificial intelligence mints more billionaires, policymakers' temptation to directly tax their brobdingnagian wealth is becoming unbearable.The first state out of the blocks is California, where voters in November will decide whether to impose a one-time tax of 5% on fortunes worth more than $1bn. Given the ease with which plutocrats avoid paying income taxes, the case for this sort of direct tax on their stash appears unassailable. Continue reading...

Reports claim replacement being lined up for co-founder amid concern over high pay and company's struggling share priceThe boss of Ocado has collected nearly 100m since the online grocery company floated on the stock market in 2010 despite its share price now languishing below its flotation level, analysis has shown.Tim Steiner, a former Goldman Sachs trader who co-founded the British technology company in 2000, is thought to be in discussions over his future after it emerged Ocado had approached at least one potential replacement. Continue reading...

Citizens in Minnesota using lessons learned from migrant crackdown to protect elections from president's threatsWhen thousands of immigration agents flooded Minnesota earlier this year, a loose network of neighbors sprang into action. They fed each other. They got kids to and from school safely. They tracked the surge that tore through their communities.After organizing, block by block, to monitor Donald Trump's extraordinary crackdown on their state, the same neighbors are shifting their focus to a different threat. What if the US president tries to steal an election? Continue reading...

UK is latest country to set minimum age for social media access but big tech is fighting back globally against curbs

As extreme weather events become more common, economists say government will need to take more active role to protect consumersAnyone attempting to notch up a productive day's work in the searing heat of southern England this last week was left in little doubt about the impact of extreme weather.But the economic effects of the climate crisis for the UK are not confined to the many hours lost to quietly perspiring - or fetching kids dismissed early from scorching classrooms. Continue reading...

Marco Rubio is scrambling to provide effective disaster response to country whose president US deposed in JanuaryThis week's dual earthquakes in Venezuela are a test for the new era of American power in the western hemisphere, as the Trump administration scrambles to provide an effective disaster response mission to a country that it now calls an ally in Latin America, after a US special forces raid in January deposed the country's strongman leader, Nicolas Maduro.The US is marshalling what secretary of state Marco Rubio called a big, fast, effective" and whole-of-government" response as the state department sent three specialised urban search and rescue teams and pledged a $150m assistance fund that one former disaster relief expert called the largest he had seen within 24 hours of an incident. Continue reading...

Crocodile Dundee was held up by the One Nation leader as an exemplar of Australian monoculture'. Hoges had other ideas

Exclusive: Concerns in-person vote system is giving bigger say to organised fringe activists who can attend conferenceSenior Greens are examining ways to revamp the party's structures to make it more effective and representative now its membership has more than tripled since Zack Polanski became leader.Under the party's direct-democracy model, policy is voted on only by members who attend one of its two annual conferences, a system some Greens believe risks empowering organised fringe activists who make the effort to travel to the events. Continue reading...

Analysts and western leaders believe Iran will increase support of militia groups despite deal between US and TehranAs Marco Rubio ended his brief visit to the Middle East on Friday, he sought to cast in the best possible light his discussions with leaders of the Gulf states. Those leaders are deeply anxious that the deal agreed earlier this month between Iran and the US fails to address their worries about continued Iranian efforts to project power and influence throughout the region.They've shared with us some very concrete concerns," the US secretary of state admitted, and insisted that any definitive agreement will require Tehran to not only restrict its nuclear programme but also halt its support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, militia in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. Continue reading...

Doubled penalties will have little effect if platforms not held to account for the content they carry, observers say

Search for survivors continues with nearly 70,000 people reported unaccounted for by their family membersThe death toll in the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 1,430, according to one of the country's top politicians, Jorge Rodriguez.Another 3,200 people were injured and 3,100 left homeless by the disaster, the National Assembly president added, speaking on state television. Continue reading...

With more than a third of Welsh parliament seats, Reform MSs have caused tears and walkouts - and voted against their own partyTears, walkouts, own-goal votes: the Welsh parliament has only been sitting for a few weeks, but Reform UK has already made a dramatic first impression in its new role as the official Senedd opposition.Plaid Cymru won May's historic Welsh elections, ending 100 years of Labour dominance and blocking the momentum of Nigel Farage's Reform UK, which came second. He had been aiming for it to become Wales's biggest party but it still performed better than any Welsh Conservative result on record, and increased its vote share from 1% in 2021 to 29% in 2026. Continue reading...

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Election will determine balance of power in New Caledonia before fresh negotiations with France on the territory's statusPolls opened in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia on Sunday for the archipelago's first provincial elections since 2019, after the vote was delayed as talks stalled over its political future.The election, initially planned for 2024, will determine the balance of power in New Caledonia ahead of fresh negotiations with France on the territory's status, with independence remaining the defining political issue. Continue reading...

Premier Chris Minns says he wants to restore confidence to beachgoers after series of shark sightings and attacks

Speaking on Desert Island Discs, the Grammy-nominated musician referred to his alcoholism as a parasiteFatboy Slim has said he felt paralysed and rigid with fear" at the prospect of DJing sober after spending time in rehab to deal with his alcohol addiction.The artist, whose real name is Norman Cook, referred to his alcoholism as a parasite and said getting sober was probably the hardest thing I've ever done" during an appearance on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne. Continue reading...

Suspect held after five people injured, including three who were taken to hospital, in Ealing on Saturday afternoonA man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a vehicle hit multiple pedestrians on a busy London road before driving away, police have said.Five people were injured, including three who were later taken to hospital, during the incident in Ealing Broadway, Ealing, west London, at about 2.30pm on Saturday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Guardian analysis suggests several groups with thousands of members run by what expert calls engagement farm' operations in south-east Asia

Firefighters are battling the blaze in Fishlake national park that was stoked by strong winds and low humidityHundreds of firefighters in Utah have struggled to suppress a wildfire that scorched an additional 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) as of Saturday, as low humidity and strong winds accelerated the fire spread, according to state officials.The Cottonwood fire erupted on Monday in the Fishlake national forest, located in central Utah. The blaze intensified overnight, growing from about 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares) to more than 92,000 acres (37,000 hectares) on Saturday morning, according to the US Forest Service. The fire is at a 0% containment level and is the largest blaze currently burning in the US, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Continue reading...

Democrats called plans for commemorative passport and gold coin with Trump portrait more befitting a monarchy'Donald Trump's efforts to brand the US government with his name and image advanced on Friday when the White House unveiled new images of a passport watermarked with his portrait to mark America's 250th anniversary.The White House called it simply the patriot passport", while on Truth Social the president introduced it as The U.S.A.'s New Passport, which says, Welcome, but be good!'" Continue reading...

No immediate reports of damage after Bahrain hit by number of drones' as ship in strait of Hormuz also targetedBahrain has said it was attacked by Iran with drones on Saturday, apparently in response to overnight US strikes on Iran. A ship in the strait of Hormuz was also attacked.Bahrain's foreign ministry said a number of drones" were launched at the country, though there were no immediate reports of damage. It condemned the attack and described it as a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents". Continue reading...

Police say they also found more than 600 dog collars in area where they suspect animals were killedInvestigators uncovered 117 dead dogs at a northern California animal rescue sanctuary, with many of the canine remains having evidence of gunshots.Miranda's Rescue, a sanctuary outside Fortuna, California, described itself as a no-kill" facility. Investigators said the organization accepted hundreds of dogs each year from shelters across the San Francisco Bay Area in return for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding. Continue reading...

Temperature records broken in Germany, Denmark and Slovakia as Europe remains gripped by heatwave

Agreement could also end hopes of ICC jurisdiction in Lebanon, which advocates pushed for to prosecute IsraelA new agreement between Lebanon and Israel could block victims of Israeli war crimes in Lebanon from pursuing accountability and hinder future efforts to give the international criminal court jurisdiction in the country, legal experts have said.Lebanon and Israel signed a 14-point framework agreement in Washington on Friday designed to work towards an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Matthew Torbitt faces two counts of fraud by false representation in relation to travel and expense claimsA prominent political commentator has been charged with fraud in relation to his time as a Labour adviser, the Guardian can reveal.Matthew Torbitt, a regular guest pundit on GB News, faces two counts of fraud by false representation in relation to his travel and expenses claims while working in parliament. Continue reading...

Go Cornish Celebration engages younger generation as council finalises strategy to boost everyday use of KernewekSeven-year-old Albie, a pupil at Trewirgie infants' school in Redruth, did not hesitate when asked why he liked learning Kernewek, the Cornish language.We used to talk this way in the old days," he said. And I like speaking now. I enjoy the songs we sing, the Cornish books we read, all the words. It's fun." Continue reading...

Prime minister Anthony Albanese says too many children still on platforms but he is heartened' by world-leading law

Court files show how men connected through TikTok and encrypted apps planned attack on White House UFC fightWhen Tycen Proper, 19, finished high school, his family gave him at least $3,000 of graduation money", according to court documents. Despite the generosity, he seemed content to just live at his parents' home, in a tiny Ohio town near Amish country, and spend more and more time on the internet.But Proper did have ambition of a kind, an affidavit says. He quit his job to focus on a special project that he was planning with friends from the internet. His mother saw him studying maps of Washington DC. He also put his graduation money into investments that made his father uneasy: a rifle, a shotgun, body armor, ammunition. Continue reading...

Experts say students from poorer backgrounds increasingly having to limit their options because of money worriesMost days, Mariam spends hours simply waiting.The 19-year-old University College London student often finishes her lectures by mid-morning but has careers events or society meetings in the evening. The three-hour round trip to her family home means travelling back and forth makes little sense, so she waits on campus instead. More often than not, by the time the event starts, she is too exhausted to stay long. Continue reading...

Former Westminster correspondent earned a reputation for uncovering political wrongdoing in the 1990sThe acclaimed journalist David Hencke, whose career at the Guardian spanned more than three decades, has died of liver cancer aged 79.As Westminster correspondent, Hencke was instrumental in exposing the cash-for-questions scandal that forced the resignations of two Conservative ministers, and the scoop that led to Peter Mandelson's first resignation from government. Continue reading...

Animal who went missing from private ranch for nearly two weeks had been falsely reported as found earlier in the weekThe search for a giraffe who absconded from a private game ranch in rural Texas and effectively went missing for nearly two weeks was found safe on Friday just a few miles away from the homestead, according to authorities.An aerial search ultimately pinpointed the whereabouts of Gracie the w[a]ndering giraffe", said Nathan Johnson, the Real county sheriff, in a Facebook post announcing the success of efforts to find the creature. Continue reading...

Relocation of Action on World Health raises questions over why Reform UK leader is involved in a US pressure groupNigel Farage's campaign against the World Health Organization (WHO) is moving to the US with a new board of lobbyists, raising questions over why the Reform UK leader is involved in an American pressure group.The Action on World Health campaign, co-founded by Farage, is relocating to the US state of Delaware as a charitable foundation and grassroots non-profit. Continue reading...

Staff at Radio 4 show, which has 5 million listeners, told making content for likes of TikTok will take precedence for correspondentsThe task of briefing the nation on Radio 4's agenda-setting Today programme has been one of the most urgent tasks facing the BBC's top journalists for decades.Insiders at the corporation, however, say that duty has effectively been downgraded, after an edict that will result in correspondents prioritising making content for TikTok, Instagram and other digital platforms. Continue reading...

Hotels report increase in last-minute bookings, including from families attempting to escape hot homes

The 46-year-old was stopped at about 9.30pm on Friday while preparing to board a Jetstar flight to Perth, according to police and local media

CPS urges victims to go to police, saying they will be taken seriously and it won't hesitate' to bring abusers to justiceProsecutors in England and Wales are expecting incidents of domestic abuse to increase during the men's World Cup, and have urged victims to come forward, saying those responsible will be held accountable".We often see more domestic abuse cases around major football tournaments like these," the CPS national stalking lead, Olivia Rose, said. The point that we want to get across is that those responsible will be held accountable, and that we won't hesitate to bring them to justice." Continue reading...

A pair of debenture tickets changed hands this week for a sum far beyond the means of ordinary tennis fansLike many of us, Marcos Ortega enters the Wimbledon public ticket ballot every year in the hope of seeing some championship tennis. In seven straight years of trying, however, he has never got lucky. So he was delighted - initially, at least - to learn there was a way to secure a ticket for every game played on Centre Court.But Ortega's hopeful delight quickly turned to anger when he discovered that it would cost him 293,000. Continue reading...

Arabic's rich history of poetry lends itself well to beautiful commentary that ... sounds like a love letter to football'Even before Cristiano Ronaldo's close-range shot had hit the back of net, the commentator had begun shouting. Allllllllaaaaaaah!!!!" exclaimed Amer al-Khudhiri, an Omani football announcer for BeIN Sports, as the Portugal star scored his first goal of the 2026 World Cup against Uzbekistan on Tuesday.He took a deep breath and then began his soliloquy. I knew you were coming for revenge. I knew you would answer everyone, the world, the World Cup, the doubters, those who have lost their memory," al-Khudhiri said. Oh history, put Ronaldo here as Portgual's all-time top scorer, through all its history. Allah, Allah, Allah!" Continue reading...

Fire and Rescue NSW uses thermal imaging and a mobile phone red light to quickly locate men who veered off walking track near Jindabyne

President seizes on wins by Mamdani-backed candidates to warn darkly of threat to traditional American way of life'Donald Trump has previewed a Republican strategy for the midterm elections, seizing on a progressive sweep in New York to portray Democrats as godless communists" who pose an existential threat to the nation.The US president, who was a child during the red scare", seized on wins by democratic socialists backed by the mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, to stoke fears that the Democratic party has embraced extremism that could lead to the violent persecution of Christians. Continue reading...

Authorities say couple failed to take young boy to doctor and did not provide safe environment at homeA Michigan couple has been charged with murder after authorities say their son died weighing more than 250lbs (113kg) despite being just seven years old.The investigation into the case's circumstances began on 4 November 2025 after a 911 call reported a young boy in medical distress at a home in Flint township, Michigan. The child, identified as Casper O'Brien, died after being taken to a hospital. Continue reading...

Delcy Rodriguez says foreign rescue teams are arriving as anger grows at official response and limited resources

About 100 marchers demand transparency after Kohen Wiley was shot dead in a car outside a WalmartAbout 100 people gathered on Friday morning outside of the Walmart in rural Senatobia, Mississippi, to protest about the killing of a one-year-old boy by police earlier this month.Walmart itself was closed, its doors barricaded. During a protest at the Walmart earlier in the week, officers deployed teargas on those gathered to force the crowds to disperse. Continue reading...

Environmentalists and immigrant-rights advocates seek accounting of damage done by notorious detention centerWhile they welcome the recent closure of the controversial Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center, leading environmental groups and their allies say they want an independent investigation into the environmental damage the facility inflicted on the surrounding wilderness during its 12 months of operations.Those groups made that demand alongside immigrant-rights advocates and members of Florida's Miccosukee Tribe at a news conference on Friday outside the entrance to the shuttered detention center, where the Friends of the Everglades (FOE) executive director, Eve Samples, condemned the camp as a failure, an obscene waste of taxpayer dollars and an abuse of the Everglades". Continue reading...

Experts say move signals greater political interference into public health and will exacerbate opioid overdose crisisHealth programs receiving federal funding must agree within days to new priorities from the Trump administration, including a focus on parental authority" in education and a move away from proven overdose-prevention methods like harm reduction, suggesting greater political control over public health.The new priorities will likely affect progress against the opioid crisis, and they could signal an attack on vaccination requirements at schools, which are set at the state and local level. The priorities may also weaponize public health to quash public disorder." Continue reading...

Critics say mandating Bible reading for over 5m students breaches constitutional separation of church and stateThe Texas education board has approved a broad new statewide reading list that, for the first time, will make passages from the Bible required reading for more than 5 million public school students.Under the new initiative, Bible stories will become mandatory reading for millions of public school students in addition to a more standard collection of books, renewing debate over growing efforts in the US to increase the role of religion in classrooms. Continue reading...

US president calls it foolish violation' of ceasefire agreement after drone damaged ship's upper deck

Government asks justices to allow people who have lived in US for years to be held without chance to seek bondThe Trump administration on Friday asked the US supreme court to let it detain people arrested in its immigration crackdown without a chance to seek bond, even if they have lived in the country for years.The administration made that request in a filing made public on Friday, asking the court to overturn a May decision by a federal appeals court, which had rejected its reinterpretation of a decades-old immigration law that now underlies its mass detention policy. Continue reading...