World news | The Guardian

Downing Street gives no date for when the agreement of 30 days of visa-free travel will come into forceFor more context on today's Starmer-Xi meeting, China is the world's second-biggest economy and Britain's third-largest trading partner - to which it exports 45bn of goods and services a year - so it is no surprise the UK has turned to Beijing in its search for economic reliability.As the Guardian's political editor Pippa Crerar reported earlier today, the UK does not rank among the top 10 of China's trading partners but the Beijing leadership has spied a political opportunity to improve links with one of Washington's closest allies at a time of deep uncertainty in the transatlantic alliance. Continue reading...

Leo Ross was stabbed to death by stranger as he walked home from school in January last yearA teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering a 12-year-old Birmingham boy, Leo Ross, by stabbing him in the stomach during a random attack in parkland.Leo died after being taken to hospital from a riverside path in Shire Country Park, Hall Green, Birmingham, on 21 January last year. Continue reading...

Report into actions of Yaser Jabbar from 2017 to 2022 says 36 of the patients suffered severe harm under his careNearly 100 children suffered harm at the hands of a Great Ormond Street orthopaedic surgeon, a report has concluded.Yaser Jabbar treated hundreds of children from 2017 to 2022 at Great Ormond Street hospital (Gosh) in London, with independent experts saying in the review that his surgery fell well below the level expected in several areas. Continue reading...

Paul Patterson, who represented firm at Horizon inquiry, will become non-executive chair of UK business Business live - latest updatesThe European boss of Fujitsu, the company behind the Horizon software at the heart of the Post Office IT scandal, is to step down from his role in March.Paul Patterson, who is the chief executive of the European division of the company, will become non-executive chair of Fujitsu's UK business, where he will continue managing the company's response" to the inquiry into the scandal. Continue reading...

Border czar Tom Homan in Minneapolis says no agency is perfect' and acknowledges improvements that need to be made to federal immigration enforcement

Xavier Bettel was not happy with the Ukrainian president's repeated requests to allow Ukraine by 2027EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos also strongly criticised Russia for its continuing attacks on Ukraine.Arriving for the EU foreign affairs council this morning, she said:The news we are getting from Ukraine nearly every morning are horrific. What Russia is doing. There is a state terror. It's far beyond the war [as] they are bombing people while they are at home, freezing to death, [and] bombing passenger trains ..."I can't speak about the years; [as] I was saying there is some level of fundamentals which have to be fulfilled. But of course, we also have to consider the very important historical moments. So we will discuss with the member states how to bridge the time we need for the accession process, and of course, to react to this situation."We will work until the end to get the unanimity we need for this process. This is the only way we have to keep going, working also with the Hungary, and this is what we are doing."After more than a decade of hostilities and almost four years of full-scale war, the people of Ukraine continue to endure immense suffering. Daily civilian casualties, widespread infrastructure destruction, and mass displacement are further exacerbating the massive humanitarian needs.With Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, millions in the country are exposed to freezing temperatures." Continue reading...

Turkey hosts urgent mediation as Trump's threats mount and Tehran weighs painful compromises to avoid conflictIran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, will travel to Ankara for talks aimed at preventing a US attack, as Turkish diplomats seek to convince Tehran it must offer concessions over its nuclear programme if it is to avert a potentially devastating conflict.Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, proposed a video conference between Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian - the kind of high-wire diplomacy that may appeal to the US leader, but would be anathema to circumspect Iranian diplomats. No formal direct talks have been held between the two countries for a decade. Continue reading...

Giving passengers right to additional carry-on baggage would be terrible for the consumer', warns airline's CEOEasyJet said proposals to enforce free additional cabin bags on planes across Europe are a lunatic idea", warning of fare rises and flight delays if legislation goes through.The European parliament last week voted overwhelmingly to give all passengers the right to carry on a small case, as well as the free underseat bags currently permitted. Continue reading...

Pan Europe found several pesticide residues in 85% of apples, with some showing traces of up to seven chemicalsEnvironmental groups have raised the alarm after finding toxic pesticide cocktails" in apples sold across Europe.Pan Europe, a coalition of NGOs campaigning against pesticide use, had about 60 apples bought in 13 European countries - including France, Spain, Italy and Poland - analysed for chemical residues. Continue reading...

New video shows the Minneapolis ICU nurse being tackled by federal agents in a previous confrontation. Plus, is this the end of gentle parenting?

Judge says claim brought by Sex Matters should be made instead by individual who says they have faced discriminationA charity cannot bring a high court challenge over rules allowing trans people to use the single-sex facilities at swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath, a judge has ruled.Sex Matters sought to take legal action against the City of London, which operates the men's, women's and mixed bathing ponds in north London. Continue reading...

The departure of Greg Bovino has not quelled ICE's raids - and hope that tensions are easing feels distantIn the days after the killing of 37yearold ICU nurse Alex Pretti, signs emerged that the Trump administration understood how quickly anger at federal immigration agents could ignite across Minnesota and the nation.Early in the week, the president touted very good" phone calls with Minnesota governor Tim Walz - whom Trump routinely disparages - and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey. Continue reading...

Projects this year expected to triple global gas capacity, forecast finds, as concerns grow over impacts on planetThe US is leading a huge global surge in new gas-fired power generation that will cause a major leap in planet-heating emissions, with this record boom driven by the expansion of energy-hungry datacenters to service artificial intelligence, according to a new forecast.This year is set to shatter the annual record for new gas power additions around the world, with planned and under-construction projects earmarked for 2026 set to nearly triple the amount of existing gas capacity, a report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) found. Continue reading...

Retail accounts for 5% of the UK economy - but its visibility gives it an outsize influence on public perceptionUp and down Britain there are boarded-up shops. Banks and department stores have been replaced by vape shops, barbers and bookmakers. Shoplifting is at a record high, local services cut, and public frustration is mounting.Politically, high street decline is perfect campaign fodder for Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Continue reading...

Miatta Fahnbulleh accuses Reform leader of politics of grievance' while having no plan to fix UK high streets

Judge jails John Eric Spiby and three others who police said were part of gang running operation worth up to 288mAn 80-year-old man who won 2.4m on the national lottery helped build a multimillion pound drug empire that involved manufacturing counterfeit tablets on an industrial scale, a court has heard.John Eric Spiby was the leader of a drugs operation worth up to 288m that centred around his quiet rural" home near Wigan, Manchester crown court heard. Continue reading...

Policy intended to keep more children sanctioned for non-violent bad behaviour in school in internal exclusion' unitsSuspending pupils from school will be reserved for the most serious cases of bad behaviour including violence, according to the latest government guidance to be issued to schools in England.The Department for Education (DfE) is to announce a consultation on behaviour policy to be included in the forthcoming schools white paper that is intended to keep more children sanctioned for non-violent misbehaviour in schools in units known as internal exclusion", rather than sending them home. Continue reading...

As images of a secret meeting were splashed all over the media, it became clear the internal plot to oust the leader has descended into political melodramaThe images of a cabal of rightwing Liberal men gathering for clandestine talks to overthrow the party's first female leader - hours before a memorial service for a late former colleague, no less - confirmed two things.First, the internal plot to oust Sussan Ley has descended into a political melodrama. Continue reading...

The Green party has made gains under its leader - but there is also uncertainty aheadThe Greens talk of a Polanski effect" - a surge of momentum and visibility since Zack Polanski became leader, as the party gains attention in an increasingly fragmented political landscape.The polls offer the clearest signal so far of whether that narrative is borne out in public support. But they are not the only thing to consider and experts say the reality is hard to be certain about. Continue reading...

Average bills to go up again in April, with Ofwat approving record spending plans amid outrage over sewage spillsWater bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of 33 per household in April, in the latest above-inflation increase intended to fix leaking pipes and sewage treatment works.The increase will push the average annual water bill to 639 in the year from 1 April, up 5.4% on the previous year, according to figures published on Thursday by Water UK, a lobby group for the industry. Continue reading...

Of those affected by midlife challenges such as menopause, nine in 10 do not seek help, therapists' organisation saysAlmost two in three women over 50 in the UK struggle with their mental health as they deal with menopause, relationship breakdowns and changes to their appearance, a survey has found.Brain fog, parents dying, children leaving home and financial pressures can also trigger difficulties such as sleeping problems, feeling anxious or overwhelmed, and a loss of zest for life. Continue reading...

Waymo cars have been earning their stripes by getting used to zebra crossings while awaiting a government green lightAmerican robotaxis due to be unleashed on London's streets before the end of the year have been quietly undergoing training to understand the city's quirks, not least the zebra crossings, their promoters said on Thursday as they showed off one of the UK-specific driverless cars for the first time.The US self-driving ride-hailing company Waymo has a fleet of about 24 cars in London, each rigged with cameras, radar and lidar (light detection and ranging) censors. Continue reading...

As economic grievance grows in the electorate, an interest rate hike is the last thing our fraught politics needs

Opposition deeply unimpressed' with recommendation that adds nothing except confusion', shadow attorney general says

Exclusive: Union claims some offenders are deliberately breaking probation terms in order to deal drugs in jailRecord numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison.Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone - more than a third of the total number released in the year to June 2025. Continue reading...

Beijing has stepped up cooperation with south-east Asian nations to crack down on the multibillion-dollar industryChina on Thursday executed 11 people linked to Myanmar criminal gangs, including key members" involved in scam operations, state media reported.Scam compounds have flourished in Myanmar's lawless borderlands, part of a multibillion-dollar illicit industry. Continue reading...

Ben Saul argues protest restrictions are inconsistent with Australia's international legal obligations. Follow the latest updates live

Holburne museum places renowned photographer's pictures of ancient Roman statutes alongside his images of war and conflictHe is revered for his extraordinary black-and-white images documenting conflict, humanitarian crises and the tougher side of postwar Britain.But an exhibition of work by photojournalist Sir Don McCullin opening this week at the Holburne museum in Bath focuses on a very different subject: Roman sculptures. Continue reading...

Calls for independent external inquiry into brutal crackdown that some estimates suggest killed more than 30,000A deep and painful inquest is under way inside Iran as politicians, academics and the security establishment try to come to terms with what has been described as a catastrophe after the violent protests and their even more violent suppression by the security forces.The shape of the debate taking place in the heavily censored society is emerging, as selective newspapers and Telegram channels slowly open up to international audiences after the protests - which some estimates suggest could have left more than 30,000 dead - that have stunned many Iranians. Continue reading...

US state department calls for the release of all detained healthcare workers as at least one arrested surgeon reported to be at risk of executionDoctors are being arrested in Iran for helping save the lives of some of the tens of thousands injured during Iran's brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests, with at least one surgeon now at risk of being sentenced to death.The arrests and death sentence are part of a campaign of revenge", say human rights groups, after healthcare workers and doctors refused to ignore the plight of badly injured protesters shot or stabbed at close range, and in some cases set up makeshift treatment centres. Continue reading...

NSW police believe assistance has been provided from people that he knows in community' since last week's shooting

Lawyer for Guan Heng, whose exposed evidence of persecution of Uyghurs, says he is textbook example of why asylum should exist'A US immigration judge has granted asylum to a Chinese national who he said had a well founded fear" of persecution if sent back to China after exposing alleged human rights abuses against Uyghurs there.Guan Heng applied for asylum after arriving in the US illegally in 2021. He has been in custody since being swept up in an immigration enforcement operation in August last year as part of a mass deportation campaign by the Trump administration. Continue reading...

State government in talks with RSL to ensure the creation of long weekend doesn't detract from national day of remembrance

Mike Hawes casts doubt on Labour's plan to double production by 2035, as Starmer visits China with carmaker delegationA target of building 1.3m cars a year is likely to be missed unless a large new UK factory is built in the coming years, an industry group has said, as Keir Starmer prepares to hold trade talks in China.Labour aims to have 1.3m vehicles rolling off production lines by 2035, a central ambition of its industrial strategy. That would nearly double the 764,715 cars and vans made in 2025, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Continue reading...

Industry groups warn that aligning agriculture standards overnight could cost British businesses up to 810m a yearBritish food sector representatives have urged the government to introduce a transition period if it agrees to realign post-Brexit agriculture rules with the EU.They warned that aligning regulations overnight would create a cliff edge" that could cost UK businesses between 500m and 810m a year, because of the divergence in standards since Brexit. Continue reading...

Australian children's cartoon series about a family of blue heelers has yet to announce a new seasonAustralian-made animated series Bluey was the most streamed show in the US for the second year in a row, topping Nielsen's annual year-end streaming charts for 2025.US viewers watched 45.2bn minutes of the show on Disney+ according to Nielsen, down from 55.62bn in 2024, but still impressive given the show comprises 154 episodes - most of them less than 10 minutes' long. Continue reading...

Assailant, 80, said to have entered victim's property in Little Hulton on Tuesday and asked for cash and her purseAn 80-year-old man has been arrested after a 95-year-old woman was tied up and threatened during an attempted robbery in Salford after being asked about bin collection day, police said.It is understood an assailant entered the woman's property in Little Hulton in Salford on Tuesday, tied her hands together, and asked for cash and her purse. Continue reading...

High hopes for Optimus robot help company beat forecasts despite yearly revenue decline and flailing car businessIn the clearest sign yet that Tesla is pivoting away from its electric car business, CEO Elon Musk announced on Wednesday's investor call that the company would discontinue production of its Model X SUV and Model S full-size sedan.It's time to basically bring the Model S and X programs to an end," Musk said. We expect to wind down S and X production next quarter." Continue reading...

PM is first UK leader to visit China in eight years and hopes to strengthen bond with superpower amid uncertainty over US allianceKeir Starmer will meet the Chinese president Xi Jinping on Thursday for historic talks he hopes will deepen economic ties at a time when some inside government fear the US is no longer a reliable partner.The prime minister - the first UK leader to visit China in eight years - will hold a 40-minute meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before a number of cultural and business receptions. Continue reading...

Stranger allegedly threw Thermos of coffee on nine-month-old boy in Brisbane park in 2024

Exclusive: MPs backing bill to use nuclear option' of 1911 Parliament Act if it continues to be blocked by LordsSupporters of assisted dying will seek to force through the bill using an archaic parliamentary procedure if it continues to be blocked by the Lords.The high stakes move - described by some backers as the nuclear option" - would be the first time the 1911 Parliament Act has been invoked for a private member's bill. Continue reading...

Ali Akbar, 73, honoured by Emmanuel Macron with National Order of Merit for dedication he pours into workFor more than five decades he's pounded the pavements of Paris, becoming part of the city's cultural fabric as he strikes up conversations, greets longtime friends and offers parodies of daily news headlines.On Wednesday, the efforts of the man believed to be France's last newspaper hawker were recognised, as Ali Akbar, a 73-year-old originally from Pakistan, received one of France's most prestigious honours. Continue reading...

LA mayor calls order, which seeks to let people rebuild without permitting requirements, a political stunt'Donald Trump announced that he has signed an executive order to cut through bureaucratic red tape" and speed up reconstruction of tens of thousands of homes destroyed by the January 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires.The US president's order, which he announced on Tuesday but signed on Friday, seeks to allow homeowners to rebuild without contending with unnecessary, duplicative or obstructive" permitting requirements, the White House said in a statement. Continue reading...

UK technology secretary also announced plans to train up to 10 million Britons in AI skills to help workforce adaptIncreasing deployment of artificial intelligence will cause job losses, the UK technology secretary has warned, saying: I want to level with the public. Some jobs will go."In a speech on government plans to handle the impact of AI on the British economy, Liz Kendall declined to say how many redundancies the technology might cause but said: We know people are worried about graduate entry jobs in places like law and finance." Continue reading...

Production company asked for full review after broadcaster completely unaware' of Levi Hodgetts-Hague's commentsOver 20 seasons, the Apprentice boardroom has not been short on drama - but one recurrent theme is the UK show's penchant for problematic contestants.This season, which airs its first episode on Thursday, is no different. Offensive tweets posted by contestant Levi Hodgetts-Hague from a decade ago have been unearthed since filming, prompting the BBC to urge the show's production company to carry out stricter background checks on contestants. Continue reading...

Sarah Mullally confirmed as 106th person to take up post as some African church leaders express dismay at appointmentThe first female archbishop of Canterbury has marked her confirmation in the role with a vow to speak out about misogyny while questions continue about her record on safeguarding.Sarah Mullally took part in a service at St Paul's Cathedral which legally confirmed her as the 106th person to take up the post and the first woman in the role. Some African church leaders have expressed dismay at the appointment. Continue reading...

Prime minister says move is crucial to delivering justice to victims of misogynist violence who wait so long'

Olivier award-winning West End production will follow US example and be trimmed to make it more accessible than ever before'For almost a decade it has been the most epic fixture in West End theatre: a two-part play that runs for five hours, including intervals. But later this year Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will only be staged in London as a shortened, single production running 175 minutes.The new format is in line with the other versions of the hit play presented in the US, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan. Its producers announced on Monday that a one-part production would make it more accessible, allowing even more audiences to experience the story with one ticket and one visit to the theatre". Continue reading...

Starmer's control freakery' could end up leading Nigel Farage into No 10, Unison boss Andrea Egan saysBadenoch is now taking questions.Asked if she agreed with Reform UK that Britain is broken, Badneoch said she believed that it can be fixed.I was not elected to reheat the party with 1990s policies, and I was not elected to dismantle the party so that Nigel Farage can finally have a go.I was elected by Conservative party members to renew and rebuild. That is exactly what I am doing. Continue reading...

The White House's tone might be softening after outrage about the Minnesota ICE shootings, but there's no reason to expect a policy shift