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Angus Taylor presents us with a new question: can a souffle rise once?' the prime minister said in a speech to a Labor conferenceThe prime minister has borrowed from a sharp-tongued predecessor to launch his first attack on the new opposition leader, Angus Taylor, asking: Can a souffle rise once?"Albanese played on an infamous insult from former prime minister Paul Keating, who asked whether a souffle rises twice when Liberal Andrew Peacock mounted a challenge to regain the party leadership in 1989. Continue reading...

USS Gerald R Ford will take about three weeks to sail to region, amid push for Iran to curb its nuclear ambitionsDonald Trump has ordered the world's largest aircraft carrier to sail from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East in an effort to increase pressure on Iran amid discussions over curbing its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.The USS Gerald R Ford and its supporting warships should take about three weeks to return to the region, where they will join the USS Abraham Lincoln, dramatically increasing the military firepower available to the US leader. Continue reading...

US homeland security eyeing 24 buildings, some as primary locations' for deportations, in escalation of Trump agendaUS Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expects to spend an estimated $38.3bn on a plan to acquire warehouses across the country and retrofit them into new immigration detention centers with capacity for tens of thousands of detainees, according to documents the agency sent to the governor of New Hampshire.The documents, published on the state's website on Thursday, disclose that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates it will spend $158m retrofitting a new detention facility in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and an additional estimated $146m to operate the facility in the first three years. Continue reading...

Letter says it is clear the former US ambassador holds critical information' for their investigation into EpsteinPeter Mandelson has been asked to testify to the US Congress over his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Robert Garcia, ranking member of the committee on oversight and government reform, and congressman Suhas Subramanyam have written to Mandelson requesting he be questioned as part of the investigation into Epstein. Continue reading...

Tree has never been granted preservation order to protect it under law and prevent it from being cut downThe future of the original Bramley apple tree, which is responsible for one of the world's most popular cooking apples, is at risk now that the site where it grows has been put up for sale, campaigners have warned.The tree is situated in the back garden of a row of cottages in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, which has been owned by Nottingham Trent University since 2018 and has been used as student accommodation. Continue reading...

Annex holding 6,000 women and children is now mostly empty, raising security and humanitarian concernsMost of the foreign families of suspected Islamic State fighters have left al-Hawl camp since the Syrian government took control of the facility, prompting security and humanitarian concerns over their whereabouts.About 6,000 women and children from 42 different countries were previously held in the foreigners' annex of al-Hawl camp in northeast Syria, which housed some of the most radical former members of the extremist group. The foreigners' annex was separate from the part of the camp that contained about 20,000 Syrians and Iraqis. Continue reading...

The co-founder of Palestine Action has won a legal challenge to the home secretary's decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws. Palestine Action was the first direct action protest group to be proscribed.The decision was widely condemned and was defied by a civil disobedience campaign, during which more than 2,000 people have been arrested. From July last year, being a member of - or showing support for - the group became an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian columnist Owen Jones - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

In Canadian town stunned by shooting perpetrated by one of its own, there is anger, but also a prevailing sense of dutyResidents of the Canadian mining town Tumbler Ridge largely agree that Tuesday 10 February began like a normal day. The cloudy haze that settled over the valley was typical. So, too, was the chill of winter.There were no hints that the quiet and comfortable routine of daily life in the mountains would be irrevocably shattered in one of Canada's worst acts of mass violence. Continue reading...

Voting was largely peaceful in an election seen as a test of Bangladesh's democracy after years of political turmoilThe Bangladesh Nationalist party, led by Tarique Rahman, has won a sweeping victory in the country's first election since a gen Z uprising toppled the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina.Results from the election commission confirmed the BNP alliance had won 212 seats, returning the party to power after 20 years, while the rival alliance, led by Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, won 77 seats. Continue reading...

Customers flock to Daoxiangcun to pick up cakes selected by the president during lunar new year tour around cityA Beijing pastry shop visited by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, on a lunar new year tour this week has been swarmed by customers hoping to get their hands on Xi-approved sweet treats.Traffic was brought to a standstill in Beijing's capital as the president took a tour around the city on Monday and Tuesday. Continue reading...

Thousands arrested for supporting group since proscription are now in legal limbo as Mahmood says she will appealThree senior judges have ruled that the ban on the direct action group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws was disproportionate and unlawful, handing the home secretary a humiliating defeat.Shabana Mahmood was urged to respect the court's decision after the judges said the ban, introduced by her predecessor Yvette Cooper, impinged on the right to protest and should be quashed. Continue reading...

Night at the opera theme for Kors' autumn-winter collection features elegant gowns draped in opulent coatsFive years ago, Covid prevented Michael Kors celebrating 40 years as a fashion designer, so nothing was going to stop him partying when that figure reached 45. It's crazy, I've been in fashion 45 years, but I'm only 32," said Kors, 66.The sweeping double staircase of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York became the catwalk for a fashion week show dedicated to the chic women of the city. On Kors' best dressed list is the amazing, remarkable" Rama Duwaji, the city's first lady as wife of the mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Continue reading...

Nat West chief executive's 6.6m pay package for 2025 is largest since disgraced predecessor's 7.7m in 2006

Judge rejects argument that advice is legally flawed and excludes trans people from services they have long usedThe Good Law Project (GLP) has lost its legal challenge to interim advice released by the UK equalities watchdog that in effect said transgender people should be banned from using bathroom and changing facilities according to their lived gender.The advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which has since been withdrawn from its website, was published soon after the landmark supreme court ruling on biological sex last April. Continue reading...

Prosecutors' office says two museum workers, several tour guides and suspected mastermind among those detainedFrench police investigating a suspected 10m (8.7m) ticket fraud scheme at the Louvre museum in Paris have detained nine people, including two members of staff.Based on the information available to the museum, we suspect the existence of a network organising large-scale fraud," a museum spokesperson told Agence France-Presse. Continue reading...

Section of A66 closed and warning of travel disruption amid freezing temperatures in Scotland and northern EnglandA major road across the Pennines has been closed as an Arctic blast brought snow, ice and freezing temperatures to Scotland and northern England.The Met Office said widespread travel disruption was likely on Friday as it issued two yellow warnings that will remain in place until noon. Freezing temperatures have led to a four-day health alert for cold weather. Continue reading...

More than 500 deals now offer 95% loans as banks and building societies loosen their borrowing rulesWould-be first-time buyers have the biggest choice of low-deposit mortgages for at least 18 years, new data shows, suggesting that 2026 is looking positive for those trying to get a foot on the property ladder.In recent months many banks and building societies have been loosening their affordability rules or launching deals that let people borrow 95% of the property's value, and in some cases more than that. Continue reading...

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Kremlin's repeated targeting of infrastructure has left thousands without heating, reliant on shelters and desperate home hacksNatalya Pavlovna watched her two-year-old son, Danylo, play with Lego. We are taking a break from the cold," she said as children made drawings inside a warm tent. Adults sipped tea and chatted while their phones charged. The emergency facility is located in Kyiv's Troieshchina district, on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Outside it was -18C. There was bright sunshine and snow.Russia is trying to break us. It's deliberate genocide against the Ukrainian people. Putin wants us to capitulate so we give up the Donbas region," Natalya said. Kyiv didn't use to feel like a frontline city. Now it does. People are dying of cold in their homes in the 21st century. The idea is to make us leave and to create a new refugee crisis for Europe."Natalia and Danylo near the resilience point' in Troyeshchyna district Continue reading...

Destined to a perilous life with no right to an education or to vote, state recognition gives them hope', campaigners sayThrough the decades that the Daulatdia brothel in Bangladesh has existed, children born there have been invisible, unable to be registered because their mothers were sex workers and their fathers unknown. Now, for the first time, all 400 of them in the brothel village have their own birth certificates.That milestone was reached after a push by campaigners who have spent decades working with Bangladesh's undocumented children born in brothels or on the street. It means they can finally access the rights afforded to other citizens: the ability to go to school, to be issued a passport or to vote. Continue reading...

A sign for the northern beaches Hop, Skip and Jump bus says clothing must be worn over swimwear'

Prime minister to meet mourners in mining town as families speak of their loss in one of Canada's deadliest mass shootingsCanadian prime minister Mark Carney is to join mourners in Tumbler Ridge on Friday, as authorities and relatives released details of the six children and assistant teacher killed by a shooter in the remote mining town's high school.Carney will attend a vigil in Tumbler Ridge in memory of the victims, and he invited leaders from all political parties to join him in the town, the site of the country's deadliest mass shooting in years. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer was on the brink of a leadership contest this week, but he pulled it back. That does not mean his rivals have gone away. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to Kiran Stacey about one of the most hotly tipped contenders: Wes StreetingKeir Starmer was on the brink of a leadership contest this week, but he pulled it back. That does not mean his rivals have gone away, with one of the most hotly tipped leadership candidates the health secretary, Wes Streeting.Earlier this week, Labour's leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, held an astonishing press conference calling for Starmer to resign. Meanwhile, in Westminster, Streeting was preparing to publish all his messages with Peter Mandelson to get ahead of swirling rumours about his friendship with the disgraced former ambassador to the US. But this kicked off speculation that Streeting had co-ordinated with Sarwar's team to put pressure on Starmer. While Streeting has denied this, the whole affair has put the health secretary back in the spotlight for his potential leadership plans. Continue reading...

Despite premier Chris Minns's objection to an inquiry, Law Enforcement Conduct Commission says it is in public interest to investigate alleged misconduct'

UK charity warns against excessive academic pressure and suggests reducing the number of high-stakes testsExam stress at age 15 can increase the risk of depression and self-harm into early adulthood, research suggests.Academic pressure is known to have a detrimental impact on mood and overall wellbeing, but until now few studies had examined the long-term effects on mental health. Continue reading...

Men praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president's visit

Glimpse of sun after weeks of unrelenting rain marks end of longest sunless period in area since records beganAberdeen has finally had some sunshine, for the first time in 21 days - marking the end of the longest sunless period in the area since Met Office records began in 1957.

Former shadow defence minister wins partyroom vote, ending Ley's tumultuous nine-month reign as the first female leader of the Liberals

Canadian authorities seized firearms from the residence approximately two years ago but later returned themPolice have said they were called on multiple occasions to the home of the teenage suspect behind one of Canada's deadliest school shootings after concerns were raised regarding mental health problems and weapons.Six people, including a teacher and five children, were killed in a school shooting on Tuesday in the western Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge. About 25 other people were injured and two of them remain in critical but stable condition. Continue reading...

Much-needed supplies but no oil arrive on navy ships as Trump stokes island nation's economic crisisAs the sun came up on a flat calm Florida Straits, two ships arrived off the port of Havana: the Isla Holbox, a squat logistics ship, followed by the more aggressive looking Papaloapan, whose bow ramp gave the appearance of a large beetle.The two Mexican navy ships docked on Thursday laden with humanitarian aid as part of Mexico's efforts to support Cuba amid a deepening crisis exacerbated by Donald Trump's economic pressure campaign. Continue reading...

Chris Wormald steps down by mutual consent' after a year in post with Antonia Romeo expected to succeed himKeir Starmer's attempt to shake up his top team after the disastrous Peter Mandelson scandal began on Thursday, when he forced out his most senior civil servant with a view to replacing him with Antonia Romeo.The prime minister announced that Chris Wormald was stepping down by mutual consent" after just over a year as cabinet secretary, with Romeo almost certain to succeed him as the first woman in the job. Continue reading...

Tom Homan says Trump has backed significant drawdown' in the state, where two US citizens have been killed

Job losses and programming cancellations expected after Tim Davie tells staff broadcaster is not a protected species'The BBC is to pursue cuts of up to 600m that will result in job losses and the end of some programming, amid concerns at a decline in the number of households paying the licence fee.Tim Davie, the outgoing director general, told staff that the broadcaster was not a protected species" and that 10% of the BBC's costs would have to be cut over the next three years. Continue reading...

Exclusive: TSSA general secretary wants Rayner to take over after Gorton byelection which she expects party to lose

Downing Street says Wormald to stand down but does not announce replacementHere is video of Jim Ratcliffe making his comment about the UK being colonised" by immigrants.Kemi Badenoch has urged Keir Starmer to delay the departure of Sir Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary, so that he remains in post to oversee the release of government documents relating to Peter Mandelson's time as ambassador to Washington.It is hard to escape the conclusion that the cabinet secretary is simply the latest person to be thrown under a bus by this prime minister.It is all the more concerning to be changing cabinet secretary in the midst of the ongoing scandal over the appointment of Lord Mandelson and his conduct in office.Changing the cabinet secretary in the middle of this scandal - or more precisely forcing out the incumbent without any clear process - would be an extraordinary thing to do.Any individual appointed in the circumstances, without a full process to point to and in midst of managing a scandal, could find it difficult to demonstrate impartiality. Continue reading...

Officer alleged to have had romantic relationship' with daughter' of man listed as his brother' in investigationA federal immigration supervisor who allegedly lived with his undocumented girlfriend has been charged with harboring an undocumented person, Texas federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.Andres Wilkinson's alleged romantic relationship" with this woman caught the eye of authorities last spring. Authorities later received information indicating" the woman was Wilkinson's niece, according to a criminal complaint. Continue reading...

The Monaco-based billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has said he is sorry that his choice of language has offended some people', after growing outrage over his comments that the UK was being colonised by immigrants'. The Manchester United co-owner has faced a mounting backlash since making the remarks, which have been labelled hypocritical and reminiscent of far-right narratives'. Lucy Hough speaks to the sports writer and columnist Jonathan Liew - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Labor unions are fundraising and providing mutual aid for workers affected by ICE surges in Minnesota and across USLabor unions are fundraising for workers affected by the surge of immigration enforcement across the US, providing legal and financial support to members impacted by the brutal crackdown.Nearly $20,000 was raised for a home-care worker, Maria, a member of Service Employees International Union Local 503 in Salem, Oregon, and a US citizen who was attacked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on 29 January. Continue reading...

The Bob Coveiro (the Gravedigger) Law recognises the emotional bond between guardians and their pets'A dog that remained beside his former owner's grave for 10 years has now given his name to a new state law allowing pets to be buried alongside their loved ones in Sao Paulo.The new law - already being informally referred to as the Bob Coveiro (the Gravedigger) Law, in tribute to its inspiration - was signed this week by the governor of Brazil's most populous state, the conservative Tarcisio de Freitas. Continue reading...

Advocate general questions decision, saying reforms needed to unfreeze about 10bn have not been carried out

From his public persona to a sense that he sold the country a pup, many factors seems to feed a sense of great dislike'

To help combat the impact of screen-time creep, the Countdown word supremo has a few suggestions

Report on Islamic State says Ahmed al-Sharaa was targeted twice by IS front group that bombed Damascus churchFive separate plots to assassinate Syria's president or his senior ministers were foiled last year, the UN has said in a report on Islamic State.According to the report, the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was targeted twice, once in northern Aleppo and another time in southern Daraa, by Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, an IS front group that carried out a bombing of a church in Damascus last summer. Continue reading...

Twenty-seven entries shortlisted in 21 categories including website of the year and newspaper of the yearThe Guardian has been nominated for more than 20 honours at this year's Press Awards, including for website of the year, daily newspaper of the year and newspaper of the year (daily and Sunday).Twenty-seven entries from the Guardian have been shortlisted across 21 different categories by the judges of the UK's prestigious journalism awards. Continue reading...

ACT government confirms it raised reports of boy's fate with foreign affairs department, amid unverified claims he died last week

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Nigel Dalton says he sought to redeem himself in the eyes of God' by crossing the floor in an attempt to overturn the LNP's abortion debate gag order

Despite high needs, the Merseyside borough has the most youth work black holes' of any local authority in England

System used for civil servants not thorough enough for those with baggage' of years in politics or business, Peter Ricketts saysDowning Street cannot appoint politicians or business figures to senior diplomatic posts using the same security vetting it uses to check civil servants, a former national security adviser has said.Peter Ricketts said there had to be more awkward questions" asked of a person such as Peter Mandelson than the system allows, given all the baggage" of his three decades in politics and business. Continue reading...