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Grenades filled with rubber pellets and other so-called less lethal' munitions have been increasingly deployed, despite being linked to serious injuries and even deaths

Australian companies have exported nearly $300m weapons over five years to the UAE, which has denied shipping weapons to a paramilitary group in Sudan

Major incident declared in Wales, with rescues and evacuations in Monmouth after river bursts its banksSnow could be on the way for parts of the UK with a cold snap set to arrive in the coming days in the wake of Storm Claudia, the Met Office said on Saturday.The storm had a significant impact in Wales where a major incident was declared, with dozens of people rescued from their homes or evacuated in the town of Monmouth following severe flooding when the River Monnow burst its banks. Continue reading...

Police believe device was deliberately planted near frontbench to disrupt proceedings, prompting heightened security in parliamentPolice have arrested two men in connection with a mobile phone hidden in the House of Commons that was reportedly planted there to play sex noises during prime minister's questions.The phone was found near the frontbench during a routine sweep of the chamber. It is believed to have been intended to interrupt the keynote weekly showdown between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch in September. Continue reading...

Bangkok had earlier said it was suspending ceasefire, accusing Cambodia of laying landmines along the borderThe US has put pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire with Cambodia, warning trade talks could be halted as Washington seeks to keep a Donald Trump-brokered truce agreement from falling apart.Earlier this week, Thailand said that it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the border, including one it said wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion. Continue reading...

Business secretary Peter Kyle says appeal of far-right parties like Reform due to their dogma of disruption, division and despair'Nigel Farage is today's incarnation of the politics of Enoch Powell", the business secretary, Peter Kyle, said at the Co-operative party conference.Kyle described Reform UK as far right", while stressing that boosting economic growth was needed to build an economy and a politics that people can trust to deliver for themselves, their families and their communities". Continue reading...

As party's rise fuels fears over future visa rules, people share how the lives they have built are in jeopardyAs Reform UK soars in the polls, Britain's migrant communities are facing an uncertain future.The party has announced a swathe of hardline immigration policies, including its plans to abolish indefinite leave to remain - the right to settle permanently in the UK after five years of residence. Continue reading...

Cooke, who worked for the Observer for 25 years and was described as its backbone', was diagnosed with cancer earlier this yearTributes have been paid to the journalist and critic Rachel Cooke after her death from cancer.Cooke, 56, was diagnosed with the illness earlier this year and died on Friday. She worked for the Observer for 25 years, where she was described as the backbone of the paper". Continue reading...

PM makes opposition to support for Ukraine central to Fidesz campaign as it loses ground over cost of living crisisHungary's prime minister has kicked off a weeks-long anti-war roadshow", turning criticism of European support for Ukraine into an early campaign message before next year's elections.Viktor Orban' is scheduled to stage an event in five cities before the end of the year, and started with an assembly on Saturday in the north-western city of Gyr. Continue reading...

Natalie Boucly says supplies are ready but only about half of what is needed is getting into territoryIsrael is breaching international law by continuing to impose restrictions on aid flows into Gaza, where the population remains critically short of food and life-saving goods as winter sets in, a senior official at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has said.In an interview during a recent visit to Brussels, Natalie Boucly, an Unrwa deputy commissioner general, said the whole world - including the EU and US - needed to increase the pressure on Israel's government to ensure the unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza. Continue reading...

One possible alteration was thought to be tax-free cash drawdowns, but the chancellor may have turned to salary sacrifice schemesRumours about what Rachel Reeves may, or may not, do to pensions in the budget continue to swirl.One much-debated possible change - cutting the amount of tax-free cash that people can take from their pensions - is said by some to be off the table, but reports have emerged that the chancellor has salary sacrifice" pension schemes in her sights. Continue reading...

Exclusive: thinktank report finds health secretary has failed to improve productivity, with the health service unlikely to meet its targetsWes Streeting has been accused of taking a chaotic and incoherent approach" to reforming the NHS which makes it unlikely the government will hit its own targets, according to a damning report by the Institute for Government (IfG).The report praises elements of how the health secretary has managed the health service in his first year in office, including improving performance and staff retention in hospitals. Thepay settlement he reached with resident doctors last year avoided a winter plagued by NHS strikes Continue reading...

US president says he will sue the corporation for anywhere between a billion and $5bn'Donald Trump has said he still plans to sue the BBC despite receiving the apology he demanded over a misleading edit of one of his speeches.The row, over an episode of Panorama from last year about the Capitol riot in 2021, led to accusations of bias at the broadcaster and the resignation of two of the most senior executives at the BBC: the director general, Tim Davie; and Deborah Turness, the chief executive of news. Continue reading...

Katrin Jakobsdottir and her co-author want the 350,000 people who speak the language to fight for its futureIceland's former prime minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, has said that the Icelandic language could be wiped out in as little as a generation due to the sweeping rise of AI and encroaching English language dominance.Katrin, who stood down as prime minister last year to run for president after seven years in office, said Iceland was undergoing radical" change when it came to language use. More people are reading and speaking English, and fewer are reading in Icelandic, a trend she says is being exacerbated by the way language models are trained. Continue reading...

Duncan Ivison, president of Manchester University, says government's 6% surcharge plan will hurt the sector'A levy on tuition fees paid by international students is wrong", will hurt the sector" and is not in the long-term interests" of the UK, according to the vice-chancellor of one of the country's leading universities.Duncan Ivison, who took over as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester (UoM) last year, was speaking ahead of the budget later this month when the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to flesh out her plans for the proposed 6% surcharge. Continue reading...

The accidental explosion comes days after a deadly car blast in New Delhi which killed at least eight people near the city's historic Red FortAt least nine people were killed and 32 injured after a cache of confiscated explosives detonated inside a police station in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police have announced.The blast occurred in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, the region's main city, late on Friday while a team of forensic experts and police were examining the explosive material, said Nalin Prabhat, the region's police director general. He ruled out any foul play, saying it was an accident. Continue reading...

Campaigners claim AI algorithms are behind hefty increases in renewal quotes for home and car coverShortly after her husband died, Kay Lawley* received renewal quotes from the couple's home and car insurance provider, Ageas. She told the company of his death and was stunned that the quotes then increased by up to 15%.Her car insurance quote went from 301 to 348, while her home and contents policy rose by almost 12% - from 1,039 to 1,161. Continue reading...

Anne Wood says algorithms bypass the responsibility of art' and have failed to support high-quality children's contentLots of programmes for children on YouTube are empty" and do nothing to encourage the imaginative life of children", the Teletubbies creator has cautioned parents.Anne Wood, the veteran children's producer who devised the popular TV show for preschool children, said children's television had long been undervalued and she feared we're losing a tremendous amount and nobody can see it because it's not considered important". Continue reading...

After Tim Davie's resignation, the next director general will face internal strife, external noise and looming talks over the corporation's existence and purposeAs BBC senior editors arrived at its New Broadcasting House headquarters in central London on Monday, the most pressing question was what had convinced Tim Davie, the corporation's director general, to quit suddenly. Like any good BBC drama, it was a plot twist no one had seen coming.As they assessed the brutal pressures that had finally proved too much for Davie, a second question soon arose. Was running the BBC now simply an impossible job? Continue reading...

Campaigners say train image of two wheelchair users does not reflect reality of single wheelchair space in standard classCampaigners have accused one of the UK's leading train companies of virtue signalling without the virtue" after it used images of wheelchair users that they say do not reflect the reality of travelling with a disability.Baraka Carberry, a digital artist, created a new livery for Avanti West Coast, which provides rail links between London and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland, that shows scenes of people, culture, colours and joy". Titled Together We Roll, the images stretch across all seven carriages of the new Evero train, which the company says reduces carbon compared with the old fleet of trains. Continue reading...

Embattled Hungarian leader says he won an indefinite reprieve from sanctions on oil and gas from Russia, but the US has since disputed thisAs Viktor Orban would tell it, he had the perfect meeting with Donald Trump.After visiting the White House last week, the embattled Hungarian prime minister quickly declared victory, saying he had secured an indefinite exemption from US sanctions on oil and gas imported from Russia. The deal would shield Hungarians from skyrocketing energy prices ahead of parliamentary elections next year and potentially boost Orban's chances of extending his 15-year rule. Continue reading...

Ukrainian minister says more than 800 attacks recorded since start of year as Moscow seeks to destroy country's logistical capabilitiesUkraine has recorded a threefold increase in the number of attacks on its railway system since July, according to a senior minister, as Moscow seeks to scupper one of Kyiv's key logistical systems.Oleksii Kuleba, a deputy prime minister with responsibility for infrastructure, said attacks on the network since the start of 2025 had caused damage totalling $1bn (760m). Continue reading...

Advocates fear that other donors will follow Britain's reduction to the Global Fund for Aids, TB and malariaThe UK is undermining its legacy in fighting infectious diseases including Aids and malaria by cutting money pledged to a leading global health fund, campaigners claim.The 15% reduction in the contribution to the Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced this week - in a year when the UK, alongside South Africa, is co-host of the fund's replenishment drive - risks encouraging other countries to cut back commitments as well, advocates fear.The Gates Foundation is a major private contributor to the Global Fund. The foundation also contributes to theguardian.org, which funds independent journalism at the Guardian Continue reading...

We maintain our position that tariffs on any Australian products are unjustified,' trade minister Don Farrell says

Sanae Takaichi says the use of force against Taiwan could warrant a military response from TokyoChina has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan, escalating a diplomatic feud sparked by comments from Tokyo's new prime minister about a hypothetical attack on Taiwan.Sanae Takaichi told Japan's parliament on 7 November that the use of force against the self-ruled island claimed by China could warrant a military response from Tokyo. Japan has since said its position on Taiwan - just 100km from the nearest Japanese island - is unchanged. Continue reading...

BoM forecasts possible storms from tropical north and WA to central and eastern parts, with potential for strong winds and heavy rainfall

Investigators believe an explosion that killed 13 people may be linked to group operating in the disputed regionPolice have carried out raids and made several arrests across the Indian region of Kashmir in the aftermath of a car explosion in Delhi that left 13 people dead.On Wednesday, the Indian government confirmed it was treating the blast as a terror incident" perpetrated by anti-national forces". The explosion took place outside one of India's most significant monuments during rush hour on Monday evening. Continue reading...

Order exempting coffee, beef, bananas and other items comes as White House fights off concerns about rising costs

Radio 2 DJ covers 135 miles in five days carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack from Kielder Forest to LeedsThe BBC presenter Sara Cox has completed her challenge to run 135 miles in five days, raising more than 9.5m for the Children in Need charity.The 50-year-old, who presents Radio 2's Teatime show on weekdays, crossed the finish line for her great northern marathon challenge at about 3.30pm on Friday after covering the equivalent of five marathons in five days. She was greeted by a performance by the former Spice Girl Melanie C. Continue reading...

Rolex denies any negotiation' with US although luxury watchmaker entertained Trump and gave him gold clock

Jonathan Carley, 64, charged with unlawfully wearing uniform of armed forcesA man has been charged over allegedly dressing up as an admiral during a Remembrance Sunday event.North Wales police said they made an arrest after a man was spotted wearing the uniform and medals of a high-ranking navy officer" during a wreath-laying service in Llandudno, Conwy, on Sunday 9 November. Continue reading...

Viral plush toy is heading to big screen after a deal was signed with details still unclear over whether it would be live-action or animatedLabubus could be headed to the big screen. Sony Pictures has acquired the screen rights to the plush toy sensation and is in early development of a feature film which, if successful, would anchor a new franchise.The deal, first reported by the Hollywood Reporter, was signed this week between the Chinese toy makers and Sony Pictures, whose animation division is fresh off the global success of KPop Demon Hunters. No producer or film-maker is attached to the project yet, and it's still unclear if the film would be live-action or animated. Continue reading...

Two senior figures have been suspended at site in Kent that has been plagued by failings in past few yearsTwo of the most senior staff running Manston, the controversial processing centre in Kent for small boat arrivals, have been suspended and are under investigation for misconduct, the Guardian has learned.Witnesses said they were escorted off the Kent site. Continue reading...

A man reportedly turned up unannounced and laid a wreath at the town's war memorial during a serviceA 64-year-old man has been arrested following reports that an individual allegedly posed as a highly decorated naval officer at a town's Remembrance Sunday event in Clwyd.The man reportedly turned up unannounced at the war memorial in Llandudno wearing the Royal Navy uniform of a rear admiral on 9 November. Continue reading...

Vincent Karremans called semiconductor supply chain crisis a wake-up call for western leaders'The Chinese government has expressed extreme disappointment" with the Dutch minister at the heart of a row over chip supply to the car industry.A spokesperson for the ministry of commerce was responding to a Guardian interview with Vincent Karremans on Thursday in which the politician described the standoff between China and the European Union as a wake-up call" for western leaders. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Almost all Palestinians have been displaced to red zone' where no reconstruction is plannedThe US is planning for the long-term division of Gaza into a green zone" under Israeli and international military control, where reconstruction would start, and a red zone" to be left in ruins.Foreign forces will initially deploy alongside Israeli soldiers in the east of Gaza, leaving the devastated strip divided by the current Israeli-controlled yellow line", according to US military planning documents seen by the Guardian and sources briefed on American plans. Continue reading...

Larry Fraser, 49, burgled Grove gallery in London, stealing limited edition print of Girl With Balloon seriesA man who stole a Banksy print from an art gallery to pay off a historic drug debt has been given a 13-month prison sentence.Larry Fraser, 49, stole the limited edition print belonging to the street artist's Girl With Balloon series after breaking into the Grove gallery in Fitzrovia, central London, last September. Continue reading...

Tony Hall urges government to bolster BBC's independence as MPs and union seek Robbie Gibb's removal from boardTim Davie's predecessor as BBC director general is leading calls to end political appointments to the broadcaster's board amid concerns over the influence of Robbie Gibb.Tony Hall said political involvement needed to be removed from appointing the members of the board and its chair. Continue reading...

Previous claims against BBC Breakfast presenter have been escalated to full investigation, according to the SunThe BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty is reportedly being formally investigated over allegations of bullying.It follows previous claims of bullying against the 50-year-old broadcaster on the programme, which have now been escalated to a full investigation, according to the Sun. Continue reading...

Switch in budget plan causes cost of UK government borrowing to rise by the most in a single day since early July

Ukrainian president calls for more air defence from Europe and US after six killed and dozens injured in strikes across capitalVolodymyr Zelenskyy has described Russia's latest attack against Ukraine as deliberate, calculated and wicked", after six people were killed and dozens injured in a wave of night-time strikes across the capital Kyiv.Shortly after midnight air raid sirens sounded and residents made their way to shelters or lay between two walls in their apartments. Soon afterwards the whine of Shahed drones could be heard in the sky, with heavy machine gun fire from Ukrainian air defences. Continue reading...

Cause of crash near University of Technology not yet known. This live blog is closedWe have just had an update on the death toll from the overnight attack on Kyiv, via AFP, with authorities now reporting six people dead.in Brussels Continue reading...

Passengers were held on runway for 12 hours after landing in Johannesburg without travel documents, confusing airport authoritiesSouth Africa will investigate the mysterious" arrival of scores of Palestinians who were kept on a charter plane at Johannesburg for 12 hours by border police because they did not have travel papers, the president has said.A group of 153 Palestinians arrived at Johannesburg airport on a chartered Global Airways flight from Kenya on Thursday without departure stamps, return tickets or details of accommodation, according to the border authorities. Continue reading...

Pete Skandalakis appointed himself to take over 2020 election interference case from district attorney Fani WillisThe only remaining criminal case against Donald Trump has been revived after the head of Georgia's prosecutor's council appointed himself to replace Fani Willis, the Fulton county district attorney, who was removed from the election interference case in September.Pete Skandalakis, a Republican and the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, the state body that provides legal training and is often charged to mitigate prosecutorial conflicts, wrote in a statement on Friday that he would be taking over for Willis. Continue reading...

Fallout continues over budget income tax U-turn, with Treasury saying expected fiscal gap has dropped to 20bnThis is from Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank, on the market reaction to the chancellor's reported budget U-turn.Investors will have 2 broad concerns about news that Chancellor won't increase income tax rates1. Does it signal less willingness to do politically difficult thingsBritain's long-term borrowing costs were sent soaring as reports suggested the latest U-turn would leave Rachel Reeves scrambling to fill a gaping black hole in the nation's finances just two weeks before the 26 November budget.Yields on 30-year UK government bonds, also known as gilts, jumped as much as 14 basis points in early trading, and the yield on 10-year gilts also shot up 12 basis points - rising the most since July. Continue reading...

Blackburn MP criticises struggle for power' amid tensions between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah SultanaThe leftwing Your Party spearheaded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana has had a major split after another independent MP involved, Adnan Hussain, quit because of persistent infighting and a struggle for power" in the organisation.The departure of the Blackburn MP, who is secretary of the limited company behind Your Party, is yet another blow after renewed disagreements between Sultana and Corbyn, this time over the handover of membership levies. Continue reading...

Media group's future is again in limbo - and it faces questions over the asking price as well as regulatory hurdles

Artwork that hung for centuries at St John's Almshouse in Sherborne will be sold to raise funds for social housingThe blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no sorrow with it," so says the Bible, Proverbs 10:22.On Friday, a church almshouse was counting its blessings after discovering that a triptych painting that has hung in the chapel for centuries is a 15th-century Flemish masterpiece worth 3.5m. Continue reading...

Ipsos survey reveals fake news, lack of accountability, extremism and corruption seen as biggest threatsSatisfaction with democracy is below 50% in eight out of nine western countries surveyed in a poll, and majorities in all but one fear for its future, with fake news, lack of political accountability, extremism and corruption seen as the biggest threats.An Ipsos survey of almost 10,000 people in Croatia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US found satisfaction with democracy low in all except Sweden, with deep concerns about the future state of electoral politics. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Charlie Maynard, public interest representative in case, accuses utility of retaliation' for failed bid for costs in supreme court appealThames Water argued that an MP should be forced to pay its hefty legal costs after he represented the interests of the British public in court, a move he described as retaliation" for pushing for government control of the crisis-hit utility, the Guardian can reveal.The UK's highest court this week rejected Thames Water's arguments that the Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard should pay legal fees as high as 1,400 per hour. Continue reading...