World news | The Guardian

Mohammad Pournajaf, Tehran's former charge d'affaires in Canberra, sought protection in 2023, government source confirms

In China, one social media trend hangs on the idea that a life in the US is always one step from disaster, while another in the US has gen Z revelling in Chinese lifestyle hacksAcross two online worlds that are normally splintered, over the last few months there has been a mirroring of sorts. On TikTok and Instagram, young people are diving into the joys of Chinese culture - from drinking hot water to playing mahjong - all under the banner of Chinamaxxing". On the Chinese internet, however, the US is losing its decades-long grip on soft power, and is instead being replaced by a darker trend: the kill line.The kill line is a dangerous place to be. In gaming, the term refers to the point at which a player's strength is so depleted that one more blow could lead to total wipeout. In China, the term refers to the risks that come with daily life in the US. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed - our live coverage of the Middle East crisis continues here

Energy minister cuts fuel companies' minimum stock obligations to free up diesel and petrol, which will be directed to regional Australia

Suspect who was convicted in 2016 for supporting Islamic State is dead after attack kills one and leaves two injured

FBI treating incident as targeted act against Jewish community as temple says all students and staff safe

Cross-party committee says service is jewel in crown of UK's soft power' but is diminished by poor governanceMinisters risk opening the door to propaganda from hostile states" and diminishing international trust in the BBC World Service by allowing its funding to be frozen at a crucial time, parliament's spending watchdog has said.The cross-party public accounts committee (PAC) said it was deeply troubled by the fact the service was still unclear about its funding just weeks before its current deal runs out.It also reiterated the BBC's warnings about the rising influence of Russian and Chinese state-backed media. Continue reading...

Committee says thousands of victims still waiting for compensation and face unacceptable delays and inadequate offers'The redress schemes for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal have serious structural failings", a parliamentary committee has found.Thousands of post office operators are still waiting for the compensation they are owed and face unacceptable delays, inadequate offers, and administrative processes that retraumatise' those who have already been wronged", a report by the business and trade committee said. Continue reading...

TfL are also poised to increase 20mph zones and cut speed limits on the capital's fastest roads later this yearOwners of SUVs could face charges to drive in London, after the mayor and transport authorities said they were reviewing the increased danger posed by larger, heavier cars.Proposals to clamp down on the biggest vehicles could come later this year, with Transport for London (TfL) also poised to increase 20mph zones and cut the speed limits on its fastest roads from 50mph to 40mph to tackle road deaths. Continue reading...

Two deportees sent to Eswatini were from Somalia, one was from Sudan and one was from TanzaniaThe government of Eswatini announced on Thursday it received four more third country" deportees from the United States, as part of the Trump administration's multimillion-dollar deal with the small African nation.Now, a total of 19 deportees from the US have been sent to Eswatini when they hail from other countries, amid the Trump administration's continued anti-immigrant crackdown and changes to immigration policy. Continue reading...

The US already spent more than $11.3bn in first six days of conflict, but price tag does not include all spending

Angela Lipps spent nearly six months in jail after AI software linked her to a North Dakota bank fraud caseA Tennessee grandmother says she is trying to rebuild her life after an incident of mistaken identity by an artificial intelligence (AI) facial recognition system tied her to a North Dakota bank fraud investigation.Angela Lipps, 50, spent nearly six months in jail after Fargo police identified her as a suspect in an organized bank fraud case using facial recognition software, according to south-east North Dakota news outlet InForum. Lipps told the outlet she had never been to North Dakota and did not commit the crimes. Continue reading...

PM has apologised for his handling of Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, but next tranche of files could contain further damaging detailsKeir Starmer could suffer further resignations when ministerial WhatsApp messages are published in the next tranche of the Peter Mandelson files, senior government sources have told the Guardian.With officials bracing for the subsequent releases - expected to include informal communications alongside formal messages like those in the first batch - Starmer apologised again on Thursday over his handling of Mandelson's appointment, saying: It was me that made a mistake, and it's me that makes the apology to the victims of [Jeffrey] Epstein, and I do that." Continue reading...

Five soldiers were indicted over alleged violent abuse and rape of Palestinian man at detention centre in 2024Israel's top military lawyer has dropped all charges against five soldiers accused of the violent abuse and rape of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza.The military advocate general, Itay Offir, said prosecutors lacked key evidence after the victim was sent back to Gaza, and that the conduct of senior officials had affected the chance of holding a fair trial. Continue reading...

Former plumber Hannah Spencer, who won Gorton and Denton byelection, also says more MPs from manual working backgrounds are neededHannah Spencer, the Green MP who won last month's Gorton and Denton byelection, has used her first speech in the Commons to call for tolerance and inclusivity, and to argue for more people from manual working backgrounds to be elected to parliament.Saying she wanted to make hope normal again", Spencer used a speech in a debate about International Women's Day to say she had found out that some children had dressed up for events marking the day at their schools as Hannah the plumber", wearing overalls and copying her distinctive hairstyle. Continue reading...

Security minister Dan Jarvis has announced new security measures ahead of May's local electionsThreats against female MPs are having a chilling effect" on talented women thinking of going into public life but deciding not to, security minister Dan Jarvis has said.Warning that there was an unprecedented" volume of threats against elected representatives - including assaults, vandalism, stalking and a blizzard of online abuse" - Jarvis announced new security measures ahead of the local elections. Continue reading...

Figures recorded by Femicide Census in past 12 months indicate highest rate of matricide in 16 yearsThe names of 19 women believed to have been killed by their sons in the last year were read out in parliament on Thursday, as research showed that almost one in five women killed by men since the last International Women's Day were suspected victims of matricide.For the 11th year running, Jess Phillips read out the names of the 108 women killed in the UK by men - or where a man has been charged - in the past 12 months. In keeping with previous years, she had to request special dispensation to speak beyond the time given to each MP in the International Women's Day parliamentary debate, because reading the names took more than five minutes. Continue reading...

Pilots reportedly adopting Russian tactics as statement in name of new Iranian supreme leader vows continued attacks on US bases

Two former members of Royal Ulster Constabulary testify at civil trial that Adams led proscribed organisationGerry Adams was the leader of the Irish Republican Army, two former police officers have told the high court.The former Sinn Fein leader is being sued for symbolic vindicatory" damages of 1 each by John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock, who allege he was culpable for three separate IRA bombings in which they were injured. Continue reading...

After latest concert cancellation, singer also describes Valencia hotel as indescribable hell' that will require one year to recover' fromBritish singer Morrissey has cancelled a concert in Valencia after being left sleep-deprived during the city's notoriously noisy Las Fallas festival.A statement on his website said: Having travelled for two days by road, Morrissey reached the hotel in Valencia late on Wednesday. Any form of sleep or rest throughout the night was impossible due to festival noise/loud techno singing/megaphone announcements." Continue reading...

Campaigners say campus near Scunthorpe could generate emissions close to those from all UK domestic flightsPlans for a new datacentre in Lincolnshire have been approved, despite warnings it could be a major new source of emissions.On Wednesday, North Lincolnshire council voted unanimously to approve planning permission for the Elsham Tech Park, a proposed AI datacentre campus near Scunthorpe, next to the Elsham Wolds industrial estate. Continue reading...

Vast release of emergency crude reserves fails to quell mounting fears about supply crunch, rattling markets

Tehran will keep strait of Hormuz closed and continue attacks on US assets, speech read out on state TV says

Information Commissioner's Office made aware of incident affecting Lloyd's, Halifax and Bank of ScotlandThe UK information regulator is examining an IT glitch that enabled some customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to see other users' transactions when they logged into their banking app.The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it was aware of an incident affecting some online banking services" and that it would make inquiries. Continue reading...

The US president says higher oil prices benefit the country as Iran war pushes petrol costs above $100 per barrel

Latest order comes after Hezbollah and Iran launched joint attack on more than 50 targets including Israeli military bases

Glasgow's only fire engine with a high-reach ladder was unavailable on Sunday as an office block was guttedConcerns have been raised about the capacity of Scotland's fire service to deal with large fires like the one that gutted a Victorian office block in Glasgow as it emerged that the city's only remaining fire engine with a high-reach ladder was unavailable on Sunday.The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that, while standard city-based fire engines were on the scene within minutes of the first 999 call, the nearest available high-reach appliance - which adds vital additional capacity to tackle a large blaze - came from Coatbridge, an 18km, 26-minute drive away in light traffic. Continue reading...

European Commission says it will suspend 2m grant if organisers of arts festival go ahead with proposalsThe European Commission has warned it will cut funding for the Venice Biennale if organisers go ahead with plans to include Russia.The commission reiterated that any breach of ethical standards by the art festival would be treated as a violation of contract, leading to suspension of the 2m (1.7m) agreement. Continue reading...

Iraq's national security adviser Qassim al-Araji says he told Australian ambassador that countries should repatriate prisoners

Chief executive of Acoss, who undertook the study, says it's clear this tax break funnels billions into the wealthiest parts of our country'

Sansevero Chapel Museum will host day of guided tours where visitors will be able to feel marble sculpturesThe Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples will allow dozens of visually impaired visitors to take part in a rare tactile experience, letting them touch the celebrated works of art including the Veiled Christ, which is widely regarded as one of the most striking masterpieces in the history of sculpture.On 17 March, the museum will host an initiative called La meraviglia a portata di mano - Wonder within reach - organised in partnership with the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired of Naples, offering about 80 blind and partially sighted visitors a chance to encounter the marble masterpieces. Continue reading...

Over 80,000 people in appeal queue against initial rejection at end of 2025 - 91% more than a year beforeThe backlog of people awaiting asylum appeals after having their initial application turned down has nearly doubled in a year, threatening to undermine a key pledge of Keir Starmer's government.Home Office statistics released on Thursday show more than 80,000 cases were waiting to be reassessed at the end of 2025 - a 91% increase on a year before. The backlog significantly outnumbers the number of people waiting for their initial decision, which was 64,000 at the end of December 2025. Continue reading...

Rene Redzepi also steps down from non-profit board after accusations of physical and psychological abuseRene Redzepi, the head chef and co-founder of Noma, has announced his resignation from his internationally acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant following allegations he physically abused his staff.Redzepi had been facing protests in Los Angeles before a four-month pop-up that launched this week. His resignation on Wednesday comes after the New York Times detailed allegations of physical and psychological abuse, including claims that he punched employees in the face, jabbed them with kitchen implements and slammed them against walls". Continue reading...

Programme which supports schemes in six African countries was previously hailed as vital protection for Britain against future pandemicsA flagship health project in Africa, which UK ministers said would play a vital role in protecting Britain from future pandemic threats, is being axed due to aid cuts, the Guardian can reveal.The Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP) which supported development and training for healthcare staff in six African countries, will close at the end of the month, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Judge describes Gerald Peck, who was banned from practising in the 1980s, as a charlatan and a fraud'A therapist who claimed he could heal birth trauma through sexual touching and oral sex has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.Gerald Peck, who has live profiles promoting his work as a bodywork psychotherapist, was convicted of five sexual offences on 2 February, after being charged in October 2024. Continue reading...

Vast release of emergency crude reserves fails to quell mounting fears about supply crunch, rattling markets

Court makes finding pending final hearing that trafficking victim likely to suffer harm to his mental health' if returnedA high court judge has halted the removal of an Eritrean trafficking victim to France under the UK's one in, one out" scheme, after raising concerns that forcibly sending him back could cause him harm.The controversial deal, under which one asylum seeker who arrives in the UK on a small boat is forcibly returned to France in exchange for another being brought over legally, was launched last summer. As of 5 March, 370 people have been brought to the UK legally and 354 sent back to France. The aim is to deter small boat crossings, but thousands of asylum seekers have crossed the Channel since the scheme started. So far this month, 1,200 people have made the perilous journey. Continue reading...

Florida investors featured in Guardian investigation claimed they lost most of their life savings after a financial adviser put their money into alternative' assetsIn a victory for everyday investors, arbitrators have awarded $3.8m to 13 Florida seniors who claimed a financial adviser squandered their retirement money by plowing it into risky investments.The award comes after the Guardian highlighted these investors' losses as part of an investigation into dangers that so-called mom and pop" investors face at a time when the Trump administration has thrown its support behind Wall Street's efforts to sell them more higher-risk alternative investments". Continue reading...

Campaigners say people unlikely to look favourably' on package for Wael Sawan, which rose to 13.8m in 2025The chief executive of Shell saw his pay jump more than 60% to almost 14m in 2025 despite a slump in profits at the oil company and prospects of rising pump prices related to war in the Middle East.The package for Wael Sawan, who took the top job in 2023 and has refocused the company on fossil fuels, rose from 8.6m in 2024 to 13.8m in 2025. Continue reading...

President delivered a vague and contradictory forecast on the future of the war in Middle East. Plus, how to recognize a psychopath

If regime holds, control of enriched uranium may be ultimate measure of US-Israeli success, insiders say

Under new Taliban laws, a husband is allowed to beat his wife as long as it is not done with obscene force', which the woman must prove in courtThe shocking level of physical violence against women permitted under the Taliban's new laws has been revealed this week by the case of a woman in northern Afghanistan, who said she was beaten with a cable wire by her husband and told by a judge: You want a divorce just because of that? ... A little anger and a few beatings won't kill you."Farzana* said her husband was quick-tempered and often resorted to beating her. He regularly humiliated her and called her disabled", she said, because her right leg was slightly shorter than the left. She had tolerated the abuse for the sake of their children, but one evening, she said, his violence went too far. Continue reading...

Comments in books, speeches and videos shed new light on defense secretary's personal commitment to war on IranThe US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has expressed a violent antipathy towards Iran for years in books, Fox News broadcasts, educational videos and a 2018 speech to an Israeli media conference in Jerusalem, a Guardian review has revealed.In a 2020 book, for example, Hegseth wrote that Iran's leaders were actively seeking the military means - especially nuclear weapons - to bring the West to its knees". And in a 2017 video for PragerU, the hard-right media platform, Hegseth described Iran as America's mortal enemy". Continue reading...

TV star announces birth of Ozzy Matilda Osbourne on social media, alongside image of cuddly batJack Osbourne, the only son of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, has honoured his late father by naming his baby daughter after him.Jack, 40, announced the birth of Ozzy Matilda Osbourne on social media alongside his wife, Aree, who he married in 2023. The newborn Ozzy was pictured lying next to a cuddly bat toy: another reference to his father, who famously bit the head off a real bat during a 1982 concert believing it was made of rubber. Continue reading...

Protester alleges that Iranian handler turned around and looked at us and then drew a line on his throat and pointed to us'

Prime minister makes claim as accusations mount that he is using row with Ukraine for political gain in run-up to electionsHungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, has accused Ukrainians of plotting to attack his family, as an increasingly bitter standoff between Kyiv and Budapest continues.Orban and his allies appear to be using the dispute for maximum political gain before the election due next month that could end the 16-year rule of his nationalist government. Continue reading...

Health minister Tim Nicholls corrects claim alleged Bondi terror attack gunman Naveed Akram used controversial phrase, as laws roundly criticised

The fox is said to be settling in well' after mischievous 3,400 mile journey from Southampton to New YorkA sly fox slipped on to a cargo ship and travelled from Southampton to New York, according to officials at Bronx Zoo.The zoo, which is looking after the animal, said it appears healthy after early examinations. Continue reading...

Party leader Ashton Hurn confirms Carston Woodhouse will not run for Liberals in SA's state election, but says people are entitled to have their views'

Payment of 2% at employee-owned partnership follows sales increase to 13.4bnThe owner of John Lewis and Waitrose has paid an annual bonus to workers for the first time in four years after underlying profits rose by 6%.The retail group's 69,000 employees - which it calls partners - will receive a bonus of 2% of salary after it recorded an increase in sales and profits. Continue reading...