World news | The Guardian

At least 12 people killed in strikes involving nearly 300 drones and almost 70 missiles

US state department says on website it may actively review' status of Americans who serve as a foreign head of state'Pope Leo XIV's election as the first US-born leader of the Roman Catholic church elevated him to the rare, legally thorny, position of being an American citizen who now is also a foreign head of state.Born in Chicago as Robert Prevost in 1955, the new pope for the past decade has held dual citizenship in the US and Peru, where he spent time as a missionary and bishop. Continue reading...

Wife pays tribute to profoundly moral man' who was creative in every cell of his body'Alan Yentob, the former BBC executive and TV presenter, has died at the age of 78, his family has announced.A statement from his family, released by the BBC, said Yentob died on Saturday. Continue reading...

Holyrood to increase number of gender neutral facilities, says presiding officer, but critics say ban could expose trans people to harassmentNearly 50 MSPs and their staff have signed a letter to the governing body of the Scottish parliament expressing deep concern" about its decision to ban trans people from using the toilets of their lived gender in the building.Alison Johnstone, Holyrood's presiding officer and chair of the Scottish parliament's corporate body, set out the interim position earlier this month in response to the supreme court's ruling on biological sex. Continue reading...

Alain Berset says no judiciary should face political pressure after nine countries make intervention over migrationEurope's leading human rights body has criticised nine governments that have urged a rethink of the interpretation of the European convention on human rights on migration issues.The Council of Europe secretary general, Alain Berset, spoke out against politicising" the European court of human rights after nine European leaders signed a letter organised by Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Denmark's Mette Frederiksen, calling for an open-minded conversation" about the interpretation of the convention. Continue reading...

The president's hawking of $Trump memecoin has sparked a firestorm of criticism over potential influence buyingDonald Trump's push to sharply ease oversight of the cryptocurrency industry, while he and his sons have fast expanded crypto ventures that have reaped billions of dollars from investors including foreign ones, is raising alarm about ethical and legal issues.Watchdog groups, congressional Democrats and some Republicans have levelled a firestorm of criticism at Trump for hawking his own memecoin $Trump, a novelty crypto token with no inherent value, by personally hosting a 22 May dinner at his Virginia golf club for the 220 largest buyers of $Trump and a private reception" for the 25 biggest buyers. Continue reading...

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says final stage has been carried out in the largest swap yet between the warring countries

After boasting he would end the war within 24 hours, the question now is whether US president has disengaged

Starmer committed to backing young people' but charity says words are not being matched by investment in EnglandThe Labour government is spending less on youth work in England than the Conservatives did after a decade of cuts, despite the prime minister's commitment to backing young people", analysis has found.The UK's biggest youth work charity said warm words won't pay for youth workers" as it called on the government to urgently increase spending on a sector that has been decimated" by austerity. Continue reading...

Leader David Littleproud says he made principled stand on policy issues during spat with Liberals even if I have to lose my job for it'

Believed to have originated as an insult by Israel supporters, neologism is now used to campaign against war in GazaThe term was coined to disparage Ireland's solidarity with Palestine but has been adopted as a badge of honour that now adorns T-shirts, hoodies, pins and social media bios: welcome to Paddystine, home of the Paddystinians.Irish activists have embraced the neologism as a galvanising term to campaign against Israel's war in Gaza and to pressure the Irish government to do more to end the conflict. Continue reading...

Man in his 20s taken to Royal Melbourne hospital in serious but stable condition with upper body injuries'

Whether on leader favourability or on key policy areas, Labour is losing ground on almost every metricOpinion polls don't always provide a precise picture of voters' mood - and the next general election is still four years away. But Labour strategists will doubtless be poring over the data, and it's not pretty.Analysis by the Guardian found Labour's drop in the opinion polls in its first 10 months of power is the largest of any newly elected UK government in 40 years. Continue reading...

Institute of Race Relations says MoD's Channel role reflects global rise of hyper-militarisation' in law enforcementThe UK Border Force is in effect under military command, reflecting a wider increase of hyper-militarisation" in policing, according to a new report on international law enforcement.A report by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, says the 21st century has seen the emergence of paramilitary and political" policing across Europe, employed at borders, during civil unrest and against public protest. Continue reading...

Minister hails cultural reset' before the 6:14 South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to SheppertonMinisters have hailed a new dawn" for Britain's railways as the first train services renationalised under the Labour government started operating on Sunday.The 6.14 from London Waterloo to Shepperton was due to be the first rebranded train out on Sunday, its carriages adorned with a union jack and the logo Great British Railways: coming soon" as part of a publicly owned South Western Railway (SWR). Continue reading...

The Australian animals were locally extinct but have had a resurgence in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges national park

Campaigner calls compensation schemes quasi-kangaroo courts' after final offer made in response to his appealSir Alan Bates, who led the 20-year campaign for justice for post office operators over the Horizon scandal, has revealed he has been handed a take it or leave it" compensation offer of less than half his original claim.The 70-year-old, who was knighted last year, has accused the government of presiding over a quasi-kangaroo court" system for the compensation. Continue reading...

Kim Jong-Un vowed to punish those found responsible for criminal' damage to new 5,000-tonne naval destroyerNorth Korea has detained three people over an accident that occurred during the launch of a new warship this past week, state media reported early on Sunday.Pyongyang has said that a serious accident occurred" at Wednesday's launch ceremony in the eastern port city of Chongjin for a newly built 5,000-tonne naval destroyer, in which sections of the bottom of the vessel were crushed. Continue reading...

Councils will get powers to impose delayed home penalty' under latest government proposalsDevelopers face tens of thousands of pounds in fines if they slow down housebuilding under new powers being granted to councils to help deliver 1.5m homes.Under government proposals, housebuilders will need to commit to a timeframe for construction before they are granted planning permission, and deliver annual reports on their progress. Those who repeatedly fail to build or sit on land could be fined with a delayed homes penalty" or blocked from future planning permission by councils. Continue reading...

David Crisafulli's small-target election campaign has created problems for how the LNP governs that are already beginning to show through

Exclusive: Authors of two major superannuation reviews suggest proposal to trim tax breaks on $3m super balances might not be perfect but is the right way to go'

Dai Roberts, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene near Duns in the Scottish BordersA co-driver taking part in the Jim Clark rally in Scotland has died after a crash on Saturday morning.Dai Roberts, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene near Duns in the Scottish Borders. Continue reading...

Dr Alaa al-Najjar was on duty at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis when she received her children's bodiesAn Israeli airstrike on Gaza hit the home of a doctor, killing nine of her 10 children while she was on duty at her hospital.Dr Alaa al-Najjar, a paediatric specialist at al-Tahrir hospital within the Nasser medical complex, was treating victims of ongoing Israeli attacks across the Palestinian territory on Friday when she received the bodies of nine of her children killed by a strike in Khan Younis. The eldest of the children was 12. Continue reading...

Former prime minister and his wife share news of Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson's arrival in an Instagram postThe former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie Johnson, have welcomed a fourth baby to the family.The former leader of the Conservative party can be seen holding his daughter, Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson, in an Instagram post shared on Saturday. Continue reading...

Environmental campaigner and former lead singer of the Undertones tells Daily Express problem now resolvedFeargal Sharkey has urged men to get tested for prostate cancer after revealing he was diagnosed with the disease after a GP visit for a sore throat.The environmental campaigner and former lead singer of the Undertones said the health problem was resolved" a year ago. Continue reading...

Man in custody after girl, 15, two boys, eight and four, and woman, 43, killed in house blaze in Brent's Stonebridge areaA man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a mother and three of her children were killed in a house fire in north-west London.Police confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the four people who died in the early hours of the morning in the Stonebridge area of Brent were from the same family. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereIn its latest humanitarian update on Friday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) called for more aid in Gaza to meet the massive needs" of the territory.Ocha said the small amounts of supplies being allowed into the Gaza Strip are nowhere near enough to roll back the extreme deprivation that Gaza's population is facing". Continue reading...

Relatives of late actor Tim Pigott-Smith among those threatening to exhume remains over redevelopmentFamilies who have relatives buried in Highgate cemetery have threatened to exhume the remains of their loved ones over plans to build a toilet block on the burial ground as part of an 18m redevelopment of the UK's most visited graveyard.Among those opposed to the plans are the family of the actor Tim Pigott-Smith, who described the project, which also includes the building of a new gardener's hut, as horrific". Continue reading...

Attack occurs hours after Russia and Ukraine begin prisoner exchange in deal seen as first step towards ceasefireRussia has launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Kyiv, injuring 15 people in one of the biggest assaults on the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the war more than three years ago.The attack came in waves, with Russia launching 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones in the early hours of Saturday, although Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and stopped most of the drones before they reached Kyiv. Continue reading...

Irish-language rap trio perform at London festival after member charged for allegedly displaying Hezbollah flag Kneecap review - rap trio remain unbowed by terror chargeThousands of fans showed up to support Kneecap at a festival they headlined on Friday night despite the terrorism charge hanging over one of the members of the hip-hop trio.The Irish-language act performed at the Wide Awake festival in Brockwell Park, south London, two days after band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London in November. Continue reading...

President's visit to military academy occurs as books are banned and clubs disbanded in line with anti-DEI policeDonald Trump will address graduates of West Point on Saturday, as his administration moves to implement a rightwing agenda at military service academies that has prompted the disbandment of student clubs, the removal of certain books and at least one faculty resignation.It will be the second time Trump has spoken to graduates of the United States Military Academy in upstate New York where the next generation of army leaders is educated, and offers the president an opportunity to stump for his defense policy. Continue reading...

Incident next to Gujarat border comes two weeks after four-day conflict between the two countriesIndian border troops shot dead a Pakistani man who they said had crossed the international frontier and did not stop when challenged, the force has said.The shooting comes two weeks after India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire after a four-day conflict, in which more than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Schools minister declines to rule out replacing EHCP documents as part of plans to change Send systemHundreds of thousands of children with special needs could lose their legal entitlement to extra support in schools in England under plans being considered by ministers, a move that campaigners warn could force thousands more pupils out of mainstream education.The reforms relate to education, health and care plans (EHCPs), statutory documents families have relied on for more than a decade to guarantee their children's right to support for conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and mental health issues. Continue reading...

AEC says it is considering recount request while opponent Wilson says he hopes Daniel finds peace'Zoe Daniel has requested the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) conduct a recount in the seat of Goldstein after Liberal Tim Wilson emerged 260 votes ahead after the final distribution of preferences.The AEC automatically recounts votes if the margin is less than 100, but candidates can also request one if they believe they have sufficient grounds to do so.Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Continue reading...

Ministers told symbols matter' and move would give Palestine stronger footing in future peace talksMinisters are under pressure from inside and outside Labour to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN conference next month, with party grandees arguing it would bolster prospects for peace and demonstrate moral leadership amid escalating tensions.

Simon Case urges ministers to develop new means of launching UK's nuclear deterrent and says the west needs to get our skates on and be ready'The next 20 years will be dominated by conflict between nations, the former head of the civil service has said.Simon Case, who stood down as cabinet secretary in December, made the warning in his first major interview since leaving the job. Continue reading...

Couple caught out after buying fraudulently obtained points from scammer on social mediaHolidaymakers hoping to use frequent flyer points to reduce the cost of their holiday have been warned to beware of fraudsters claiming to sell them on third-party websites.In a case that highlights the dangers of buying points through unofficial channels, a young couple were left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after they were defrauded by a scammer who claimed to be selling them British Airways loyalty points. Continue reading...

A Guardian investigation revealed how hundreds of thousands of people were plunged into debt - and some criminalised - for looking after their loved onesOne February afternoon in 2016, Sir Robert Devereux, at the time the most powerful official in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), was stopped by a junior colleague as he walked through the car park of a civil service office in Preston, Lancashire. Was he aware, the worker asked, about the problems with carer's allowance?Devereux, on a flying visit to the DWP outpost, asked for details and promised to look into it. A few days later, Devereux's office received a long and detailed note, complete with 80 anonymised case studies, setting out how years of shortcomings in the administration of the carer's allowance benefit had wasted millions of pounds of taxpayers' money and inflicted untold hardship and misery on thousands of unpaid carers. Continue reading...

SES warns the worst impacts that people feel are often after the event' as areas reel from devastating' floods

Reform promised much to voters and now runs 8bn worth of public services. After three weeks, what has party accomplished?When Nigel Farage held a victory lap of England after his mammoth local elections win on 1 May, he was characteristically bullish about Reform UK's plan to shake up town halls.The party would send in Elon Musk-style budget-slashing units, he said, while promising to turf out asylum seekers and any civil servants working on climate change or diversity. Continue reading...

Disabled activists say supreme court ruling has left trans community at similar risk of exclusion from public spacesDisabled rights campaigners say they are watching in horror" as the UK's trans community faces similar toilet segregation and exclusion from public spaces that they do.The aftermath of the supreme court ruling on biological sex has led to organisations banning trans people from using the toilets of the gender they live as, with accessible facilities frequently promoted as a solution. Continue reading...

Good Night Scrub park, about an hour from where the 17-year-old was last seen, is crucial' to land, water and aerial search

Social media users are being tricked by false ads advertising fictitious sales - and consumers say the platforms must take action

Rafa Trzaskowski, from the governing pro-EU coalition, faces Eurosceptic populist rightwing historian Karol Nawrocki ahead of run-offPolish presidential candidates offered different visions of Poland and its relations with Ukraine in a televised debate ahead of next week's run-off, which remains on a knife-edge.During a head-to-head debate lasting two hours, the centrist Warsaw mayor Rafa Trzaskowski, from prime minister Donald Tusk's governing pro-European coalition, faced the Eurosceptic historian Karol Nawrocki, backed by the populist rightwing Law and Justice party (PiS). Continue reading...

Officials say Michail Chkhikvishvili is the leader of a neo-Nazi group that promotes violence against minoritiesThe leader of an eastern European neo-Nazi group has been extradited to the United States from Moldova following his arrest last summer for allegedly instructing an undercover federal agent to dress as Santa Claus and hand out poisoned candy to Jewish children and racial minorities, prosecutors said.Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old from the republic of Georgia, was arraigned on Friday before a federal judge in Brooklyn on multiple felonies, including soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence. Continue reading...

Three pensioners and a man in his 30s jailed as four others convicted of related chargesFour men have been found guilty of breaking into a luxury residence in Paris and stealing jewellery worth millions of euros from the American reality TV star Kim Kardashian when she attended fashion week in 2016.Three pensioners and one man in his 30s were convicted of carrying out the armed heist, which was thought to be the biggest robbery of an individual in France in 20 years. Four other people were found guilty of assisting in the plot or related charges. Two people were acquitted of accusations they handed out information about Kardashian's whereabouts. Continue reading...

Ivy League school filed suit accusing White House of unconstitutional retaliation for defying its demands

Police say six victims critically wounded in attack by 39-year-old assailant in Germany's second-largest cityGerman police have arrested a woman after at least 12 people were injured in a knife attack at the main station in the northern city of Hamburg.Some of the injured sustained life-threatening injuries in the stabbing, emergency services said, although the exact number remained unclear. Continue reading...

Trump's latest tariff threats set the stage for a familiar play - and an inevitable U-turnHere we go again. Donald Trump has unleashed a spate of tariff storms over the past four months. Each has left businesses, in the US and across the world, clearing up the damage - and struggling to see what happens next.The US president conjured up two fresh hurricanes on Friday, threatening the EU, his country's largest collective trading partner, and Apple, one of his country's largest companies, with sweeping duties. Continue reading...

Trump administration's effort to ban foreign enrolment could force students to disrupt their studies and careersBritish and international students at Harvard report growing anxiety" over their fate, as the Trump administration's latest attack on the university could force them to disrupt their studies and careers.On Thursday, the administration said it would revoke Harvard University's eligibility to enrol international students, which was later temporarily frozen by a US federal judge on Friday. Continue reading...