World news | The Guardian

Tehran wants ceasefire but terms not good enough yet', US president claims, as both sides launch new waves of strikes

I did it for the people,' says Farbod Mehr, of song drawing lyrics from the work of revolutionary 20th-century poet Aref QazviniA stirring song - sung, apparently, by a young woman, with lyrics expressing the hope that sacrifice will lead to a better future - has become a soundtrack for Iranians in the first part of 2026, as the country experienced the brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests and then the US-Israeli air assault, now in its third week.However, the singer, called Nava, is a product of artificial intelligence, created by a London-based artist of Iranian origin, Farbod Mehr. Continue reading...

Ministers go to Brussels for talks amid tuition fees standoff, almost 10 years after Britons voted to leave EUThis week is Brexit reset" week for the British government, as ministers engage in a flurry of activity intended to highlight their determination to forge closer ties with Brussels almost 10 years after the country first voted to leave the EU.On Monday, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister in charge of negotiating the government's reset with the EU, will arrive in Brussels for a meeting of the joint EU-UK parliamentary partnership assembly. He travels mob-handed, to be joined by the Europe minister, Stephen Doughty, and the trade minister, Chris Bryant. Continue reading...

Afghan government reports zero casualties and accuses neighbouring country of wanting to fuel the fire of war'Pakistan has targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan's Kandahar province overnight, as the fighting that erupted between the two neighbours late last month showed no signs of abating.The cross-border attacks, which have included Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul, are the deadliest yet between the countries. Islamabad has referred to the conflict as an open war", adding to concerns about regional stability as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran engulfs the Middle East and beyond. Continue reading...

Democrat says Congress doing nothing' may embolden president to attack countries such as Cuba and North KoreaDemocratic US senator Cory Booker has criticized both his own political party as well as its Republican counterpart for being feckless" in ceding congressional war powers to Donald Trump, saying that their decision could embolden the president to unilaterally attack Cuba, North Korea and other countries.I'm going to be one of those Democrats [who] say I think both parties have been feckless in allowing the growth of the power of the presidency," Booker said on Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. Continue reading...

Of course there's going to be retaliation,' says one expert. It may be that this is what Trump's interested in'For decades, the US and its allies have painted Iran as the world's biggest sponsor of state terrorism - invoking its Islamic rulers' supposed revolutionary fanaticism and determined support for militant proxies.Now a long-standing but mainly latent threat is coalescing, with the war waged on the country by the US and Israel, to raise the risk of an attack on American soil to levels unseen since the murderous al-Qaida assaults of 11 September 2001, experts say. Continue reading...

National Secular Society to launch court action after failure to investigate alleged breaches of academic freedom lawsA university regulator in England has failed to investigate potential breaches of laws protecting academic freedom at a dozen theological colleges and is now facing legal action, the Guardian has learned.The National Secular Society says it is preparing to pursue the Office for Students (OfS) through the courts to act on complaints first made five years ago, arguing that the colleges are ineligible for public funding or government-backed student loans because of their commitment to theological doctrine. Continue reading...

Israeli military also says on social media brother of Ayman Mohamad Ghazali was eliminated in airstrike last week'Israel's military claimed on Sunday that the brother of the recent Michigan synagogue attacker was a Hezbollah commander responsible for managing weapons in a unit that has launched hundreds of rockets toward Israeli civilians".In a statement posted on X, the IDF claimed that Ibrahim Mohamad Ghazali - brother of Ayman Mohamad Ghazali - was a Hezbollah commander within a specialized branch of the Badr unit. Continue reading...

Advisers say to assume the cameras are always rolling' as exchanges can be decoded in seconds and posted onlineRoyals and celebrities are being warned by their representatives and advisers to watch what they say when they are out of the house - or palace - as a lip-reading phenomenon means videos can be posted online and translated in seconds.Prince William was recently embroiled after a video of him speaking to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was translated by an expert lip-reader who was working as part of a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary, Lip-Reading the Royals. Continue reading...

As platforms make less from advertising, creators are struggling to monetise work - leading to calls for more government investment and tax breaksOn a humid afternoon in Lagos, a shoot for a comedy skit is under way on a set that looks more like a small film production.Dozens of people mill about: lighting assistants, a sound engineer, a makeup artist and even a content creator recording unscripted behind-the-scenes footage. At the centre is Broda Shaggi, born Samuel Animashaun Perry, who is issuing instructions, rehearsing lines and performing caricatures. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Robin Birley closes in on Sunshine State venue as wealthy Britons flock to area around Donald TrumpA London private members' club owner is closing in on a deal for a venue in Palm Beach, in the hopes of creating a rival to Trump's Mar-a-Lago and to take advantage of an influx of wealthy British people to the Florida region.Robin Birley is understood to be close to securing a property for his latest club, part financed by the billionaire Reuben brothers, who in 2024 were named the third-richest family in the UK by the Sunday Times Rich List. Continue reading...

Records show DHS tech incubator spending large sums on partnerships that would expand surveillance capabilitiesHacked data from the Department of Homeland Security's technology incubator shows it funding a variety of companies that would expand its surveillance capabilities with artificial intelligence, the Guardian can reveal.The projects at the Office of Industry Partnership (OIP) include automated surveillance in airports; adapters allowing agents to use phones for biometric scanning; and an AI platform that ingests all 911 call data nationally and builds geospatial heat maps" to predict incident trends", which appears to be a form of predictive policing. Continue reading...

Alford, who also appeared in Grange Hill, was jailed for eight and a half years in January for sexually assaulting two girlsAn investigation has been launched into the death of the actor John Alford after he died in prison two months into a sentence for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.Alford, 54, was jailed for eight and a half years in January after he was found guilty of the assaults, which occurred during a party at a friend's home. Continue reading...

Ballots in 35,000 villages, towns and cities will be closely watched for signals about party strategies and alliancesFrance has begun voting in the first round of municipal elections, seen as crucial a test of the political temperature before next year's presidential election.The vote for mayors and councillors in 35,000 villages, towns and cities across France is focused on local issues including security, housing and refuse collection and is very different from national elections. Continue reading...

Criminals exploiting Middle East crisis by targeting customers seeking help or refunds from affected carriersYour flight has been delayed as a result of the Middle East crisis and you want to find out what's happening, so you go online for an answer. You find a social media account run by the airline you are booked with and post a question, and get a reply offering help.You're asked to send a direct message with details, which seems reasonable. A conversation starts and you are told to give your phone number as you may be due compensation. This is where it all starts going wrong: instead of being given money, you have it taken. Although it looked official, the account that replied was a scam. Continue reading...

In 2023, what were thought to be Nazar Daletskyi's remains were buried in his home village and his mother, Nataliia, visited the grave every week. Three years later, he spoke to her on the phoneNazar Daletskyi was declared dead in May 2023. The DNA match left no room for doubt, officials told his mother, Nataliia. A Ukrainian soldier who volunteered for the front in the early weeks of the war, Nazar had become one more casualty of Russia's invasion.Nazar's remains were laid to rest in the cemetery of his home village. In the months after the funeral, Nataliia visited the grave at least once a week, at first to cry and later to stand in quiet contemplation, remembering her only son. Continue reading...

Lib Dem leader will tell spring conference Britain can no longer rely on US while Donald Trump is presidentBritain should have a completely independent nuclear deterrent as it can no longer rely on the US, Ed Davey is expected to say on Sunday.In a speech at the Liberal Democrats spring conference, the party leader will argue that the UK should manufacture and maintain its nuclear weapons in Britain, a move that Davey acknowledges will cost billions. Continue reading...

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Alexandre Dumas was wowed by it and Burt Lancaster starred there. Now the Cirque d'Hiver has a new spectacleFor more than 170 years the Cirque d'Hiver, the world's oldest circus, has been the scene of many a breathtaking act.In 1859, gymnast Jules Leotard - whose name would become synonymous with the one-piece - captivated audiences by launching himself from one swinging trapeze to another without a safety net for the first time in public. Continue reading...

Streaming platform Hulu decides not to move forward' with reboot of hit 90s series, according to actressBuffy The Vampire Slayer will not return, its star Sarah Michelle Gellar has announced, saying a reboot of the 90s supernatural fantasy series had been cancelled.Hulu, the Disney-owned streaming platform, has decided not to pick up the planned sequel, according to the actor. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Queensland Performing Arts Centre board nominated Oodgeroo as preferred name in 2024 but it was not one of four options put to public vote by LNP

Economists predict RBA will raise interest rates this week and in May - days before treasurer unveils budget

Underquoting and dummy bidding' will attract fines of $110,000 in bid to create a fair property market'

In comments to NBC News, US presidents also deflates hope of deal with Tehran, saying terms aren't good enough'

US Central Command says crash followed unspecified incident, and second refueling tanker landed safely in IsraelThe names of the six US service members who died when a military refueling aircraft crashed over Iraq on Thursday have been released.The Pentagon on Saturday identified the crew members as Maj John Alex" Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Capt Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; Tech Sgt Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky; Capt Seth Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech Sgt Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio. Continue reading...

Royal trip includes stops in Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart and aims to deepen trade ties

Brendan Carr posts that he may cancel spectrum permits of mainstream news' outlets for misleading' coverageThe Trump administration's communications licensing tsar fired a warning shot over the US broadcasting industry Saturday, threatening to cancel the spectrum permits of broadcasters pushing what he termed hoaxes and news distortions".Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr posted on social media that broadcasters running fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not." Continue reading...

Met police says woman, 43, was detained after newborn girl in Westminster taken to hospital and pronounced deadA woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 18-day-old baby girl fell from a property in central London.The Metropolitan police said officers attended Horseferry Road in Westminster after reports on Saturday morning that a baby had fallen from a residential property. Continue reading...

US president calls on China, France, Japan and the UK to send vessels after US strikes Kharg Island oil facilities

As users turn to VPNs to access pornography, experts warn collection of information creates a honeytrap' for bad actors

SNP leader hails prospect of success for parties in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that want to break up unionThe UK is facing an absolutely seismic moment", John Swinney has said, with the prospect of the election of first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May who are all committed to the break-up of the union.Speaking at the Scottish National party's campaign conference ahead of the Scottish parliament elections, the first minister told delegates: For people watching around the world, there could be no clearer sign that Westminster's time is up." Continue reading...

Exclusive: Senior party figures conclude outsiders or existing senior staff deemed more suitable should take over from current permanent secretariesA Reform UK government would expect to dismiss the top civil servant in every government department and replace them with people seen as more likely to implement the party's priorities, the Guardian has learned.Senior Reform figures have concluded that the current crop of permanent secretaries, the lead civil servant in each department, are not up to the necessary standard. Some would be replaced by outsiders, and others by existing officials viewed as more suitable. Continue reading...

Royal couple criticise Tom Bower's fixation' on them and describe released extracts as conspiracy and melodrama'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have launched a scathing attack on a deranged" author whose new book claims Queen Camilla once told a friend: Meghan's brainwashed Harry."The royal couple hit out at Tom Bower, the author of Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, criticising his fixation" on the pair. Continue reading...

Habermas's political consensus-building theory argued formation of public opinion vital for democracies to surviveThe influential German philosopher and sociologist Jurgen Habermas has died at the age of 96, his publisher has said.Habermas, a towering figure in the intellectual history of postwar Germany, is best known for his theory of political consensus-building. Widely considered one of most influential philosophers of the 20th century, he also helped to shape the discourse around European integration and the formation of the EU. Continue reading...

Rare action began peacefully but degenerated into vandalism' according to state-run newspaperFive people have been arrested in Cuba for acts of vandalism" after a small group of protesters broke into a provincial office of the Cuban Communist party and set fire to computers and furniture.The incident, which also affected a pharmacy and another shop, took place in the town of Moron, a little more than 300 miles (500km) east of Havana. Continue reading...

The war is deeply unpopular, and the spike in oil prices will mean long-term high prices across the board for AmericansDonald Trump is still high on the capture of Nicolas Maduro. The easy abduction of the Venezuelan president didn't just grant Trump control of the nation's oil and critical minerals resources. It allowed him to throttle the government of Cuba by denying it access to energy, raising the tantalizing prospect that he might bring down a communist regime that has annoyed Washington since 1959.Trump is confident that his joint venture with Israel in Iran will do just as well. The barrage of Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel and Iran's Arab neighbors has done nothing to change Trump's mind that he can win, regardless of how he defines winning". Continue reading...

US president urges nations to deploy vessels to keep key oil shipping route open amid conflict with IranDonald Trump has said the UK should send warships to help keep the strait of Hormuz open.In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president urged the UK and other countries to deploy vessels to the strait amid the conflict with Iran. Continue reading...

The facility was attacked on Friday night, bringing the toll of medical staff to 31 killed in past 12 daysIsrael killed 12 medical workers in a strike on a medical centre in south Lebanon on Friday night, bringing the toll of healthcare staff killed in the country by Israel to 31 over the past 12 days.A primary healthcare facility in the town of Burj Qalaouiyah was struck by Israeli rockets late on Friday, setting it ablaze and causing the structure to collapse on top of the staff inside. The strike killed doctors, paramedics and nurses on duty, according to the Lebanese ministry of health, which said it violated all international humanitarian laws" in a statement. Continue reading...

Motaz Malhees is an actor in The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film about a Palestinian girl killed by the IDF in Gaza in 2024Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees said a travel ban imposed by Donald Trump is preventing him from attending Sunday's Academy Awards, whose nominees include a movie in which he has a starring role.The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film about a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024, has been nominated for best international feature film. Continue reading...

Former Oldham East and Saddleworth MP remained in Westminster for New Labour's entire 13 years in powerThe former Labour MP minister Phil Woolas has died of brain cancer, his family and close friends have announced.Woolas, 66, was elected to parliament to represent Oldham East and Saddleworth as part of Labour's landslide victory in the 1997 general election. He remained in Westminster for New Labour's entire 13-year stretch in power. Continue reading...

Closure of strait of Hormuz puts pressure on region's economies amid growing resentment about conflict started by US and Israel

EU citizens with post-Brexit settlement status in UK will not have to present British passport to airlinesBritish dual nationals who are EU citizens with post-Brexit settlement status in the UK will not have to use a British passport to return to the UK, the Home Office has said in a significant U-turn on its controversial dual national border rules.The change, which critics say was hidden away" on a government web page, comes weeks after controversy erupted over the new rules that came into effect on 25 February. They require British dual nationals to present a British passport or certificate of entitlement, costing 589, before they board a plane to the UK. Continue reading...

Stanley McChrystal said White House has a we should do because we can' approach to international relationsThe retired US army general who once led Nato forces in Afghanistan says the bellicose foreign policy Donald Trump has pursued during his second presidency can be summed up as we should do because we can" - invoking the lyrics of the Dolly Parton classic Jolene to emphasize the point.Stanley McChrystal delivered those remarks on Friday at Tulane University's New Orleans book festival during a fireside chat hosted by the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, who asked in part about US military strikes Trump has ordered in Nigeria, Venezuela and Iran since Christmas. Continue reading...

Wife of former PM also says she is mentioned in Epstein files and coverage not focused enough on victims of abusePeter Mandelson's critics should remember that he is still a human being", Cherie Blair has said in an interview.Blair added that the former Labour minister was entitled to a fair trial" after he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. He denies criminal wrongdoing and has been released under investigation. Continue reading...

Greenhouse gases dropped just 0.1% last year as environment minister criticises lack of improvementGreenhouse gas emissions in Germany have again missed targets set by the Climate Protection Act and barely fell at all in 2025.Emissions decreased by just 0.1% last year compared to the previous year, according to data from the German Environment Agency. Continue reading...

Demonstrators on Sunday will be arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action or intifada chants, says MetPolice have warned demonstrators that they will be arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action or intifada chants at a protest on Sunday.About 12,000 people are expected to take part in the annual al-Quds Day rally in London, an international demonstration of support for Palestinian rights. The event takes its name from the Arabic version of Jerusalem and was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran's 1979 revolution. Continue reading...

Jason Hughes died after falling and being struck by a car driven by a student who had just pranked the teacherA Georgia prosecutor has decided to drop charges against a teenager who police say was driving the truck that struck and killed a beloved high school teacher when a prank turned deadly, the teen's lawyer said. The victim's family had urged authorities not to compound the tragedy by prosecuting the teen driver and his friends.The 40-year-old teacher, Jason Hughes, died after slipping and falling into the street as the teens started to drive away after participating in a community tradition of pranking teachers by throwing toilet paper on to his front lawn. Continue reading...

Race to fill Marjorie Taylor Greene's seat provides glimpse into midterms with Iran and immigration on voters' mindsEarlier this week, a steady trickle of voters casting ballots in Dalton at Georgia's City Hall offered a glimpse into what may be changing fortunes for Democrats in Marjorie Taylor Greene's former congressional district.The district hasn't elected a Democrat since it was created after the 2010 Census. But the party's candidate Shawn Harris drew the most votes district-wide - about 37% - on Tuesday and now faces Clay Fuller, a Trump-endorsed former prosecutor as his opponent in an April runoff election. The winner will finish Greene's term until November, when a whole new election will take place. Continue reading...

Officials sent out repayment letters to about 1,400 people relying on discredited guidance that had been scrappedUnpaid carers have been issued with demands to repay thousands of pounds for allegedly breaking benefit rules even though officials knew the decisions were based on unlawful and discredited policy guidance.About 1,400 carers are understood to have been sent letters by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in January asking them to repay sums relating to breaches of carer's allowance earnings rules that had been scrapped four months previously. Continue reading...