World news | The Guardian

Borrowers coming off fixed deals hit hard as Savills says big spike in interest payments made up half the overall riseUK households spent a record 226bn to keep a roof over their heads last year, figures showed on Monday, with mortgage borrowers finishing fixed-rate deals particularly hard hit by rising payments.Overall housing costs have gone up by 66bn over the past five years, a rise of 41%, the property group Savills said. Continue reading...

Rain fell between 1 and 2in hourly in Maui, Molokai and the Big Island while tens of thousands are without powerRain continued falling in Hawaii on Sunday where a strong storm brought flash flooding, blizzard conditions and landslides to the islands as residents reported collapsed roads and one home washing away in rising waters.Flash flooding has been a major problem in recent days in places such as Maui, Molokai and the Big Island, where rain had been falling between 1 and 2in (2.5 and 5cm) an hour overnight, according to the Hawaii emergency management agency. Continue reading...

Having been nominated in 1986, the actor sets a new record for the longest gap between nominations before a win

Students in Canterbury given antibiotics for fast-acting and invasive meningococcal disease, says UKHSATwo people have died and 11 are reportedly seriously ill in hospital after an outbreak of a rare form of invasive meningitis at the University of Kent.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had provided antibiotics to students in the Canterbury area after it detected 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a combination of meningitis and septicaemia. Continue reading...

Powerful storm chain to affect 200 million in US as it carries blizzard conditions, damaging winds and thunderstormsWinter's grip has yet to release as an erratic patchwork of severe weather moved across much of the US, dumping heavy snow and making roads impassable in the upper midwest while damaging high winds swept across the Plains.As portions of the mid-south readied for thunderstorms, forecasters said the storms will spread eastward and by Monday threaten a large swath of the eastern US, with mid-Atlantic states and Washington DC at greatest risk for high winds and tornadoes. Continue reading...

Prime minister expected to set out tens of millions of pounds in help for heating oil users as conflict with Iran drives up costsKeir Starmer will on Monday announce tens of millions of pounds' worth of support for Britons hit by a spike in energy prices as a result of the Iran war.The prime minister will lay out the plans during a press conference in Downing Street on Monday, during which he will also take aim at some suppliers of heating oil for price gouging. Continue reading...

Share of 16- to 24-year-old Neets who report a work-limiting condition up 70% in a decade, says thinktankThere has been a sharp rise in the number of jobless young people in the UK citing health problems as the reason they are not working, according to analysis.The share of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training - known as Neets - who reported a work-limiting condition has surged by 70% in a decade, a charity thinktank found. Continue reading...

Government reluctant to dispatch ships amid concerns complying with Trump's demands could escalate Iran crisisMinisters are drawing up plans to send minesweeping drones to the strait of Hormuz amid concerns in Whitehall that complying with Donald Trump's demand to send ships could escalate the crisis.The government is considering dispatching aerial minesweepers to help clear the vital waterway of mines in an attempt to allow the flow of oil exports to resume. However, officials said that sending ships, as requested over the weekend by the US president, could worsen the situation given the volatile nature of the war. Continue reading...

Far-right and radical left parties likely to increase their local presence in advance of next year's presidential raceThe first-round of the French municipal elections have seen a strong showing for Marine Le Pen's far-right the National Rally (RN), as well as for Jean-Luc Melenchon's radical left, with both parties likely to increase their local presence ahead of next year's French presidential race.The French local elections, which now go to a final round runoff on 22 March, are seen as a crucial test of the political temperature before next year's presidential election. Emmanuel Macron's two terms in office come to an end in spring 2027 and there is uncertainty about who will next lead the EU's second-largest economy. Continue reading...

Patients experiencing raised bedside rails, doors and pathways blocked by furniture and physical interventionsPeople with dementia are being subjected to restraints and non-consensual sedation while in hospitals in England, according to the first study of its kind.These restrictive practices were found to be an embedded aspect of routine ward care", according to the analysis, with such examples including dementia patients having their bedside rails raised, doors and pathways blocked by furniture, experiencing verbal commands to sit down or go back to bed, and physical interventions such as non-consensual sedation. Continue reading...

Author says he doesn't feel symbolic' and hopes to steer narrative to his books after surviving assassination attemptSalman Rushdie said he's tired of being everyone's free speech Barbie" four years after the author survived an assassination attempt that left him blinded in his right eye.It's a subject I'm anxious to change," Rushdie said Friday during a talk with the Atlantic's George Packer at Tulane University's New Orleans book festival. I don't feel symbolic. Continue reading...

Mother, father and brothers aged five and seven shot in the head as they returned from Ramadan shopping tripIsraeli police have killed two young Palestinian brothers and their parents in the occupied West Bank, shooting all four in the head and face as the family returned from a Ramadan shopping trip.Mohammed, five, Othman, seven, who was blind and had special needs, their mother, Waad Bani Odeh, 35, and father, Ali Bani Odeh, 37, were driving through their home town of Tamoun late on Saturday when Israeli forces opened fire. Continue reading...

Senator Ron Johnson pushes back, saying he's not in favor of government meddling in freedom of speechThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair, Brendan Carr, is facing pushback from a Republican lawmaker after warning on Saturday that broadcasters could lose their licenses if they run what the federal agency deems fake news" over the Iran conflict.Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said in an interview on the Sunday Briefing on Fox News that he was not in favor of the government control of private enterprise or efforts to meddle with freedom of speech protected under the constitution. Continue reading...

There is little sign of imminent regime change in Iran as its blockade of strait of Hormuz shocks global economy

Metropolitan police say they are also investigating chants led by Bobby Vylan at pro-Palestine protest next to ThamesTwelve people were arrested as hundreds joined a pro-Palestinian al-Quds Day demonstration on one side of the Thames, while hundreds more gathered on the opposite bank to back Israeli and American attacks on Iran.Al-Quds Day is an international demonstration of support for Palestinian rights. The event takes its name from the Arabic for Jerusalem and was established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran's 1979 revolution. Continue reading...

Nearly month-long funding lapse has disrupted US air travel and caused long wait times amid security officers' absencesThe CEOs of major US airlines urged Congress on Sunday to move quickly to end a 29-day partial government shutdown that has forced 50,000 airport security officers to work without pay, warning it could further disrupt US air travel.Absences by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers had already disrupted travel at some major airports over the previous week, raising alarm as the busy spring break travel season continues. Continue reading...

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...