World news | The Guardian

Unspecified number of bodies found as flood waters push cars through streets, closing roads and cancelling train services in ValenciaSeveral dead bodies have been recovered by emergency workers after torrential rain caused flash floods in southern and eastern Spain, shutting roads and high-speed train connections.Raging mud-coloured flood waters swept through the town of Letur in the eastern province of Albacete on Tuesday, pushing cars through the streets, images broadcast on Spanish television showed. Continue reading...

Punches were allegedly exchanged in extraordinary' incident that delayed plane at Heathrow for two hoursTwo women were removed from a British Airways flight at Heathrow after an altercation reportedly provoked by a Make America Great Again (Maga) cap.The incident occurred on Saturday as the women, aged 40 and 60, were preparing to board a flight bound for Austin, Texas. Continue reading...

Adidas chief executive says dispute with rapper belongs to the past', and that the last of its Yeezy stock will be sold by the end of the yearAdidas says it has reached an amicable agreement with rapper Kanye West to end all legal proceedings between them, without any money being exchanged.The German sportswear giant had been locked in a dispute with the artist, who now goes by the name Ye, since they cut ties in 2022 after allegations of antisemitism against him. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed. For the latest on the Middle East, read more coverage here.Al Jazeera has spoken with the director-general of the Gaza government's media office, Ismail al-Thawabta, who has said at least 93 people were killed in the Israeli airstrike on northern Gaza's town of Beit Lahiya. Gaza's health ministry said earlier today that 60 people were killed in the strike this morning, which hit a residential building housing displaced civilians. Al-Thawabta said that the building Israel attacked housed 200 people. Dozens of people are reported missing and 150 others estimated to be injured. Medics said 20 children were among the dead.Many of those injured have been rushed to nearby Kamal Adwan hospital inside the Jabalia refugee camp. But the hospital is struggling to treat them as it reportedly has run out of medical supplies and only has two paediatric doctors, with no surgeons. Israeli forces detained dozens of medical staff at the hospital days ago. Dr Hossam Abu Safiya, director of the hospital, told Al Jazeera on Friday that most of the surgeons had been arrested by Israeli troops, meaning urgent surgeries could not be performed.

Having announced minimum wage boost, chancellor to say she can spare working people from tax risesThe UK's national minimum wage is to rise by a higher than expected 6.7% next year, Rachel Reeves has announced before a multi-billion pound tax-raising budget designed to act as the springboard for a decade of national renewal.Insisting that the increase to 12.21 in the pay floor marks a significant step in Labour's plan to support the low paid, the chancellor will also say she can spare working people from the tax increases intended to plug the hole in the public finances and avoid a fresh wave of found of public spending cuts. Continue reading...

Failure to help improve the situation on the ground could be met by restrictions on US military aid

Iqra Ismail, who does not wear shorts for religious reasons, was prevented from entering field of play during gameThe Football Association has apologised to a Muslim footballer after she was barred from playing in a match for refusing to wear shorts due to her religious beliefs.Iqra Ismail was meant to come on as a half-time substitute for United Dragons in a Greater London Women's Football League fixture against Tower Hamlets on Sunday, but she was prevented from entering the field of play by the referee. Continue reading...

Writer-director shows support for critically maligned and commercially disastrous musical follow-up to 2019 hitQuentin Tarantino has come out in support of the critical and commercial flop Joker: Folie a Deux.The writer-director sang the musical sequel's praises during a recent appearance on Bret Easton Ellis's podcast. The Todd Phillips-directed follow-up to his 2019 hit Joker scored a 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Continue reading...

News of redundancies comes as UK division delays publication of results after car finance court rulingSantander is cutting more than 1,400 jobs across its UK business this year as part of its efforts to reduce costs.The Spanish bank's chief executive officer, Hector Grisi, confirmed the cuts as its UK division delayed publication of its latest financial results to consider the impact of an influential court ruling linked to commission on car finance. Continue reading...

Chapel and Swan Smokehouse in Suffolk was target of similar fraud to Neal's Yard Dairy cheesemakersThe owner of a smoked salmon firm who lost tens of thousands of pounds in a similar scam to the one that defrauded Neal's Yard Dairy has said authorities need to act against high-end food fraud".Chris Swales immediately recognised the similarities when he heard how the London cheese specialist was scammed out of more than 22 tonnes of cheddar this month. Continue reading...

Coroner advises forces to do more to tackle mental health issues after death of Anugrah Abraham in West YorkshirePolicing culture based on fear and discipline" must end, said the family of a police trainee who killed himself, as a coroner advised forces to do more to tackle the rise in mental health issues among officers.No steps could have been taken to prevent the death of Anugrah Abraham, a 21-year-old West Yorkshire police student, the three-week inquest into his death found. Continue reading...

Joke from Tony Hinchcliffe apparently bombed when he told it on Saturday night, a day before New York rally

Oscar-nominated actor was also known for roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Young FrankensteinTeri Garr, the actor known for roles in Tootsie, Young Frankenstein and Friends, has died at the age of 79.Garr died of multiple sclerosis, surrounded by family and friends", as confirmed to Associated Press by her publicist. She had been diagnosed in 2002 and also had an operation in 2007 after a ruptured brain aneurysm. Continue reading...

Chancellor calls increase to 12.21 an hour a significant step', with 18- to 20-year-olds in line for a 16% increaseThe national minimum wage will go up to 12.21 an hour in April after the chancellor confirmed a 6.7% increase, with more than 3 million low-paid workers in line for a pay rise.Rachel Reeves described the move, worth 1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker, as a significant step" towards delivering on Labour's manifesto promise to introduce a genuine living wage for working people". Continue reading...

The Tory leadership candidate says the party churned out a laundry-list of promises instead of listening to membersKemi Badenoch, who is the bookies' favourite to be the next Conservative leader, has told Times Radio that the contest is poised neck and neck".Interviewed by Kate McCann, Badenoch told listeners:People are tired of the party looking like it is not out working for the people out there. That is what I want to bring: integrity, and a focus on conviction and conservative values.There is something very significant that is going on, we are picking a leader of the opposition. People have a choice.This is a sacrifice, because I worry about the direction of the country.I worry about a lot of decisions we make, and us not being honest with the public about the serious trade-offs that are going to be required, and not saying enough about how the world is becoming a more dangerous place. Continue reading...

Buttle brothers argue in Auckland court that tour operators to blame for deaths of 22 people, including 14 Australians

Former SNP leader and first minister restored pride in our nation', says acting Alba head in eulogyMourners have remembered a political giant" and a friend to many" at the funeral of former first minister Alex Salmond, which took place in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday.Salmond's niece Christina Hendry told the private service that in the period after the 69-year-old's sudden death in North Macedonia earlier this month, his family had felt the grief of a nation, and beyond". Continue reading...

Republicans seen as vulnerable in four New York districts that could decide majority of the HouseDemocrats have their sights on New York next week, as they seek to win back the House of Representatives following a surprise Republican surge in the Empire state two years ago.Just four seats are needed for Democrats to win a majority in the House, which could prove a crucial stay on Donald Trump's power if he wins the presidency. Continue reading...

Amid sluggish spending in US, Europe and China, sales fell by 1.5% between July and SeptemberMcDonald's has posted another bigger than expected drop in sales as demand continues to slow, despite attempts to lure customers back with value meals.Spending by consumers has been sluggish or falling across the US, Europe and China in recent months, with people weary from years of high food inflation looking for cheaper meal fixes or staying at home. Continue reading...

Axel Rudakubana, 18, who already faces three murder charges, is separately accused of possessing terrorist materialThe suspect charged with the murder of three girls in Southport is to be separately prosecuted on suspicion of possessing terrorist material and producing the highly toxic poison ricin, police have said.Axel Rudakubana, 18, will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday charged with producing the biological toxin ricin and having a document titled Military studies in the Jihad against the Tyrants - the Al-Qaida training manual". Continue reading...

Rapper says asked to join ex-president's controversial Madison Square Garden event but is afraid about politics'50 Cent has revealed that he turned down a $3m offer to join Donald Trump at his controversial New York rally.The rapper, who has previously shown admiration for the former president, spoke about the opportunity during an interview on The Breakfast Club. He confirmed that he got a call" and had also been asked to perform his song Many Men (Wish Death) during this year's Republican national convention for a similar sum. Continue reading...

Essex force says threats made to son of Conservative PM were not linked in any way' to his murderA series of threatening phone calls made to the son of Sir David Amess the evening before the MP's murder were not linked in any way" to the attack, police have said.The Conservative MP's daughter, actor Katherine Amess, has called for a full inquest into her father's death, questioning why the police did not protect his constituency surgery after the threats. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Trump's running mate agrees to interview as campaign tries to juice turnout of young male votersDonald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, is expected to record an interview with the popular podcast host Joe Rogan on Wednesday morning in an attempt to reach less likely voters, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.The podcast - called the Joe Rogan Experience - is seen as a way to reach young male voters, a demographic the Trump team has placed a premium on reaching given their strategy of trying to win the November by juicing their turnout. Continue reading...

Energy company says it plans to cut at least $2bn of cash costs from the business by the end of 2026

Network Rail says about 40% of Avanti West Coast services will be accessible 20 minutes before departure

Former chancellor accuses Rachel Reeves of politicising Office for Budget Responsibility by release on budget dayJeremy Hunt has called on the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, to prevent the release of a review by the Office for Budget Responsibility into his spending plans, which is scheduled to be released on the day of the budget.The former chancellor has accused Rachel Reeves of politicising the Office for Budget Responsibility, after she announced she would release a review into the spending forecast published during his time at the Treasury. Continue reading...

Israeli travellers told to evacuate immediately as police set up patrols and roadblocksThe golden sands of Sri Lanka's Arugam Bay are usually carefree, a place for tourists to surf the famous break and relax on the beach.But last week, the slow rhythm of the bay was dealt a shock. The US embassy, followed up by Sri Lankan police and Israel's national security council, warned of a serious terrorist threat in the area. Israeli travellers were believed to be the intended target of an attack and were told to evacuate immediately. Hundreds of police and senior intelligence officials descended on the small coastal town, setting up patrols and roadblocks. Continue reading...

Democratic presidential candidate campaigns in university city of Ann Arbor as polls show state on knife-edgeGood morning.Appearing together in the home town of Michigan's largest university, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz sought to burnish their credentials with young voters and soothe Democrats who had grown nervous as the apparent deadlock in the race for the White House has dragged on.Is Kamala Harris alienating progressives as she courts anti-Trump Republicans? The vice-president is relying on support of high-profile GOP refuseniks as she moves to the centre despite warnings from progressives. I don't think having Liz Cheney on the team helps at all, because she doesn't bring a flock of votes with her," said James Zogby, a member of the Democratic National Committee.What's the latest at the Post? Editorial board members David Hoffman and Molly Roberts both resigned yesterday, with forceful letters indicating their reasons. Continue reading...

Naim Qassem replaces group's longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah after he was killed by Israel

Medical staff and emergency services say those killed in the attack include many women and children

Tory leadership candidate wades into reparations debate, arguing empire brought democratic institutions

Health secretary says NHS cannot be turned around overnight' but vows to get service back on its feet' over course of parliament

Americans are as scared as ever - and they are generally afraid of more things, too, according to a new surveyWith the spooky season nearing its climax, Americans are as scared as ever - and they are generally afraid of more things, too, according to a new survey.Those findings are contained in the latest edition of the Survey of American Fears that California's Chapman University has been publishing annually around Halloween. Continue reading...

Comments at Trump rally lead to anger and indignation in one of the most crucial battleground states in the electionOn Sunday evening, the Philadelphia council member Quetcy Lozada was attending a campaign event with Vice-President Kamala Harris at a local restaurant, as the Democratic presidential candidate unveiled a new economic proposal for Puerto Rico.Lozada is of Puerto Rican descent and represents the seventh city council district in Philadelphia, made up of over 50% Latino, predominantly Puerto Rican, residents. Continue reading...

Prime minister's office says opposition leader is making a pathetic attempt at creating a headline' over flight upgrades from 2009 to 2019

London-headquartered bank is poised to launch one of the biggest shake-ups in its 159-year historyHSBC has reported better-than-expected profits in the third quarter, allowing the bank to launch another multibillion-dollar stock buyback as it embarks on one of the biggest overhauls in the lender's 159-year history.The London-headquartered bank said strong performance in its wealth division and wholesale banking arm helped push pre-tax profits up 10% to $8.5bn (6.6bn) in the three months to the end of September. HSBC had been expected to report a 1.3% drop in profits to $7.6bn, according to average analyst estimates. Continue reading...

Victorian premier says dark shadow' has been cast over city after collision at Auburn South primary school in Hawthorn East

Accused pleads not guilty to 12 charges including seven of causing another person to enter into and remain in servitude

Coalition meanwhile says Australia should divert aid funding away from the UN humanitarian assistance body

Chancellor urged to cancel tax break that uses scheme to register land as heritage asset and worth at least 68mThree hundred and fifty-five wealthy landowners in England including aristocrats are benefiting from an obscure tax break worth at least 68m, data shows.The landowners benefit from a loophole called the tax-exempt heritage assets scheme", under which they can register land and property as heritage assets and make them exempt from inheritance tax. Continue reading...

The score, on a card bearing Frederic Chopin's hand-written name, was discovered by a curator at the Morgan Library and Museum in New YorkAn unknown waltz by Chopin, written nearly 200 years ago, has been discovered in the vault of the Morgan Library and Museum in New York.The score, on a card bearing Frederic Chopin's hand-written name, was found by a curator in the spring, the New York Times reported on Sunday. Continue reading...

Kyle & Jackie O Show chased ratings at the detriment of my own morals and values', co-host admits in new book The Whole Truth

Charity that leases building sold to developers during Covid lockdown is told it must vacate it by ChristmasThe UK could lose out on future sporting champions after an elite youth training centre whose alumni include the Spider-Man star Tom Holland was sold to developers, campaigners have said.The East London Gymnastic Centre was built with lottery funding in 1997 to provide affordable coaching in a deprived part of the capital. Continue reading...

Marks found at Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire are among most identified at any of the charity's 400 sitesAs English Heritage welcomes thousands of visitors over the Halloween period, a new discovery has made Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire a clear contender for the spookiest site of them all.The charity has uncovered a staggering array" of witches' marks and rare curses carved into the walls of the Tudor property, once visited by Henry VIII and his fifth Queen, Catherine Howard.

Girlfriend knows what happened to Mark', friend who saw 17-year-old hours before his body was found near Tamworth tells NSW coroners court

KAP leader questions motives of LNP candidates who concurred with his anti-abortion position during election campaignThe Queensland crossbench MP, Robbie Katter, says he thinks Liberal National party candidates who made anti-abortion comments prior to the state election were dog whistling" but have little intention of deviating from the party line.The Katter's Australian party leader told ABC Radio National on Tuesday that he would still seek to test the parliament" on a potential private member's bill to wind back some elements of Queensland's 2018 laws that decriminalised abortion. Continue reading...

Rogerson, 83, who was serving a life sentence for the 2014 murder of Jamie Gao, had received appropriate care,' deputy NSW coroner says

Interior minister ridicules ex-president's claim that government tried to kill him by firing shots at his carBolivia's government has accused former president Evo Morales of staging an attempt on his own life, saying that shots fired at his car on Sunday came after he tried to run a police checkpoint.Mr Morales, nobody believes the theater you have staged," the interior minister, Eduardo del Castillo, told a news conference. Continue reading...

Initiated by the Albanese government in 2023, the 866-page report finds people still feel resentment about what they lost' during pandemic lockdowns

Hospitality giant rejects claims by multiple staff of toxic environment' in reporting by Nine newspapers