World news | The Guardian

Sky News podcast casts doubt on One Nation leader's claim she did not know Faruqi was a Muslim when she sent piss off back to Pakistan' tweet, court told

Seven says decision purely commercial but Financial Review editor accuses rival company of abuse of market power'

Government's promised future gas strategy' will argue the fossil fuel is important part of transition to net zero emissions. Follow the day's news live

Gabrielius Landsbergis also backs David Cameron and Emmanuel Macron on standing up to PutinLithuania's foreign minister has raised the prospect of an ad hoc coalition of western countries sending military training personnel into Ukraine backed by ground-based air defence, days after Russia took an increasingly strident tone against what it sees as the threat of deeper western involvement in the war.Speaking to the Guardian after meeting his British counterpart, David Cameron, in London, Gabrielius Landsbergis also backed the British foreign secretary for saying that Ukraine could use British-made weapons against Russia; remarks that alongside Emmanuel Macron refusing to rule out western troops in Ukraine prompted the Kremlin to threaten UK assets and order a tactical nuclear training exercise. Continue reading...

Patients said to have been moved on donkey carts from evacuated hospital, in situation described as catastrophic'Hospitals in Rafah risk being overwhelmed by a wave of sick and injured people if the fighting there intensifies and routes into Gaza remain impassible, doctors and medical officials in the city say.Medics and patients hastily evacuated the Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital, one of the few remaining functioning hospitals in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, on Tuesday after the Israeli army seized the nearby border crossing with Egypt in a dawn raid. Continue reading...

Group being questioned after warrants were executed in Bolton, Great Lever, Abram and Hindley, says Greater Manchester policeThree men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism in Greater Manchester.Warrants were executed by officers in Bolton, Great Lever, Abram and Hindley around 7.30pm on Wednesday, Greater Manchester police (GMP) said. The men, aged 35, 36 and 51, were arrested at separate locations on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000. Continue reading...

Daughters of TV great write introductions to First Squad, First Platoon, a story of war in the Pacific released by Strand MagazineA story of the second world war by Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone, will be published in the US on Thursday after lying among his papers for nearly 70 years.I was writing a memoir, called As I Knew Him, My Dad, Rod Serling," Anne Serling, one of two daughters, told the Guardian. And another writer, Amy Boyle Johnston, who had been doing a lot of researching of my dad's early work and wrote a book called Unknown Serling, sent me the story. She'd found it in the archives in Wisconsin," at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Continue reading...

Concerns raised in NSW parliament about why prosecutor did not oppose bail for domestic violence charges against former partner including rape and stalking

Woman, 24, allegedly sexually assaulted by young boy in far north Queensland before being attacked by a group of children

Troy Armstrong, 36, alledgedly drove his ute at 140kmh at his former wife Kristy Armstrong's car in Molong

Victorian tribunal also finds doctor's communications with patients were inappropriate, discourteous and failed to provide confidentiality

As El Fasher stands on the precipice of a massacre', rights groups call for sanctions after new testimony describes atrocities carried out by RSF paramilitaries in SudanGruesome new testimony details one of the worst atrocities of the year-long Sudanese civil war - the large-scale massacre of civilians as they desperately tried to flee an ethnic rampage in Darfur last summer.Witnesses describe children, still alive, being piled up and shot" by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as they attempted to escape the regional capital of El Geneina in June last year during a bout of ethnic violence in which thousands of civilians were killed. Continue reading...

Super fund boss and Google Cloud global CEO issue joint statement apologising for extremely frustrating and disappointing' outage

Pieces from Diamonds are Forever singer's collection will be exhibited by Sotheby's London before being auctioned for charity in ParisDiamonds Are Forever singer Shirley Bassey is to auction some of her extensive and meaningful" jewellery collection, including a diamond ring given to her by Elton John.Top lots from her collection, which will be exhibited by Sotheby's London later this month before being auctioned for charity in Paris, include a diamond necklace estimated to sell for between 270,000 and 320,000 (232,420 and 275,460). A diamond and gold parure created by Cartier is estimated to fetch between 200,000 and 250,000 (172,170 and 215,210). Continue reading...

Long-serving leader Frank Bainimarama has been sentenced to a year in prison for perverting the course of justice, local media reportsFiji's former long-serving prime minister Frank Bainimarama has been sentenced to a year in prison for perverting the course of justice, local media reported.Bainimarama was initially spared jail in the case during sentencing last month, before an appeal by the country's director for public prosecutions. On Thursday, that appeal was upheld by Fiji's high court. Continue reading...

The territory's justice minister has called for the anthem to be removed from the internet in the wake of the rulingHong Kong has demanded a protest song that was made popular during pro-democracy demonstrations in the territory be removed from the internet, in the wake of a court ruling which banned it.In its judgment on Wednesday, the court of appeal described the song Glory to Hong Kong as a weapon" to incite violent protests in 2019. Continue reading...

Survey has revealed challenges faced by pharmacists and risk of harm to patients as key drugs are unavailable

Pharmacies are unable to get medicines they need and are increasingly experiencing patients' anger and frustration

Foreign secretary will say too few states have stepped up to spend on defence, take on Iranian proxies or champion women's rightsDavid Cameron is to warn that the west is not learning the lesson of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, that authoritarian adversaries will only be spurred on if the west shows hesitation or caution.The foreign secretary will call for the west to be tougher and more assertive and realise it is locked in a battle of wills in which we all must prove our adversaries wrong - Britain, and our allies and partners around the world". Continue reading...

Government dampens hopes for an increase to jobseeker, despite pressure from economists, social justice groups and equality advocates

Five-day encampment in university grounds that caused the college major loss of income ended in victory for campaignersStudents at Trinity College Dublin have ended a five-day encampment after the university pledged to cut ties with Israeli companies.Student leaders claimed victory on Wednesday night for a US-style campaign that had disrupted the campus and blocked access to the Book of Kells. Continue reading...

Critics said proposal to build canal linking Atlantic and Pacific would endanger environment and rural communitiesNearly a decade after it broke ground on a controversial plan to build a canal linking the Atlantic and the Pacific, Nicaragua has canceled a concession granted to a Chinese businessman to complete the project which critics said would endanger the environment and displace rural communities.Despite a symbolic ground-breaking" in 2014, no work was done on the canal that was to link Nicaragua's Atlantic and Pacific coasts. At one point, crews broke ground on access roads near the canal but digging the waterway never started. Continue reading...

The decision to place a weapons shipment on hold sends a message to Netanyahu that the US dog is beginning to regain control of its tailIn placing a hold on a shipment of US-made bombs to Israel, and warning there could be more restrictions to come, Joe Biden is sending a message to Benjamin Netanyahu that his administration is no longer prepared to be a dog wagged by its own tail.Netanyahu's repeated defiance of US warnings not to pursue an offensive on Rafah had been based on an assumption that curbing the US weapons supply could inflict more political damage on Biden than on the Israeli prime minister, and that Netanyahu could cause havoc for the president at home at the height of an election year. Continue reading...

Survivors of abuse being put in danger by plans to release prisoners 70 days early, says commissionerSurvivors of domestic abuse have been put in danger by ministers' failure to give notice of the early release from prison of their abusers, a Home Office adviser has said.Nicole Jacobs, the independent domestic abuse commissioner, criticised the lack of warning of a new policy to free prisoners up to 70 days early from full jails. Continue reading...

Brexit and immigration hardliner surprises politicians from both sides with her defectionThe look on Penny Mordaunt's face was one of disbelief as she watched Natalie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, take her seat for prime minister's questions just behind Keir Starmer on the Labour benches.After a few moments, the Commons leader got up from the frontbench and crept along to where Rishi Sunak was waiting beside the speaker's chair, whispering urgently in his ear to prepare him for the unwelcome surprise. Continue reading...

Exclusive: plans revealed in new leaked dossier sent to unions ahead of crunch meeting with Keir StarmerLabour has vowed it will change the law to ban fire and rehire, after a war of words with unions who accused the party of watering down its pledges on workers' rights.The plans are revealed in a new leaked dossier, which was sent to trade unions ahead of a crunch meeting with Keir Starmer and contains sweeping plans for an overhaul of workers' rights including on employment status, protection against unfair dismissal and union representation. Continue reading...

Christopher Kirker tells members that normal waiting times will apply for most women as concerns raised about tokenismThe chair of the Garrick has told its members that the club may consider allowing one or two exceptional ... lady members" to join in the near future but that normal waiting times will apply for the majority of women.A leaked email from Christopher Kirker to all members on Wednesday described Tuesday's vote ending the London institution's men-only rules as momentous" and addressed questions about how quickly the club might move to admit women. Continue reading...

In Washington DC speech, shadow foreign secretary says Labour will always work with US, whoever wins'David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has set out in a Washington DC speech his credentials as a British foreign secretary capable of working with a Trump presidency, saying he gets the agenda that drives America First", and insisting he would seek to find common cause" with Donald Trump.He vowed a Labour government will always work with the United States, whatever the weather and whoever wins" and in government he said he would work in the national interest. Continue reading...

Bernard and Ann McDonagh admit five joint charges of fraud after not paying at four restaurants and one takeawayA couple from south Wales have admitted carrying out a string of dine and dash" offences, racking up large bills for food and drink before leaving without paying.Bernard McDonagh, 41, and Ann McDonagh, 39, from Port Talbot, admitted five joint charges of fraud and will be sentenced at Swansea crown court this month. Continue reading...

MP says many in party think rightwing Tory defector is vile', while shadow minister says: Are we welcoming Farage next week?'Keir Starmer is facing shadow cabinet anger for welcoming into his party a rightwing Conservative MP who has repeatedly attacked Labour over migration.Natalie Elphicke became on Wednesday the second Tory MP in two weeks to cross the floor of the Commons, dealing another major blow to Rishi Sunak. Continue reading...

Edel Hsieh, who is linked to HyperVerse CEO, alleges police tortured him into signing a false confessionAn American cryptocurrency entrepreneur locked in a legal dispute with the CEO of the collapsed crypto fund HyperVerse has been detained in Dubai and alleges police have tortured him into signing a false confession, the Guardian can reveal.Edel Hsieh, 43, from California, was first arrested in March at Dubai's airport while attempting to fly to London. Police beat him during his interrogation, he said. Continue reading...

Move would mark significant pivot in relations as pressure builds on Israel to pull back from attackUS officials have signalled to Israel that more arms shipments could be delayed if the Israeli military pushes ahead with an offensive in Rafah, Gaza, in what would mark the start of a major pivot in relations between the two countries.Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, confirmed on Wednesday that the Biden administration had paused the supply of thousands of large bombs to Israel, in opposition to apparent moves by the Israelis to invade the city. Continue reading...

Influencer served legal papers in relation to allegations of rape and sexual assault made by four British womenAndrew Tate has been served with civil proceedings papers at his home in Romania in relation to allegations of rape and sexual assault made by four British women.Lawyers representing the women said the alleged victims were bringing a case against the self-professed misogynist influencer" at the high court in the UK, after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to prosecute him in 2019. Continue reading...

Home secretary announces closure of Russian diplomatic premises after pattern of malign activity' in Britain and EuropeRussia's defence attache is an undeclared military intelligence officer" who will be expelled from the UK amid an escalation of sanctions, the home secretary has said.James Cleverly also announced on Wednesday the removal of diplomatic status for several Russian-owned premises and told MPs the moves followed a pattern of malign activity" across Britain and Europe. Continue reading...

Announcement comes after Swinney is sworn in as seventh first minister for everyone in Scotland'Kate Forbes, the former finance secretary who stepped aside last week allowing John Swinney to stand unopposed for the Scottish National party leadership, has been appointed deputy first minister.The announcement came after Swinney was sworn in as Scotland's seventh first minister at the court of session on Wednesday morning, after his nomination by MSPs at Holyrood, where he pledged to be the first minister for everyone in Scotland". Continue reading...

Natalie Elphicke said she was defecting to Labour due to broken promises of Rishi Sunak's tired and chaotic government'PMQs starts in just over 20 minutes, and today there will be particular interest in the mood on the Conservative benches. Rishi Sunak has actively embraced the theory that the local election results show Labour is not on course to win an overall majority, but this is based on a projection that has been widely dismissed as unrealistic.Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.It's an issue of humanity and I think you've got to show equivalence. I condemn unequivocally the actions of Hamas on Oct 7; those 134 hostages must be released. At the same time I condemn unequivocally the actions of the IDF and Netanyahu; 34,000 people have perished including 14,000 children.It's utterly wrong and an insult to those victims to equate the brutality of Hamas to the legitimate military measures that Israel is taking in defence of its people and nation. Continue reading...

Anna Haholkina tells of shock and says no one from deputy Italian PM's League sought her for permissionA woman whose photograph was used in a poster campaign by Italy's far-right League, a member of Giorgia Meloni's ruling coalition, has said she will consult lawyers, describing the images as racist".Anna Haholkina, a Ukrainian-Italian model who lives in Rimini, said she was shocked to see her face on the posters that have sprung up in Milan in recent weeks as the League, which is led by the deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, intensifies its anti-Islam stance in the run-up to next month's European elections. Continue reading...

Vocalist, guitarist and producer for bands such as Nirvana and Pixies suffers heart attack at his recording studioSteve Albini, the vocalist, guitarist and producer who helmed a series of the most esteemed albums across the US alternative music scene, has died aged 61 from a heart attack suffered at his recording studio. Staff at his studio, Electrical Audio, confirmed the news to Pitchfork.As well as fronting the bands Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac, who all pushed at the boundaries of post-punk and art-rock, Albini also produced - or, to use his preferred term, engineered - albums by Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. He was noted for his DIY and punk ethos, resisting streaming services and refusing to take royalties from the recordings he produced for other artists. Continue reading...

Dover MP, who claimed her now former husband's seat in 2019, has been criticised in the past by Labour

Passengers waited more than three hours for passport checks on Tuesday, as the country's 270 electronic gates malfunctionedThousands of passengers were left waiting in queues for more than three hours at airports, on Tuesday evening, after a nationwide failure of the electronic passport gate technology system.Nearly all major British airports were affected as the country's 270 e-gates, the automated facial recognition systems at the border, were closed for more than four hours. Continue reading...

Three people charged under Public Order Act in relation to slow march in west London last yearThree Just Stop Oil supporters have appeared in what is thought to be the first trial brought under wide-ranging powers introduced last year to curb protest.Phoebe Plummer, Chiara Sarti and Daniel Hall were charged with breach of section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023 after taking part in a slow march blocking traffic in west London in November. Continue reading...

Activists call move absurd', as Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Museveni, is accused of torture and abusing criticsSenior British government officials have congratulated the newly appointed head of the Ugandan army, a man accused of torture, in a move that has been called absurd" and disappointing".Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's new chief of defence forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, received a congratulatory letter from Britain's most senior military officer, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, at a meeting with the British high commissioner, Kate Airey, and the British defence attache. Continue reading...

Sticking together' is vital as world becomes more dangerous, says Adm Sir Tony Radakin on Washington visitBritain's most senior military commander has called on the US to stay strong, stick together, and see through" conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as he appealed against future American isolationism on a trip to Washington DC.Adm Sir Tony Radakin said at a conference he believed the world is undeniably becoming more dangerous" and invoked memories of D-day to justify potential future US engagement in struggles against authoritarian regimes. Continue reading...

Several Russian diplomatic premises that UK believes have been used by Russian intelligence also closedThe Kremlin also said that it valued its relations with North Korea, when asked about a report that Russia has been shipping refined petroleum to North Korea at levels that appear to breach a cap set by the United Nations Security Council.We value our bilateral relations with North Korea and intend to further develop them in all possible areas," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Continue reading...

Rafah's mayor says city stands on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe' as pressure builds on Israel to pull back from attackThe Biden administration paused the supply of thousands of large bombs to Israel last week in opposition to apparent moves by the Israelis to invade the Gaza city of Rafah, US officials have confirmed.The US president, Joe Biden, has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by Israel against the southern city, where battles raged on the outskirts on Wednesday, once again displacing Palestinians. Continue reading...

Commitment of Ursula von der Leyen's party to fighting destructive forces is in question, say signatoriesA row has broken out among political parties in Europe after the centre right group to which Ursula von der Leyen belongs refused to sign a letter condemning the far right and a spate of attacks on politicians in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Ireland.The open letter calls on von der Leyen to reject any normalisation, cooperation or alliance with the far right and radical parties" and denounces a physical assault on the German centre-left politician Matthias Ecke. Ecke was seriously injured" after allegedly being attacked by four young men while putting up campaign posters. Continue reading...

Aberdeen-based firm listed on FTSE 250 knocked back unsolicited approach from Dubai-based Sidara

Israel to keep mid-level' negotiators in Cairo; key crossing for humanitarian aid closed on Sunday after Hamas shelling attackIsrael was reopening the Kerem Shalom crossing on its border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, reports the Reuters news agency citing a statement from the Israeli agency in charge of it said.According to the statement, aid trucks routed through from Egypt were already undergoing security inspections there. Continue reading...

Shalina Patel's book highlights stories traditionally left out of the textbooks, particular those of women and people of colourAdults need to revisit their history lessons to learn where their blind spots" are after schools failed to thoroughly teach them about colonialism and empire, according to a leading history teacher.This is the aim of a new book, The History Lessons, by the award-winning teacher Shalina Patel, which spotlights the historical figures and stories left out of the textbooks - in particular those of women and people of colour - to challenge entrenched narratives. Continue reading...