World news | The Guardian

Energy crisis panel warns country is dangerously unprepared' and must shift away from gas quicklyBritain is at risk of experiencing a repeat of the sharp increase in energy costs which has fuelled the continuing cost of living crisis because it relies too heavily on gas, according to an expert panel of industry leaders.The Energy Crisis Commission has warned that the UK is still dangerously underprepared" for another crisis because it continues to rely on gas for its power plants and home heating. Continue reading...

Metal replica conker found in pocket of David Jakins AKA King Conker, first-time winner after competing since 1977The World Conker Championships is investigating cheating allegations after the men's winner was found to have a steel chestnut in his pocket.David Jakins won the annual title in Southwick, Northamptonshire on Sunday for the first time after competing since 1977. Continue reading...

Hezbollah fires rockets at Tel Aviv in apparent response, while Israeli attacks on Gaza include a hospital courtyard

Prosecutions of passengers accused of using 16-25 railcard for discounts at wrong time of day are being withdrawnRail passengers could be entitled to compensation after Northern was accused of breaking its fare evasion rules to prosecute commuters.The train operator said on Monday all prosecutions of people accused of using a 16-25 railcard to obtain a discount at the wrong time of day were being withdrawn and thousands of previous cases reviewed. Continue reading...

With Israel expected to retaliate, it is not surprising US has announced it will deploy Thaad missile defence systemsAs Israel's conflict with Hezbollah and Iran has escalated, it has begun to show a degree of vulnerability. A Hezbollah drone evaded Israel's much vaunted air defences on Sunday and struck a military canteen when it was busy with soldiers eating dinner. Four were killed and 58 wounded, seven seriously, at a location 40 miles south of the Lebanese border.The drone that hit the canteen of the Golani base near Binyamina appears to have been part of a synchronised attack that allowed it to elude the country's well organised air defences. Three drones flew from Lebanon over the Mediterranean, and though they were all initially spotted, and two shot down, the other was able to reach its target. Continue reading...

Urfan Sharif is accused alongside Sara's stepmother and uncle of killing 10-year-old at Surrey home in August 2023

Bob Lambert told two managers of his secret Scotland Yard unit but they decided to do nothingAn undercover police officer bragged" that he had fathered a child with an activist from whom he had concealed his real identity, a public inquiry has heard.The officer, Bob Lambert, had the child with the woman, known only as Jacqui, while he was infiltrating animal rights and anarchist groups. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer is going to Samoa to discuss shared challenges and opportunities', says spokespersonThe issue of reparations for slavery is not on the agenda for next week's Commonwealth heads of government (Chogm) summit, and the UK is not considering paying up, Downing Street has said.The stance could put Keir Starmer, who will attend the gathering in Samoa, on a collision course with other nations. All three candidates to succeed Patricia Scotland as Chogm secretary general at the event have said they support reparations for countries affected by slavery and colonisation. Continue reading...

Consumer advocate says results are a worrying reminder' children are at risk from insecure battery components on most items

Warm air from south to deliver above-average temperatures - but heavy rain expected to followNorth-west Europe is forecast to experience a burst of autumn warmth this week, thanks to warm air from southern Europe spreading northwards. This brief episode of warmer-than-average conditions will be driven by an amplified, or wavy", jet stream, which will allow warm air to push farther north.Daytime temperatures across much of France are forecast to reach the mid-20s on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some areas in the south-west potentially exceeding this. Meanwhile, the Benelux area and south-east England are expected to reach the low-20s by midweek. Continue reading...

Treasurer says uncovering unfair' practices also part of proposed surcharge revamp designed to give consumers better deal and cut small business's costs

Steven Miles says he would prefer Crisafulli minority government over horse-trading if he fails to win absolute majority at October election

Company tried to convince police to take action against a post office operator this year, it has emergedThe Post Office tried to use selective positive comments about the reliability of the Horizon IT system from a damning high court judgment to try to get police to review a decision not to launch criminal proceedings against an operator earlier this year, it has emerged.More than 550 post office operators - including Alan Bates and Jo Hamilton who were portrayed in the hit ITV drama on the Horizon IT scandal - were vindicated in 2019 when a 400-page judgment found the faulty system relied upon to secure the convictions was not remotely robust" and the Post Office agreed to pay 58m to settle the claims. Continue reading...

Former cabinet colleague of Tory leadership candidate says muddled' campaign essay does not take correct approach'

Judge says forfeiture rule should not apply in case of Philip Morris, whose wife, Myra, had multiple system atrophyA man who helped his terminally ill wife travel to Switzerland to end her own life is entitled to inherit part of her estate, a judge has ruled.Philip Morris, 76, with very great reluctance" assisted his wife, Myra Morris, then 73, when she went to the Pegasos clinic in Liestal, Switzerland in December 2023 and self-administered a fatal dose of pentobarbital. Continue reading...

Tim Davie says corporation is committed to change after controversies involving senior presenters, including Huw EdwardsThe BBC director general has said he has kind of banned" referring to its high-profile staff as talent" as the corporation grapples with the fallout from controversies involving a number of senior presenters.Tim Davie was speaking after the BBC launched an independent review of its workplace culture after scandals, including the one surrounding the disgraced presenter Huw Edwards. Continue reading...

Revealed: USAid officials meet Israeli counterparts at Sde Teiman base, where detainees say abuse runs rampantOfficials from the US's main humanitarian agency attend daily meetings on an Israeli military base that also hosts a notorious prison for Palestinian detainees where torture reportedly runs rampant, the Guardian has learned.According to three officials with the US Agency for International Development (USAid), Israel's humanitarian relief hub began operating at the desert military base Sde Teiman on 29 July, with a regular US presence. USAid is tasked with facilitating urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Continue reading...

Multinational claims upcoming ABC report into it will likely be inaccurate and unbalanced' as experts say without intervention smaller venues will struggle to survive

Inquest hears Helen Davey died of suffocation when the gas piston bed platform fell on her, trapping her neckA coroner has warned that gas piston ottomans could present a risk to life, after a woman died when her bed collapsed on her, trapping her between the mattress and the base.Helen Davey, 39, a mother of two from Seaham in County Durham, died on 7 June when she suffocated after becoming accidentally trapped in the bed, an inquest heard. Continue reading...

SpaceX owner would be invited in future if he had investment streams the UK could bid for, says Peter Kyle

PM says Steven Miles's plan to hold plebiscite on nuclear if Labor wins 26 October poll is a matter for Queensland' but he supports the stance

Exclusive: Business leaders seek support for scheme in budget as former chancellor calls it good investment'The former Tory chancellor George Osborne has thrown his weight behind a proposal nicknamed HS2 light" that would deliver new high-speed train links between Manchester and Birmingham.Osborne said the worst thing Rishi Sunak did as prime minister was cancelling the northern arm of HS2. It was an act of infrastructure vandalism," he said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Royal College of Psychiatrists calls for review of laws, saying Labour has moral and ethical obligation' to protect those seeking sanctuary in UKTop doctors have identified Britain's immigration system as a public mental health concern" that inflicts harm on asylum seekers, and risks re-traumatising" those already affected by psychological distress.The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) has called on ministers to review immigration laws introduced by the last government, saying Labour had a moral and ethical obligation" to protect the mental health of those seeking sanctuary in the UK. Continue reading...

Small businesses voice frustration as Essex and Suffolk Water puts lid on new mains connections until 2033Small companies in Suffolk that manufacture drinks have been told to keep a lid on their water usage for most of the next decade, amid concerns at their supplier that it will be unable to meet rising demand.Essex and Suffolk Water has imposed a moratorium" on new mains-water connections for non-domestic use until 2033 and told small businesses it would be unable to increase their usage above existing levels through their current connections. Continue reading...

Magistrate dismisses charge of intimidation against 89-year-old singer, ruling matter should be dealt with on mental health grounds

People's Liberation Army criticises separatist acts' and says all branches of the military were involved in exercises around TaiwanChina's military and coast guard have surrounded Taiwan's main island as part of large-scale drills that it said were a warning against separatist acts", in the wake of a recent speech by Taiwan's president.State media linked Monday's drills to a National Day speech last Thursday by Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, in which he repeated that the People's Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan", but he was willing to work with it to maintain peace and stability. Continue reading...

Conscientious objectors refused to take part in military campaign against Indonesian independence in 1940sFamilies of 20 men who were jailed for refusing to fight to preserve the former Dutch colony in Indonesia have formally asked for their names to be cleared, arguing that instead of deserters, traitors and cowards" their relatives deserve to be recognised as having been on the right side of history.An official investigation into the period when Dutch colonies asserted their independence after the second world war found a failed military campaign in Indonesia had systematically used excessive violence" and massacred hundreds of innocent villagers, whose families eventually won compensation. Continue reading...

Classification Review Board to undertake new assessment of memoir targeted in conservative campaigns

Invasive Species Council says 5 million native mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs are killed by feral and roaming pet cats a day in Australia

Because of my trust in someone I put my daughter in harm's way,' Kallista Mutten says in emotional interview

Ed Halmagyi describes incident as being Jewish in Sydney, 2024 edition' after note saying Be Careful' shoved under door

Men aged 20 and 22 on police bail after animal was deliberately attacked and seriously injured', and died from injuriesTwo men have been arrested in connection with a fatal attack on an XL bully dog in Slough.Thames Valley police said the dog was deliberately attacked and seriously injured" in the Berkshire town on 29 September. It was taken for emergency treatment but died from its injuries. Continue reading...

Government disbanded due to disagreements on issues including foreign policy and asylum seekers, says Bjarni BenediktssonIceland's prime minister, Bjarni Benediktsson, has announced the end of the country's governing coalition and called for elections to be held on 30 November, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported.In a press conference, Bjarni blamed growing disagreements between the three governing parties on issues ranging from foreign policy to asylum seekers issues". Continue reading...

BBC director-general Tim Davie to warn world facing all-out assault on truth' as state-funded media operators broadcast unchallengedThe BBC director-general will warn that the retreat of its World Service because of funding cuts has helped Russia and China broadcast unchallenged propaganda".In a speech at the Future Resilience Forum, a non-partisan meeting in London attended by international political figures, Tim Davie will discuss the global importance of the BBC World Service, which operates across more than 40 languages. Continue reading...

Former first minister established party as a political force but questions later emerged about influence he wielded

First minister John Swinney says predecessor, who died on Saturday, had a huge impact on our public life'John Swinney has paid tribute to Alex Salmond's colossal contribution" to Scottish and UK politics, as allies of the former first minister mourned his sudden death on Saturday.Swinney, the incumbent first minister, said Salmond had had a huge impact on public life by forging the Scottish National party into a force capable of winning successive elections and then by bringing Scotland incredibly close" to independence. Continue reading...

Majority owner, Challice, says it has no interest in selling shares to group that already owns 37% of luxury brandThe owner of the Mulberry fashion brand has rejected an increased 111m bid from Mike Ashley's Frasers Group to buy the British luxury handbag maker, saying it has no interest" in selling its shares.Challice, a group controlled by Singaporean entrepreneur Christina Ong and her husband, Ong Beng Seng, which owns 56% of Mulberry - giving it the power to block any bid - called on Frasers to ditch plans to take over, saying it came at an inopportune time" for the struggling brand. Continue reading...

Deal to rescue owner of four UK shipyards, including Belfast shipyard that built the Titanic, could save up to 1,000 jobsSpanish shipbuilding firm Navantia is in exclusive negotiations to buy Harland & Wolff, the owner of the Belfast shipyard that built the Titanic, in a deal that could rescue up to 1,000 jobs.It is understood the group could take control of the group's four yards - in Belfast; Appledore, Devon; Arnish on the Isle of Lewis; and Methil, Fife - as early as next month. Continue reading...

Jonathan Reynolds says Labour pledge not to increase NICs applies to employees and does not rule out other changesThe business secretary has said Labour's manifesto pledge not to raise national insurance applied to employees but he did not rule out raising employers' contributions in the budget.Speaking on Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Jonathan Reynolds was asked if the pledge applied to employees' and employers' national insurance contributions (NICs). Continue reading...

As more cases of dogs being unnecessarily euthanised are revealed, activists want stricter reporting requirements for the racing industry

Our focus group showed signs the leadership race is cutting through, and one candidate seems to have a rare qualityWinning back voters lost in the disastrous general election of this summer will be top of the to-do list for the newly installed Conservative party leader when he or she is appointed in a little over three weeks' time.With Keir Starmer's government off to a shaky start, buffeted by the freebies scandal and the loss of his chief of staff, could either of the Conservative leadership candidates capitalise on early disappointment with Labour? If so, they may need to begin by introducing themselves. Continue reading...

Peak business body proposes deadlines to speed up' local councils, saying delays are making developers reluctant to invest

Narrowly rejected Elstree plan for 10 soundstages moves back into focus as new government seems more willing to build on green beltTV company Sky is likely to appeal against a planning decision blocking the expansion of its film studios, amid signs that the Labour government is willing to allow building on the green belt to prioritise economic growth.Sky Studios Elstree already has a new state-of-the art film and TV studio in Hertfordshire with 12 sound stages across 11 hectares (27.5 acres) , producing movies including Paddington in Peru and a version of the hit musical Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Continue reading...

Sir Nicholas Mostyn says bill covering only people with less than six months to live would not help Parkies' like himAn assisted dying bill that would only allow people with less than six months to live to receive help to die would be no use at all to people facing intolerable suffering, a retired high court judge has said.Sir Nicholas Mostyn, who has the degenerative condition Parkinson's disease, said people like him would be left on the beach" if potentially historic legislation covering England and Wales that is due for publication on Wednesday limits access to help with suicide only to terminally ill people. Continue reading...

Government has announced first steps' of policy shift but given little detail on how it will measure its success. What else needs to happen?In his pitch to voters in March last year, Keir Starmer said he wanted to imagine a society where violence against women is stamped out everywhere". His government would, he pledged, halve violence against women and girls in a decade. It was a bold, simple statement, widely welcomed for its ambition.That something has to change is not in doubt. The first national analysis of the scale of violence against women and girls (VAWG) released in July by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) estimated that 2 million women were victims of male violence every year - an epidemic so serious it amounts to a national emergency". VAWG crimes account for 20% of all police-recorded crime.Embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms.A pilot of new domestic abuse protection orders to force more domestic abusers to stay away from their victims or face tougher sanctions.Powers given to six police forces to charge domestic abuse suspects without first going to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).Specialist advisers for victims in domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault cases.Plans to tackle sexism in schools, including training young male influencers to combat the toxic messages from people such as Andrew Tate. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Some authorities say they are being set up to fail' when fault often lies with developers sitting on sitesCouncils have raised the alarm over what they describe as unrealistic government targets for new housing, saying these penalise local authorities when the fault often lies with developers sitting on sites that already have planning permission.Local authorities have also complained that targets under the proposed new national planning policy framework (NPPF) for England are sometimes totally unrealistic, both in terms of what can be built and, in some cases, the amount of homes needed. Continue reading...

Jonathan Reynolds continues damage limitation effort after colleague Louise Haigh called firm a rogue operator'P&O Ferries is not a rogue operator, the business secretary has said, as the government attempted to draw a line under the damaging row that has engulfed the buildup to its international investment summit on Monday.Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC on Sunday that he did not regard the company as rogue", despite his cabinet colleague Louise Haigh having described it in that way earlier this week. Continue reading...

Guardia Civil report on Piia Hokkanen indicates Spanish detectives believe cause of death was suicideThe family and friends of a British IT executive who fell to her death from an apartment block in Spain on the evening of her 50th birthday have called on the Metropolitan police to intervene in a Spanish police investigation into the fatality.Piia Hokkanen, who at the time of her death had borrowed her sister's holiday home for a three-day mini-break in Torrevieja, near Alicante, was found lifeless after falling from a communal window on to a neighbour's patio shortly after midnight on 4 September. Continue reading...

Michael Fakhri, special rapporteur on right to food, warns Israeli military attack risks repeat of starvation seen in GazaHunger and malnutrition rates could rise exponentially" in Lebanon, if Israel follows through with threats to escalate the current military operation which has so far killed more than 2,000 and displaced as many as a million people, according to a leading UN expert.Israel has the ability to starve Lebanon - like it has starved Palestinians in Gaza," said Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food. If you look at the geography of Lebanon, Israel has the power to absolutely put a stranglehold on the food system. There is a huge risk of hunger and malnutrition rates skyrocketing very quickly in Lebanon." Continue reading...

Exclusive: United Utilities and Severn Trent had four-star environment ranking but discharges breached permits, campaign group says Ankle deep in sewage': English spring water village suffers supected unlawful spillsTwo of England's biggest water firms dumped raw sewage into rivers across the country in suspected illegal breaches of their permits, despite being given the highest possible rating by the regulator for their environmental performance, the Observer can reveal.Severn Trent Water and United Utilities were responsible for 1,374 raw sewage spills from sewage treatment works in apparent breaches of permits over a two-year period in more than 80 watercourses, according to an analysis of previously unpublished operational data. It is alleged the suspected illegal discharges were during dry weather or at times when the plants were not at operating capacity. Continue reading...