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Women tell us how they feel about safety after the actor's remark on using a phone as a weapon went viralSaoirse Ronan's comment about women's safety on The Graham Norton Show has gone viral after she said using a phone as a weapon is something girls have to think about all the time". Ronan later said the reaction has been wild" and that the moment was opening a conversation".Here, six women tell us what they think about the comments and how they feel about women's safety. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Researchers who studied babies in Scotland believe cuts to benefits and services are linked to riseThe introduction of UK austerity policies has been associated with a striking increase in the number of babies in Scotland being born smaller or earlier than expected, data suggests.Researchers believe cuts to social security benefits and services are key to understanding these trends, which have hit families living in the poorest neighbourhoods the hardest. Continue reading...

Former PM wants to prove a point by staying the course, but other Tories said to be mulling their own early exitRishi Sunak is planning to stay the course in parliament on the backbenches, as friends said the former prime minister was keen to prove a point after multiple jibes about his potential return to California.Sunak has told colleagues that his children were newly settled in school and he did not want to cause any new disruption to his family life for now after the turmoil of the past few years. Continue reading...

Israel targets north-eastern Lebanon and Beirut, while bombardment of Gaza raises fears of worsening humanitarian conditions for civiliansIsraeli airstrikes on Friday killed at least 52 people and wounded scores more, the Lebanese health ministry said, while rockets fired from Lebanon fell on Israel on Saturday.Israeli police said 19 people were injured before dawn on Saturday in the central town of Tira. Three projectiles crossed into Israel from Lebanon, Israel's military said, and some were intercepted. Continue reading...

The steep and stark environmental decline was not supposed to happen under the common agricultural policyRevealed: the growing income gap between Europe's biggest and smallest farmsThe Rhine overflowed last winter, covering fields miles from the river and in some places leaving just the tops of trees visible.But Thomas Bollig, who farms just a few miles from the banks of the Rhine, was not worried. Even as floods inundated the fields of his neighbours, making sowing impossible, his holdings were largely unaffected. Bollig farms organically, and the natural methods he uses to improve his soil allow his fields to hold more water when it rains, and release it gradually, coping well with floods and droughts. Continue reading...

A typhoon day' has come to mean one thing for many - a chance to indulge their favourite pastimeThe winds of typhoon Kong-rey howled through the streets of the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, inside a brick and glass building people similarly wailed down the corridors of a branch of the Partyworld karaoke chain.Through the poorly soundproofed door of one room voices warbled a song by the Taiwanese rock band Mayday, and through another came the sounds of a song by Coldplay. In room 330, someone made an exasperated search through the song list - where is Kylie? What the hell! " - as friends screamed lyrics from a Linkin Park track. Continue reading...

Victoria police say a man was found with fatal gunshot wound on Langford Street in North Melbourne at about 3.15am

PM to announce change that would see minimum debt repayment threshold lifted from $54,000 to $67,000 from next financial year

Voters in key swing state will be able to cast provisional vote if they forget to put mail-in ballot in secrecy envelopePennsylvania voters will be able to cast a provisional vote if they make an error and forget to put their mail-in vote in a required secrecy envelope, the US supreme court ruled on Friday, a decision that could lead to thousands more votes being counted in a key battleground state where the presidential race is extremely tight.The supreme court announced its decision on Friday on its emergency docket, giving no reasoning for its ruling, which is customary in emergency cases. Continue reading...

Joshua Creamer says he has had no contact from new LNP government after David Crisafulli told press conference inquiry should cease its workThe chair of Queensland's truth-telling and healing inquiry says the new premier, David Crisafulli, should just have the decency to front up" to First Nations people, after delivering an edict via the media for the inquiry to immediately cease its work.Joshua Creamer, a Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, told reporters on Friday he had still received no communication from Crisafulli or any member of the new LNP government.Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Continue reading...

Bureau of Meteorology warns winds will ramp up' with fire risk in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia

Members urged to use your mobile phone to quickly tap and connect to a gaming machine', potentially at odds with gambling ad ban

It emerged from the slime of the sunshine state during Bjelke-Petersen's oppressive regime. Now it's back - but can it survive more sensitive times?

Labour shortage is driving up construction costs and stopping industry from building enough homes to ease housing crisis, Master Builders says

Wooster Rancy, 21, accused in death of Sgt Sarah Roque, 23, whose body was found at Fort Leonard Wood in MissouriA US army soldier has been charged with murder in the death of a fellow service member at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, the military announced Thursday.The army office of Special Trial Counsel charged the 21-year-old specialist Wooster Rancy on Wednesday with murder and obstructing justice in the death of 23-year-old Sgt Sarah Roque. Continue reading...

Morales and current president are locked into a standoff for ruling party's nomination in next year's presidential contestSupporters of Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales stormed a barracks in the central Chapare region and took about 20 soldiers hostage, military sources said on Friday, marking a dramatic escalation in their standoff with the state.The hostage situation comes nearly three weeks after backers of Morales - the country's first Indigenous leader - began blocking roads to prevent his arrest on what he calls trumped-up rape charges aimed at thwarting his political comeback. Continue reading...

Young child among the dead at Novi Sad's main station as country's president vows to punish those responsibleAt least 14 people have been killed after part of an outdoor roof collapsed at a train station in the Serbian city of Novi Sad, the country's president has said.The roof, which provided shade over benches near the station's entrance, came crashing down early on Friday. Continue reading...

The push to vote early has amounted to an unprecedented wave, with more than 68.3 million having voted early so farThe US election is under way across the country, and so far more than 68.3 million people have voted early, according to the University of Florida's election lab.In numerous states, the push to vote before election day, whether by mail or in-person, has amounted to an unprecedented wave of early voting. Continue reading...

Ex-congresswoman warns dictators threaten opponents with death after Trump calls her a radical war hawk'

Russell Bruce Moncrief, 75, faces counts of human trafficking and racketeering over sickening scheme'A bail bondsman is facing criminal charges in Florida for allegedly approaching incarcerated women and offering to bond them out if they give him sex in return.Russell Bruce Moncrief faces counts of human trafficking and racketeering - along with accusations that he used his authority within the criminal justice system to prey on particularly vulnerable women, said a recent news release from the office of the state's attorney general, Ashley Moody. Continue reading...

Piotr Kucharski wore insignia for proscribed terror group on combat clothing at Suffolk Viking re-enactmentA builder has been jailed for claiming at a Viking re-enactment that he had fought for the Wagner group in Ukraine.Piotr Kucharski, 49, wore combat clothing bearing badges with insignia for the proscribed terror organisation to an event in Stonham Aspal, in Suffolk. Continue reading...

The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence'The Israel Defence Force has shared pictures of Nazi memorabilia it says it found in civilian homes exploited by Hezbollah" in Lebanon.The IDF shared photos of a book with a swastika and the name Hassan Salih" inscribed on the front, as well as a Nazi pennant flag and figurine of Adolf Hitler, but it did not provide any more evidence or details of the find. The Guardian could not independently verify the images. Continue reading...

Daniel Khalife, 23, says he absconded because he was terrified' of being locked up with dangerous offendersA former British soldier has told a jury he did not hand himself in after he escaped from prison because he was finally demonstrating what a foolish idea it was" to imprison someone with his skill set".Daniel Khalife, 23, told the court he absconded from Wandsworth prison while on remand because he was terrified" of being locked up with serious sex offenders" and terrorists" who wanted to kill him, and that he did not think his imprisonment would be in the public interest. Continue reading...

Chief inspector raises prospect of judge-only trials and greater use of magistrates to reduce prosecutors' caseloadsThe backlog of cases in crown courts in England and Wales could hit 100,000 unless radical action is taken to overhaul the criminal justice system, a watchdog has said.Anthony Rogers, the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Serious Fraud Office (SFO), said prosecutors' caseloads were already beyond what had been seen before and he feared the situation could deteriorate. Continue reading...

Care providers, GPs and pharmacists warn increased costs will cause cuts and job lossesServices that support some of England's most vulnerable people have warned that tax increases in the budget will lead to cuts and closures that could devastate the charity sector.Although the NHS and councils are protected from the impact of the rise in employers' national insurance contributions (NICs) announced in Wednesday's budget, charities that provide services say the increase means they will face existential" financial pressures. Continue reading...

Key officials say entire population of northern Gaza at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence'The situation in the northern Gaza Strip is apocalyptic" as Israel pursues a military offensive against Hamas militants in the area, top United Nations officials have warned.The entire Palestinian population in north Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence," they said in a statement on Friday signed by the heads of UN agencies, including the UN children's agency Unicef and the World Food Programme, and other aid groups. Continue reading...

Girl is in critical condition in hospital after being found injured at side of road in Hessle, say Humberside policeSix teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 13-year-old girl was stabbed in the neck.The two girls and four boys are in police custody after the attack in the town of Hessle, near Hull, which left the victim with life-threatening injuries. Continue reading...

Reports of such a request emerge as Israeli jets continues to bombard Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh

Rayner celebrates bold political vision' of Reeves's policies, though markets and farmers are less keenFor weeks, Labour MPs and officials have worried their government was drifting, dogged by controversies over freebies and donations, and unable to show voters its defining mission. On Wednesday that changed, for better or for worse.Announcing the biggest tax-raising budget for decades, along with a rapid injection of cash for health and education, Rachel Reeves made clear to her party and to the country what this government's priorities are. Continue reading...

Defra report warns there could be health disbenefits' with 29% of vapers reverting or relapsing to cigarettes

FCA says financier showed reckless disregard for rules over inquiry into alleged sexual misconductThe financial regulator has warned the former hedge fund manager Crispin Odey that it is planning to take action against him for failing to act with integrity, and deliberately frustrating a disciplinary process into sexual harassment allegations in order to protect his own interests.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it had notified Odey that it believed he had breached the regulator's code of conduct, which required him to act with integrity", between December 2021 and November 2022. Continue reading...

Durham police question 23-year-old in connection with break-in at England cricket captain's houseA man has been arrested after the County Durham home of the England cricket captain Ben Stokes was burgled. Stokes has said his wife and two children were at home during the break-in, in which his OBE medal and other valuables were taken.Durham police said a 32-year-old man from North Yorkshire was arrested on suspicion of burglary on Thursday night. He was released on bail while inquiries continue, the force said. Continue reading...

Nearly all are deemed high-risk' and so will need customs declarations and phytosanitary certificatesEvery year, hundreds of thousands of Christmas trees make the journey into the UK to take pride of place in living rooms across the country.But the the cross-border operation faces a new hurdle this year. Plants coming from the EU will be subject to post-Brexit border checks that importers are warning will increase costs for sellers, and probably push up prices for consumers. Continue reading...

Public asked to report sightings and not approach animals, which zoo says are not dangerous but will be scared'An Isle of Wight zoo has deployed tracker dogs and drones in an effort to recapture four raccoons that have escaped.The four animals managed to get out of their compound at Amazon World Zoo Park on Friday morning. Continue reading...

Restrictions on naming teenager who attacked two sleeping students and teacher at Blundell's school lifted by judgeA 17-year-old boy sentenced to life for attacking two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers at a private school can be named after a judge lifted restrictions on publishing his identity.Thomas Wei Huang was armed with three claw hammers and waited for the two boys to be asleep before attacking them at Blundell's school in Devon, Exeter crown court previously heard. Continue reading...

British women want men to better understand gender-based violence and harassment, finds YouGov surveyRarely can 10 words dropped into a TV chatshow have caused such a powerful ripple as those by the Blitz actor Saoirse Ronan on The Graham Norton Show.As fellow actors Paul Mescal, Eddie Redmayne, Denzel Washington and host Norton hooted with laughter over whether a mobile phone could be used as a weapon in self-defence, Ronan instantly punctured the merriment with the simple phrase: That's what girls have to think about all the time." Continue reading...

Senator doubles down on concerns about the new National Anti-Corruption Commission's credibility and reputation

Logan MacPhail, then 16, murdered 15-year-old Holly Newton in Hexham in January 2023

Republican adds Kennedy's remit would include women's health and says Liz Cheney should be placed in a war zone

Stoppage by 33,000 employees has lasted more than seven weeks but improved terms include 38% pay riseStriking Boeing staff have been urged by their union to vote for an improved contract offer including a 38% pay rise over four years, raising hopes of an end to the stoppage after more than seven weeks.The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) that represents the 33,000 workers has endorsed the new pay deal, which also includes a bigger bonus for signing up, and will ballot members on Monday in a vote that could end the long-running dispute. Continue reading...

Heightened risk Cadiz river could overflow, with yellow and orange rainfall warnings for southern regionsThe low-pressure system responsible for Spain's most devastating floods in decades in Valencia also set new rainfall records across south-eastern Spain. In Jerez de la Frontera, 115mm of rain fell in just 24 hours on Wednesday - the wettest day on record for the southern Spanish city. The deluge caused widespread flooding and road closures, and there is a heightened risk that the River Barbate in Cadiz could overflow as more rain is forecast through Friday and into the weekend.While the rare red warning issued on Thursday for Valencia has expired, Spain's national meteorological service, Aemet, has maintained yellow and orange rainfall warnings for southern and Mediterranean regions as storms continue to push in. Continue reading...

YouGov survey suggests fewer are confident that Harris will win and most expect violence if Trump is not electedMost western Europeans - and even many who vote for far-right parties - would like Kamala Harris to win the US presidential election, polling suggests, but fewer are confident that she will and most expect violence if Donald Trump is not elected.The YouGov Eurotrack survey of voters in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Denmark found that the Democratic vice-president was the preferred winner in every country , with sizeable majorities in favour of Harris in all except Italy. Continue reading...

Rate softens to 2.4% in October as Nationwide expects more transactions before budget's nil rate band move

Woman's relatives offer heartfelt condolences' to family of Jack Davey, 11, killed after car ploughed through Auburn South primary school fence

Early results show Mokgweetsi Masisi's Botswana Democratic party on track to lose by landslideBotswana's president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has conceded defeat after preliminary results showed his party had lost its parliamentary majority in this week's election, ending nearly six decades in power.The private Mmegi newspaper and state radio reported that the ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP) had lost by a landslide, citing results from more than half the constituencies. Continue reading...

Scores of people have died as country is hit by deadliest floods in decadesAt least 150 people have died in Spain after torrential rains triggered the country's deadliest floods in decades, unleashing a deluge of muddy water that turned village streets into rivers, destroyed homes and swept away bridges, railways tracks and cars.An unknown number of people remain missing, while thousands of others are without electricity or phone service. The majority of those killed were in the coastal region of Valencia, where the state-run agency said that nearly a year's worth of rain had fallen in just eight hours. Continue reading...

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Howard Cox and Ben Habib take issue with chair saying party wants nothing to do with Robinson and all of that lot'Reform UK is facing a schism over its approach to Tommy Robinson's supporters, after two high-profile party figures said it was wrong to disavow those who went to a weekend rally backing the far-right leader.Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform, said earlier this week the party want nothing to do with" Robinson and all of that lot". Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, also said after the summer riots that he had never had anything to do with the Tommy Robinsons and those who genuinely do stir up hatred". Continue reading...

Missing Pieces Project maps buildings in 189 locations where African American abolitionists spoke against slaveryHistoric England is commemorating the American abolitionist Frederick Douglass's time in Newcastle in a project that links the legacy of black abolitionists with listed buildings.The story of how black Americans came to Britain to fight slavery has still not been fully recognised. The Missing Pieces Project aims to shed new light on the struggle by charting the locations on the lecture tours of 19th-century activists. Continue reading...

Sector says review shows need for reform of funders and providers, however experts question potential selection bias of voluntary data