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Candidates backed by Khan's PTI secure most seats but rival Nawaz Sharif seeks to form coalitionPoliticians allied with the former prime minister Imran Khan's party have defied a military-led crackdown and alleged widespread rigging to win the most seats in Pakistan's election, but opponent Nawaz Sharif claimed victory and said he would form a coalition government.Candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party run by Khan who is now serving sentences of more than a decade in jail, claimed a stunning victory after Thursday's polls, defying all expectations that Sharif, a three-time former prime minister, and his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) would win an easy majority. Continue reading...

The decorated marines, all in their 20s, had been based at Marine Corps air station Miramar in San DiegoThe Marine Corps released the names on Friday of the five marines killed when their CH-53E super stallion helicopter went down in the mountains outside San Diego during a historic storm. All of them were in their 20s.The decorated marines had been assigned to marine heavy helicopter squadron 361, marine aircraft group 16, 3rd marine aircraft wing and were based at Marine Corps air station Miramar in San Diego. Continue reading...

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Chemicals producer says audits revealed no wrongdoing but recent media reports crossed red lineThe German chemicals producer BASF has said it will withdraw from its two joint ventures in Xinjiang, after media reports about alleged human rights abuses relating to its partner company, which BASF's CEO said crossed a red line.In a statement on Friday, BASF said that while regular due diligence measures including internal and external audits have not found any evidence of human rights violations in the two joint ventures", the recent reports indicate activities inconsistent with BASF's values". Continue reading...

Low capital gains rate and US location of funds mean tax bill of 508,000 much less than under top income rate of 45%Rishi Sunak paid more than half a million pounds in tax in 2023 after making a 1.8m profit on his holding in a US investment fund, a summary of his tax affairs shows.The prime minister published the document on Friday, showing he paid a tax bill of 508,308 in the financial year 2022-23 on overall earnings and gains of 2.23m. Continue reading...

Haitian American Joseph Vincent, who admitted to helping plot assassination of Jovenel Moise, is among 11 people accusedJoseph Vincent, a former informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), was handed a life sentence by a US court on Friday for his role in the 2021 assassination of Haiti's president.A Haitian American national, Vincent admitted to helping plot to kill Haitian president Jovenel Moise in his home in Port-au-Prince, including advice about the political landscape and meetings with key community leaders. Continue reading...

Aerial evidence follows months of President Nicolas Maduro ramping up claim to Essequibo regionVenezuela is expanding military bases near its border with Guyana and deploying forces to the jungle frontier as President Nicolas Maduro ramps up his threats to annex the country's oil-rich neighbour, satellite images have revealed.Maduro pledged at mediation talks in December not to take military action against his neighbour but images shared by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington today suggest a buildup of forces. Continue reading...

Biden and UN say assault on city where 1.3m civilians are sheltering would be disastrous

Proposal to suspend safeguarding measures on certain products follows news of Tata's Port Talbot closure plansThe government's anti-dumping body has recommended that measures limiting the import of certain steel products be lifted after the decision to close the blast furnaces at Port Talbot.The Trade Remedies Authority, which is charged with protecting UK industry from dumped or subsidised imports, said its preliminary view was to advise the business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, to suspend safeguarding measures on imports of hot-rolled flat and coil steel for a temporary period of nine months. Continue reading...

Prime minister's comments remarkable' given government cuts to town hall funding in England, say LGA bossesCouncil leaders in England have criticised Rishi Sunak for demanding that local authorities show restraint" in putting up council tax bills, saying the government is to blame for underfunding.The prime minister on Friday called for authorities to be restrained in the council tax rises they put in place", saying it was incumbent on local councils to be respectful of the demands on people's family budgets". Continue reading...

Met police say no body found but Ezedi has not been seen since assault on woman and her daughters in LondonPolice hunting the Clapham chemical attack suspect, Abdul Ezedi, say they believe he is dead after going into the River Thames at Chelsea Bridge four hours after he left a woman severely injured.Scotland Yard said Ezedi's body had not been found but he was last seen close to the River Thames. Officers had been looking for the 35-year-old since Wednesday 31 January when he was suspected of using a strong alkaline substance in an attack on a mother and her daughters, aged three and eight. The mother, 31, is still in hospital in an induced coma. Continue reading...

Even Though it's Night, which chronicles the conditions of Europe's largest shantytown, Canada Real, in running for a GoyaA short film that chronicles the lives of the forgotten, deprived and marginalised children who live in Europe's largest shantytown, just outside Madrid, is in the running for Spain's equivalent of an Oscar at the Goya awards on Saturday.Aunque es de noche (Even Though it's Night), which was shot on location in the Canada Real informal settlement, using a cast of residents, follows 13-year-old Toni as he prepares to say goodbye to his best friend, Nasser, who is moving to France, and to his own childhood. Continue reading...

BMA votes for further five days of action after meeting with health secretary fails to resolve grievancesMore than 100,000 patients in England face having their NHS care cancelled this month after junior doctors announced a fresh wave of strike action.Health leaders expressed alarm, warning the five-day walkout would jeopardise all efforts to tackle the record waiting list and push other services to breaking point". Continue reading...

Shahrar Ali, a former deputy leader in England and Wales, began legal action against the party last yearThe Green party incorrectly removed a spokesperson in part because of his views on transgender rights, a court has ruled, while saying the wrongdoing was largely procedural and that parties are allowed to sack people because their views contravene policy.Shahrar Ali, a former deputy leader of the Greens in England and Wales, began legal action last year after the party had sacked him as the spokesperson for policing and domestic safety in February 2022. Continue reading...

Rishi Sunak says Europe cannot let Putin's own expansionism go unchecked'Looking aheadNext week will be a busy time for policymakers grappling with geopolitical challenges. Continue reading...

Oleksandr Syrskyi says life and health' of soldiers is army's key asset in first statement as armed forces chief

The shadow cabinet are expected to submit final proposals for policies that can be put under scrutiny in the event Rishi Sunak calls a general electionLabour has spent the past few weeks performing a series of U-turns on previously announced policies as it finalises its manifesto, culminating in Thursday's announcement of a huge cut to its green spending plans.Beyond the cuts to the 28bn annual spending pledge, party insiders have also let it be known they no longer intend to abolish the House of Lords, might reduce their planned tax on private equity profits and will not legislate to create a National Care Service. Continue reading...

Business secretary says conspiracy theory about plotters' dangerous in hands of violent, unbalanced people

A man allegedly attacked people with broken glass before he was shot once by PSO working with police at the scene in Melbourne

Russian president suggests detained Wall Street reporter could be freed in prisoner exchangeVladimir Putin has said he believes an agreement can be reached" to free the imprisoned US journalist Evan Gershkovich, hinting he would trade him for a Russian killer serving a life sentence in Germany.Speaking on Thursday to Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, Putin said he did not rule out the possibility of Gershkovich returning to his motherland". Continue reading...

Breed confirmed after postmortem on two dogs that attacked Esther Martin, 68, and were then destroyed, officers sayTwo dogs that fatally attacked a woman in Jaywick were XL bullies, Essex police have said.Esther Martin, 68, was killed at a home in the Essex village on Saturday after reportedly trying to break up fighting puppies. Continue reading...

Cover for an incapacitated King Charles is looking rather thin, especially with William facing his own problemsOne principle of hereditary monarchy is that it is the institution, not the individual, that prevails; the Firm" over the figure on the throne.Following King Charles's cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace and the government can point to laws as evidence the well-oiled machinery of monarchy will continue to whirr efficiently in the background as the king retreats for treatment. Continue reading...

Criticism comes as councils struggle to cope with shortfalls that have left several on brink of bankruptcy

Exclusive: Female ex-employees of Missy Empire claim they were subjected to degrading' treatmentFormer staff of a fast-fashion brand that boasts of empowering young women have told the Guardian they were subjected to a toxic culture of bullying, abusive and degrading comments.The claims about Missy Empire, a Manchester-based retailer now owned by Frasers Group, were made by female employees.Staff were bullied, shouted and sworn at.He made degrading comments about models' body shape and physical appearance.Staff were asked to model clothes for the managing director.Seven members of staff said they were fired without reason, and two staff claimed they were unable to keep copies of their employment contracts.Missy Empire's owners ignored formal complaints. Continue reading...

US claimed responsibility for Baghdad drone strike, saying it had killed Kataib Hezbollah commander responsible for attack that killed three US soldiersA large crowd gathered in eastern Baghdad on Thursday for the funeral of Abu Bakr al-Saadi, who was killed the night before in a drone strike in a residential street in Baghdad.Al-Saadi was a senior military commander with the Kataib Hizbullah, a prominent faction of the Iraqi Islamic Resistance with close political, religious and military ties to Iran. Continue reading...

US firm expects rising costs to hit profits and sales as consumers cut spending on treatsThe US chocolate maker Hershey has warned on profits and sales as a surge in the cost of cocoa to record levels pushes up the price of chocolate, hitting cash-strapped consumers in the pocket.Global cocoa prices hit a record high of $5,874 (4,655) a ton on Thursday in New York as dry weather affects crops in west Africa, with poor harvests driving up prices in the region, which produces the bulk of global supply. Continue reading...

Weather system brings heavy rainfall, strong winds and mudslides. Elsewhere, Nova Scotia declares state of emergencyDuring the first week of February two storms hit California in quick succession, both featuring intense precipitation thanks to the pineapple express" atmospheric river.Atmospheric rivers are long narrow channels of very moist air that flow through the atmosphere, transporting impressive amounts of water vapour that eventually fall as heavy rain or snow. The pineapple express is a famous recurring atmospheric river that forms near the Hawaiian Islands and flows northe-east to the Pacific coast of North America. Continue reading...

Illegal immigration via the US-Mexico border remains one of the most pressing problems for Congress. And yet the much anticipated $118bn border security bill, which included aid packages to Ukraine and Israel, was blocked by senators after a chaotic week.Why did this crucial piece of legislation with bipartisan support get rejected by the very people who demanded it? This week, Joan E Greve is joined by Marianna Sotomayor, the congressional reporter for the Washington Post, to discuss why the border bill failed Continue reading...

Roberts-Smith, 45, is seeking to overturn June defamation trial judgment that found he engaged in war crimes in Afghanistan

Chancellor hints at tax-free plan for budget as part of efforts to revive country's stock marketThe chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has hinted at plans to launch a tax-free British Isa" investing in UK company shares at the spring budget, as part of efforts to revive the country's stock market.A British stock Isa would allow investors to buy a certain amount of UK company shares, without paying tax. Currently, the government charges a 0.5% tax, known as the share purchase stamp duty, for any shares bought in the UK. Continue reading...

Consultancy's global executive says report suggests there's no evidence confidential information was used for commercial gain

Legislation banning the use of the devices, which have been linked to deaths in custody, passes in NSW with cross-party support

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Two removed posts showed screenshots of tweets shared by Australian Electoral Commission about voting multiple times

Senators say bill will clean up Australia's airline industry through ensuring concrete protections for passengers' hit by flight delays

The girl left her home in Birtinya, on the Sunshine Coast, to visit a nearby park on Wednesday evening

Appearing before the economics committee, Australia's new RBA governor is circumspect when questioned on the direction of interest rates, but leaves the door ajar for further rises

State premier says in emergency situations sometimes it doesn't always go to plan' after mistake when fighting Bullsbrook blaze

Pekka Haavisto says discussion about his being gay has increased since he made it through to the final round of votingThe Finnish presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto has questioned why his sexuality has come under such strong focus in the final days of campaigning before Sunday's election as polls narrow with his rival, Alexander Stubb.The 65-year-old former foreign minister, who if he wins would become Finland's first Green and first gay president, said he had been surprised by the way his sexuality had become an issue of public interest in the second and final round. Continue reading...

EU diplomat Johan Floderus's sister calls on Sweden to start speaking up loudly to demand his releaseThe family of a Swedish EU diplomat imprisoned in Iran for more than 663 days fear he will be given a death sentence or life imprisonment within the coming days after prosecutors sought the maximum sentence in his case.I ask how can this be happening? He is my brother and I'm like: they want to kill my younger brother? That is very hard to take in. I also feel so sad for him being there alone, you know, when I see the pictures of him I just want to be there for him," said Johan Floderus's sister, Ingrid. Continue reading...

Victorian supreme court justice convicts four boys over Reservoir murder that left 16-year-old bleeding to death with 152 injuries

Hollywood star tells social media followers the only way to protect the swift parrot .... is to end native forest logging'

Crews continue to search for Murphy around Buninyong and Canadian Forest after she was last seen leaving home to go for a run on Sunday morning

Russian president's rambling, two-hour talk with commentator is his first interview with western media since the Ukraine invasionTucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin were in the spotlight on Thursday night, as the divisive, Trump-supporting rightwing commentator interviewed the reclusive Russian autocrat.The rambling, two-hour interview, filmed in Moscow, was Putin's first with a western media outlet since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Continue reading...

Jess and Jackie Morecroft able to claim compensation for Gold Coast home that was secretly tied up in feud within original owner's family

Josh Burns says one family is in hiding after contact information from a private group chat encouraging action over coverage of Israel and Palestine were leaked

The 4.3 magnitude quake hit Leongatha in Gippsland, with shaking reported in Sunbury and Wilson's PromontoryThousands of Victorians have been woken by an early morning earthquake that shook large parts of the state.The 4.3 magnitude quake hit near Leongatha in the state's Gippsland region, 135km south-east of Melbourne, at 12.49am today. Continue reading...

Other failures listed in damning official report include blaming children for making poor choices'Metropolitan police officers tried to put off children from making complaints about alleged sexual abuse and privately blamed young people for crimes suffered, a damning official report has revealed.Most investigations into child exploitation were rated as inadequate by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). Of the 244 cases it examined, 43 were graded as good, more than half (121) as inadequate and 80 as needing improvement. Continue reading...

Retired Australian swimmer James Magnussen is the first person to publicly express interest in competing at an Olympic-styled event with no drug testing

Caretaker government says it took decision for security reasons after two bomb blasts targeted election officesPhone services have been suspended in Pakistan as the country voted in a general election marred by allegations of vote rigging and militant attacks.The caretaker government said phone services, including mobile internet, had been suspended on Thursday for security reasons, after two two bomb blasts by Islamic State targeted election offices in the restive region of Balochistan on the eve of the polls. Continue reading...