World news | The Guardian

Pundits are keeping a close watch on key counties across the US whose results could play a major role in the outcome

The entry of North Korean troops risks a dangerous escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It also puts Beijing in a tight spotIn October 1950, barely a year after the Chinese civil war ended, Mao Zedong sent the first Chinese soldiers to fight in the Korean war. Between 180,000 and 400,000 of Chairman Mao's troops would die in that conflict, including his own son. But it was important to defend North Korea in that battle, Mao reportedly said, because without the lips, the teeth are cold".That Chinese idiom has been used to described China and North Korea's close relationship for more than seven decades. China sees North Korea as a strategic security buffer in the region, while North Korea relies on its superpower neighbour for economic, political and military support. But that relationship is now under strain thanks to another war which is drawing Communist-rooted countries into a common battle. Continue reading...

Multiple TV networks call Pennsylvania for Republican nominee, delivering brutal blow to Kamala Harris's chances

In today's newsletter: A bleak night for Kamala Harris is still developing, with the first swing states called for her opponent and others trending his way, while her party lost control of the Senate Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. The votes are still being counted, and it is not yet possible to call the winner of the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. But the pattern of votes cast so far suggests that Trump is a very strong favourite to win. He has been called as the winner of key states North Carolina and Georgia. The remaining battlegrounds are not yet decided, but he currently appears on course to win all five of them, and could win the popular vote. While there is still a theoretical path for Harris, it looks very remote.Trump is expected to address his supporters soon. Harris did not appear at her HQ at Howard University, and her campaign told supporters that she would speak on Wednesday morning.Swing states go to Trump | Donald Trump won the key states of North Carolina and Georgia, leaving Kamala Harris needing wins in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to prevail.Live results | Follow along with our live tracker to get all the results as they come in across the day in every state, and for every House of Representatives seat.Harris HQ | The mood was sombre at Howard University, where Harris supporters gathered, as it was confirmed the vice-president would not be speaking - and with hopes that she could be the first president to graduate from a historically Black college diminishing.Senate | Republicans have retaken the Senate, achieving what was billed in advance as the most attainable goal for the party in this year's election. They picked up seats in West Virginia and Ohio, and are now in a position to confirm any potential Supreme Court picks in the event of a Trump victory.TV | Boris Johnson was fired for banging on about his book" during a guest appearance on Channel 4's coverage of the US election, according to the programme's co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy. The former UK prime minister had repeatedly tried to turn conversation to his book during discussions of the US election. Continue reading...

Republicans win key seats and take back upper chamber in result that had been widely anticipated

As the counting continues, many front pages considered the potential for chaos and unrest in the wake of the closely fought election

Democratic senator Sherrod Brown is ousted as Ted Cruz retains seat in Texas

Laith Alaid went missing at The Entrance on the weekend while on a fishing trip with his family

Democrats Lisa Blunt Rochester from Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland both saw victories

McBride wins Delaware's at-large House seat against Republican candidate John Whalen III, a former state police officer

It is hoped innovative' 24-hour design will also cut carbon emissions, as demand for delivery services soarsSix decades after the bullet train first whisked passengers between Tokyo and Osaka, authorities in Japan are planning to do the same for cargo, with the construction of a conveyor belt road".The automated cargo transport corridor, which will connect the capital with Osaka, 320 miles (515km) away, is seen as part of the solution to soaring demand for delivery services in the world's fourth-biggest economy. Continue reading...

Democrats get boost in against-the-odds attempt to hold US Senate in county executive's win against ex-GOP governor

This blog is now closed. See our latest full report here and all our Middle East crisis coverage hereAl Jazeera reports that the death toll from an Israeli strike on tents housing displaced people in central Gaza has risen to six, and includes a six-year-old and a four-year-old child.Lebanon's Nation News Agency has reported that the Israeli army, which has been staging incursions inside the south of the country, is booby-trapping and destroying entire neighbourhoods in cities and towns, such that more than 37 towns have been wiped out and their homes destroyed, and more than 40,000 housing units have been completely destroyed." Continue reading...

Many say they felt guilty until proven innocent' amid fears misconduct claims used to silence whistleblowersUK doctors are having suicidal thoughts because disciplinary proceedings against them by their NHS employer take so long to resolve, research has found.Medics who have been accused of misconduct say the current system of investigating allegations is brutal" and humiliating" to go through and can feel like a witch-hunt".In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is at 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...

Court rules in favour of a stateless refugee who argued the visa conditions breached the separation of powers and amounted to punishment

Valencia authorities say search efforts continue as prime minister announces 10.6bn fund to help victims of disasterAt least 89 people remain missing after deadly floods in eastern Spain, regional judicial authorities in Valencia have confirmed, as the country's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said he was earmarking 10.6bn (8.9bn) to help victims.The number includes only those who have been reported missing by family members who have also provided personal information and biological samples to allow for their identification, the superior court of justice of the Valencia region said in a statement on Tuesday. It added that there could be more cases of people who have disappeared whose details have not yet been registered. Continue reading...

We are now closing this live blog. For all the latest news, results and reactions from US election day 2024, join us in our new live blog

In the seven swing states that could decide whether Harris or Trump wins the election, voters feel fought over

Prime minister of Caribbean island expresses deep shock and sadness' at death of MP Asot MichaelThe prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda has expressed deep shock and sadness" after the suspected homicide of one of the country's most prominent MPs.Asot Michael, 54, was found unresponsive with what appeared to be multiple puncture wounds about his body" at his home just after 8am, according to police on the Caribbean island. The representative for the country's St Peter constituency was declared dead at the scene. Continue reading...

Report looked into donations to Nottingham universities by Jesse Boot, who expanded pharmacy chainThe high-street pharmacy Boots's links to the transatlantic slave trade have been revealed in new research that shows how the proceeds of enslavement became entangled with British capitalism.Jesse Boot, the son of the company's founder, expanded the chemist with the help of banks and premises linked to slavery. He was not identified as involved in the enslavement of people, the trade of enslaved people or trade in goods made by enslaved people. Continue reading...

Gallant was widely seen by Israel's allies as a brake on far-right elements of the country's coalition government

Savannah Bentham, from the Malton area, killed by family pet in attack police said was out of characterAn XL bully dog has been put down after fatally attacking a 10-year-old girl in North Yorkshire last week.Savannah Bentham, from the Malton area, was fatally attacked by her family's pet dog at home on Friday. On Tuesday, the dog was identified as an XL bully and was euthanised by a vet, North Yorkshire police said. Continue reading...

Leader names rival in shadow cabinet but announcement marred by leaks suggesting Jenrick wanted bigger jobSenior Conservatives have urged Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick to rapidly settle any differences after the unveiling of the full shadow cabinet was marred by briefings and concern over lingering rivalries.Badenoch, who became leader after defeating Jenrick in a vote of Tory members, held her first shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday, having named a team including three rival candidates, Jenrick among them, and a series of party centrists. Continue reading...

Top Iranian officials previously referred to an execution when reacting to Jamshid Sharmahd's death on 28 OctoberIran has claimed that an Iranian-German duel national who had been sentenced to death died last week before his execution could be carried out.Jamshid Sharmahd was sentenced to death, his execution was imminent, but he died before it could be carried out," the judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir told reporters without elaborating. It is understood Tehran claims he suffered a stroke. Continue reading...

Saltburn actor tells Louis Theroux podcast about his difficult childhood and decision to keep his child offlineOscar nominee Barry Keoghan has hit back at disgusting" online trolls who he claimed use his relationship with his son as ammunition" against him.The 32-year-old Irish actor, who is dating US singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter, has a two-year-old son, Brando, with his former partner. Continue reading...

Pharmaceutical's weight loss pill described as underwhelming', also piling pressure on share priceAstraZeneca shares tumbled on Tuesday wiping 14bn off the value of Britain's biggest drug maker, after a report that dozens of senior executives at its China unit could be implicated in an insurance fraud case in the country's pharmaceutical sector.Also putting pressure on the share price, early data on AstraZeneca's experimental weight loss pill published on Monday was described as somewhat underwhelming" by analysts at Deutsche Bank, who reiterated their sell" rating on the stock. Continue reading...

Contracts with existing students that prevent changes may mean up to 2.5m less income, according to one institutionSome universities in England could lose out on millions of pounds from increased tuition fees because their contracts with existing students may prevent changes to terms and conditions.The government announced on Monday that undergraduate tuition fees are to go up for the first time in eight years next autumn, taking annual payments to a record 9,535 a student. Continue reading...

Former post office operator tells Commons committee that Keir Starmer has not responded to requests for help with settling claims for Horizon scandalTom Tugendhat is one of two Conservative leadership candidates not in the shadow cabinet. The other is James Cleverly, who said publicly last week he did not want a frontbench post. The other four candidates (Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch herself, obviously) are all in the shadow cabinet.But Tugendhat was not snubbed, Badenoch's team are saying. He was offered a job, but turned it down.Full shadow Cabinet has just dropped. Interesting that Tom Tugendhat has NOT taken up a role in Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet. Appointments Chris Philp (Home), James Cartlidge (Defence), Kevin Hollinrake (Housing), Vicky Atkins (Environment), Andrew Griffith (Business) and Claire Coutinho (Net Zero).No room for Suella Braverman in the shadow Cabinet either ...Looking at the names who are not there - James Cleverly, Oliver Dowden, Jeremy Hunt, Steve Barclay, Tom Tugedhat, Suella Braverman - it looks to me more like a shallow Cabinet rather than a shadow Cabinet. But it is four years until the next general election, and the Tory party is undergoing a shift to a new generation of frontbenchers, and all of these Conservatives have a chance to impress the electorate. Continue reading...

Hopeful ticket-buyers will be assigned random places in an online queue, during two phases of sales that begin on 14 NovemberFor many music fans it's the most stressful few minutes of the year: the online scramble to secure Glastonbury tickets. And while 2025's event is set to be as oversubscribed as ever, that stress will at least be given a shiny new focus as Glastonbury overhauls its ticket-buying process.Previously, hopeful ticket-buyers would frantically refresh the festival's ticket sales page in the hope of being one of the lucky ones to get through to the option of purchasing. Continue reading...

Campaigner told MPs deadlines must be set, and he had been waiting a month for reply for Starmer

Industrial action by Aslef members threatened to halt all London Underground servicesA planned strike by tube drivers that threatened to halt all London Underground services on Thursday has been called off, their union announced.Talks between Aslef officials and Transport for London management on Tuesday led to a significantly improved offer", according to the union. Continue reading...

Among extremists, election results matter less than chaos and destruction - they hope civil war kicks off' either way

George Weston, chief executive of ABF, adds that Reeves's budget is positive for hard-pressed shoppersBritain's high street retailers will carry the weight of tax rises" announced in the budget, but it will benefit the least affluent" consumers, according to the chief executive of the cut-price fashion chain's parent company.George Weston, the chief executive of Associated British Foods (ABF), which owns Primark as well as food and sugar brands, said the business was preparing for a big rise in costs, after Rachel Reeves's tax-raising measures, including an increase in employers' national insurance contributions from next April. Continue reading...

Singer, who has recently endorsed Kamala Harris, releases first music video since 2021 for Cowboy Carter song Bodyguard and calls on Americans to voteBeyonce has starred in her first music video since 2021, cosplaying as Pamela Anderson and calling on Americans to vote.The video, entitled Beywatch, is soundtracked by Bodyguard, a track from her country-leaning album Cowboy Carter which was released in March. It carries - rather belatedly - the caption Happy Beylloween, but is also timed for release as Americans go to the polls. Continue reading...

Court told that Urfan Sharif had tried to call an ambulance for his daughter, but his wife told him to leave it'The father of Sara Sharif denied killing his daughter as he claimed the 10-year-old's stepmother was the true villain of the piece", a court was told.

Exclusive: UK rebuild of Beijing embassy held up as Angela Rayner faces fraught decision on Royal Mint Court site

Sudiksha Ahuja found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and her nursing registration cancelled

Nine radio star says he speaks to political organisations, Scouts, charities and preschools but draws the line at political promotion

Two drill rigs, installed on barges, have started work on the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn and at Brisbane Water near Gosford

Joe Biden congratulates company and union for reaching a deal, after direct mediation by the White House

Research and undercover interviews reveal reality of extreme heat exacerbated by abusive working conditionsMigrant workers across the Gulf are risking their lives by being forced to work up to 14 hours a day in deadly temperatures, according to human rights researchers.Equidem, a human rights organisation, interviewed more than 250 migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE between 2021 and May 2024 for a new report on the conditions they were facing including their exposure to extreme heat and long working hours. Continue reading...

Simon Harris expected to dissolve parliament on Thursday or Friday, with election day likely to be at end of NovemberThe Irish prime minister, Simon Harris, has said he plans to call a general election this week, paving the way for a polling date likely to be at the end of November.Harris is expected to dissolve the Dail, or Irish parliament, either on Thursday before a meeting of European leaders in Budapest, or on Friday when he returns. Continue reading...

New film of Juan Rulfo's revered novel, considered founding text of magic realism, is first film adaptation in half a centuryI came to Comala because I was told that my father lived here, a certain Pedro Paramo."Many Mexicans know the first sentence of Juan Rulfo's revered novel, Pedro Paramo, by heart. This week they will hear it on Netflix, with the release of the first film adaptation in almost 50 years of the text that inspired Gabriel Garcia Marquez to write One Hundred Years of Solitude. Continue reading...

Australia's communications regulator has come under fire for failing to investigate sexist, racist [and] misogynistic' content aired on KIIS FMAustralia's communications regulator has come under fire for failing to investigate revolting" material aired on the Kyle & Jackie O show, including sexist, racist, [and] misogynistic" content.In a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday night, the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young challenged the chair of Australia's communications and media regulator, Nerida O'Loughlin, to read out a sample of comments made on KIIS FM's flagship breakfast show in recent weeks. Continue reading...

Election watchers in Europe, Asia and elsewhere will be tuning in - and some have a particular interest in the resultFrom Brazil to Ireland and Germany to the Caribbean, this year's knife-edge - and more than usually momentous - US presidential vote will be watched at a multitude of election-night events, some with a particular interest in the outcome.In St Ann Parish, Jamaica - and most particularly in Browns Town, where Harris's father Donald was born and the Democratic candidate spent many happy childhood holidays - her supporters plan watch parties, drink-ups and other social gatherings. Continue reading...

The castle was lifted into the air by a mini tornado' and blown across the school oval, court hears

New Tory leader sets out her full shadow cabinet

Music and film stars celebrate late entertainment icon, with Smith calling him the true definition of a mentor, a father and a friend' How hit-making legend Quincy Jones created superstars and changed pop history

Promise to invest 11bn in upgrade to network may solve competition concerns, says CMA

The Reserve Bank governor's comments show she's in no hurry to bring relief to borrowers