World news | The Guardian

Progressives counting on a strong performance to rein in Robert Fico's drift away from rule of lawAs fears grow that Slovakia is following Hungary down a path away from the rule of law, the country's opposition says it is determined to prove that citizens want a democratic future.Since coming back to power last year, Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, has taken aim at the media, NGOs and prosecutors. Continue reading...

Exclusive: 2003 study was cited as evidence that risks of hepatitis C could not have been foreseen at the timeA study cited at the infected blood inquiry, as evidence that the devastating consequences of blood products contaminated with hepatitis could not have been foreseen, misrepresented the results of a trial in making its case, the Guardian can reveal.Up to 6,520 people are believed to have been infected with hepatitis C through imported factor VIII blood products in the 1970s and 80s, while a further 26,800 are estimated to have been infected with the virus though blood transfusions. About 2,000 people are estimated to have died as a result. Continue reading...

Former NSW premier's threat to sue comes amid debate about whether New Zealand should join pillar two of Aukus pactAustralia's former foreign minister and New South Wales premier, Bob Carr, says he intends to sue New Zealand's deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, for allegations made about Carr's closeness to China as debate about Aukus ramps up.Peters called Carr nothing more than a Chinese puppet" on the national broadcaster RNZ on Thursday morning. Continue reading...

Australian government warns against sharenting' as study finds 7% of people who post pictures receive request for child abuse material

The electric carmaker's Cybertruck was recalled last month after safety concerns emerged over the accelerator pedal. Kari Paul reportsLast month Tesla recalled its Cybertrucks after malfunctions involving the accelerator pedal were reported. It is the latest blow for the US electric carmaker, which has been hit by a series of embarrassing failures since the Cybertruck was delivered to customers late last year.Kari Paul, a technology reporter for Guardian US, talks to Michael Safi about Tesla's recent struggles, from safety issues to supply-chain delays. Can the company's embattled chief executive, Elon Musk, turn its fortunes around? Continue reading...

Electric Light Orchestra leader Jeff Lynne announces death of remarkable musician and friend' who played everything from the Minimoog to the ClavinetRichard Tandy, the keyboardist in Electric Light Orchestra who shaped much of the British rock band's sound, has died aged 76.His death was announced by the ELO leader Jeff Lynne, who wrote on social media: He was a remarkable musician and friend and I'll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together." A cause of death was not given. Continue reading...

Spokesperson confirms informal meeting' has taken place between leadership frontrunners John Swinney and Kate ForbesThe SNP government has headed off Labour's attempt to force an early Holyrood election, as the frontrunners to succeed Humza Yousaf met for informal talks in an attempt to avoid another divisive leadership contest.Anas Sarwar's motion of no confidence in Yousaf's administration - which would have forced all government ministers to resign - was defeated by 70 votes to 58 on Wednesday afternoon after the Greens voted with the SNP. Continue reading...

Postponements come hours after queueing fans were turned away from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie gig on Wednesday eveningThe troubled Co-op Live arena has postponed Olivia Rodrigo's concerts as part of her Guts world tour because of a technical issue", hours after it the last-minute cancellation of its opening concert for the third time.Two hours after announcing that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie would no longer be performing, the venue confirmed that Rodrigo's concerts on 3 and 4 May had also been cancelled. Continue reading...

While men are disproportionally affected by conditions that cause early death, women are left with higher levels of illness and disabilityWomen live longer than men but experience more years in poor health, according to a global gender health gap analysis that experts say underlines an urgent need for action to boost women's health.Globally, there are substantial differences between women and men when it comes to health, with limited progress in bridging health gaps over the past three decades, according to the study examining the impact of the world's 20 leading causes of disease. Continue reading...

Ahmed Alhashimi's seven-year-old daughter Sara was crushed to death after group of men rushed on to dinghyThe father of a seven-year-old girl crushed to death on a small boat has said they tried to cross the Channel after being informed his young family would be deported to Iraq after spending years in Europe.Ahmed Alhashimi, 41, lost grasp of his daughter, Sara, on an inflatable dinghy after a large group of men rushed onboard as it was pulling away from the shores of Wimereux, south of Calais. Continue reading...

With unintentional opioid-related deaths nearly tripling nationally since 2006, experts are calling for greater awareness

The Grammy-winning musician, who had a string of instrumental hits in the 50s and 60s, has died of cancerDuane Eddy, the rock'n'roll guitarist who achieved solo stardom with a string of instrumental hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including Rebel Rouser and the theme to the TV series Peter Gunn, has died at the age of 86.The Grammy-winning artist died of cancer surrounded by family at Williamson Health hospital near his home in Franklin, Tennessee, his wife Deed Abbate told the Associated Press. Duane inspired a generation of guitarists the world over with his unmistakeable signature Twang' sound," a representative said in a statement. He was the first rock and roll guitar god, a truly humble and incredible human being. He will be sorely missed." Continue reading...

Teenage boy died in attack by man armed with sword, while two police officers and two others were injuredA man has been charged with murder after a series of stabbings in Hainault on Tuesday that left a teenage boy dead.Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, 36, was charged with the murder of Daniel Anjorin, 14. He will appear at Barkingside magistrates court on Thursday. Continue reading...

Vice-president calls abortion access a fundamental freedom' in Florida as state's six-week ban takes effect

Party stands by members set to contest key seats who have claimed climate crisis does not exist and Islamophobia is made up'Reform UK has chosen to stand by candidates who have promoted conspiracy theories online, called the climate emergency make-believe" and expressed vaccine-sceptic views.Those fringe views, and more, were put forward by a group of seven candidates selected to stand for the rightwing populist party at the next general election - including several who will contest seats that some analyses consider to be their top targets. Continue reading...

Bancroft's school in Woodford Green said it was in profound shock and sorrow' after death of Daniel, 14, whom it described as a true scholar'The 14-year-old boy killed in the east London sword attacks was praised as a true scholar", gentle and a gifted footballer, as it emerged he attended the same school as one of the victims of the 2023 Nottingham stabbings.Daniel Anjorin, was a student at the private Bancroft's school in Woodford Green, which is still reeling from losing the former student Grace O'Malley-Kumar in June 2023 . Continue reading...

Antony Blinken holds two-hour meeting with Netanyahu while Hamas considers ceasefire proposalIsrael's leaders were under renewed pressure to allow more aid into Gaza on Wednesday after the US secretary of state Antony Blinken told Benjamin Netanyahu to accelerate and sustain improvements" during recent days in the amount of humanitarian assistance reaching the territory.Humanitarian agencies say that though the number of lorries entering Gaza after being vetted by Israel has increased significantly, these deliver only a fraction of what is needed. Continue reading...

Dozens of detentions have taken place across UK, say sources, as move prompts demonstrations around countryUK ministers have acknowledged for the first time that they are detaining asylum seekers to be removed to Rwanda, prompting demonstrations outside Home Office buildings.Nationwide operations began this week to detain adult men and women, with more activity due to be carried out over the next 11 weeks leading up to a one-way flight to east Africa. Continue reading...

Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh tell tribunal hearing broadcaster discriminated against themFour senior female news presenters have accused the BBC of grinding down" women on pay and failing to tackle persistent pay discrimination at a tribunal court hearing in London.The presenter Martine Croxall - alongside Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh - accused the broadcaster of conducting a sham recruitment exercise" after they lost their jobs when the BBC merged its domestic and global news channels last year. Continue reading...

14-year-old killed in attack was a student at Bancroft's school in Woodford Green; police say two men in their 30s were injured and suspect is in custodyThe head of Bancroft's School, Simon Marshall, has sent a statement to parents, in which Daniel Anjorin, the 14-year-old boy killed in the Hainault attack yesterday, was described as a much-loved" member of the school.The statement, seen by the BBC, reads:I had been intending to write to you once the news has become public, but I understand that many within our community may already be aware of events yesterday.It is therefore with great sadness and shock that I am writing to inform you of the tragic death of Daniel Anjorin, one of our pupils. Continue reading...

Teenager detained on suspicion of attempted murder after incident at Birley academy, say policeA 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly assaulting one adult with broken glass and injuring two others at a secondary school in Sheffield.South Yorkshire police said they had been called to Birley academy at 8.50am and had arrested the boy within minutes, while the school went into lockdown. Continue reading...

Scottish government wins vote by 70 votes to 58, with no abstentions after debate where Humza Yousaf defended government's recordLabour has accused Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, of championing single-sex spaces as part of a culture war".Speaking about the initiative announced by Badenoch this morning (see 10.10am), Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secreary, told Times Radio this morning:[Badenoch] does love nothing more than a culture war. And it is so transparent what she is doing. She is pitching to Conservative members for the leadership contest to come in the Conservative party. And frankly, our country deserves a lot better than it always being about the Conservative party.I do take issue with you calling this culture wars.Four years ago, when I was alerting people to the danger of puberty blockers, and a lot of the issues that we had in clinics, people like you were accusing me of fighting culture wars. Continue reading...

EU leads calls for halt to escalating violence after police use water cannon, teargas and stun grenades against demonstratorsWestern politicians and diplomats have called for a halt to spiralling violence in Georgia after security forces used water cannon, teargas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to break up a peaceful rally against a foreign influence" bill overnight.The EU, which has granted Georgia candidate status, strongly condemned" the violence and called on the government to respect the right of peaceful assembly. Use of force to suppress it is unacceptable," foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X. Continue reading...

Two convoys on the way to Gaza attacked by some Israeli settlers, reports Jordan's state news agency

Thousands of students have rallied for Palestine, after hundreds of thousands of Democrats declined to vote for Biden in the primaryThe policies of Joe Biden and Democrats towards Israel, which have prompted thousands of students across the country to protest, could affect the youth vote for Biden and hurt his re-election chances, experts have warned, in what is already expected to be a tight election.Thousands of students at universities across the US have joined with pro-Palestine rallies and, most recently, encampments, as Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people. Continue reading...

Moscow says attack, which has yet to be independently verified, was carried out using missiles and artilleryThe Russian military has attacked the command headquarters of the Ukrainian army's southern grouping, using missiles and artillery, Russia's defence ministry said. The claims are yet to be independently verified.Ukraine's special services claimed responsibility for a drone attack that hit a Russian oil refinery in Ryazan, south of Moscow, early on Wednesday morning. It said the attack took place about 2:00am (2300 GMT). The governors of the Kursk and Voronezh regions in southwest Russia that border Ukraine also reported drone attacks on their territories, saying there was no damage or injuries.Russia attacked the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine with guided bombs on Wednesday, killing at least two people and injured two others, the regional governor said. The two people were killed when a car was struck in the village of Zolochiv, where a private home was also struck, governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram.Ukrainian forces defending the strategic eastern stronghold of Chasiv Yar say they are still waiting for fresh ammunition after the US approved a major military aid package. Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of Ukraine's 225th Separate Assault Battalion that is fighting near the town, said more artillery shells would help his unit hold their positions. I hope we receive artillery shells soon," he said. Chasiv Yar is emerging as a key battleground because of its position on elevated ground that could serve as a gateway to the cities of Kostiantynivka, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.The US Senate has unanimously approved legislation to ban imports of Russian uranium, after the House of Representatives passed the bill in December. The US president, Joe Biden, is expected now to sign the uranium imports bill into law.We reported earlier (see post at 09.23) how Ukrainian forces defending the strategic eastern stronghold of Chasiv Yar say they are still waiting for fresh ammunition as they try to repel intensifying attacks. Continue reading...

Luxury British brand expects challenging trading conditions in UK and China to continueMulberry, the luxury British brand best known for its leather handbags that can cost more than 1,600 each, has reported a 4% decline in annual sales, becoming the latest high-end company to warn of a slowdown in spending among the richest shoppers.In a trading update, Thierry Andretta, the chief executive, said: While we achieved positive revenue growth in the first half, Mulberry has not been immune to the broader downturn in luxury spending experienced in recent months, particularly in the UK and Asia. This decline was partially offset by positive trading in the US, where we have benefited from increased brand awareness. Continue reading...

Interim role will include overseeing compensation payments as result of Horizon IT scandal

Harry Potter star reveals in interview that he has had no contact with Rowling since the author's gender-critical statements on trans womenHarry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has described his rupture with JK Rowling over trans rights as really sad", and that despite her role in his life as the creator of Potter [it] doesn't mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life".Radcliffe's comments came in an interview in the Atlantic, and marks the first published remarks by one of the principal cast in the Potter series since the publication of the Cass review of gender identity services, and Rowling's subsequent suggestion on social media that he and co-star Emma Watson were celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors". Continue reading...

Susan Hall became member a day after an expose about its contents - much of which is directed at Sadiq Khan

Accused were arrested in Lesbos and accused of facilitating illegal entry of migrants into the countryA Greek court's decision to drop criminal charges against dozens of international aid workers accused of espionage and facilitating the illegal entry of migrants into the country has been met with jubilation.A three-member judicial council convening on the north Aegean isle of Lesbos ruled there was insufficient proof to pursue the case against 35 mostly German nationals. Continue reading...

Asio director general Mike Burgess had referred to expulsion of foreign operatives in 2021 speech but did not name country behind threat

Steven Miles' government claims to have legal advice from Crown Law and solicitor general that amendments will not violate Human Rights Act or international law

Awareness campaign ahead of law change features tagline It's not love, it's coercive control. Know the signs of abuse'

Writer of Make Good: the Post Office Scandal says postal workers' interviews helped describe the power of the state coming down on you'The creators of a new musical about the Post Office Horizon scandal are appealing to postal workers to form part of the choir for the production, which they say can help heal communities affected by the issue.Make Good: the Post Office Scandal is based on interviews with two post office operators from Shropshire whose lives were ruined when Fujitsu's flawed computer software Horizon made it appear there were shortfalls in their accounting. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: It is the most fractious time in British-Irish relations since Brexit, as Ireland claims the Rwanda policy is pushing migrants to its borders - and increasing political pressure about immigration Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.Dealing with the problems that have emerged from the government's Rwanda scheme has turned into a game of whack-a-mole for the prime minister. Parliamentary deadlock for months on end, internal rebellions, growing condemnation from lawyers and human rights organisations of a scheme that has been described as performative cruelty". And now it threatens the harmony between the UK and its nearest neighbour.UK news | A 36-year-old man has been arrested following what police described as a horrific" sword attack in east London that left a 14-year-old boy dead. Four others were injured in the incident, including two police officers who were seriously wounded.Donald Trump | The former US president was fined $9,000 for violating a gag order designed to protect participants in his current criminal trial from his abuse. A New York judge imposed the maximum financial penalty allowed under state law.Local government | A 760m equal pay liability bill at Birmingham city council, which led it to effectively declare bankruptcy, could be hugely overstated, critics have said. There is growing unease that large budget cuts, asset sales and a 10% council tax increase have been made before the council has fully got to grips with the state of its finances.US news | Hundreds of New York City police officers in riot gear entered Columbia University on Tuesday evening to clear an academic building taken over by pro-Palestinian students the day before, as tensions surrounding the students' campus encampment for Gaza have roiled the New York school for two weeks.Israel-Gaza war | Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to proceed with an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, even if renewed efforts at internationally brokered talks with Hamas result in the release of hostages and a ceasefire. Continue reading...

Premier Steven Miles' erasure of the human rights principle of detention as a last resort' for children defies logic

Leaving violence payment' of $5,000 will help women escape abusive relationships with money for services, risk assessments and safety planning

Health minister Mary-Anne Thomas says 10 people who were not unwell were inside Colac area health's urgent care clinic during her 2023 visit

Exclusive: London mayor says poverty, alienation and ill health must be tackled to prevent crimes, after London sword attackToo many people with mental health issues who have committed violent crimes missed out on treatment as a result of cuts to support services, Sadiq Khan has warned.In an interview with the Guardian ahead of this week's local elections, he said such crimes were preventable and said years of austerity has left NHS mental health provision on its knees. Continue reading...

In the run-up to the local elections this week, the Guardian columnist John Harris is in Thurrock where the council has amassed more than 1.5bn in debt since 2022. He speaks to people facing swingeing cuts and asks whether the vote on Thursday will make any difference to their livesFind out more about the Thurrock Play Network here Continue reading...

Euphoria is the latest in the hip-hop heavyweights' fight via songs, which has now drawn in some of the biggest names in rapKendrick Lamar has released a new diss track against Drake titled Euphoria - the latest in a long-running feud between the two hip-hop heavyweights which was reignited earlier this year and has since ballooned into a civil war" among rap's upper echelons.The song, which shares a name with the HBO series on which Drake serves as executive producer, was released on Lamar's YouTube channel on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Manahel al-Otaibi, who frequently promoted female empowerment on social media, was arrested under anti-terror lawsA young women's rights activist in Saudi Arabia was secretly sentenced to 11 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court after being arrested for her choice of clothing and support for women's rights".Saudi officials confirmed in a statement to the United National high commissioner for Human Rights that Manahel al-Otaibi was sentenced on 9 January for what the Saudi government called terrorist offences". Continue reading...

Fortitude Valley institution and sister venue Stranded will soon shut as owner cites cost-of-living pressures and young people drinking lessThe Brisbane music venue the Zoo will call last drinks in July, with the owner listing a perfect storm" of forces leading to its closure, including cost-of-living pressures and declining alcohol consumption among young people.The 500-capacity room, which first opened its doors on Ann Street in 1992 in the formerly down-at-heel but now heavily gentrified inner suburb of Fortitude Valley, is one of Australia's oldest music venues. Continue reading...

Shareholder payouts grew 14 times faster than wages over past three years, says Oxfam reportShareholders have proved to be more successful at securing bumper payouts than workers have at winning higher pay, according to two studies that show dividends outstripping wages by a considerable margin in recent years.Oxfam said analysis of global data showed that dividend payments to shareholders over the last three years grew an average of 14 times faster than worker pay across 31 major economies. Continue reading...

Conservative Pierre Poilievre refuses to withdraw wacko' remark, prompting censure from speaker and removal from CommonsThe leader of Canada's main opposition party has been ejected from the House of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a wacko", in the latest clash between two men set to fight an election next year.The incident started when Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservatives, criticised Trudeau for supporting moves in British Columbia to decriminalize some hard drugs in an attempt to reduce the number of overdose-related deaths. Continue reading...

Sudanese man being held in Croydon after arriving for routine sign-in believed to be first potential deportation under new lawAn asylum seeker who turned up for a routine Home Office appointment on Monday was detained and told that he was being sent to Rwanda, an NGO has said.In what is believed to be the first potential deportation case under the Rwanda scheme since Rishi Sunak's bill received royal assent, the Sudanese man was held in Croydon, south London, the organisation Soas Detainee Support (SDS) told the Guardian. Continue reading...

Francois Bozize is wanted by special criminal court over alleged crimes including murder and tortureA UN-backed court has issued an arrest warrant for the Central African Republic's former president Francois Bozize over possible crimes against humanity committed by the nation's military between 2009 and 2013.The alleged crimes include murder, enforced disappearance, torture, rape and other inhumane acts, according to the special criminal court (CPS), a hybrid jurisdiction located in the capital Bangui with Central African and foreign magistrates. Continue reading...

Figures for England obtained by Lib Dems show that 500,000 people in very urgent' need travelled to hospital without ambulance in 2023Growing numbers of seriously ill people are making their own way to A&E in what has been called an Uber ambulance crisis", because 999 response times are too slow.A&E doctors said that while they understood that people are acting out of desperation", they are taking a serious risk with their health, especially if they are driving themselves. Continue reading...

Vehicle driving wrong way on highway was being pursued by police after alleged liquor store robbery, causing six-vehicle collisionTwo grandparents and their infant grandchild have been killed on a highway east of Toronto after a van being chased by police crashed while going the wrong way, causing a six-vehicle collision.The chase late on Monday was triggered by an alleged liquor store robbery, and the crash also left the suspect in the chased van dead, police in Canada said on Tuesday. Continue reading...