World news | The Guardian

North Korean leader backs Moscow in protecting its sovereignty and security against the hegemonic forces' that oppose it

Exclusive: FBU says finding that some women can earn thousands less on year's leave shows female members are undervaluedFemale firefighters face a postcode lottery in which they can earn more than 15,000 less while on a year's maternity leave than their colleagues elsewhere in the UK, their representatives have said.The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said its analysis showed female members were being systematically undervalued", and is calling for maternity leave to be full pay for a year, regardless of where in the UK a firefighter is based. Continue reading...

Software company and major donor plans to put its name on arena being built next doorSome will be sad it is not Sagey McSageface. Others will rue it not being called the Slug or the Armadillo. Instead the concert hall previously known as Sage will become the Glasshouse International Centre for Music.Sage Gateshead is one of the UK's leading music venues, which last month hosted the first Proms festival weekend outside London. Continue reading...

Von der Leyen warns member states will have to make radical changes for Ukraine and others to join blocThe European Union must immediately prepare for radical changes needed for Ukraine and other countries to become members of the bloc, Ursula von der Leyen has said.In her annual state of the union" address, the European Commission president warned members states of the need to match the determination" of Ukraine and others to ready for an enlarged EU Continue reading...

PM is pressed three times in Commons about hallmark policy, as Keir Starmer accuses inaction man' of putting UK's security at riskRishi Sunak refused three times to commit to maintaining the pensions triple lock beyond the next election, as Keir Starmer mocked him as inaction man" over national security.In his final Commons grilling before MPs break up for party conference recess, the prime minister was evasive about the future of a policy that has become a hallmark of recent Conservative governments. Continue reading...

Shutting most in England will leave network where people will not want to travel once the sun's gone down', RMT leader tells MPsThe closure of ticket offices in England will lead to a railway where people will not want to travel once the sun's gone down", the union leader Mick Lynch has told MPs, describing the recent consultation as a sham".Speaking to the Commons transport select committee, the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, said the government was trying to force through job cuts and it was nonsense" to suggest ticket office staff would be redeployed. Continue reading...

Former Liberal frontbencher supports referendum as a way of getting First Nations people to the same starting line' as other Australians

People sharing on dark web how to modify software on their computers to manipulate photos of children, says IWFFreely available artificial intelligence software is being used by paedophiles to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to a safety watchdog, with offenders discussing how to manipulate photos of celebrity children or known victims to create new content.The Internet Watch Foundation said online forums used by sex offenders were discussing using open source AI models to create fresh illegal material. The warning came as the chair of the government's AI taskforce, Ian Hogarth, raised concerns about CSAM on Tuesday as he told peers that open source models were being used to create some of the most heinous things out there". Continue reading...

Nathaniel Fischer co-owns ammunition company that has contracts with federal government totaling $78,678A far-right figure who is involved in a secretive invitation-only fraternal organization, whose founder has spoken of being at war with the US government, is also part-owner of an ammunition company that has contracts with the federal government and law enforcement, the Guardian can reveal.Nathaniel Fischer - a venture capitalist, former Claremont Institute fellow and president of the Dallas lodge of the secretive Society for American Civic Renewal (SACR) - is also part-owner of Texas-based ammunition manufacturer S1 Armory, which trades as Stand 1 Armory. Continue reading...

Party removed two people from candidates list after MI5 warned in 2021 they could be Chinese spiesThe Conservative party acted swiftly" to block two potential parliamentary candidates from standing, after warnings from the MI5 that they could be spying for China, a government minister has said.Health minister Maria Caulfield was speaking after it was revealed that the Conservatives dropped two potential candidates to become MPs after MI5 warned they had links to China's United Front Work Department, a body charged with influencing global policy and opinion. Continue reading...

Ex-PM says Grenfell Tower disaster unfolded because action was not taken despite tenants raising safety concerns

The 200-year-old pencil sketch of a view across Dover harbour was discovered during a house clearanceA sketch by the English landscape artist John Constable that was found in a suitcase during a house clearance is to be sold at auction.The pencil sketch, a view across Dover harbour towards the castle above the town, is more than 200 years old. It is one of a series of sketches the artist made in April 1803 during a voyage on the East India Company ship Coutts from London to Deal. Continue reading...

Australian Electoral Commission says texts purporting to be from no campaign leader are legal, but MPs say they are predatory'

Shops that serve unveiled women could be shut under draft law UN human rights body says suppresses women into total submission'Women in Iran face up to 10 years in prison if they continue to defy the country's mandatory hijab law, under harsher laws awaiting approval by authorities. Even businesses that serve women without a hijab face being shut down.The stricter dress code, which amounts to gender apartheid", UN experts said, comes one year after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been detained for allegedly wearing the Islamic headscarf incorrectly. Her death, after allegedly being beaten by police, led to the largest wave of popular unrest for years in Iran. Continue reading...

State parliament votes to bring laws governing the naming of alleged sexual offenders into line with other offences and other states

Ruling in favour of former public trustee Peter Carne is clearly not in the public interest' according to CCC chair Bruce Barbour

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that CEO pay had skyrocketed, in response to Tim Gurner's claim workers had become arrogant' since Covid

Former PM says Starmer could face an even gloomier economic situation than he inherited from John MajorKeir Starmer's Labour must accept it will not be able to tax and spend its way out of financial trouble, Tony Blair has warned.The party's former leader and ex-prime minister told the Financial Times the Conservatives had taxed and spent to the point [of]... economic crisis" and said Starmer would be facing an even gloomier situation than he had inherited from John Major. Continue reading...

Victoria police say the 17-year-old was injured when shots were fired in Janmara Court, Endeavour Hills

Measures include making it easier for Taiwanese people to live and work in China, but the plan comes amid major military exercisesChina's government has unveiled a new path towards integrated development" with Taiwan, including proposals to make it easier for Taiwanese people to live, study and work in China.At the same time, it sent the largest number of warships to gather in years to the waters on Taiwan's east, in what analysts said signalled a choice between peaceful reunification" and military violence, just months out from Taiwan's presidential election. Continue reading...

RAC calls on government to boost council funding as data shows road maintenance dropped by almost a thirdThe mileage of local roads in England being resurfaced or treated to avoid potholes has fallen to its lowest level in five years, research has shown.There has been a decline of almost one-third in the total amount of life-extending road maintenance by local councils, according to analysis of government data by the RAC motoring organisation. Continue reading...

Analysis shows that since the pandemic those living in poverty were 3.7 times more likely to be sent home than other pupilsIncreasing numbers of children from poor backgrounds are being suspended from schools in England since the pandemic, according to analysis that estimates more than 3,000 pupils were sent home every day.The analysis was published as teachers, who took part in a separate survey, said verbal and physical abuse from pupils has increased significantly" post-pandemic, with some having furniture thrown at them, being bitten, spat at, head-butted, punched and kicked. Continue reading...

Activists call for reassurances to be given to those who gave information to parliamentariansFinn Lau's meeting with a Westminster researcher who was later arrested on suspicion of spying for China lasted just 20 minutes. Nearly a year later he is mulling the potential consequences.Lau, an exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activist with a 100,000 bounty on his head, has a lingering suspicion that some of his ideas for putting more pressure on China appear not to have made it beyond their meeting. Continue reading...

Queensland rangers say a $2,476 fine was issued after footage emerged of the encounter

Parliamentary committee makes the referral citing concerning evidence' about government contracts but Robert strongly denies allegations

Liddle responds to Johns' claim that some people in Indigenous communities live in a stupor', and calls for greater respect in voice referendum debate

Demonstrators picket outside CBS Studios in New York to protest decision to resume production without unionized writersProtesters slammed host Drew Barrymore for restarting her daytime talkshow without its unionized writers amid the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.Chanting slogans such as shut it down", at least a dozen demonstrators picketed in front of CBS Studios in New York on Monday to protest against Barrymore's decision to resume production of her talkshow's fourth season. Continue reading...

Nine in 10 seven to 21-year-olds feel worried or anxious and only 17% feel very happy, shows devastating' Girlguiding surveyHappiness among girls and young women has hit its lowest level since 2009, according to devastating" polling for Girlguiding, which shows that nine out of 10 seven to 21-year-olds are worried or anxious.In figures that Angela Salt, the UK movement's chief executive, said showed girls and young women have been let down", only 17% aged seven to 21 now feel very happy compared with 40% in 2009. Continue reading...

Electoral Commission says policy could exclude hundreds of thousands of voters in a general electionHundreds of thousands of people could be excluded from voting in a UK general election because of voter ID laws, the government's election watchdog has said.The laws could have a disproportionate effect on poorer people, those with disabilities and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, the Electoral Commission warned. Continue reading...

About 120 MPs and 180 peers have taken part in mindfulness courses over the last decadeMore than 300 British politicians have been trained in mindfulness in the last decade, new estimates have suggested, sparking fresh calls for a meditation room to be installed in parliament.About 120 MPs, including Tracey Crouch, the Conservative former minister and Clive Lewis, of Labour, plus about 180 peers have joined courses in the secular practice, which is rooted in ancient Buddhist meditation techniques, a new report has found. Continue reading...

KCL study finds many leading UK institutions remain highly dependent on Chinese studentsUK universities would be hugely damaged by a sustained diplomatic rift between Britain and China, according to a report that predicts difficulty in replacing the Chinese students who now take up more than one in four PhD places.The study, co-authored by the former universities minister Jo Johnson, found that many leading institutions remain highly dependent on Chinese students for tuition fee income as well as to fill postgraduate research courses in subjects such as economics, science and technology. Continue reading...

Emma Coronel was sentenced to three years in prison in 2021 after pleading guilty to three counts of helping the Sinaloa drug cartelEmma Coronel, the wife of the imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo" Guzman, will be freed in Los Angeles on Wednesday following her arrest in 2021 on drug trafficking charges, according to the US Bureau of Prisons.The US-born 34-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison in 2021 after pleading guilty to three counts of helping the Sinaloa drug cartel, including conspiracy to launder money and distribute illegal drugs and engaging in financial dealings. Continue reading...

Police launch investigation after protesters gather at south London hair products storePolice are investigating an incident at a hair products shop in south London where a video posted online apparently showed a black female customer being grabbed by the throat by a man attempting to restrain her.The Metropolitan police said they were investigating the incident after being called out to the shop in Peckham on Monday, and appealed for calm after protesters gathered outside the store on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Latest survey sees support for New Zealand First exceed 5% for second month as Labour falters and National remains unchanged ahead of October electionNeither a Labour nor a National coalition could form a government without the support of populist minor party New Zealand First after the October election, according to the latest Guardian Essential political poll - which showed respondents unwilling to give either major party a commanding victory.Since August, the governing Labour party slumped 2.5 points to 26.9% in the survey, which also recorded unsure voters - 5.3% in September - in its final result. But the results showed apathy towards both of the biggest parties, with centre-right National failing to pick up any speed from August, despite remaining ahead on 34.5%. Continue reading...

Foreign ministers condemn elections' held in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea, where electoral competition was limited

Storm threatens to affect parts of Bermuda, New England and Atlantic Canada with winds up to 115mphHurricane Lee continues to grow larger in size as it moves northward and threatens to affects parts of Bermuda, New England and Atlantic Canada.Moving at 7mph (11.3km/h) and packing winds of up to 115mph (185km/h), Lee was positioned 380 miles (612km) north of the northern Leeward Islands as well as 600 miles (965km) south of Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Monday evening. That track triggered a tropical storm watch for Bermuda. Continue reading...

The Center for Reproductive Rights has taken legal action on behalf of women denied care in Idaho, Oklahoma and TennesseeWomen who say they were denied abortions in medical emergencies have taken legal action in Idaho, Oklahoma and Tennessee, in the latest attempt to challenge abortion bans that, abortion patients and doctors say, prevent people from getting care even when their health is in danger.The lawsuits in Idaho and Tennessee, along with a federal complaint against a hospital in Oklahoma, were filed on Tuesday by the Center for Reproductive Rights, which filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of women in Texas earlier this year. Tuesday's filings were first reported by the Washington Post. Continue reading...

Government insiders believe they can justify tweaking' formula that decides pension increase in order to save 1bnTreasury officials are discussing a one-off break from the pensions triple lock that could save 1bn by preventing a bumper 8.5% increase in the state pension next year.The government is considering stripping out public sector bonuses that were awarded to workers to prevent strikes over the summer from the calculation that determines the annual rise in pensions. Continue reading...

Outdoor event hosted by bride's family meant no one was trapped when buildings collapsed

North Korean leader travels on armoured train for talks amid concerns Putin is seeking arms deal for Ukraine war

Lord Frost, Brexit negotiator for former PM, tells House of Lords that government never wanted unsatisfactory' protocol to workRayner says Labour will update trade union laws to make them fit for the 21st century.The laws affecting union reps and officials do not take into account technological advancements, she says.First, we will update regulations to outlaw the use of predictive technologies for blacklisting and safeguard against singling out workers for mistreatment or the sack without any evidence of human interaction.Second, we will act to end the loophole that allows employers to pass the dirty work down to third party contractors, so that any third party found to be carrying out blacklisting can legally be held to account.The Tories pushed through the 2016 Trade Union Act, preventing fair bargaining and holding back living standards.And this year they gave us the minimum service levels bill [the Strikes Act] ... Continue reading...

New CQC report also finds growing number of patients think there are too few nurses to care for themTwo in five people admitted to hospital for planned care in England last year had their health worsen while they were on the NHS waiting list, a major survey reveals.The finding emerged in a new report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that also found that growing numbers of patients think there are too few nurses on duty to care for them.39% of patients would like to have been admitted sooner.Almost one in five (18%) felt they waited far too long" to get a bed once they had been admitted - a big rise on the 8% who said that in 2020.Only 52% thought there were always enough nurses on duty.Discharge was often unsatisfactory for patients, with only 48% given enough notice about when they would leave and only 45% told how their post-hospital care would happen.Hospital care was less good than before Covid struck in 2020, patients said. Continue reading...

Labour deputy leader tells TUC party would also seek to repeal anti-strike laws within 100 days of entering governmentAngela Rayner has given a cast iron guarantee" that Labour would bring in a new bill to ban zero-hours contracts and repeal anti-strike laws within 100 days of a new government.The deputy Labour leader, who leads for the party on workers' rights, told the TUC's annual conference that it was putting improving the lives of workers at its core, and would bring in a proper living wage" to raise pay. Continue reading...

Striking down of reasonableness' clause abolishing ability to overrule government could trigger constitutional crisisIsrael's supreme court justices have begun hearing petitions against a key part of the rightwing government's judicial overhaul limiting the court's powers, a development that could trigger an unprecedented constitutional crisis.For the first time, a panel of all 15 judges convened on Tuesday to discuss eight filings aimed at striking down the reasonableness" clause, passed by the Knesset in July, which abolished the supreme court's ability to overrule government decisions. Continue reading...

Nine people were suing Labour for failure to protect their data after they were identified in leaked reportNine people who were suing the Labour party after they were named as complainants in a leaked report over antisemitism have dropped their case.The nine were suing Labour for failure to protect their data and invasion of privacy after they were identified as having made complaints about antisemitism in an 860-page document that claimed factional hostility towards Jeremy Corbyn contributed to the party's ineffective handling of such complaints. Continue reading...

Frontman is under doctor's orders not to perform for 30 days during band's farewell tour, Peace OutAerosmith's Steven Tyler has suffered serious vocal cord damage, resulting in the postponement of six shows during the band's farewell tour.Tyler wrote: I'm heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor's orders not to sing for the next 30 days. I sustained vocal cord damage during Saturday's show that led to subsequent bleeding. We'll need to postpone a few dates so that we can come back and give you the performance you deserve." Continue reading...

The UK network has made a multi-year' deal with Disney to screen the annual awards, as Sky ends its 20-year connectionITV has acquired the UK broadcast rights for the Academy Awards ceremony, after Sky ended its 20-year connection with Hollywood's annual prizegiving event.ITV announced the news in a statement on Tuesday, in which it said it had made a multi-year" deal with Disney Entertainment, who are licensed by the Oscars for global TV distribution. ITV's coverage will start with the 2024 ceremony, and it plans to screen the event live on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming service. Continue reading...

Owner of Slug & Lettuce and Yates's to raise prices at times such as weekends to help cover costsA pint of beer during the busiest periods will cost drinkers 20p more under a dynamic pricing" system introduced by Britain's largest pub group.Stonegate Group, which owns chains including the Slug & Lettuce and Yates's, said it was raising prices at 800 of its venues during peak times, such as weekends, to help cover soaring costs. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Republic's Graham Smith seeking judicial review of lawfulness of arrest as well as damagesMetropolitan police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, is being sued over the arrest of the chief executive of Britain's leading republican movement on the day of the king's coronation, in what is being billed as a first test case of new protest laws.Graham Smith, who was detained for 14 hours on 6 May, is seeking a judicial review of the lawfulness of his arrest as well as damages and an admission of fault from Scotland Yard, according to legal papers seen by the Guardian. Continue reading...

Former Tory leader says it is time to stop party's adherence to policy, amid reports some in government are considering changesThe former Conservative leader William Hague has said it is time to ditch the triple lock on pensions - as figures showed the policy meant the state pension was likely to rise by 8.5% in April.The cabinet minister Michelle Donelan later mounted a defence of the lock, which means increases in the state pension should be in line with whichever is highest of the average earnings increase, inflation or 2.5%. But the scale of the likely increase presents questions for both the Tories and Labour. Continue reading...