World news | The Guardian

Clinicians say there is concern that the country’s healthcare system is inadequate to protect most vulnerableCanada is delaying plans which would allow people with mental illness to access medically assisted death amid concern from some clinicians that the healthcare system is not prepared to handle the complicated cases.Starting March 2023, Canada is expected to become one of the few countries in the world to allow physician-assisted death for chronic mental disorders. Continue reading...

The popular sausages in bacon now appear in pizzas, gravy, milkshakes and even dog treats as retailers vie for our Christmas food spendIt may be a stuffed turkey, a side of salmon or a nut roast at the centre of your Christmas Day table. But this year retailers are throwing everything at those little sausages wrapped in bacon that usually sit on the side, in the hope of clawing back some much-needed revenue.The food industry has gone berserk over pigs in blankets, offering dozens of new varieties as well as spin-offs such as gravy, pizzas, milkshakes and even dog treats. Continue reading...

The master craftsman was once lauded in Ditchling, Sussex. Now, as the grotesque truth of his life is acknowledged, all that has changedEric Gill was one the most celebrated British artists of the 20th century – and for decades his work held pride of place in the small museum based in the village where he once lived.But after his death, details emerged of his grotesque sexual conduct – including sustained abuse of two of his daughters and his younger sister – and there has been increasing clamour since for his work not to be shown. Continue reading...

Leading charity accuses Scottish government of failing on pledge to support women trapped in domestic violence by rising costsA leading charity in Scotland has accused Nicola Sturgeon’s government of making women and children suffering domestic abuse “a footnote” in its response to the cost of living crisis.Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA), a domestic abuse charity, warned that “the needs of women and children experiencing domestic abuse have slipped down the priority list”, as the organisation launched a campaign to highlight the cost of leaving an abusive relationship. Continue reading...

Turner prize-winner Tony Cragg defends decision to lend to Istanbul museum after criticism from leading Turkish artistOne of Britain’s leading sculptors, Sir Tony Cragg, has defended his decision to loan a work to Istanbul’s top art museum following criticism from a prominent Turkish artist of the country’s restrictions on freedom of expression.After four years in construction, the new five-storey, 15,000 sq metre Istanbul Modern will open this year, with Cragg’s white sculpture, entitled Runner, in a prime spot at its entrance. Continue reading...

Overseas branches of UK-registered firm also let clients pick their baby’s sex, investigation findsWomen recruited by an international surrogacy agency to carry babies for wealthy clients are being asked to undergo “unethical” medical procedures that increase their risk of serious complications, an investigation suggests.New Life Global claims to have brokered more than 7,000 cross-border deals between clients mostly based in the UK, western Europe and North America and surrogates in countries including Mexico, Colombia, India, Ukraine and Georgia. Continue reading...

In the capital, where Maradona is worshipped as a god, World Cup victory would take on a spiritual dimensionIn June, Tomás Kuklis visited family in his native Argentina from his home in New York. When conversation turned to the upcoming World Cup, it brought back the happiest memories of his childhood. He was rocked by a wave of nostalgia for friends and food, but especially for his lifelong passion: football.So, he took a bold decision: he would sell all his things and move back to Buenos Aires to watch the tournament. It was a choice some might consider radical. But in this South American country where football is arguably a spiritual experience, it felt like keeping the faith. Continue reading...

Instagram generation views ‘tweakments’ as a status symbol says King of Botox, but safety concerns won’t go awayA leading cosmetic doctor known as the “king of Botox” claims young people have “lost the plot” by overdoing treatments in an attempt to recreate filtered social media aesthetics in real life. He also criticised colleagues, some of whom he said have had so much work done he no longer recognises them, for fuelling the trend.While Botox and fillers were once most popular among older patients seeking discreet anti-ageing solutions, Dr Michael Prager said that a “visibly enhanced” look had become a fashion trend among under-30s who wanted the work to show. Continue reading...

Authorities say recalled spinach which causes delirium and hallucinations has affected more than 120 people across Australia

Conservative supporters disillusioned with the lack of a Brexit dividend are unclear what Labour stands for, and the radical right is rising• Read more: Brexit failures are hauting ToriesThree years ago, Boris Johnson assembled a unique big tent coalition, delivering the Conservatives a once in a generation majority. That coalition is no more. Current polling points to a 17-point Conservative to Labour swing, far larger than Tony Blair achieved in 1997, with roughly half of 2019 Tory voters now backing someone else. Rejection of the Conservatives spans the length and breadth of the country, from the red wall to the blue wall, among Remain voters and among Brexiters.The Brexit coalition has collapsed because the forces holding it together – frustration over Brexit and fear of a Corbyn-led government – have dissipated and nothing has replaced them. Johnson fulfilled his Brexit pledges early, passing his “oven-ready” deal in the first months of the government, and following it with a trade agreement within a year. Those early successes have left a growing void. “Getting Brexit done” was supposed to change things for the better. Even the most ardent Brexiters now find the reality disappointing. Half of Leave voters say the government has handled the issue badly, while a record one in five Brexiters now think the decision to depart was a mistake. Continue reading...

Military commander warns Moscow may again try to seize Kyiv after invading from Belarus in the northRussia may attempt to re-enact a version of its original invasion plans, Ukrainian military officials believe, as Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned this weekend Vladimir Putin still has enough missiles to order more heavy strikes.The Ukrainian president was speaking in the aftermath of the latest wave of missiles to target his country’s critical energy infrastructure after Russia launched 98 rockets at 20 cities and towns on Friday. Continue reading...

Sir John Tomlinson wades into row over cut to English National Opera’s grant as signs indicate Arts Council may review decisionThere can be no true “levelling up” of culture across Britain unless we hang on to the places where top performers work together, the veteran opera star Sir John Tomlinson has argued. The international singer’s plea for Arts Council England to think again about moving the English National Opera (ENO) from its London home comes as rumours build that it is to go back on its shock decision to withdraw annual funding from the company.“Every singer needs a thriving musical world around them,” said Lancashire-born Tomlinson, who is president of the Royal Northern College of Music. “You cannot develop your talent in a vacuum.” Continue reading...

Hamouri, a Jerusalem resident without Israeli citizenship, was detained under administrative detention without charge in MarchIsrael has deported French-Palestinian human rights lawyer Salah Hamouri, accusing him of security offences against the state of Israel, the Israeli interior ministry said in a statement.Hamouri was escorted early on Sunday morning to the airport, where he boarded a flight to France, with his campaign saying there was no legal recourse for him to take. Continue reading...

Sport governing body says ‘such behaviour has no place in Australian football’. Follow the day’s news live‘We will look at the facts’James Johnson is asked whether Melbourne Victory has any outstanding sanctions for past incidents. He says he is not aware of any but past events may be considered as an “aggravating factor” as an investigation into the incident unfolds:There is no other suspended disciplinary action that I’m aware of, but what I will say is that we will be working through that today. We have already started working on the show cause process as of late last night, and we will be moving forward as quickly and swiftly as possible to finalise it, because it is important we get ahead of this issue as a sport.What I can say is that we will look at the facts, we’ll look at it objectively and we will take a decision that we believe is in the overall best interest of the game but I prefer not to comment on the specifics of the outcome because we have to go through that process first.What happened during the game last night and what happens with the result;A “show cause letter” to Melbourne Victory;An attempt to identify individuals involved in the pitch invasion.This is an element that … infiltrates our game and tries to ruin it for the people who love us was in. We’ll be looking to weed out those people from the sport. Continue reading...

Poverty puts thousands into the grip of people smugglers plying a deadly trade in the MediterraneanYoussef initially doesn’t want to remember the treacherous boat journey that took him from Egypt, then to Tobruk in Libya and finally to Italy, but he knows clearly why he left.A young man in his 20s, Youssef is recently married and expecting a baby in a few months, and fears about the increasing cost of living in Egypt overwhelmed him. He gave in and contacted a people smuggler on the internet, using a Facebook group where those looking to migrate can post information about crossings. Continue reading...

Sodelpa negotiating with government and People’s Alliance on who it will support with its balance of powerFiji’s prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, has lost his parliamentary majority with the election’s final ballot count being returned.The former opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) is in negotiations with the FijiFirst government and People’s Alliance over which it will support with its balance of power. Continue reading...

Launches come days after Pyongyang said it tested a new ‘high-thrust’ motor as it seeks to advance its nuclear and missile programmesNorth Korea fired two ballistic missiles, Seoul’s military said, days after Pyongyang announced a successful test of a solid-fuel motor for a new weapons system.Military tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen sharply this year as Pyongyang has carried out an unprecedented blitz of weapons tests, including the launch of its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile ever last month. Continue reading...

Saju Chelavalel, 52, accused of killing Anju Asok, 35, and her six- and four-year-old childrenA 52-year-old man has been charged with the murders of an NHS nurse and her two children in Kettering.Saju Chelavalel is accused of the murder of Anju Asok, 35, Jeeva Saju, six, and Janvi Saju, four. Continue reading...

Incumbent faces Zweli Mkhize, whom he suspended as health minister over corruption allegations, in a party voteSouth Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) nominated just two candidates to run for its top job on Saturday, leaving President Cyril Ramaphosa facing the health minister he suspended over corruption allegations in a party vote.The winner will have the ANC’s blessing to run for president in 2024 elections under its banner, historically a shoo-in for the country’s top job since the party’s leading light Nelson Mandela ended white minority rule in 1994. Continue reading...

Government accused of prioritising contingency planning ahead of securing a deal with workersUnions have lashed out at plans for the armed forces to cover for striking public sector workers in the run-up to Christmas, claiming the military are not “sufficiently trained” to plug staffing gaps on the frontline.The government is deploying 1,200 troops from the army, navy and RAF to fill in for ambulance drivers and border staff during widespread strikes over the festive period, with more than 1,000 civil servants also drafted in to help. Continue reading...

Ambulance workers and nurses are taking action in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Here’s what to expect• Nurses pledge tougher strikesNurses will hold their second day of strike action on Tuesday in more than 70 trusts and health organisations in England, Wales and northern Ireland. On Wednesday, three unions, the GMB, Unison and Unite, will take strike action at ambulance trusts across the country. More than 10,000 ambulance workers in the GMB have voted to strike at nine trusts in England and Wales. Continue reading...

Nursing union gives ministers until Thursday to open pay talks as first signs emerge of bid to end dispute and prevent NHS collapse• How will NHS strikes affect you?Union leaders threatened on Saturday night to order a fresh wave of more severe strikes in the new year in which nurses would offer “less generous” support inside hospitals, in a dramatic escalation of their pay dispute with the government.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), in a marked hardening of its line, said there would be “more hospitals and more nurses taking part than at present” in strikes throughout January, unless ministers backed down by Thursday. Continue reading...

Detention of one of Iran’s most famous performers sign state wants to crack down on celebrities who challenge regimeTaraneh Alidoosti, one of Iran’s most famous actors, has been detained by security forces in Tehran days after she criticised the state’s use of the death penalty against protesters.She had previously posted a picture of herself on her Instagram page in which she was not wearing the hijab and holding a piece of paper reading “women, life, freedom” – the slogan that has come to encapsulate the fight against the current Iranian regime. Continue reading...

‘Considerable portion’ of priceless treasures from Green Vault museum recovered amid trial of suspectsGerman authorities said they have found a “considerable portion” of items stolen in a spectacular 2019 robbery of priceless 18th-century jewels from a state museum.The authorities retrieved 31 individual items in the capital, Berlin, the police and prosecutors said. Continue reading...

Local authority leaseholders have to share costs, have no say over who does the job and can face financial ruinAn artist who bought a flat in a council-owned block faces homelessness after his local authority demanded he pay nearly £98,000 towards building repairs.Jamie Harris, 47, purchased the leasehold on a one-bedroom flat owned by Lambeth Council in 2007. Eight of the 10 flats in the converted Victorian villa are rented to council tenants and, unbeknown to him, he and the one other leaseholder share liability with the council for any building work. He’s now been threatened with legal action unless he pays £97,860 and says he will have to sell his home to settle the bill. Continue reading...

Firefighters put out blaze at Latin American restaurant MNKY HSE in Mayfair after flames rapidly spreadDiners were forced to flee a fire caused by Christmas decorations at a Latin American restaurant in London’s West End on Friday night.Video footage of the blaze showed people rushing to escape MNKY HSE in Dover Street, Mayfair, after the flames spread quickly. Two people were treated by ambulance staff for their injuries. Continue reading...

Government shelves plan to secure long-term contracts because ‘locking in while gas prices are this high doesn’t make sense’An energy security taskforce launched by Liz Truss has been scrapped by her successor, Rishi Sunak, after three months.The taskforce, announced by Truss towards the beginning of her brief tenure as prime minister, was created as part of a package of measures announced in September to reform the “broken” market. Continue reading...

Former England captain, whose role as ambassador was criticised by LGBTQ+ community, said he believes sport is ‘force for good’David Beckham has made his first public statement on his controversial involvement with the World Cup host nation Qatar, telling a US newspaper through a spokesperson that he “has always believed that sport has the power to be a force for good in the world”.“We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region,” the statement continued. Continue reading...

One wheelchair user reported that pre-booked accessible spaces were filled with luggage and no staff were presentDisabled passengers travelling on Avanti services in the north of England say they are finding pre-booked accessible spaces filled with luggage and are having to resort to sitting in toilets while others are abandoning travelling on trains altogether.Haydn Smith, 26, a wheelchair user, and Alex Winstanley, 30, his non-disabled business partner, boarded an Avanti service from Wigan to London Euston last month. He said as they boarded the train, an Avanti member of staff warned them they would “struggle to get on”. Continue reading...

The legislation aims to tackle problems as wide-ranging as misogyny, disinformation and consumer fraudNearly two decades after the birth of Facebook ushered in the social media era, the EU is introducing ambitious legislation designed to clean up the world’s biggest online forums.Intended to tackle misogyny, protect children, stop consumer fraud, curb disinformation and protect democratic elections, the Digital Services Act (DSA) is wide-ranging. The UK is introducing its own statute, the online safety bill, but the EU’s rules are likely to have a bigger impact because they cover a bigger market, and the EU is more influential as a regulatory power. Continue reading...

Police say Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, of Newham, died in hospital on SaturdayA woman has died after being injured in an apparent crowd crush at a concert in Brixton, south London, on Thursday.Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, was one of three people critically injured after fans attempted to gain entry without tickets to a show by the Nigerian artist Asake at the south London venue on Thursday. Continue reading...

Opposition groups are boycotting vote that one prominent party leader describes as ‘a still-born farce’Tunisians have gone to the polls to elect a new parliament, 11 years to the day since a vendor’s self-immolation sparked the fall of their ruling tyrant and triggered a wave of popular revolts across north Africa and the Middle East.In the troubled decade since, other regional states that once cracked under the strain of popular revolts have been increasingly smothered by counterrevolutions that clawed back civic gains and political freedoms championed by their citizens. Continue reading...

Micheál Martin hands over to Fine Gael leader after two years at head of coalition governmentLeo Varadkar has become Ireland’s taoiseach after swapping posts with Micheál Martin, who took over as tánaiste, or deputy prime minister.The Dáil, the Irish parliament, approved Varadkar’s nomination in a vote on Saturday that drew a line under Martin’s two-year premiership and put Varadkar at the head of the coalition government for the rest of its term. Continue reading...

Rise in infections across the UK has led to patients being offered alternative antibiotics to meet demandFive new serious shortage protocols (SSPs) have been issued to pharmacists in an attempt to offset penicillin supply issues caused by the rising number of strep A infections across the UK.The government introduced SSPs for three penicillin medicines earlier this week and has now increased the total to give pharmacists the flexibility to supply an alternative antibiotic or formulation of penicillin. Continue reading...

Observer survey shows half of state schools struggle to recruit vital teaching assistantsAlmost every state school in England is struggling to provide proper support for children with special educational needs because of insufficient support staff, a new survey has revealed.In a poll of 922 special educational needs and disabilities (Send) coordinators in primary and secondary schools across England, conducted exclusively for the Observer by education consultancy Sendco Solutions, only six schools said they did not have a problem with numbers of support staff for children with additional needs. With teaching assistants typically able to earn more working at their local supermarket, schools say crucial support workers are leaving “in droves”, and they cannot find anyone to replace them because the pay is too low. Continue reading...

Firefighters lead about 20 people to safety after being called to overnight incident in Belsize Road, CamdenPeople have been forced to evacuate from their homes because of a burst water main in a north London street.The water main in Belsize Road, Camden, burst at 2.50am, causing flooding of up to half a metre in depth “across an area of roughly 800 metres”, London fire brigade (LFB) said. Continue reading...

The £18m initiative, blocked by Liz Truss, claims people could save £230 a year through ‘simple measures’Grant Shapps has launched a public information campaign advising people how to make financial savings this winter – months after the former prime minister Liz Truss blocked it.The £18m campaign, called It Adds Up, claims people could save £230 a year by implementing what is says are simple measures.Turning your combi boiler flow temperature down to 60C could save you up to £100 a year.Turning down radiators in rooms you aren’t using or use less could save you up to £70 a year.Finding and fixing draughts could save you up to £60 a year.Insulating your hot water cylinder could save you up to £70 a year.Switching to energy saving lightbulbs could save you up to £55 a year. Continue reading...

Following another tragedy at sea and a ruling due on the Rwanda deal, is Britain complacent at home and complicit in refugee abuse abroad?At 9.46am on Wednesday, the Home Office cancelled a background briefing on the latest in a long line of policy announcements that have so far made no impact whatsoever in tackling small boat numbers.This time it concerned the finer details surrounding its new small boats operational command (SBOC); an “ongoing incident in UK waters” was cited as the cause of cancellation. Continue reading...

Invitation comes despite continued fallout from Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix documentaryThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have a place at the king’s coronation should they wish to attend, despite the continued fallout from their Netflix documentary, it has been reported.Harry and Meghan will be invited to Charles’s ceremony on 6 May, with all family members expected to feature on a guest list still to be drawn up, according to a report. Continue reading...

Met Office issues yellow warnings of ice for much of Scotland and the north-west of England for SaturdayWeather warnings of severe cold, ice and snowy conditions are in place for the weekend before blizzards are expected to sweep across the north of the country.The Met Office has issued yellow warnings of ice for much of Scotland, the north-west of England and Wales for Saturday, with this extending to snow for the north and ice for most of the rest of England on Sunday. Continue reading...

City’s kindergartens and childcare centres also to stop in-person lessons as cases rise across China after easing of restrictionsShanghai’s education bureau has told schools to hold classes online from Monday as rising numbers of Covid infections hit cities across China.On Saturday the bureau also instructed kindergartens and childcare centres in the city to shut all in-person classes, according to an online statement. Continue reading...

Decision follows legal challenge over amount of financial support given to asylum seekers during cost of living crisisThe home secretary is acting unlawfully in failing to ensure the rate of support for more than 50,000 asylum seekers is adequate by not implementing an increase of almost £5 a week recommended by officials, the high court has found.In a case brought in the high court in Manchester by an asylum seeker known only as CB, the amount of financial support given to asylum seekers during the cost of living crisis was challenged. Internal Home Office advice to ministers was disclosed, which revealed that officials told ministers the current rate of £40.85 a week was no longer sufficient to meet basic needs because of the cost of living crisis. Continue reading...

Emergency services respond to several incidents in days following deaths of four children who fell through ice in SolihullEmergency services across England have issued warnings to the public after people were spotted walking on frozen lakes days after four children died in Solihull after falling through ice.Brothers Finlay, 8, and Samuel Butler, 6, their cousin Thomas Stewart, 11, and Jack Johnson, 10, died after falling into water at Babbs Mill Park near Solihull. The children were in cardiac arrest when they were pulled from the water and died in hospital. Continue reading...

With industrial action expected to hit the railways and the roads, a guide to when might be a good time to travelIt is that time of year when millions of people will travel to see friends and family, take a well-earned break, or make a last-minute dash to the shops to pick up a Christmas present.The festive getaway could be trickier than usual this year as Britain has been hit by wide-ranging industrial action across the transport network.M25M5 between Bristol and Weston-super-MareM6 around BirminghamStretches of the M1 smart motorway from Luton northwardsM60 and M62 in north-west EnglandM4 and M27 in Hampshire. Continue reading...

Teams visited 15,019 care homes, also offering flu jabs, and boosted 88.6% of eligible residentsNHS vaccination teams have visited every care home across the country to offer Covid boosters and flu jabs.A total of 15,019 care homes have been visited by vaccination teams – with 88.6% of eligible residents boosted, NHS England said. Continue reading...

Frost, who quit last December, received taxpayer-funded payout for ‘loss of office’ after nine months as ministerBoris Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator got a more than £26,000 taxpayer-funded payout for stepping down from the government having served as a minister for just nine months, the Guardian can reveal.David Frost, who quit last December citing concerns about the “direction of travel” of future relations with the EU and making the most of post-Brexit “opportunities”, was given the compensation for “loss of office”. Continue reading...

Lawyer says Duggan maintains his innocence after US accused him of training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office was set up to track unidentified objects in the sky, underwater or in spaceA new Pentagon office set up to track reports of unidentified flying objects has received “several hundred” new reports, but no evidence so far of alien life, the agency’s leadership has told reporters.The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was set up in July and is responsible for not only tracking unidentified objects in the sky, but also underwater or in space – or potentially an object that has the ability to move from one domain to the next. Continue reading...

A second Briton was injured and treated in hospital, while a third was detained following the ‘non-work related incident’The family of a 38-year-old man who died after a “non-work related incident” involving three Britons onboard an oil rig in Qatar have paid tribute to a “one-of-a-kind, beautiful soul”.Robert Robson, of Tyne and Wear, was working on the Seafox Burj oil rig off the coast of Qatar when he died after an incident in the early hours of Monday. Continue reading...

Ciro Gómez Leyva was unharmed when an attacker fired at his car, but 42 journalists have been killed during Amlo’s termOne of Mexico’s most prominent news anchors has survived an apparent assassination attempt near his home in the capital, in one of the most brazen attacks against a journalist the country has seen in recent decades.Ciro Gómez Leyva, a news anchor for the national news network, Grupo Imagen, was driving a bulletproof SUV when the pillion rider on a motorcycle opened fire on him late on Thursday. Continue reading...