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Betar US is among far-right groups supporting Trump effort to deport students involved in pro-Palestinian protestsA far-right group that claimed credit for the arrest of a Palestinian activist and permanent US resident who the Trump administration is seeking to deport claims it has submitted thousands of names" for similar treatment.Betar US is one of a number of rightwing, pro-Israel groups that are supporting the administration's efforts to deport international students involved in university pro-Palestinian protests, an effort that escalated this week with the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, an activist who recently completed his graduate studies at Columbia University. Continue reading...

Moves by US, UK and other donors to cut aid mean high malnutrition rates, starvation and death', say expertsCuts to food assistance by the US, Britain and others are already leading to more people starving to death around the world, experts have warned.As the United Nations and other agencies try to understand just how badly President Donald Trump's announced 83% cut in funding to USAid will affect the world's most vulnerable people, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has said its aid provision in Somalia is being reduced, after last month's estimate that 4.4 million people in the east African nation will be pushed into malnutrition from April because of drought, global inflation and conflict. Continue reading...

For all the fraternal rhetoric, the alliance has always been asymmetric. It seems Washington under Trump sees it as immaterial

Duterte faces charges over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed tens of thousands. This live blog is closed

Peer and former head of army offered to secure meetings with ministers for potential commercial clientThe House of Lords watchdog has started an official investigation into revelations that a peer offered to secure meetings with ministers for a potential commercial client who wanted to lobby the government.The investigation into Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British army, was announced on Friday. Continue reading...

Fearing release of distressing material, lawyers have petitioned a Santa Fe court to seal records to protect the family's right to privacyA representative for the estate of actor Gene Hackman is seeking to block the public release of autopsy and investigative reports, especially photographs and police body-camera video, related to the recent deaths of Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, after their partially mummified bodies were discovered at their New Mexico home in February.Authorities last week announced Hackman died at age 95 of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer's disease as much as a week after Arakawa, 65, died from a rare rodent-borne disease, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity on 18 February, indicating an abnormal heart rhythm on the day he probably died. The couple's bodies weren't discovered until 26 February. Continue reading...

President's changes to student loan programs leave millions facing higher payments and uncertainty over relief optionsMany of the nearly 43 million Americans who have federal student loan debt are seeing their carefully budgeted monthly payments soar amid Donald Trump's overhaul of education in the United States.In the last few weeks, the Trump administration closed applications for all income-driven repayment plans (even ones not blocked by courts) and limited those eligible for public service loan forgiveness (PSLF). That program forgives the loans of government and select nonprofit workers after completing 10 years of service and making 10 years of minimum payments. Continue reading...

Commentary urged CK Hutchison to think twice' about what position and side they are on' in sale to US investors

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil has sent shockwaves through US civil society because of its apparent ramifications for immigration and free speech. Here's what you need to know Continue reading...

Scott Anthony Gastal, who at age 11 had testified in court in the 1980s that his priest had raped him, was beaten to deathThe clergy abuse survivor who effectively ignited the US Catholic church's reckoning with clerical molestation when - at age 11 - he testified in the 1980s that his priest had raped him was recently beaten to death in south-west Louisiana.Scott Anthony Gastal, whose later life was marked by legal struggles after enduring child sexual abuse at the hands of notorious clergy predator Gilbert Gauthe, was 50. Continue reading...

Experts say legislation will prevent vulnerable people from accessing justice in latest government-backed crackdownHuman rights groups in Peru have voiced alarm over a controversial anti-NGO law that prevents civil society organisations from taking legal action against the state for human rights abuses - a move that activists say will prevent the vulnerable from accessing justice.Peru's deeply unpopular congress added a harsher amendment to an existing bill which was fast-tracked through the chamber with 81 votes in favour, 16 against and four abstentions on Wednesday. Continue reading...

The decision upholding native title as a property right is a win for the long-running Gumatj case but is also said to have long-term ramifications'

Invasive Species Council says moratorium a knee-jerk reaction' to inadequacy of national eradication program

Attorney general says legislation developed in response to Citipointe scandal could create unnecessary burden on organisations and institutions'

This blog is now closed

Police find remains while searching for 39-year-old man reported missing on Thursday

Insiders say UK national security adviser avoids limelight, but it found the calm operator' this weekIn the topsy-turvy world in which Keir Starmer and his aides operate, the US putting the onus on Russia to agree to a truce with Ukraine marked a significant victory.The proposed 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is the culmination of two weeks of high-wire negotiations involving Ukraine, the US, UK, France and Germany. Continue reading...

Researchers told to respond within 48 hours to more than 30 questions, including on DEI, gender and climate Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Trump administration has been accused of blatant foreign interference" in Australia's universities after researchers who receive US funding were asked to confirm they aligned with US government interests, including only recognising two genders.The questionnaire, sent to university researchers over the past fortnight, seeks a response within 48 hours to more than 30 questions to support program determinations", according to a copy of the questionnaire seen by Guardian Australia. The questions relate to the priorities of the Trump administration, including whether the organisation receives funding from China, whether there are DEI elements, and whether the project is taking appropriate measures" to defend against gender ideology" in line with Trump's executive order on gender.Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Continue reading...

Headteachers' conference to be told that rise in bullying, abuse and malicious use of deepfakes is being reportedSocial media operators must be brought to heel" for the misery and disruption they are causing to the lives of students, teachers and parents, according to a senior school leader.Manny Botwe, the president of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), will tell the association's annual conference that teachers are reporting increased bullying, abuse and the malicious use of deepfakes" against pupils and staff through social media. Continue reading...

This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Heather Boushey, an economist and former adviser to Joe Biden, about what Donald Trump's long game is with his trade war, and how voters will view his handling of the economy should there be a Trumpcession'

Atlassian co-founder says he has extremely rigorous carbon regime' but makes hard tradeoff' to run global business and be a constantly present dad'

Israeli Oscar-winner Yuval Abraham speaks out after Miami Beach mayor proposed evicting a local cinema for screening the Palestinian-focused documentaryThe Israeli director of No Other Land has criticised a Florida mayor's efforts to evict a local cinema after it screened his Oscar-winning documentary about Palestinian displacement in the West Bank, saying: Banning a film only makes people more determined to see it."Steven Meiner, the mayor of Miami Beach, has issued a draft resolution calling for the termination of the city's lease agreement with O Cinema, and withdrawing $40,000 in promised grant funding for the nonprofit that runs the independent cinema. Continue reading...

Zelenskyy says Russia is manipulative' and seeking to extend the war while Trump says he is ready to call' PutinVladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine and appeared to set out a series of sweeping conditions that would need to be met before Russia would agree to such a truce.Speaking at a press conference at the Kremlin alongside the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said he agreed in principle with US proposals to halt the fighting but said he wanted to address the root causes of the conflict". Continue reading...

This live coverage has ended, thank you for following along. You can find all of the latest Ukraine news here.Suspilne, Ukraine's state broadcaster, reports that Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, and partially occupied Zaporizhzhia were the Ukrainian regions that suffered overnight Russian attacks. Ukraine's military has claimed it shot down 74 of 117 drones overnight, and that Russia also launched an Iskander-M missile.Russian media reports that Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, has arrived in Moscow. Continue reading...

Nineteen people died in the Mariana disaster, prompting a claim of up to 36bn claim against the mining firm BHPWith tears in their eyes, mothers of children who died in Brazil's worst environmental disaster - the 2015 Mariana dam collapse - demanded justice for their loved ones as submissions in their London lawsuit came to an end on Thursday.Nineteen people were killed when the Mariana dam in south-eastern Brazil collapsed and unleashed a wave of toxic sludge, leaving thousands homeless, flooding forests and polluting the Doce River. Continue reading...

Health secretary consistently rejected notion of axing NHS England on the basis of legal challenge he must now tackleSince Labour won power last July, Keir Starmer has repeatedly affirmed his deep affection for the NHS, close family ties to it, intention to fix" it - and also his determination to change it.In a speech last September, he said the health service in England is in such dire straits that it's reform or die" and his government's plans to overhaul how it works could amount to the biggest reimagining of our NHS since its birth" in 1948. Continue reading...

Giving evidence in her husband's libel case against the Guardian, Iris Clarke says he always tried to help peopleNoel Clarke's wife has said his accusers are liars who have deliberately fabricated sexual misconduct claims about him.Giving evidence in the actor's libel case against the Guardian, Iris Clarke said her husband was generous and caring, and that people he had worked with and helped had taken advantage of him. Continue reading...

Reforms proposed by health secretary predicted to save as much as 500m but could be distraction for ministersWes Streeting has ordered a high-stakes" reorganisation of the NHS that will scrap 10,000 jobs in an attempt to free up cash for frontline care.Experts warned that the move to abolish NHS England and fold it into the Department of Health could distract ministers from the urgent job of ending long waits for treatment, while trade unions expressed concern about the shambolic" announcement of job cuts for public servants.Join Wes Streeting in conversation with Pippa Crerar discussing England's health and social care system and how Labour plans to turn it around on Tuesday 25 March 2025, 7pm-8.15pm (GMT). Book tickets here or at guardianlive.com Continue reading...

Influential Labour figure says cuts not a Labour thing to do', while George Osborne says when chancellor he resisted move as step too far'The former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has criticised plans for cuts to disability benefits, saying on his podcast that it was not going to work".George Osborne, the architect of welfare cuts during the coalition years, also told the same podcast that he had resisted freezing personal independence payments (Pip) - a move currently under consideration - because he felt it was going too far. Continue reading...

RMT union wins 87% backing from members for improved package for train managers at Avanti West CoastTrain managers on Britain's biggest intercity service, Avanti West Coast, have settled a dispute over rest-day working, ending a series of weekend strikes.The RMT union said 87% of its members had voted to accept a deal including additional pay for working weekends and an agreement on the allocation of staffing for extra shifts. Continue reading...

Union says staff will have been left reeling after surprise news that body will be scrappedStarmer is now talking about regulatation, and giving examples of where he thinks it has gone too far.l give you an example. There's a office conversion in Bingley, which, as you know, is in Yorkshire. That is an office conversion that will create 139 homes.But now the future of that is uncertain because the regulator was not properly consulted on the power of cricket balls. That's 139 homes. Now just think of the people, the families, the individuals who want those homes to buy, those homes to make their life and now they're held up. Why? You'll decide whether this is a good reason because I'm going to quote this is the reason because the ball strike assessment doesn't appear to be undertaken by a specialist, qualified consultant'. So that's what's holding up these 139 homes.When we had those terrible riots ... what we saw then, in response, was dynamic. It was strong, it was urgent. It was what I call active government, on the pitch, doing what was needed, acting.But for many of us, I think the feeling is we don't really have that everywhere all of the time at the moment.The state employs more people than we've employed for decades, and yet look around the country; do you see good value everywhere? Because I don't.I actually think it's weaker than it's ever been, overstretched, unfocused, trying to do too much, doing it badly, unable to deliver the security that people need. Continue reading...

Food and Drink Federation say businesses are struggling to deal with added complexity and bureaucracy'British food and drink exports to the EU have tumbled by more than a third since Brexit, according to new trade body figures highlighting how bureaucratic barriers have changed the relationship between the UK and its most important trading partner.Products including whisky, chocolate and cheese remain popular with EU customers, however overall food export volumes to the bloc fell to 6.37bn kg in 2024, representing a 34% decline compared with 2019 levels, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) found. Continue reading...

Homes searched in inquiry into alleged corruption at European parliament relating to Chinese technology giantSeveral people have been arrested and homes searched as part of an investigation into alleged bribery and corruption at the European parliament relating to the Chinese technology giant Huawei, Belgian prosecutors have said.The investigating judge in charge of the case has asked for seals to be fixed to the offices of two European parliament assistants alleged to be involved. Continue reading...

Lydia Mugambe, 49, was found guilty of forcing someone to work and conspiring to breach UK immigration lawA UN judge has been convicted of forcing a young woman to work as a slave who she exploited and abused".Lydia Mugambe, 49, took advantage of her status" over the victim in the most egregious way" by preventing her from holding down steady employment and forcing her to work as her maid and to provide childcare without payment, prosecutors said. Continue reading...

Mahmoud Khalil described by former colleague at UK office for Syria as well liked and extensively vettedA detained Columbia University graduate threatened with deportation after the Trump administration claimed he poses a risk to US foreign policy is a former employee of the British government who was extensively vetted before working at the embassy in Beirut.Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate from a Columbia University master's programme, was arrested at home on 9 March as he returned with his wife from a dinner to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Continue reading...

Photographer in coma and scores injured as police use teargas, rubber bullets and water cannon against retireesArgentina's hardline security minister is facing calls to resign after the violent police response to a protest by pensioners left a photographer in a coma and scores of other people injured.More than 1,000 riot police used teargas, rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse demonstrators late on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Miami Beach mayor also proposes withdrawing grant after O Cinema screened Palestinian-focused film No Other LandThe mayor of Miami Beachis attempting to evict an independent cinema from city-owned property after it screened No Other Land, the film about Palestinian displacement in the West Bank that just won the Oscar for best documentary.Steven Meiner's proposal would terminate O Cinema's lease and withdraw $40,000 in promised grant funding. In a newsletter sent to residents on Tuesday, Meiner condemned the film as a false one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people that is not consistent with the values of our City and residents". Continue reading...

Film will be directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, the pair behind NYC music doc Meet Me in the Bathroom and LCD Soundsystem concert filmSteven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, will oversee a film documenting Oasis's 2025 reunion tour.Knight is described as the creator of the film and will produce it, though it is being directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. Continue reading...

Dawn Robinson, of the R&B group that sold more than 20m albums, moved in during the pandemic after a family falloutDawn Robinson, a founding member of the widely popular R&B girl group En Vogue, has revealed she has been living out of her car for years.In a video she uploaded to social media, the singer said she moved into her vehicle out of necessity during the pandemic. Robinson added that she has since become devoted to the lifestyle. Continue reading...

Health secretary says end of biggest quango in world' is final nail in coffin of Andrew Lansley's 2012 reorganisation

Chancellor-in-waiting attempting to garner support for fiscal rule changes before new parliament convenesGermany's would-be chancellor has attempted to win the support of the Greens for his proposed fiscal rule changes, offering to expand the scope of defence spending and demanding to know: What more do you want from us?"The outgoing parliament is meeting to debate the creation of a 500bn (420bn) fund for infrastructure investment and radical changes in Germany's borrowing limits in order to boost defence spending. Continue reading...

Cash reward at staff-owned group ruled out for third year in a row, with focus on 600m plans to transform business

Twenty minutes after arriving on holiday in Italian city, Yanis Tereshchenko drew on experience of war to interveneA Ukrainian soldier who insists on always carrying a first-aid kit - even while on holiday - has been praised for saving the life of a stabbing victim during a trip in Venice, Italy.Yanis Tereshchenko, a 32-year-old teacher who enlisted in the Ukrainian army's third assault brigade immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, was on his way to his hotel with his wife and his five-year-old son in the Rialto district when he witnessed an altercation between two young men. Continue reading...

Performers can fight cynicism in age of Trump, says Nicola Benedetti as she announces 2025 programmeMusicians and artists should challenge disinformation and cynicism in global politics by standing up for fundamental truths, the violinist Nicola Benedetti has said.Benedetti, the director of the Edinburgh international festival, said the arts played an essential role during periods of turmoil by showing the best of human achievement. Continue reading...

David Baszucki says company is vigilant about protecting users amid reports of bullying and grooming on platformParents who are worried about their children gaming on Roblox should not let them use it, the platform's chief executive has said.There have been reports of bullying and grooming, and fears that children are being exposed to explicit or harmful content, on the site, which is the most popular platform in the UK among gamers aged eight to 12. Continue reading...

The defense secretary has empowered his lawyer Tim Parlatore to remake the judge advocate general's corpsThe US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is expected in the coming weeks to start a sweeping overhaul of the judge advocate general's corps as part of an effort to make the US military less restricted by the laws of armed conflict, according to two people familiar with the matter.The changes are poised to have implications across the military, as Hegseth's office considers changes to the interpretation of the US rules of engagement on the battlefield to the way that charges are brought under the military justice system. Continue reading...

Australia's ambassador to the US tells ABC's 7.30 that he has thrown everything' at trying to get an exemption to levies

The 3m 2024 figure compares with 32m loss in 2023 and comes despite uncertain consumer environment'Deliveroo has made an annual profit for the first time, after a bumpy few years since a disastrous stock market listing that earned the takeaway delivery company the nickname flopperoo".The 12-year-old company, a member of the FTSE 250 index of mid-sized companies, made a profit of 3m in 2024, compared with a loss of 32m in 2023, it said in a statement on Thursday. Continue reading...

Peter Dutton also declines to say whether he would back a further extension of household energy bill rebates if he wins coming election

Sydney court finds leg-spinner arranged meeting between dealer and brother-in-law but jury dismissed he knew quantity