World news | The Guardian

At least £2bn extra needed for London-Birmingham section as inflation fuels yet more budget overruns on troubled rail projectMinisters are set to delay construction of key sections of the HS2 rail line, with a statement expected imminently outlining the extent of budget overruns amid soaring inflation.It is understood that parts of the high-speed network between Crewe and Birmingham are likely to be delayed or trimmed, while full running of trains into London Euston may also be held off further. Continue reading...

Actor says divorce judge asked her young son: ‘Do you know your mother makes sex movies?’The actor Sharon Stone has said that judicial prejudice caused her to lose custody of her son after the presiding judge in her 2004 divorce case asked the four-year-old whether he knew his mother made “sex movies”.Stone was speaking on the Table for Two podcast and alleged that her role in Paul Verhoeven’s 1992 psychological thriller Basic Instinct was “weaponised against her” in the fight for custody of the son, Roan, whom she had adopted with her then husband Phil Bronstein in 2000. Continue reading...

Proposals to neuter the country’s judiciary have spooked entrepreneurs who had seemed immune to the political weatherAbout 20 years ago, the skyline of Tel Aviv began to change. The city’s collection of elegant white Bauhaus buildings has been joined by tower after tower, each one a salute to Israel’s rapid transformation into one of the world’s most important advanced technology centres.It is no accident that the rise of the “startup nation” has dovetailed with the career of its longest serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Bibi, as he is widely known, is a firm believer in the free market and has championed Israel’s vaunted hi-tech sector as his own personal achievement. At 15.3% of GDP, it is now Israel’s main engine of economic growth, employing 10% of the country’s salaried workforce, and generating about a quarter of income taxes. Continue reading...

Electricity system operator struggled to keep lights on during one of the coldest weeksNational Grid paid some of the highest prices this winter for gas-generated power on Tuesday night as it scrambled to keep the lights on during one of the coldest weeks of the year.Data from the electricity system’s administrator, Elexon, showed the Coryton power station in Essex had bids accepted to produce power at £1,950 per megawatt hour (MWh) on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...

Deputy PM Richard Marles says ‘true intent’ of deal with US and UK is to defend the rules-based order across region

Australian spy agency tells court it can’t share information with Sayed Abdellatif, who denies allegations

John Robertson warns lumping together all children in contact with the justice system risks undermining community safety

Detention of 34-year-old followed examination of footage taken from within police cordonA man has been arrested in connection with footage shot from inside a police cordon on the day the body of Nicola Bulley was found. Lancashire constabulary said the footage was then posted online.The 34-year-old man from Kidderminster in Worcestershire was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences and perverting the course of justice in connection with the investigation to find Bulley, the force said. Continue reading...

Thomas Waring charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and two others arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murderThree people have been arrested in connection with the killing of the beautician Elle Edwards inside a pub in Wallasey on Christmas Eve.Edwards, 26, was shot in the head shortly before midnight as she celebrated with friends at the Lighthouse pub in Wirral last year. She later died in hospital. Continue reading...

EU commissioner Ylva Johansson warns new migration bill breaches international law, potentially reigniting hostilitiesRishi Sunak faces a fresh clash with the EU after a senior comissioner warned that his contentious new migration bill will be in breach of human rights laws.The intervention comes as the prime minister prepares to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, where he is expected to be asked to guarantee regular payments to stop boats carrying asylum seekers from crossing the Channel.Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, was accused by Sunak at prime minister’s question time of being “another lefty lawyer” trying to block efforts to curb migration.MPs accused the prime minister of forsaking women smuggled for sex on International Women’s Day by pushing forward a bill that undermines trafficking laws.The BBC was dragged into another political row over impartiality after Gary Lineker, the Match of the Day host, refused to backdown after comparing the government’s rhetoric to 1930s Germany.The United Nations’ refugee agency warned it cannot step in as a “substitute for the right to seek asylum” after the government said it would expand its partnership with the organisation after outlawing small boat crossings. Continue reading...

Demonstrators voice fury after revelations of staff shortages and substandard equipment revealed state of rail networkTens of thousands have staged protest rallies in Greece as anger over a train disaster that plunged the country into mourning a week ago intensified amid widespread industrial action.In cities nationwide, as workers staged a 24-hour general strike, demonstrators voiced fury over an accident that left 57 dead when two locomotives collided head on and at high speed outside the town of Tempe. It was the deadliest train crash on record in Greece. Continue reading...

Former prime minister reportedly interviewed by lawyer investigating Raab bullying allegationsBoris Johnson previously warned Dominic Raab about his conduct, according to reports that claim the former prime minister has given evidence to the bullying investigation.Johnson has been interviewed by Adam Tolley KC, the independent lawyer who is investigating formal complaints made against Raab about his treatment of staff, according to the Daily Telegraph (paywall). Continue reading...

Police fire teargas at protesters rallying against ‘Russian law’ critics say could harm efforts to join EUThousands of people have taken to the streets of Georgia’s capital for a second day to rally against a “foreign agents” law that critics say would limit press freedom and undercut the country’s efforts to become a candidate for EU membership.Protesters carrying Georgian, EU and Ukrainian flags gathered outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on Wednesday and shouted: “No to the Russian law.” Demonstrators also blocked the city’s central Rustaveli Avenue, after a call from the main opposition party, the United National Movement, to gather there. Continue reading...

This live blog has now closed, you can read more of our coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war hereThat’s it from me, Helen Sullivan, for today. My colleagues in London will be taking you through the rest of the day’s news.Last night Kharkiv’s street lights were switched on for the first time since the start of the war, the city’s Mayor said. Continue reading...

Presenter mocks ‘freedom of speech champions … demanding silence from those with whom they disagree’A defiant Gary Lineker has hit back at his critics and thanked his supporters after reports the BBC will have a “frank conversation” with the Match of the Day presenter following comments he made comparing Home Office immigration policy to Nazi Germany.Lineker tweeted on Wednesday: “Great to see the freedom of speech champions out in force this morning demanding silence from those with whom they disagree.” Continue reading...

Avril Haines tells of ‘grinding, attritional war’ but sounds cautious note over Ukraine’s prospects in expected counter-offensiveWashington does not believe the Russian military can recover from its losses in Ukraine to make territorial gains there this year, the top US intelligence official has said, but she warned that Vladimir Putin still believes that time is on his side.The assessment, presented by the director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, at a Senate hearing on Wednesday morning, was noncommittal on whether Ukraine could take back significant amounts of occupied land in its planned counter-offensive this spring. Haines said that would depend on multiple factors, including the loss of Ukrainian troops and equipment in resisting Russian attacks. Continue reading...

Met Office says heavy snow may cause serious travel disruption as freeze forecast to continue across UK until at least FridayParts of the UK will be blanketed in white as heavy snow and blizzards are forecast for the Midlands and north England in a return of wintry weather and sub-zero temperatures.The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for “strong winds bringing blizzard conditions” between Stoke-on-Trent and Durham from 3pm on Thursday until 2pm on Friday, while much of the rest of the country will see rain and sleet. Continue reading...

Law weakens state’s oversight of child labor and represents latest attempt in mostly Republican-led states to ease regulationsThe governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, on Tuesday signed a bill that significantly rolls back protections against child labor, eliminating state requirements to verify that children are at least 16 before they receive a job.A spokesperson for Sanders, who before becoming governor was White House press secretary under Donald Trump, told the Washington Post state law had been “burdensome and obsolete”. Continue reading...

Call for ministerial code inquiry over message blaming civil servants for failure to stop Channel crossings

Kyle Bevan, boyfriend of child’s mother, blamed family dog for her injuries and denies murderA two-year-old girl was killed in a “frenzied and extremely violent attack” by her mother’s boyfriend, who blamed the family dog for her death, a jury has heard.Lola James, described as a “happy, beautiful and busy little girl”, was found to have 101 external injuries, “catastrophic” head trauma and extensive damage to both her eyes, the court was told. Continue reading...

About 150 free tickets to sports, shows and hospitality have been given to politicians since the 2019 election, according to analysis

UK regulator says breaches found in ‘every area’ looked at in relation to audit of engineering firm’s accountsThe consultancy group PwC has been hit with a £7.5m fine over a string of serious breaches while auditing the engineering company Babcock’s accounts, including faking evidence related to a sensitive government contract.The accounting regulator, the Financial Reporting Council, said breaches were found in “every area” it had investigated in relation to the audit of Babcock’s accounts for 2017 and 2018, with PwC repeatedly failing to either challenge management, gather sufficient evidence to confirm financial statements, or follow basic audit requirements. Continue reading...

‘Tonmai’, 26, given two-year sentence over cartoons of yellow ducks that became symbol of democracy protestsA 26-year-old man in Thailand has been sentenced to three years in prison, reduced to two years, for selling satirical calendars featuring pictures of cartoon ducks that officials say insult the monarchy.The man, a legal officer known by the nickname Tonmai, was arrested on 31 December 2020 after police raided his home and confiscated desk calendars that included images of yellow ducks – one of the symbols of youth-led pro-democracy protests that began more than two years ago. Officials said the calendars, which were being sold through a Facebook protest group, defamed the king. Continue reading...

In interview with Guardian Australia, Jonathan Mead moves to allay concerns as Aukus partners prepare to announce detailed plans

Decision by Civil Aviation Authority comes despite airport having argued for higher feesHeathrow airport has been ordered to cut average passenger charges by about 20% next year, in a move that could translate to lower ticket prices for travellers.The decision by the UK regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) comes despite Heathrow having argued for higher fees, which are charged to airlines and are used to fund baggage handling, security and other costs across the airport’s terminals. Continue reading...

Justin Lewis began his closing address on Wednesday afternoon after four weeks of evidence about Leifer’s alleged abuse of three Melbourne sistersUltra-Orthodox Jewish school principal Malka Leifer allegedly used her position of power to sexually exploit her teenage students, taking advantage of their vulnerability, a jury has been told.Leifer, 56, is facing 27 charges over the alleged abuse of Melbourne sisters Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper when she was head of religion and principal of the Adass Israel School in the city’s eastern suburbs between 2003 and 2007. Continue reading...

Debra Haigh tells hearing she now understands she should have stood in front of cell for longer and used a torch to look for movement

Follow all the news live on International Women’s Day

Ferocious STV battle revealed fissures within Scottish National party as Forbes, Yousaf and Regan traded blowsIt was billed as the first chance for candidates for Scottish National party leadership to speak directly to the country.But at Tuesday’s first televised debate, after five fairly bland party hustings, the message the three prospective first ministers screamed loud and clear at Scotland was “We are a party at war with ourselves”. Continue reading...

Consumer champion and charities seek a policy that supports UK households hit hardest by high billsCharities and the consumer champion Martin Lewis have ramped up pressure on the government to implement a “social tariff” for energy, which new research estimates could save 12m households on the lowest incomes up to £1,500.Citizens Advice and Lewis have backed a push to introduce a special tariff for those struggling to pay gas and electricity bills by next year, while energy suppliers have said they are “ready” to work up the proposals. Continue reading...

BCC says tackling barriers to work such as soaring childcare cost vital for a strong economy as well as equalityTwo-thirds of women with childcare responsibilities believe they have missed out on career progression as a direct result, business leaders have warned, amid growing pressure on the government to boost support for parents.Ahead of next week’s budget, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said tackling barriers to work posed by soaring childcare costs and a lack of support for elderly or disabled relatives was vital for equality and the economy. Continue reading...

Met Office says parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England to see worst of cold weather conditions from early Thursday, with Scotland and northern England expecting snow later in the dayMore sleet and snow is expected across southern England and south Wales on Wednesday while scattered snow and hail showers will affect Scotland’s northern coasts as the Arctic blast intensifies.The Met Office’s early morning radar showed an area of rain moving in from the south and west which was starting to turn increasingly to sleet and snow as it pushed north and east. Continue reading...

Ex-prime minister says he will remain in politics as he seeks to retain his opposition party’s share of parliamentary seatsFormer Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama has resigned from the Pacific nation’s parliament, weeks after he was suspended for sedition and insulting the president.Bainimarama said he was tendering his resignation “with immediate effect”, but had no intention of resigning from politics, in a post on his FijiFirst party’s Facebook page. Continue reading...

The media outlets, which are being sued by Bruce Lehrmann, say their teams took great lengths to verify the story

Independent’s comments made in support of proposal to bring to Australia 150 refugees and asylum seekers held in PNG and Nauru

The popular chocolate and peanut butter treat is one of two new ‘plant based’ offerings from the chocolatier in the next two monthsReese’s Peanut Butter Cups are getting the vegan treatment.The Hershey Company said on Tuesday that Reese’s plant-based peanut butter cups, which go on sale this month, will be its first vegan chocolates sold nationally. A second plant-based offering, Hershey’s plant-based extra creamy with almonds and sea salt, will follow in April. Continue reading...

Minister for women Katy Gallagher takes media to task for choosing ‘clickbait’ over community responsibility

Change in parents’ work patterns since Covid may have led to pupils staying homeSchools in England are seeing “a huge amount” of pupil absence on Fridays with children staying at home with their parents following a shift in attitudes post-Covid, MPs have been told.Dame Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, told the education committee that persistent absence from schools is “one of the issues of our age” and called for a “razor sharp focus” on the problem. Continue reading...

Philip Lowe delivers speech saying it will soon be time to stop and assess the impact previous rate increases have had

Kate Forbes clashed with fellow frontrunner Humza Yousaf over his track record in first of four debates to decide Sturgeon’s successorThe battle to lead the Scottish National party became bitter and personal after the two leading candidates attacked each other’s suitability to succeed Nicola Sturgeon in the first televised debate of the leadership campaign.Kate Forbes clashed with Humza Yousaf over his track record in government, claiming that trains were never on time when he was transport secretary; the police were at breaking point when he was justice secretary; and now, as health secretary, the NHS had the longest ever waiting lists. Continue reading...

Candidates to replace first minister Nicola Sturgeon clashed in first TV debateNow Regan quizzes Forbes on how she plans to move the SNP away from being seen as just a “party of referendum” when “your plan is to keep asking for a referendum”.Forbes says the party needs to persuade people to believe independence is a “route to an end” rather than an “abstract concept”. It needs to be seen as a way of ending poverty and ending injustices and inequalities in Scotland.I’m the only potential leader who can reach out and persuade No voters to vote for independence in a referendum. Continue reading...

Two killed, third person injured and fourth unharmed after quartet traveling for cosmetic surgery were seized in TamaulipasTwo of four Americans kidnapped in northern Mexico have been found dead, authorities said on Tuesday, while their two compatriots were found alive, bringing to an end the frantic search that had captivated media attention on both sides of the border.The governor for Mexico’s northern Tamaulipas state, Américo Villarreal, confirmed the news at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, adding that one person who had been found watching over the victims was in custody. Continue reading...

Critics of ‘foreign agents’ law say it could dash Tbilisi’s hopes of joining the European UnionPolice in the former Soviet state of Georgia have used water cannon and teargas in an attempt to disperse thousands of people who rallied on Tuesday night after parliament gave its initial backing to a draft law on “foreign agents” which critics say represents an authoritarian shift.Some protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police in the centre of the capital Tbilisi, as demonstrators warned that the draft law could hurt the south Caucasus country’s hopes of EU membership. Continue reading...

Union suspends planned strike on 16 March after receiving fresh pay offer from Network RailThe RMT union has called off a strike at Network Rail next week, fuelling hopes of a significant breakthrough in the long-running dispute.The union said it was suspending the strike planned for Thursday 16 March and all other industrial action, which was to include an overtime ban, after it received a fresh offer from Network Rail. Continue reading...

Exclusive: energy secretary issued edict to deal with ‘outrageous’ backlog of support for paying billsMinisters in the newly formed energy department faced a ban on foreign trips due to a mounting backlog of issues raised with them by MPs, the Guardian can reveal.Grant Shapps issued the edict last month in a bid to speed up the “outrageously” slow response to cases raised on behalf of constituents, some of whom were struggling to claim support with their energy bills during the cost of living crisis. Continue reading...

Solvency II reforms governing sector may prove inadequate, warns Sam Woods, head of the Bank’s regulatory armMoves to hand the Bank of England fresh powers over insurers will not be enough to offset the risks posed by looser regulation, one of the central bank’s most senior officials has warned.The comments by the chief executive of the Bank’s regulatory arm, Sam Woods, come a day after his boss and the Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, said that reforms to so-called Solvency II regulations would increase the possibility of life insurance firms failing by 20% in a given year. Continue reading...

Ukraine deputy PM says around 38 children remain in besieged city as western officials estimate Russia has sustained heavy losses thereSuspilne, Ukraine’s state broadcaster, reports on its Telegram channel for Sumy that Bilopillia, a city in the north-east of Ukraine, close to the border with Russia, has been hit by mortar fire this morning. No damage or casualties were reported. The claim has not been independently verified.Russian forces carried out 50 airstrikes and five missile strikes overnight and Ukrainian forces repelled 37 attacks in the area around Bakhmut, according to the latest update by the General staff of the armed forces of Ukraine.This is Martin Belam taking over the live blog in London. You can contact me at martin.belam@theguardian.com Continue reading...

Research finds ‘motherhood penalty’ is greater than 40 years ago, with mothers making 69% of fathers’ wagesThe pay gap between mothers and fathers with post-school education has increased since the late 1970s in the UK, according to research.As the world marks International Women’s Day on Wednesday, research from the University of Kent has found that the gap in pay between higher-educated mothers and fathers – the “motherhood penalty” – is greater now than 40 years ago. Continue reading...

Israeli forces enter camp to find gunman suspected of killing two brothers in Huwara last weekAt least six Palestinians have been killed and 10 wounded in an Israeli army raid on the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, according to Palestinian officials, the latest bloody incident in a new chapter of violence across Israel and the Palestinian territories.A fierce gun battle erupted in the crowded refugee camp on Jenin’s western outskirts on Tuesday afternoon after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) mounted an operation to find the Palestinian gunman suspected of killing two Israeli brothers as they drove through the West Bank town of Huwara last week. Continue reading...