World news | The Guardian

Two international tourists travelling to flood-ravaged North Burnett region from Brisbane thought to be first flood-related deaths

Some river levels are still increasing after parts of Queensland recorded their highest three-day rainfall totals

New legislation will require schools to use Mandarin by default, taking priority over minority ethnic languages such as Tibetan, Uyghur and MongolianChina's National People's Congress (NPC), the state legislature, will vote on Thursday on a suite of new laws agreed at this year's annual two sessions gathering, including a piece of legislation that will diminish the role of minority ethnic languages in the education system.NPC delegates are expected to approve a new ethnic unity law, along with a new environmental code and the 15th five-year plan, the economic planning document for 2026-2030. Delegates have spent the last week debating Beijing's proposed bills, which they are all but certain to approve. The NPC, which is often described as a rubber-stamp parliament, has never rejected an item on its agenda. Continue reading...

John Thune refusing to alter rules to force a vote as US president says he won't sign any legislation until bill is passed

Newly released documents also show Peter Mandelson was offered highly classified briefings before formal vetting was completeKeir Starmer overruled officials who warned of a reputational risk" in making Peter Mandelson US ambassador, despite being handed a dossier of evidence about the peer's relationship with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, documents reveal.The disclosure in newly released files will raise fresh questions about Starmer's judgment - as well as about the vetting procedures at the highest levels of government.Mandelson was offered a severance payment of 75,000 after initially asking the Foreign Office to pay him more than 500,000;Starmer was warned before appointing Mandelson that he remained in contact and stayed with Epstein after the financier was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008;Powell told an investigation that he thought the appointment was weirdly rushed";Starmer was reassured about Mandelson's friendship with Epstein by Matthew Doyle, his former communications chief and a friend of Mandelson. Doyle said he was satisfied" with Mandelson's explanation of the relationship. Continue reading...

Release shows that Jonathan Powell warned Morgan McSweeney about the appointment of Mandelson as US ambassadorAs reported by Nadeem Badshah this morning, the documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US expected to be released today will include a due diligence report by the Cabinet Office, which is believed to be two pages long.It is likely to raise questions about Keir Starmer's judgment, with sources saying it had warned the prime minister of the serious reputational risk" of going ahead with Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 given his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.He has said, as you know that it is a little bit - it does fall into the category of too little too late, but I think they have a good, solid relationship, and hopefully they'll be able to repair it. I go by what the president says, and the president says continuously that everybody is entitled to their point of view. But I think sometimes we detect that there's not that feeling of gratitude.I think the president's position is that we do plenty for Europe, plenty for the UK, in the area of trade, in the area of defence, in the area of the support we give to Nato. And I think sometimes the response back, the reciprocity back, is a little bit lacking. I would leave it at that, OK? Continue reading...

Latest sculpture titled King of the World' includes plaques with pointed commentary on pair's past associationA woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets. The appearance of a golden statue depicting Donald Trump and the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein as doomed lovers from the movie Titanic is confronting Washington with a murkier mystery.The nearly 12ft sculpture, unveiled on Tuesday on the National Mall, is the third piece of guerrilla art satirising Trump's past relationship with Epstein attributed to The Secret Handshake, a shadowy collective whose members remain anonymous. Continue reading...

PM knew of US ambassador's close relationship' with Jeffrey Epstein and potential conflicts of interest from his lobbying roleFour months after Peter Mandelson was sacked as UK ambassador to Washington over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, he sat down for a primetime BBC interview. A less hubristic individual would have long since slunk away into the shadows.But despite all the condemnation and humiliation surrounding his departure, Mandelson seemed intent on maintaining a public profile. Who knows what's next?" he told Laura Kuenssberg. I don't know what's next. I'm not going to disappear and hide - that's not me". Continue reading...

Richard Kemp tells high court former Sinn Fein leader would have authorised attacks carried out in EnglandA former British army commander has told the high court it is inconceivable" that Gerry Adams was not involved in the authorisation of IRA bombings.Richard Kemp said there was evidence from a multitude of intelligence" spanning 20 years about the former Sinn Fein leader's membership of the paramilitary organisation. Continue reading...

Payment for Inditex founder, the world's 15 richest person, tops last year's dividend of 3.1bnThe billionaire founder of Zara is to receive a company record 3.23bn (2.8bn) dividend this year from the world's biggest fashion retailer.Amancio Ortega, who still controls 59% of Spain's Inditex and whose daughter Marta Ortega Perez is now chair, will receive half his dividend in May and half in November - as will other shareholders. Continue reading...

Lack of public appearances prompted speculation about new leader's mortality after multiple family members perishedThe confirmation that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured in the first wave of Israeli attacks underlines how desperate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (ICRG) was to ensure their wounded choice was elevated to high office, and how confident it is that the wartime machinery can operate almost on automatic pilot without him.The full scale of Khamenei's injuries and speed of his recovery remain unclear, but a broken leg and facial injuries are the minimum. It is not a medical bulletin on which the authorities are seeking to dwell, although Ali Larijani, the secretary of the supreme national security council, chose his words carefully in saying his condition has not been reported as critical", a phrasing that suggests he has not personally seen him. Continue reading...

More than a week into the US-Israel war on Iran, president has provided little clarity on how the conflict might end

Grammy-winning singer is in advanced talks to lead an adaptation of Sylvia Plath's novel for Oscar-winning writer-directorGrammy-winning singer-songwriter Billie Eilish is set to make her big screen acting debut in an adaptation of Sylvia Plath's semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar.According to Deadline, the 24-year-old will take on the lead role for Sarah Polley, the writer-director who previously won an Oscar for her Women Talking screenplay. Eilish is reportedly in advanced talks for the part. Continue reading...

Green party leader has said he immediately apologised for comments made in 2013 Sun interview, but footage six days later shows him standing by claimZack Polanski's claim to have immediately apologised for offering hypnosis intended to increase a woman's breast size has been cast into doubt by the emergence of a 2013 interview with the Green party leader.In 2013, before he entered politics, Polanski was approached by a Sun journalist to see if a hypnotherapy session could make her breasts bigger. This experience was then written up as an article. Continue reading...

Tens of thousands of residents and tourists have left UAE since the US and Israel started bombing Iran two weeks ago, leaving beach bars, malls and hotels eerily emptyIn the playground of the rich, nobody wanted this war. For decades, Dubai built itself up as a sanctuary of unadulterated consumerism visited by tourists the world over.But now, the city in the United Arab Emirates faces an existential threat, as the war between the US and Israel and Iran has shaken the foundations of the Dubai dream" that so many foreigners had bought into. Continue reading...

What have we learned from release of files relating to former peer's appointment - and sacking - as UK ambassador to Washington?

Supreme court recently rejected Cedric Ricks' claim that potential jurors in his trial were eliminated based on race

Advisers to RFK Jr drop the plan to end federal guidance amid Republican worries about the political impact

Strike that killed at least 175 people, most of them children, reportedly due to targeting mistake by US military planners

Reform UK leader supported US war on Iran from start, but is now being accused of a U-turnNigel Farage has suggested Iran potentially poses a bigger danger than Putin poses to us", despite Russia having nuclear weapons and invading Ukraine.The Reform UK leader made the remarks in an interview with the New Statesman, which are likely to fuel further questions about his stance on Russia. Continue reading...

Prime minister says UK would be at war' now if it were up to Tory and Reform leaders and accuses both of changing position on war

Two people killed in Indiana as officials warn millions from Texas to Michigan remain at risk of severe weather

Gunmen from Islamic State West Africa Province overran four military bases and reportedly abducted 300 civiliansAt least 65 Nigerian soldiers have been killed in jihadist raids across the country's north-east in the last two weeks, as the west African state battles to contain one of the world's deadliest terror groups.On 5 and 6 March, gunmen from Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) overran four military bases in Borno state, the epicentre of the insurgency. Nigerian daily the Punch reported that about 40 soldiers were killed in total in these attacks. Continue reading...

Workers at JBS USA to strike Monday in what will be the first labor strike in the meatpacking industry in decadesAbout 3,800 workers at JBS USA, the world's largest meat producer, are set to strike on Monday in what will be the first labor strike in the industry in decades.The walkout threatens to put further strain on US meat prices - ground beef prices soared 15% last year - and could prove a headache for the Trump administration as it struggles with poor polling on cost of living issues. Continue reading...

Chancellor does not rule out ditching fuel duty rise but tells MPs it is too early to gauge if consumers need extra help

The attacks, which included the firebombing of a childcare centre and torching of cars, were motivated by financial reward, magistrate finds

The new president won office by promising to clean up crime, but his background is red rag to a bull for manyJust south of Santiago, the tiny rural town of Paine is a quiet grid of painted abode facades, shaded squares and shuttered shop fronts as the summer holidays draw to a close.But the white-knuckle fear of crime that propelled its most famous son, Jose Antonio Kast, to a resounding victory in December's presidential election is as present in sleepy Paine as it is the length of Chile. Continue reading...

State government apologises after convicted murderer Regina Arthurell removed this week despite December report warning of situation

First tranche expected to include Cabinet Office report warning of reputational risk' over ex-minister's links to EpsteinHundreds of documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US are expected to be released by Downing Street on Wednesday.The first tranche of files will include a two-page due diligence report by the Cabinet Office, which is likely to raise questions about Keir Starmer's judgment, the Guardian understands. Continue reading...

Cheshire police and CPS say they were not told about inquiry into Prof Peter Hindmarsh before he gave evidence at nurse's trialThe police force behind the prosecution of the former nurse Lucy Letby has said it was not informed by a key expert witness before he gave evidence at her trial that he was under investigation over serious concerns in his medical work.The Crown Prosecution Service also told the Guardian it was not aware that Prof Peter Hindmarsh was subject to the formal investigation by the hospital that employed him, before his first appearance as a witness on 25 November 2022. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed

While some argue for destroying the terminal though which 90% of Iran's oil exports flow, others caution of a global market tailspin'Kharg Island - through which 90% of Iran's oil exports flow - is arguably the country's most sensitive economic target but the export terminal has so far remained untouched throughout the US-Israel bombing campaign.Experts say bombing or capturing the site with US forces would be likely to cause a sustained increase to already surging oil prices, as it would amount to taking the entirety of Iran's daily crude exports offline. Continue reading...

The perpetrators were jailed for 15 years for robbery with violence in the east African country, where homophobic attacks are increasingThe sentencing of two people who attacked and robbed two gay men in Kenya has been hailed by LGBTQ+ rights advocates as a breakthrough and a sign of hope for the country's queer community. Abel Meli & Another" were sentenced to 15 years in prison for robbery with violence on 3 March at Milimani law courts in Nairobi.The ruling is a rare example of justice being served for the queer community in Kenya. Njeri Gateru, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, an independent human rights institution working towards equality for sexual and gender minorities in Kenya, said: A lot is going against [the queer community] with the existence of the criminal laws and prevailing homophobic attitudes, but some of us still trust that we can find justice, so this case encourages us." Continue reading...

Woman, from Togo, faces uncertain wait for indefinite leave to remain because of changes coming into force next monthThe mother of a six-year-old cancer survivor has spoken of her overwhelming" fear her daughter will be denied crucial treatment because of the government's immigration crackdown.The girl, from London, underwent two rounds of life-saving chemotherapy after being diagnosed at two with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that mostly affects children. Continue reading...

Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefitsAchieving the UK's net zero target by 2050 will cost less than a single oil shock and bring health and economic benefits while insulating the country against future costs, the government's climate advisers have forecast.Eliminating the UK's reliance on fossil fuels by adopting renewable energy and green technologies, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, would be the best and most cost-effective option for the future economy, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) found. Continue reading...

About 24,000 people surveyed about food, nightlife, affordability, culture and happinessAn annual global ranking has named Melbourne the best city in the world for the first time. But it may be more to do with vibes" than thorough analysis.Time Out's 50 Best Cities list for 2026, released on Wednesday, crowned an Australian city as No 1 for the first time in its 10-year history, showering Melbourne with acclaim for its food, culture and arts scenes. Continue reading...

Tony Burke says player opted to return home just hours after she and six others were given humanitarian visas

Intelligence sources claim Iran has begun mine laying as US energy secretary backtracks on claim US escorted a ship through strategic chokepoint

Australia's high court finds singer's label and merchandise distributor had been assiduous infringers' of trademark

Economists predict RBA board will hike cash rate to 4.1% next week as inflation climbs and energy costs surge

The Queensland senator replaces David Littleproud, who announced his shock resignation from the National party on Tuesday

Iran's police chief says protesters will be treated as enemies' and that security forces remain stationed in the streets

More than 100,000 people have tuned in to watch kkp cam', which captures a rare flightless bird sleeping, tidying her nest and fighting off intrudersOn an island in New Zealand's remote southern fjords, one of the world's strangest and rarest parrots - the kkp - is caring for her tiny chick as fans from across the globe watch on.Through the black and white lens of a hidden camera, a fluffy orb with a kazoo-like squeak jostles for food from its mother's beak. The mother, Rakiura, is attentive - scooping her chick under her large green wings, fending off an intruding bird, and periodically tidying her nest. Continue reading...

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority says pupils had trouble logging on to platform

Georgia contest will be a test of Trump's sway and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in the southern state

State's governor declared emergency as islands face extreme weather and Big Island volcano Kilauea erupts

Anti-corruption watchdog makes adverse findings against two former public servants but clears four other individualsTwo former public servants referred to the anti-corruption watchdog by the royal commission into robodebt have been found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct while former prime minister, Scott Morrison, has been cleared.The long-awaited report into potential corruption related to the unlawful income averaging scheme, released on Wednesday, covered the six referrals made by royal commissioner Catherine Holmes in 2023, which were restricted from the public view in a sealed chapter. Continue reading...

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz of Florida, 35, allegedly fired 10 shots with a semiautomatic firearm into Beverly Hills homeA 35-year-old Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder after she allegedly fired shots into the Beverly Hills home of Rihanna on Sunday.Ivanna Lisette Ortiz was charged on Tuesday with one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, all felonies, court records show. Officials have said no one was injured during the shooting. Continue reading...

Upper chamber accepts final draft of bill, which offers life peerages to some of those who would otherwise be removedHereditary peerages will be abolished before the next king's speech after a deal was struck granting life peerages to some Conservatives and cross-benchers losing their seats.On Tuesday evening the upper chamber accepted a final draft of the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, marking the end of its passage through parliament and clearing the way for it to be added to the statute book. Continue reading...

Eye strokes' that reduce blood flow to optic nerve likely to be side-effect of active ingredient semaglutide, says authorPatients taking Wegovy have nearly five times the risk of sudden sight loss of those on Ozempic, a large-scale study has found.Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medicines such as semaglutide (sold as Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus) and tirzepetide (sold as Mounjaro) help reduce blood sugar levels, slow digestion and reduce appetite, and have been linked to reduced risks of heart attack, fewer drug overdoses and other health benefits. Continue reading...