World news | The Guardian

Greens senator sounds warning as Labor expected to announce possible defence measures to protect Gulf countries within days

In today's newsletter: Across the Iranian diaspora, reactions to the escalating conflict reveal a complex mix of fear, grief and deep political ambivalenceGood morning. War has broken out in the Middle East. As the Iran war broadens and spills out into neighbouring countries, media agencies have rightly focused on trying to understand how the conflict came about, where bombs have fallen, and how many have died, while many states globally fear spikes in energy prices and wonder how the war will impact their economies.What can easily get lost are the voices of the people directly affected.Iran | Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been chosen as his successor.UK politics | Keir Starmer sought to repair fractured relations with Donald Trump over the war with Iran on Sunday, as a Labour backlash gathered pace over Tony Blair's assertion the UK should have supported the US's initial airstrikes on Iran.Energy | Great Britain has only two days of fossil gas stored after a decline in energy reserves, as more tankers carrying liquefied natural gas are diverted from their course to Europe towards Asia because of the Iran war. Meanwhile, global oil prices surged past the $100 (74) a barrel mark for the first time since 2022.Health | More than 400 lives may have been saved as a result of Martha's rule, which lets NHS patients request a review of their care. Thousands of patients were either moved to intensive care, received drugs they needed or benefited from other changes as a direct result of over 10,000 calls to helplines.AI | ChatGPT is driving a rise in reports of organised ritual abuse and witchcraft, spirit possession and spiritual abuse" against children - which is historically under-reported in the UK - as survivors of satanic" sexual violence use the AI tool for therapy. Continue reading...

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Figure above 40% every week since early January as report says situation no longer in freefall nor in recovery'Workers are heading back to offices across the UK in droves, pushing office occupancy to the highest since before the Covid-19 pandemic, as an expert described the numbers as no longer in freefall nor in recovery mode but settling".Investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chasehave led the push with strict return-to-office mandates despite anger among many employees about being ordered back to the office five days a week. Companies in other sectors have also increased days in the office but many businesses, including law and accounting firms, still allow staff to work remotely two days a week. Continue reading...

David Weaver says proposed jury reforms and slow progress on equality risk eroding support in marginal seatsLabour is in deep trouble" with Black voters, a former government adviser has warned, saying the party is at risk of being seen as accepting the normalisation of racism".David Weaver, who is the chair of Operation Black Vote (OBV), said the government's plans to restrict juries would heighten, normalise and embed" racial disproportionality in the justice system and that Black voters were saying: We don't know what Labour stands for any more." Continue reading...

Lawyer for 24-year-old asks for identifying details of mother and siblings to be kept secret for their mental and physical safety'

Benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closes down by 2.85%, marking the single biggest one-day drop since Donald Trump's liberation day' tariffs announcement

Network Rail said Scotland's busiest station would remain closed until further notice'Travel disruption is expected to last throughout Monday after a large fire broke out near Glasgow Central station on Sunday.National Rail said that the station would remain closed with no estimate on when the station will reopen" after the blaze at a vape shop in Union Street. Continue reading...

Amon had testified he held an honest and reasonable belief that the teen was over the age of 16

Proton VPN moves from 174th to 19th place as NordVPN goes from 189th to 13th, as porn websites in Australia start requiring age verification for users

This liveblog is closed. Follow the latest coverage on our new liveblog here.The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes across Iran" on Sunday, targeting military sites.A military statement said it had initiated a wave of strikes targeting the Iranian terror regime military infrastructure across Iran". Continue reading...

Alexandra Caples suggested expanded NSW laws could damage trust between police and communities, undermining broader efforts to counter extremism'

Kasasa island, in the Seto Inland Sea, has only seven residents but its fate is strongly intertwined with relations between Tokyo and BeijingHis island home is shrouded in mist, but his union jack woolly hat makes Hideya Yagi easy to spot as he greets the approaching boat. The 80-year-old, a former president of a construction company, is pleased to see the small group of passengers disembark, mainly because he is one of only seven registered residents at their destination, Kasasa island.Kasasa is known as the Hawaii" of Japan's inland sea because of its warm climate and beautiful coastline. Yagi and his wife, Mihoko, eke out a quiet life alongside just one other couple and an elderly woman. The other two residents are almost always absent. Continue reading...

Ukrainian president hopes for reciprocal support for Kyiv in repelling Russian forces. What we know on day 1,474Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Kyiv's drone experts will be on site in the Middle East next week", as he seeks US air defence missiles in exchange for drone expertise. Ukraine is facing a shortage of the expensive US PAC-3 air defence ammunition and Kyiv fears a longer Middle East war could disrupt supplies even further. When asked how exactly he wants to help the United States and its Gulf allies repel the drones, Zelensky said: It is too early to say anything else at this stage", adding: I think that next week, when the experts are on site, they will look at the situation and help."Zelenskyy said he and Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten discussed joint arms production during his visit to Kyiv on Sunday, and he stressed Ukraine's unique experience in defending against Iranian-made drones used by Russia. We would very much like this to be an opportunity for both sides," Zelenskyy told a press conference after a meeting with Jetten. It is important that we are producing weapons together with the Netherlands - and we will certainly continue and expand this joint work," Zelenskyy said, adding they had discussed investments and possible production volumes in detail. The Netherlands are an important donor to the PURL program through which Europe buys US weapons for Ukraine, so far contributing $870m to it.Demand for Ukraine's drone defence technology could lead to new defence partnerships for Kyiv, but equally could mean fewer drones for Ukraine itself in a stretched market, says Shaun Walker, the Guardian's central and eastern Europe correspondent. Ukraine has significant experience battling the Shahed drones now being used by Iran to attack its Gulf neighbours, something that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly said he is ready to share in return for help against Russia. We are ready to help, and expect that our people will also receive the necessary support," he said over the weekend. However, the attention of the White House is now elsewhere, perhaps drawing momentum away from peace talks with Moscow, and the attack on Iran seems to reinforce Vladimir Putin's view of the world, in which stronger nations can target their weaker adversaries with impunity.Global weapons flows have grown by almost 10% in the past five years, with Europe more than tripling imports in the wake of the war in Ukraine, a report showed on Monday. The surge can be explained, in part at least, by the fact European countries are buying in weapons to supply to Ukraine and because they are seeking to boost their own military capabilities against a perceived threat from Russia, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said. While imports of weapons to Europe are still not at the levels seen during the cold war, Europe is now the largest recipient of arms [globally]," Mathew George, director of SIPRI's Arms Transfers Programme, told AFP.Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that its air defence units had intercepted 234 drones over various parts of central and southern Russia over a nine-hour period, including six drones headed for Moscow. The ministry reported no damage or casualties during the period, extending from 2pm to 11pm. Continue reading...

Minister announces action plan to boost social cohesion that will also give regulator powers to shut down charitiesThe UK government will expand powers to tackle extremism by setting up a new whistleblowing route for university staff and giving the Charity Commission powers to shut down charities, as part of a new action plan to strengthen social cohesion.The plan, announced by the housing, communities and local government secretary, Steve Reed, will invest a further 5m in the Common Ground Resilience Fund, which was launched to support organisations and authorities tackling divisions in communities. Continue reading...

Review finds evidence does not back use of treatment for 16 and 17-year-olds with gender incongruence or dysphoriaThe NHS is pausing new referrals for masculinising or feminising hormone treatment for 16 and 17-year-olds after an in-depth review found there was insufficient evidence to support its continued use.Prescriptions for hormones had been available in England for under-18s with a diagnosis of gender incongruence or dysphoria who met certain criteria. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Goldsmith and brother Ben the major investors in trkradio, which is due to go to air next monthThe former Conservative minister Zac Goldsmith is launching a new sports radio station, trkradio, in the run-up to the men's football World Cup this summer.The Track Radio Corporation is understood to have been granted a licence by Ofcom last week, with Goldsmith and his brother Ben, a financier and environmentalist, the major investors. Continue reading...

National Gas insists storage broadly in line with levels for time of year despite disruption for tankers carrying LNGGreat Britain has only two days of fossil gas stored after a decline in energy reserves, as more tankers carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) are diverted from their course to Europe towards Asia because of the Iran war.Great Britain had 6,999 gigawatt hours (GWh) of fossil gas stored on Saturday, according to figures from National Gas, which owns and operates the gas national transmission system. This compares with 9,105 GWh a year earlier. Continue reading...

Owner Lee Cox describes the winner as dog of a lifetime' as he claims the crown at prestigious dog contestBruin, a clumber spaniel, has won the best in show prize at Crufts, which took place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.His owner, Lee Cox, described the four-year-old Bruin as a dog of a lifetime" as he won the competition and was met with roaring cheers from the audience. Continue reading...

Pro-independence party formed by Alex Salmond in 2021 had suffered membership fall and financial crisisThe Alba party has announced that it will wind up and not field any candidates for the 2026 Scottish parliament election.The pro-independence party was formed in 2021 by the late Alex Salmond as a new political force" but has been suffering from a sharp fall in membership and a financial crisis. Continue reading...

Deadly attack near Ramallah is third in territory in a week as Israeli violence surges with global attention on Iran war

Regime lines up Khamenei's son for the top job in a country reeling from the US-Israeli onslaught and virtually at war with its Gulf neighbours

IDF bombing of energy sites in Tehran sparks fears for global economy, as Iran says it has selected supreme leader

Exclusive: System brought in after death of 13-year-old is helping transform culture' of NHS, says patient safety directorMore than 400 lives may have been saved as a result of Martha's rule, which lets NHS patients request a review of their care, official figures reveal.Helplines received more than 10,000 calls in the first 16 months of the scheme after its introduction in England in 2024, according to data seen by the Guardian. Thousands of patients were either moved to intensive care, received drugs they needed or benefited from other changes as a direct result of the calls. Continue reading...

Long hours, lack of flexibility and last-minute scheduling driving parents, particularly mothers, from industryThe performing arts industry in the UK is inhospitable to parents" and falling far behind other industries in supporting women who have children, according to research.The report, titled the Motherhood penalty", criticises the industry for failing to consider how it might adapt to better accommodate parents, with the result that many, in particular women, drop out. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Plane that flew Reform leader to Maldives appears to be linked to billionaire Christopher HarborneNigel Farage's attempt to reach the Chagos Islands military base was made on a private jet that appears to be linked to Reform UK's mega-donor Christopher Harborne, it has emerged.Harborne, who has donated 12m to Reform UK, has links to two charter planes that flew Farage to the Maldives and, separately, a group of Chagossian campaigners to Sri Lanka, before they attempted to reach the archipelago by boat. Continue reading...

Leaders discuss military cooperation day after US president hit out at PM over lack of immediate backing for attacks

Exclusive: Mumsnet survey shows half of female patients feel they have been ignored or dismissed by medicsMedical misogyny" in the UK is letting women down, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, has admitted, as a survey showed half of female patients felt they had been dismissed or ignored because of their sex.A report from Mumsnet, which examined data taken from the site over the past decade, warned of structural and deeply embedded" sexism in UK healthcare. A survey of women using the site found that more than half believed the NHS was institutionally misogynistic.50% of women believe they have been dismissed, ignored or not believed by an NHS professional because of their sex.64% say they have been explicitly told their pain or symptoms were normal" or in their head".68% think the NHS does not take women's health concerns seriously. Continue reading...

Starmer's purely defensive' stance has won support among voters, but what challenges lie ahead for each party when it comes to their base's view of war?Facing one of the most challenging moments of his premiership, Keir Starmer may at least draw comfort from polling showing that the British public broadly support his position on the conflict in Iran.Nearly half (46%) believe the UK military position should be purely defensive, tasked with shooting down drones and defending civilian areas and British military facilities such as an RAF base on Cyprus. Continue reading...

To truly pay less than two years ago, a family might need to make dinner from washed potatoes, cheese slices, white sugar and long grain rice

Aircraft touch down in Gloucestershire after Trump given use of British bases for defensive operations in Iran

Shah's Rastriya Swatantra party secures thumping victory in first poll since gen Z protests that toppled governmentBalendra Shah, the rapper turned politician and popular figurehead of a gen Z revolution, looks set to become Nepal's next prime minister after his party won by an unprecedented margin.Shah, known widely as Balen, and his Rastriya Swatantra party (RSP) secured a rare landslide victory in the first election since youth-led protests during which dozens were killed and the former government was toppled. Continue reading...

No country in Europe is likely to be affected more than Cyprus, the nearest EU member to the Middle EastThe season has barely begun but Ayia Napa is beginning to feel the pulse. Tourists are trickling back, enjoying the Cypriot resort's sunsets, eateries and shoreline views.On the seafront, Vassilis Georgiou is busy overseeing the construction of a new ramp for the jetskis that are a highlight of his water sports business. Last year, more than 500,000 holidaymakers visited the beachside booth, snapping up tickets for the boat cruises and parasailing also on offer. Continue reading...

Leader's centre-right CDU party is hoping to beat Greens in Sunday's election in Baden-WurttembergFriedrich Merz's centre-right CDU faces a regional election on Sunday, the first of several this year in which it hopes to stem the rise of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD).Voters will head to the polls in Baden-Wurttemberg, a prosperous hub of Germany's auto sector with a population of 11.2 million. A year after winning national elections, the CDU is aiming to snatch first place in the south-western state from the Greens, who have won the last two state elections. Continue reading...

Funding cuts, US political pressure and bureaucratic delays have left thousands of Haitians facing prolonged uncertainty in TapachulaA year ago, when Jean Baptiste Gensley stepped off a bus in Tapachula, Mexico's southern city on the border with Guatemala, he carried a small backpack and the hope that his journey was finally over.In his native Haiti, Gensley, 37, worked as a radio journalist and social worker, analyzing the effects of gang violence in some of Port-au-Prince's most dangerous neighborhoods. With time, as his research led to police intervention, he caught the attention of the city's gangs. Continue reading...

US drivers are largely insulated from higher oil prices caused by Middle East turmoil - but only to a pointAcross the US, the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has jumped nearly 27 cents in a week, to $3.25, and American consumers are bracing for higher prices at the gas pump as the US-Israel conflict with Iran threatens to disrupt the global oil supply.That fear has entered the White House too, where Donald Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is reportedly hunting for ideas to lower gasoline prices and officials are getting screamed at" to bring good news, according to Politico. Continue reading...

Scientists fear NIH director will be even more absent and leave key issues unresolved as he takes interim CDC lead

Many of those attending the world's largest meeting on women's rights in New York this week are primed to defend the two key UN agencies that protect women and girls around the worldThousands of international delegates are gathering in New York this week for the world's largest meeting on women's rights. The United Nation's annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is an opportunity for government ministers, UN officials, NGO representatives and activists to discuss the global state of gender equality and women's empowerment. This year, there will be a strong focus on ensuring and strengthening access to justice".But as senior UN figures urge countries to intensify their efforts to achieve gender equality, many of the delegates will be asking whether the UN is at risk of diluting its own commitment to women and girls. Continue reading...

Decision follows release of Epstein files that have disgraced her father, the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-WindsorPrincess Eugenie has stepped down as patron of the UK charity AntiSlavery International, the world's oldest human rights organisation.The decision follows the release by the US Department of Justice of millions of documents and emails relating to Jeffrey Epstein's role in sexual abuse and trafficking women around the world, which have disgraced her father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Continue reading...

Most residents of Canadian province wanted change for years; Trump's unneighbourly rhetoric helped seal the dealSince 1918, the clocks in Creston, a town in eastern British Columbia, ran an hour ahead of nearby communities for half the year. For the other six months, they slipped back into sync. Not because they town changed them but because its neighbours changed back and forth from daylight saving time.Creston was an outlier: a community that effectively created its own time zone. But when residents in most parts of the province shift their clocks forward on Sunday, they will be doing it for the last time - and permanently joining Creston for the first time in nearly 70 years. Continue reading...

Carlo Soracchi admits exploiting empathy of woman who had abusive father by claiming his father abused his sisterAn undercover police officer told grotesque and cruel" lies while emotionally manipulating two women he had deceived into long-term sexual relationships, the spycops public inquiry has heard.Carlo Soracchi admitted he sought to elicit the empathy of one of the women by claiming that his sister had been abused by his father. He also told her that his father had died when he was actually alive. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Campaigners urge Keir Starmer to back Philomena's Law' to protect payments for up to 13,000 survivors living in BritainSurvivors of Ireland's mother and baby homes have started to have benefits cut in Britain because they accepted compensation from the Irish government.The cuts to the means-tested benefits of survivors in Britain come as campaigners including the actors Siobhan McSweeney and Steve Coogan called on Keir Starmer to back a bill known as Philomena's Law, which would ringfence survivors' benefits. Continue reading...

Artefacts include souvenirs from 1972 Match of the Century' between Boris Spassky and Bobby FischerA vast collection of chess memorabilia, including souvenirs from the 1972 Match of the Century" and considered to be the largest and most important of its kind in private hands, is to be auctioned at Sotheby's in London next month.The collection belonged to the German grandmaster Lothar Schmid, whose passion for the sport extended way beyond the board. Continue reading...

Pauline Hanson says get over it' and fully backs David Farley, her party's candidate in Farrer byelection

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Entire Daly River town evacuated as Bureau of Meteorology warns river levels expected to rise in coming week

This live blog has now closed. Our live coverage continues hereThe Saudi defence minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, urged Iran on Saturday to avoid miscalculation" after missile and drone launches at the kingdom.Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said earlier in the day it had blocked repeated missile launches at an airbase housing US military personnel and drone attacks at a major oilfield.We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation. Continue reading...

Police arrest 16-year-old, 17-year-old and 18-year-old over savage' attack on 22-year-old man

Foreign minister, Constantinos Kombos, tells Guardian Iranian-made drone that hit airbase was launched from LebanonBritain is facing growing calls to withdraw its military bases from Cyprus as locals step up protests against facilities seen as a threat to their security after an unprecedented drone attack on RAF Akrotiri.Anger over the installations spilled on to the streets of Nicosia, the capital, as protesters chanting out with the bases of death" marched to the colonial-era presidential palace on Saturday amid fears of the Mediterranean nation being dragged into the wider Iran conflict. Continue reading...