~theguardian-world | Bookmarks (3308)

This blog is now closedPenny Wong reportedly chastised by Israeli foreign affairs minister over Australia’s stance on Gaza warGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA second earthquake has struck the Vanuatu islands, amid an international search and rescue operation following Tuesday’s deadly quake.With communications down, the official death toll was not yet known. But at least 14 people were reportedly...

BoM meteorologist says Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales will be generally dry and ‘fingers crossed it stays like this’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChristmas Day should be calm and settled across much of Australia – on the weather front, at least – according to the weather bureau’s first...

With voters distracted by Christmas, the government has saved major announcements for 2025, using the mini-budget to prove it can get its sums rightFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt’s a staple of the political coverage of a mid-year economic update to flick to the “decisions taken but not yet announced” line...

The Israeli foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa’ar, reportedly claimed Australia distanced itself from Israel in its ‘most difficult year’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has been chastised by her Israeli counterpart for what he claimed was Australia distancing itself from Israel in its “most difficult year”,...

Researchers find winds affecting emissions from incinerators play role, though diet still thought to be largest factorToxic chemicals in breast milk have been identified in mothers living near waste incinerators in the UK, a study has found.The study looked at complex chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins. These are found in the fumes from burning waste and can persist in the environment for...

Intelligence gaps, especially around social media analysis, led to failures, report findsPolice intelligence missed clues about the dangers posed by the far right before the summer riots across England, a police chief has said.Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of constabulary, also said police were too slow to mobilise after disorder broke out, meaning some violence wasworse than it would otherwise have been, with the...

Domestic workers who fled abusive employers say their children are not eligible for birth certificates, medical care or education – yet cannot leaveA Guardian investigation has found women formerly employed as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia who appear to be “trapped” in the country after being denied birth certificates for their children or visas in order to leave and return home.The Guardian has spoken...

Great-nephew of Alfred Flechtheim, who was forced to flee the Nazis, is frustrated at slow progress in returning works by Picasso and KleeGerman experts have long agreed that Michael Hulton, the sole surviving heir to an illustrious Jewish art collector forced to flee the Nazis, has a strong case for restitution. But after years of waiting, he’s running out of patience – and time.Hulton,...

Claims of refused FOI requests into Duke of York’s business dealings come as controversy over alleged Chinese spy continues Getting information from government departments about the Duke of York’s past business dealings is like playing “whack-a-mole”, it was claimed, as fallout over the alleged Chinese “spy” controversy continues, with China saying it was an attempt to “smear” it.Calling for a register of royal interests,...

Mother of Mary Jane Veloso urges Philippine president to act so family can be reunited for Christmas, as daughter lands in ManilaThe mother of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipino domestic helper who spent almost 15 years on death row in Indonesia, has urged President Ferdinand Marcosto grant her daughter a pardon as she arrived back in the Philippines on Wednesday, ending a long battle...

Witnesses recount the moment the earthquake hit in Port Vila, as rescue teams sift through the wreckage after disaster that has killed 14 and injured 200Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRescuers in Vanuatu’s capital are racing to pull out victims trapped under rubble as witnesses spoke of their escape from the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the Pacific nation...

Lanez, serving 10-year term for shooting Megan in feet in 2020, accused of waging harassment campaign from prisonMegan Thee Stallion asked a court on Tuesday to issue a restraining order against Tory Lanez, who she says is harassing her from prison through surrogates as he serves a 10-year sentence for shooting her in the feet.The petition filed by the hip-hop star in Los Angeles...

Despite the infants being US citizens, Christina Salazar and all four of her children were put on a plane on 11 DecemberAfter his wife and children, including newborn twins, were suddenly deported to Mexico by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a Texas man is fighting to get his family back.Federico Arellano Jr, a US citizen, saw his wife, Christina Salazar, and their four children...

Japanese car firms embark on negotiations to combat competition from bigger EV manufacturersJapanese carmakers Honda and Nissan will begin negotiations over a potential merger, according to reports.The Nikkei financial newspaper said on Tuesday that the two Japanese companies would start talks to help combat the increased global competition from bigger electric vehicle makers. Continue reading...

Madison authorities investigate motive after pupil, 15, carried out deadly attack at Abundant Life Christian schoolThe 15-year-old girl who police say killed a teacher and a student and wounded six others before dying by suicide at a school in Madison, Wisconsin, reportedly left a manifesto that investigators are now reviewing.Police identified Natalie Rupnow – who also went by the name Samantha – as the...

‘All ranks’ among casualties in Kursk after Pyongyang sent thousands of soldiers to reinforce Russia’s war effortNorth Korean forces have suffered “several hundred” casualties fighting against Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region, according to a senior US military official.Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to reinforce Russia’s war effort, including to the Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces seized territory earlier this year. Continue...

Payout settles claims of abuse and retaliation at women’s prison in Dublin, California, now permanently closedThe US Bureau of Prisons (BoP) has agreed to pay $115m to more than 100 survivors of a major sexual abuse scandal, a historic settlement of litigation that exposed widespread misconduct of officers at a federal prison.The payout settles 103 claims of sexual abuse and retaliation for reporting misconduct...

In the decade-long scheme, Rafael Alvarez provided false documents that reduced individuals’ tax burdenA New York tax preparer known as “the Magician” has pleaded guilty to filing tens of thousands of false tax returns costing the government $145m in tax loses.Rafael Alvarez perpetrated and oversaw one of the largest ever tax frauds by a return preparer, according to prosecutors in the southern district of...

Move comes after company fails to meet deadline to begin contract talks with workers in Staten Island, New YorkThousands of Amazon workers are gearing up to strike from Thursday, days before Christmas, over the tech giant’s refusal to begin negotiations over a contract.Union locals are preparing members for pickets and actions outside Amazon facilities around the US. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed. For the latest on US politics, see our full coverage here. Donald Trump posted a long and angry message on Truth Social, after a New York judge refused to dismiss his conviction on 34 business fraud charges. His lawyers had argued, to no avail, that the supreme court’s ruling earlier this year granting presidents immunity for official acts...

Chrystia Freeland’s exit as deputy prime minister shows how ‘America First’ policies can decimate political tiesJustin Trudeau’s political future has been thrown into doubt by the shock resignation of his own deputy, as Canada’s prime minister faces plummeting popularity and growing fears over a second Donald Trump presidency.The sudden exit of Chrystia Freeland – the deputy prime minister and minister of finance – unleashed...

This live blog is now closed. For the latest on the Middle East, read our full coverage here.France has raised its flag over its embassy in Damascus, Syria, after it had been closed for 12 years during the country’s civil war, the foreign ministry said.France sent a team of diplomats to Syria on Tuesday to assess the political and security situation. The team will...

Downing Street says ‘details’ being discussed after newly elected Navinchandra Ramgoolam criticised the agreementDowning Street has denied that a deal with Mauritius to hand over control of the Chagos Islands is in peril after the new Mauritian prime minister said the arrangement as it stood was not beneficial to his country.The agreement, under which the UK would hand over its final African colony while...

Israeli officials, Hamas sources, and US and Arab figures say deal may be within reach – perhaps within daysThe pace of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement in Gaza appeared to be accelerating, amid claims on both sides that a deal may be within reach, perhaps within days.Senior Israeli officials, Hamas sources, and US and Arab officials have all expressed optimism that a...