World News Hub

Wes Streeting describes ‘unbelievable volume’ of homophobic abuse since becoming defence secretary

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Streeting says role is chance to demonstrate strength and challenge stereotype that persists in dark corners of internetWes Streeting has described receiving a mass of homophobic abuse since he was made defence secretary last month, while also saying his appointment had been welcomed by some in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as a sign of change.Until 2000, gay men and lesbian women were banned from...

Trump downplays Moscow visit by CIA director as ‘semi-routine’

The Guardian • 1 week ago

President denies visit was to gain support for Iran sanctions or due to fears that Putin plans to ‘test Nato resolve’Donald Trump has downplayed a visit to Moscow by the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, as “semi-routine” after he turned up in the Russian capital unannounced, triggering a wave of speculation about the reasons for his trip.Ratcliffe was reported to have flown to Moscow on a government ...

How to lose Trump’s trade war: test Canada’s resolve with threats to hockey sticks

The Guardian • 1 week ago

The US president expected Ottawa to bow to tariff demands, but Canada is striking back – and it could cost AmericansThis was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every WednesdayEarlier this year, a survey found that Canada, along with Switzerland, was the best-liked country in the world. We all know this kind of polling is about as scientific as a hig...

How to lose Trump’s trade war: Test Canada’s resolve with threats to hockey sticks

The Guardian • 1 week ago

The US president expected Ottawa to bow to tariff demands, but Canada is striking back – and it could cost AmericansThis was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every WednesdayEarlier this year a survey found that Canada, along with Switzerland, was the best-liked country in the world. We all know this kind of polling is about as scientific as a high...

Amol Rajan warns BBC destined to shrink at ‘accelerating rate’

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Presenter says he is moving to YouTube to avoid being left ‘behind the curve’ as media landscape changesThe outgoing Today programme presenter Amol Rajan has warned that the BBC is destined to “get smaller at an accelerating rate”, as he prepares to depart for a new project on YouTube.Rajan, who announced earlier this year that he was leaving BBC News to “unleash my inner entrepreneur” in the crea...

Democratic states sue to block postal service from carrying out Trump’s mail-in voting order – US politics live

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Two dozen states file lawsuit days after supreme court lifts one injunction blocking part of president’s orderSign up for the US Breaking News emailA US military strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean on Tuesday killed four people, officials said.US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a post on X that the strike targeted a vessel “operating along established narco-trafficking ...

Girl, 13, among missing British citizens after flash flood in Nepal

The Guardian • 1 week ago

More than 400 travellers are said to be missing after flood on Tibet border, including 33 BritonsFlash floods on Nepal-Tibet border – latest updatesThirty-three British citizens including a 13-year-old girl are among more than 400 travellers missing after a flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border, according to Nepal’s tourism board.The sudden flood happened on the Tibetan side of the Bhote Koshi Riv...

US issues sanctions against UK-based direct action group Palestine Action

The Guardian • 1 week ago

US labels group ‘global terrorist’ as its legal challenge against proscription in UK nears supreme court hearingThe US ⁠has ​issued sanctions against ⁠the UK-based direct action organisation Palestine ⁠Action, describing it as a “transnational terror group”.The US Department of the Treasury labelled Palestine Action a specially designated global terrorist on Wednesday, which allows the US to freez...

No more UK energy bills support likely before price cap rise

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Andy Burnham stops short of pledging further help as gas and electricity prices due to increase by 4% in OctoberHouseholds are unlikely to receive further energy bills support before the October price cap, though more targeted measures could be looked at if there is a further shock in January, government sources said.Gas and electricity prices will rise by 4% from October under the new cap. The go...

No more energy bills support likely before price cap rise, say UK government sources

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Andy Burnham stops short of pledging further help as gas and electricity prices due to increase by 4% in OctoberHouseholds are unlikely to receive further energy bills support before the October price cap, though more targeted measures could be looked at if there is a further shock in January, government sources said.Gas and electricity prices will rise by 4% from October under the new cap. The go...

No further energy bills support likely before price cap rise, say UK government sources

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Andy Burnham stops short of pledging further help as gas and electricity prices due to increase by 4% in OctoberHouseholds are unlikely to receive further energy bills support before the October price cap, though more targeted measures could be looked at if there is a further shock in January, government sources said.Gas and electricity prices will rise by 4% from October under the new cap. The go...

No further energy bills support likely before price cap rise, say government sources

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Andy Burnham stops short of pledging further help as gas and electricity prices due to increase by 4% in OctoberHouseholds are unlikely to receive further energy bills support before the October price cap, though more targeted measures could be looked at if there is a further shock in January, government sources said.Gas and electricity prices will rise by 4% from October under the new cap. The go...

FDA gives expedited approval to new groundbreaking pancreatic cancer drug

The Guardian • 1 week ago

FDA officials approve first-of-a-kind pill called daraxonrasib to fight one of the deadliest types of cancerThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a groundbreaking new drug for the most common form of pancreatic cancer, offering US patients a more effective treatment against one of the deadliest types of the disease.FDA officials gave expedited approval to the first-of-a-kind pill, cal...

‘Escape wizard’ who has broken out of four prisons is arrested in Spain

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Albanian criminal has cut bars, descended sheets and even used human pyramid in escapes in Italy and BelgiumPolice in Spain have arrested a dangerous Albanian criminal nicknamed the “escape wizard” who has managed to break out of four jails in Italy and Belgium by sawing through bars, clambering down knotted sheets and even using a human pyramid to breach prison walls.The fugitive, who has not bee...

‘Escape wizard’ who used human pyramid arrested in Spain after breaking out of four jails

The Guardian • 1 week ago

A dangerous Albanian criminal also sawed through bars and clambered down knotted sheets to breach prison wallsPolice in Spain have arrested a dangerous Albanian criminal nicknamed the “escape wizard”, who has managed to break out of four jails in Italy and Belgium by sawing through bars, clambering down knotted sheets and even using a human pyramid to breach prison walls.The fugitive, who has not ...

Two women accuse former Fat White Family member Saul Adamczewski of physical and emotional abuse

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Insecure Men singer has now been dropped by his record label and had tour dates cancelled after two women shared allegations about his behaviourSaul Adamczewski of Insecure Men and formerly of Fat White Family has been dropped by his record label and had tour dates cancelled after two women shared allegations of physical and emotional abuse against the musician.One woman said that the pair had a s...

With Nige still sulking, Honest Bob was left to unveil Reform’s latest ‘policies’ | John Crace

The Guardian • 1 week ago

The sense of futility hanging over the room was almost overwhelming as Robert Jenrick took the stageIt’s turning out to be one of the longer sulks in Nigel Farage’s already sulk-filled career. Few politicians are better at having a strop and holding a grudge than Nige. At least on this side of the Atlantic. Donald Trump could give Farage a run for his money, but skin doesn’t come much thinner than...

Texas law banning drag shows where children may be present struck down again

The Guardian • 1 week ago

‘This is a profoundly flawed decision that endangers our children and is an affront to Texas values,’ Ken Paxton saysA federal judge has, for a second time, struck down a Texas state law banning drag performances in settings where children may be present.In a ruling issued on Tuesday, US district judge David Hittner said Texas cannot enforce its drag show ban. He said that the measure improperly r...

South African police arrest two Thai men for allegedly smuggling parrot eggs

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Bird eggs intercepted in homemade incubators at Johannesburg airport as officials try to halt wildlife traffickingSouth African police have arrested two Thai nationals in separate incidents for allegedly attempting to smuggle endangered parrot eggs out of the country as authorities try to stem the tide of wildlife trafficking.A 50-year-old Thai national was arrested at OR Tambo international airpo...

Ending higher private health rebate for Australians 65 and over is ‘good policy change’, report co-author finds

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Research finds just 0.1-0.4% of the total insured population will ditch insurance, while the government will save as much as $940m a yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRemoving the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over is good policy that is unlikely to place additional pressure on public...

‘Pack of lies’: Robert Jenrick launches personal attack on Kemi Badenoch

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Reform MP seeks to heap pressure on Tory leader amid confusion around details of meeting with Giorgia MeloniRobert Jenrick has accused Kemi Badenoch of telling “a pack of lies” about her meeting with the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, as he launched a deeply personal attack on his former boss.The Reform UK MP sought to heap pressure on the Conservative leader amid confusion about whether ...

Ending private health rebate for Australians 65 and over is ‘good policy change’, report co-author finds

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Research finds just 0.1-0.4% of the total insured population will ditch insurance, while the government will save as much as $940m a yearGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRemoving the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over is good policy that is unlikely to place additional pressure on public hospitals, according to health economists.The propose...

‘Reluctant’ approval for Tasmanian datacentre sets marker for national battle

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Concerns over planning process as George Town council gives go-ahead for 288MW AI factory despite opposition from localsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe day before Anthony Albanese secured agreement with states and territories to develop national datacentre standards, a small council in Tasmania was grappling with the existing regulations in the face of strong communi...

UK politics: Burnham announces plan for 10,000 work experience placements for young people – as it happened

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Prime minister spoke to press while on visit to a Sainsbury’s supermarket in London this morningOver 40,000 more people died on the hottest days in England between 1988 and 2025 than would be expected, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.The figures do not include this summer, when England has sweltered under a succession of heatwaves and is on track to r...

​W​hy are European leaders staying silent after our summer of climate shock?

The Guardian • 1 week ago

Lethal temperatures ​and wildfires have exposed a widening gulf between voters demanding ​action and politicians unwilling to confront the long-term choices global heating requires• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereThe climate crisis means “we’re going to have to change everything – the way we live, the way we produce, the way we trade,” France’s veteran radical-left f...