Top World News
Local authorities in England and Wales warn finances at ‘breaking point’
More councils expected to fall into bankruptcy in near future as they face nervous wait over government fundingLocal authorities in England and Wales have warned their finances are at “breaking point” with more councils expected to fall into bankruptcy in future, as they face a nervous wait to discover their government funding this month.Council leaders expect changes to annual funding arrangements will result in steep cuts for many local authorities, preventing many from balancing their books and providing basic services to citizens. Continue reading...
Trump says Zelenskyy ‘isn’t ready’ to accept US peace deal ahead of UK meeting with European leaders
Ukraine’s president set to meet the leaders of the UK, France and Germany in London on MondaySee all our Ukraine war coverageDonald Trump has said Volodymyr Zelenskyy “isn’t ready” to sign off on a US-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, at the end of three days of talks between Washington and Kyiv in Florida.“I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn’t,” Trump claimed as he spoke with reporters on Sunday night. Continue reading...
Australians’ credit card debt at four-year high – as it happened
This blog is now closed Anika Wells claimed more than $8,500 for family travel to Melbourne during AFL grand final weekends over three yearsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese and Ley respond to tragic firefighter deathThe prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has issued a statement after the death of a firefighter who was battling a blaze at Bulahdelah on the NSW mid-north coast.My heart goes out to the loved ones and colleagues of the firefighter who has tragically lost their life in the Bulahdelah bushfire. All Australians are thinking of you in your time of grief.This terrible news is a sombre reminder of the dangers that our emergency services personnel face to keep our homes and communities safe – and the extraordinary courage that their job demands. We honour that bravery, every day.All Australians are with the firefighter’s family, friends and the team who worked beside him. Our emergency services put themselves in harm’s way to keep Australians safe. Today we mourn this terrible loss. Continue reading...
Hong Kong sees near-record low election turnout amid discontent over apartment fire
Sunday’s ‘patriots only’ Legislative Council elections took place in the shadow of the Tai Po fire that killed at least 159 peopleHong Kong saw a near-record low turnout in Sunday’s “patriots only” Legislative Council elections, with fewer than 32% of voters turning out, as the number of registered voters fell for the fourth consecutive year.At 31.9%, Sunday’s turnout is marginally higher than 2021’s record low of 30.2%. But fewer people overall voted this year: 1.3 million compared to 1.4 million in 2021. Hong Kong’s population is about 7.5 million. Continue reading...
Four members of same family killed in Goa nightclub fire that left 25 dead
Officials say the Birch nightclub had contravened multiple safety regulations and that the basement had no fire safety exitFour members of the same family on their first holiday to Goa were among the 25 killed in a deadly fire at a nightclub in the popular Indian tourist state on Saturday night.The massive blaze broke out at just before midnight at Birch by Romeo Lane, a buzzing bar, restaurant and nightclub in north Goa’s Aporna district. Continue reading...
Rights groups warn against UK plans to weaken torture protections in ECHR
Exclusive: Ministers face pushback over potential changes to asylum seekers’ rights before Council of Europe meetingHuman rights groups have warned UK ministers against weakening protections against torture or other mistreatment for asylum seekers before a crucial European summit this week on how to respond to migration.David Lammy, the justice secretary, is expected to help lead arguments at the Council of Europe meeting on Wednesday on how the European convention on human rights (ECHR) could be reinterpreted to limit the scope of rights under article 3, which prohibits torture and “inhuman or degrading treatment”. Continue reading...
‘Portrait of a man’, who was 18th-century Corsican independence leader, goes on sale
Painting of Enlightenment figure, whose constitution for the island inspired revolutionaries in US, is up for auctionThirty years ago, a painting by the British artist Sir William Beechey was sold as “portrait of a man”.The anonymous buyer, however, knew precisely who the unnamed man in the picture was: Pascal Paoli, the 18th-century Corsican independence leader and icon of the Enlightenment. Continue reading...
Japan PM vows ‘resolute’ response after Chinese aircraft accused of locking radar on to Japanese fighter jets
China’s ambassador summoned over alleged weekend incident that saw Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft twice train their radar on Japanese F-15sThe diplomatic dispute between Japan and China appeared to deepen over the weekend after Chinese military planes were accused of locking their radar on to Japanese fighter jets near the Okinawa islands.Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, vowed to “respond calmly and resolutely” to the alleged incident, saying her country would take all possible measures to strengthen maritime and airspace surveillance and closely monitor Chinese military activities. The country’s foreign ministry also summoned China’s ambassador on Sunday. China’s government has roundly rejected Japan’s accusations, instead lodging its own counterprotests. Continue reading...
Troubled youth prison unit should be closed urgently after Indigenous teenager Cleveland Dodd’s death: coroner
16-year-old’s death was caused by longstanding failures in the justice system, coroner Phil Urquhart findsWarning: This article contains references to an Indigenous Australian who has diedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe coroner investigating the death of Indigenous teenager Cleveland Dodd has called for the youth detention unit he was held in to be closed and investigated, after finding that his death was caused by longstanding failures in the justice system.Cleveland was found unresponsive inside a cell in the trouble-plagued Unit 18, a youth wing of the Casuarina high-security adult prison, south of Perth, in the early hours of 12 October 2023. Continue reading...
Thailand launches airstrikes along disputed border with Cambodia as tensions flare
Escalation comes after Thai soldier was killed and four others wounded in clashes, more than a month after Donald Trump oversaw ceasefire agreementThailand has launched airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia, after both countries accused one another of breaching a ceasefire deal brokered by Donald Trump.Thailand’s military said airstrikes were launched after at least one of its soldiers was killed and four others wounded in clashes along the countries’ tense border on Monday morning. Thailand’s air force said it was using aircraft to strike military targets in several areas, accusing Cambodia of mobilising heavy weaponry and repositioning combat units. Continue reading...
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau make their relationship Instagram official
The singer posted a photo of the pair smiling cheek to cheek and a video of them eating sushi together while in JapanKaty Perry and Justin Trudeau have launched their relationship on Instagram, after the singer posted a photo of the pair smiling cheek to cheek and a video of them eating sushi together while in Japan.Perry’s post appeared to confirm the pair are in a relationship, after months of speculation about a possible romance between her and the former Canadian prime minister. Continue reading...
UN report sounds alarm over Māori rights in New Zealand
UN committee raised concerns over government policies including scrapping the Māori Health Authority and funding cuts for Indigenous servicesA United Nations committee has warned New Zealand is at serious risk of weakening Māori rights and entrenching disparities for the Indigenous population, in its most critical review of the country’s record on racial discrimination.Last month, the UN’s committee for the convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination (CERD) examined New Zealand’s record as part of its eight year review cycle for signatories to the convention. Continue reading...
