Taiwan president's Hawaii trip draws Chinese anger

Lai Ching-te's trip to the US state is being billed as a stopover, but has been condemned by Beijing.

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Romanian elections: ruling Social Democrats on course for most votes

Exit poll suggests leftwing PSD poised to defeat resurgent far-right movement in parliamentary election

Romania’s main centre-left party was on track to finish first in parliamentary elections, according to early exit polls, seemingly beating an advancing far right boosted by the shock victory of an ultranationalist in last week’s presidential first-round ballot.

The ruling Social Democratic party (PSD) was forecast to receive 26% of the vote, ahead of the far-right nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) on 19%, while the National Liberal party (PNL) and centre-right Save Romania Union (USR) were vying for third on 15-16%.

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Snoop Dogg helps Kai Cenat reclaim Twitch subscriber record

The American has been streaming continuously for 30 days to try reclaim the record he set last year.

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Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in pole position to form new Irish government

Despite trailing incumbent Sinn Féin in a close three-way result, outgoing coalition parties are best place to secure governing majority

Ireland has bucked the European trend of elections going against incumbent governments, with two of the parties in its ruling coalition in pole position to lead the next parliament.

An exit poll showed an appetite for change, with 60% backing opposition parties. But the prospect of an alternative left-leaning government still looks unlikely to materialise.

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World Beekeeping Awards axe honey prize due to fraud

A report found that 46% of sampled honey products had likely been bulked out with cheaper sugar syrups.

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Zelenskyy says Ukrainian territory should be under ‘Nato umbrella’ to stop war

President suggests bringing Kyiv-controlled land into western military pact could stop ‘hot stage’ of war

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia.

Speaking to Sky News, the Ukrainian president said that such a proposal has “never been considered” by Ukraine because it has never “officially” been offered.

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Kremlin critic jailed for three more years over Ukraine war opposition

Former Moscow councillor Alexei Gorinov had already been serving a seven-year sentence.

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Malian singer detained in Belgium in child custody row

The 50-year-old is being held after being extradited from Italy, according to reports.

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Why has France’s austerity budget caused a political storm?

Country is at risk of fresh turmoil with its government on the brink amid soaring sovereign borrowing costs

France is at risk of being plunged into fresh political turmoil as its minority government teeters on the brink of collapse amid opposition anger over a planned austerity budget.

Reflecting growing unease in financial markets, French sovereign borrowing costs have risen sharply, reaching the highest premium over German bonds since the height of the eurozone debt crisis in 2012.

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Liberia's notorious rebel-turned-senator Johnson dies

Prince Johnson oversaw the torture and killing of the then-president but was later elected to the senate.

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French sovereign borrowing costs rise to highest premium in 12 years

Government faces risk of collapse over planned austerity budget

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French sovereign borrowing costs have soared to the highest premium since the eurozone debt crisis amid political turmoil as the government faces the risk of collapse over a planned austerity budget.

The gap between French 10-year government bond yields and their German equivalent ballooned to as much as 90 basis points on Wednesday, the widest level in 12 years, while shares listed on the Paris stock exchange also tumbled.

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Numerous bomb threats made against Trump cabinet nominees

Police are investigating a wave of incidents which happened on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

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Watch: Netanyahu explains why Israel agreed ceasefire deal

His announcement comes after more than a year of conflict between Israeli and Hezbollah forces.

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UK cabinet ministers barred from visiting Russia amid missile row

Moscow bans Labour figures including Angela Rayner, Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves under new sanctions

Russia has banned cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner, Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves from entering the country under new sanctions announced by Moscow’s foreign affairs ministry.

More than a dozen other senior Labour politicians are among the 30 British citizens on the Russian “stop list” after tensions between London and Moscow rose following Ukraine’s recent use of British missiles to strike deeper into Russia.

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Key Russian air defence system hit in Ukraine Atacms strike

In a rare admission, Russia's defence ministry says its equivalent of the US Patriot system was damaged.

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Ireland prices corporation tax loss from Trump policies at €10bn

Figure costed for three multinationals repatriating to US after nomination for commerce secretary hits out at Ireland’s tax regime

Ireland’s prime minister has said the country could lose €10bn (£8.35bn) in corporate tax if just three US multinationals were repatriated to America under a hostile Donald Trump administration.

His remarks come just days after Trump nominated the Wall Street investor Howard Lutnick to lead the Department of Commerce with direct responsibility for trade.

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One dead and three injured in Lithuania cargo-jet crash

The Boeing 737 crashed near a house as it was making its final approach for landing, local authorities say.

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'Don't drink the spirits': Laos backpackers avoid shots after suspected poisonings

The deaths of six tourists sent shock waves through the backpacker scene in Vang Vieng.

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China unnerved by Russia’s growing ties with North Korea, claims US official

Comments part of debate over whether Beijing backs Kim Jong-un’s decision to send troops to fight in Ukraine

China is increasingly uncomfortable about North Korea’s engagement with Russia and finds the growing cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow unnerving, Kurt Campbell, the US deputy secretary of state has said.

He was leaning into a growing debate among the US’s security partners in Asia on whether China supports the decision of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un to send 10,000 troops to fight for Russia against Ukraine. It is said the North Korean troops are now inside Russia.

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Australia urged to do more on climate crisis after playing role in trillion-dollar Cop29 shortfall

Wealthy nations agree to take the lead in helping developing countries shift to a low-carbon economy

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The Australian government has been urged to “step up” and do more to address the climate crisis after it played a role in a contentious deal on global finance to help poor countries deal with the problem.

The Cop29 UN climate summit in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku ended at 4am on Sunday with a consensus agreement that developing countries would be paid at least US$300bn (A$460bn) a year in global climate finance by 2035 to help them shift to a low-carbon economy and adapt to the impacts of extreme weather.

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Romania votes in presidential poll with nationalist and leftist vying for runoff

Sunday’s election could lead to a battle between far-right’s George Simion and Marcel Ciolacu of Social Democrats

Romanians are casting ballots on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that could pit a far-right nationalist against the incumbent leftist prime minister in the runoff.

Thirteen candidates are vying for the presidency in the EU and Nato member country and the vote is expected to go to a second round on 8 December. Polls opened at 7am local time (05.00 GMT) and will close at 9pm. Romanians abroad have been able to vote since Friday.

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'Are we not humans?': Anger in Beirut as massive Israeli strike kills 20

The death toll from the strike on a multi-storey building in central Beirut's Basta district is expected to rise.

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Meta is ‘reckless’ in ‘need-to-know situations’, Canada warns Australia as it braces for early bushfire season

Heritage minister says Facebook made ‘room for misinformation’ after turning news off in 2023 as Australia mulls actions that could lead to Meta doing the same

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Twelve months on from Canada’s worst-ever wildfire season unfolding during a news blackout on Facebook, the nation has warned Australia about Meta’s “reckless” behaviour during “need-to-know situations”.

An early start to Australia’s bushfire season is looming for swaths of the country, with large parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory, the south-west of Victoria and south-east corner of South Australia facing higher risk, according to an official assessment in September.

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Hamas says female hostage killed in northern Gaza

The woman's identity has not been revealed and it is unclear how or when she is said to have died.

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Putin says Russia will use experimental missile again after Ukraine strike

Ukrainian president calls testing of nuclear-capable weapon on his country’s territory an ‘international crime’

• Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates

Vladimir Putin has vowed to launch more strikes using an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile as Ukraine decried the testing of the nuclear-capable weapon on its territory as an “international crime”.

Speaking at a defence conference on Friday, Putin contested US claims that Russia possessed only a “handful” of the high-speed ballistic missiles, saying that the military had enough to continue to test them in “combat conditions”.

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Putin says Russia will use new missile again in 'combat conditions'

Ukraine's President Zelensky has urged a "serious response" to Moscow's use of its Oreshnik ballistic missile

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People smugglers who promoted Tripadvisor-style video reviews caught

The smugglers offered the migrants bronze, silver, gold and platinum packages, depending on risk.

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Thousands rush to US border before Trump takes office

Migrants from Central America are making their way to the US to avoid new immigration controls.

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‘What can we do to make this better?’ Alec Baldwin film Rust finally premieres in Poland

First screening for troubled western whose cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on set takes place at niche film festival, boycotted by high-profile figures over a separate sexism row

Rust, the western whose production became notorious after the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, has been screened for the first time at the Camerimage cinematography festival in Torun, Poland.

Hutchins was shot by a prop gun held by the film’s star and producer Alec Baldwin on set in New Mexico. Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter but the case was dismissed for evidence withholding, while Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armourer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on the same charge, and assistant director David Halls given six months probation for negligent use of a deadly weapon. The film’s closing credits now contain a tribute to Hutchins, with the words “For Halyna” and a quote: “What can we do to make this better?” The festival’s CEO Marek Żydowicz said that Baldwin, who is credited as one of Rust’s producers, was not invited.

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Australia politics live: record number of GPs in training; Chalmers says ‘optimism is warranted’ on economy

More doctors will be trained next year than ever before, according to the GPs’ peak body. Follow the day’s news live

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Coalition continues attack on government regarding nuclear deal decision

Nationals senator Matt Canavan was up on the Today Show earlier this morning, continuing to criticise the government for not signing up to a civil nuclear deal signed between the US and UK.

I don’t want to concern you, Karl [Stefanovic], but you’re sitting only 30km from a nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney. We have some of the best nuclear scientists in the world. And sure, it doesn’t produce nuclear energy, but it produces some of the world’s best nuclear medicines. And because of that expertise, we have always been involved in these international developments to look at new nuclear technologies which might help us make better nuclear medicines in the future.

And of course, the current government is buying eight nuclear submarines. And so why shouldn’t we be involved in a in an international discussion about nuclear technologies? What the hell is going on?

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Brazilian police arrest five over plot to assassinate Lula after 2022 election win

Four military personnel and a police agent held on suspicion of plan to prevent inauguration of president

Brazil’s federal police have arrested four special forces military personnel and one of their own agents on suspicion of planning the assassination of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on 15 December 2022 to prevent his inauguration after his victory over the then president, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro.

According to the police, the plot also included plans to assassinate the vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin, and the supreme court justice, Alexandre de Moraes, who at the time was already leading investigations into the so-called “hate cabinet,” as Bolsonaro mobs had become known.

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Gisèle Pelicot condemns rape accused and says French society must change

She has waived her right to anonymity so the entire trial can be heard in public.

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Fury in Russia at 'serious escalation' of missile move

What really counts is what President Putin does next, writes the BBC's Steve Rosenberg.

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Letting Ukraine fire missiles into Russia unlikely to have decisive effect

Military and political consequences of allowing Kyiv to use Atacms missiles remain uncertain

It has taken an election defeat in the US and the arrival of 10,000 North Koreans in Ukraine for Joe Biden to finally relent. After two years of asking, Ukraine’s army has been given permission to use US long-range Atacms missiles to strike against targets inside Russia. The military and political consequences remain uncertain.

Russia has been able to bomb targets across all of Ukraine throughout the war. On Sunday it attacked key sites across the country’s power network, forcing Kyiv to implement national electricity rationing as a result of the damage caused. Some missiles were aimed as far west as Lviv and at sites near the border with Moldova, and an energy crisis is closer as a result.

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Xi says he will work with Trump in last meeting with Biden

The incoming Trump administration loomed over Chinese President Jinping Xi's final meeting with outgoing US president Joe Biden.

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Australia politics live: Albanese lands in Rio for G20; Greens push Labor to bring forward student debt relief

The prime minister is expected to meet Xi Jinping in the wings of the international gathering. Follow today’s news live

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Happy Monday, and welcome back to the Australian politics live blog as we enter the final two sitting weeks of this year’s parliament. There are more than 30 pieces of legislation set to be considered this fortnight, which could shape the looming election, just months away.

Questions remain as to whether – or how – the government will negotiate its bills that remain stalled in the Senate, with the prime minister declaring the government’s position “is final” on key legislation. This includes the Help to Buy, mis- and disinformation, Future Made in Australia, Nature Positive and aged care bills. Overnight, the Greens signalled they were prepared to pass the Nature Positive legislation in return for an Australia-wide ban on native-forest logging alone – the second concession on stalled legislation from the party in less than a week.

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Australia accused of ‘exporting climate destruction’ on tiny Pacific neighbours with massive gas expansion plans

Labor government ‘not acting in good faith’ when it stands on global stage and promotes its climate credentials, special envoy at Cop29 says

Pacific governments at a UN climate summit are criticising Australia’s plans for a massive gas industry expansion in Western Australia, saying it could result in 125 times more greenhouse gas emissions than their island nations release in a year.

As the Cop29 summit in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku begins its second week, representatives from Vanuatu and Tuvalu have called on Australia to stop approving new fossil fuel developments, including a proposal to extend the life of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas facility until 2070.

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Former Greek PM expelled from ruling New Democracy party

Hardline nationalist Antonis Samaras ousted over persistent criticism of government policies

Former Greek prime minister and lawmaker Antonis Samaras was expelled from the ruling New Democracy party over his persistent criticism of government policies.

Samaras, 73, a hardline nationalist, had criticised Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ approach to negotiations with Turkey, which he has likened to appeasement. He also strongly disapproved of government policy that he considered too “centrist” or “woke”, especially the decision to legislate in favour of same-sex marriage earlier this year.

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Senators call for federal probe into Musk's contact with Russia

Musk’s reported relations with Russia “pose serious questions” about US national security, the Democratic senators argue.

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Ten dead in fire at Spanish care home

The fire broke out in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in north-eastern Spain.

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Man suspected of supplying boats to people smugglers arrested in Amsterdam

Turkish national accused of supplying engines and boats to cross-Channel smugglers in Belgium and northern France

A suspected supplier of “hundreds” of small boat engines used by people smugglers to transport asylum seekers across the Channel has been arrested in Amsterdam, officials said.

A 44-year-old Turkish national was arrested on Wednesday after arriving at Schiphol airport, the UK’s National Crime Agency said. The suspect was due to be extradited to Belgium to face charges of being involved in human trafficking as part of a criminal organisation.

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Bosnian Serb general Krstić says he ‘aided and abetted’ Srebrenica genocide

Confession met with scepticism after other war criminals made similar statements to win early release from prison

A Bosnian Serb general jailed by the Hague war crimes tribunal for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre has confessed to having “aided and abetted the genocide”.

Survivors and families of the more than 8,300 who died in the mass killing reacted with scepticism to the confession by Radislav Krstić, a corps commander who led the assault on the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica, and oversaw the execution of captured men and boys.

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Suspects nabbed for 'man in bear suit' insurance scam

Four people are accused of using footage of a fake bear damaging luxury cars to file false insurance claims in California.

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What a Republican trifecta means for Trump's second term

Republicans have won control of both chambers of Congress, yielding Trump limited congressional oversight for at least 2 years.

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Australia’s first public vending machines offering free pads and tampons launch in Melbourne

Libraries, Tafes and hospitals among first 30 locations to have period product dispensers installed in Victorian government initiative

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Vending machines offering free pads and tampons will begin operating at the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building, as well as hospitals, libraries and Tafes, as part of an Australian-first government initiative aimed at ending period poverty.

On Thursday, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, will announce the first 30 locations where 50 vending machines will be installed as part of the pilot program, which also includes the Melbourne Immigration Museum, three Northern Health campuses, the Royal Women’s hospital in Parkville and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

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Australia news live: average age for first porn viewing reduces by two years; NSW nurses to begin strike

Girls now see porn for the first time before they are 14, on average. Follow today’s news live

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The Greens will announce a $100m a year plan to ensure public hospitals across the country will be able to provide abortion services.

The party’s spokesperson for women, Larissa Waters, said access to affordable abortion services should not be a “postcode lottery” or “culture war” debate after it was raised as an issue by some in the Coalition.

Reproductive healthcare must not be a culture war or a postcode lottery. No one should fall through the cracks when it comes to accessing vital healthcare ... We’ve seen conservatives in Queensland, South Australia and the USA open the culture war again and it’s critical Labor take this opportunity to make sure every person in the country can access the reproductive healthcare they need.

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Israel has missed US deadline to boost Gaza aid, UN agency says

But Israel says it has greatly increased deliveries since being warned of cuts to military assistance.

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AstraZeneca’s numbers are good, but trouble in China could drag it down | Nils Pratley

Profits beat forecasts, but a 17% fall in share price since executives were detained by Beijing may be hard to shake

In the world of two weeks ago, AstraZeneca’s share price would have probably enjoyed a strong day on the release of Tuesday’s third-quarter numbers. The profit figure beat forecasts and the UK pharmaceutical company raised its guidance for growth in full-year revenues and earnings from “mid-teens” to “high teens”.

Meanwhile, Pascal Soriot, the chief executive, unveiled a $3.5bn (£2.7bn) investment programme in the US and talked bullishly about prospects in AstraZeneca’s biggest market. It all sounded like another confident step in the march to take global revenues from $46bn in 2023 to $80bn by 2030.

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Italian judges strike another blow against Meloni’s Albania asylum deal

Far-right government angrily condemns ruling that seven men detained in Albania must be transferred to Italy

Italian judges have ordered seven men detained in a migration hub in Albania to be transferred to Italy, in another blow to a controversial deal between the far-right Rome government and Tirana aimed at curbing the arrival of asylum seekers.

The men arrived at the Albanian port of Shëngjin aboard a military vessel on Saturday after being rescued in international waters while trying to make their way to Europe.

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Optimism and uncertainty at summit as Middle East awaits Trump’s return

As heads of Arab and Islamic states meet in Riyadh, Trump's victory raises questions for the region.

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Massive sex tape leak could be a ploy for power in Equatorial Guinea

Dozens of videos involving a senior civil servant in Equatorial Guinea have flooded social media, shocking people in the country.

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British man killed fighting for Ukraine’s foreign volunteer platoon

Family of Callum Tindal-Draper, 22, say he died following his ‘heart, soul and morals’ and was ‘as brave as they come’

A British man has been killed while fighting in Ukraine for the country’s foreign volunteer platoon.

Callum Tindal-Draper, 22, had travelled to the country to join the fight against Russia despite his family’s pleas for him not to. His father, Steven Draper, paid tribute to his son, a former NHS worker from Gunnislake in Cornwall, in an interview with BBC News.

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Power in the Palms: Inside the pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago

Political hopefuls flock to Donald Trump's Florida home as the president-elect assembles his cabinet.

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US tourist killed while on vacation in Hungary as suspect taken into custody

Mackenzie Michalski, 31, from Portland, Oregon, met 37-year-old man from Ireland at nightclub in Budapest

Family members of a 31-year-old American tourist who was killed while on vacation in Hungary’s capital mourned their loss while a 37-year-old suspect was in custody Saturday.

The victim, Mackenzie Michalski from Portland, Oregon, was reported missing on 5 November after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest. Police launched a missing person investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs, where they observed Michalski with a man later identified as the suspect in several of the clubs the night of her disappearance.

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Trump ally: Ukraine focus is to achieve ‘peace and stop the killing’

‘Crimea is gone,’ adviser says, and Trump administration will not help Ukraine regain territory lost to Russia

• US elections 2024 – live updates

A senior adviser to Donald Trump said that the incoming US administration’s priority for Ukraine will be about achieving peace rather than it regaining territory captured by Russia in the almost three years of the war.

In an interview with the BBC, broadcast on Saturday, Bryan Lanza, who has been a political adviser to Trump since his 2016 presidential campaign, began to elaborate on the strong signals the now president-elect had been sending to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the campaign trail.

Trump wins the presidency – how did it happen?

With Trump re-elected, this is what’s at stake

Abortion ballot measure results by state

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Elon Musk reportedly makes surprise appearance on Trump-Zelenskyy call

X chief, who campaigned hard for Trump, spoke to Ukraine leader after being handed phone by president-elect

Elon Musk reportedly made a surprise guest appearance on a call between Donald Trump and the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, solidifying the Tesla chief executive’s role as the most influential civilian in the country come January.

Musk was present with Trump during the call for roughly 25 minutes, according to Axios, which first reported the call. Trump handed Musk the phone and Musk and Zelenskyy spoke briefly. On the call, Zelenskyy thanked Musk for the satellites he had been providing Ukraine through his company, Starlink, according to AFP. Musk said he would continue to provide satellite internet connection, the report said.

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Susie Wiles: Who is Trump's new chief of staff?

The 67-year-old - whose father was an American football star - will be the first woman in the job.

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Winner of Paul Mescal lookalike contest in Dublin receives €20 ‘or three pints’

Competition to resemble Normal People star is markedly lower-stakes than chaotic Timothée Chalamet event in New York last month

Two weeks ago, a mobbed competition to find a Timothée Chalamet lookalike in New York led to one arrest, a $500 fine for an “unpermitted costume contest” and a surprise appearance by the real-life Chalamet, fuelling further chaos.

But a similar event in Dublin on Thursday, this time to find a doppelganger for Paul Mescal, the star of Normal People and the upcoming Gladiator II, unfolded rather more sedately.

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Three charged in connection with Liam Payne's death

Argentinian prosecutors say three people have been charged in connection with the singer's death.

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French minister scraps holy site visit after Israeli police arrest gendarmes

France summons Israeli ambassador over incident at Eleona domain in Jerusalem which is under French control

The French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot has abandoned a visit to a holy site in Jerusalem under French control after armed Israeli police entered the site and briefly arrested two French gendarmes.

France has summoned the Israeli ambassador over the incident, the latest of several controversies involving the Eleona sanctuary on the Mount of Olives, which along with three other sites make up the French national domain in the Holy Land.

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US cuts interest rates as Trump election raises uncertainty

Donald Trump's plans for tax cuts and tariffs raise questions about much further the Fed might cut.

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Post-Brexit border scheme to simplify trade put on pause again

Single Trade Window designed to reduce friction on imports and exports will be halted until at least 2026 amid cost fears

A key part of the UK’s post-Brexit border strategy has been put on pause for more than a year amid government concerns over the cost of implementing the scheme.

The introduction of the Single Trade Window (STW), which is designed to reduce friction for traders moving goods in and out of Britain, had already been delayed from late October to January next year, but will now be halted until at least 2026.

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Algeria silent after civil war book wins top French award

Algerian Kamel Daoud wins the Prix Goncourt for his novel Houris, a searing account of his country’s 1990s conflict.

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Mozambique presidential runner-up escapes alleged assassination attempt

Venâncio Mondlane says people tried to kill him after he went into hiding in South Africa.

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Russia-friendly candidate ahead in Moldovan vote amid claims of Kremlin meddling

Alexandr Stoianoglo, backed by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists, has promised a closer relationship with Moscow.

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‘After three days we found her alive’: the ‘miracle’ rescues after Spanish floods

Media reported stories of survivors including the woman trapped in her car in a flooded underpass for 72 hours

Her car was among the scores that were swept up in Spain’s deadly floods, tossed about by the mud-coloured waters that surged on to streets. But after 72 hours spent trapped in an underpass, the woman was hailed as one of the lucky ones.

“After three days, we found someone alive in their car,” Martín Pérez, the head of Valencia’s civil protection service, told volunteers on Saturday. The announcement prompted hearty applause.

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Watch as crowd chant 'murderer' and throw objects at Spanish king

Spain's King Felipe VI is visiting the Valencia region, which has been hit by unprecedented floods.

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Australia news live: Albanese announces plan to wipe fifth of all student debt if re-elected; two men arrested after grass fire in Adelaide’s north

The PM is expected to outline the details of the change at a campaign rally in Adelaide on Sunday. Follow today’s news live

Hockey, speaking to ABC Insiders which is being broadcast from Detroit, Michigan, says he expects the election will be close and the result will not be known for “four or five days”.

He says North Carolina will be a key seat with the former federal Treasurer expecting it will be won easily by Trump.

I think North Carolina will come in early if it is a strong result for Trump and it will be a precursor to a - an overall victory for Trump. But if it’s close, then obviously it’s going to make it a very interesting night.

It is a result that no-one is able to predict and it’s going to come as a surprise to Australians, given there are so many polls that were in a position where we can’t pick the winner, but the fact is no-one knows how big the turnout is going to be. Unlike Australia where we have compulsory turnouts in elections, here it is a mystery how many new voters will come out and how they’re going to vote.

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'This is my city, I have to help' - huge volunteer response in flood-hit Valencia

There has been a growing outpouring of solidarity in and around Valencia to help those affected by catastrophic flooding.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges allies to stop just ‘watching’ amid North Korea threat

Ukrainian president calls on countries to step in before troops sent to Russia by Pyongyang reach battlefield

Ukraine’s president urged allies to stop “watching” and take steps before North Korean troops deployed in Russia reach the battlefield, while the army chief said his troops were facing “one of the most powerful offensives” by Moscow since the full-scale war began.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the prospect of a pre-emptive Ukrainian strike on camps where the North Korean troops are being trained and said Kyiv knows their location. But he said Ukraine can’t do it without permission from allies to use western-made long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia.

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Outpouring of unity in Spain as anger grows over slow response to floods

Hundreds of volunteers take up buckets and brooms in Valencia as the government bolsters its response to the devastating floods.

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Moment police tackle teen accused of deadly Halloween shooting

Video shows the chaotic aftermath of the shooting on an Orlando street packed with revellers.

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Man jailed for claiming he had fought for Wagner group in Ukraine

Piotr Kucharski wore insignia for proscribed terror group on combat clothing at Suffolk Viking re-enactment

A builder has been jailed for claiming at a Viking re-enactment that he had fought for the Wagner group in Ukraine.

Piotr Kucharski, 49, wore combat clothing bearing badges with insignia for the proscribed terror organisation to an event in Stonham Aspal, in Suffolk.

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Search for Spain flooding survivors continues

More than 200 people are dead and dozens more still missing after torrential rain earlier this week.

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Israel strikes historic Lebanese city of Baalbek after ordering evacuation

Tens of thousands flee as the Israeli military says it struck fuel depots belonging to Hezbollah.

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About 8,000 North Korean soldiers at Ukraine border, says US

Antony Blinken warns that Russia is preparing to deploy the troops into combat ‘in the coming days’

About 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia on the border with Ukraine, the US secretary of state has said, warning that Moscow is preparing to deploy those troops into combat “in the coming days”.

Antony Blinken said the US believed that North Korea had sent 10,000 troops to Russia in total, deploying them first to training bases in the far east before sending the vast majority to the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine.

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Spain mourns as death toll passes 150 in catastrophic floods

At least 158 people have died in Spain's worst flooding disaster in decades as rescuers race to find victims.

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Georgia must change course to open EU membership talks, says European Commission

Western powers call for investigation into Georgian Dream party election win amid reports of voter intimidation and fraud

The European Commission has said it will not recommend opening EU membership talks with Georgia unless the country changes course, days after the increasingly anti-western Georgian Dream (GD) party won pivotal parliamentary elections amid reports of irregularities and voter intimidation.

The commission recommended that Georgia be granted EU candidate status last year – something Ukraine and Moldova had already achieved – but made clear at the time that this could be withdrawn if the government in Tbilisi did not follow through on agreed reforms.

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Paramedic gave Sergei Skripal novichok antidote by chance, inquiry hears

Knocked-over bag led to unintended use of drug to counter nerve agents, which may have saved former Russian spy

A paramedic has described the extraordinary moment he knocked over a drugs bag as he treated the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and then by chance gave him a nerve agent antidote that may have saved his life.

Emergency services workers who went to help Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, after they were poisoned with the nerve agent novichok, initially suspected they may have been experiencing the effects of a recreational drugs overdose.

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China declares success as its youngest astronauts reach space

The BBC’s Laura Bicker sees the Shenzhou 19 spacecraft take off in a record year of space exploration.

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What is Unrwa and why has Israel banned it?

The agency provides aid for Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere, and has long been criticised by Israel.

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Portuguese far-right leader criticised over police shooting comments

Complaint filed against André Ventura and two Chega colleagues for statements about fatal shooting of black man

Former politicians, musicians and lawyers from across Portugal have filed a criminal complaint against the leader of the far-right Chega party over “false or biased” statements made after a fatal police shooting of a black man.

For the past week, Portugal has been reeling from the death of Odair Moniz, a 43-year-old chef originally from Cape Verde. An official police statement initially said Moniz had fled, crashed a car and brandished a knife before an officer opened fire.

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Japan's ruling party loses its majority after snap election

The prime minister announced a snap election despite voter apathy and low approval ratings.

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Chaos and political drama rock Japan's snap election

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made a political gamble, and it backfired, leaving a weakened ruling party.

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Georgia’s pro-EU opposition calls for protest over ‘rigged’ election result

Pro-western president Salome Zourabichvili claims country has fallen victim to ‘Russian special operation’

Georgia’s pro-western opposition has called on the country to protest on Monday against the disputed parliamentary victory of the ruling, Russia-aligned Georgian Dream (GD) party.

GD retained power in Saturday’s pivotal election that dealt a significant blow to the country’s long-held aspirations for EU membership, amid allegations of voter intimidation and coercion.

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G7 vows to clamp down on Russia’s oil sanctions evasion

Group commits to unspecified measures to enforce price cap on Russian exports in response to Ukraine war

Finance ministers of the G7 nations vowed on Saturday to step up efforts to prevent Russia from evading sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine.

“We remain committed to taking further initiatives in response to oil price cap violations,” the group said in a statement after a meeting in Washington. Those further steps were not spelled out in detail.

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Mining giants sign $30bn settlement for 2015 Brazil dam collapse

The dam collapse released toxic waste and mud, which flooded nearby towns, rivers and forests.

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Georgia's ruling party leads pro-EU opposition in crucial vote - projection

A partial projection by Georgia's central election commission gives the ruling party almost 53% of the vote.

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Mafia cocaine trafficker arrested after posing by Escobar's grave

Luigi Belvedere has been arrested in Medellín after almost four years on the run in Colombia.

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Menendez brothers should be freed on parole, says top prosecutor

Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of killing their parents in a case that gained worldwide attention.

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Australia live news: Qantas say strike won’t cause delays; Queensland election race narrows

More walkouts by engineers are planned today as the company holds its AGM in Hobart; Steven Miles has closed the gap on David Crisafulli, poll shows

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Qantas has sought to reassure the travelling public that hundreds of its engineers putting down their tools today will not lead to delays or cancellations across the country, as the airline’s shareholders and executives meet in Hobart for the company’s annual general meeting.

Engineers from three unions voted in favour of taking industrial action, which will include two sets of four-hour stop works planned for today across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. Qantas has disputed the unions claim that the industrial action will cause disruptions for passengers during peak windows.

We had a number of meetings with the unions prior to the industrial action. We want to continue to engage with them to find a way forward but they have chosen to take action. Our preference is to reach an agreement that includes pay rises and other benefits.

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Putin does not deny North Korea has sent soldiers to Russia

President’s comments at Brics summit are ambiguous, however, US says it has evidence of movement of troops who could fight in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has sidestepped claims that North Korea has sent soldiers to Russia, insisting that it was up to Moscow how to run its mutual defence clause with Pyongyang.

Speaking at the close of the Brics summit in Kazan on Thursday, he accused the west of escalating the Ukraine war and said it was “living an illusion” if it thought it could inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

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Resistance to daptomycin in near-untreatable superbug caused by a different antibiotic, study finds

‘Surprising’ finding by Australian-led study is first recorded instance of an antibiotic causing resistance to one in a different class

The rise of an almost untreatable superbug has been linked to a common antibiotic, an Australian-led study has found.

The study – published in Nature – found that rifaximin, an antibiotic commonly used to treat liver disease, causes resistance to another antibiotic, daptomycin.

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Liberation theology icon and champion of the poor Gutiérrez dies

Gustavo Gutiérrez founded liberation theology, both revered and reviled in the Catholic Church.

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McDonald's burgers linked to E. coli outbreak in the US

At least 49 people have been sickened and one person has died, according to the CDC.

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Even wealthy Australians avoiding GP visits as cost of living hurts access to healthcare

Exclusive: NSW Council of Social Services report finds ‘dramatic increase’ in number of people delaying or not seeing GP due to cost

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Even wealthy Australians are cutting back on doctor’s appointments due to the cost of living, with new data showing the proportion of people in New South Wales who put off a GP visit because it was too expensive increased by 246% over the past four years.

A new NSW Council of Social Services (Ncoss) report, based on modelling of Australian Bureau of Statistics data by researchers at the University of Canberra, found healthcare had become less accessible for more people.

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German police raid pizzeria serving side order of cocaine

The number 40 pizza was one of the Düsseldorf restaurant's most popular pizzas, police said.

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Guardian Essential poll: King Charles’s job approval rating eclipses Albanese and Dutton

Taken before monarch’s Australia visit, survey finds 50% of voters approve of how he is doing his job while PM records 44% and opposition leader 45%

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King Charles III has stronger approval among Australians for the way he is doing his job than either the prime minister or the man who wants to be PM, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.

Taken just before the monarch’s arrival in Australia, the poll of 1,140 voters found that 50% approved of the job Charles was doing as Australia’s head of state, with 26% disapproving and 24% unsure.

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UN 'deeply concerned' Kenya returned Turkish refugees

The UN's statement follows reports that multiple Turkish nationals were abducted in Nairobi on Friday.

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Liam Payne fans hold vigils around the world

Thousands of the One Direction star's followers have gathered globally in memory of the singer who died last week.

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Protecting the Green Triangle: experts warn of ‘irreversible’ groundwater decline

The groundwater system in western Victoria and south-east South Australia has begun to show signs of collapse, threatening the water security of SA’s second biggest city

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Some of the best-quality groundwater in Australia underlies the upper and lower south-east of South Australia and parts of south-western Victoria.

But almost 200 years of draw down for agriculture, farming and domestic use has changed the surface drainage. Underground water in some areas has collapsed and water quality is deteriorating, putting at risk not only a fragile natural ecosystem but a $5bn regional economy.

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Farmers seen fleeing Nebraska wildfire during harvest

Video shows tractors being overwhelmed by tall plumes of smoke as firefighters battled the blaze.

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Indian diplomats put ‘on notice’ in Canada after links to anti-Sikh activity uncovered

Canada expelled six Indian diplomats as fallout continues from 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Canada’s foreign minister has warned India’s remaining diplomats in the country that they are “clearly on notice” not to endanger Canadian lives after New Delhi’s top envoy in Canada was named a person of interest in the assassination of a Sikh activist.

India’s high commissioner was expelled on Monday along with five other diplomats, prompting the Canadian foreign minister, Mélanie Joly, to compare India to Russia, saying Canada’s national police force has linked Indian diplomats to homicides, death threats and intimidation in Canada.

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Israelis and Palestinians react to Hamas leader Sinwar's death

Relatives of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza say now is the time to negotiate their release.

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Australia PM faces backlash over new A$4.3m beach pad

The purchase comes months out from an election in which the cost of living and housing are key issues.

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Australia news live: NT lowers age of criminal responsibility to 10; royals due to arrive on wet Sydney evening

The new Country Liberal government fulfils election pledge on ‘fighting crime’. Follow today’s news live

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NSW Police conducting Operation ‘Royal Visit’ throughout King Charles’ visit

As we flagged just earlier, King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to arrive into Sydney tonight.

[The NSW police force] has been working with partner agencies including the UK Royal and Specialist protection team, to provide an operational response.

… anyone who breaches no-fly zones will be dealt with appropriately.

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Zelenskyy lays out Ukraine ‘victory plan’ which Moscow calls an escalation

Ukrainian president wants ‘unconditional invite’ to join Nato and rules out conceding territory to Russia

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has laid out details of his “victory plan” in a speech to parliament that acknowledged increasing pressure from allies to negotiate an end to the conflict.

An “unconditional invite” to join Nato is at the heart of the plan he had pitched in private meetings in Washington DC and on a tour of European capitals before unveiling it publicly in Kyiv on Wednesday.

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Mayor and 15 others killed in Israeli strike on Lebanon council meeting

Sixteen people are dead following air strikes on municipal buildings in the city of Nabatieh.

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Sydney’s Coogee beach closed after mysterious black balls wash ashore

Beachgoers warned not to touch the material, which may be tar balls formed from oil spills or seepage at sea

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Sydney’s Coogee beach has been ordered closed until further notice after “mysterious black, ball-shaped debris” washed up along its length.

Lifeguards discovered the debris on Tuesday afternoon at the popular eastern suburbs beach. Randwick city council environmental officers collected samples and have sent them for testing. In the meantime, beachgoers were advised not to touch or go near them.

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Actor says Trump 'should be grateful' for controversial film

The Apprentice, which focuses on Trump's early years as a real estate tycoon, is released this week.

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Lufthansa hit with record penalty after barring Jewish passengers

The German airline has agreed to pay $4m to resolve claims it discriminated against Jewish passengers.

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Elon Musk accused of copying designs by I, Robot director

Alex Proyas, who directed the 2004 Will Smith film, compared his film to Tesla's new vehicles.

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BBC Verify analyses footage from Gaza strikes

BBC Verify analyses video and images from Israeli strikes in Gaza over the weekend.

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Australia news live: Labor commits $95m to prepare for deadly bird flu; republicans to welcome king’s visit with ‘farewell tour’ T-shirts

Australia is the only continent still free of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza. Follow today’s news live

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Murray Watt on government’s review of workplace relations laws

Murray Watt was asked about calls from employers to change the definition of small business from 15 to 25 employees – will he do it?

There’s no evidence at all that current laws led by the Albanese government are stifling businesses from employing people. In fact, we’ve actually created nearly 1 million jobs since coming to office a bit over two years ago … So unfortunately, for some of the leading business groups calling for this, the evidence of what’s going on in the economy just doesn’t back up their wish list.

I think one of the lessons that we took is that it’s really pretty much impossible to undertake constitutional reform in this country without bipartisan support. We saw that prior to Peter Dutton and the Coalition opposing the voice, support for the voice was actually quite high, and that whittled away as soon as we saw the opposition take a position against it.

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Watch: Why is the latest SpaceX rocket test a big deal?

The BBC's Pallab Ghosh explores why this world first test is a big deal for space exploration.

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Empty bars and bookshops: How Israeli strikes transformed Lebanon's buzzing capital

There's no music or dancing in central Beirut bars as fear spreads and displaced people fill the streets.

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International arrest warrant for rugby star Rocky Elsom

The ex-Wallabies captain was given a five-year sentence for embezzlement in France, local media say.

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Venezuela has cancelled passports of dozens of activists and journalists

Rights group in Caracas says at least 40 people affected, as Maduro government continues clampdown on opposition

The Venezuelan government has cancelled the passports of dozens of journalists and activists since President Nicolás Maduro claimed a re-election victory, part of what rights groups said is an intensifying campaign of repression against the authoritarian president’s opponents, the Financial Times has reported.

At least 40 people, mostly journalists and human rights activists, have had their passports annulled without explanation, the newspaper reported on Saturday, citing Caracas-based rights group Laboratorio de Paz.

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Key moments of Alex Salmond's life and career... in 107 seconds

A look back at some of the key moments from the life and career of former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond.

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More Australians being ‘priced out’ of homes by big rent hikes, advocates fear

Renters in some cities forced to spend on average nearly $15,000 more a year on rent since the Covid pandemic, analysis reveals

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Renters in Australian capital cities are on average spending nearly $15,000 more a year to rent a house since the pandemic, analysis has revealed.

Research from the advocacy organisation Everybody’s Home showed on average renters in capitals are paying $14,700 more annually to rent a house, and $9,600 more to rent a unit compared with 2020.

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Tesla shares slide after Cybercab robotaxi revealed

Elon Musk revealed a prototype of the long-awaited robotaxi at a Hollywood film studio - but investors aren't wowed.

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Talks on UK rejoining EU could start in 10 years’ time, says Peter Mandelson

Labour peer says in meantime it is essential to try to reduce damage of Brexit deal struck by Boris Johnson

Peter Mandelson has suggested the UK could start talks on rejoining the EU in 10 years’ time, much earlier than Keir Starmer believes.

Lord Mandelson told an audience in Edinburgh the “truth is that [reversing Brexit] could be a conversation which starts in 10 years’ time”, but only if EU member states were willing to consider it.

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Watch: Northern lights over Iceland in sped-up footage

Time-lapse images show the northern lights on the outskirts of the capital Reykjavik.

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Australia news live: banks and social media networks told to toughen up against scammers; house prices rise more slowly

Assistant treasurer to detail new scams prevention framework. Follow today’s news live

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And happy Friday – thanks to Martin for kicking things off. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be with you for most of today on the live blog.

As always, you can get in touch with any tips or questions via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.

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Ukrainian reporter died in Russian detention, Kyiv says

Victoria Roshchyna disappeared in August last year after travelling to Russian-held east Ukraine for a report

A Ukrainian journalist who was captured by Moscow while reporting from occupied east Ukraine has died in Russian detention, according to Ukrainian officials.

Victoria Roshchyna, who would have turned 28 this month, disappeared in August last year after travelling to Russian-held east Ukraine for a report.

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EU delays introduction of border check system again

The EU pushes back introducing new biometric border checks that were due on 10 November.

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Australia politics live: new rules for public service aim to prevent another Robodebt scandal; social media summit to look at age limit

The Labor government has proposed changes to rules for the oversight of the public service. Follow today’s news live

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Liberals say they have no intention of ‘changing the ownership structure of the NBN’

The opposition communications spokesperson, David Coleman, is speaking to ABC radio RN, criticising the government’s legislation designed to keep the NBN in public hands.

We’re not going to just sort of immediately jump at some silly theatrical statement from the government. The adults in the room will review this in a normal way.

We’ve got no intention of changing the ownership structure of the NBN. Nobody does. And frankly, because the NBN is going so badly, there’s not exactly a lineup of people [wanting to buy it].

Parents are crying out for a degree of certainty, they’re crying out for government guidance, a lot more rule that people can follow. That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenging but at least provides a starting point for parents. It gives them a tool about how to address this and parents who have gone through all this and all the pain that social media can place upon their children, they’re the ones I think are the most powerful advocates for this reform.

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Obituary: Ratan Tata, the 'modest' Indian tycoon

The businessman led a conglomerate of more than 100 companies, employing some 660,000 people.

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Hospitals move patients as Israeli tanks encircle Jabalia camp

The Israeli military is carrying out its third ground offensive in the area since the Gaza war began.

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Five takeaways from Melania Trump's new book

The book discusses abortion rights, her first date with Trump and the first assassination attempt.

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Zelenskyy ‘victory plan’ summit in doubt after Joe Biden pulls out

US president prepares for arrival of Hurricane Milton as German chancellor says meeting will be rescheduled

Joe Biden has called off a four-day trip to Germany this week that had been intended to culminate in a summit to discuss Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” for Ukraine.

The White House said on Tuesday evening that the president would stay at home “to oversee preparations for and the response” to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday.

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Schoolboy shooter testifies at parents' trial in Belgrade

A 14-year-old boy who killed nine children and a security guard gives evidence behind closed doors.

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Germans decry influence of English as ‘idiot’s apostrophe’ gets official approval

Linguistic body has relaxed rules on use of apostrophe to show possession, not traditionally correct in German

A relaxation of official rules around the correct use of apostrophes in German has not only irritated grammar sticklers but triggered existential fears around the pervasive influence of English.

Establishments that feature their owners’ names, with signs like “Rosi’s Bar” or “Kati’s Kiosk” are a common sight around German towns and cities, but strictly speaking they are wrong: unlike English, German does not traditionally use apostrophes to indicate the genitive case or possession. The correct spelling, therefore, would be “Rosis Bar”, “Katis Kiosk”, or, as in the title of a recent viral hit, Barbaras Rhabarberbar.

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‘Daily challenge to get stories out of Gaza’ - BBC's Rushdi Abualouf

The BBC's Rushdi Abualouf sheds light on the challenges of reporting the war from inside and outside of Gaza.

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Lammy defends Chagos deal, saying it saves important UK-US military base

Foreign secretary says status quo not sustainable as Tory MPs accuse Labour of giving away key asset

David Lammy has hailed the decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as a deal to save a strategically important UK-US military base, after accusations from opposition MPs that a key asset was being given away.

The government announced last week that it was going to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending years of bitter dispute over Britain’s last African colony, but the military base on Diego Garcia will remain under UK control.

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Tunisia's president seeks new term in election he's all but sure to win

President Kais Saied, accused of suppressing democracy, only has two challengers and one is in jail.

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News live: thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters to rally across major cities; Australians evacuate Lebanon to Cyprus

Organisers of the Sydney protest said they expected the turnout to be around 5,000 people. Follow the day’s news live

While the pro-Palestinian protest organisers have vowed for a peaceful event, the protests have faced criticism from politicians and police, with NSW police this week attempting to prevent the Sydney protest from going ahead, before protest organisers reached an agreement with the police to have the protest occur via a changed route starting at Hyde Park.

NSW police had sought to have both the Sunday event and Monday vigil deemed unlawful, citing concerns over expected crowd size and potential hazards including “planter boxes” at Town Hall.

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Watch: BBC reporter in the midst of rocket fire into Israel

The BBC's Nick Beake reports from northern Israel, where Hezbollah continues to fire rockets into Israel.

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Aussie classics Vegemite and Tim Tams cheaper in UK supermarkets than Australia

Vegemite sells for 30 cents more per 100g in Australia, a salty byproduct of lower supermarket competition sure to leave a bad taste

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Shoppers in the UK are paying less for Australian brands including Vegemite and Tim Tams than customers in Australia, despite the classic products being made in Australia.

A comparison of seven Australian products stocked in UK supermarkets shows they are often cheaper to buy in Britain than at Australia’s two major supermarket chains.

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Watch: View from above as Iran fires missiles towards Israel

Video footage filmed inside a plane on Tuesday night shows missiles launched from Iran.

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Paul Pogba doping ban reduced to 18 months after appeal

Paul Pogba's four-year ban for a doping offence has been reduced to 18 months after winning his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

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How India became a Test cricket powerhouse

More than 90 years after its first Test match, India boasts more victories in the format than losses.

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Australia news live: pro-Palestine protesters plan vigil on Monday as NSW force vows ‘high visibility’ policing of Sunday rally

Activists have agreed that no Hezbollah flags will be flown, police say. Follow today’s news live

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Thanks to Martin Farrer for kicking off the blog this morning. I’ll be rolling your news updates throughout the day. If there is anything you don’t want us to miss, shoot it my way on X @At_Raf_

At the end of the Queensland leaders’ debate, the hosts from Nine Network – Nine’s state political editor Tim Arvier, Brisbane Times editor Sean Parnell and 4BC announcer Sofie Formica – were asked to give their verdict .

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Helene is deadliest mainland US hurricane since Katrina

Hundreds of people are still missing and nearly a million homes are without power a week after the storm tore across the US south-east.

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Watch: Jeremy Bowen presses Hamas deputy leader on 7 October attacks

One of the most senior leaders of Hamas - a group designated a terrorist organisation by the UK and others - speaks to the BBC's Jeremy Bowen.

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Anti-smart cities Libertarians score local council election wins after NSW Liberals’ nomination debacle

Party that campaigned with manifesto warning of ‘24/7 surveillance state and social credit system’ claims seats across NSW

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Libertarians who fear “smart cities” technology will be used to curtail freedoms have been elected to councils across New South Wales after the Liberal party failed to nominate more than 130 of its candidates.

“Smart cities” is a broad term that encompasses the use of technology to collect data on people’s movements to help guide local government planning on matters such as traffic, rubbish collection and reducing carbon emissions.

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Australia news live: Labor looks to crack down on ‘shrinkflation’ at supermarkets; Queensland leaders prep for debate

Labor’s Steven Miles to face LNP rival David Crisafulli in TV debate. Follow today’s news live

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High fire danger rating for Queensland

In Queensland today, the fire danger rating is sitting at high in most parts of the state.

If you had plans to grind, slash or mow today please reconsider … If work needs to happen today, be alert and make sure you have water on hand to extinguish any spot fires.

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Blast from unexploded US bomb grounds flights at Japanese airport

The bomb is thought to have been dropped during World War Two to halt "kamikaze" missions.

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Starmer vows to turn page on UK’s relationship with the EU

PM promises ‘constructive’ relations, despite resisting talks with the bloc on a proposed youth mobility scheme

Keir Starmer has vowed to turn the page on the UK’s relationship with the EU, despite differences with Brussels over proposals for a European youth mobility scheme.

The prime minister said: “Of course, there will be challenges” in resetting relations but insisted he was “turning the page on the old way of doing these negotiations” in favour of a more “constructive” approach.

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces more than 100 new assault allegations

New alleged victims are to sue to the hip-hop mogul, who denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

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Video shows missiles fired towards Tel Aviv

A statement on Iranian state TV confirmed "dozens" of missiles have been launched towards Israel.

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'I'm not playing games' on port strikes, union boss says

Harold Daggett vows union is "going to win", as Joe Biden backs "meaningful" dockworker pay rise.

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Wim Hof biopic on hold after claims of domestic abuse against cold water guru

‘Iceman’ files for defamation after allegations he subjected former partner and children to physical and verbal abuse

A biopic of the Dutch extreme athlete and wellness guru Wim Hof has been put on hold after allegations of domestic violence against the man who calls himself “the Iceman” emerged in the Dutch media over the weekend.

A report published in de Volkskrant newspaper on Saturday claimed the 65-year-old had subjected his former partner, their son and her two children from a previous marriage to physical and verbal abuse over a period of 13 years.

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Netanyahu in poll rebound after Hezbollah attacks

The Israeli PM's party would win the most seats if an election were held but the opposition bloc would have more overall, a poll shows.

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Campaigner who ignited euthanasia debate in Hungary dies

The prominent human rights lawyer campaigned to legalise euthanasia in Hungarian and European courts.

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Woman left in ‘constant’ fear after being stalked by Australia Post employee

Man left voice recording in 64-year-old’s mailbox, outlining how he had been watching her on his mail run, but quit when confronted by his employer

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An Australia Post employee allegedly stalked a 64-year-old woman he encountered on his mail run, prompting police to apply for a personal safety intervention order against him.

The 41-year-old man resigned when confronted by the organisation but the victim said she has been left in fear and does not think Australia Post’s investigation into the matter was adequate.

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Young Lebanese girl left fighting for life after Israeli strikes

Noor Mossawi, aged six, is one of a number of people in critical condition in a hospital in eastern Lebanon.

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Malcolm Turnbull condemns UK’s ‘extraordinary’ hypocrisy over Spycatcher affair

Exclusive: Former Australian PM witnessed ‘shocking act of perjury’ and says MI5 are still trying to hide something

The former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused the UK government of hypocrisy and concealment over the way it continues to block the release of secret files about the Spycatcher affair.

Before entering politics, Turnbull was a barrister for Peter Wright, a retired senior MI5 intelligence officer who revealed a series of illegal activities by the British security services in his memoir Spycatcher.

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'The worst moment the country has passed through': Fear on the streets of Beirut

Lebanon is a country that knows war - but for some Israel’s recent escalation already feels worse.

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Top Russia diplomat warns west not to fight ‘nuclear power’ in UN speech

Sergei Lavrov accuses west of using Ukraine ‘to defeat’ Russia days after Putin shifts Moscow’s nuclear posture

Russia’s top diplomat warned on Saturday against “trying to fight to victory with a nuclear power”, delivering a UN general assembly speech packed with condemnations of what Russia sees as western machinations in Ukraine and elsewhere – including inside the United Nations itself.

Three days after Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, aired a shift in his country’s nuclear doctrine, his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, accused the west of using Ukraine – which Russia invaded in February 2022 – as a tool to try “to defeat” Moscow strategically, and “preparing Europe for it to also throw itself into this suicidal escapade”.

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Drone video shows Hurricane Helene's path of destruction

Drone video shows Hurricane Helene's path of destruction

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Poverty in Argentina soars to over 50% as Milei’s austerity measures hit hard

Far-right president has been battling inflation by imposing steep cuts in spending, resulting in widespread poverty

Argentina’s poverty rate has soared to almost 53% in the first six months of Javier Milei’s presidency, offering the first hard evidence of the far-right libertarian’s tough austerity measures are hitting the population.

The new poverty rate, reported by the government’s statistics agency on Thursday, is the highest level for two decades, when the country reeled from a catastrophic economic crisis, and means 3.4 million Argentinians have been pushed into poverty this year.

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Watch: Reporter captures moment air strike hits Beirut

BBC reporters capture the moment and aftermath of an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon.

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Pope says church must be ashamed of Belgium sexual abuse

Belgium's King Philippe levelled direct criticism at the pontiff, saying it had "taken far too long for the cries to be heard and acknowledged".

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The NYC mayor's dramatic day in under 60 seconds

Eric Adams is charged with five counts of criminal offenses, including bribery, wire fraud, and illegal campaign donations.

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Zelenskyy meets Biden to pitch ‘victory plan’ to end war with Russia

Ukraine president visits White House in effort to shore up US support, amid rising tensions between him and Tump

Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have met at the White House where the Ukrainian leader is expected to present a high-stakes “victory plan” to end the war with Russia with additional American aid.

Zelenskyy has kept the details of the plan secret, but US officials have said it includes additional American aid in the military, economic and political spheres to prevent a Ukrainian rout on the battlefield and “provide the people with the assurance that their future is part of the west”.

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NYC mayor charged with taking bribes and illegal campaign funds

Eric Adams is accused of illegally accepting foreign campaign donations and $100,000 in luxury travel benefits from Turkish nationals.

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Three men charged in Germany over Michael Schumacher blackmail plot

Chief suspect threatened to release private photos and demanded €15m from F1 star’s family, prosecutors say

German prosecutors are bringing charges against three men arrested this year over an alleged blackmail plot targeting the family of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher.

They said the chief suspect, a 53-year-old man from the western city of Wuppertal, had threatened to release private photos and videos and demanded €15m (£12.5m) from Schumacher’s family.

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Watch: Hijacked bus chased by police cars through downtown LA

A passenger is shot dead after a gunman hijacked a bus and was chased by police for an hour.

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Biden struggles to contain conflict as Israel and Hezbollah on the brink

As the US president called for restraint in a speech at the UN, Israel's leader vowed to continue striking Hezbollah.

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Journalist's apology not enough to satisfy Ghanaian king

Media personality Afia Pokua grovelled to the Ashanti king on her knees but it was not enough.

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Sri Lanka's new president dissolves parliament

Anura Kumara Dissanayake calls a general election, dissolving the parliament where his party only holds three seats.

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Spanish police arrest five people over fake Brad Pitt scam

Suspects accused of conning two women out of €325,000 by pretending to be Hollywood star online

Spanish police have arrested five people accused of scamming two women out of €325,000 (£271,000) by posing as the Hollywood star Brad Pitt online.

The suspects made contact with the women on an internet page for fans of the Oscar-winning actor and led them to believe “they had a sentimental relationship with him”, Spain’s Guardia civil police force said in a statement on Monday.

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US to ban Chinese tech in cars

Officials say they are worried the technology could allow enemies to "remotely manipulate cars".

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ACCC sues Coles and Woolworths over allegations of ‘illusory’ discounts on common products

Competition watchdog alleges supermarkets briefly increased prices on hundreds of products before placing them in discount promotions

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The competition regulator is suing Coles and Woolworths over allegations they misled shoppers by engaging in “illusory” discounts on hundreds of common supermarket products.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claimed on Monday that the major chains derived significant revenue from the sale of tens of millions of products sold through promotions that the regulator says breached consumer law.

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Māori language ‘at risk’ as a result of government policies, commissioner says

Prof Rawinia Higgins tells the Guardian that te reo Māori is under threat from the rightwing coalition despite long-running efforts to revive it

New Zealand’s Māori language commissioner has described government policies to limit the use of the Indigenous language in the public service as “a risk” to the half-century effort to revive it.

“Any affront to the efforts that we have been making has to be taken seriously,” the commissioner, Prof Rawinia Higgins, told the Guardian. “We’re seeing a reaction – only from a small corner of people, but enough that we don’t want that to snowball.”

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News live: Chalmers reveals $149bn cut to national debt under Labor; Australia overtakes Russia in Asia influence rankings

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says gross debt at the end of 2023-24 was $907bn. Follow the day’s news live

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Katy Gallagher was also up on ABC RN this morning, where she was again asked about the Greens’ position regarding the RBA reforms. She responded:

Well, I just think the Greens are out of control at the moment, full of self importance and out seeking populist approach to everything. It’s crazy what they’re saying to us.

So if that’s their ultimatum – and you know, it’s a bit unseemly, Nick McKim going around issuing ultimatums – you know, no, we won’t work with that, because that is crazy. It’s economically irresponsible, and we won’t do it.

They remain on the table. We’re pretty keen on them. So is the bank, and we certainly thought that the Reserve Bank support for these reforms would sway the Liberal Party… The treasurer has been working with the shadow treasurer closely on it, but they’ve dealt themselves out, for whatever reason…

[The Greens are] just trying to be populist, but [that] can cause a lot of damage at the same time… The Greens political party are teaming up with the Liberal Party. I think it’s Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt working together to frustrate sensible challenges that are in the long-term interests of the country.

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