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Palestinians describe grief and anxiety as they seek news that the ceasefire is going ahead, and airstrikes continueMiddle East crisis – live updatesAmid continuing airstrikes, bitter cold and news of delays, millions in Gaza were waiting anxiously on Thursday for confirmation that the ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Hamas and Israel was going ahead.Many spoke of their fear that hopes of a new beginning after a...

President-elect ‘has warm spot’ for platform and wants political solution to ‘preserve app but protect data’Sophia Smith Galer: TikTok is the only truly democratic social platformDonald Trump is considering suspending a TikTok ban in the US with an executive order when he enters the White House on 20 January, according to a report.The president-elect is exploring an executive order that would postpone enforcement of...

Judge rules former president’s passport will not be returned in case he uses it to flee abroad amid coup investigationBrazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro – who is under investigation for allegedly plotting a coup – has seen his hopes of attending Donald Trump’s inauguration dashed after a judge ruled his confiscated passport would not be returned in case the disgraced politician used it to...

The director of the award-winning musical about a trans cartel boss has said the film isn’t intended to be realistic, but he is sorry if things in it ‘seem shocking’Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard has apologised after the film was engulfed in a wave of criticism over its depiction of Mexico.A Spanish-language musical about a cartel boss who transitions to a woman, starring transgender...

Experts say the flood of users to the Chinese app highlights flaws in the Albanese government’s social media banFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAs the TikTok ban looms in the United States, users have flocked to RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, a China-based app that looks similar to Instagram.But in Australia,...

Eron Kiiza, who was representing regime opponent Dr Kizza Besigye, was assaulted and sentenced to nine months’ jail, say colleaguesA human rights lawyer involved in a case featuring a prominent Ugandan opposition leader has been tortured after he was arrested and detained without trial, according to colleagues who have visited him.Eron Kiiza was assaulted and arrested by soldiers on 7 January while entering a...

Actor repeatedly stabbed during 2am attack at Mumbai flat he shares with Kareena Kapoor and their two childrenSaif Ali Khan, one of Bollywood’s most popular actors, is recovering in hospital after a knife became lodged in his spine during an attack by an intruder in his Mumbai home.Medical officials said Khan sustained six stab wounds in the attack, which took place during a 2am...

Final sign-off for ceasefire deal delayed after Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Hamas of ‘reneging’ on parts of agreementThe devastating impact of 15 months of war on GazaHow Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiationsRelatives of hostages welcome ceasefirePalestinians express joy over ceasefire dealKey mediator Qatar said that 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire deal aimed...

Tory leader to condemn predecessors’ Brexit, climate and migration failings amid rising popularity of Reform UKKemi Badenoch will attack the Conservative party’s record under Boris Johnson and Theresa May on Brexit, the economy, net zero and immigration in a speech aimed at “rebuilding trust”.The Tory leader, who is competing with the sharp rise in popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, will “acknowledge the...

Boys aged 15 and 16 to appear in youth court over fatal stabbing on bus in Woolwich last weekTwo boys aged 15 and 16 have been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed on a bus in Woolwich, south-east London, the Metropolitan police have said.The pair will appear at Bromley youth court later on Thursday. Continue reading...

UK prime minister in Ukrainian capital to sign security and trade pact in first official visitStarmer hails ‘closer than ever’ partnership with Ukraine on visitAs we mentioned in the opening post, Ukraine’s air force has said the country’s forces downed 34 out of 55 drones launched by Russia overnight. Local authorities are now saying that the falling drone debris damaged energy infrastructure in the...

Trade secretary says UK’s ‘globally oriented’ economy means it is vulnerable – but it is better positioned than China and EUUK economy – live business updatesThe UK government is worried a “tariff war” between the US and other countries could lead to higher inflation and unemployment, the trade secretary has said.Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, warned the UK was particularly vulnerable to...

Eastern NSW, particularly northern rivers, and Gold Coast at high risk for severe thunderstorms and winds on Thursday, BoM forecastsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPersistent rain and strong winds will sweep across New South Wales into the weekend, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts, with Sydney on the “southern cusp” of the...

Chancellor wants ‘check-in’ to review pro-growth proposals from regulators, including road and rail, water, energy, aviation and markets Business live – latest updatesRachel Reeves is expected to pile pressure on UK regulators to do more to support growth when she summons bosses to No 11 on Thursday.The chief executives of watchdogs including the Competition and Markets Authority, communications regulator Ofcom, water regulator Ofwat, and...

Woman, 62, suffered traumatic shock and died shortly after collision with British man, 35, on black run in Les ArcsAn investigation is under way after a British woman died after a “violent collision” on a ski slope in south-east France.The 62-year-old woman experienced traumatic shock and died shortly after the collision, according to the French news outlet Le Dauphiné Liberé. Ski patrollers, an emergency...

Launch of Amazon founder’s New Glenn craft on second attempt ramps up rivalry between tech billionairesBlue Origin’s huge New Glenn rocket has blasted off from Florida on its first mission to space, an inaugural step into Earth’s orbit for Jeff Bezos’s space company as it aims to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite launch business.Thirty storeys high with a reusable first stage filled...

Fair Work Commission puts interim pause on approval for industrial action after second day of delays for commutersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew South Wales trains will return to normal scheduling for now after the Fair Work Commission placed an interim pause on its approval for rail unions to undertake industrial...

Stagnation fears rise after weaker growth than forecast but an interest rate cut is now even more likelyBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK economy grew by 0.1% in November, reversing a 0.1% drop in the previous month and easing pressure on embattled chancellor Rachel Reeves.The rise in activity will be welcomed by the Treasury, as it shows the economy expanded after the budget at...

Office for Environmental Protection calls for urgent action after finding government is falling short on most targetsThe window to stop the decline of England’s nature is swiftly closing, the environmental watchdog has said, as its latest report finds that the government is falling short on most of its targets to improve the environment.Some of Labour’s actions, however, including setting up a water commission and...

This blog is now closed‘Big call to make’: Chris Minns asks Fair Work to end industrial action causing Sydney train delaysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSharma ‘wouldn’t assume’ ceasefire agreement will lead to permanent ceasefireSenator and former ambassador to Israel David Sharma has been speaking to Sunrise this morning, also reacting to news of a ceasefire deal.It will importantly...

Online advertisement by PIA is called ‘stupidity’ by finance minister, who said PM Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an investigationPakistan’s prime minister has ordered an investigation after the country’s national airline released an advert that drew accusations that it evoked imagery of the 9/11 attacks.The advert was released by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) last week to celebrate the resumption of flights to Paris, which had...

Police allege woman, 34, filmed girl in ‘immense distress’ and used videos to ‘entice monetary donations and online followers’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 34-year-old Queensland woman has been arrested and charged after allegedly poisoning a one-year-old girl and posting videos of her in what police describe as “immense distress and...

Two countries to sign deal to deepen existing defence relationship and boost economic links in non-military areasRussia-Ukraine war liveKeir Starmer has travelled to Ukraine to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since he entered Downing Street, hailing a “closer than ever” partnership days before Donald Trump returns to the White House.The two countries will sign a partnership deal to deepen the existing defence...

Thinktank’s report details decline in trading position and also calls for new strategy as Trump takes power in USA slump in trade with the EU should spur ministers to negotiate a fundamental rewrite of post-Brexit rules to more closely align the UK with Brussels, a leading left-of-centre thinktank has said.Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House next week should also encourage the government to...