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‘Moral threshold coming down,’ warns Mo Ibrahim, as his index of governance reveals widespread decline in 10 yearsThe global rise of populism and “strongmen” has led to an increase in authoritarianism in Africa that is holding back progress in governance, the businessman and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim has said.According to the latest edition of the Ibrahim index of African governance, 78% of Africa’s citizens live...

IDF says strikes in Beirut in early October also killed the head of the militant group’s intelligence branchIsrael has confirmed the killing of the presumed next leader of Hezbollah in an airstrike on southern Beirut earlier in October.In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Israeli military said strikes in the suburb of Dahiyeh had killed Hashem Safieddine and Ali Hussein Hazima, the head of...

Justice department says eight were charged ‘for their efforts to silence and kill a US citizen because of her criticism of the Iranian regime’A general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has been charged in New York in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate a dissident Iranian American journalist.The target of the alleged assassination plot was not named in unsealed court documents, but she has...

Discussion about letting private firms bid for contracts comes before Knesset vote on banning UN relief agency from operating in IsraelIsrael is weighing the use of private security contractors – possibly involving UK special forces veterans – to deliver aid to Gaza, as conditions in the north of the strip worsen dramatically, the Guardian has learned.According to an Israeli official, the security cabinet discussed...

Saud al-Qahtani was first suspended before Elon Musk took over what was then Twitter, and was suspended again today after Guardian reportA key Saudi suspect in the murder of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 had his account reinstated on X, the social media company controlled by Elon Musk, after it was permanently suspended under the company’s previous owner.Saud al-Qahtani, a onetime key adviser...

Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez trade blows in court after confessing to shooting Ripudaman Singh MalikTwo men have pleaded guilty to the contract killing of a Sikh man who was acquitted in the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight from Montreal to Mumbai.According to an agreed statement of facts released by a British Columbia court on Monday, Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez confessed...

Seoul signals its most proactive position towards arming Ukraine to dateSouth Korea is considering directly supplying weapons to Ukraine as evidence increases that North Korean soldiers are preparing to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine.South Korea’s spy agency (NIS) said last week that North Korea had shipped 1,500 special forces personnel to Russia’s far east for training and acclimatising at local military bases...

Rahima Mahmut, in exile in the UK, ‘disappointed’ at failure to describe Beijing’s crackdown on minority as genocideA leading Uyghur activist has accused the Labour government of “falling behind” its allies in failing to stand up to China, after ministers backtracked on plans to push for formal recognition of the country’s treatment of the minority group as genocide.Speaking after David Lammy’s first visit to...

Prosecutors say ‘criminal enterprise’ charged foreign couples $50,000 and denied payments for miscarriagesAn international surrogacy ring exploited impoverished women, denied payments for miscarriages, and “commercialised” babies in Argentina, prosecutors have alleged.A team of prosecutors said they had discovered a “criminal enterprise” which has been charging foreign couples about $50,000 for a baby born by surrogacy in Argentina. Continue reading...

Republican candidate claims that Kamala Harris administration would restrict religious freedoms during event in North CarolinaGood morning and welcome to the US politics live blog. I’m Tom Ambrose and I’ll be bringing you all the latest from the campaign trail, with polling day now just two weeks away.We start with the news that Donald Trump has urged Christian voters on Monday to participate in...

Former Conservative justice sectary to carry out review by Ministry of Justice considering alternatives to sending people to jailAs Pippa Crerar reports, yesterday it emerged that Suella Braverman forwarded government documents to her private email accounts at least 127 times while serving as attorney general, in a potential breach of the ministerial code.This morning, in an interview with LBC, the former home secretary and...

Israeli military said about 20 rockets were fired with many intercepted; US secretary of state arrives for talks with Israeli leadersSee all our Middle East coverageAs Israel continues its war in Gaza and assault on Lebanon, a growing number of international airlines are suspending flights to the region or to avoid affected airspace.Reuters has helpfully compiled a list of some of them:Aegean Airlines: The...

Collision near Llanbrynmair took place on single-track passing loop, with one train apparently unable to stopA rail passenger died and 15 people were being treated for injuries in hospital after two trains collided on a rural line in mid-Wales on Monday evening.Witnesses described how people were thrown to the floor of the train and pictures of the scene showed part of one of the...

Shabana Mahmood says she wants latest emergency release amid overcrowding in England and Wales jails to be the lastThe justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has admitted the proportion of people released early from prison who are being recalled is “very high”, as the government prepares to free more inmates to relieve an overcrowding crisis.Mahmood said figures would not yet be available for the number of...

The bank will also divide into four businesses as it seeks to cut costs and navigate rising geopolitical tensionsBusiness live – latest updatesHSBC’s new chief executive, Georges Elhedery, has unveiled an overhaul of the bank, dividing it into four businesses and a new geographical setup that splits operations into east and west in an effort to cut costs and navigate rising geopolitical tensions.The bank...

NSW environment minister hopes ‘Mickey will be flying free by tomorrow’ after successful capture by wildlife servicesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA sulphur-crested cockatoo called Mickey that had been “living on brioche” inside a Sydney supermarket for four weeks has been captured by wildlife services and is expected to be set free soon.The New South Wales environment minister, Penny...

The Gurnai Gunditjmara and Djab-Wurrung woman accused the crown of a range of crimes against Indigenous people at Parliament HouseFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIndependent federal senator Lidia Thorpe’s forthright haranguing of King Charles during his visit to the Australian parliament has made global headlines.Reactions have been mixed. Many have criticised...

The royals get on the tongs, banter with surf lifesavers and meet massive crowds at the Sydney Opera HouseAustralian senator Lidia Thorpe confronted King Charles with string of claims. How do they stack up?Royal fist bumps and sausage sizzles: King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Australia – in picturesJust as King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at a barbecue picnic in western Sydney, the...

This blog has now closedBarbecue, kangaroo pies and Jimmy Barnes: Charles and Camilla go quintessentially Australian for final day of tourGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has been speaking with ABC RN about a range of issues – including Lidia Thorpe’s actions at King Charles’ parliamentary reception yesterday.Dutton argued that “sometimes people make it all...

ONS data shows higher debt interest payments and pay awards for public sector workers pushed figure to £16.6bnBusiness live – latest news updatesThe UK Treasury has said it will need to take difficult decisions in next week’s budget after higher debt interest payments and pay awards for public sector workers pushed government borrowing to £16.6bn last month – the third highest September figure on...

Exclusive: Lee Hsien Yang says Singapore is no ‘paradise’ after fleeing authoritarian regime that his older brother inherited and still holds sway over through their revered father’s legacyA senior member of the family that has dominated Singapore since independence has been granted asylum in the UK after fleeing what he says was a campaign of persecution.In an exclusive interview, Lee Hsien Yang told the...

Program that ties new infrastructure to housing projects will start in 2027 in 10 Melbourne ‘activity centres’, premier saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, says an overhaul of the state’s infrastructure contribution scheme will ensure communities that build more homes will receive funding for key amenities like...

In today’s newsletter: Justin Trudeau says there are ‘credible allegations’ that Modi’s government was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia. What does say about India’s global standing?• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.In September 2023, Justin Trudeau stood up in parliament and made extraordinary allegations against the Indian government. The prime minister said Canadian authorities...

Poetry in protest event on 30 October will showcase how political change can be brought about through verseThe British Academy is to pay tribute to the late poet Benjamin Zephaniah next week as part of a night of discussion and performance.The award-winning poet Jackie Kay is among guest speakers at the first Poetry in protest event on 30 October, which explores how political change...