Sweden abolishes tax on plastic bags despite warnings usage could rise

31/10/2024 12:01 The Guardian

Levy that reduced usage by more than three-quarters in four years fell victim to rightwing culture wars, say criticsA tax that has reduced plastic bag consumption in Sweden by more than three-quarters in four years is being abolished on Friday despite warnings that the decision could lead to usage rising back towards previous levels.Since the introduction of the 3 kroner (£0.21) tax in May 2020, plastic bag usage in the country has slumped. In 2019, before the levy was introduced, people in Sweden used an average of 74 plastic bags (15-50 micrometres thick) per person each year each. In 2023 that number had dropped to 17. Continue reading...

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Spain floods latest: number killed passes 150 as prime minister warns ‘stay at home’

At least 155 people have reportedly died with more rain forecast for the flood-hit region of ValenciaDeath toll expected to rise amid anger over preparednessPeople in Spain: have you been affected by flooding?Experts have been giving their reaction to yesterday’s disaster - sounding a warning abou...

31/10/2024 15:15 The Guardian

Starmer insists pro-growth policies on way after OBR’s budget warnings – UK politics live

PM says budget just ‘first step’ after watchdog said measures would make no difference to growth over five yearsRachel Reeves is now being interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.She is being interviewed by Ed Balls, the former Labour shadow chancellor who is now a TV presenter. He asks her to...

31/10/2024 15:15 The Guardian

Almost two dozen countries at high risk of acute hunger, UN report reveals

Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Palestine and Haiti rated at level of highest concern in latest six-monthly analysisAcute food insecurity is expected to worsen in war-stricken Sudan and nearly two dozen other countries and territories in the next six months, largely as a result of conflict and violence,...

31/10/2024 14:40 The Guardian

UK urged to break with France, North Korea and Russia on UN nuclear war resolution

Non-proliferation groups call on government not to oppose creation of a study into effects of nuclear conflictNon-proliferation groups are urging the UK government to make a late about-turn on plans to vote alongside France, Russia and North Korea against a UN resolution to study the effects of nucl...

31/10/2024 13:31 The Guardian

Harris hails first-time and gen Z voters at Wisconsin rally | First Thing

Artists including Remi Wolf, Gracie Abrams and Mumford & Sons join VP. Plus, new era for erotic litDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Kamala Harris said time was running out at a get-out-the-vote event yesterday in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was joined by...

31/10/2024 12:47 The Guardian

Political violence in US could potentially surge after elections, experts warn

Trends in online chatter mirror patterns observed in the lead-up to 2020 elections and January 6 Capitol attackThere could be a potential surge in political violence following the upcoming US election, and pro-Trump rightwing vigilante “poll watchers” might surveil ballot drop boxes as Americans...

31/10/2024 12:00 The Guardian

Final recount confirms Georgia ruling party victory says electoral commission

EU and US demand investigation as opposition and pro-European president cry foul Officials in Georgia said a partial recount confirmed the ruling party had won its disputed election, with Washington and Brussels demanding an investigation.However, the pro-western opposition said Saturday’s parlia...

31/10/2024 11:30 The Guardian

Ed Davey: care sector will be ‘pushed to brink’ by national insurance hike and should be exempt

Lib Dem leader says rise in employers’ contributions risks worsening NHS crisisUK politics live – latest updatesThe Liberal Democrats have called on the government to exempt the social care sector from the increase in national insurance in Labour’s budget, as an organisation representing many...

31/10/2024 11:24 The Guardian

North Korea missile test reaches record height and duration, says Japan

Test of apparent ICBM theoretically capable of striking US mainland comes amid warnings over North Korean troops in UkraineNorth Korea has test launched a long-range missile theoretically capable of striking the US mainland in another display of defiance by the regime amid growing warnings over its...

31/10/2024 10:02 The Guardian

Typhoon Kong-rey: biggest storm in decades makes landfall in Taiwan

People warned to stay inside because of high risk of landslides, storm surges, destructive winds and floodingTaiwan has shut down work, school and transport as the biggest typhoon to hit the island in decades made landfall on its east coast.Kong-rey has been declared a “strong typhoon” by Taiwa...

31/10/2024 09:38 The Guardian

Spain flood death toll expected to rise amid anger over lack of preparedness

Victims say ‘water was already here’ by the time warning was issued, as military prepares to start searching worst-hit areasSpain floods – latest updatesRescue workers in Spain are searching for more victims after deadly floods, as questions are raised about how one of the world’s most devel...

31/10/2024 09:04 The Guardian

Middle east crisis live: Lebanese PM expresses hope for ceasefire deal

Najib Mikati says he is cautiously optimistic as White House official plays down Israeli reports on purported 60-day truce proposalThe Israeli army’s evacuation call for several areas of south Lebanon on Thursday, includes a Palestinian refugee camp, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).It warned it...

31/10/2024 09:00 The Guardian

Thursday briefing: What you need to know about Rachel Reeves’s plans for the economy

In today’s newsletter: They spent weeks bracing the country for ‘tough decisions’, but in Labour’s first budget in 14 years, the chancellor adopted a slightly more optimistic tone• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. It was Labour’s first budget in 14 years;...

31/10/2024 06:56 The Guardian

NSW Health issues public alert over potential virus risk at Sydney cosmetic clinic

Clients of now closed Fresh Cosmetic Clinic warned to get tested after possible exposure to blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIVFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNSW Health has issued a public healt...

31/10/2024 05:19 The Guardian

Australia news live: Dutton’s office asked Rinehart’s company for lift on her private jet; NSW Health warning over potential virus risk at Sydney cosmetic clinic

Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastYoung man dies in multi-vehicle crash in Queensland’s Bundaberg RegionA fatal multi-vehicle traffic crash last night at Elliot in Queensland’s Bundaberg Region last night is being investigated by the police fo...

31/10/2024 05:04 The Guardian

Harris hails first-time and gen Z voters at Wisconsin rally: ‘I’m so proud of you’

Artists including Remi Wolf, Gracie Abrams and Mumford & Sons join VP at rally briefly interrupted by Gaza protestersKamala Harris warned a crowd that time was running out at a get-out-the-vote event in Madison, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, joined by a lineup of folk and pop musicians including Remi...

31/10/2024 02:11 The Guardian

‘Republicanism by stealth’: Australia’s Great Seal redesign ditches reference to monarch

Historian also questions ‘complete silence’ around First Nations sovereignty in new designFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s formal symbol of sovereignty, its Great Seal, has been redesigned without a ref...

31/10/2024 02:01 The Guardian

North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine will ‘surely return in body bags’, US envoy says

Envoy to UN Robert Wood gives warning ahead of security council meeting, as US and South Korea defence chiefs urge North Korea to withdrawSee all our coverage of the Russia-Ukraine warThe US and South Korean defence chiefs have called for North Korea to withdraw its troops from Russia, as the US env...

30/10/2024 19:58 The Guardian

Middle East crisis: UN security council warns against attempts to dismantle Unrwa – as it happened

This live blog is now closed. For the latest on the Middle East, read our full coverage here. Under the laws – which will not be implemented for several months – Unrwa could not “operate any institution, provide any service, or conduct any activity, whether directly or indirectly”. Continue...

30/10/2024 19:22 The Guardian

Labour wants to reverse decline – but with a big budget comes a big risk

The government knows cynical voters will need to see tangible change in public services and to feel better offAt the final political cabinet before Rachel Reeves delivered her first budget this week, ministers were presented with internal party research on what the public was expecting.In the months...

30/10/2024 19:11 The Guardian

US identified 500 cases where its weapons harmed Gaza civilians but hasn’t taken action

Some the incidents might have violated international humanitarian law, according to the sourcesUS state department officials have identified nearly 500 potential incidents of civilian harm during Israel’s military operations in Gaza involving US-furnished weapons, but have not taken further action...

30/10/2024 18:55 The Guardian

Autumn budget: Rachel Reeves raises taxes by £40bn and increases spending on NHS and schools – as it happened

Chancellor announces changes to employers’ national insurance contributions, inheritance tax, capital gains tax and other dutiesBudget 2024: key points at a glanceFull report: Reeves raises taxes as she promises to rebuild public servicesGeorge Osborne is credited with popularising the baseline th...

30/10/2024 18:36 The Guardian

At least 95 people dead in Spain’s worst floods in three decades

Soldiers aid search for dozens still missing as prime minister warns extreme weather may not be overAt least 95 people have died in eastern, central and southern Spain after torrential rains triggered the country’s deadliest floods in three decades, unleashing torrents of muddy water that surged t...

30/10/2024 18:22 The Guardian

World must act to prevent ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Gaza, António Guterres warns

Secretary general makes appeal as civilian casualties mount amid intensive Israeli strikes on northThe UN secretary general, António Guterres has warned Israel could carry out the “ethnic cleansing” of Gaza if the international community does not make a determined stand to prevent it.Guterres m...

30/10/2024 18:05 The Guardian

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 fraudThe 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 Georgia...

30/10/2024 18:02 The Guardian

Palestinian student stripped of UK visa after Gaza remarks wins human rights appeal

Home Office failed to show presence of Dana Abu Qamar ‘not conducive to public good’, according to tribunal rulingA Palestinian student who was stripped of her student visa after remarks she made about the Israel-Gaza war has won a human rights appeal against the Home Office’s decision.The Hom...

30/10/2024 17:50 The Guardian

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 m...

30/10/2024 17:24 The Guardian

Some US states have firearm death rates comparable to countries in conflict, report says

Mississippi’s firearm-related violence rate nearly double that of Haiti, which is plagued by political and gang strifeA new report by the Commonwealth Fund finds some US states have firearm death rates comparable to countries in conflict, and even states with the fewest firearms deaths are far hig...

30/10/2024 17:05 The Guardian

OBR warns budget is unlikely to lift economic growth over next five years

Forecaster says extra spending revealed by Rachel Reeves will give only a short-term lift to economyRachel Reeves reveals £40bn in tax risesBudget 2024: key points at a glanceAutumn budget live – latest updatesLabour has embarked on a “large, sustained increase in spending, tax and borrowing”...

30/10/2024 16:53 The Guardian

Russian police charge woman in Crimea over daughter’s pro-Ukraine video

Clip of Russian and Ukrainian flags with angry-face and heart emojis is alleged to have ‘discredited’ armyPolice in Russian-annexed Crimea have charged a woman with child neglect after her 10-year-old daughter allegedly posted a video online that “discredited” the Russian army, authorities s...

30/10/2024 15:27 The Guardian

BREAKING NEWS

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