World news

Americas

Venezuela releases dozens of political prisoners as election calls grow

A slew of dissidents being released from long-term detention comes days after the nation's interim leader met the US president.

German town decision to halt Holocaust memorial plaques sparks outrage

Some of Merz’s conservatives joined the far-right in supporting the move.

Europe

Pope Leo urges healing of ‘deep wounds’ before meeting child sexual abuse survivors in France

Pontiff also uses visit to Catholic shrine at Lourdes to criticise assisted dying as ‘false compassion’

Europe

Swiss voters reject stricter neutrality rules that would have curbed Nato cooperation

70% vote against tightening centuries-old neutrality, which far right said was being eroded by sanctions against Russia

Oceania

One Nation boss called David Farley an ‘asshole’ in lead-up to Farrer byelection, text messages reveal

Exclusive: Documents seen by Guardian Australia show that Kelvin Morton has also clashed with party HQ staff and Brisbane volunteers

RBA expected to hike cash rate to 4.6%, its highest level since 2011

Outcome of meetings of Reserve Bank on Monday and Tuesday will affect Australian mortgage rates, household budgets and house prices

Americas

OpenAI pauses training of latest models after AI agents probed U.S. government sites in unexpected ways

OpenAI said it has paused training of its latest artificial intelligence models as reports of AI agents going rogue mount.

Asia

Avalanche sweeps Nepal mountain, killing 2 and leaving 12 missing

An avalanche has swept a mountain peak in Nepal during bad weather, killing at least two people and leaving 12 others missing

Africa

At least 27 dead after two mass shootings in South Africa, police say

Seventeen people killed near Johannesburg in suspected ‘illegal goldmining turf war’, as 10 killed in separate incident at barbecue venue near Cape Town

Two giant pandas arrive in Atlanta from China after Xi-Trump summit

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to live at Atlanta zoo in Georgia as part of loan deal between Chinese and US governments

Swiss voters reject tighter neutrality rules that would have curbed NATO co-operation

Swiss voters on Sunday looked set to reject a proposal to adopt a more restrictive form of neutrality that would have blocked their ​country from imposing economic sanctions or co-operating with NATO.

Sacked Ukranian defence minister launches ‘Army of Robots’ initiative to develop battlefield machines

Fedorov's dismissal initially left questions over his next move.

Asia

Nepal avalanche: 2 bodies recovered, 14 climbers and staff missing

At least 14 people are missing after an avalanche struck Himlung Himal in Nepal's Manang district amid heavy snowfall warnings. Rescue operations are underway.

Europe

'Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope during Lourdes visit

Pope Leo spoke to bishops before leading a service attended by thousands of worshippers in France.

South African police probe mining feud, business rivalry after shootings kill 27

South African police on Sunday were hunting the perpetrators of two separate shootings that killed 27 people within hours of each other, highlighting the country's gun violence problem.

Middle East

Palestinian death toll in Gaza war rises above 74,000 since war began

While a ceasefire that took effect last Oct. 10 has halted the heaviest fighting, Israeli strikes have continued in what the military has said are responses to threats or attacks.

Americas

U.K. police arrest 5 near airbase used by U.S. on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act

British police arrested five men near an airbase used by the U.S. on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offenses on Sunday after a tip-off that three vans had been heading to the military airfield, which has been used to strike Iran.

Africa

South Africa reels from spate of mass shootings that killed 38 people in a week

On Saturday night, there were separate mass shootings near South Africa's two largest cities.

Russia backs India’s bid for permanent seat at UN Security Council

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov backed India's bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat at the 81st UNGA in New York, while warning against handing more seats to Germany and Japan.

Africa

Two mass shootings in South Africa leave 28 dead

The two attacks hours apart come as the country struggles to stop high levels of gang-related armed violence.

Amid changing dynamics in the Middle East, Turkey seeks to emerge as a leader

Turkey's attempts at expanding its Middle East footprint has put it in a position of power, coming head-to-head with Israel.

Americas

What Trump's 'most favoured nation' drug pricing policy might mean for Canadians

To avoid triggering massive U.S. price cuts, pharmaceutical companies now incentivized to protect their larger U.S. profits by raising prices elsewhere, drug policy experts say.

Putin appears to be eyeing NATO. The question is, will he actually attack?

European military experts warn that Russia is actively planning targeted aggression against NATO to test alliance solidarity. Recent high-alert incidents include a foiled explosive drone plot at a German airport and a strike near the Ukraine-Poland border targeting European VIPs. However, officials are deeply split on the immediacy of a conventional threat.

Playing 'La Bamba' for an hour? Must be a Mexican fandango!

A 300-year-old Mexican musical tradition is finding new life around the world — one sweaty, joyous, all-night fandango at a time.