World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

French police search for gunman after killing at monks' retirement home
Colombia signs historic peace deal with Farc
Suicide truck bomber kills scores of Shia pilgrims in Iraq
François Fillon beats Alain Juppé in presidential candidacy debate
Tens of thousands evacuated as Israeli wildfires rage
Two convicted of tracking credit card history of Danish royal family
Bulgarian police fire rubber bullets during migrant camp riot
Vigil held in German town for woman dragged through streets
Hurricane Otto: Costa Rica and Nicaragua evacuate as storm grows
Obama administration rushes to protect public lands before Trump takes office
Iranian online shopping site launches its own version of Black Friday
Turkey reacts angrily to symbolic EU parliament vote on its membership
Prosecutors seek 10-year tax fraud sentence for ex-Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o
Italian or British? Writer solves riddle of spaghetti bolognese
German supermarket Edeka denies neo-Nazi symbolism in TV ad
Thunderstorm asthma: how seasonal weather can affect human health
'We are in shock': historic Bolivia drought hammers homes and crops
Britain may not be ready to trigger article 50 by April, says Malta’s PM
Denmark's top Michelin-starred restaurant fined over hygiene breaches
Chris Patten hits out at 'reckless' Hong Kong independence activists
How will you mark 16 days of activism against gender abuse? Share your stories
Kazakh politicians want to rename capital after president
Lawyer to investigate abuse inquiry's response to sexual assault claims
Neil Prakash, Australian fighter recruited by Isis, reportedly arrested in Middle East
British government insists intervention in Libya 'undoubtedly' saved lives
'This city is designed for cars, not people’: residents' voices on Jakarta
Moving pesticide agency to Barnaby Joyce's electorate could cost $193m a year
Wildfire whisky: Canadian blaze leaves brewer with a surprising new drink
Hurricane Otto weakens as focus shifts to risk of landslides and flooding
Mexican police find nine severed heads and 32 bodies in secret mass graves
Choi-gate: South Korean president's approval rating tanks at 4%
Hunt for gunman after killing at retirement home in southern France – video
Strikes in China over foreign employers selling out to local companies
Kidnapped Australian surgeon Ken Elliott declared Burkina Faso citizen
Political prisoner freed after 23 years following death of Uzbek despot
Fire breaks out at Moria migrant camp on Greek island of Lesbos
Sikhs in UK are 'invisible to government' despite hate crime increase
‘It's the start of the construction of peace’: Columbians react to peace treaty – video
Migrant girl, 4, reunited with her mother on Italian island after twist of fate
Forest fires in Israel – in pictures
7-magnitude quake strikes near El Salvador as hurricane Otto makes landfall
Norman Foster awarded extension to Prado museum in Madrid
Iceland government challenges retail chain Iceland over name use
Nigeria army denies killing 150 at Biafra demonstrations
Pilots free to continue vintage aircraft rally after Ethiopia detention
Israeli police investigating cause of forest fires – video
Jakarta's violent identity crisis: behind the vilification of Chinese-Indonesians
Jakarta's eco future? River community goes green to fight eviction threat
Rhymes of Brian: Jakarta's Rich Chigga is a home-schooled, hip-hop sensation
'I was so scared … I was tortured': Indian women lift the lid on married life | Vidhi Doshi
Free speech becomes a talking point in Sierra Leone as WhatsApp storm rages | Cooper Inveen
Thanksgiving Day parade in New York – in pictures
Nigerian army accused of killing Biafran independence supporters – video report
Barack Obama calls for unity in final Thanksgiving address as president – video
Thunderstorm in Melbourne triggers mass asthma event – video report

French police search for gunman after killing at monks' retirement home

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:28 PM PST

Hunt continues near Montpellier for armed man who killed woman, as investigators say there is no evidence of terror link and other residents are safe

French police are searching for a masked armed man who burst into a retirement home for missionaries near Montpellier in southern France on Thursday night and killed one woman before fleeing.

Colombia signs historic peace deal with Farc

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:45 AM PST

President Juan Manuel Santos and rebel leader Timochenko sign new accord despite objections that derailed original deal

The Colombian government and leftist Farc rebels have signed a revised peace agreement to end more than 50 years of conflict, despite continued objections by many who rejected the original deal in an October referendum.

"This is the definitive one," said president Juan Manuel Santos, who was awarded this year's Nobel peace prize, after signing the deal on Thursday with Farc leader Rodrigo Londoño, known as Timochenko.

Suicide truck bomber kills scores of Shia pilgrims in Iraq

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 10:50 AM PST

Many of the victims of attack in Hilla, which has been claimed by Islamic State, were Iranian nationals, security official says

Dozens of people, many of them Iranian Shia pilgrims, have been killed by a suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State near the Iraqi city of Hilla, 60 miles south of Baghdad, in the deadliest single attack on Iranian nationals by the Sunni jihadi group.

A suicide truck bomb packed with 500 litres of ammonium nitrate exploded on Thursday at a petrol station where several buses carrying Iranian pilgrims on their way back from the city of Kerbala had parked. Hilla is situated between Kerbala and Najaf, two cities home to important religious sites for Shias.

François Fillon beats Alain Juppé in presidential candidacy debate

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 04:54 PM PST

The men, running as candidates for the French right's nomination, debated issues including abortion and the economy

François Fillon, the socially conservative former French prime minister promising a pro-business "electric shock" for France, was seen as the winner of a TV debate against his more moderate rival, Alain Juppé, ahead of Sunday's vote to nominate the French right's presidential candidate.

Tens of thousands evacuated as Israeli wildfires rage

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 10:06 AM PST

Russia, Turkey and Cyprus send firefighting planes to Israel as hundreds of homes damaged in worst wildfires since 2010

France, Russia, Turkey and Cyprus are to send firefighting planes to Israel as the country battles fierce forest fires that have triggered the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, including 11 neighbourhoods in Haifa.

Strengthening east winds on top of warm, dry weather have helped spread the blazes in several areas of the country for a third day, including outside Jerusalem, where fires temporarily closed the main motorway linking the city to Tel Aviv.

Two convicted of tracking credit card history of Danish royal family

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 03:31 PM PST

Five convicted overall after former employee of payment company passed card records to gossip magazine editor

A former employee of a payment-processing company and a former chief editor of a gossip magazine were convicted on Thursday of illegally accessing credit card transactions and using them to track celebrities and members of the Danish royal family for four years.

Bo Henriksen, who obtained information through his previous job with the Nets company, was jailed for 18 months, while Henrik Qvortrup, formerly the chief editor of Se og Hør magazine, was given 18 months. In addition, another chief editor and two reporters were given sentences ranging from four to 12 months. All had denied the charges and Henriksen has lodged an appeal.

Bulgarian police fire rubber bullets during migrant camp riot

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 04:07 PM PST

Bulgaria's biggest refugee camp erupts after its inhabitants wrongly accused by local media of carrying infectious skin diseases

Bulgarian police fired water cannon and rubber bullets at rioting migrants angered at being confined to their refugee camp during a health scare, the interior ministry said.

Vigil held in German town for woman dragged through streets

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 07:55 AM PST

Hundreds gather in Hamelin to attend vigil for attack victim who is in coma after being tied to a car and dragged for 250 metres

Outrage over an attack on a woman who was dragged through the streets of a north German town behind a car with a rope tied around her neck has prompted hundreds of people to attend a vigil for her.

The 28-year-old woman is in a coma in a critical condition in hospital in Hamelin following the incident on Sunday evening.

Hurricane Otto: Costa Rica and Nicaragua evacuate as storm grows

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 10:21 AM PST

Hurricane makes landfall on Nicaraguan coast just north of border with Costa Rica

Hurricane Otto strengthened to a category two storm as it made landfall on the sparsely populated Caribbean border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica as an unusually strong late-season event.

The US National Hurricane Center said Otto hit land near the town of San Juan de Nicaragua with winds of 110 mph around midday local time.

Obama administration rushes to protect public lands before Trump takes office

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 08:00 AM PST

Environmental groups hope Utah, Nevada and Grand Canyon will be included in rapid conservation efforts as Trump plans to expand fossil fuel extraction

Barack Obama's administration is rushing through conservation safeguards for large areas of public land ahead of Donald Trump's arrival in the White House, presenting a conundrum for the new president's goal of opening up more places for oil and gas drilling.

Iranian online shopping site launches its own version of Black Friday

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 09:23 AM PST

Bamilo says it has more than 100,000 pre-subscribers to its Harajome, or Friday sale, with over 600 retailers participating

Iranians are experts at driving a hard bargain, famous for haggling with shopkeepers even when sales are not on offer. That traditional skill may not come in handy online, but on Friday the country's tech-savvy young population will have plenty of opportunity to secure a good deal.

Bamilo, one of the country's two main online shopping websites, is holding its first version of Black Friday, called Harajome or Friday sale, with lucrative discounts for items including the iPhone 7.

Turkey reacts angrily to symbolic EU parliament vote on its membership

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 09:45 AM PST

Prime minister Binali Yildirim warns of tensions with the EU after vote urged ministers to freeze talks on its accession

Turkey has reacted angrily after the European parliament urged governments to freeze EU membership talks in a powerful symbolic vote that will heighten tensions and could endanger a landmark migration deal.

MEPs in Strasbourg voted by 471 to 37 to halt Turkey's EU accession talks, with politicians ranging from the Conservative group to the Greens lining up to back a resolution that condemned the Turkish government's "disproportionate repressive measures" after a failed military coup in July. There were 107 abstentions.

Prosecutors seek 10-year tax fraud sentence for ex-Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 08:17 AM PST

• Punishment also being sought for player's representative
• Other current and past Barça players face legal problems

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of more than 10 years for the former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o for alleged tax crimes committed when he played for the Catalan club.

In addition to a sentence of 10 years and six months, prosecutors are also demanding a fine of £12.11m for the four counts of tax fraud for supposedly defrauding Spain's tax authority of almost £3.21m from 2006 to 09, according to court documents released on Thursday.

Italian or British? Writer solves riddle of spaghetti bolognese

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 07:08 AM PST

Piero Valdiserra puts to bed question of authenticity that has aroused celebrity chefs' ire like a red ragù to a bull

Italy has seen its share of heretics. Galileo spent his final years under house arrest for insisting that the Earth orbited the sun.

In Bologna, a brave marketing executive has dared to put forward a theory that will be considered equally unthinkable – perhaps even blasphemous: that the dish known in Britain as spaghetti bolognese exists in Italy and is perfectly acceptable.

German supermarket Edeka denies neo-Nazi symbolism in TV ad

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 08:33 AM PST

Civic educationist claims use of numerical and alphabetical codes on number plates in Christmas ad was deliberate

Germany's largest supermarket chain has been criticised for a Christmas television advert that appears to contain covert neo-Nazi symbolism.

The ad for the Christmas range at Edeka features two cars with number plates displaying codes commonly used by neo-Nazis to identify themselves to each other.

Thunderstorm asthma: how seasonal weather can affect human health

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 10:08 AM PST

At least four dead and others hospitalised due to weather event scientists broadly agree forces harmful allergens into air

Melbourne has suffered what appears to be the most lethal episode of thunderstorm asthma on record. With at least four deaths and more patients left in intensive care, the storm has served as a grim reminder that the seasonal weather occurrence can have tragic knock-on effects for human health. "This is an extraordinary event," said Prof Anthony Seaton, who has worked on thunderstorm asthma at the University of Aberdeen. "I don't know of any event as severe as this."

'We are in shock': historic Bolivia drought hammers homes and crops

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 02:15 AM PST

The country's worst drought in 25 years, spurred by poor management, El Niño and climate change, has reservoirs drying up and hospitals struggling

Teodora Cauna de Quispe hasn't had water at her house in Bolivia's capital, La Paz, for two weeks. "We can't wash ourselves or our clothes," she said. "Every so often there is a bit of muddy water that spurts out of the tap on my patio."

A tanker has delivered water only once, and Teodora – who, like many of her neighbors, works as a maid in a wealthy neighborhood nearby – has been forced to buy expensive bottled water for her family to drink.

Britain may not be ready to trigger article 50 by April, says Malta’s PM

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 01:43 AM PST

Joseph Muscat says legal proceedings could delay process and warns EU leaders are 'not bluffing' over terms of Brexit

Britain may not be in a position to trigger article 50 to begin leaving the European Union by the government's deadline at the end of March, the prime minister of Malta has said.

Joseph Muscat, whose country takes over the EU's rotating presidency in January, also warned EU leaders were "not bluffing" when they insist Britain would not get enhanced single market access if it also wanted to curb immigration, adding that the European parliament could veto any deal.

Denmark's top Michelin-starred restaurant fined over hygiene breaches

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 01:23 AM PST

Three-star Copenhagen eatery Geranium stored shellfish for too long in warm areas and had 'splotches' growing on shelves

It should have been a year of celebration for Copenhagen restaurant Geranium, which in February became the first ever Danish eatery to earn three Michelin stars. But on Thursday, the restaurant faced pressing questions over hygiene after it was fined 20,000 kroner (£2,300) by the country's food safety authority.

Geranium had been storing fresh shellfish such as oysters, crayfish and scallops in temperatures that were too warm and over an extended period, the Danish food administration, Fødevarestyrelsen, wrote after an inspection.

Chris Patten hits out at 'reckless' Hong Kong independence activists

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 12:23 AM PST

Last British governor says disqualified politicians' campaign for break with China 'dilutes support for democracy'

The last British governor of Hong Kong has criticised the "antics" of two recently disqualified pro-independence politicians, saying their position dilutes the fight for greater democracy in the city.

Chris Patten, now a member of the House of Lords and chancellor of the University of Oxford, said it was "dishonest, dishonourable and reckless" to conflate the push for greater democracy in Hong Kong with the argument for independence.

How will you mark 16 days of activism against gender abuse? Share your stories

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:00 PM PST

As a 16-day campaign against sexual violence begins with an impassioned plea from UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, tell us how you will mark the moment

Calls for increased, sustained funding for organisations working to end violence against women and girls are at the heart of this year's 16 days of activism against gender-based abuse.

At the UN's official launch of the annual campaign, where attendees draped themselves in scarves of orange – the colour the UN has chosen to mark action against violence – the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said governments needed to step up their support of women's movements and civil society groups to address what is a human rights violation, a health concern and a major obstacle to development.

Kazakh politicians want to rename capital after president

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 04:01 AM PST

Proposal to rename Astana after Nursultan Nazarbayev was buried in declaration passed by both chambers of parliament

If Kazakh politicians get their wish, the capital city will be renamed to honour the country's first and only president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The suggestion to rename Astana was buried in a declaration unanimously passed by both chambers of parliament on Wednesday.

Lawyer to investigate abuse inquiry's response to sexual assault claims

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 01:31 AM PST

External investigator will examine how inquiry dealt with allegations by member of staff of assault on its premises

An external lawyer is to investigate how the national child abuse inquiry investigated allegations of sexual assault on its premises.

Prof Alexis Jay responded to calls from MPs for an independent examination of what was done to investigate claims made by a junior member of staff of assault by the former senior counsel to the inquiry.

Neil Prakash, Australian fighter recruited by Isis, reportedly arrested in Middle East

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 09:12 PM PST

One of Australia's most senior Isis recruits has been arrested in the Middle East, according to reports, six months after the US and Australia said he was dead

One of Australia's most senior Islamic State operatives may have survived a US airstrike this year, contrary to official reports that he was dead.

On Friday the New York Times reported that Neil Prakash had been arrested in an unnamed Middle Eastern country.

British government insists intervention in Libya 'undoubtedly' saved lives

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 08:26 PM PST

Response to damning report by MPs says action against Gaddafi was 'entirely appropriate', but committee chair warns lessons have not been learned

The British government has rejected criticism of its intervention in Libya, arguing its involvement saved civilian lives and claiming the Islamic State group has been weakened in the country.

'This city is designed for cars, not people’: residents' voices on Jakarta

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 12:59 AM PST

Commutes that cause panic attacks – but the kindness of a village community. Jakarta's residents tell us what life in the city is really like – and why they have such a love/hate relationship with the Indonesian capital

Throughout our live week of in-depth reporting on Jakarta, we've been asking residents to share their thoughts, photographs and experiences of life in the city, what needs to change, and what the biggest issues are. The response was overwhelming – thank you to everyone who contributed.

Moving pesticide agency to Barnaby Joyce's electorate could cost $193m a year

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:05 PM PST

Cost-benefit analysis warns of significant risk in decision by deputy prime minister to relocate Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to Armidale

A cost-benefit analysis for moving the commonwealth's pesticides regulator to Barnaby Joyce's own electorate has found significant risks, which if not managed properly could cost the agriculture sector up to $193m a year.

The $272,000 analysis, which had been kept secret until after the decision was made, found the most significant risk related to the ability of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to relocate, recruit or replace staff within the first two years of the move from Canberra to Armidale. Moving the agency of 189 staff is expected to cost $25.6m.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Wildfire whisky: Canadian blaze leaves brewer with a surprising new drink

Posted: 25 Nov 2016 02:00 AM PST

The May wildfire that raged in Alberta left Spike Baker's peated malt infused with a smoky taste. Now he's distilled a time capsule in the form of a stiff drink

When a wildfire that had flickered for days in the forests of northern Alberta suddenly changed course and started careening towards Fort McMurray this May, the city's entire population was told to flee.

The order came just as Spike Baker was brewing a pale ale.

Hurricane Otto weakens as focus shifts to risk of landslides and flooding

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:13 PM PST

Tropical storm Otto heads towards Pacific after becoming the southernmost hurricane on record to hit central America

Hurricane Otto weakened to a tropical storm early on Friday after making landfall as the southernmost hurricane on record to hit central America.

It headed toward the Pacific ocean early on Friday after dumping rain on Costa Rica and Nicaragua and sparking emergency measures across a region that was also hit by a 7-magnitude earthquake.

Mexican police find nine severed heads and 32 bodies in secret mass graves

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 10:02 PM PST

Human remains uncovered by investigators in region plagued by battles between rival drug gangs, kidnappings and extortion

Investigators searching clandestine graves have found 32 bodies and nine human heads in a municipality in southern Mexico where rival drug gangs have been engaged in a wave of extortion, kidnappings and turf battles, authorities said on Thursday.

Soldiers and police found the graves on Tuesday at an outlaw camp in Guerrero state after receiving a tip that people were being held at the site located near a mountain in the municipality of Zitlala. They said they rescued a kidnap victim and discovered 12 bodies and human remains in coolers.

Choi-gate: South Korean president's approval rating tanks at 4%

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 07:34 PM PST

Park Geun-hye records worst ever polling figures for the country's presidency after friend Choi Soon-sil was charged with corrupt influence over government

South Korean President Park Geun-hye's approval rating fell to 4% amid a deepening political crisis, marking an all-time low for any democratically elected leader in the country, according to Gallup Korea polling.

Fears of policy paralysis prompted by the political crisis also dealt a blow to consumer confidence, which fell to its lowest in more than seven years in November, South Korea's central bank said.

Hunt for gunman after killing at retirement home in southern France – video

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 07:00 PM PST

French police are searching for an armed man after a woman was killed at a home for retired monks and nuns near Montpellier. The man fled after the attack on Thursday night. A large security perimeter has been set up in the town of Montferrier-sur-Lez as armed officers hunt the suspect.

Strikes in China over foreign employers selling out to local companies

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 06:28 PM PST

Coca-Cola and Sony hit by walkouts as workers fear they will lose jobs or have pay and conditions cut when Chinese firms take over factories

Coca-Cola workers in three Chinese cities have gone on strike after the US soft drinks company announced it was selling its bottling interests in the country.

Strikes and other labour protests have surged in recent years in China, where growth is slowing and parts of the economy are moribund.

Kidnapped Australian surgeon Ken Elliott declared Burkina Faso citizen

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 05:54 PM PST

Whereabouts of the doctor, missing for two years, remain unknown and country says he has been naturalised Burkinabe

An Australian surgeon kidnapped by jihadists in Burkina Faso nearly two years ago, and whose whereabouts remain unknown, has been declared a citizen of the west African nation, an official decree announced on Wednesday.

Ken Elliott was abducted along with his wife Jocelyn, 76, an Australian humanitarian worker, in January 2015 by al-Qaida-linked jihadists from Djibo, a dusty town near the border with Mali and Niger. The couple had run the sole medical clinic there since 1972.

Political prisoner freed after 23 years following death of Uzbek despot

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 05:40 PM PST

Opposition figure Samandar Kukanov, now 72, became one of the world's longest-held political prisoners after his jailing in 1993 under Islam Karimov's rule

An Uzbek politician jailed over 20 years ago on embezzlement charges that supporters say stemmed from his opposition to the late strongman Islam Karimov has been freed, according to supporters.

Samandar Kukanov, now 72, was imprisoned in 1993 while serving as an MP in ex-Soviet Uzbekistan's parliament and went on to become one of the world's longest-held political prisoners.

Fire breaks out at Moria migrant camp on Greek island of Lesbos

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 04:18 PM PST

Woman and child killed and two others injured after a tent caught fire

Two people were killed and two others were injured after a fire broke out at a migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos late on Thursday, a police official told Reuters.

The official said that a 66-year-old woman and a six-year old child were killed when a tent caught fire in the camp of Moria. Two other people were seriously injured.

Sikhs in UK are 'invisible to government' despite hate crime increase

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 04:01 PM PST

Sikh Federation says public bodies ignore community as survey finds 20% of Sikhs faced public discrimination last year

British Sikhs have been "invisible to the government since 9/11" despite increased levels of discrimination and hate crimes, the Sikh Federation has said as a comprehensive survey of the UK's fourth largest faith group was published.

According to the UK Sikh Survey 2016, almost one in five Sikhs has encountered discrimination in a public place over the past year and one in seven has directly experienced workplace discrimination.

‘It's the start of the construction of peace’: Columbians react to peace treaty – video

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 12:46 PM PST

Colombians in Bogota react with joy as Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signs a new peace agreement with the country's largest rebel movement on Thursday, aiming to end a half century of hostilities. After signing the 310-page accord, Santos and Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), said the new accord took into account the different voices in Colombia

Colombia signs historic peace deal with Farc

Migrant girl, 4, reunited with her mother on Italian island after twist of fate

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 12:24 PM PST

Oumoh, one of 15 asylum seekers rescued from Mediterranean in November, was recognised by a fellow refugee who saw a photo on police officer's phone

When Oumoh, four, arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa earlier this month, no one could work out how she had reached there. Where was she from? Who and where were her parents? The authorities were mystified.

Forest fires in Israel – in pictures

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 12:04 PM PST

Israel is battling fierce fires that have led to tens of thousands of people being evacuated from Haifa. Blazes have spread across the country after a third day of warm weather and strong winds

7-magnitude quake strikes near El Salvador as hurricane Otto makes landfall

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:51 AM PST

Shallow quake briefly sparks tsunami alert for coastal areas as tremors rock region already hit by hurricane Otto

A strong earthquake off the Pacific Coast of Central America shook the region on Thursday just as a hurricane barrelled into the Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, but there were no immediate reports of any quake damage.

Emergency services in El Salvador said on Twitter it had received no reports of damage at a national level, but urged those living along the country's Pacific coast to withdraw up to 1km (0.62 mile) away from the shore.

Norman Foster awarded extension to Prado museum in Madrid

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:31 AM PST

British architect will work with Spain's Carlos Rubio to refurbish the 17th century Hall of Realms in the Spanish capital

The British architect Norman Foster has been selected to renovate a 17th century building to house an extension of Madrid's Prado museum.

In a joint project with Spain's Carlos Rubio, Foster will refurbish the Hall of Realms, not far from the main museum in the centre of the Spanish capital. The project is estimated to cost around €30m (£25m).

Iceland government challenges retail chain Iceland over name use

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:05 AM PST

Legal action against Iceland Foods over trademark claims it limits country's companies abroad

The government of Iceland has launched legal action against its namesake British grocery chain over the use of its name.

The island of Iceland is challenging Iceland Foods' exclusive ownership of the European-wide trademark registration for the word Iceland which it said was preventing the country's companies from promoting goods and services abroad.

Nigeria army denies killing 150 at Biafra demonstrations

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 09:06 AM PST

Authorities dismiss Amnesty International claim of excessive police force and troops killing secessionist backers at rallies

Nigerian authorities have denied claims by Amnesty International that security forces killed at least 150 activists and demonstrators who supported the secession of Biafra, an area in the south-east of the country.

An army spokesman told Reuters that Amnesty's allegation, the latest in a series of charges levelled by the campaign group against Nigeria's military in the last year, aimed to tarnish the security forces' reputation.

Pilots free to continue vintage aircraft rally after Ethiopia detention

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 08:59 AM PST

Crew flying 24 vintage planes down the length of Africa had been held after officials said they did not have proper authorisation

An attempt by a hardy group of adventurers to fly the length of Africa in vintage planes is back on course after two days stranded in Ethiopia, where the authorities had accused them of illegally entering the country's airspace.

Diplomats from the UK, Ireland and the US were involved in the release of the group of about 40 people, who were held in a small airport in the west of Ethiopia. Their planes are expected to head to Kenya on Friday.

Israeli police investigating cause of forest fires – video

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 08:46 AM PST

Forest and scrubland fires threaten Israeli cities on Thursdays as warm, dry weather encourages the blazes to spread. Firefighting planes from three countries are helping Israel battle the fires, which are believed to have started on Monday near Neve Shalom, a community outside Jerusalem. Later, fires erupted in the northern Israeli area of Zichron Yaakov and elsewhere near Jerusalem. Hundreds of homes have been damaged and thousands of people have been evacuated

Russia, Turkey and Cyprus send firefighting planes to Israel

Jakarta's violent identity crisis: behind the vilification of Chinese-Indonesians

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:00 PM PST

The minority group has had a huge impact on Indonesia's capital. But the success of its small elite has led to recurring discrimination and bloodshed – which has come to a head as Jakarta's ethnic Chinese governor runs for election

Before Jakarta, there was Batavia, the 17th-century capital city of the Dutch East Indies, built with the skill of just a few hundred ethnic Chinese artisans who had settled as traders along the shore.

How little has changed.

Jakarta's eco future? River community goes green to fight eviction threat

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 07:38 PM PST

More than 250 families are facing eviction from Jakarta's Tongkol kampung. Their response? To rebuild their homes, clean up their river, and become a model for a more eco-friendly future for the city

A proactive Jakarta community is fighting back against the threat of demolition by turning itself into an example of what the city it sits in is not – a beacon of environmental protection.

Residents of Tongkol kampung in the north of the sprawling capital have already achieved a striking transformation of their lifestyle practices, their homes, and the river that runs through their community.

Rhymes of Brian: Jakarta's Rich Chigga is a home-schooled, hip-hop sensation

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 03:28 AM PST

Indonesia's hip-hop scene may be small, but in 17-year-old Brian Imanuel, Jakarta has a seriously big – and funny – star who's earned the respect of rap's US royalty

"Meet the 17-Year-Old Indonesian Rapper Who Hacked the World." So reads the headline of a recent Time magazine i nterview with a teenager who was born, bred and still lives in Jakarta, and who – most of the time – goes by the unassuming name of Brian Imanuel.

His alias, Rich Chigga, has proved a little more controversial – but few people are arguing about the talent of this home-schooled, super-smart "viral online comedian and hip-hop icon".

'I was so scared … I was tortured': Indian women lift the lid on married life | Vidhi Doshi

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 09:00 PM PST

A legal ruling threatens to make life even worse for the millions of women in India forced into slavery-like conditions after entering arranged marriages

Radhaben Vaghela always knew she would have to leave her childhood home once she grew up. Born in the village of Sitavar in western India, Vaghela was never allowed to go to school or encouraged to find a job. When she turned 16, her parents announced that they had chosen a man for her to marry.

Within weeks, she was ejected from the house and sent to live with her new husband, in his family home. She was never asked if she was happy to live in a stranger's house, although declining wasn't really an option: she would have been thrown out of her parents' home either way.

Free speech becomes a talking point in Sierra Leone as WhatsApp storm rages | Cooper Inveen

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 03:15 AM PST

The arrest and detainment of a student for sharing a message on social media has become a focal point for unrest about expressive freedom in Sierra Leone

Amid the hustle and bustle of Freetown, they instantly caught the eye. A group of about 100 college students stopped outside the courthouse, formed a line and began to protest.

Public dissent can be a hazardous business in Sierra Leone, even when expressed in a peaceful manner, and the mood reflected as much. While some smiled and held their picket signs high, others were noticeably tense, heads down and eyes darting between the dozens of police that had been weaving in and out of the crowd since the demonstration began.

Thanksgiving Day parade in New York – in pictures

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 11:54 AM PST

Macy's 90th annual Thanksgiving Day parade featured giant balloons of characters from popular culture floating above the streets of Manhattan

Nigerian army accused of killing Biafran independence supporters – video report

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 07:44 AM PST

Human rights group Amnesty International say that Nigerian security forces shot and killed 60 people in south-eastern Onitsha city, in the two days surrounding Biafra Remembrance Day in May 2016. One survivor recounts his experience of being attacked with acid

WARNING: some viewers may find this footage distressing

Barack Obama calls for unity in final Thanksgiving address as president – video

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 07:04 AM PST

Barack Obama makes his final Thanksgiving address from the White House on Thursday. Obama urges Americans to unite after this year's divisive presidential election. President-elect Donald Trump takes over from President Obama on 20 January

'Yes we cran': Barack Obama pardons Thanksgiving turkeys one last time

Thunderstorm in Melbourne triggers mass asthma event – video report

Posted: 24 Nov 2016 03:06 AM PST

A thunderstorm in Melbourne on Monday saw extreme winds and air moisture break pollen particles up into small enough pieces to enter peoples lungs, causing a mass asthma event which has killed four people, left dozens hospitalised and affected hundreds more. The family of a victim who died after an asthma attack speaks out

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World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

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