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Drop is cause for public health concern, but news isn't all bad as acknowledging struggles is a good sign', experts sayA record low proportion of Americans rate their mental health as good" or excellent" according to a Gallup poll released on Thursday.The percentage of Americans polled who rated their mental health as excellent" dropped below 30% for the first time this year while the number who rated their mental health as either good" or excellent" also dropped to a record low 72%. Continue reading...

Incoming victims' commissioner warns government's various strategies lack cohesionHere is Jessica Elgot's full story about Keir Starmer planning to hold the king's speech more or less straight after the elections next year for the Scottish parliament, the Senedd in Wales and English councils. They take place on Thursday 7 May.Henry Zeffman from the BBC says the king's speech will take place either on Tuesday 12 May or Wednesday 13 May. Continue reading...

Average of 3,140 people in hospital with flu each day last week, an all-time high for this time of yearThe NHS is on high alert" as the number of people in hospital with flu reached the highest ever for this time of year amid continuing strikes.An average of 3,140 people were in hospital with flu each day by the end of last week, an increase of 18% compared with the previous week. At the same time last year, an average of 2,629 patients were in hospital, while in 2023 the number was 648. Continue reading...

Poland's Donald Tusk issues warning to European leaders before Brussels summit as Zelenskyy says no deal would pose big problems for Ukraine'Germany's chancellor Friedrich Merz confirms his support for the EU's reparations loan, saying he sees no better option."He diplomatically acknowledges Belgium's concerns, and says he hopes we can address them together" to send a signal of strength and resolve ... towards Russia." Continue reading...

The Reiners' bodies were discovered on Sunday at their home in Los Angeles. Their son Nick was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and has since appeared in courtThe Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has released reports stating the cause of death of the film director Rob Reiner and his wife, the photographer Michele Singer Reiner.Both are listed on the organisation's website with the cause given as multiple sharp force injuries" and homicide" stated as the manner of death. The date of death, which had been the subject of some speculation, is given as Sunday 14 December. Continue reading...

Social mobility report highlights extreme regional differences' in terms of childhood, jobs, innovation and growthFormer industrial communities across Britain are facing entrenched disadvantages" stretching back decades, the latest social mobility research has said.It raises specific concern about the rising number of young people aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training (Neets), which was one in seven between 2022 and 2024. Continue reading...

Timing seen as reset moment after potential loss of hundreds of council seats in England and defeat in Wales and Scotland UK politics live - latest updatesKeir Starmer is planning for a new king's speech after the crunch May elections as a reset moment for the government amid speculation over the prime minister's future.Senior sources in parliament said planning was under way to end the parliamentary session the week after local elections in England and parliamentary elections in Wales and Scotland in May, making it a significantly longer session than normal, and nearly two years since Labour first set out its legislative agenda. Continue reading...

Former top medic described as Dr Death' by prosecutors poisoned 30 people ranging in age from four to 89A French anaesthetist described by prosecutors as Dr Death" has been found guilty of intentionally poisoning 30 patients and killing 12 over almost a decade as a top medic.Frederic Pechier, 53, once seen by colleagues as a star anaesthetist", was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday after state prosecutors said he was one of the biggest criminals in the history of the French legal system". Continue reading...

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For now many fakes are easy to spot. But audiences could find it increasingly difficult to tell fact from fiction as tech improves

In today's newsletter: The government's clash with resident doctors has hardened into one of the most bitter public-sector disputes since austerity beganGood morning. The moment of crisis" for the NHS that led Keir Starmer to warn resident doctors not to strike this week is already upon us as a winter flu epidemic sweeps the country, having started weeks earlier than usual.Yet, despite the warnings, Tuesday's last ditch talks between the government and the British Medical Association, representing 55,000 of 70,000 resident doctors in England, failed to reach agreement over pay and jobs.UK news | Police in London and Manchester have pledged a further crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations on anyone chanting the words globalise the intifada" or holding a placard with the phrase on it.Trade policy | Ministers and senior MPs have warned that the UK's agreements with Donald Trump are built on sand" after the Guardian established that the deal to avoid drug tariffs has no underlying text beyond limited headline terms.Ukraine | The UK has given its final warning to Roman Abramovich to release 2.5bn from his sale of Chelsea FC to give to Ukraine, telling the billionaire to release the funds or face court action.US news | Nick Reiner, who has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, made his first appearance in court on Wednesday.Sextortion | The parents of a 16-year-old who took his own life after he fell victim to a sextortion gang on Instagram are suing Meta for the alleged wrongful death of their son, in the first UK case of its kind. Continue reading...

Test yourself on topical news trivia, pop culture and general knowledge every Thursday. How will you fare?Welcome to the final Thursday news quiz of the year - a small festive tradition involving the news, a handful of jokes, and the knowledge that somewhere there are 1,057 pedants limbering up to find something to nitpick. And it is a bumper 20-question edition. Thank you for quizzing throughout the year, for your comments, corrections and good-natured quibbles, and most of all for the kind messages literally hundreds of you sent the quizmaster during the Great Thursday Quiz Hiatus of 2025TM, when he was off sick. It really meant a lot. Allons-y!The Thursday quiz will return in the new year and wishes you a Merry Christmas, a great festive holiday period and all the best for 2026. Sign up for First Edition to get a Thursday quiz-style quiz of the year in your inbox on Christmas Day. Continue reading...

Pro-Palestine activists, some Jewish groups and civil liberty campaigners criticise NSW Labor for eroding our democratic freedoms'

Two police officers should be dismissed and potentially face criminal charges over the incident, Law Enforcement Conduct Commission recommends

O'Neill tapped to lead global oil and gas giant, which has broken from net zero strategy and will ramp up fossil fuels

Total of five arrests made at pro-Palestine demonstration in London - hours after chiefs of two police forces announced change in approachTwo people have been arrested after allegedly shouting slogans calling for intifada" during a protest by pro-Palestinian demonstrators in London, police said.Five people in total were detained outside the Ministry of Justice in Westminster on Wednesday evening, with further arrests for obstruction and public order offences. Continue reading...

Protesters had gathered outside prison to demand 20-year-old, who is on day 46, receive urgent medical attentionA 20-year-old woman taking part in the hunger strike by Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners has been taken to hospital after protesters gathered outside the jail where she was being held to demand she receive urgent medical attention.Qesser Zuhrah, who is being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey while awaiting trial, is on day 46 of her hunger strike. Continue reading...

Conciliation service in contact with all the parties involved' as medics in England strike for 14th timeThe conciliation service Acas has offered to help try to break the deadlock in the resident doctors' strike in England.The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has made clear that it is willing to become involved in an effort to find a resolution to the long-running dispute, as medics remain on strike for the 14th time over pay and jobs. Continue reading...

Teenager appears in court over death of girl in Weston-super-Mare on MondayA 15-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of a nine-year-old girl in Weston-super-Mare.Aria Thorpe died from a single stab wound at an address in the North Somerset town on Monday, Somerset police said. Emergency services were called to Lime Close shortly before 6.10pm. Continue reading...

Though minister had said ZEV mandate review would be completed quickly as we can', government confirms it won't be published until 2027The government has played down reports that it is planning to bring forward the publication of a review of electric vehicle sales targets from 2027 to next year amid concerns from the car industry.The government had said in April it would weaken its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate - which was brought in to force carmakers to sell more electric cars every year or face the prospect of steep fines - after lobbying from the car industry, and planned to review the targets. Continue reading...

Population fell by 0.2% in third quarter - and the only other quarterly decline on record was attributed to Covid limitsCanada experienced one of its largest drops in population in the most recent quarter, the result of a crackdown on international students. The drop marks dramatic turnaround for a country that has long pegged its economic growth to immigration.New estimates released on Wednesday by Statistics Canada showed that Canada's population fell by 0.2% in the third quarter to stand at 41.6 million, down from 41.65 million on 1 July. Continue reading...

Russian leader says aims of its special military operation' will be met unconditionally'The last available Erasmus+ country report for the UK based on 2020 data shows that University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, and University of Edinburgh were the three top UK universities sending students abroad, with most people coming into the UK from Spain, France and Germany.Just over 16,000 European students came into the UK as part of from the scheme in 2019/2020, with almost 6,000 trainees on top of that figure. 9,800 UK students and 6,500 trainees went in the other direction, data show. Continue reading...

Mark Jenner strung along activist who wanted to have children with him in an extremely cruel' way to infiltrate leftwing circles, Spycops inquiry toldAn undercover officer has admitted he callously and cruelly" deceived a woman into a five-year relationship while infiltrating leftwing campaigns, the spycops inquiry has heard.Mark Jenner and the leftwing activist, known as Alison, lived as a couple, but he never told her that he was in reality an undercover officer who was spying on anti-racist activists. Continue reading...

Nick Thomas-Symonds says a 30% discount for the UK's participation in EU scheme has been agreedStreeting says he does not want people to stay away from hospitals today if they need emergency medical help.The most important message that I want us all to convey collectively as, as parliament and the NHS, is to the public' I do not want people who need to access health care to think [they'd] better not try.So if it's an accident or an emergency, people should have access. Continue reading...

Canadian researchers tracking bear known as X33991 noticed she had gained a second cub who likely needed helpScientists in Canada have documented a rare case of female polar bear adopting a new cub, in an episode of curious behaviour" that highlights the complex relationships among the apex Arctic predators.Polar Bears International, a non-profit conservation group, said on Wednesday that when they first placed a GPS collar on a female polar bear in the spring, she had one young cub. But when she was spotted with two cubs of roughly the same age last month, they realized they were witnessing an exceedingly rare case of adoption. Continue reading...

The US president wants a blockade of oil tankers under sanctions to stop them entering and leaving Venezuela

Former BBC head of music and arts brought the joy of classical music to the general public over decadesSir Humphrey Burton, one of the most influential figures in arts broadcasting, has died at the age of 94.The award-winning film-maker and director, who revolutionised classical music programming, died at home with his family by his side. Continue reading...

Arbitration service hosts talks in effort to resolve dispute as medics in England strike for 14th time over pay and jobs

In an interview with Sky News' Andrew Clennell, Hastie ended any pretence that his grievances might have been purely numerical

Exclusive: Greens condemn sponsorship of group's launch by Precision Public Affairs, which represents clients with lucrative contracts with the Australian governmentA lobbying firm with high-profile defence industry clients will sponsor the launch of a Parliamentary Friends of Aukus group, in what an integrity expert may be a breach of official rules.Federal MPs were this week invited to the launch of the newly formed Parliamentary Friends of Aukus event, set to take place at Parliament House in February, and featuring the defence minister, Richard Marles, as the special guest". Continue reading...

Officers make arrest in connection with deaths of Harry and Megan Tooze in farmhouse in LlanharryAn 86-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the killing of a married couple who died after being blasted with a 12-bore shotgun more than 30 years ago.Harry Tooze, 64, and Megan Tooze, 67, were killed at their farmhouse in Llanharry, south Wales, in 1993. Continue reading...

Andrea Egan to become Unison general secretary, succeeding Christina McAnea, who has close links to Keir Starmer

Deal agreed to rejoin exchange programme in 2027, fulfilling Labour election manifesto pledge

Relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, accused of three offences from 2022 to 2024The Duke of Marlborough, formerly known as Jamie Blandford, has been charged with intentional strangulation.Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, is accused of three offences between November 2022 and May 2024, Thames Valley police said. Continue reading...

45% of births were through C-sections, 44% through natural vaginal births and 11% assisted with forceps or ventouseBirths through caesarean section have overtaken natural vaginal births in England for the first time, NHS data has revealed.Last year, 45% of births in England were through caesareans, 44% were through natural vaginal births and 11% were assisted with instruments such as forceps or ventouse, according to the data published on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Anna Bilonozhenko describes how she was left seriously injured after Paul Doyle drove into crowd at paradeA woman who fled the war in Ukraine has said being seriously injured in the Liverpool FC trophy parade was one of the most traumatic experiences" of her life.Anna Bilonozhenko, 43, fractured her right knee when she was hit by Paul Doyle's Ford Galaxy as it struck more than 130 people in just two minutes. Continue reading...

Avner's Bakery told customers that it is no longer possible to make outwardly, publicly, proudly Jewish places and events safe in Australia'

At least 16 people including one of the alleged gunmen died at the shooting in Sydney on Sunday, aged between 10 and 87

Students blame reliance on phones plus pressure of accommodation costs for lack of social lifeMore than two-thirds of students in UK university halls feel lonely or isolated, blaming accommodation costs and over-reliance on phones for limiting their social life.One in three students in halls of residence - 33% - are lonely or isolated at university often, with another 37% feeling that way occasionally, according to a poll by Opinium commissioned by the student accommodation provider PfP Students. Continue reading...

Audit finds on average adults wait twice as long as children for assessment and more than 10 times as long to be treatedAdults with eating disorders in England are waiting up to 700 days for vital treatment, according to a report.The stark figures were revealed in the first report of the National Audit of Eating Disorders (NAED), which looked at access to eating disorder services across the country. Continue reading...

In a joint statement with other close friends, including Albert Brooks and Martin Short, the comedians pay tribute to the Reiners after their deathsUS comedy luminaries Billy Crystal, Larry David, Martin Short and Albert Brooks have come together to remember their friend and peer Rob Reiner, hours after the director's son was charged with the murder of his parents.Nick Reiner, 32, has been in custody since Sunday evening, hours after his sister, Romy, reportedly discovered the bodies of Rob and Michele Reiner in their Los Angeles home. Police said the couple had suffered fatal stab wounds. Continue reading...

Treasurer says his Myefo, which shows a small improvement in the budget bottom line, is the most responsible" on record

Silvagni, whose brother, father and grandfather are well known for their AFL careers, was found guilty of two counts of rape in Melbourne's county court

Roberts, who murdered three police officers in Shepherd's Bush and served 48 years in prison, was released in 2014Harry Roberts, the triple police killer whose 1966 murders shocked Britain and triggered one of the country's largest manhunts, has reportedly died aged 89.Roberts died in hospital last Saturday after a short illness, the Sun reported. He had been living in sheltered accommodation in Peterborough after his release on licence in 2014, after serving 48 years in prison for the killings. Continue reading...

Legal experts have raised concerns US forces may have committed a war crime by killing survivors of initial strike

Soaring rents and housing costs have priced out young people, key workers and families from many European citiesThe European Commission has announced it will regulate short-term rentals and seek to curb speculation in the housing market, under the EU's first-ever plan to tackle a shortage of affordable homes.Housing is largely a matter for local and national authorities, but the issue has climbed up the EU agenda, as soaring rents and housing costs have priced out young people, key workers and families from many European cities. Continue reading...

Arts Council England must remain free from interference to ensure artistic freedom, says report by Labour peerArts Council England must ensure funding is protected from politicisation and simplify its application process in order to regain trust, a damaging report has found.The investigation into the national body for arts funding found there had been a loss of respect and trust" for ACE among those it backed, in part because of perceived political interference in decision-making". Continue reading...

Linguists say the prime minister's use of s' instead of z' breaks national English conventionsMark Carney says that amid a fundamental shift to the nature of globalisation, his government will catalyse the growth in both the public and private sector.But Canadian linguists say that's a problem. Continue reading...

Closing funding loopholes and re-empowering the watchdog would go some way to tackling an urgent issue

Zelenskyy and European leaders call for Russia to be held accountable for aggression: There must be no impunity'Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that a Christmas truce that Ukraine has proposed would depend on whether a peace deal is reached or not.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv supported the idea of a ceasefire, in particular for strikes on energy infrastructure, during the Christmas period.We want to stop this war, achieve our goals, secure our interests, and guarantee peace in Europe for the future. That's what we want." Continue reading...