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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...

Parole Board rules that Norris, 49, should not be freed after he was convicted of murder in 2012One of the killers of Stephen Lawrence, the teenager murdered in a racist attack by a white gang, has had his application for parole rejected.David Norris was convicted in 2012 of the murder, carried out with at least four other white youths. Continue reading...

Paul Doyle had previous serious convictions and was described as a live wire' by a Royal Marines colleagueThe sound was sickening: a thud, thud, thud as bodies bounced violently off the bumper. Inside Paul Doyle's two-tonne vehicle, the scene was perhaps even more shocking.Dashcam footage played in court this week showed the former Royal Marine screaming angrily as he ploughed into Liverpool FC supporters: Get out the fucking way! Get out the way! Move, move, move!" Continue reading...

Investigators examine Isis link after finding flag in car registered to one of the gunmen Bondi beach terror attackTwo major lines of inquiry have emerged in the investigation into the antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney on Sunday.One is the trip made by the attackers to the Philippines just before the massacre, in which 15 were killed and dozens injured. Continue reading...

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The unwelcome return of inflation means Anthony Albanese's government is desperate not to be seen to be adding to the problem

Exclusive: Seven-country survey finds overwhelming opposition to increasing migration and support for deportationsMany Europeans mistakenly think most migrants are in their country illegally, according to a poll that found overwhelming opposition to any increase in migration and strong support for a significant reduction in numbers, including deportation.Pluralities or majorities of between 44% and 60% of respondents polled in a survey by YouGov in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain said they thought there many" or somewhat" more migrants were staying illegally than legally. Continue reading...

Staff at the Ashland animal shelter sold merch of raccoon they cared for after he was found passed out in a liquor storeMerchandise commemorating the raccoon that gained international fame by barging into a Virginia liquor store, smashing bottled spirits and passing out drunk in a bathroom on Black Friday has raised more than a quarter-million dollars for the local animal shelter where he slept off his bender.The Hanover county animal protection shelter raised the charitable amount after caring for the inebriated raccoon in question and teaming up with custom apparel maker Bonfire to create and sell items seizing on the internet virality achieved by the creature. Continue reading...

Joesley Batista is credited as a major force behind the reconciliation between Trump and Luiz Inacio Lula da SilvaSix international airlines had suspended flights to Venezuela over the risk of possible US military strikes when an ultra-long-haul executive jet from Sao Paulo, Brazil, landed calmly in Caracas.On board that flight on 23 November was the Brazilian meat tycoon Joesley Batista - twice jailed for corruption and whose companies have a long record of environmental violations. After a meeting with the Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, he returned to Brazil the following day. Continue reading...

Anthony Albanese calls man who tackled Bondi beach shooter humble man' who was trying to get a cup of coffee, simple as that'

Government says it received distress calls, as daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma accused of luring men to frontlineSouth Africa's government is in talks with Russia to bring home 17 South African men fighting for Russia in Ukraine, after the men were allegedly tricked on to the frontlines of the war by a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has been accused in multiple lawsuits of luring the 17 South African and two Botswanan men to Russia in July, by telling them they would be training as bodyguards for her father's uMkhonto weSizwe political party or attending a personal development course. Continue reading...

Former journalist's estate be sequestrated after he was ordered in September to pay Reynolds $92,000 for social media posts found to be defamatory

As green paper on corporation's charter renewal is launced, what funding options might be under consideration?Advertising. Subscriptions. A household levy. The government claims to be considering all options for funding the BBC. In reality, however, many industry insiders believe radical reforms will be dodged in favour of sticking to the licence fee model - perhaps for the last time.Advocates for the licence fee have long argued it is the only model that allows the corporation to stick to its guiding universality" principle - producing programming for everyone. Continue reading...

Lisa Nandy will have to assess deal after formal request from the seller, Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI

Exclusive: David Dinsmore to advise ministers as they step up efforts to combat far-right rhetoric onlineKeir Starmer's Whitehall communications chief will address the cabinet on overhauling the government's media strategy on Tuesday as ministers increasingly try to combat far-right rhetoric online.David Dinsmore, a former editor of the Sun who was appointed permanent secretary for government communications in November, will speak to ministers about modernising the way they reach voters. Continue reading...

A software update is thought to have created a problem with some variable speed cameras, meaning motorists were incorrectly penalisedThousands of speeding fines could be cancelled after a technical issue" triggered some speed cameras in England to incorrectly penalise motorists.National Highways has apologised for the error, which meant a very small number" of drivers had been wrongly fined since 2021. Continue reading...

Startup valuation, likely to go public at $800bn, will bolster Musk's wealth to an estimated $677bn, according to ForbesElon Musk on Monday became the first person ever worth $600bn, according to Forbes. The news comes on the heels of reports that his SpaceX startup was likely to go public at a valuation of $800bn.Musk, who was the first to surpass $500bn in net worth in October, owns an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX, which is preparing to go public next year. No other person has hit the $500bn mark. Continue reading...

Proposal is part of new package of security guarantees, backed by the White House, that could mark breakthrough in reaching agreementEurope is ready to lead a multinational force" in Ukraine as part of a US proposal for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, European leaders have said.In a statement, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries said that troops from a coalition of the willing" with US support could assist in the regeneration of Ukraine's forces, in securing Ukraine's skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine". Continue reading...

Efforts to get PM to spend more time with his MPs appear to be bearing fruit - more so than any macho briefing warIn the corner of one of Westminster's endless Christmas receptions, a Conservative veteran of the Brexit years admits they are somewhat baffled by the frenzied leadership speculation among the new Labour ranks.It was easy to forget, they said, given how many Tory leaders the party cycled through - but prime ministers were not that easy to dislodge. Continue reading...

The liaison super-committee has an unavoidable tri-annual encounter with the prime ministerAn afternoon with Keir Starmer isn't necessarily many people's idea of fun. A period of time when every minute feels like five.Sadly, for the select committee chairs who make up the liaison super-committee, they didn't have the option of saying no. This was one of their unavoidable tri-annual encounters with the prime minister. Still, at least they all had the Xmas recess to look forward to at the end of the week. They would need a long lie down. Continue reading...

Judgment finds systems designed to protect against inhuman and degrading treatment unlawfully' failing for yearsThe Home Office has failed to protect vulnerable migrants it locks up in detention centres, a high court judge has ruled.Mrs Justice Jefford found an unlawful failure of the systems" designed to protect immigration detainees from inhuman and degrading treatment under article 3 of the European convention on human rights and that these failings had been going on for years. The judgment could affect thousands of people who are at risk behind bars. Continue reading...

Party leader says Labour has abandoned any sense of progressive politics'In his Q&A, Danny Kruger was also asked whether he was concerned whether the Guardian reports about people at school with Nigel Farage saying they recall him being racist as a pupil, which have been widely followed up, and the party's response to them, which has alternated between outright denial and suggestions that any comments were banter, or taken out of context, or misremembered, have damaged the party's poll ratings. Support for the party has flatlined, or fallen, since the stories started appearing.In response, Kruger rejected suggestions this was a problem. He explained:The polling remains very, very positive for Reform. We are clearly well ahead of every other party. And that is sustained and consistent in every single poll that you see.And I'm confident that that will continue.Reform % was down across most polls last week. What is driving it? Farage school comments, Gill & Russia, Mahmood asylum reform? I suspect answer is simpler: Reform do best when its issues are in focus (migration,crime,lack of faith in politics) & less so when it's the economy Continue reading...

Naveed Akram, a 30-year-old from New South Wales, was misidentified online as alleged attacker of the same name as misinformation spreads

Naveed Akram previously known to security agencies, prime minister says. His gun-owning father, Sajid, was shot dead by police at the scene

MP allegedly greeted a party colleague at German parliament building with a heel click and a Hitler salute'Berlin prosecutors say they have charged a member of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland party with making a Nazi salute in parliament.The suspect allegedly greeted a party colleague ... at the east entrance to the Reichstag building with a heel click and a Hitler salute" in June 2023, the prosecutors said in a statement issued on Monday. Continue reading...

Jaume Collboni and 16 other city leaders urge EU to unleash billions in funding as it prepares to tackle crisis

Bondi pavilion becomes centre of mourning with chaplains and mental health volunteers handing out tissues

Extreme heat follows blazes in New South Wales, while winds plunge Brazil's largest city into darknessExtreme heat and bushfires have ravaged the parched landscape of Western Australia. With temperatures expected to continue soaring above 40C (104F) over the coming days, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe heatwave warning across much of the south-west.The conditions follow bushfires in New South Wales this month, which resulted in the destruction of homes and loss of life. Severe heatwave warnings have also been issued for later this week in parts of South Australia and New South Wales, as a ridge of high pressure moves eastward, bringing blazing sunshine to much of the region. Continue reading...

Rights groups dismiss sham conviction' of media tycoon on national security offences in city's most closely watched rulings in decades

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Family friend, sources in Russia and Syria, and leaked data help give rare insight into life of dictator's reclusive householdIn 2011, a group of teenage boys spray-painted a warning on to a wall in their school playground: It's your turn, Doctor." The graffiti was a thinly veiled threat that Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, a London-trained ophthalmologist, would be next in the line of Arab dictators toppled by the then raging Arab spring.It took 14 years, during which 620,000 were killed and nearly 14 million displaced, but eventually the doctor's turn came and Assad was deposed, fleeing to Moscow in the middle of the night. Continue reading...

One moment, Rozen was eating donuts and celebrating light' with her family. Then peace turned to terror as the attack began

Gun law changes including limiting the number of firearms one person can hold to be discussed by federal cabinet, as Coalition accuses government of not doing enough

Government not maintaining effective oversight', with majority of decisions being overturned, commonwealth ombudsman foundAlmost half of all people using employment services received threats to suspend their payments in the last quarter, new data has revealed.The data from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) showed a 23% increase in the number of payment suspension notices issued by Workforce Australia, with 618,000 issued from 1 July to 30 September 2025, up from from 504,000 in the previous quarter. Continue reading...

Mary-Ann Stephenson says official guidance will not usher in toilet police' in businesses and public places

Video shows the man rushing one of the alleged gunmen who shot dozens of people on Sunday evening in Australia

From choosing frozen turkey to shopping supermarket specials, the traditional meal need not break the household budgetFigures show that the total cost of the all-important Christmas dinner is up 5% on a year ago, with the price of important elements such as pigs in blankets and stuffing up by 7%.With the cost of living still biting, however, a supermarket price war is taking some of the sting out of high food costs - with Aldi and Lidl selling the ingredients for a main Christmas meal for eight for less than 12. Continue reading...

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Tree, which was planted more than 10 years ago, was felled hours after its Christmas lights were switched onTwo men have been arrested in relation to a disgusting act of mindless vandalism" after a Christmas tree which had stood in a village for more than 10 years was cut down.On Wednesday, the tree in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was felled sometime between 10pm and 11pm, just hours after the Christmas lights were switched on. Continue reading...

Enfield's family-run Neco Tantuni, which specialises in Turkish street food, secured place among other Michelin-starred restaurants on Vittles 99-strong listOn a list of London's best restaurants, you would expect to see the usual Michelin-starred suspects such as The Ledbury, Ikoyi and The Ritz. But high among these culinary heavyweights sits a humble salonu tucked away in the depths of north London.Neco Tantuni, a small Turkish eatery specialising in the foodie delights of Mersin, a city located on the southern coast of Turkey, has been crowned the fourth best restaurant in London by Vittles, the trendy food magazine that has become a bible for those looking for the best (and more off-the-radar) grub in the capital. Continue reading...

Exclusive: A trio of candidates have been interviewed by the PM, but he could still decide to directly appoint someone elseKeir Starmer is poised to choose a new ambassador to Washington from a shortlist of three as relations with the US are tested over Ukraine and Donald Trump's attacks on European leaders.The prime minister held interviews with three finalists for the role this week, the Guardian has learned, with Downing Street preparing to make an appointment before the end of the year. Continue reading...

Bankstown man, 31, allegedly sent two emails to the communication minister's office in late November making direct threats

King extols early diagnosis which can give invaluable time' and backs launch of screening checker toolKing Charles has hailed a milestone" in his cancer journey" and revealed he is to reduce his schedule of treatment in the new year, describing the news as a personal blessing".His treatment will move into a precautionary phase with its regularity significantly reduced as his recovery reaches a very positive stage, it is understood. His medical team will assess how much longer he will require treatment to protect and prioritise his continued recovery. Continue reading...

A year-long investigation into the Free Birth Society reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors.Lucy Hough talks to the investigative correspondent Lucy Osborne about her reporting - watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Rookie Michael Ma leaves Conservative party for steady, practical approach' of Mark Carney's governmentCanada's ruling Liberals have edged closer to a majority government after a Conservative lawmaker crossed the floor, in yet another blow to the struggling Tories.Rookie lawmaker Michael Ma said late on Thursday that he had decided to leave the Conservative party, for the steady, practical approach" of prime minister Mark Carney's government, which he said would deliver on the priorities I hear every day, including affordability and the economy". Continue reading...

Mohammadi violently' detained along with other activists at memorial event in Mashhad, according to her foundationIranian security forces have violently" arrested the 2023 Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi at a memorial ceremony for a lawyer and human rights advocate, her supporters said.Mohammadi, who was granted temporary leave from prison in December 2024 on medical grounds, was detained along with several other activists at the ceremony for Khosro Alikordi, who was found dead in his office last week, her foundation wrote on X. Continue reading...

Protesters say David Lammy is ignoring warnings over deteriorating health of eight hunger strikers awaiting trial

Robert Rhodes acquitted in 2017 on grounds of self-defence after manipulating a child to help in cover-upA man who was previously cleared of killing his wife on the grounds of self-defence has been found guilty of her murder after their child came forward with new evidence under double jeopardy rules.Robert Rhodes, 52, from Withleigh, Devon, was convicted unanimously at Inner London crown court of murdering his wife, Dawn nine years ago on 2 June 2016. Continue reading...