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...

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...