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Lt Gen Igor Kirillov killed along with his deputy after device attached to escooter exploded

Two investigative reporters put under surveillance say public inquiry is needed to uncover scale of operations

Dr Dewi Evans says allegations made by former nurse's barrister are unsubstantiated' and inaccurate'A doctor has said claims he has changed his mind over the cause of death for three of Lucy Letby's victims are unsubstantiated" and inaccurate".Retired consultant paediatrician Dr Dewi Evans responded to the assertions of Letby's barrister, Mark McDonald, who said the prosecution's lead medical witness had altered his views on how the infants had died at the Countess of Chester hospital's neonatal unit. Continue reading...

Turkey tried to stall the HTS rebels' offensive but has now become Syria's gateway to the outside world'Less than a week after the deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, Turkish officials raised their flag over the embassy in Damascus. While many of the shutters on the palatial villa remained closed, the red and white crescent flew over the embassy rooftop for the first time in 12 years.It was a moment preceded days before by the arrival in the Syrian capital of Turkey's spy chief, Ibrahim Kalin. In this immediate aftermath of the end of the Assad regime, Kalin rode in a black sedan driven by the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed al-Sharaa, who wore civilian dress as he chauffeured Kalin through the crowded streets. The spy chief prayed beneath the hallowed archways of the Umayyad mosque, before emerging to stunned crowds gathered to see the first foreign dignitary to visit the new Syrian leadership. Continue reading...

Retired nurse John Hanson made no plea over death of 84-year-old Margaret Hanson in GalashielsAn 84-year-old man appeared in court last week in connection with the death of his wife at their home in Galashiels.

Mother of girl who died in 2021 reveals figures on Today programme that are welcomed by national medical directorPatients have been moved to intensive care or received potentially life-saving treatment such as oxygen as a direct result of hospitals adopting Martha's rule, NHS data shows.Doctors and nurses have changed how they care for dozens of very sick patients since its introduction in many parts of the NHS in England during the course of 2024. Continue reading...

Scholz had called the vote to deliberately lose it following the collapse of his coalition governmentOlaf Scholz has lost a historic vote of confidence in the German parliament, paving the way for early national elections following the collapse of his government.The German chancellor had called the vote in order to deliberately lose it, urging the Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, to declare its lack of confidence in him so that the first formal step could be made towards triggering new elections. Continue reading...

Chrystia Freeland, who is also minister of finance, says country faces grave challenge' from Trump policyCanada's deputy prime minister and minister of finance has resigned amid growing tensions with the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, over the looming threat posed by Donald Trump's America First" economic nationalism.Chrystia Freeland stood down on Monday, just hours before she was due to release the country's first economic plan ahead of the change of administration in Washington. Continue reading...

RAC says to avoid major routes in England between 1pm and 7pm on Friday and Saturday as long queues expectedDrivers are being urged not to travel on major routes for six hours on Friday and Saturday, with record levels of Christmas holiday traffic expected to cause long queues on Britain's roads.The RAC and the transport analytics company Inrix predicted a total of 29.3m festive journeys would be made between Wednesday and Christmas Eve, the most since the RAC began recording the data in 2013. Continue reading...

Coastguard reports rescue of 39 survivors from boat that set out from Libya, but hopes fade for other passengersA mammoth rescue operation was launched in Greece on Saturday to locate dozens of migrants reported missing after their boat capsized en route from Libya to Crete.Nearly 12 hours after combat Aegean Hawk naval helicopters were first dispatched to the site of the shipwreck, 12.5 nautical miles south-west of the tiny isle of Gavdos, at least 39 survivors had been found, according to the Greek coastguard. Continue reading...

Unprecedented' decision taken to protect judicial anonymity despite huge public interest in case

Sam Burns, 40, went missing in Cairngorms after going skiing aloneA body has been found in the search for a skier missing overnight in the Cairngorms.Sam Burns, 40, was last in contact with friends at about 11.30am on Friday. He has since failed to return to his van, which was parked in the Cairngorm mountain car park. Continue reading...

Doug Ford's threat to use the province's liquor control board would entail ordering it to halt buying American productsThe leader of Canada's most populous province is looking at fresh ways to ward off US tariffs, including wielding the power of Ontario's liquor control board - the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world.Earlier this week, Ontario's premier, Doug Ford, said he could halt electricity exports to multiple American states in retaliation for tariffs promised by Donald Trump. Continue reading...

If company fails to meet deadline, it could lead to Amazon's first large-scale unfair labor practice strike in the USAmazon workers in New York have set a deadline for Sunday 15 December demanding the company agree to begin bargaining a first union contract with the union or else workers at the warehouse, along with other Amazon workers around the US, will begin an unfair labor practice strike.Amazon workers at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, New York, made history in March 2022 when they became the first warehouse at the retail giant to win a union election in the US. Continue reading...

Injured woman recalls ride crashing to the ground, which led to two women being taken to hospital on ThursdayTwo men have been arrested after a Christmas fairground ride dropped to the ground" causing injuries in Birmingham city centre.Two women were taken to hospital after the City Star Flyer ride failed and crashed" in Centenary Square on Thursday evening, while another 11 patients were assessed by paramedics and discharged at the scene. Continue reading...

Questions raised over missed opportunities to save girl after conviction of Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool at Old Bailey

Andrew Cayley, of the international criminal court, questioned reports used to justify Israeli military strikesClaims about the presence of Hamas fighters in hospitals in Gaza under siege by Israel's military have been grossly exaggerated", a top prosecutor at the international criminal court (ICC) has said.Andrew Cayley, who is leading the ICC's Palestine investigation, questioned the reliability of claims about military activity in Gaza's hospitals which have been made to justify Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities in the territory. Continue reading...

Exclusive: TV star is said to have behaved inappropriately towards journalist he met at awards ceremonyGregg Wallace has been accused of sending inappropriate texts to a young female reporter asking her for a snog" and leaving multiple creepy" voicemails after taking her number under the pretext of work.The MasterChef judge and presenter announced he was stepping back from the show earlier this month while the BBC investigated other allegations of misconduct. Continue reading...

Rents have risen by 27% since end of pandemic lockdowns, while earnings have increased by 19%The average cost of renting a newly let UK home is now 3,240 higher than at the end of the pandemic lockdowns, after three years of rental increases outstripping rises in earnings, research shows.Rents have risen by 27% since 2021, the online property website Zoopla found, compared with a 19% increase in earnings, taking the annual cost of renting a property to 15,240, up from 12,000 in 2021. Continue reading...

Andrew Powell first said he was not 100% convinced' 12 years ago while holding the portfolio during the Campbell Newman era

PM takes stance on provocative acts' and denounces antisemitism after Melbourne synagogue arson attack and Sydney anti-Israel vandalism

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Home Office plans to find 800 new accommodation sites and cut bill that has risen to 8m a dayAsylum seekers will be housed in disused care homes and student digs under a Home Office plan to find 800 new accommodation sites and cut a bill that has risen to 8m a day.Home Office sources have confirmed to the Guardian that the fundamental changes to asylum accommodation are under way in a bid to save millions spent every day on hotel accommodation. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Secure Journeys, a local subsidiary of Management & Training Corporation, will begin operating the centres from early 2025

Pesticide Action Network analysis of government testing data finds chemicals linked to cancer and harmful to beesImported food has been found to have residues of 48 pesticides that have not been approved for use by British farmers, including chemicals linked to cancer and imidacloprid, which is harmful to bees, analysis shows.Pesticide Action Network (PAN) went through UK government testing data, comparing the results for pesticide tests on imported and domestically produced food. They found there were residues of 46 cancer-linked pesticides in imported produce, compared with 19 in food of UK origin.. Importers include the EU, Peru, Thailand, Turkey and the US. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Pilots of scheme to tackle drug-driven crimes have been encouraging, says head of sentencing reviewSpecialist courts focused on breaking the addictions of prolific offenders are efficient" and a good idea", the head of the government's sentencing review has said as he suggested they could be rolled out across England and Wales.In an interview with the Guardian, David Gauke praised very encouraging" pilots of intensive supervision courts which steer recidivists to engage repeatedly with judges, probation officers and drug counsellors.Supported proposals for an intermediate court between magistrates and crown court, in which the bench consists of a district judge sitting with two magistrates.Warned ministers and opposition leaders to stop making promises to increase sentences for offenders.Called for ministers to consider inviting third sector organisations to become involved in the provision of drug treatment. Continue reading...

Research shows UK police arrest environmental and climate protesters at three times the average global rateBritish police arrest environmental protesters at nearly three times the global average rate, research has found, revealing the country as a world leader in the legal crackdown on climate activism.Only Australia arrested climate and environmental protesters at a higher rate than UK police. One in five Australian eco-protests led to arrests, compared with about 17% in the UK. The global average rate is 6.7%. Continue reading...

Daughter confirms swimming great broke four ribs and required a hip replacement after accident last week

Energy giant executive admits in court company was absolutely wrong' not to compensate ex-customers it took money from

Israel plans to create sterile defensive zone' inside southern border, and Turkey bombs Kurdish targets in north Syria

This blog is now closed. You can read our latest report on events in Syria here or all our coverage from the region here.

Exclusive: Open letter seen by the Guardian asks King to ensure the government does not diminish the crown's honour' amid tensions over policy direction for Mori

Damning parliamentary report blames lack of education by healthcare workers and pervasive stigma' for poor careWomen and girls are enduring years of pain because their reproductive conditions are being dismissed due to medical misogyny", according to a damning parliamentary report.The report, by the Women and Equalities committee, found that gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis are treated with inadequate care due to a pervasive stigma", a lack of education by healthcare professionals and medical misogyny". Continue reading...

RMT members plan to take industrial action on 22, 23 and 29 December in dispute over rest day workingTrain managers at Avanti West Coast are to strike in a dispute over rest day working.Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union plan to walk out on 22, 23 and 29 December. Continue reading...

Prime minister calls vandalism in Woollahra a hate crime' as NSW premier promises massive' police response

Assault rifle and knives seized as three men suspected of preparing serious act of violence'Three suspected Islamist extremists have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence", with an assault rifle and knives also seized, authorities said on Tuesday.Police swooped on the homes of two German-Lebanese brothers aged 15 and 20 in the city of Mannheim, and a 22-year-old German-Turkish man from the Hochtaunus district of Hessen state on Sunday. Continue reading...

Assembly votes to keep special trading arrangements despite long-held division with unionist oppositionThe Northern Ireland assembly has voted to continue with the special Brexit trading arrangements for another four years.It means Northern Ireland will retain some EU trade laws as a means of maintaining an invisible border on the island of Ireland, despite continued opposition in some unionist quarters. Continue reading...

London fire brigade sends eight fire engines and about 60 firefighters to deal with blaze in Ley Street, IlfordTwo people have been taken to hospital after an explosion in a terrace house in Ilford, east London.London fire brigade sent eight fire engines and about 60 firefighters to deal with the blaze in Ley Street just after 4pm on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Records obtained via FoI request relate to critic of Saudi royal family living in UK under asylum protectionMohammed bin Salman personally lobbied David Cameron earlier this year to intervene in the legal case of a London-based dissident who is suing the Saudi government, amid threats by its officials that the issue could have implications" for 100bn of investment in the UK.UK government documents obtained by the Guardian show that Cameron asked senior Foreign Office (FCDO) officials to propose options after the extraordinary intervention by the Saudi crown prince over the case brought by Ghanem Al-Masarir, a prominent critic of the Saudi royal family who is living under asylum protection in the UK. Continue reading...

Post-Assad leadership must prove its social and political inclusivity to shed terror designation, says UN envoyThe UN would consider taking the Syrian rebel group that toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad off its designated terrorist list if it passes the key test of forming a truly inclusive transitional government, according to a senior official at the world body.Geir Pedersen, UN special envoy for Syria, held out the prospect of removing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the organisation's list of proscribed terrorist groups. But he said the group could not seek to govern Syria in the way that it had governed Idlib, the northern province where it was based and from where it led the military breakout that resulted in the sudden collapse of the Assad regime. Continue reading...

Western intelligence has deemed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham not a direct terror threat to the UKHayat Tahrir al-Sham, the leading group that overthrew the Assad regime in Syria, is not a direct terror threat to the UK, according to western intelligence assessments.The judgment could mean that the UK, along with the US and EU, will soon remove HTS's designation as a terror organisation. In the British case, that would help justify direct contact with Syria's emerging leaders. Continue reading...

Counsel for Sun publisher accuses Duke of Sussex and co-claimant of calling irrelevant witnesses over generic issues'The Duke of Sussex is attempting to turn his case against the publishers of the Sun into a public inquiry" to seek accountability for others who have already settled claims, the high court has heard.Prince Harry faces up to four days of very extensive" questioning in the witness box in the legal action he and Tom Watson, a former Labour deputy prime minister, brought against News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations of unlawful information gathering. NGN denies the allegations. Continue reading...

Prosecutors argue that Trump's position as president-elect does not grant him legal protectionManhattan prosecutors on filed paperwork to fight Donald Trump's most recent push for dismissal of his criminal hush-money case, saying that his position as president-elect does not grant him legal protection.This Court should reject defendant's motion to immediately" dismiss the indictment and vacate the jury's guilty verdict based on the outcome of the recent presidential election," prosecutors wrote in papers filed Monday but made public this afternoon. Continue reading...

Phil Shiner found guilty of misconduct and dishonesty relating to untruthful allegations against UK combatantsAn award-winning former human rights lawyer was spared jail on Tuesday after admitting to fraud charges linked to false abuse claims made against war veterans.Phil Shiner, the principal solicitor of the law firm Public Interest Lawyers, was given a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of misconduct and dishonesty relating to untruthful claims against combatants in the Iraq war. Continue reading...

Like our Nige, Nick Candy doesn't appear to have any solutions to anything ... but he does have very deep pocketsSeveral Range Rovers with blacked out windows pulled up outside the TV studios in Westminster. Out stepped Theresa May. Awkward. If she'd known her arrival was going to coincide with a Reform party photo call, she'd have probably asked the driver to go round the block again. Just in case people jumped to conclusions. Not that there was much chance of anyone imagining that the Maybot was about to leave the Tory party and defect to Reform. But better safe than sorry.These are happy days for Nigel Farage. OK, so Donald Trump might have gone a little cold on him. The Donald's apparatchiks have been letting it be known that the president-elect regards Nige as an eccentric fanboy, basking in the reflected glory. But back in the UK things are hunky dory. The Tories are barely alive and Labour haven't got off to the best of starts. To put it kindly.Taking the Lead by John Crace is published by Little, Brown (18.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. Continue reading...

Disciplinary hearing opens against Charlotte Proudman for saying a judge had shown a boys' club attitude'A barrister has accused her professional regulator of failing to protect her from online gender violence, at the start of a disciplinary hearing against her for saying a judge had shown a boys' club attitude".Charlotte Proudman is alleged by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to have breached its professional standards but has been permitted to argue that the decision to bring proceedings against her constitutes discrimination because she is a woman and a feminist. Continue reading...

Franchise operators pursuing 120m legal claim say they feared losing their livelihoods or homes, with some having suicidal thoughts

Three days of action include Boxing Day sales but union says no option as management refuses to engage'Harrods workers from cleaners to shop floor and restaurant staff are set to strike in Christmas week, including during the upmarket department store's key Boxing Day sales, in a dispute over pay and perks.The United Voice of the World (UVW) independent union said 95% of its members at the Knightsbridge store had voted in favour of the strikes on 21, 22 and 26 December. Continue reading...

Senegal also requests departure of French troops, saying they are not compatible' with country's sovereigntyFrance has begun recalling its military assets from its former ally Chad, the latest blow to its dwindling influence across its former colonies in Africa.Two Mirage fighter jets returned to a base in eastern France on Tuesday, said the army spokesperson Col Guillaume Vernet. It marks the beginning of the return of French equipment stationed in [Chadian capital] N'Djamena," Vernet said. Continue reading...

David John Andrews used sextortion to target 47 victims as young as eight years old via social mediaA man described by police as a heinous child predator" has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to 130 charges of sexual abuse in a court in Northern Ireland.David John Andrews, 55, was told he could serve a minimum of 13 and a half years after which the Parole Board would decide whether he could be released, but was described as a danger to the community by the police. Continue reading...