Stanlow operator Essar stopped all imports of Russian fuel in 2022 but has arrangement with LitascoThe owner of one of Britain's biggest oil refineries has extended a loan facility with an arm of an oil company founded and part-owned by a Russian billionaire who is under sanctions.Essar Oil (UK), which owns and operates the Stanlow oil refinery on Merseyside, stopped all imports of Russian fuel in 2022, in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: After events during the last few days, a nightmare scenario including Iran and the US is becoming ever more likely Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. So far, the war in Gaza prompted by Hamas's 7 October attack has not precipitated the nightmare scenario - a wider Middle East conflict drawing in the US and Iran. But after events of the last few days, that risk appears to be becoming more serious.The centre of the danger is in the Red Sea, where Houthi forces based in Yemen and backed by Iran have been attacking freighters with real or perceived links to Israel. The US has offered protection to shipping travelling through the region, assembling a multinational naval coalition to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation". But President Biden has said he wants to avoid direct military confrontation with the Houthis for fear of triggering an escalation.Japan | Japan's prime minister has said the country is facing a battle against time" to rescue those affected by a series of major earthquakes which reportedly killed at least 30 people. With aftershocks expected over the next few days, residents of coastal areas were being told not to return to their homes.Ofsted | Ofsted inspections will be halted until assessors have been properly trained in protecting the wellbeing of school staff, the watchdog's new chief has announced, after the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry.Israel | Israel's supreme court has overturned a law at the heart of Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul project, potentially plunging the country into political crisis as it fights in Gaza. The judges ruled on Monday by a slim majority of eight to seven to throw out a law that curtailed the court's own powers, saying it would severely damage Israel's democracy.NHS | NHS bosses fear patient safety could be compromised during this week's junior doctors strikes if medics do not honour an agreement to abandon picket lines if hospitals become overwhelmed during the winter crisis. The NHS Confederation warning comes ahead of a six-day strike due to start on Wednesday.Hong Kong | The media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has pleaded not guilty to all charges at his national security trial. Lai and his Apple Daily newspaper were key supporters of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, which saw mass protests across the city in 2019. He could face life imprisonment if convicted. Continue reading...
Tribunal finds 17-year-old seller was not old enough to enter into contracts' after buyer suspected shoes were fakeA Melbourne real estate agent who spent almost $30,000 on sneakers he suspects are counterfeit is not entitled to a refund because he knowingly bought them off a 17-year-old student.The man took the student and his father to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Vcat) after he came to suspect that the Dior X Air Jordan's he bought in 2020 were high-end counterfeits. Continue reading...
Murguia, who voiced titular character in Oscar-winning animated Pixar film, appeared in more than 100 roles spanning cinema, stage and televisionAna Ofelia Murguia, the Mexican actor who voiced the titular character of Disney and Pixar film Coco, has died aged 90.Her death was announced with deep sadness" on social media by Mexico's National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature, which said Murguia's artistic career was vital for the performing arts of Mexico". Her cause of death was not given. Continue reading...
by Helen Livingstone (now); Maya Yang, Yohannes Lowe, on (#6HGT8)
This blog has now closed. You can read our full report on the latest developments here and read all our Israel-Gaza war coverage hereAt the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled 2023 as a year marked by wartime suffering.During his traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St Peter's Square, he offered prayers for the tormented Ukrainian people and the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people and many others".At the end of the year, we will have the courage to ask ourselves how many human lives have been shattered by armed conflict, how many dead and how much destruction, how much suffering, how much poverty? Continue reading...
Lior Sivan's father says 32-year-old dual citizen was killed in an ambush when he exited a tank hatch to try to shoot a Hamas fighterThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) is urgently seeking to confirm whether an Australian citizen has been killed in Gaza.The ABC has reported that Lior Sivan, a 32-year-old reserves captain, was killed while fighting with an Israeli armoured brigade in southern Gaza. His death was covered by Israeli outlets shortly after but was not picked up by Australian media until Tuesday. Continue reading...
by Kevin Rawlinson and Charlie Moloney on (#6HGVR)
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder at scene of stabbing on Primrose HillA 16-year-old boy stabbed to death as he waited to watch the fireworks on London's Primrose Hill just before midnight on New Year's Eve has been named as Harry Pitman.Onlookers described ambulances racing to the scene and paramedics performing CPR on the schoolboy but, despite their efforts, he could not be saved. Continue reading...
The quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan's main island, HonshuJapan has dropped its highest-level tsunami alert after issuing one after a series of major earthquakes on Monday but told residents of coastal areas not to return to their homes as deadly waves could still come.The quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan's main island, Honshu. It was unclear how many people might have been killed or hurt. Continue reading...
Naval and commercial access to Somaliland's coast granted in exchange for recognising republic's independenceEthiopia has signed a historic" deal granting it naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland's coast, in exchange for recognition for the breakaway republic's independence, it has been announced.The Somali government, which has long held that Somaliland remains a part of the country, announced that it would convene an emergency meeting of its cabinet in response to the memorandum of understanding, according to state news agency Sonna. Continue reading...
Court overturns law preventing judges from quashing government decisions they deem unreasonableIsrael's supreme court has overturned a law at the heart of Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul project, potentially plunging the country into political crisis as it fights a war in Gaza and faces the spectre of regional escalation.The judges ruled on Monday by a slim majority of eight to seven to throw out a law that curtailed the court's own powers, saying it would severely damage Israel's democracy. Continue reading...
Crisis in NHS contributing to nurses being spat at and punched, leading some to leave the profession, Prof Nicola Ranger saysNurses are being put in increasing danger from shocking levels of violence and aggression by patients, a senior nursing leader has warned.Prof Nicola Ranger, the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) director of nursing, said the crisis in the NHS had fuelled bad behaviour by patients frustrated by worsening delays for treatment since the Covid pandemic. Continue reading...
Airstrikes against Houthi rebels and the prospect of a year-long Gaza conflict will test cross-party thinking at WestminsterTwo developments in the past 48 hours could test the cross-party consensus in Westminster on the conflict between Israel and Hamas: the signal sent by the Ministry of Defence that it is prepared to join the US in launching airstrikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, and statements by the Israeli political and military leadership that the war may take months or even a whole year to complete.Labour has so far largely concurred with UK government policy, which in turn has largely shadowed thinking inside the White House. Continue reading...
Russian president says Moscow will continue to strike sensitive' military targets in Ukraine and says war is turning in Russia's favour. This live blog is closedVolodymyr Zelenskiy vows to unleash wrath' on Russian forces in 2024. But the Ukrainian president's new year's address made almost no direct reference to the situation on the frontline or the limited success of a counteroffensive launched in June.Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of New Year's Day attacks. Five people have been killed in attacks on Ukraine's southern Odesa region and the occupied eastern city of Donetsk.Ukraine claims Russia has launched a record number' of attack drones. Ukraine's Air Force said 87 out of 90 drones had successfully been shot down in the hours leading into New Year's Day.Vladimir Putin calls Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod terrorist act' that will not go unpunished'. Russia's president said it would continue to strike sensitive" military targets in Ukraine.The death toll following Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod has risen to 25, according to region's governor. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Monday a four-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in the attack.The death toll as a result of the attack on the Russian border city of Belgorod on 30 December has increased to 25, according to the region's governor. Continue reading...
Band alters lyric from American Idiot to I'm not a part of the Maga agenda' during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve setRock band Green Day altered the lyrics of their well-known song American Idiot to criticize Donald Trump during a televised New Year's Eve performance.During a set on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, replaced the line I'm not a part of a redneck agenda" with I'm not a part of the Maga agenda". The song was originally released to criticize former president George Bush in 2004. Continue reading...
by Peter Hannam Economics correspondent on (#6HGZ7)
Price trends are unlikely to be straightforward in 2024, even if the RBA's next move is a rate reductionAustralia's rollercoaster" real estate market faces fresh peaks and troughs in 2024 as the prospect of falling interest rates contend with a recent slowdown in price increases.Renters, meanwhile, are experiencing smaller increases in payments, but the share of income going to rent remains at near-record levels with little relief in sight. Continue reading...
Exclusive: appeal court to hear challenge by Edwin Afriyie after high court rejected his claim over 2018 incidentA black youth worker who was standing with his arms folded when he was shot with a stun gun by officers during a traffic stop has been given permission to appeal over a lost claim for damages against City of London police.Officers claimed in statements that Edwin Afriyie had adopted a fighting stance" before he was hit by the Taser electrical weapon but police body-worn camera footage showed that his arms were folded and he was standing at a distance from them. Continue reading...
Kimberlee Singler will face extradition proceedings after her daughter, 9, and son, 7, were found dead last monthA woman suspected of killing two of her children in the US before leaving the country has been arrested in the UK and has appeared in court in London to face extradition proceedings.Kimberlee Singler's nine-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son were found dead on 19 December when police responded to a report of a burglary at their home in Colorado Springs. Police later said the report turned out to be unfounded. Continue reading...
Giannini, nicknamed Tripolino, had said his secrets were light meals, no stress or smoking and taking each day as a giftItaly's oldest man, who credited light meals and no stress" for his longevity, has died at the age of 111.Tripoli Giannini, nicknamed Tripolino, died at his home in Cecina, near Livorno in Tuscany, on New Year's Eve. He was the second-oldest man in Europe, after Andre Ludwig, a Frenchman who is 75 days older. Continue reading...
Origins of Dorset hillside chalk figure was as muster station for West Saxon armies fending off Vikings, historians concludeFor centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the origins of the Cerne Abbas giant, the huge, naked, club-wielding figure cut into a chalky hillside in the English West Country. Was he a Celtic god, some sort of ancient fertility symbol, or, perhaps, a more recent lampoon of Oliver Cromwell?Research from the University of Oxford has now concluded that the 60m tall figure in Dorset could have marked an inspiring muster station for West Saxon armies at a time when the area was being attacked by Viking warriors. Continue reading...
In both countries 33% of adults hit the target on a daily basis, with Korea and Israel next highest in OECD figuresOne in three adults in the UK and Ireland consume five or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day, a higher proportion than in any other nation in the developed world, a report suggests.Regular consumption of fruit and veg is associated with improved health outcomes, particularly in lowering the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. The World Health Organization recommends eating at least 400g - or five or more portions - each day. Continue reading...
Doug Barrowman says NCA investigation into Covid VIP lane' firm is being used to distract from government incompetenceThe disgraced Conservative peer Michelle Mone and her husband are being investigated by the UK's National Crime Agency, the couple have confirmed in a statement in which they claimed they were being hung out to dry" over the government's Covid-19 PPE failings.Mone's husband, Doug Barrowman, accused the government of using the NCA to threaten criminal proceedings" to make the couple reach a settlement in relation to PPE Medpro, a consortium he led and which is being sued by the UK government for 122m plus costs for breach of contract and unjust enrichment". Continue reading...
Average annual household bill to jump by 94 to 1,928 in some of the coldest months of the yearA 94 increase to the average annual household energy bill has come into effect after the regulator upped its price cap in response to a rise in global gas market prices.The change, taking effect from 1 January, means average households are beginning 2024 with a 5% increase in energy bills - at the start of what could be the coldest three months of the year. Continue reading...
Flight contained 303 Indians en route to Central American country whose light visa requirements have attracted US-bound travelersThe detention in France of a charter plane bound for Nicaragua has renewed attention on the Central American nation's role as a springboard for migrants from across the world seeking to make their way to the United States.The flight, which left the United Arab Emirates on 21 December with 303 passengers of Indian nationality, was grounded during a refueling stop after an anonymous tip-off alleging human trafficking. Continue reading...
New plan bans selling of native timbers and includes transition payouts to sawmills and towns to diversify industryThe end of unsustainable commercial logging in Western Australia could save almost 20,000 square kilometres of forest, the state government says.Chopping down native karri, jarrah and wandoo hardwood in the state's south-west and selling it is banned from Monday. The state's environment minister, Reece Whitby, said it was a historic moment for WA. Continue reading...
Figures showing 133% increase since 2013 derided as smoke and mirrors' amid failure to meet treatment targetsNHS figures that show more people than ever are being checked for cancer have been criticised as misleading" by experts.Official data published on Monday reported that almost 3 million people in England were tested for cancer in 2022, a 133% increase in the decade since 2013. Continue reading...
by Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent on (#6HGST)
Retailers including Marks & Spencer and Tesco promise to pass on savings to customers after VAT axedWomen can buy period pants for 2 cheaper than current prices after the government abolished a tax on the product.As of Monday, retailers including supermarkets Marks & Spencer and Tesco, as well as clothing shop Primark, have promised to pass on the savings (worth 16%) to customers. Continue reading...
BoM forecasts heavy rain for south-east Queensland and northern NSW, while across the far north temperatures will remain in the 40sParts of south-east Queensland are being battered by heavy rain in a soggy start to the new year, with dangerous flooding predicted.Intense falls in some areas could lead to life-threatening flash flooding, the Bureau of Meteorology warned on Monday afternoon. Continue reading...
by Elias Visontay and Australian Associated Press on (#6HGQV)
Police say one man has serious injuries after terribly serious' fire in suburb of Mill ParkDetectives are investigating an explosion at a New Year's Even house party in Melbourne's north-east which left eleven people in hospital.Emergency services were called to a home on Development Boulevard in the suburb of Mill Park just after 11pm on Sunday, responding to reports of a fire burning in the garden. Continue reading...
Macron says Olympics will bring France a 2024 full of pride' and hope'; some UK New Year's Eve firework events cancelled due to weatherNew Year's Eve is a time of both looking forward, and of looking backward, so before it slips off into the distance, why not test your knowledge on what you can remember from 2023 with our news quiz? Probably best attempted earlier in the evening rather than later.Do the quiz set by Will Dean: Barbie, Beatles and Bankman-Fried: how well do you remember 2023? Continue reading...
Anna Meares among athletes paying tribute to former track cyclist who competed at world championships and Olympics Rohan Dennis charged over death of wife MelissaMelissa Dennis is being remembered as a popular and talented competitor as Australian cycling reels from her death.Olympic gold medallist Anna Meares paid tribute to Dennis on Monday morning, while AusCycling also released a statement. Continue reading...
Scottish singer says six-month hiatus from live shows after struggling during his performance at Glastonbury helped him cope better with my Tourette's and anxiety issues'Lewis Capaldi has said he is going to continue taking some time to carry on looking after myself" after his six-month hiatus from touring yielded an improvement in his health.The Scottish singer-songwriter announced in June he would be taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future" after he struggled with his voice during a Glastonbury set, during which the crowd stepped in to sing the lyrics to his final songs. Continue reading...
68-year-old held on suspicion of murder after two women found in house in CheadleA man has been arrested after two women were found dead at a house in Cheadle, Staffordshire, on New Year's Eve.The 68-year-old was arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder, Staffordshire police have said. Continue reading...
Plymouth winter wonderland and train services also scrapped as Met Office warns of gales along southern English and Welsh coastsInclement weather has caused several New Year's Eve firework displays to be cancelled, as heavy rain and high winds threatened to dampen the party spirit of thousands of revellers.In the south-west of England, a winter wonderland event in Plymouth and a Devon town's firework display were among those to be pulled due to the wet conditions on Sunday, and the Met Office warned that exposed coasts and hills on the southern coast of England and in south Wales would continue to be battered by strong winds. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#6HGHJ)
Monarch will step down on 14 January, the 52nd anniversary of her accession, and leave the throne to her son FrederikThe queen of Denmark has announced that she is to abdicate after 52 years on the throne.Announcing the surprise news to the nation in her new year speech, Queen Marghrethe II said she would step down on 14 January, the 52nd anniversary of her accession, leaving the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.Associated Press contributed to this report Continue reading...
Kate Vokes, 54, and Archie Vokes, 22, from Manchester, killed while skiing off-piste near Mont BlancThe family of a mother and son who died in an avalanche in the French Alps have said they are beyond heartbroken" by the tragedy.Kate Vokes, 54, and Archie Vokes, 22, from Manchester were killed when the avalanche swept through an off-piste section of the resort of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, near Mont Blanc, on 28 December. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Deputy political editor on (#6HGAG)
Some Conservatives say PM's reported meetings with Boris Johnson's former chief aide show lack of judgmentConservative MPs have expressed anger and alarm at the claim that Rishi Sunak offered Dominic Cummings a secret deal to help him win the election, with one saying Boris Johnson's former chief aide should have no place in political life".Other Tory MPs have commented in WhatsApp groups to express opposition to the idea, first revealed in the Sunday Times, with some saying it showed a lack of judgment by Sunak. Another likened it to letting an arsonist into your home". Continue reading...
Marvin Rees says best way to tackle issues such as decaying infrastructure and the climate emergency is at a city levelMarvin Rees, the outgoing mayor of Bristol, has called for more power to be put in the hands of city leaders to help tackle issues such as decaying infrastructure and the climate emergency.Rees, who is nearing the end of an eight-year stint, argued that the concentration of power in London was a UK disease" that was curbing progress across the country. Continue reading...
Capt Harpreet Chandi so glad' after covering 1,130km of Antarctic ice in 31 days, 13 hours and 19 minutesA British army medical officer says she has become the fastest woman to ski solo across Antarctica, having previously beaten two other Guinness World Records for Antarctic trekking.Capt Harpreet Chandi, nicknamed Polar Preet, claims to have secured her third world record by covering 1,130km (702 miles) of Antarctic ice in 31 days, 13 hours and 19 minutes. Continue reading...
Those affected decry disgusting' lack of communication, while others had to pay 1,000 to travel the next dayWhat promised to be a romantic New Year's Eve in Paris ended in tears and travel trauma for Sean Winterbottom and his partner, Amy. The couple were among about 30,000 passengers to have their Eurostar journey cancelled on Saturday because of a flooded tunnel under the Thames.We were going to go for a flash dinner and ... we had bookings, hotel reservations and everything," Sean said of the trip they had been looking forward to for months. Continue reading...
Joining court would allow investigation of Xi Jinping if he were to order act of war against TaiwanTaiwan's government is considering joining the international criminal court, in part to increase deterrence of a Chinese attack or invasion.Supporters also say it would help universalise the international legal system, which has a low presence in Asia, and increase Taiwan's global participation at a time when Beijing works to keep it as isolated as possible. Continue reading...
Kristy Holmes always knew she could use her electric car for good things', but when storms caused a blackout, it proved life-savingAn electric vehicle owner has used her car's emergency power system to run her 11-year-old son's lifesaving dialysis machine and another has ridden to the rescue of his neighbours after devastating storms cut power in south-east Queensland.When the power went down following storms and flash flooding on Christmas Day, many residents immediately felt the consequences: electric gates did not work, septic tanks began to fill, air conditioners could not run and fridges began to warm as a heatwave followed. Continue reading...
Cabinet papers from 2003 show there was no formal submission before decision was taken to join US-led coalition of the willing'Australia joined the US-led invasion of Iraq, one of the most contentious decisions of John Howard's prime ministership, without a formal cabinet submission setting out a full analysis of the risks.Cabinet papers published by the National Archives on Monday show the full cabinet signed off on the decision on 18 March 2003 based on oral reports by the prime minister". Continue reading...
Woman came forward to Prospect trade union after feeling allegations were not sufficiently dealt withA Ministry of Defence civil servant has told of being subjected to three separate incidents of sexual assault by male colleagues, after allegations emerged of a hostile" and toxic" culture at the department.The woman came forward to Prospect, the trade union, after feeling that her allegations were not sufficiently investigated and dealt with by the Ministry of Defence. Continue reading...
As the singer prepares to host the BBC's new year special, it caps a stellar 2023 for the star who launched a meme phenomenonSome may think: why is the BBC welcoming in 2024 with Mr 1987"? Though that suggests they missed the memo about the spectacular revival of Rick Astley. On Sunday night, 1980s pop star Astley will host BBC One's New Year's Eve show from the Roundhouse in Camden, north-west London, following in the footsteps of Sam Ryder and Years & Years, fronted by Olly Alexander.Stars come back. It's what they do. But few manage to do it in a way that makes them look infinitely cooler than before. As Astley, 57, continues to ride the Rickrolling phenomenon (more of which anon), his 2023 has been stellar. Continue reading...
From Sunday it is illegal to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of the dogs in England and WalesA judicial review hearing has been granted for campaigners seeking to overturn the UK government's ban on XL bully dogs, with owners of the animals now subject to tight restrictions as the legislation comes into force.From Sunday, it is illegal to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of XL bully dogs in England and Wales, and they must be muzzled and kept on a leash when in public, with animal rescue centres fearing they could be forced to euthanise hundreds of dogs. Continue reading...
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