Reforms come in wake of Bondi terror attack and will allow councils to cut off utilities if groups operate in breach of shutdown order

An outstanding critical voice, his deep knowledge and love of music was evident in everything he wroteThe Guardian's long-serving and much admired classical music critic Andrew Clements died on Sunday aged 75 after a period of illness.Clements joined the Guardian arts team in August 1993, succeeding Edward Greenfield as the paper's chief music critic. His appointment was clinched by a personal recommendation to the editor from the late Alfred Brendel, who argued for Clements to get the job on account of his deep understanding of contemporary music. For the next 32 years, Clements ranged across all fields of classical music in his writing for the Guardian, and often beyond. Continue reading...

Rubina Aminian, 23, struck by bullet from behind after joining Tehran protest from college, says human rights group

Tech giant says ongoing compliance will be a multi-layered process' as UK Labour faces pressure to bring in similar ban for teenagers

Resignations follow withdrawal of more than 70 participants in writers' week after Palestinian Australian author disinvited

Demonstrators recount experiences on the frontlines as protest movement rapidly moves beyond government's control

Observers say if US gets response wrong to Tehran's repression it could end up entrenching regime's position

Crash on Wigan Road in the early hours of Sunday kills drivers of both vehicles as well as two passengersThree teenagers and a man in his 50s have died in a collision between a car and a taxi in Bolton, Greater Manchester, police said.Five injured passengers were also taken to hospital for treatment after the crash on Wigan Road, which took place at about 12.45am on Sunday. Continue reading...

Tehran issues warning after Donald Trump says US stands ready to help amid crackdown on demonstrations

Former UK ambassador tries to distance himself from financier and says he knew nothing of his sex lifePeter Mandelson has declined to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein's victims for staying friends with the convicted child sex offender, and suggested that as a gay man he knew nothing of the financier's sex life.The Labour peer, who was sacked as US ambassador when details of his support for Epstein emerged in September, gave an interview to the BBC on Sunday, saying he had paid a calamitous" price for his association with the evil monster". Continue reading...

Skilled workers at Leonardo Helicopters fear it will close Yeovil site if Ministry of Defence delays awarding contractThe UK's last military helicopter factory must land a long-awaited order from the Ministry of Defence within the coming weeks to secure about 3,000 manufacturing jobs, industry sources suggest.Skilled workers at Leonardo Helicopters - the Italian owner of the former Westland factory in Yeovil, Somerset - fear the company will follow through on threats to close the facility at the end of March, if the UK military fails to place an order for new helicopters by that time. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and WalesThe backlog of nearly 80,000 trials clogging up the court system could be cleared within a decade if parliament agrees to slash the number of jury trials, David Lammy, the lord chancellor, has claimed.In an interview with the Guardian, the deputy prime minister, who is facing a backbench rebellion over the proposals, has urged Labour MPs and the public to back a version of Canada's judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales. Continue reading...

No more Venezuelan oil or money will flow to the communist-run island after Maduro's fall, says US presidentDonald Trump has told Cuba to make a deal" or face unspecified consequences, adding that no more Venezuelan oil or money would flow to the communist-run Caribbean island that has been a US foe for decades.As Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela and major beneficiary of its oil, braced for potential widespread unrest after Nicolas Maduro was deposed as the South American nation's leader, the US president ramped up his threatening language on Sunday. Continue reading...

Boy born in Bow would go on to play the devoted father and taxi driver in the BBC One soap between 2000 and 2011Derek Martin, who starred as Charlie Slater in EastEnders, has died aged 92.Martin played the devoted father and taxi driver on the BBC One soap between 2000 and 2011, and continued making guest appearances until his departure in 2016. Continue reading...

Campaign groups argue online transactions present real risks to our democracy' as it is hard to trace their true sourceDowning Street has been urged to ban political donations in cryptocurrency by seven senior Labour MPs who chair parliamentary committees.The committee chairs - Liam Byrne, Emily Thornberry, Tan Dhesi, Florence Eshalomi, Andy Slaughter, Chi Onwurah and Matt Western - called on the government to introduce a full ban in the forthcoming elections bill amid concern that cryptocurrency could be used by foreign states to influence politics. Continue reading...

In first TV interview since he was sacked as UK ambassador to US, Mandelson says association with Epstein was terrible mistake' but adds: I was not culpable'Laura Kuenssberg asks Peter Mandelson if he liked Donald Trump when he was the UK ambassador to Washington.Mandelson says he did like Trump, listing off numerous reasons why, but said he did not like all of his language".I like him, yes, I liked his humour, his graciousness...I liked his directness. You knew exactly what he was thinking and where you stood and what he wanted. And how he was proposing to engage, with you. Did I like in all his language? No, I didn't, did I? Did he make me gasp?What's going to happen is there's going to be, another discussion, a lot of consultation and a lot of negotiation.At the end of the day, we are all going to have to wake up to the reality that the Arctic needs securing against China and Russia. Continue reading...

Survey by online health directory Cleanbill finds more than 1,000 clinics switched from private or mixed billing to full bulk billing since start of 2025

Early Rain pastor said to be among those held in sweep that followed arrests of members of other unregistered churchesLeaders of a prominent underground church have been detained in south-west China, according to a church statement, the latest blow in what appears to be a sweeping crackdown on unregistered Christian groups in the country.On Tuesday, Li Yingqiang, the leader of the Early Rain Covenant Church, was taken by police from his home in Deyang, a small city in Sichuan province, according to the statement. Li's wife, Zhang Xinyue, has also been detained, along with two other church members: Dai Zhichao, a pastor; and Ye Fenghua, a lay member. At least a further four members were taken and later released, while some others remain out of contact. Continue reading...

Organisers clarify award cannot be revoked, shared or transferred' after Venezuelan opposition leader's commentsThe organisers of the Nobel peace prize have said it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred" after Venezuela's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, said she wanted to give her award to Donald Trump.When Machado was named Nobel laureate in October, it was seen as a snub by the White House, despite Machado rushing to dedicate the prize to the US president and his decisive support of our cause". Continue reading...

Children aged two with highest screen use can say significantly fewer words, UK government research findsExcessive screen time is damaging toddlers' ability to speak, the UK government has warned as it prepares to issue advice to parents for the first time on how to manage screen use in under-fives.Research has found that children aged two with the highest screen use - about five hours a day - could say significantly fewer words than those with screen use of about 44 minutes a day. Continue reading...

Heidi Alexander calls for end to violence while Tory leader says she would not have an issue' with regime changeThe UK wants to see a peaceful transition of power in Iran, a cabinet minister has said, after Donald Trump said he could support protesters with military force.As the US weighs the option of military strikes, Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said she would not be drawn on America's foreign policy towards Iran, where protests have been met with a violent police response. Continue reading...

Thousands of people thought they paid the Dart Charge, but only realised when they got a penalty charge noticeYou have had a long car journey but, thankfully, remember after you get home that you have to pay the Dart Charge, the toll for driving over the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, part of the busy Dartford Crossing over the Thames linking Essex and Kent. You quickly pay on your phone after searching for the website.A few weeks later, however, a penalty charge notice (PCN) arrives and you realise you have been duped. The site you thought you had paid the 3.50 toll through was a fraud and the money went to criminals, while you are left with a 70 fine. Continue reading...

An investigation into violence and sexual harm committed by patients shows how widespread the problem isA Guardian investigation into violence and sexual harm by patients against NHS staff has revealed tens of thousands of alleged incidents reported over the past three years. Here is what we know from the findings. Continue reading...

UN and many western countries as well as human rights groups say that in the absence of a meaningful opposition the election is neither free, fair nor credibleVoters in war-torn Myanmar queued up on Sunday to cast their ballots in the second stage of a military-run election, following low turnout in the initial round of polls that have been widely criticised as a tool to formalise junta rule.Myanmar has been ravaged by conflict since the military ousted a civilian government in a 2021 coup and detained its leader, Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking a civil war that has engulfed large parts of the impoverished nation of 51 million people. Continue reading...

In Philadelphia, protesters demanded ICE leave US communities and Trump end warmongering in VenezuelaOn a rainy Saturday in Philadelphia, two separate protests, both with a few hundred people, marched from city hall to the federal detention center. They differed slightly in solutions as well as crowd makeup - white older adults dominated the morning's march organized by the groups behind the No Kings protests, while a more racially diverse crowd swathed in keffiyehs and N95 face masks led the afternoon's, planned by the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. However, both groups shared a goal: for ICE to get out of American communities and to put an end to Donald Trump's warmongering in Venezuela.From Venezuela to Minneapolis, all we're seeing is a regime that is scrambling, willing to kill its own citizens, willing to kill foreign citizens, to maintain its power," said Deborah Rose Hinchey, co-chair of the city's Democratic Socialists of America chapter. Continue reading...

Award-winning screenwriter tells Desert Island Discs that success has not silenced self-doubtThe award-winning screenwriter Jesse Armstrong has said a writers' room can feel like walking on the moon" when it is working well, but has admitted to experiencing impostor syndrome during his career.Armstrong was behind the hit HBO drama Succession, starring Brian Cox as the global media tycoon and family patriarch Logan Roy, who sets off a power struggle among his four children. Continue reading...

NASUWT says evidence growing that unregulated access affects behaviour in school and harms mental healthOne of the UK's biggest teaching unions has called on the government to ban social media for under-16s over concerns about mental health and concentration.The Teachers' Union (NASUWT) wants legislation to be tightened so big tech firms would face penalties for allowing children to access their platforms. Continue reading...

Military says it targeted the jihadist group throughout Syria in response to attack on US and Syrian troops in PalmyraUS and allied forces carried out large-scale" strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria on Saturday, the US military said, in the latest response to an attack last month that left three Americans dead.Washington said a lone gunman from the militant group carried out the 13 December attack in Palmyra, which killed two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter. The area is home to Unesco-listed ancient ruins and was once controlled by jihadist fighters. Continue reading...

Telco Services Australia generated more than $185m in revenue in 2024-25 and $130m the year before but paid zero tax

Demonstrator seen putting up pre-Islamic revolution lion and sun flag in support of rallies challenging Tehran regimeA protester has climbed on to the balcony of the Iranian embassy in central London and pulled down the country's flag during an anti-regime demonstration.

Demonstration follows similar actions in Poland, France and Belgium as EU states approve accordThousands of Irish farmers are protesting against the EU's trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur, a day after EU states approved the treaty despite opposition from Ireland and France.Tractors streamed into the roads of Athlone, in central Ireland, for the demonstration, displaying signs bearing the slogan Stop EU-Mercosur" and the EU flag emblazoned with the words sell out". Continue reading...

ICE already receives less oversight for use-of-force incidents than local police departments, and hotly guards its policiesThe fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis has cast a spotlight on ICE's use-of-force policies, and whether the federal agent who shot her will face an impartial investigation or consequences for his actions.The agency already receives less oversight for use-of-force incidents than local police departments, and has long resisted efforts to disclose its use-of-force policies. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Possible revision of guidance for prosecutors in England and Wales comes amid safety concerns from courtsCircumcision is to be classed as a potential form of child abuse under new guidance for prosecutors, amid concerns from judges and coroners about deaths and serious harms caused by the procedure.A draft document by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on honour-based abuse, forced marriages, and harmful practices", classes circumcision as a potential crime alongside breast flattening, virginity testing, hymenoplasty and exorcisms. Continue reading...

Utility admits parent company paid CEO Ruth Jefferson and CFO Andy Pymer but denies bonus paymentsThe bosses of Wessex Water received 50,000 in previously undisclosed extra pay from a parent company, in the same year that the utility was banned from paying bonuses, the Guardian can reveal.Chief executive Ruth Jefferson and chief financial officer Andy Pymer were paid 24,000 and 27,000 respectively in the year to June 2025, according to a spokesperson for Wessex Water's owner, the Malaysian YTL group. Continue reading...

Fires may continue for weeks', authorities warn, as three missing people found safe

Four out of five councils controlled by party have proposed 5% council tax rises, the maximum permitted by lawNigel Farage's Reform UK has been accused of betraying election promises to cut council tax after several councils it controls said they planned to increase rates close to the maximum allowed.They include Kent county council - the party's flagship local authority and one viewed by it as the shop window" for what a Reform-led government would look like - which has proposed an increase of 3.99%. Continue reading...

Road, rail and air travel disrupted as Storm Goretti brings wind, rain and snow to the UK and parts of Europe

Pre-dawn assault on the Olina oil tanker was carried out by US marines and navy sailors in the Caribbean near Trinidad

Chris Parry, who is contending for the Hampshire and Solent mayoralty, says his post was intended ironically'Downing Street has defended its decision to single out pubs for special help with the problems created by rising business rate costs.At the No 10 lobby briefing this morning, the PM's spokesperson confirmed that a package of measures to help pubs will be unveiled in the coming days. But he did not give any further details.We recognise that pubs are at the heart of our communities. We want them to thrive. We recognise that since the pandemic they've faced tough conditions and that isn't about one issue.Most business properties will benefit from the 4.3bn of support over the next three years, increases are capped at 15%, and just 800 for smallest properties. And that is ahead of permanently lowering rates for retail, hospitality, leisure from April.There are always technical bugs during the early phases of new technology, especially AI, and those issues are typically addressed quickly. X treats these matters seriously and acts promptly. Let's be clear: this is not about technical compliance. This is a political war against @elonmusk and free speech-nothing more. Continue reading...

From talent shows to the big screen, the actor's performance in Hamnet has made her a leading awards contenderHamnet, Chloe Zhao's film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling novel about William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes (or Anne) Hathaway, is a tender meditation on love and grief. Charting the couple's anguish over the death of their 11-year-old son - said to have inspired the play Hamlet - it has moved audiences to tears and united critics in their praise.The film's emotional force is carried by the Irish actor and singer Jessie Buckley, who portrays Hathaway (opposite Paul Mescal's Shakespeare) with a rawness and intimacy that has already earned her a Critics' Circle award for best actress, and marked her out as a leading contender for the Golden Globes, Baftas and Oscars. The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw called her unselfconsciously beguiling", while Rolling Stone predicted audiences will be talking about Jessie Buckley's performance for years". Continue reading...

PC Matthew Pike is on trial charged with causing death of Dr Keryl Johnson by dangerous driving in 2021 incidentA police officer charged with causing death by dangerous driving reached speeds of up to 93mph (150km/h) through a city centre shortly before a fatal crash, a court has heard.Matthew Pike, 40, was following a white Volkswagen Tiguan driven by Lewis Griffin through Bristol city centre shortly before midnight on 4 November 2021. Continue reading...

Exclusive: party says Nigel Farage and colleagues receiving tainted money' for their posts on Elon Musk's platformThe Liberal Democrats have urged Reform UK MPs who receive payment from X for their posts to donate the money to charities working to combat sexual exploitation, after the site was flooded with AI-generated sexualised images of women and children.The party's spokesperson for science, innovation and technology, Victoria Collins, said Nigel Farage and other MPs paid by the Elon Musk-owned site were receiving tainted money". Continue reading...

Labour party chair says government having conversations about use of platform in light of sexualised Grok images

Emergency rescuers step in as intense rain results in landslips, power cuts and communities left isolatedKosovo has seen prolonged, intense rainfall this week leading to widespread flooding. Cities, towns and villages were inundated as rivers overflowed their banks. Communities were cut off and emergency services rescued people trapped in their homes. People lost their water supply as well as electricity in the Drenas, Malisheva and Rahovec municipalities after flood water entered electrical substations.Personal weather stations across the south-west of the country recorded more than 50mm within 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some local stations recording about 80mm in the municipality of Malisheva. This followed previously heavy rainfall from Saturday to Monday, during which official weather stations at Junik and Gllogjan in the west of the country recorded 231.5mm and 151.6mm of rain respectively within two days. A further 130mm fell in the region of Junik on Tuesday, exacerbating the flooding with landslips. Continue reading...

Big names from Leonardo DiCaprio to Timothee Chalamet are aiming for a win at Hollywood's most important Oscars precursorHollywood's A-list will assemble this weekend for the 83rd Golden Globes ceremony, a night that will reveal where this year's Oscars race is headed.Stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothee Chalamet, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Michael B Jordan and Ariana Grande are among those nominated for film awards while small screen nominees include Helen Mirren, Jenna Ortega, Jude Law and Glen Powell. Continue reading...

Online competition and weak consumer confidence behind fall, although sales at group's supermarkets rose

Helen Garner and Miles Franklin winner Michelle de Kretser among 47 people who have pulled out of annual writers' festival to protest Abdel-Fattah's axing

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In today's newsletter: In just one year, this administration has lurched from one bewildering decision to another. Will things go back to normal after Trump's term, or are we seeing a broader erosion of western democratic norms?Good morning. Paramilitary-style troops deployed on the streets of major cities fatally shooting citizens; vessels seized in international waters; a foreign head of state captured; cherished cultural institutions dismantled; a judiciary installed and seemingly in thrall to the regime; and the mooted breaching of presidential term limits. It sounds like the background to a spy thriller about a rogue state.Yet some argue that the Trump administration in the US has done all of these things - and more - in the space of just a year in office. The question is whether these developments are merely episodic flashes of the chaos we have come to associate with Donald Trump, or signs of a deeper, longer-term transformation in the character of American power.UK politics | Thirty-four school contemporaries of Nigel Farage have now come forward to claim they saw him behave in a racist or antisemitic manner, raising fresh questions over the Reform leader's evolving denials.Minneapolis | The FBI has taken full control of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency officer in Minneapolis.Health | Scientists say they have rejuvenated" human eggs for the first time in an advance that they predict could revolutionise IVF success rates for older women.Venezuela | The US is receiving full cooperation from Venezuela's regime and will control the country and its vast oil reserves for years, Donald Trump has claimed.Greenland | Peter Mandelson has accused European leaders including Keir Starmer of a histrionic" reaction to Donald Trump's plan to take over Greenland, arguing that without hard power and hard cash" they will continue to slide into unimportance in the age of Trump". Continue reading...

For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigence