Russian missile attacks in Dnipro kill at least 14; UK pledges to send Ukraine tanks to ‘push Russian troops back’; power outages across Ukraine

The first proper World Economic Forum for three years will take place against a humbling backdrop of crisis and conflictThe war in Ukraine. A rapidly slowing economy, fragmentation and de-globalisation. The rising cost of living. Climate change. There is plenty for the global great and good to get their teeth into this week as Davos resumes after a three-year hiatus.Strictly speaking, it not the first gathering of world leaders, businesspeople, academics and civil society since the start of the pandemic, but last May’s World Economic Forum event was a slimmed-down and not especially well-attended affair. As a dry run it was fine, but a real Davos traditionally happens in January, when the snow is thick on the ground in the Swiss village 1,500 metres up in the Alps. In the past, the mood at Davos has oscillated between extreme optimism and unbridled gloom, depending on the state of the world economy. This year it looks certain to be the latter. As Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chair of the WEF put it last week, “economic, environmental, social and geopolitical crises are converging and conflating”. The aim of this year’s Davos, he added, was to get rid of the “crisis mindset”. Continue reading...

Plane was unable to change course within seconds, investigation finds, leading to 25 people injuredA cloud shot up vertically like a plume of smoke in a matter of seconds before a Hawaiian Airlines flight last month hit severe turbulence and 25 people on board were injured, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board.The captain of the 18 December flight from Phoenix to Honolulu told investigators that flight conditions had been smooth with clear skies when the cloud shot up in front of the plane and there was no time to change course, the report said. Continue reading...

RCN says if progress not made on pay negotiations, action in February will include all eligible members in EnglandDouble the number of nurses will be asked to strike in early February in a bid to increase pressure on the government, union leaders have warned.The Royal College of Nursing has said that if progress is not made in negotiations by the end of January, the next set of strikes will include all eligible members in England for the first time. Continue reading...

Another child and four women also injured in incident close to Euston following joint service for a mother and daughterA seven-year-old girl is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a suspected driveby shooting outside a memorial service in north London, the Metropolitan police have said.A second child, a 12-year-old girl, was taken to hospital with a minor leg injury but has now been discharged. Continue reading...

Public support for industrial action by health workers remains strong in the face of government claims it is putting lives at riskA majority of voters continue to support striking nurses and ambulance workers, despite government claims that they are putting the public at risk, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.Labour has also increased its lead over the Tories by 1 percentage point, to 16 points, after the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and other cabinet ministers tried to make political capital by accusing Keir Starmer and his party of being in the pockets of the unions at a time of industrial unrest, the survey shows. Continue reading...

State government is failing to deliver harm reduction programs needed to eliminate the virus, advocates say

Victorian MPs are adamant the premier’s views are based on principle, not political instincts

Culturally insulting language used by Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly will increase tension between the two countriesBritain’s relationship with Iran has a fraught, unedifying history, dating back to the 18th-century imperial tussle between England, Napoleonic France, and tsarist Russia for control of Persia. Iranians have long memories. To this day, they blame the UK for many of their woes.Britain invaded in 1941 to limit Nazi influence and protect the Anglo-Persian company’s oilfields. In 1953 it intervened again, mounting a coup, with US help, to overthrow a democratically elected government and bolster the rule of the autocratic, pro-western shah. Continue reading...

Opposition MPs call for government rethink on ‘reckless’ plans to rewrite almost 4,000 European regulationsCivil servants are estimated to be spending tens of millions of pounds establishing which laws and regulations could be scrapped under the government’s controversial retained EU laws bill.The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) last week admitted it spent £600,000 on staffing costs alone in just two months as part of its review of the bill. Continue reading...

Romania’s crime agency searched properties as part of investigations into human trafficking charges against the social media influencerRomanian authorities have confiscated several luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce, a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz from Andrew Tate’s property in Bucharest.The luxury vehicles were taken from the compound of the former kickboxer, influencer and self-professed misogynist on Saturday and transported to a storage facility, according to Reuters. Continue reading...

Flooding likely in Wales and many areas of England, with severe cold to follow in some areas late on SundayFlood warnings have been issued across parts of the UK as heavy rain and blustery winds bring a weekend washout for many.The Met Office had 98 flood warnings and 169 alerts in place in England on Saturday, adding people should expect “an unsettled day ahead” as rain pushed eastwards. Continue reading...

Ratification will have to wait at least until after elections in May or June, says senior officialTurkey is unlikely to vote on Sweden and Finland’s accession to Nato before pivotal domestic elections expected in May or June this year, according to a senior Turkish official.“We are not in a rush here, they are in a rush to join Nato,” İbrahim Kalın, chief adviser to Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, told journalists. Continue reading...

In letter to Rishi Sunak, GMB union members say they feel ‘utterly betrayed’ by attempts to portray them as ‘uncaring about safety’A group of ambulance workers has sent a furious letter to the prime minister saying they feel “utterly betrayed” by the government’s attempts to paint them as “uncaring about safety standards”.Steve Rice, the head of the GMB union’s ambulance committee, sent Rishi Sunak a letter on behalf of ambulance workers protesting against the government’s plans to introduce anti-strikes legislation.PA Media contributed to this report Continue reading...

Prosecutor general punished as smuggled recording released of Akbari saying he was subjected to ‘3,500 hours of torture’

The London venue had its licence suspended after the surge, during a show by Asake, left two people deadBrixton O2 Academy is to remain shut for a further three months after a crush that left two people dead.A gig at the London venue by the Afrobeats singer Asake on 15 December was cut short after overcrowding in the foyer caused a surge. Continue reading...

Armour will allow Ukraine to mount a spring offensive – but it will also need support vehicles, and most Nato countries have a bare minimum of them. It’s time to investThe prospect of several countries providing Ukraine with Nato-designed main battle tanks offers a pathway towards renewed momentum in Kyiv’s bid to reclaim its territory from Russian occupation. The next six months will probably be critical to this effort. Enabling Ukraine to operate these vehicles, however, will require more than just the tanks to be delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces.The Russian military has been engaged in a sustained assault on the town of Bakhmut for months to little effect. The fields around the town are littered with the corpses of Russian soldiers, while the rate of fire from Russia’s artillery is declining as it faces shortages of spare barrels and some munitions. With much of Russia’s available forces committed, the spring offers the opportunity for Ukraine to go on the attack. Continue reading...

Former president shared a video questioning last year’s election result after his supporters stormed Brasília’s democratic institutionsBrazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro will be investigated as part of an inquiry into an alleged attempt to topple the country’s new government, the supreme court has announced.Thousands of radical followers of the far-right populist marauded through Brazil’s three most important democratic institutions last Sunday, apparently convinced by a tsunami of fake news that last October’s presidential election – which Bolsonaro lost – was rigged. Continue reading...

Ruling comes hours after UN called for charges to be dropped in ‘largest case of criminalisation of solidarity in Europe’A Greek appeals court has dropped espionage charges against 24 activists involved in rescuing people from migrant boats in the Mediterranean after recognising that the case was riddled with procedural errors.The three-member panel of judges upheld a prosecutor’s recommendation that the spying charges be dropped on the basis of being “overly vague”. The verdict was announced to the sound of applause in the courtroom. Continue reading...

Michael Lawrence accused of ignoring safety rules before crash that killed Emily Lewis, 15, on Southampton WaterA schoolgirl was killed in a speedboat crash after a “grossly negligent” skipper ignored safety rules and smashed into a large buoy at more than 40mph, a court heard.Michael Lawrence, who was highly experienced and qualified, is accused of taking risks by performing stunts before he ploughed into the metal buoy on Southampton Water, Hampshire, during what was meant to be a “high thrills” ride. Continue reading...

Ed Miliband accuses government of ‘dereliction of duty’ and demands extra support for householdsLabour has called for an immediate halt to the “shameful” forced installation of prepay gas and electricity meters, with the shadow climate change secretary, Ed Miliband, accusing the government of a “dereliction of duty” and demanding extra financial support for struggling households.The opposition wants a three-month moratorium on the installations – which are typically made when customers rack up debts with their energy supplier – and it has asked for an “urgent review of how energy vulnerability can be reduced”. Continue reading...

Court case revealed private life of Manchester City star, from his chat-up lines to profligate spendingBenjamin Mendy’s five-month trial lifted the lid on his private life off the pitch, offering unique “through the keyhole” access to his home and inner circle.The jury heard the defender’s chat-up lines: “I said to her, ‘Show me your bum.’ She showed me her bum and I said: ‘Do you want to have sex?’” They discovered he never used contraception, despite regularly sleeping with multiple women in the course of a night. They heard that Mendy and his friends sometimes had sex with the same women, albeit separately, on some nights. Continue reading...

Sportswear company claimed fashion label’s motif was too similar to its trademark three-stripe logoAdidas has lost a court case against the designer Thom Browne, after the sportswear company said the use of four stripes in his designs was too close to its trademark three-stripe logo.A jury in New York on Thursday rejected the accusation. If successful, Adidas had been asking for more than $8m (£6.55m), comprising $867,225 in potential licensing fees and more than $7m to represent the profit Adidas believes Browne made by using the stripes. Continue reading...

Leader of the Labour party made the comments during a speech on Brexit in Northern Ireland. This live blog is closedThe UK culture secretary, Michelle Donelan, has said she is “not ruling out” changing the online safety bill to allow regulators to prosecute social media bosses who are found not to have protected children’s safety.Donelan told the BBC she was open to making changes that have been demanded by dozens of Conservative MPs, saying she would take a “sensible approach” to their ideas.Obviously this is a very sensitive area and I know there were very robust debates and exchanges on it as the bill was passing in Scotland. What I’m concerned about is the impact of the bill across the United Kingdom.There may be impacts across the UK that we need to be aware of and understand the impact of them, and that’s what we’re doing, and once the government has received final advice it will set out next steps.This is not just a question about the GRR people’s individual views on it. This is about democracy.The Scottish parliament has voted in favour of legislation that sits within devolved competencies, and it’s incumbent upon Westminster to ensure that legislation is passed in full. Continue reading...

Prime minister flew to Scotland with RAF plane days after he flew by jet from London to Leeds

Unions representing staff in NHS, transport and beyond warn of disputes escalating unless ministers give ground on payThe end of 2022 was marked by mass industrial unrest as employees across the transport network, NHS, Royal Mail, schools and the civil service took strike action. The start of 2023 has brought further stoppages by rail workers, bus drivers, teachers in Scotland, nurses, ambulance workers and civil servants.Paul Nowak, the new general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, has warned of a “rolling wave” of strikes this year unless ministers give ground on pay, with unions taking coordinated action so that stoppages happen either on the same day or in quick succession. Continue reading...

Charities say 24/7 monitoring for people on bail from immigration detention risk ‘total surveillance’People facing deportation have been told they must scan their fingerprints several times a day using devices installed with GPS technology under plans from the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.Those required to carry one of the handheld devices will be subject to 24/7 location tracking, with information including an individual’s name, date of birth and nationality stored on the device and shared with the government, police and other authorities. Users will receive alerts throughout the day to submit their biometrics and are obliged to carry the device with them at all times. Continue reading...

EU sources say progress in protocol dispute is slow despite growing momentumThe UK government is to further delay calling an election in Northern Ireland to give Brexit talks a chance.Senior EU sources said “slow progress” was being made in talks between the UK and Brussels, dampening hopes of a breakthrough by the end of January on the protracted dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol. Continue reading...

Court moves to protect respondents from early reporting of allegations but media union criticises decision. This blog is now closed

Labour leader to urge PM to take on Eurosceptics in attempt to resolve Northern Ireland protocol issuesKeir Starmer is to challenge Rishi Sunak to stand up to the “Brexit purity cult” of Eurosceptics within the Conservative party to resolve the Northern Ireland protocol impasse.The Labour leader will use a speech in Belfast on Friday to encourage the prime minister to take on the once highly influential European Research Group (ERG) of backbench Tory MPs to find a fix for issues arising from Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements. Continue reading...

Cooking tips and takeaways are among the community offerings at a centre that will benefit from the Guardian and Observer charity appealMarianne Daly has turned to an ancient staple to help the women of west Belfast weather the cost of living crisis: lentils.At the Footprints Women’s Centre she teaches her students that the legume, one of humanity’s oldest sources of food, can bulk up curries, sauces and other dishes for a fraction of the price of meat. Continue reading...

While the court says rules are designed to protect respondents from early reporting of allegations, MEAA president says decision ‘goes against the concept of open court’

Presley was rushed to hospital on Thursday night after suffering a suspected cardiac arrestLisa Marie Presley, singer and the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, has died at the age of 54, after suddenly being hospitalised on Thursday.Her 77-year-old mother confirmed Presley’s death later on Thursday night. Continue reading...

Girl, first detained at 13, suffered ‘extremely traumatic’ restraining with handcuffs, leg shackles and spit hoods, court document claims

Welsh government wants new board members to make the national park feel more inclusive to everyoneThe image of the typical visitor to the UK’s great national parks – and of the board members who oversee them – is probably still white, middle-class and perhaps a little conventional.But the Welsh government has made clear its ambition to make Wales’s wildernesses feel more inclusive by swearing in new board members for the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority who will champion the black, Asian and minority-ethnic, LGBTQi+ and disability communities. Continue reading...

Almost 2,000 patients of surgeon told by health authorities they may need to have procedures repeated to ensure they do not have cancer after an investigation by regulators

Russian leader publicly berated Denis Manturov, eye-rolling and shuffling papers during the live call, as his war in Ukraine caused fresh problemsVladimir Putin has publicly scolded a senior minister and ally during a meeting broadcast on state television as sanctions from the stalling war in Ukraine caused fresh economic headaches for the Russian president.Speaking during a live video call with officials on Wednesday, the Russian leader appeared agitated and berated deputy prime minister Denis Manturov, who is also his trade and industry minister and responsible for overseeing Russia’s weapons and defence industry and supplies of equipment for troops. Putin criticised him for working too slowly on the country’s aircraft contracts, according to a transcript of the call later published by the Kremlin. Continue reading...

Former immigration department deputy believes government has ‘significantly underestimated’ net migration

Analysis: Someone in the NSW premier’s own corner seems determined that he should pay for his 21st birthday mistake

Bestselling author cancels plans for a colouring book based on her novel It Ends With Us, saying she ‘absolutely sees’ why fans were criticalBestselling author Colleen Hoover has apologised after she announced plans to publish a colouring book based on one of her bestselling novels about domestic violence.The US author of It Ends With Us announced The Official It Ends With Us Coloring Book on social media on Thursday. But after a furious backlash from readers, she apologised that same day, writing that she could “absolutely see” how the idea was “tone-deaf”. She said her publishers would not be proceeding with the book. Continue reading...

Connor Chapman has been remanded in custody and will appear in court on FridayPolice investigating the shooting of Elle Edwards in Wallasey on Christmas Eve have charged Connor Chapman, 22, with her murder.Chapman, of Houghton Road, Woodchurch, has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder and three counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life, and handling stolen goods, namely a Mercedes A-Class. Continue reading...

The decision by Cricket Australia, based on ‘unacceptable’ treatment of women and girls by the Taliban, has been labelled ‘pathetic’ by the Afghan Cricket Board

Outgoing MP David Elliott told premier ‘everyone had heard the rumour that someone was planning to use it against him’

Parliamentary report calls for more streamlined policymaking for the creative industries, in order to make the British music ecosystem more amenable to artistsA new parliamentary report has called for the UK government to streamline its policymaking in creative industries, in order to make the country’s music ecosystem more amenable to British musicians.The report was authored by a committee that scrutinises the spending, policies and administration of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and follows a 2021 report into music streaming and the state of the industry, which instigated an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into the power and role of streaming services. This report commends the government’s efforts to take action – such as commissioning an investigation from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the formation of technical stakeholder working groups – but says that further action is needed in order to support artists more effectively. Continue reading...

Cardinal’s scepticism provided cover for the likes of Tony Abbott, who were able to justify denialism by invoking religious beliefs

Analysis shows hospitals cannot meet demand or recommended timeframes for surgeries unless urgent reform is undertaken

Priscilla Presley said her and Elvis’s daughter was ‘receiving the best care’ and asked fans to keep the family in their prayersSinger Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, was rushed to hospital on Thursday, where her mother Priscilla said she was getting the “best care”.In a statement to People, Priscilla Presley, 77, said: “My beloved daughter Lisa Marie was rushed to the hospital. She is now receiving the best care. Please keep her and our family in your prayers. We feel the prayers from around the world and ask for privacy at this time,” she added. Continue reading...

A second woman was taken to hospital with dog bites, but her condition is not life-threateningA woman in her 20s has been killed after reportedly being attacked by a dog in Surrey.Officers were called to Gravelly Hill in Caterham at 2.45pm on Thursday to reports of a dog attacking members of the public. Continue reading...

Tech investor Christopher Harborne’s gift to former PM’s personal office is one of biggest ever recorded to individual UK politicianBoris Johnson has received a donation of £1m from a Thai-based British businessman who had previously given millions of pounds to Nigel Farage’s Brexit party, the newly released register of MPs’ interests has shown.Christopher Harborne, a tech industry investor who had previously donated to the Conservatives but gave the Brexit party £6m before the 2019 general election, handed the £1m donation to Johnson’s personal office, set up after he left No 10. Continue reading...

Alireza Akbari, who was sentenced to death for allegedly spying for MI6, gave reports on Iran’s nuclear programme, he tells TV interviewerAlireza Akbari, the British-Iranian dual national sentenced to death for allegedly spying for MI6, gave his British handlers reports on Iran’s nuclear programme and efforts to evade western economic sanctions, according to an edited TV confession aired by news agencies close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.In the video, which was aired on Thursday and appeared to be heavily edited, Akbari was also asked about the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was shot dead in in Tehran in 2020. Continue reading...