Automaker is restructuring in China after losing about $350m in the region in the first three quarters of this yearGeneral Motors told shareholders on Wednesday that it would write down the value of its China business by more than $5bn.The company's board of directors determined that the non-cash charges were necessary in light of the finalization of a new business forecast and certain restructuring actions" with the joint venture, according to a company filing. Continue reading...
Tory leader asks prime minister why he appointed Louise Haigh after fraud offenceBadenoch adds that the those on the benches are laughing but that Labour have no idea what the general public are dealing with as the government talks about increasing employers' national insurance. She describes the budget as catastrophic".Badenoch says Starmer can't even repeat the pledges that he made a few weeks ago. To increasing jeers she says the Conservatives are there to stop Starmer damaging the economy. Continue reading...
Prime minister refuses repeatedly to give more details on further information' relating to transport minister's resignationThe prime minister has again refused to give more details on the resignation of his transport secretary over a fraud offence before she became an MP.Keir Starmer refused repeatedly to elaborate on the further information" that came to light leading to Louise Haigh stepping down last week. Continue reading...
Statement comes as Ukrainian intelligence says Russia will send mercenaries to support flagging troops allied to DamascusMoscow has condemned external forces" seeking to escalate violence in Syria, despite reports from Ukrainian military intelligence that Russia is to send mercenaries to support flagging troops allied to Damascus.The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova blamed outside actors for instigating a recent sweeping insurgent offensive, after Islamist militants spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the city of Aleppo at the weekend in a shock advance. Continue reading...
Man, 69, held over allegations of fraud linked to campaign for officer killed at Libyan embassy protest in 1984A man has been arrested over allegations of fraud linked to the justice campaign over the 1984 murder of the police officer Yvonne Fletcher.PC Fletcher, 25, was shot while on duty outside the Libyan embassy in London during a protest but no one has ever been charged over her death. Continue reading...
Second adapted rainbow armband worn by skipper will not lead to formal action from Football AssociationThe Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will face no formal action from the Football Association despite wearing an adapted rainbow armband for the second time.The player and the club had been reminded of FA kit regulations after he wore an armband saying I love Jesus" in Saturday's match against Newcastle. Continue reading...
Temporary release is inadequate, activist's family and supporters say, urging her unconditional releaseIran has released the Nobel peace laureate Narges Mohammadi, jailed since November 2021, for three weeks on medical grounds, her lawyer posted on social media.Based on the advice of the examining doctor, the public prosecutor suspended the jail sentence against Narges Mohammadi for three weeks and she was released from prison," Mostafa Nili said on X. Continue reading...
Number of petrol cars on British roads rose to 18.7m this year, but decrease expected amid growth of EVsThe number of petrol cars on British roads has peaked this year but is set to tumble by more than 40% over the next decade, according to a report.Auto Trader's latest motoring forecast estimates there were 18.7m petrol-powered cars on the roads this year, but that this will steadily decrease from 2025 to 11.1m by 2034. Continue reading...
With high scores for friendly neighbours and access to services, Woodbridge in Suffolk has topped Rightmove's annual list for the first timeIt may not have the bright lights of London or Edinburgh, or even the celebrity or notoriety of some of the Great Britain's better known villages and towns.But in one respect, Woodbridge in Suffolk seems to trump them all: it is the happiest place to live in Britain. At least that is the conclusion of a survey by the property website Rightmove.Woodbridge, East of England, 441,569, 1,478Richmond upon Thames, London, 939,329, 3,131Hexham, North East, 313,147, 840Monmouth, Wales, 320,974, 1,335Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber, 394,312, 1,439Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber, 263,479, 1,030Sevenoaks, South East, 881,061, 2,924Leigh on Sea, East of England, 465,542, 1,796Cirencester, South West, 384,013, 1,495Wokingham, South East, 590,949, 2,120Winchester, South East, 578,760, 2,069Stirling, Scotland, 214,441, 1,227Stratford-upon-Avon, West Midlands, 413,115, 1,604Horsham, South East, 458,641, 1,983Kendal, North West, 285,645, 966Kensington and Chelsea, London, 1,667,573, 5,345Chorley, North West, 197,199, 883Hove, South East, 555,193, 1,993Wandsworth, London, 865,205, 3,159Hitchin, East of England, 510,612, 1,730 Continue reading...
Heidi Alexander refuses to confirm cost of setting up Great British Railways but insists it is lower than fees paid to train operatorsThe renationalising of train companies will not necessarily bring cheaper rail fares but should reduce cancellations and late trains, the UK transport secretary has suggested.South Western Railway is to become the first train operator nationalised under the Labour government, ministers announced on Wednesday. Greater Anglia and C2C will also be brought into public ownership next year. Continue reading...
Hedge fund with 197m stake leads push to prioritise Sydney exchange as FTSE 100 firm outlines ambitious copper production targetsAn activist investor in Rio Tinto has demanded the miner scrap its primary London listing and focus on Australia, as the FTSE 100 firm outlined its long-term investment strategy.Palliser Capital called on the metals and minerals firm to drop its outdated" dual listing structure across the London and Sydney financial markets. Continue reading...
England maintained good maths scores and improved in science, coming ninth and fifth among 70 countriesEnglish pupils have made a strong showing in the latest round of prestigious international tests, maintaining their scores in maths and improving in science, a subject in which they rose to fifth in the league tables.They were among students from 70 countries who participated in the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss), which takes place every four years, providing education policymakers with international comparisons. Continue reading...
by Ed Gargan, Pablo Gutiérrez and Ashley Kirk. Desig on (#6SPBC)
November was Ukraine's worst month since September 2022 for territory lost to Russian forces. These charts and maps show the latest developments in the warUkraine lost an area equivalent to the size of New York City to Russian forces in November - the worst monthly figure for Ukrainian defenders since September 2022.After the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia gained ground quickly before being pushed back in a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Last year, with the conflict mostly at a stalemate, Institute for the Study of War (ISW) data shows that Russian forces took 2,233 sq km (862 sq miles) of territory. Already in 2024 they have taken about 2,656 sq km. Continue reading...
Syria's second largest city braces for possibility of president Bashar al-Assad revisiting brutal tactics used in civil warA billboard of the Syrian president that once overlooked a central square in Aleppo has been burned almost beyond recognition, but the influence of Bashar al-Assad is still felt in the now rebel-held city as residents live in fear of bombardment by his regime.The biggest fear, one shared by all the people of Aleppo right now, is the airstrikes," said Mahmoud, a 50-year-old man who declined to share his family name, concerned that Assad could regain control of the city and punish accused critics as he did eight years ago. Continue reading...
Semiconductor restrictions on China announced by Washington a day earlier prompt retaliation involving critical minerals including gallium and germaniumThe Chinese government has said it will ban exports to the US of some key components in making semiconductors, escalating trade tensions a day after Washington announced curbs targeting China's ability to make advanced chips.Among the materials banned from export were the metals gallium, antimony and germanium, China's commerce ministry said in a statement that cited national security" concerns. Continue reading...
by Kate Lamb (now) , Virginia Harrison, Fran Lawther, on (#6SNS4)
This blog is closed - you can follow live coverage on our new liveblogThe White House has said it is closely" monitoring the situation in South Korea.The administration is in contact with the ROK government and is monitoring the situation closely," a spokesperson for the national security council said, using the official acronym for the Republic of Korea, where thousands of US troops are based as parts of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.All political activities are banned in South Korea following the imposition of martial law on Tuesday and all media will be subject to government monitoring.All political activities, including those of the national assembly, local councils, political parties, and political associations, as well as assemblies and demonstrations, are strictly prohibited. Continue reading...
by Eva Corlett in Wellington with agencies on (#6SP5Q)
Several climbing-related items which police believe belonged to the trio found, as bad weather will likely delay search efforts until ThursdayRescue teams looking for three climbers who went missing on New Zealand's highest mountain have expressed grave concerns" over the party's welfare in the rugged terrain, as bad weather hampers search efforts for the second day in a row.US nationals Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, and a Canadian man flew by helicopter on Saturday to a camp on Aoraki Mount Cook with plans to summit the 3,724 metre (12,218 ft) mountain. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6SP70)
As part of a comprehensive programme of renationalisation, the service will come under public ownership in MaySouth Western Railway will be the first train operator nationalised under the Labour government, ministers have announced.One of the UK's biggest commuter services, which operates out of London Waterloo, it will be taken into public hands in May. Continue reading...
Sean Casten brings resolution calling for disclosure of draft report into Trump's original attorney general pickCongressman Sean Casten introduced a privileged resolution on Tuesday demanding the House ethics committee release its investigative report on former representative Matt Gaetz, even after Gaetz withdrew from consideration after being nominated to be Donald Trump's attorney general, amid sexual scandal.The Illinois Democrat's resolution calls for immediate public disclosure of the committee's draft report, including conclusions, recommendations, and supporting materials, with provisions to protect sensitive information and witness identities. Continue reading...
Van belonging to popular indie group ransacked by thief waving gun outside Starbucks in VallejoThe British band Sports Team was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday while on the US leg of their tour outside San Francisco, the group reports.According to a statement provided by the six-member group, a thief stole stage equipment, laptops, passports, personal items and other valuables while the band stopped for breakfast at a Starbucks in Vallejo, California, at 8.45am local time. In the store, a passerby alerted the band that someone was ransacking their tour van. When band members attempted to intervene, the perpetrator brandished a gun. Continue reading...
People will be allowed to use expired identity documents amid real fear' of another Windrush-style scandalPassengers will be allowed to use expired identity documents to travel to the UK because of flaws in the eVisa system, a minister has told the Guardian.Seema Malhotra, the migration and citizenship minister, said the government had postponed a planned full shift to the new digital immigration system amid real fear" of another Windrush-style scandal among minority communities. Continue reading...
by Donna Ferguson (now); Yohannes Lowe and Geneva Abd on (#6SNKK)
Minority government of prime minister faces near-certain defeat in a no-confidence vote that could spark crisisThe Libertes, independants, outre-mer et territoires (Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories, Liot) group, which has about two dozen elected members, will not vote for Wednesday's censure motion (i.e. the no confidence motion over the budget).At this stage, none of the Liot MPs intend to vote for censure tomorrow," Harold Huwart, the MP for Eure-et-Loir and spokesperson for the parliamentary group, was quoted as saying:First of all, because the country is in a difficult moment, censorship is an act whose final consequences no one can measure. Voting for censorship is particularly irresponsible.None of the deputies (of Liot) want to be associated with an act of destabilisation plotted by extremes who come together in a desperate attempt.Let's be clear: a motion of censure is not a coalition or a political agreement, it is nothing other than the expression of a disavowal of the policy and budgetary choices proposed by the Government. Continue reading...
Change in festive schedule comes after Wallace stepped away from hosting cookery show amid allegations about his behaviourThe BBC has pulled two MasterChef celebrity specials from its Christmas schedule as new allegations emerged against Gregg Wallace.Wallace stepped away from presenting the show last week after being accused of highly inappropriate" sexualised comments and behaviour. Multiple people who worked with him on different shows over a 17-year-period have made allegations against him. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Move would be last-ditch attempt to save thousands of UK jobs amid standoff with company's Chinese ownersMinisters are considering renationalising British Steel in a last-ditch attempt to save thousands of jobs, amid a standoff between the government and the company's Chinese owners over a 1bn investment.Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, is locked in talks with British Steel and its owner, Jingye, to agree how much each party should put into a rescue plan for its main Scunthorpe site. Continue reading...
by Rachel Savage Southern Africa correspondent and ag on (#6SNN8)
US president remembers stolen men and women and children brought to our shores' and lauds American investment in countryJoe Biden addressed America's history of enslavement in a speech on Tuesday at Angola's National Museum of Slavery, calling it our nation's original sin" during a trip in which he also lauded recent US investment in the region.We remember the stolen men and women and children who were brought to our shores in chains, subjected to unimaginable cruelty," Biden said, as the sun set over the water behind him. Continue reading...
Bob Lambert accused of failing to consider wellbeing of woman he deceived into sexual relationshipAn undercover police officer has been accused of behaving recklessly" when he fathered a son with a woman from whom he had concealed his real identity, a public inquiry has heard.Bob Lambert was accused of failing to give any consideration to the wellbeing of the woman, known as Jacqui, whom he had deceived into an intimate relationship. Continue reading...
Retailer removes 5 hats from website after mangling Welsh spelling of country, Cymru as Cyrmu'There are undoubtedly some Welsh names that can be difficult for someone who does not speak the language to negotiate, but the country itself - Cymru - is surely not too tricky.So there has been a degree of frustration in Wales that the retailer Sports Direct has managed to mangle it as Cyrmu" on a range of bobble hats. Continue reading...
MPs vote to give leave to bring in private members' bill on PR but it will have no practical effectLord Robertson, the former Labour defence secretary and former Nato secretary who is leading the government's strategic defence review, is giving evidence to the Commons defence committee. He has told MPs that the Americans are being fully consulted about the review. This is from Shashank Joshi, the Economist's defence editor.Listening to George Robertson & Richard Barrons, who are writing the UK's defence review alongside Fiona Hill, giving evidence to the Commons defence committee. They're in constant contact" with allies, Robertson says, and have a US officer on the review team. Continue reading...
by Sandra Laville Environment correspondent on (#6SNVY)
Companies say higher returns are needed to ensure record infrastructure investment across industry is deliveredWater companies want to see higher returns for shareholders to ensure record investment into sewage infrastructure, pipes and treatment plants is delivered.As Ofwat, the water regulator for England and Wales, prepares to announce its decision on how much customer bills will be allowed to rise by to fund tens of billions of pounds in investment across the industry, water companies said higher returns were needed. Continue reading...
State can enforce law against those who harbor or transport a minor across state lines without parental consentIdaho can enforce a first-of-its-kind abortion trafficking" law against those who harbor or transport a minor to get an abortion out of state without parental consent, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday.But the San Francisco-based 9th US circuit court of appeals in its ruling blocked a part of the law that prohibits recruiting" a minor to get an abortion. Continue reading...
Gregor Formanek is charged with aiding and abetting 3,322 murders at the Sachsenhausen concentration campGerman authorities are pressing for a 100-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard to face trial almost 80 years after the end of the second world war.The higher regional court in Frankfurt said on Tuesday it had overturned a decision by a lower court under which the suspect had been deemed unfit to stand trial. Continue reading...
Migrants waiting in Tapachula by Guatemala border fear Trump's election could worsen crisis and spur northward flightOutside the migration office, Tito subtly pointed out the watchful human smugglers leaning against a wall.They had already tried to sell their services to Tito, who was on his way to the US but, like everyone else there, found himself stuck in Tapachula, a town in southern Mexico which has become a global way station. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#6SNKS)
Paul Thwaite says government's exit from its stake in bank could come in first half of 2025 and will be a great moment'The chief executive of NatWest has said the bailed-out bank is on a fast trajectory to private ownership", with the government likely to fully exit its stake within the first half of 2025.Paul Thwaite said it would be a symbolic moment for NatWest Group staff and the wider banking sector, allowing the industry to close another chapter of the fallout from the 2008 banking crash. Continue reading...
Sykes says she informally complained about MasterChef host, as Vanessa Feltz claims he told people in lift of sex actMelanie Sykes has revealed she made an informal complaint about Gregg Wallace, saying that having to work with him on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 was the reason why she quit TV.On Monday night the BBC rejected calls to pull the cookery show from its scheduled slot, on a day Wallace apologised for dismissing his accusers as middle-class women of a certain age". Continue reading...
by Rebecca Ratcliffe in Bangkok and agencies on (#6SNJ4)
Truong My Lan must repay three-quarters of $12bn she embezzled from bank in a case that shocked the countryThe Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan has lost her appeal against the death penalty for masterminding a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal - though she could still save her life if she can repay most of the funds she embezzled.Lan, who founded the real-estate developer Van Thinh Phat, was sentenced to death in April for embezzling $12bn (9.95bn) from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), in a case that shocked the country. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: After a general election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail look set to retain power - how have two main, centre-right parties avoided the kicking seen elsewhere?Good morning. All over the western world, incumbent governments have been given a kicking over the cost of living crisis. But in the Irish election, where the counting of results concluded yesterday, it's a very different story.Not long ago, Sinn Fein appeared on course to win the popular vote and become the leading party in a new coalition, but its support fell away badly earlier this year. Instead, Ireland's traditionally dominant parties of the centre-right, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, appear to have it sown up again.Cybercrime | The UK is underestimating the severity of the online threat it faces from hostile states and criminal gangs, the country's cybersecurity chief will warn on Tuesday. Richard Horne, the head of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre, will cite a trebling of severe" incidents amid Russian and Chinese aggression.Foreign policy | Keir Starmer has utterly rejected" the idea that the UK must choose between the United States and Europe when Donald Trump comes to power. In a major foreign policy speech in London, Starmer said the UK would never turn away" from the US but would continue to reset" the relationship with Europe.US news | Donald Trump seized on Hunter Biden's pardon to drop one of his strongest hints yet that he intends to grant clemency to at least some of the instigators and participants of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by a mob trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat.Syria | Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have crossed into eastern Syria in an attempt to shore up struggling forces loyal to Damascus. They are battling an insurgency that has swept much of the country's north-west as Islamist militants seized control of Aleppo.Television | Gregg Wallace has apologised for dismissing those who have accused him of inappropriate behaviour as middle-class women of a certain age". His remarks came after No 10 condemned his initial remarks as misogynistic", and as pressure mounted on the BBC to stop broadcasting Wallace's programmes.Migration is a really difficult issue for them. Sinn Fein are unusual in that they are a leftwing nationalist party. Typically, nationalist parties tend to be on the right and nativist ... happy to redistribute money but only to people of a given nationality. Sinn Fein, on the other hand, have quite a socialist economic agenda, which is at odds with that. Continue reading...
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