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Singer urged Tony Blair not to appoint African co-chair to commission on aid, UK government papers showThe Live Aid campaigner Bob Geldof urged Tony Blair not to appoint an African co-chair to the UK-led organisation working to overhaul international aid to the continent because he thought African leadership was very weak" on the issue, newly released government documents suggest.The singer was scathing about the ability and worthiness of virtually all African leaders" before the establishment in 2004 of Blair's Commission for Africa, which would produce a report, Our Common Interest, and prompt a landmark pledge by rich nations to boost aid and write off debt. Continue reading...

A senior US official said the president needed a dose of reality' to deal with Iraqi insurgents, documents revealTony Blair's advisers privately questioned if the US had proper political control" of military operations in Iraq after a senior US official confided that George W Bush believed he was on a mission from God" against Iraqi insurgents, newly released documents reveal.Blair needed to deliver some difficult messages" to the then US president for a more measured approach" in April 2004, following a US military operation to suppress a major uprising in the city of Falluja, according to papers released to the National Archives in Kew, west London. Continue reading...

Stretched primary services causing increase in emergency visits for issues from coughs to hiccups, health leaders sayThe number of people turning to A&E departments in England for minor ailments including hiccups, sore throats and coughs is soaring, as senior health leaders warn that NHS primary and community services are massively overstretched".NHS data shows a large increase in people arriving at emergency departments for non-emergency ailments including backache, insomnia and earache. Continue reading...

Government accuses Tories and rightwing media of being out of touch', as VAT policy due to come into forceThe government has accused critics of its plan to put VAT on private school fees of being detached from the real world after polling showed the policy, which will come into force on 1 January, is strongly backed by the public.The poll, commissioned by the Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF) thinktank, found that 54% of people backed the idea, with 22% opposing it. This is an even greater margin of support than seen in similar polls carried out before the election. Continue reading...

Newly released files show proposals to divert 2m - earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa - to fund schemeTony Blair's government discussed diverting 2m earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa in order to fund a controversial pilot scheme to process and house asylum-seekers in Tanzania, newly released government files show.Under the scheme, Britain would have offered Tanzania an extra 4m in aid if it opened an asylum camp to house people claiming to be Somalian refugees while their applications to live in Britain were assessed. Continue reading...

Patients waiting many hours for ambulances to arrive, while those phoning 999 struggle to get throughA critical incident" was declared by the Welsh ambulance service on Monday evening due to significantly increased demand and extensive handover delays.The ambulance service, which covers 3 million-plus people across Wales, said more than 340 calls were waiting to be answered at the time the critical incident was declared. Continue reading...

Former post office operators recognised in new year honours list for services to justiceCampaigners for justice in the Post Office scandal have said they will never give in" after receiving OBEs in the new year honours list.Lee Castleton, Seema Misra, Chris Head and Jo Hamilton were all honoured for services to justice. The lead campaigner, Sir Alan Bates, was knighted earlier this year. Continue reading...

Mayor of London truly humbled' to be made a knight as authors, actors and sporting stars receive honours

Raid on St John's Wood mansion believed to be one of biggest thefts from a house in British criminal historyDetectives are hunting a lone wolf" burglar who stole bespoke jewellery and designer items worth more than 10m in a 19-minute heist at a billionaire's row mansion in London.The man broke in through a second-floor window and cracked a safe to carry out what is believed to be one of the biggest ever thefts from a British home. Continue reading...

Council tells Israeli ambassador it condemns air raids that have killed Yemeni civilians as well as Houthi attacksIsrael has set out its case to the UN security council for a full assault on Houthi forces in Yemen, claiming the Iranian-backed group now represents a well-armed terrorist army that threatens not just the regional economy but the entire global order.The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, also called for the Houthis to be designated as a foreign terrorist organisation, a step that may make it more difficult for Iran to provide material support without facing further economic sanctions. Continue reading...

Some of the freed Ukrainians had been held since war's early days, while Russians were captured in Ukraine's Kursk offensiveRussia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, with at least 150 people from each side returning home before New Year's Eve, in a swap partly brokered by the United Arab Emirates.The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for each of us. And today is one of such days: our team managed to bring 189 Ukrainians home," the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said in a message posted on Telegram on Monday. Continue reading...

Johnathan Joseph, known as DJ Spoony, went to hospital on 21 December after a headache lasted for weeksThe BBC presenter DJ Spoony has thanked the NHS and his family after being treated in hospital for a small bleed to the brain over the Christmas period.The Radio 2 host, whose real name is Johnathan Joseph, told listeners on Monday that he had been suffering with headaches for a few weeks but had put off being seen by a doctor until 21 December, when he decided to go to A&E. Continue reading...

New Hampshire's Chris Sununu said of Musk he's, in a way, so rich he's removed from the potential financial influence'The Republican New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu was caught in a riptide of criticism for a comment that Elon Musk - the world's richest man and close ally of US president-elect Donald Trump - was too wealthy to be corrupted or influenced.Sununu was asked on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday if he thought Musk had a conflict of interest in owning companies, including SpaceX, that have held billions of dollars in government contracts while also leading an unofficial agency to slash public spending in Trump's second presidency. Continue reading...

After death of former US president at age 100, leaders from the UK, Ukraine, Australia, Egypt and France have spoken of his enduring commitment to peace

Hussam Abu Safiya feared injured as Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza shut down after 11 weeks under siegeOne of the few doctors still working in northern Gaza has been taken to an Israeli prison and his hospital shut down, his family believe.Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp, was initially taken to the Sde Teiman detention camp, according to his son, who has been told that the doctor's leg was badly injured during a raid on the hospital by Israeli soldiers. Continue reading...

Lavin became working-class icon as waitress in TV sitcom and enjoyed long and celebrated career on stage and screenLinda Lavin, a Tony Award-winning stage actor who became a working-class icon as a paper-hat wearing waitress on the TV sitcom Alice, has died. She was 87.Lavin died in Los Angeles on Sunday of complications from recently discovered lung cancer, her representative, Bill Veloric, told the Associated Press in an email. Continue reading...

Hogmanay festival organisers cancel outdoor events with high winds and rain predicted to hit city in coming daysEdinburgh's New Year's Eve street parties and fireworks display have been cancelled on safety grounds because of storms forecast for the next 36 hours.The city's Hogmanay festival organisers said the high winds and rain predicted to hit the city made it unsafe to hold any of the outdoor events planned for Monday and Tuesday nights. Continue reading...

Severe storm system led to at least 45 reports of damage in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and GeorgiaMultiple tornadoes that began spawning across several southern US states on Saturday afternoon have resulted in the deaths of at least four people.Officials spent Sunday assessing the devastation inflicted by the severe storm system that produced the tornadoes. Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, told the Associated Press that there were at least 45 reports of damage from the tornadoes across the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Continue reading...

Racing champion turned active travel advocate criticises parts of the media for safety scaremongeringThe UK's public health is being directly harmed by anti-cycling coverage in parts of the media, Chris Boardman, who heads the government's main active travel organisation, has told the Guardian.Boardman, a former champion cyclist and businessman, leads Active Travel England (ATE) and is at the forefront of government efforts to help people switch from car trips to healthier and more sustainable travel. Continue reading...

Two others charged with drug supply in connection with One Direction singer's fall from Buenos Aires hotel balconyThree people have been charged with manslaughter, and two others with drug supply, in connection with the death of Liam Payne, who was allegedly seen being dragged to his room" while unconscious moments before he fell from his balcony in Argentina earlier this year.The 31-year-old former One Direction singer fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires on 16 October. Continue reading...

A spate of six murders has taken the Caribbean nation's total to 623 in 2024, of which nearly half were gang related and almost all linked to organised crime, say policeThe government of Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency after a weekend of violence in the Caribbean dual-island nation took the number of murders this year to 623.Five men were shot overnight in an estate on the outskirts of the capital, Port of Spain, and a 57-year-old woman was shot dead on Friday as she collected her teenage son from hospital in San Fernando. Continue reading...

Authorities announce investigation as shocked citizens enter second day of official mourningSouth Korea has launched an emergency safety inspection of the country's entire airline operations, and a separate check of all Boeing 737-800s, after 179 people died in a Jeju Air crash involving the aircraft on Sunday.As shocked citizens began a second day of official mourning and flags flew at half-mast, the government said it would carry out the audit of all 101 of the aircraft in domestic operation, with US investigators, possibly including Boeing, joining the inspection. Continue reading...

Mizo Games wants players to have a chance to experience war on the tabletop before it reaches us'As families in Taiwan prepare to gather for lunar new year celebrations in January, a game that will be released that month promises to offer some war-themed fun over the festive period.The board game 2045, developed by the Taiwanese company Mizo Games, invites players to participate in an imaginary Chinese invasion 20 years in the future. Players are given roles that include Taiwanese army officers, Chinese sleeper agents and volunteer citizen fighters. Continue reading...

Financier has sued paper over articles containing allegations that he had sexually assaulted or harassed womenThe hedge fund manager Crispin Odey is seeking at least 79m in damages from the Financial Times after suing the publication for libel, documents filed at the high court show.Odey began legal action against the FT in May over four articles published in 2023 which contained allegations that he had sexually assaulted or harassed multiple women. Continue reading...

Summer break in August had to be cancelled after attack in Southport led to violent unrest across the UKKeir Starmer has finally been able to take an overseas holiday and is understood to be in Madeira with his family over the new year.While he has the use of Chequers, his official country retreat, the prime minister was unable to go on a planned summer break in August after rioting broke out in a series of towns and cities. Continue reading...

Cask N Tandoor pub, 200m from Anne Hathaway's cottage, accused of breaching legal covenant limiting developmentA pub that serves sizzling tandoori dishes" within shouting distance of a Shakespeare heritage site may have to be demolished as the result of planning objections.The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has claimed that the Cask N Tandoor pub was built in breach of a legal covenant that limits development on land owned by the hotelier Rakesh Singh. Continue reading...

Competition named after champion surfer Eddie Aikau is only held when waves in Waimea Bay top 30ftA rare surfing event, The Eddie, took place in Hawaii last week, thanks to some giant waves.Formed about a week ago in the north Pacific Ocean, the waves emerged as a large low-pressure system produced an exceptionally large swell. They went on to hit Hawaii, enabling The Eddie to take place for just the 11th time in its 40-year history. Named in memory of the champion big-wave surfer and lifeguard Eddie Aikau, the competition requires that waves in Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, where the event is held, top 30ft (9 metres). Continue reading...

Kemi Badenoch is judged to be to the right of Tories, and Lib Dems' Ed Davey further left than StarmerKeir Starmer is towards the rightwing of Labour members of parliament, according to a study of the political positions of the MPs from every major party.The prime minister is less leftwing than almost all of his 401 Labour colleagues, according to the research by Chris Hanretty, a professor of politics at Royal Holloway, University of London. Continue reading...

Relatives' representative also says Jeju Air must do everything it can to help families financially. This live blog is closed

Exclusive: Structural weaknesses are threatening operating theatres, intensive care units and cancer units

Finance lead for England and Wales police chiefs says focus on officers gets in way of making better use of budgetsPolice forces should be allowed to cut officer numbers and spend more money on technology to boost crime fighting, a police chief has said.Chief constable Paul Sanford, who leads for police chiefs on finances, said there was an obsession with officer numbers, even though it would often be more effective to have fewer officers supported by better technology. Continue reading...

Marcus Fakana hands himself in to authorities and will serve year-long sentence in Dubai's al-Awir prisonA British teenager has handed himself in to the authorities in Dubai to begin a one-year prison sentence for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, a campaign group has said.Marcus Fakana, 18, was on holiday with his family in the United Arab Emirates when he met the girl, who is also from London and turned 18 the following month. He was arrested at his hotel and charged after the girl's mother found their chats and pictures after the family's return to London and called the Dubai police. Continue reading...

Lawyer says he wishes to spare Gisele Pelicot a new ordeal after marathon trial convicted all 51 accusedDominique Pelicot will not appeal against his conviction for drugging and raping his wife and inviting strangers to rape her, his lawyer has said.Beatrice Zavarro said the former electrician, 72, who was jailed for the maximum 20 years this month, wished to spare his now ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, a new ordeal but admitted there was also the risk a new trial in front of a public jury could mean a longer prison sentence. Continue reading...

More than 400 pubs called last orders in 2024 amid rising costs and cautious consumer spending

Jump of 17.2% in 12 months to September for city, while Huddersfield had largest declineStoke-on-Trent experienced the biggest annual house price growth in the UK, while Huddersfield had the biggest decline, according to the mortgage lender Halifax.Average house prices in the Staffordshire city jumped by 17.2% or 33,000 in the 12 months to September, to 227,002 as buyers sought more affordable options against a backdrop of high mortgage costs.Stoke-on-Trent 227,002 +17.2 %Slough 497,704 +14.9%Oldham 250,546 14.6%Bradford 226,261 +13.1%Bolton 252,070 +12.9%Barnsley 224,886 +12.6%Wolverhampton 278,083 +12.4%Doncaster 228,040 +11.6%Dunfermline 230,379 + 10.8%Hamilton 229,835 +10.3%Huddersfield 260,498 -6.6%Wirral 294,250 -5.4%Ealing 559,788 -4.9%Southwark 555,325 -4.8%Kingston upon Thames 582,282 -4.2%Enfield 506,667 -4%Harrow 552,203 -3.6%Westminster 730,859 -3.6%Bromley 541,131 -3.2%Aylesbury 423,252 -2.8% Continue reading...

Electricity prices fall an average of 4% over 12 months - but almost half of customers miss out by sticking with their old plan

Even as experts remain puzzled by Jeju Air crash, they are sceptical a bird strike was sole cause of fatal disasterOne day after the fatal airline disaster in South Korea, the answer as to what went wrong with Jeju Air 2216 remains elusive.Even as experts remain puzzled by what caused the crash that killed 179 people, experts say that a bird striking the engine is unlikely to be the sole factor.Elias Visontay is Guardian Australia's transport and urban affairs reporter Continue reading...

The 23-year-old was last seen descending a walking trail after agreeing to meet up with friends at Geehi campsite, sparking a multi-agency search

Police allege 31-year-old victim was shot in his car outside family home in western Sydney in targeted attack'

Survey by Chartered Management Institute finds only 19% of companies have a policy in place

Unesco-listed San Lorenzo de El Escorial was fulfilment of Philip II's dream of raising monastery in a desert'Despite perching imperiously on a mountainside near Madrid for the better part of five centuries, the royal monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial has yet to give up all its treasures - or all its secrets.Forty years after it was included on Unesco's World Heritage list, Philip II's austere monument to power, piety and patronage is undergoing a major reorganisation that will allow visitors to enjoy the peace of a previously off-limits monastic patio and to look at paintings once reserved for the royal gaze. Continue reading...

Damning report reveals millions in England are living in poor-quality housing that threatens their healthMinisters have been warned that efforts to save the NHS and grow the economy will fail unless they tackle the housing crisis, as a damning report reveals millions of people are living in substandard homes that risk worsening their health.In total, 4.5 million people aged 50 or above with an existing health condition in England are living in poor-quality housing with one or more problems such as rising damp, rot or decay that may be making them even sicker, the Centre for Ageing Better analysis found. Of those, 1.7 million are aged 70 or over. Continue reading...

Boy dies while being transported to hospital after being struck by Ford at Glossop Street in North St Marys

People warned against buying illegal weight-loss medicines through beauty salons or fake pharmacy websitesLong waits for NHS services could lead people to take matters into their own hands by buying potentially unsafe weight-loss jabs online, Britain's top GP has said.Prof Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, warned that buying drugs online from unregulated retailers could put people at risk and they may also miss out on wraparound support offered alongside the medication. Continue reading...

Data shows spikes in antisemitic and Islamophobic offences after outbreak of Middle East conflict and Southport attackSome of the UK's largest police forces have reported increases in religious hate crimes in the past 18 months, figures reveal, with the number of incidents rising after the start of the Hamas-Israel conflict in autumn 2023 and again after the Southport attacks in England this summer.Forces including Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the Metropolitan police recorded sharp increases in antisemitic offences in the weeks after the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East in October last year. Continue reading...

Drowning deaths in 2024 were overwhelmingly male, accounting for 22 of the 29 lives lost

Diplomatic residence, where five members have been staying since March, has had power cut for more than a monthFive Venezuelan opposition members taking refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas to avoid arrest say it has become a prison".The residence has been without power for more than a month, Magalli Meda, adviser to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, said on X. Continue reading...

Kirk Marsden, 37, died after being struck by vehicle outside Gate Street Bar and Grill after reports of incident at venuePolice have arrested a third person suspected of murder after a man was fatally hit by a car outside a pub on Christmas Day.Officers were called to reports of an incident at the Gate Street Bar and Grill in Blackburn, just before 4.50pm, after an argument in the venue. Continue reading...

Green energy entrepreneur voices concerns over project's funding and spiralling costs' of UK's other nuclear plantsThe government's new value for money tsar has been challenged to examine the costs of a nuclear power station to be given final approval next year, as ministers attempt to shore up private investment for the project.New nuclear plants are a key part of the government's plan to have clean power by 2030. The Sizewell C reactor, billed as generating enough energy to power 6m homes, is expected to be given the final go ahead in June's review of public spending. Its projected costs are in excess of 20bn. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed, you can read more of our Middle East coverage hereFive Israeli demonstrators protesting for the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 have been arrested outside the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.Twenty protestors gathered outside the home in the early morning, shouting through loudspeakers at the prime minister that the hostages were suffering in the tunnels and were cold, tortured and sick" while he enjoyed home comforts, Channel 12, an Israeli broadcaster, reported. Continue reading...