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Lib Dems may force vote on refusal to compensate women, which has angered many backbenchersUp to 100 Labour MPs could vote against the government's decision to rule out spending 10bn compensating Waspi women if a vote is held, encapsulating the fury on Keir Starmer's own benches, the Guardian has been told.The work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, announced on Tuesday there would be no compensation for women born in the 1950s who were not aware of changes to the state pension age, despite a recommendation from the parliamentary ombudsman in March that 1,000 to 2,950 should be paid out to each of the more than 3 million women affected. Continue reading...

Sophie Harvey and Elliot Benham denied using the pills and said their child had been stillbornA man and woman who were accused of buying pills to induce an illegal abortion have been sentenced to community orders.Sophie Harvey, 25, had previously stood trial accused of procuring her own miscarriage when she was 19. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong says ambassador to Ukraine to return to Kyiv in January and Russia war affects security of Indo-Pacific

Her election is first action in moves to form new coalition government after no party won majority in general electionVerona Murphy has become the first female speaker of the Irish parliament as part of attempts to form a coalition government.Murphy, an independent TD for Wexford, defeated two Fianna Fail candidates and one from Sinn Fein to win the 255,000 (210,000) a year position of Ceann Comhairle. Continue reading...

Residents in parts of central Gaza told to move towards overcrowded humanitarian zone' that has already been hit by strikesHere are some of the latest images coming through from Gaza:Palestinian medics say an Israeli airstrike has killed at least 10 people in a house in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, where army forces have operated since October. Continue reading...

Council lifts suspension with immediate effect provided the club complies with new licence conditionsThe Groucho Club will be allowed to reopen after an emotional council meeting at which its licence was reinstated, providing that the 39-year-old institution follows strict police-proposed rules on members' guests and the monitoring of toilets.The London private members' club's licence had been temporarily suspended after allegations that a woman was raped inside the venue on 13 November. A 34-year-old man was arrested in Hertfordshire on suspicion of rape and has been bailed. Continue reading...

Activists say ombudsman's findings based on rigorous evidence 60% had no idea' of changesScottish ministers are to set up a pilot project to test the automatic enrolment of young people on the electoral register, as part of a modernisation of Holyrood's election laws.The trial is expected to involve universities, colleges and high schools (over-16s can vote in Scottish parliament and council elections), to improve participation by young people.Some schools trialled these sorts of initiatives ahead of the 2014 independence referendum, with huge success and incredibly high turnout amongst young people. There is also plenty of international evidence that automatic registration boosts participation in elections and should be supported by every democrat. Continue reading...

Dominique Pelicot likely to be given 20 years for drugging his ex-wife and inviting strangers to rape her over a decadeThe mass rape trial that has sent shockwaves through France and horrified the world is expected to end on Thursday with the conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who has admitted drugging his ex-wife, Gisele, and inviting strangers into their bedroom to rape her.Pelicot, a 72-year-old retired electrician and estate agent, is expected to be given the maximum 20-year jail term the public prosecutor has demanded at the three and a half-month trial in Avignon. Continue reading...

Advocate Health plans to replace 115-year-old hospital in area with one of the largest life expectancy gaps in the USThe third largest non-profit hospital system in the nation, Advocate Health, said it plans to spend $1bn in Chicago's South Side neighborhood, and replace an aging hospital with a smaller facility and more primary care appointments.Chicago has one of the largest life expectancy gaps in the nation. Racial segregation is thought to be at the heart of a roughly 30-year life expectancy gap between the North and South Side neighborhoods. Continue reading...

Report is expected to be made public after the committee's final votes of the year later this weekThe US House of Representatives ethics committee has reportedly voted to release a report on sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Gaetz, the former Republican representative who was forced to drop his bid to become Donald Trump's attorney general amid fallout over the accusations.According to CNN, the House ethics committee voted earlier this month to release the report, which is expected to be made public after the chamber's final votes of the year later this week. Continue reading...

Nasen Saadi, who studied criminology, killed Amie Gray as she picnicked with a friend on the beach

The 29-year-old had been recruited by Ukrainian special services, Moscow saysRussian chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov said on Wednesday that arms control was now a thing of the past due to the lack of trust between Russia and the West.Gerasimov said Russia had seen increased activity by the US-led Nato military alliance near Russia's borders. Continue reading...

How women born in the 1950s have lost out in changes to the UK state pension age - and what happens nextThe UK government has stirred up a hornet's nest with its decision to deny compensation to what could be millions of Waspi women".They are said to have lost out because of government failings in the way changes to the state pension age were communicated. Continue reading...

Eight years after an awkward bad boys of Brexit' snap at Trump Tower's lift, Reform's leader is a Mar-a-Lago insiderAs a photo it is visually striking and politically resonant: Nigel Farage, the man who loudly proclaims he will be the UK's next prime minister, alongside two extremely rich supporters, all bathed in the golden glow of his hero Donald Trump.In terms of raw politics, the significance is what may follow from the talks involving the leader of Reform UK, the party's new treasurer, Nick Candy, and Elon Musk at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday, immortalised in a photo eagerly released by Farage's media team. Continue reading...

Despite fall in trade, LSE study says overall impact was more limited than OBR forecasters first estimated

More than 150 experts worked to save Ottavia Piana, who fell while charting Bueno Fonteno cave near BergamoAn injured woman trapped in a cave in northern Italy has been lifted to safety, ending her four-day ordeal.Ottavia Piana, a speleologist, was rescued in the early hours of Wednesday. She had been exploring an uncharted area of the Bueno Fonteno cave near Bergamo on Saturday afternoon when she fell five metres, fracturing her face, ribs and knees. Continue reading...

A chronicle of Jabaliya's destruction, using eyewitness accounts, satellite imagery and video footageOn the morning of 9 October 2023, the Trans area of the open market in Jabaliya refugee camp was bustling. Two days into the Gaza war triggered by Hamas's surprise attack in Israel, it had yet to be hit by Israeli jets.The camp, just north of the city of the same name, was established in 1948. Though technically still a refugee camp, in the ensuing decades it had become largely indistinguishable from the rest of northern Gaza's urban sprawl - densely populated, vibrant and busy. As well as the large open market at its centre, there were restaurants and schools, two football teams, bakeries and clinics. Continue reading...

Police can seize money from frozen accounts after straightforward cheat of the revenue', London magistrate rulesPolice can seize more than 2m from the influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan after they failed to pay a penny in tax on 21m of revenue from their online businesses, the chief magistrate has ruled.Devon and Cornwall police brought a legal case to seize the money, held in seven frozen bank accounts, from the brothers and a woman identified only as J. Continue reading...

Robert and Lee Firkins have convictions quashed after being jailed in 2006 for murders of Carol and Graham FisherTwo brothers who have spent almost 20 years in prison for a double murder at a remote Cornish garage have been cleared after their convictions were overturned and a planned retrial dropped.Robert and Lee Firkins were jailed in 2006 for the murders of Carol and Graham Fisher, who were killed in what appeared to be a bungled burglary at their home in Perch, near Wadebridge. Continue reading...

Marsden's death was confirmed in a letter from one of two schools he founded saying: He died at his desk in his home, doing what he loved, writing'

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has announced fresh elections to the Bundestag for February 2025, after the collapse of his SPD-led coalition. Find out which parties are polling best todayGermany is preparing for a general election to the Bundestag, the lower house of its parliament, on 23 February, after its traffic-light" coalition of social democrats, liberals and greens collapsed. The country's electoral system is highly proportional, so polls give a good indication of what shape of government might be possible after the election. Continue reading...

Chancellor says high cost of compensation cannot be justified because most of women affected had known pension changes were comingImproving public services is a higher priority than spending 10bn compensating Waspi women, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said, as MPs and campaigners criticised the decision to reject the watchdog's recommendation for a flat-rate compensation scheme.Her comments came after campaigners accused Labour of hypocrisy for having promised to compensate women hit by the rising state pension age. The parliamentary ombudsman had recommended paying out 1,000 to 2,950 to each of the more than 3 million women affected. Continue reading...

Yoon Suk Yeol was summoned for questioning over attempt to impose martial law earlier this monthSouth Korea's impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, failed to appear before the country's corruption watchdog on Wednesday, it said, after he was summoned for questioning over his attempt to impose martial law.Yoon was stripped of his duties by parliament over the weekend following his short-lived 3 December martial law declaration, which plunged the country into its worst political turmoil in decades. Continue reading...

The toxicology reports for the seven affected people, including four Australians, are not yet finalised

In today's newsletter: Kyiv assassinated Igor Kirillov inside enemy territory, in its most audacious operation since the war began - how will Russia respond?Good morning.In the early hours of yesterday morning, Russian general Igor Kirillov and his deputy were killed when a bomb concealed in an e-scooter detonated as they left an apartment. Ukraine's SBU security service swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack, which stands as one of the most audacious assassinations of a senior Russian military figure since the war began almost three years ago. Russian authorities arrested a 29-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan early today, the news agency Tass reported, citing the FSB, the country's domestic spy agency.Police | Police intelligence missed clues about the dangers posed by the far right before the summer riots across England, a police chief has said. Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of constabulary, also said police were too slow to mobilise after disorder broke out, meaning some violence was worse than it would otherwise have been, with the chance to thwart some of it missed.UK news | Sara Sharif's mother, Olga Domin, called her daughter's murderers sadists and executioners" as they were jailed for life. Domin joined the Old Bailey hearing remotely as Urfan Sharif, 43, and Beinash Batool, 30, were sentenced for killing the schoolgirl.Business | Amazon is to settle a group claim from delivery drivers that it deprived them of thousands of pounds, the Guardian has learned, ending a suit that lawyers had said could cost the company 140m.Parliament | The Commons should consider a move to electronic voting, a group of more than 60 backbenchers have said, with the current system of filing physically through voting lobbies taking up to a fifth of their working day.Climate crisis | The world's coal use is expected to reach a fresh high of 8.7bn tonnes this year, and remain at near-record levels for years as a result of a global gas crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...

Investigators say they have arrested a 29-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan over suspected involvement in explosion that killed Lt Gen Igor Kirillov

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The Israeli foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa'ar, reportedly claimed Australia distanced itself from Israel in its most difficult year'

Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant allegedly drove a four wheel drive with false licence plates into Kiesha Thompson in July, court hears

Intelligence gaps, especially around social media analysis, led to failures, report findsPolice intelligence missed clues about the dangers posed by the far right before the summer riots across England, a police chief has said.Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of constabulary, also said police were too slow to mobilise after disorder broke out, meaning some violence wasworse than it would otherwise have been, with the chance to thwart some of it missed. Continue reading...

Exclusive: UK lawyers said in tribunal self-employed drivers owed because retailer dictated their working conditionsAmazon is to settle a group claim from delivery drivers that it deprived them of thousands of pounds, the Guardian has learned, ending a suit that lawyers had said could cost the company 140m.Drivers who deliver for the internet marketplace through its delivery service partners" (DSPs) are classed as self-employed, meaning they are not entitled to benefits such as holiday pay and the minimum wage, while they also do not have an employment contract. Continue reading...

Domestic workers who fled abusive employers say their children are not eligible for birth certificates, medical care or education - yet cannot leaveA Guardian investigation has found women formerly employed as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia who appear to be trapped" in the country after being denied birth certificates for their children or visas in order to leave and return home.The Guardian has spoken to five Kenyan women who say they have been unable to register the birth of their children as they were born outside marriage. The women all fled abusive employers who then kept their identity documents. Continue reading...

Mother of Mary Jane Veloso urges Philippine president to act so family can be reunited for Christmas, as daughter lands in ManilaThe mother of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipino domestic helper who spent almost 15 years on death row in Indonesia, has urged President Ferdinand Marcosto grant her daughter a pardon as she arrived back in the Philippines on Wednesday, ending a long battle by her supporters to bring her home.We cannot explain the joy of my husband and her children," Veloso's mother, Celia Veloso, 65, told the Guardian late on Tuesday. We have been praying for my child to come home for a long time, and now she will be home." She hopes her family can be reunited for Christmas. Continue reading...

Witnesses recount the moment the earthquake hit in Port Vila, as rescue teams sift through the wreckage after disaster that has killed 14 and injured 200

Lanez, serving 10-year term for shooting Megan in feet in 2020, accused of waging harassment campaign from prisonMegan Thee Stallion asked a court on Tuesday to issue a restraining order against Tory Lanez, who she says is harassing her from prison through surrogates as he serves a 10-year sentence for shooting her in the feet.The petition filed by the hip-hop star in Los Angeles superior court asks the judge to prevent the Canadian rapper Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, from using third parties to continue the same online harassment of Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete, that he engaged in and encouraged before his imprisonment. Continue reading...

Former shock jock faces Sydney court after being charged with an additional eight indecent assault offences

Buried inside the 363 pages of the midyear economic update were clues about Labor's plan for Australia

George Carey quit after BBC investigation reported that he allowed a priest banned over abuse claims to return to priesthoodA former leader of the Church of England has resigned as a priest following allegations that he failed to properly handle the case of a priest accused of sexual misconduct.George Carey, who was archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, quit after a BBC investigation reported that he allowed a priest who had been banned over sexual abuse claims to return to priesthood. Continue reading...

Japanese car firms embark on negotiations to combat competition from bigger EV manufacturersJapanese carmakers Honda and Nissan will begin negotiations over a potential merger, according to reports.The Nikkei financial newspaper said on Tuesday that the two Japanese companies would start talks to help combat the increased global competition from bigger electric vehicle makers. Continue reading...

Secretary of department took leave in October after being questioned about whether he played a role in the retirement of Cate Saunders, which he denies

The economy's rebound won't be as strong as anticipated and more government rebates seem to be pencilled for the coming year

Possums are thought to be the main carriers of the ulcer-causing bacteria that has emerged in Batemans Bay after surging in Victoria

MCA to charge $20 entry fee from 31 January, which will rise to $35 if visitors want to see its major summer or winter exhibitions

Budget downgrade blamed on Australian economy being hit harder than anticipated by higher interest rates, cost of living pressures and global uncertainty

All ranks' among casualties in Kursk after Pyongyang sent thousands of soldiers to reinforce Russia's war effortNorth Korean forces have suffered several hundred" casualties fighting against Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region, according to a senior US military official.Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to reinforce Russia's war effort, including to the Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces seized territory earlier this year. Continue reading...

Minister calls bill demanding digital platforms publicly correct false information good news for democracy'Spain's leftwing government has announced a bill extending a requirement to publish corrections to posts by digital platforms and social media influencers in an attempt to fight disinformation.The explosion of social media in recent years has allowed new actors to reach larger audiences but raised concerns about a lack of regulation and the spread of fake news. Continue reading...

Chrystia Freeland's exit as deputy prime minister shows how America First' policies can decimate political tiesJustin Trudeau's political future has been thrown into doubt by the shock resignation of his own deputy, as Canada's prime minister faces plummeting popularity and growing fears over a second Donald Trump presidency.The sudden exit of Chrystia Freeland - the deputy prime minister and minister of finance - unleashed a political earthquake in Ottawa, prompting politicians both outside and in Trudeau's own party to call for him to stand down. Continue reading...

Avanti says it is assessing how much impact strikes will have but spokesperson says disruption will be significant'Workers on Avanti West Coast will go on strike on New Year's Eve after rejecting a deal designed to resolve an ongoing dispute over rest day working.

Minister hope plan will deter young people from extremism amid rise in arrests of under-18s for offencesYoung terrorism suspects could avoid prosecution if they agree to a diversion scheme, in a new government plan to cope with the post-lockdown surge in youngsters drawn to violent extremism.The youth diversion orders are part of a host of changes announced by the Labour government, including a new tsar to ensure Prevent - the official scheme to deter people from terrorism - is as effective as it needs to be. Ministers claimed they were providing new money to fight terrorism. Continue reading...

Passenger numbers on the UK's first autonomous buses - a 6m venture over the Firth of Forth - did not meet expectations'The UK's first driverless bus service, originally heralded as a breakthrough of global significance, is being withdrawn from service because too few passengers used it.The autonomous buses, operated by Stagecoach, have been running between Fife and Edinburgh along a 14-mile route over the Forth road bridge since May 2023 to relieve the heavy congestion which can bring traffic to a standstill. Continue reading...