Farmers say good growing conditions will result in a bumper crop, with the average sprout 30mm in diameterIn a development likely to inspire both joy and dismay around the Christmas dinner table, farmers are forecasting Brussels sprouts will be 25% bigger this year.Good growing conditions, the introduction of new varieties, and a dose of sea air have resulted in a crop of super-sized sprouts for this festive season. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6SYFJ)
UK home secretary stresses need for economic cooperation, against backdrop of royal revelationsThe UK home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has admitted the government has a complex arrangement" with China because of the need for economic cooperation, against the backdrop of the exclusion of an alleged Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew.The man - who was banned from Britain by the government on national security grounds - was invited to Andrew's birthday party and visited Buckingham Palace twice as well as St James's Palace and Windsor Castle at the invitation of the prince, according to the Times. Continue reading...
Service between Newcastle and Ashington resumes after long and challenging 300m renovation projectA previously abandoned railway line between Newcastle and Ashington has reopened, with passengers able to use the service for the first time in 60 years.The Northumberland line ran its first passenger service since 1964 on Sunday morning, leaving Newcastle at 7:57am, just after sunrise, stopping at Seaton Delaval and arriving in Ashington to cheering crowds. Continue reading...
by Patrick Butler Social policy editor on (#6SYH6)
Journalists including Marina Hyde, John Crace and Polly Toynbee took donations from generous readers during our annual charity appeal telethon Donate to our charity appeal hereGenerous Guardian and Observer readers gave 57,000 over the phones during our annual charity appeal telethon for charities supporting the victims of war and conflict, with the overall total hitting more than 500,000.A 46-strong roster of journalists including Marina Hyde, John Crace, Polly Toynbee, Zoe Williams, Gaby Hinsliff, Jonathan Freedland, Felicity Cloake, Tim Dowling and Peter Bradshaw chatted to and took donations from more than 500 readers during the eight-hour event on Saturday. Continue reading...
by Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor on (#6SYH7)
Home secretary says also that ministers are examining third-country processing for people arriving in the UK illegallySmall boat crossings would be thousands higher" under the Conservatives, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said, though they remain 20% higher than this time last year.But Cooper declined to say when people could expect to see the number reduce, saying only that the government was making progress on reducing the asylum backlog, accusing the previous government of having crash[ed] the asylum system". Continue reading...
Frankie Muniz, now 39, also returns as the show's eponymous protagonist in four new episodes for Disney+It's been nearly 25 years since audiences first heard the now-familiar shout Malcolm!" from the actors Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, but they are back with a new series of Malcolm in the Middle.The pair, who played the chaotic parents of the eponymous Malcolm, reprised their catchphrase in a video posted on social media on Friday announcing that the show would be returning with its original cast. Continue reading...
Report comes day after MPs voted to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces possible charges of insurrectionSouth Korea's conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has reportedly failed to obey a summons from prosecutors investigating him on charges including insurrection as he faces impeachment after declaring martial law.Yoon, who was sent a summons on Wednesday requesting him to appear for questioning at 10am local time on Sunday, did not show up, according to the Yonhap news agency. Yoon and other senior officials are being investigated on possible charges of insurrection, abuse of authority and obstructing people from exercising their rights. Continue reading...
Met police says two men were also injured during incident in Brent, and one remains in critical conditionA woman has died after a shooting in Brent, north-west London, on Saturday night.The Metropolitan police said two men, both in their 30s, were also injured, with one taken to hospital where he remained in a critical condition. The other man suffered non-life threatening injuries. Continue reading...
Campaigners in England and Wales fear rising bills will make water unaffordable and that companies should step up supportWater companies should spend more on helping vulnerable customers, according to consumer groups, as households in England and Wales brace for steep bill increases to be announced this week.The water regulator, Ofwat, is due to reveal on Thursday how much water bills will rise over the five years from next April. The industry is asking for permission to charge billions of pounds more to pay for upgrades but also to recoup financial returns for its investors. Continue reading...
by Vanessa Thorpe Arts and media correspondent on (#6SYDR)
Week-long Olympics of the mind' next summer will showcase cutting-edge film, gigs, talks and much moreBarack Obama, Johnny Cash, Matthew McConaughey, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerburg have all taken a turn at addressing its crowds, but now the Texan culture and tech festival that likes to predict the future is to become a bona fide East Ender.The European edition of South by Southwest has opened to applications from contributors and audiences around the world before its inaugural London event next summer. Continue reading...
Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader, offers to work with the government of Han Duck-soo, the acting president after impeachment of Yoon Suk YeolSouth Korea's opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, has offered to work with the government to ease political tumult as officials sought to reassure allies and markets - a day after the opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach the conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, over a short-lived attempt to impose martial law.South Korea's central bank vowed on Sunday vowed to keep markets stable, while the South Korean financial regulator said it would expand market-stabilising funds if necessary. Continue reading...
Observer investigation into London school has sparked an inquiry into allegations that teachers harmed mental wellbeing of childrenA school in one of England's leading academy trusts is to face an independent safeguarding review after an Observer investigation exposed allegations of emotional abuse of children over two decades.After an emergency multi-agency meeting on Tuesday, Jim Gamble, the independent child safeguarding commissioner for Hackney in east London, confirmed on Friday that he had launched a local child safeguarding practice review - normally reserved for serious individual cases of child abuse or neglect - into Mossbourne Victoria Park academy (MVPA). Continue reading...
US, Turkey, EU and Arab envoys meeting in Jordan call for inclusive and non-sectarian' government after Islamist group ousted Bashar al-Assad's regimeAntony Blinken said the US had made direct contact" with Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels as western and Arab states along with Turkey jointly voiced support for a united, peaceful Syria.The US secretary of state's comment is despite Washington having designated the HTS rebels as terrorists in 2018. Continue reading...
Lush and Gymshark among chains using apps promoted by TikTok influencers to take on gig economy assistants lacking basic protections, say unionsUnions have accused high-street retailers of drafting in young gig economy store assistants without basic employment rights in the run-up to Christmas.The Observer has found large brands, including Urban Outfitters, Lush, Gymshark and Uniqlo, are recruiting freelance" shop assistants through gig apps to staff their stores during the busy festive period. Continue reading...
by Jon Henley in Paris and Deborah Cole in Berlin on (#6SYCF)
As they confront a marauding Trump, trade tensions with China and their own upheavals, the bloc's two biggest countries are at a crossroadsWhen France and Germany advance, all Europe advances. When they don't, it grinds to a halt" was how former French president Jacques Chirac put it almost a quarter of a century ago at one of the periodic love-ins between the EU's two biggest member states.So what would Chirac, who died in 2019, make of the current condition of the famed Franco-German engine which, since the bloc's inception, has powered so much of the postwar European project? It looks not so much faltering as comprehensively bust. Continue reading...
by Donna Lu now, Mostafa Rachwani previously on (#6SY8Z)
This blog is now closedAn extra $1.8bn in payments to veterans will be included in the mid-year budget update, with the federal government saying the additional funds explain a slippage" in the budget since May.It said the need to take decisive action" to clear a backlog" of 42,000 veterans' claims would put more pressure on government coffers, given $6.5bn was already included in the 2024-25 budget to deal with the issue.We're doing the right thing by our veterans and that will have an impact on the budget.Supporting those who served our country is our responsibility. We're paying veterans what they're entitled to.John Howard introduced the moratorium on nuclear energy because it doesn't make any sense here. And last term, Peter Dutton, Barnaby Joyce, Angus Taylor, are all on the record with quotes saying, It's too costly, it takes too long, and it's a distraction from what Australia needs.'They, in their own words, wrote this off. What you have here is a National party tail wagging the Coalition dog, and Peter Dutton being too weak to stand up to the ideologues who dominate the Coalition, too weak to stand up to them and say, No, this does not make sense for Australia" ... Continue reading...
Campaigners fear lives could be put at risk as government sets record number of deportationsThe government has announced that it has deported almost 13,500 people since coming to power, something ministers say proves their tough approach towards migrants but which human rights campaigners have warned could put lives at risk.The government says it is on track to deliver the highest number of returns for five years and includes the four biggest return flights ever. Continue reading...
First Bus vehicle struck a railway bridge in Cook Street on the outskirts of the city at about 6pm on SaturdayEight people have been injured, including one who is in a critical condition, after a doubledecker bus hit a railway bridge on the outskirts of Glasgow, police said.Five people were being treated in hospital and three were assessed and released after the incident on Saturday in Cook Street. Continue reading...
White paper paves way for London-style contactless-payment travel networks and unitary authorities to replace two-tier county and district councilsMayors of big cities and regions across England will be able to take control of rail services for the first time so they can tailor them to their areas' economic needs, under devolution plans to be announced by ministers on Monday.A white paper to be unveiled by the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, will pave the way for metro mayors to take a role in governing, managing, planning and developing the rail network. Continue reading...
Both occurred in farmworkers with exposure to infected animals, and are amid 34 confirmed cases across stateTwo cases of bird flu have been reported in California's San Joaquin county, according to local health officials.According to a press release issued on Friday and reported by the Sacramento Bee, health officials from San Joaquin county public health services said that both cases occurred in farmworkers who had had exposure to infected animals. Both individuals have exhibited mild symptoms and are recovering, officials said, adding that there are 34 confirmed cases in total across California. Continue reading...
Event at Anglican cathedral ended by venue's staff over incident it says was not in line with our values', according to reportsA Liverpool football club staff Christmas party in the city's cathedral was halted early amid newspaper reports that suspected drug paraphernalia was discovered.The party was ended by staff at the Anglican cathedral, which said in a statement that an incident" occurred that was not in line with our values". Continue reading...
Demonstration organiser the London Renters Union says that rising rents are destroying communitiesDemonstrators gathered in London on Saturday to protest against the capital's soaring" rents.Rising rents are destroying communities, said organisers the London Renters Union (LRU). Continue reading...
Billionaire slipped and fell from a 150-metre cliff while hiking with relatives near Barcelona, according to reportsIsak Andic, the founder of high street fashion chain Mango, has died after a hiking accident in Spain on Saturday, the company said.The 71-year-old billionaire slipped and fell from a 150-metre cliff while hiking with relatives in the Montserrat caves near Barcelona, according to local media reports. Continue reading...
Government accused of permitting a planning free-for-all' by allowing developers to convert office blocks into flats without the usual controlsLabour has been accused of allowing developers to build a new generation of slum" homes by converting office blocks into flats without planning permission.The controversial projects will boost Keir Starmer's drive to build 1.5m new homes in England but have been labelled a free-for-all" for developers. Many of these commercial blocks are built on industrial estates or business parks, with complaints of poor ventilation and no access to private outdoor space. Continue reading...
The woman said she was assaulted by the rappers at an afterparty in 2000 when she was 13 years oldA woman who alleged being sexually assaulted at age 13 by rappers Jay-Z and Sean Diddy" Combs during a post-award show party now admits that there are inconsistencies with respect to her claims, and her attorney says he is continuing to investigate her story.NBC News published those remarks from the unnamed woman and her attorney, the Houston-based personal injury specialist Tony Buzbee, in an interview on Friday evening. And Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, issued a statement saying the NBC interview validated his position that Buzbee and his client targeted him with a false complaint to gain money and fame for themselves. Continue reading...
Police conclude investigation into allegations This Morning host was blackmailed by 36-year-old from WarwickshireProsecutors have said they will take no further action after a man was arrested on suspicion of blackmailing the TV presenter Alison Hammond.Reports emerged last March that Hammond, who co-presents ITV's This Morning and Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off, had been blackmailed for large sums of money. It was alleged that a man had threatened to spread lies about her if she did not cooperate with his demands. Continue reading...
Businessman known as H6 also reportedly entered St James's Palace and Windsor Castle at duke's invitationA businessman accused of being a Chinese spy was invited to Buckingham Palace and other royal residences by the Duke of York, it has been reported.The man - who was banned from Britain by the government on national security grounds - visited Buckingham Palace twice, and also entered St James's Palace and Windsor Castle at the invitation of Andrew, the Times reported. Continue reading...
by Hamish Mackay (now); and Charlie Moloney and Mark on (#6SXZK)
This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereVoting is now beginning. The process has been explained to lawmakers. We'll bring you the result as soon as we get it.Tens of thousands of people have braved the bitter cold and poured onto the streets of the capital, Seoul, every night for the past two weeks, calling for Yoon's ouster and arrest. They shouted slogans, sang, danced and waved K-pop light sticks. Smaller groups of Yoon's conservative supporters - still in the thousands - have also been rallying in Seoul, denouncing attempts to impeach the president. Both rallies have largely been peaceful.
Head of Barratt Redrow warns sector faces national crisis' due to skills shortage, ageing workforce and BrexitLabour's plan to build 1.5m homes during this parliament is not achievable because of a severe skills shortage, an ageing workforce and Brexit, the head of Britain's largest housebuilding company has said.The government outlined on Thursday how it would achieve this goal. The proposals within the revised national planning policy framework (NPPF) include individual targets for each planning authority and new rules that will allow for housebuilding on poorer quality green-belt land. Continue reading...
Success of Ghanaian president's call to members of diaspora to visit country adding to inflation, say localsSince September, Effia Afful and her friends have been calling Accra establishments to reserve tables for the Christmas season, trying to beat other fun-seekers to it.You have to reserve your tables now because by the time you are ready, there will be no table left," said the 30-year-old advertising executive. Continue reading...
Brian Leveson, leading England and Wales review, says number of prosecutions waiting to be dealt with is unsustainable'People scheduled to stand trial could be diverted" from the criminal justice system in efforts to tackle the unsustainable" backlog of court cases, the head of a major justice review has said.Sir Brian Leveson said the number of prosecutions waiting to be dealt with was unsustainable, with listings now running into 2027. Continue reading...
Storm originating from rocky asteroid expected to produce 120 meteors an hour in bright multicoloured displayOne of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year is expected to light up the night sky this weekend.The Geminid meteor shower, which is called a meteor storm because of its intensity, is expected to peak some time between Saturday and Sunday. Continue reading...
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Middle East coverage hereThe head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami says they won't impede the UN nuclear watchdog's access and inspection of its sites.We have not created and will not create any obstacles for the agency's inspections and access,"says Eslami, as quoted by the Times of Israel. Continue reading...
Police say two suspects in custody after blast caused by device thrown into crowd during event in UmphangAt least three people have died and dozens were injured after an explosive was thrown into a crowd at a music festival in Thailand.Thai police said two suspects were in custody on Saturday. Continue reading...
Constitutional crisis deepens as opposition says election of former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili is illegitimate'Georgian lawmakers have elected Mikheil Kavelashvili, a pro-Russia, hardline critic of the west, as the country's new president.Kavelashvili, a former professional football player, has strong anti-western views. In public speeches this year, he has repeatedly alleged that western intelligence agencies are seeking to drive Georgia into war with Russia. Continue reading...
TV presenter says she and Wood, son of the Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, are separating after 10 years of marriageFearne Cotton has announced that she and husband, Jesse Wood, have separated after 10 years of marriage.In a post to her Instagram story on Friday, the TV presenter and podcast host said: It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that Jesse and I are ending our marriage. Continue reading...
Opposition needs ruling party support to suspend president over insurrectionary' martial law bid, while removal would need court approvalThousands have taken to the streets of South Korea's capital, Seoul, in rival rallies as President Yoon Suk Yeol faces an impeachment vote over his failed martial law bid.Protests demanding Yoon step down kicked off around midday outside the National Assembly. Seoul police said they expected at least 200,000 people to demonstrate in support of removing him. Continue reading...
Uncompleted or abandoned buildings are a regular feature of the landscape. Now calls for restorations are increasingBeneath mango trees in the lush garden of the Palais de Lome, an oceanside estate in the Togolese capital, dozens of students from the African School of Architecture and Urban Planning (EAMAU) were taking sessions on archiving.Established in 1905, the palace housed German, French and British colonial governors in succession and then the Togolese presidency before falling into disuse in the 1990s. After a five-year restoration project, its doors were opened to the public in 2019. Continue reading...
Nightclub director says they really want the music and experience to be at the forefront', following in the footsteps of Berlin's club sceneOver the past decade going to a live event has nearly always been accompanied by a sea of phones capturing every moment of the experience to be shared on social media feeds. But now living in the moment is becoming the new luxury.Partygoers in Manchester will be asked to cover their smartphone camera with a sticker in a strict rule being enforced by a new nightclub. Amber's nightclub, which opened on Friday night, is the latest venue to enforce the no-phone rule, clamping down on the endless recording or livestreaming of nights out on mobiles. Continue reading...
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