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Police with semi-automatic rifles will be deployed at Boxing Day Test but commissioner says this move is not based on a specific new threat'

Attorney general's office also says 10 people received prison terms from 463 to 958 years amid crackdown on gangs under state of emergencyEl Salvador has announced prison sentences for hundreds of gang members, with some of the convicted receiving terms of hundreds of years.The attorney general's office posted on X that 248 members of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) street gang had received exemplary sentences" for 43 homicides and 42 disappearances, among other crimes. Continue reading...

Chris Bowen announces long-awaited policy aimed at lowering energy prices on Australia's east coast

NSW Nationals to oppose gun law reforms introduced in wake of Bondi attack as Greens say protest laws are draconian' and may be unconstitutional

Six absurdist signs resembling official city council information boards have popped up across New Zealand's second-largest cityOutside an abandoned building in New Zealand's second-biggest city, a sign reads slightly haunted but manageable". In the middle of a busy shopping strip, pedestrians are warned to keep to a 2.83km/h walking speed. In another part of Christchurch, one piece of signage declares simply don't".The baffling boards are not an overzealous new council initiative, but a piece of art designed to play with the way we take authority and signage so seriously". Continue reading...

Regulator says ex-customers allegedly affected by Centrepay scandal were already likely experiencing economic vulnerability'

Police charge 20-year-old after post allegedly calls for protest at location of 2005 race riots

Fantasy, mystery and psychological thriller series dominate book sales, as adult colouring also makes a comebackFantasy, mystery and psychological thriller series dominate the UK's bestsellers list for 2025, topped by Richard Osman's The Impossible Fortune. The fifth book in his Thursday Murder Club series secured the top position at 391,429 hardback sales.Adult colouring also had a resurgence this year: colouring books aimed at all ages made it into the top 20 chart, according to analysis by NielsenIQ BookData. Continue reading...

TV host who came under pressure from Trump government will say: From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year'The US comedian whose late-night show was briefly cancelled after pressure from Donald Trump's government is to urge UK audiences to stand up for free speech.In a defiant alternative Christmas message on Channel 4, Jimmy Kimmel will liken the first year of Trump's second administration to the rise of fascism. Continue reading...

Figures at event include Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Trump Jr as cohesion of political right shows signs of stressThe stars of the Maga conservatism converged for the four-day AmericaFest conference in Phoenix this weekend amid reports that the cohesion of the political-religious right, a year into Donald Trump's second presidential term, is showing signs of stress.The sold-out Turning Point USA event brought together figures from the right including Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Donald Trump Jr, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ben Shapiro and Glenn Beck, to kick around the dominant themes of conservatism. Continue reading...

Traffic signals failed in large portions of the California city while Waymo robotaxis stopped in streets and intersectionsA widespread power failure plunged San Francisco into darkness on Saturday night, disrupting traffic citywide and forcing numerous self-driving Waymo taxis to stop abruptly in the middle of streets and intersections.As electricity went out across large portions of the city, traffic signals failed, leaving autonomous vehicles unable to operate as normal. Photos and videos shared by users on X showed Waymo robotaxis frozen in place, backing up traffic and creating hazardous conditions for other drivers. Continue reading...

Presidential spokesperson says all those abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state last month are now freeNigerian authorities say they have secured the release of a further 130 schoolchildren kidnapped from a Catholic school in November, after 100 were freed earlier this month.Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity," presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare said on X, in a post accompanied by a photo of smiling children. Continue reading...

MPs and next of kin of prisoners Amu Gib, 30, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, call for immediate government interventionTwo Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners taking part in a hunger strike have been taken to hospital, as their next of kin and MPs expressed concern over prison conditions and called for immediate government intervention.Amu Gib, 30, who was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey while awaiting trial, is on day 50 of the hunger strike and 28-year-old Kamran Ahmed was being held at Pentonville prison in London and on day 42 of his hunger strike. The two are the latest of eight prisoners who have been admitted to hospital since the hunger strike action began on Balfour day, 2 November, according to Prisoners for Palestine. Continue reading...

Saturday's arrivals were the most on a single day in December and take the annual total to 41,455More than 800 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday, a record for a day in December, according to the Home Office.December is traditionally one of the quietest months for Channel crossings, as a combination of low temperatures and stormy weather makes the journey particularly difficult. Poor visibility and less daylight have also been cited as factors influencing the crossings. Continue reading...

Photos suggest former Duke of York served as Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's pass to British high societyThe former Prince Andrew at Sandringham lying across the laps of five elegantly dressed women as Ghislaine Maxwell looks on; Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein on a shoot near Balmoral; the three of them peering down from the royal box at Ascot.The images are just some of the Epstein files" released by the US Department of Justice on Friday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Thinktank's findings undermine successive home secretaries' statements about misuse of system in England and WalesAsylum seekers are not abusing the modern slavery system in a widespread manner, according to a report from a centre-right thinktank that undermines statements from successive home secretaries.The report from Bright Blue finds limited evidence that asylum seekers are falsely claiming to have been the victims of modern slavery to stay in the country, despite several home secretaries blaming the system for stopping them deporting more people. Continue reading...

New Africa Hub confronts colonial-era silences by asking visitors to share insights on 40,000 objectsIt's a rare thing for a museum to talk about what it doesn't know. But unanswered questions and archival silences are at the heart of the new Africa Hub at Manchester Museum, north-west England, which is inviting people around the world to help fill the gaps.The museum holds more than 40,000 items from across Africa, many of which were traded, collected, looted or preserved during the era of the British empire. Continue reading...

Silver steward is one of three people arrested in connection with alleged theft from presidential residenceA silver steward employed at the Elysee Palace in Paris has been arrested for stealing silverware and porcelain, amid a wave of thefts from high-profile French institutions.Investigators arrested the man and two alleged accomplices last week. They are accused of taking the objects from the official Paris residence of the French president and trying to sell them on online auction websites such as Vinted. Continue reading...

Health secretary's comments push further than government's position on EU in wide-ranging interviewA deeper trading relationship with the EU would be the best way of growing Britain's economy, which has an uncomfortable" level of tax, Wes Streeting has said.The health secretary said it would not be possible for any partnership with the EU to return to freedom of movement", but his comments appeared to leave the door open to the idea of a customs union. Continue reading...

Actor says comments from teachers and schoolmates about her size resulted in her barely eating at 19 years oldKate Winslet has described being shamed over her appearance as a young actor by schoolmates and teachers.The actor, whose directorial debut film Goodbye June was released this month, recalled being told by a drama teacher that she would have to settle for fat girl parts". Continue reading...

Echoing the dismantling of USAID, other countries are changing funding priorities and health and hunger programmes in Africa will lose outThe notion of humanitarian aid being used to combat poverty and hunger is being replaced in Europe with geopolitical games" as states redirect aid to Ukraine and to defence spending, analysts warn after recent announcements by Sweden and Germany.Earlier this year, humanitarian groups called for European donors to fill the gap as President Donald Trump dismantled the USAID programme, but instead other nations are further pulling back from their commitments around the world. Continue reading...

Anna Turley says people will start to see and feel' change in public services and cost of living from next yearTory deputy chair Matt Vickers was asked by Sky News' Trevor Phillips about the councils that have said they will request a delay to elections next year (see post at 09.59 for more details).He said:Most Conservative councils have said no ... In fact, we voted against the legislation that was being brought forward to move these things.Some of these people are going to see a delay of two years in their elections, like the five-year term, a seven-year term, even for a councillor. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Scale of government's anti-fraud fiasco is four times higher than previously admittedMore than 60% of parents who had their child benefit stopped by HMRC using incorrect Home Office travel data were not fraudulently claiming the support from abroad, it has emerged.The scale of the government's anti-fraud fiasco is four times higher than previously admitted, with 15,000 of the 23,500 parents targeted by HMRC now identified as legitimate beneficiaries living in the UK. Continue reading...

A protest barring MPs from pubs is exposing deeper tensions between politicians and the communities they representLabour MPs heading back to their constituencies this weekend will do so with a sense of relief that another turbulent term in British politics is over. But those hoping to pitch up at their local pub for a restorative pint with colleagues and constituents may find festive cheer is in short supply. In fact, some may not be allowed through the door.For the past few weeks, pubs across the country have been putting up signs declaring No Labour MPs" in protest at changes to business rates announced by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in her latest budget. Continue reading...

Fear that confrontation is on the cards as policing of ships becomes more aggressive and Russia challenges EuropeThe shadow fleet" used by Russia, Iran and Venezuela to avoid western sanctions and ship cargo to customers including China and India is exploding" in its scale and scope, and there are concerns that efforts to counter it are drawing closer to dangerous military confrontations.Complicating the issue is that Russia has begun putting its own flag on some former shadow fleet tankers, in an open challenge to Europe. Continue reading...

People, including druids and pagans, come from across world to watch sunrise on shortest day of the yearThousands of revellers gathered at Stonehenge in the early hours of Sunday morning to celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.Crowds amassed in the dark around the historical site in Wiltshire to watch the sunrise, with some dressed in traditional pagan clothing, just as they did to mark the sun rising on the summer solstice six months ago. Continue reading...

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Brussels confirms Christmas carve-out from green levies will not happen, leading to Brexit-style requirementsUK manufacturers are to be hit with mountains of Brexit-style paperwork in January on 7bn worth of exports to the EU after the government failed to secure an expected exemption from new green taxes.The UK had hoped to secure a carve-out by Christmas on the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), but EU commissioners have confirmed this is not going to happen. Continue reading...

Jewish leaders call for federal royal commission into Bondi beach attack that killed 15 people as huge crowd marks one week anniversaryJewish leaders have called for a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack, as some members of the crowd booed Anthony Albanese on arrival at the commemoration marking one week since 15 people were killed on the first day of Hanukah.The president of the NSW Board of Jewish Deputies, David Ossip, said it cannot be disputed" that a federal royal commission was needed, to loud cheers and applause from the crowd of up to 15,000 people gathered at Bondi, where a minute's silence was held at 6.47pm, the time the attack began. Continue reading...

PostNord's decision to end service on 30 December comes after fear over increasing digitalisation' of Danish societyThe Danish postal service will deliver its last letter on 30 December, ending a more than 400-year-old tradition.Announcing the decision earlier this year to stop delivering letters, PostNord, formed in 2009 in a merger of the Swedish and Danish postal services, said it would cut 1,500 jobs in Denmark and remove 1,500 red postboxes amid the increasing digitalisation" of Danish society. Continue reading...

Former Asio chief Dennis Richardson to lead review into AFP and Asio processes amid growing calls for a royal commission

Results of Sunday's snap election in Extremadura are seen as key test of Pedro Sanchez and his PSOE partySpain's beleaguered prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, faces a key test on Sunday when voters in the south-western region of Extremadura cast their ballots in the first major election to be held since a series of corruption and sexual harassment allegations enveloped his inner circle, his party and his administration.Extremadura, once a stronghold of Sanchez's Spanish Socialist Workers' party (PSOE), has been in the hands of the conservative People's party (PP) since 2023, when the latter managed to form a short-lived coalition government with the far-right Vox party, despite finishing just behind the socialists. Continue reading...

Perth and Brisbane to swelter through hottest conditions of Australia's capital cities on Thursday

Clubs including Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City hope to entice fans of top teams looking for festive football fixThe presents are open, the turkey's devoured and the family bickering has momentarily paused. For hundreds of thousands of football fans that can mean only one thing: it's time for the match.But not this Boxing Day. With just one Premier League game being played instead of the usual festive footballing feast, fans are looking elsewhere for blessed respite, with teams lower down the football pyramid hoping to entice those who are desperate to get out of the house. Continue reading...

Prince William and his son prepare a Christmas lunch during visit to the Passage Charity in LondonPrince George joined his father, the Prince of Wales, on a visit to a homelessness project to help with Christmas lunch preparations in London.

Thomas Skinner, who was first to be voted off current series of Strictly Come Dancing, says he got more votes than shownThomas Skinner has alleged he received a message suggesting the BBC had rigged the vote that saw him eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing.

Escaped animal was seen chasing a woman around Upper Seagry and trying to munch on a festive wreathAn escaped goat which went on a rampage in a Wiltshire village was safely lassoed by police carrying riot shields.

National register would have allowed police to better assess risk posed by alleged Bondi shooters before attack, expert says

Senior officials face criticism after review found systemic failings plunged hundreds of thousands of unpaid carers into debtSenior officials who oversaw a flawed benefits system that plunged hundreds of thousands of carers into debt are under mounting pressure over their misleading" response to the scandal.Prof Liz Sayce, the chair of a scathing review into the government's treatment of unpaid carers, last week called for an overhaul of management and culture at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Continue reading...

Attack brings total number of Palestinians killed by Israel to 401 since October ceasefire took effectThe Israeli military killed six Palestinians, including a baby, who were in a school that sheltered displaced people in Gaza City on Friday, hospital officials have said. The attack brings the number of Palestinians killed by Israel to 401 since the October ceasefire took effect.Israeli troops fired over the ceasefire line which they have withdrawn to, killing the Palestinians and wounding a number more, the Palestinian civil defence said in a statement. It added that it was only able to recover the bodies after coordinating with the UN, to ensure they did not also come under Israeli fire. Continue reading...

Lawyers argue cumulative disruption' regulations were quashed in May and should therefore not be usedThe Metropolitan police have been using powers they no longer have to crack down on pro-Palestine protests, according to legal experts.Based on evidence obtained by the Guardian and Liberty Investigates, legal experts said officers had imposed restrictions on at least two protests based on their cumulative disruption" since their power to do so was quashed by the court of appeal in May. Continue reading...

Port says it is working to resolve issues but urges passengers not to arrive more than two hours before departureThe Christmas travel plans of tens of thousands of ferry passengers at the Port of Dover have been delayed by IT problems with French border control.Millions of motorists hit the roads this weekend in the Christmas getaway, with travel experts warning people to plan ahead to avoid Grinch-worthy" delays. Continue reading...

Gone are shots of puddings and sweets as advertisers try to market other foods to stay within rules coming into force on 5 JanuaryThe festive season is traditionally a time of national culinary overindulgence but eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that this year's crop of big-budget Christmas TV ads have been decidedly lean and sugar-free.From Tesco and Waitrose to Marks & Spencer and Asda, the UK's biggest exponents of extravagant festive food marketing have put their Christmas ads on a diet to comply with new regulations banning junk food products from appearing in TV ads before 9pm. Continue reading...

The Strangers, a horror tale written during the playwright's college days, appeared in the Strand magazine this weekAs one of the 20th century's most successful playwrights, Tennessee Williams penned popular works at the very pinnacle of US theater, including A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.Years before his almost unparalleled Broadway triumphs, however, the aspiring writer then known simply as Tom wrote a series of short radio plays as he struggled to find a breakthrough. One is The Strangers, a supernatural tale offering glimpses into the accomplished wordsmith that Williams would become, and published for the first time this week in the literary magazine Strand. Continue reading...

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reclines across five people in one photo watched by Ghislaine Maxwell at Sandringham

Attacks come after two US soldiers and interpreter killed as Trump says US inflicting very serious retaliation'The US military launched airstrikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday in retaliation for an attack on US personnel, two US officials have said.The attacks came after Donald Trump vowed to hit back after an attack last weekend in Syria by a suspected Islamic State member. Continue reading...

The justice department is using a variety of tactics to try to obfuscate the US president's connection to the sex offender

Family who said they paid cash were left embarrassed after being accused of not paying 20.01Drivers have accused a leading petrol station security company of issuing false" fuel theft debts, which left one family unable to fill up their car at more than 1,000 filling stations for more than a year.Amjad Khan and his family were barred from multiple petrol stations around Blackburn for 19 months after he was accused of driving out of an Esso petrol station in Manchester without paying for 20.01 of fuel. Continue reading...

Who Is Your Neighbour? lets people talk in constructive, thoughtful ways to offer an antidote to division and despair Donate to the charity appeal hereIt was a filthy day in Rotherham as Storm Bram swept through the town earlier this month. Roads had turned into rivers and sodden St George's flags flapped from lamp-posts at half mast.Inside the community centre, the heating was turned up, the bacon butties were on order and the tea was brewing. It was time for some Difficult Conversations. Some of them, it turned out, about those soggy flags. Continue reading...

Funding to tackle misinformation and cyber-attacks, and boost democracy, cut from 40m to 24mKeir Starmer's raid on overseas aid has led to a 40% cut in funds for countering Russian aggression and misinformation in a region of Europe described by the prime minister as vital to the UK's national security.British funding committed to bolstering the western Balkans, where Russia has been accused of sowing division and creating destabilisation, has been cut from 40m last year to 24m for 2025-26. Continue reading...