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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...

Yoon Suk Yeol's party offered him the chance of a dignified exit but he chose to double down on his martial law gambit

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...

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...

Vote comes almost two weeks after Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law plunged country into crisis

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...

Investigation unfolding on an hourly basis' after Zhuojun Sally' Li's body discovered on Monday in Botany

Senior figure in Liberal party's right wing held prominent cabinet positions in the Howard and Abbott Coalition governments

Police allege devious and cruel scheme' caused significant and serious psychological harm to the six-year-old and his sibling

Man, 36, charged on Friday with publicly displaying the symbol of a prohibited terrorist organisation, AFP says

Ongoing infiltration by Salt Typhoon group has hit US telecoms companies and Trump, Vance and HarrisDemocrats and Republicans have come together in a rare moment of unity to condemn an espionage-driven Chinese infiltration of the US telecommunications system that has been called the worst hack in American history.Carried out by a group called Salt Typhoon that is believed to be linked to China's communist regime, it has resulted in the infiltration of dozens of US telecoms companies and the data of senior political figures - including the president-elect, Donald Trump; the incoming vice-president, JD Vance; and Kamala Harris, the defeated Democratic presidential candidate - being stolen. Continue reading...

Labor's capitulation on adult crime, adult time' and David Crisafulli's abortion gag show both parties struggling to adjust to life on opposite sides of the chamberAdult crime, adult time" is now law in Queensland. Kids as young as 10 can theoretically face life sentences. There are few comparable democracies that have ever sought to punish children as harshly.On Thursday, the permanent erasure of fundamental human rights principles passed the Queensland parliament as a sort of anticlimax. The new LNP government, which had flagged the changes since before the election, said the laws were a first strike back" to restore community safety.Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Continue reading...

NSW police flagged down by hotel security guard on Friday night after man allegedly failed to leave when asked

Statement from the Duke of York says he met the businessman through official channels' and nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed'The Duke of York has said he ceased all contact" with the businessman accused of being a Chinese spy after receiving advice from the government.Prince Andrew met the individual through official channels" with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed", a statement from his office said. Continue reading...

Some angry that politician with Italian roots easily obtained citizenship while on trip to meet PM Giorgia MeloniItaly's government has granted citizenship to Argentina's president, Javier Milei, on account of his Italian family roots, prompting outrage among opposition politicians who contrasted his treatment with that of the children born in Italy of migrant parents.Milei is in Rome to meet the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and to take part in her Brothers of Italy party's annual festival on Saturday. Continue reading...

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Former US House speaker is receiving treatment and continuing to work, spokesperson saysNancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the US House of Representatives, suffered an injury on a trip to Luxembourg and has been admitted to a hospital for evaluation, her office said in a statement on Friday.Pelosi, 84, is the first woman to serve as speaker of the House and had also been a longtime leader of the House Democratic caucus. Continue reading...

Marine Corps veteran to make first public appearance since being acquitted of homicide charges in Jordan Neely's deathJD Vance, the vice-president-elect, confirmed that Daniel Penny, a Marine Corps veteran recently acquitted of homicide charges, will be his invited guest at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday in Maryland.Penny will watch the game from a suite alongside president-elect Donald Trump and other figures in Trump's next administration, including his defence secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth. Continue reading...

Mohamed Iidow attacked Natalie Shotter over and over again' after she had passed out in London parkA wicked" predator who was caught on CCTV raping and killing an NHS worker on a park bench has been jailed for life.Mohamed Iidow attacked Natalie Shotter, 37, while she was passed out in Southall Park, west London, after a night out. Jurors had heard how the former child stage star had died from a heart attack caused by being orally raped over and over again". Continue reading...

Conservatives have long desired to slash programs that help with healthcare, food, housing and transportationAs they prepare to take control of the White House and Congress next month, conservatives are eyeing cutbacks to federal programs that help tens of millions of women pay for healthcare, food, housing and transportation.Slashing or overhauling social support programs, long a goal of Republican lawmakers, could be catastrophic for women experiencing poverty. Supporters contend the social safety-net programs are already grossly underfunded. Continue reading...

Xi is expected to rebuff the offer, as attending the event might put the Chinese president in a subservient positionDonald Trump has invited China's hardline president, Xi Jinping, to his inauguration next month in an audacious diplomatic gambit that Beijing has reportedly indicated would be rebuffed.The president-elect's overture - which his staff said might also be extended to other leaders - broke with historic precedent, which holds that no foreign heads of state are expected to attend US presidential inauguration ceremonies. Continue reading...

The new building, 1 Undershaft, will be 309.6m tall, matching the height of the Shard to the centimetreThe Shard is going to have to share its title of the UK's tallest building after planning permission was granted for a new skyscraper in the City of London.When it is completed early next decade, 1 Undershaft will be 309.6 metres tall, matching the height of the Shard to the centimetre, the maximum allowed due to civil aviation rules. Continue reading...

Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and Scott Jeff, 24, jailed after Isabella Jonas-Wheildon endured callous' campaign of abuseIt is thought that two-year-old Isabella Jonas-Wheildon had been dead for about three days when the girl's mother, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, and her partner, Scott Jeff, were captured on CCTV wheeling the toddler's body around Ipswich in a pushchair. Footage shows the pair pushing the child's body to a service station, a pub and to shops to buy video game equipment in the days after her death.Police believe that the child - described as perfect in every way" by her family - died on the evening of 26 June 2023 after a campaign of abuse by Jeff, 24, who had only been in her life for 36 days. On Friday, Jeff was sentenced to 26 years in prison for Isabella's murder. Her mother received a sentence of 10 years for allowing her daughter's death. Continue reading...

Briana Boston used same words written on ammunition at scene of killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian ThompsonA Florida woman has been arrested and charged after allegedly using the same language associated with the suspect in the murder of a top health insurance executive while on a phone call with her healthcare firm.Briana Boston, 42, had just had a medical claim denied and was talking on a phone call with a representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield. The Lakeland resident then allegedly said: Delay, deny, depose. You people are next." Continue reading...

Exclusive: Abu Hassan al-Hamwi's HTS group coordinated rebels to create a unified war effort that included a specialist drone unit

Joint-venture hailed as a pivotal moment' for the international aerospace and defence industryPlans to develop a sixth-generation British fighter jet to rival America's have taken a step forward with a deal to form a new company comprising defence and aerospace firms from the UK, Italy and Japan.BAE Systems, Italy's Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Company (JAIEC), which each hold a third of the as-yet-unnamed joint-venture is expected to be established by the middle of next year. Continue reading...

Mayor Sadiq Khan says inflation-busting increase forced on him by ministers but bus and tram fares remain frozenFares on London Underground and rail services in the capital will increase by an inflation-busting 4.6% next March, while bus and tram fares will remain frozen.The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the significant increase, double the rate of inflation, was forced on him by ministers who expected such a rise to unlock national funding for key transport projects. Continue reading...

Veteran centrist is the fourth French prime minister this year as country struggles with growing political crisisFrancois Bayrou, a veteran centrist and ally of president Emmanuel Macron, has been appointed French prime minister, after last week's historic vote of no-confidence ended the beleaguered and short-lived minority coalition of the rightwing Michel Barnier.Bayrou, 73, is the leader of the centrist MoDem party and a political heavyweight from south-western France who calls himself a man of the countryside". A former education minister, and mayor of the south-western town of Pau, he has been an ally and close confidente to Emmanuel Macron since he swept to power in 2017. Continue reading...

Ofcom said postal company took insufficient and ineffective steps' to improve its performance after 5.6m fine last yearRoyal Mail has been fined more than 10m by the postal regulator for missing its delivery targets, with more than a quarter of first-class mail arriving late.Ofcom, which fined the company 5.6m for the same failure of its regulatory obligations last November, said Royal Mail took insufficient and ineffective steps" to improve its performance this year. Continue reading...

RMT members were due to take action on 22, 23 and 29 December, causing major disruption to rail servicesTrain managers at Avanti West Coast have suspended strike action that would have caused significant disruption over Christmas, after the company submitted a revised offer to union members in a row over rest day working.Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) were due to take action on 22, 23 and 29 December, which would have caused major disruption to rail services running between London, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Continue reading...

As the long-running inquiry into one the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history wraps up, we review the evidence from key playersMore than 1,000 days since the inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal first opened on Valentine's Day 2022, it is set to hear its closing arguments next week. The chair, Sir Wyn Williams, and his team will then go away to distil the millions of pages of testimony from more than 5,000 witnesses.The final report and its recommendations are expected to be published in 2025, with the hope it will help prevent a repeat of the mistakes that led to hundreds of wrongful convictions. Continue reading...

Campaigners condemn watchdog ruling and say the incident in Hackney, east London, traumatised' the boyThe actions of armed police who surrounded and arrested a 13-year-old boy after an officer mistook his water pistol for a real gun were reasonable in the circumstances", the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.The boy suffered soft-tissue injuries after he was rammed off his bike by a police van and handcuffed as he was confronted by marksmen in Hackney, east London, in July last year. Continue reading...

Seen as a controversial nominee, Patel is acquiring senate judiciary committee support for confirmationDonald Trump's nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, has broadly locked down support from Republicans on the Senate judiciary committee, paving the way for his confirmation to the role after the current director announced his intention to resign when the president-elect takes office in January.The idea of securing support from the judiciary committee, according to two people familiar with the matter, is that if the committee reports out his nomination perhaps unanimously, it would make it politically harder for any skeptical Republicans to oppose him later. Continue reading...

Amid Italian island's worst drought, towns such as Troina are fighting for survival as supplies run dry and tensions riseAn ancient Sicilian proverb goes like this: When water to two fountains flows, one will stay dry - that's how it goes." The residents of the small town of Troina in the heart of Sicily, struck by a long and unprecedented drought, perhaps understand its meaning better than anyone else. When authorities decreed that the little water left in their dam should be shared with the villages of another province, they took action, and, on 30 November, occupied the distribution centre of the reservoir, blocking access.It's a war between the poor; we are aware of it," says Salvatore Giamblanco, 66, owner of a bed and breakfast in Troina. But we had no other choice. The dam is drying up. We have difficulty finding water for ourselves. I had to cancel numerous reservations due to the lack of water. If we also have to share what little we have with other towns, we will all be left dry." Continue reading...

Like other colonies, the Caribbean nation retained the British monarch as head of state after independence in 1962The Jamaican government has taken its first step toward removing King Charles as head of state, presenting a bill in parliament to abolish the constitutional monarchy and transition the country to a republic.Like many former British colonies, Jamaica retained the British monarch as its head of state after achieving independence in 1962. The monarch is represented in the country by a governor general. Continue reading...

Karl Bareham inquest hears from father who travelled from UK to deliver statement to court

Russian military strikes targeted Ukrainian power grid, according to country's energy ministerRussia on Friday launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine, involving dozens of cruise missiles and drones.The Russian military targeted the Ukrainian power grid, the energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, wrote on his Facebook page. The enemy continues its terror," he said. Continue reading...

Chinese businessman known to Duke of York loses appeal over decision to bar him on national security groundsA Chinese businessman described as a close confidant" of the Duke of York has lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds.The man, known only as H6, brought a case to the special immigration appeals commission (SIAC) after the then-home secretary, Suella Braverman, said he should be excluded from the UK in March 2023. Continue reading...