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Latest figures show more than 230 schools affected by crumbling concrete, but many have yet to be told when rebuilding will beginSchools forced to evacuate children after finding crumbling concrete could face years in portable buildings and temporary classrooms as the government drags its heels on funding, experts have warned.The number of schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which the Health and Safety Executive has said is now life expired" and could collapse with little or no warning", has been steadily rising since the government announced the sudden closure of more than 100 schools at the end of August, just days before the start of the new academic year. Continue reading...

Rail experts say predicted passenger congestion north of Birmingham will mean ticket price rises to reduce demandNew plans to resolve the rail capacity issues created by the cancellation of HS2's northern legs are years away, the Observer has been told, amid claims that passengers will have to be priced off the railways to tackle congestion.Experts said the decision to cancel phase two of the project, which took it north of Birmingham, would have knock-on effects for the rest of the century. One said Rishi Sunak's decision to cancel was like taking a body and ripping out the backbone - you're left with a wobbly amoeba". Continue reading...

Ewe rescued from bottom of Highland cliffs after two years also helps promote mental health awareness among farmersA ewe known as Britain's loneliest sheep", which was rescued after being stranded for two years at the foot of a cliff north of Inverness, is being used to promote a festive campaign to reduce loneliness in the farming community.The three-year-old, now named Fiona, was rescued last month from a cave where she had sheltered from the harsh weather on the North Sea coast near Brora. Her fleece, which had grown so long it was dragging on the ground, was to be sold for charity. Continue reading...

As one in seven accused of offences keep working, Lib Dems call on home secretary James Cleverly for radical overhaul' of vettingMore than 1,100 police officers across England and Wales are under investigation for sexual or domestic abuse, prompting fresh calls for vetting and misconduct procedures to be radically overhauled.Of these, 180 - almost one in seven - have been allowed to carry on working as normal despite the severity of the offences. Of the 1,151 officers under investigation, 428 have been placed on restricted duties, with another 378 suspended. Continue reading...

NHS Confederation boss calls on government and unions to end dispute in England before six-day action beginsPatient safety will be put at risk in the next round of junior doctors' strikes in England, a health leader has warned while pleading for ministers and the British Medical Association (BMA) to end the dispute.Junior doctors have returned to work after a three-day strike, with the next spell of industrial action - the longest in NHS history - less than a fortnight away. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer has his eyes on the prize, Liz Truss looks serene and Boris Johnson lives down to expectationsNothing says Christmas more than a personalised card. If you didn't get any this year, fear not as the politicians have not disappointed.While some went all out, tinsel and all, others took a more subtle approach. Here is a list of a few you may not want to miss. Continue reading...

Decades after shared appreciation mortgage launch, case brought by law firm due to reach high courtIt was one of a list of millennium products" lauded by the then prime minister, Tony Blair, as an example of the very best of British innovation, creativity and design".But, almost 25 years later, the shared appreciation mortgage (Sam) is effectively going on trial at the high court, accused of ruining lives and leaving some people owing 10 or 12 times the sum they originally borrowed. Continue reading...

Online stores take biggest hit as overall takings this weekend likely to be 4.5% down on last yearRetailers are hoping a last blast from Christmas shoppers will save their festive season, with Saturday expected to be one of the UK's biggest spending days of the year.Almost 2.5bn is expected to be spent before Christmas Day over what some are calling the super weekend" - although that would be 4.5% down on last year and represent an even bigger fall in the volume of goods bought once inflation is taken into account. Continue reading...

Asylum seekers living on the vessel moored in Portland, Dorset say they expect another boring' day on the floating prison'As the final decorations are placed on Christmas trees across the country and families get together to exchange gifts and enjoy turkey with all the trimmings, asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge are expecting another boring" day on Monday - standing in long queues for food they say is inedible, in the cramped accommodation they describe as a floating prison".The controversial Home Office barge, moored in Portland, Dorset, is home to more than 300 asylum seekers. Officials insist it is necessary to use it to reduce the 8m per day hotel bill to accommodate those seeking refugee status. The government has said it will publish the cost per head of housing people on the barge in the New Year. Corporate Travel Management (CTM) have been awarded a 22,450,772 two-year contract to manage the barge. Continue reading...

It made us fight more,' says one former Fatah intelligence chief, among those warning strategy could prove counterproductiveA worldwide campaign of assassinations of Hamas leaders announced by senior Israel officials is likely to be counterproductive, impractical and ineffective, targets of previous such efforts have suggested.Benjamin Netanyahu first announced the new strategy two weeks after the 7 October attacks launched by Hamas into southern Israel which killed 1,200 people. Continue reading...

After Serhiy Sydorenko underwent corneal surgery in Poland last year, he saw his wife, children and a much-changed worldIt was a week before Christmas last year when Serhiy Sydorenko underwent corneal surgery on his right eye, a complicated operation that, if successful, would put an end to more than three decades of blindness for the 56-year-old Ukrainian.When the nurses first removed the bandages some hours after the operation, all he could see was light. Painfully bright light, as though someone was directing a beam right at his face. The nurses applied eyedrops and re-tied the bandages. Continue reading...

Landmark case over popular snowball candle holder design may open door to retrospective claims across blocOne of Sweden's longest-established glassmakers is facing what could be a landmark legal challenge over 1m in royalties it has allegedly failed to pay to the creator of one its most famous pieces, in a test of an EU-wide bestseller" right that was brought in to strengthen cultural creators against producers and publishers.Cloudy of hue and with a rustic texture that breaks the flickering tealight inside, the snowball" glass lantern is a classic item of Swedish household design, as ubiquitous in the Nordic country's homes as the Billy bookcase. With more than 15m sold worldwide, it has also been a reliable money-spinner for its manufacturer, Kosta Boda. Continue reading...

Ukrainian forces shoot down three Russian bomber aircraft, says Kyiv; Moscow threatens to retaliate if US confiscates frozen Russian assets

Supermarket says there have been no complaints and the New South Wales recall is being done as a precaution'The chance of metal contamination has led to supermarket giant Woolworths issuing a recall in New South Wales for a batch of a common Christmas treat.Woolworths said the affected product is Shortcrust Summer Berry Mince Pies, sold in six-packs, with a best before" date of 13 June 2024. Continue reading...

Seventeen-year-old has been speaking since returning to the UK. He appeared in southern France last week after going missing on holiday in Spain aged 11Teenager Alex Batty has said the worst thing about the six years he was missing abroad was not having a proper education", according to reports.Speaking to the Sun newspaper, the 17-year-old said he must have read the Harry Potter books at least 20 times" and his main pastime was reading as he could rarely access wifi. Continue reading...

NSW SES warns heavy rain may cause flash flooding with storms forecast across three states from Christmas Eve to Boxing DayResidents of Australia's eastern states have been warned to prepare for severe storms forecast over the Christmas weekend.Thunderstorms are expected between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day across a broad region, including much of New South Wales and south-east Queensland and spreading down into Victoria. Continue reading...

The weather bureau has issued an extreme fire danger warning for the Burrup district on SaturdayFirefighters on Saturday continued to battle multiple blazes across Western Australia as authorities warn of more difficult" days ahead.Seven emergency-level blazes have destroyed homes and torn through bushland, rural properties and suburbs on Perth's fringes in the past three days. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed. See all our Israel-Gaza war coverage here Continue reading...

Piece showing three aircraft on stop sign in Peckham was confirmed as genuine by the artist on InstagramTwo men have been filmed taking an artwork created by Banksy from a south London street less than an hour after it was confirmed as a genuine installation.The artist confirmed the piece - a traffic stop sign covered with three aircraft said to resemble military drones - was his in a social media post shortly after midday on Friday. Continue reading...

Eurostar and Eurotunnel services resume on Friday but drivers face 60-minute queue for French border controlsChristmas getaway disruption was continuing on Friday with long queues for cross-Channel journeys, motorway closures and train cancellations on one of the busiest days of the year for travel.In the late afternoon the Port of Dover in Kent said it was taking about 60 minutes to process cars before French border controls. Continue reading...

Three rail companies saw their highest ever number of payments to passengers for delayed services in NovemberIn analysis that might not come as news to rail passengers already stranded this festive season, Labour have warned of potential Christmas chaos" on trains after data showed a record level of payouts for rail delays in November.Three train operating companies - Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway (GWR) and East Midlands Railway - saw their highest ever number of payments to passengers for delayed services last month, above pre-Covid levels, the party said. Continue reading...

Electra Schrock arrested after alleged incident in Malibu, involving the actor, best known for sitcom Two and a Half MenActor Charlie Sheen has been allegedly attacked in his home by a neighbour who was later arrested by police, US media have reported.Sheen, star of numerous movies and the hit television sitcom Two and a Half Men, was not seriously injured in the assault, allegedly carried out by 47-year-old Electra Schrock who had attacked him after knocking on the door of his home in the upmarket beachside neighbourhood of Malibu in California. Continue reading...

US opposes making demand for suspension of hostilities, lack of which International Rescue Committee calls unjustifiable'

Move is latest in round of executive clemencies meant to rectify racial disparities in the justice systemJoe Biden is pardoning thousands of people who were convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia, the White House said Friday - his latest round of executive clemencies meant to rectify racial disparities in the justice system.The US president is also granting clemency to 11 people serving what the White House called disproportionately long" sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.The Associated Press contributed reporting Continue reading...

Grouping that includes descendants of Indigenous Brazilians as well as of Africans now outnumbers white populationMixed-race Brazilians are now the largest population group in the South American country, the latest census has revealed, as the number of people identifying as African-descended in Brazil continues to grow.New data from the 2022 census released on Friday shows that 92.1 million Brazilians identify as mixed-race, equivalent to 45.3% of the population. This is up from 43.1% in 2010, when the last census was carried out. Continue reading...

PM announces different timetable for rise in earnings threshold people must cross to bring family to UKRishi Sunak has said the minimum salary levels needed for British nationals to bring foreign relatives to the UK will rise to 38,700 in 2025, adding yet more confusion to the rapidly changing rules.The prime minister's comments come just a day after an initially unnoticed parliamentary answer said the much-criticised plan to more than double the threshold from 18,600 a year to 38,700 was being shelved. Continue reading...

Mission accomplished!' says Andrew Ridgeley, while Cher becomes oldest woman to score a UK Top 40 hitWham! have finally earned a Christmas No 1 for Last Christmas, 39 years after the song was denied the festive top spot by Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas?.With the song's pain and poignancy still undimmed thanks to the tangibly heartbroken performance of the late George Michael, it was streamed 13.3m times this week, and was helped along by special vinyl and CD editions. Continue reading...

The former chancellor is one of four partners at Robey Warshaw, which did not specify how much he would collectGeorge Osborne will collect a share of a 28m payout for his work as partner at the City advisory firm Robey Warshaw.The former chancellor, who orchestrated the austerity drive after the financial crisis, is one of four partners at the Mayfair-based company which announced on Friday it would pay out a total of 27.98m to four men. Continue reading...

Officials say no visible movement at site near Grindavik but it is possible lava may still be flowing underneathAuthorities in Iceland have downgraded the threat level from the volcano that erupted earlier this week, as officials said they could no longer observe volcanic activity at the site of the eruption.The eruption on Monday opened a fissure in the ground about 2.5 miles (4km) long, spewing orange lava into the sky only 2 miles from the town of Grindavik. Continue reading...

Social media influencer, who is awaiting trial, had asked to leave country after mother suffered heart attackA Romanian court has rejected Andrew Tate's emergency" request to visit his mother in hospital in the UK.The social media influencer said he had asked to leave the country after his mother suffered a heart attack. Continue reading...

Zelenskiy confirms exchange after call with Dutch PM; Russian defence ministry claims five Ukrainian downed south of the capital

This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereRegulated rail fares in England will rise by nearly 5% in March, PA Media reports. PA says:The Department for Transport has set a cap of 4.9% for increases to most fares regulated by the government, which include season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long distance routes and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.July's RPI measure of inflation, which is traditionally used to determine annual fare rises, was 9.0%.Having met our target of halving inflation across the economy, this is a significant intervention by the government to cap the increase in rail fares below last year's rise.Changed working patterns after the pandemic mean that our railways are still losing money and require significant subsidies, so this rise strikes a balance to keep our railways running, while not overburdening passengers. Continue reading...

Those not eligible for Medicare due to their visas to get free hospital care, dental and other servicesPeople fleeing the Israel-Gaza war will receive free healthcare under a Victorian initiative, amid calls for other states to follow suit.The state's health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, will on Saturday announce people fleeing the conflict - who aren't eligible for Medicare due to their visa - will be able to access essential healthcare, specialised mental health support and language services. Continue reading...

Exclusive: The apparent error has been occurring for at least three years and has been blamed on a transition to new computer systemsThe Department of Veterans' Affairs has apologised for chasing elderly Australians for alleged pension overpayments and has blamed a systems error for wrongly targeting those aged over 90.After a Guardian Australia report on the issue, a departmental spokesperson said a number of veterans were incorrectly subjected to compliance reviews, resulting in debt notices. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereVit Rakuan, the Czech interior minister, said this morning that 14 bodies had been identified, including 13 victims and the shooter.There are no foreign nationals among the dead, he said.Dear friends, please approach the tragedy that happened yesterday at [Charles University Faculty of Arts] with sensitivity and consideration.Many people have lost loved ones and friends, the depth of their pain and sorrow is hard to imagine. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Goods such as meat, cheese and confectionery stolen in large amounts to be sold to people hit by high cost of living

Firm gave near 80% pay increase to founder despite uncertainty over approval of UK banking licenceRevolut swung to a 25m loss in 2022 after shelling out more on staff and a near 80% pay jump for its founder, despite uncertainty over the approval of the fintech firm's UK banking licence.The company, which became the UK's most valuable fintech firm in 2021, detailed the loss in its delayed annual report on Friday, marking a return to the red after reporting its first-ever annual pre-tax profit - worth 39m - a year earlier. Continue reading...

Massimo and his British wife Dee say settlement scheme designed to frighten immigrants into leaving UKAn Italian restaurant owner and his British wife have had their bank accounts frozen overnight after 15 years of custom in a catastrophic" post-Brexit tactic they say is designed by the government to frighten immigrants into leaving the UK.Massimo and Dee are two of thousands of EU citizens who are discovering the permanent residence (PR) cards they obtained were invalidated by Brexit and even after 21 years of paying tax in the UK it does not entitle them to remain. Continue reading...

High court order says hotels can be used only for very short periods in true emergency situations'The Home Office has been banned from accommodating lone asylum seeker children in hotels apart from for very short periods in true emergency situations" after a long-running high court case.The home secretary's practice of routinely and systematically accommodating these children in hotels has been ruled unlawful in an order finalised on Thursday. The order states that since December 2021 this practice has exceeded the proper limits of his powers". Continue reading...

Thousands gather on Salisbury Plain and more watch online as the sun climbs again after the longest nightIt was a little chilly, with a strong wind whipping at the robes of the druids, and cloud meant the sunrise was a soft blur rather than a spectacular blaze.But the thousands who turned up on Salisbury Plain to mark the solstice at Stonehenge relished the moment when the sun climbed again after the longest night. Continue reading...

Keziah Macharia, 41, will appear in court next week over killing of Kobi Dooley-Macharia in east LondonA woman has been charged with the murder of her four-year-old son in east London.Keziah Macharia, 41, will appear at Thames magistrates court on Friday over the death of Kobi Dooley-Macharia, who suffered knife injuries at a property in Montague Road, Hackney, on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Up to 127mm of rain falls on Florida and gusty winds and flash flooding hit parts of Georgia and South CarolinaLast weekend, a low-pressure system that had developed over the Gulf of Mexico tracked north-east across the Florida peninsula. Lashings of heavy rain and strong winds were brought to Florida during the early hours of Sunday morning, dumping up to 127mm (5in) of rain on the state in its passing.The low-pressure system, termed a nor'easter", continued to track north-east, strengthening and bringing gusty winds and flash flooding to the coastal parts of the south-east US, including Georgia and South Carolina. Continue reading...

Judge concludes case and reserves his decision after more than four weeks of evidenceBruce Lehrmann's lawyers have argued on the final day of his high-profile defamation trial that Brittany Higgins told complete falsehoods" and her allegations were part of a political hit job" fuelled by her partner.Justice Michael Lee on Friday concluded the case and reserved his decision after more than four weeks of evidence and submissions. Continue reading...

Lehrmann has sued Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten for defamation in the federal court of Australia over Brittany Higgins interview on The Project. Follow live

Teenager says he invented a story about walking for four days through mountains in order to protect his mother and grandfatherAlex Batty, the teenager who returned to the UK six years after he disappeared with his mother and grandfather, has revealed he decided to come back for a better future, having realised his mother was a great person but not a great mum".Interviewed for the first time, the 17-year-old said he realised he could no longer live with his anti-government, anti-vax" mum after an argument. Continue reading...

Coalition MP Colin Boyce claimed highest travel allowance of $29,623 for third quarter in 2022, while Adam Bandt claimed $15,309 for plane charterAnthony Albanese and Richard Marles have defended themselves and their colleagues over millions in taxpayer-funded expenses claimed by federal politicians, as political spending again comes under the microscope after the release of long-delayed reports.The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (Ipea) this week published new reports giving the public insight into how politicians spend public funds on office expenses and travel.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Outgoing Welsh first minister reflects on his achievements before stepping down in springThe outgoing Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, says he hopes his time in power will be remembered for radical" measures such as clamping down on second home ownership in Welsh language heartlands and introducing the much-reviled 20mph speed limit.Drakeford, who announced last week he would be stepping down, criticised the UK Conservative government for not taking the devolved nations more seriously and said a Labour administration in Westminster was desperately needed to fix broken Britain". Continue reading...

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Calls and contacts to helplines remain higher than pre-pandemic, compounded by cost of living crisisRising numbers of women are experiencing domestic abuse at Christmas, with calls to helplines still higher than pre-pandemic levels due to the cost of living crisis.Refuge, the leading support service in England, said calls and contacts to the national domestic abuse helpline in 2023 were still far higher than pre-pandemic, with 171,490 calls in the year ending March 2023. Continue reading...

Which? research also shows eight out of 10 think treatments and medications are expensiveA quarter of pet owners have concerns about potential over-treatment of their animals by vets amid concerns around unclear pricing, a Which? survey has found.The consumer champion's research shows that eight out of 10 think that vet treatments and medications are expensive but that it is hard to shop around due to unclear pricing online. Continue reading...