Writing on X, jailed Russian opposition leader said he was still in a good mood' after an exhausting transfer to the Polar Wolf' prisonThe jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he was fine" after a pretty exhausting" 20-day transfer to a penal colony beyond the Arctic Circle.The Kremlin critic's whereabouts had been unknown for more than two weeks, but he is in a penal colony in Russia's far north and has been visited by his lawyer, his supporters have said. Continue reading...
by Adam Fulton (now and earlier); Fran Lawther, Léon on (#6HCZZ)
This blog is now closed. See all our Israel-Gaza war coverage hereIraq's government has condemned overnight US air strikes on Iraqi military positions that it said killed one serviceman and injured 18 other people, calling them a clear hostile act".The US carried out retaliatory air strikes on Monday in Iraq after a one-way drone attack earlier in the day by Iran-aligned militants that left one US service member in critical condition and injured two others, Reuters reports. Continue reading...
Newly released 1999 briefing by Irish civil servant reveals lack of trust during tense peace negotiationsDavid Trimble was extraordinarily rude" to Tony Blair during tense negotiations about the implementation of the Good Friday agreement, accusing the then prime minister of laying a crude trap" for unionists, one Irish official wrote of the encounter in 1999.The meeting between Blair and Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionist party, took place in Belfast as the British prime minister and Ireland's taoiseach Bertie Ahern met all the Northern Ireland parties to discuss the steps that needed to be taken to implement the peace accord. Continue reading...
Conservatives also reportedly planning to cut inheritance tax in three months' time, as party struggles badly in pollsThe Conservatives could introduce a series of pre-election giveaways with measures to support first-time buyers and scrap inheritance tax, according to reports.With the Tories struggling badly in the polls and an election almost certain next year, the Times said the government is to promise to cut the upfront cost of a home for first-time buyers. Continue reading...
In unrelated cases, man held on suspicion of murder after death of 29-year-old in Nottingham and another man held after second deathMurder investigations have been launched after the deaths of two men in Nottingham and Workington, Cumbria, in separate incidents on Christmas Day.In Nottingham, emergency services were called to the scene on Wollaton Road at 8.15pm after a 29-year-old man was injured in an assault. He was taken to hospital by ambulance but died a short time later, Nottinghamshire police said. His family have been informed. Continue reading...
Met Office expects potentially hazardous conditions on the roads in all four nations, with only central UK escaping a wind warningDrivers have been warned of potentially hazardous conditions as Storm Gerrit hits the UK on Wednesday.A number of yellow wind and rain warnings are in place across much of the UK and wintry hazards are likely, forecasters have warned. Continue reading...
Sir David Omand tells parliamentary inquiry the platform should be restricted to background mood music'The former head of GCHQ has called for an end to the government handling crises over WhatsApp, saying the platform might suit gossip and informal exchanges but is inappropriate for important decision-making.Sir David Omand, who ran the UK intelligence service before becoming the permanent secretary of the Home Office and the Cabinet Office, criticised the way government was conducted in the pandemic and said future crises should be handled with proper process". Continue reading...
BBC showed nine out of 10 most popular shows, according to overnight data, with Strictly coming second and Doctor Who thirdKing Charles's Christmas broadcast came top of the TV ratings on Christmas Day, with the BBC showing nine out of the 10 most watched shows.The king's message, which reflected on the increasingly tragic conflict around the world", attracted an average of 5.9 million viewers, according to overnight ratings. Continue reading...
Reports party is considering options for processing asylum claims overseas criticised by SNP, charities and pressure groupsLabour has been warned that processing asylum claims offshore could harm refugees and amount to dancing to the Tory tune" on immigration, as it declined to rule out adopting such a policy.The party has been looking at offshoring" to deal with migration via illegal routes but charities, the SNP and the leftwing pressure group Momentum have said it would be a dangerous path to go down. Continue reading...
Series regular, who was described as effortlessly charming' by Fiona Bruce, died peacefully on Christmas morningOne of the most beloved experts on the Antiques Roadshow, pottery guru Henry Sandon, has died at the age of 95.Appointed curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum at the Royal Worcester factory in 1967, Sandon joined BBC One's Antiques Roadshow for its second series in 1979. Continue reading...
by Associated Press and Guardian staff on (#6HD6Z)
Blaze reported about 2am but was quickly contained and family living at property escaped safelyBeyonce's childhood home in Houston caught fire early on Christmas morning, though the family living there escaped safely.The fire was reported at about 2am on Monday. The local fire department arrived on the scene of the two-story brick house within three to five minutes, the Houston Chronicle reported. Continue reading...
by Rachel Hall (now) and Lili Bayer (earlier) on (#6HD10)
This live blog is now closed but you can read more on this story hereHere is a video of the large explosion in Crimea as a Ukrainian airstrike hit a Russian warship during an overnight attack on the Crimean port city of Feodosia, Russia's defence ministry and officials said.The Interfax news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying that Ukraine had used guided missiles launched by aircraft to attack Feodosia. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#6HD72)
Exclusive: government to rebrand scheme amid fallout from Farage scandal that cost Alison Rose her jobA state-backed review into female entrepreneurship is to be rebranded by the government as part of efforts to cut ties with the former NatWest chief executive Alison Rose, months after pushing her to resign over a scandal linked to Nigel Farage's bank accounts.The Rose review" is to be renamed after the banking executive was asked by the department for business and trade to leave the project, and the next stages for the initiative are expected to be announced within weeks, the Guardian can reveal. Continue reading...
Actor criticizes company for firing him from show House of Cards over claims of sexual assault and says it exists because of himThe actor Kevin Spacey has claimed credit for putting Netflix on the map" and criticized the streaming platform for firing him from its show House of Cards over claims of sexual assault, some of which resulted in an acquittal during a summertime trial in the UK.It is bizarre that they decided to publicly cut ties with me on allegations alone - allegations that have now been proven false," Spacey said on Sunday in a Christmas Eve interview with Tucker Carlson on X, formerly known as Twitter. Because I don't think there's any question Netflix exists because of me. Continue reading...
Victim, a man in his 20s, pronounced dead after police and paramedics attended scene in TadcasterA man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an incident in a North Yorkshire town in the early hours of Boxing Day.The victim, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning shortly after police and paramedics arrived at Rosemary Court in Tadcaster. Continue reading...
UK caseworkers appear predisposed to discredit' applications, says senior figure of disbanded democratic movementA senior figure in the disbanded democratic opposition in Hong Kong has accused the Home Office of hardening its stance towards those fleeing the former British colony after a series of absurd" rejections of asylum claims.The rejection notices have demanded a contact address for a dissident leader who is in hiding from the Hong Kong authorities, included incorrect personal details, and cited a New York Times article as evidence that they could not have secured a passport if they were in any real danger. One applicant acquitted in Hong King of rioting' was told this showed that there was no danger to her although the authorities soon after sought to bring her back to court.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Thousands sign petition challenging Macron-backed restoration that would add contemporary design to buildingA plan backed by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to replace stained-glass windows in Notre Dame Cathedral's side chapels with contemporary creations has been criticised as vandalism".A petition has been signed by more than 120,000 people to retain the original windows. Critics say the change would destroy the architectural harmony of the historical building that was ravaged by fire in April 2019. Continue reading...
A 49-year-old man died of his injuries after a stabbing in Shoreditch in the early hours of Boxing DayTwo men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a fatal stabbing in central London in the early hours of Boxing Day.Police and paramedics were called at about 3.10am on Tuesday to reports of a stabbing in Cranwood Street in Shoreditch, near Old Street underground station. Continue reading...
Author says he had to adjust to becoming another person' after injuries in Boxing Day fall last yearHanif Kureishi has spoken candidly of how his sense of self and privacy have been completely eradicated" after a fall on Boxing Day last year left him unable to use his hands, arms or legs.As guest editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the novelist and screenwriter also said he had to adjust to becoming another person" after the accident, which happened as he was walking in Rome. Continue reading...
Silvana one of potentially thousands who were unaware of need to apply for post-Brexit EU settlement schemeAn Italian environmental technology investor who has lived in the UK for 14 years has discovered she could be removed despite getting a permanent residency" card after Brexit.She is one of potentially tens of thousands of EU citizens who were unaware the Home Office changed the rules in 2019 requiring them to apply for a different scheme, called EU settlement. Continue reading...
Rapper posts message in Hebrew to social media, saying he is committed to making amends and promoting unity'Kanye West has apologised to the Jewish community" for a series of antisemitic remarks he made in 2022.In a statement posted in Hebrew on his Instagram account, where he has 18.2m followers, he wrote (as translated by Google): I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community ... It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused. I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity." Continue reading...
by Kiran Stacey and Richard Partington on (#6HD30)
Exclusive: Labour leader wants to finalise manifesto in February and move to campaign footing in anticipation of May voteKeir Starmer has ordered his frontbench team to finalise their manifesto policies within weeks as Labour moves on to a campaign footing before what officials believe will be a spring election.The Labour leader has told shadow ministers to have their policy proposals ready by mid-January in time for the manifesto to be completed by 8 February. He will also embark on a series of public question-and-answer sessions between January and March to highlight each of Labour's five missions, which he hopes will define the election. Continue reading...
Prof Mike Wooldridge will address looming questions around AI in this year's Royal Institution Christmas lecturesConfiding in ChatGPT about work gripes or political preferences could come back to bite users, according to an artificial intelligence expert.Mike Wooldridge, a professor of AI at Oxford University, says sharing private information or having heart-to-hearts with a chatbot would be extremely unwise" as anything revealed helps train future versions. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray Midlands correspondent on (#6HD13)
Chair says it is frightening' that a third of pubs are still being converted or demolished without planning permissionThe pub industry has faced one its toughest years to date, with businesses closing their doors in large numbers, according to the chair of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), as he criticised the government for failing to act after the Crooked House scandal.Nik Antona, head of the consumer group, said a frightening" number of pubs were still being demolished or converted without permission, despite the outcry over the destruction of the famously wonky Black Country pub. Continue reading...
Two women reported missing in flood waters in Gympie as Bureau of Meteorology warns of further thunderstorms on Boxing Day nightSevere thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected to continue to batter the east coast until at least Wednesday evening, as thousands of households remained without power on Boxing Day.Severe weather warnings have been issued for large parts of the New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland coasts, covering metropolitan areas as well as some regional areas. Continue reading...
Map shows 350 coal tips close to communities as UK government unwilling to take on costsEdmund Richards, who worked for 40 years as a miner, shakes his head sadly as he gazes at one of the many disused coal tips at the head of the Rhondda Fawr valley in south Wales. They're on the move," he says. No doubt. From time to time, inspectors will come and have a look, and say all is fine, but everyone around here knows they are on the move, on the slide."It isn't always easy to spot the tips in this craggy landscape decades after most of the mines closed. Often, they are cloaked in scrub and trees but Richards, 80, says everyone who lives nearby knows where they are and is worried about them. They need to get on and sort them out once and for all," adds Richards. It's only a matter of time before something terrible happens." Continue reading...
More than 9,000 people given six to 12 months for shoplifting in past two years would now be made to do community serviceShoplifters will benefit most from the government's plans to impose a moratorium on jail sentences of less than 12 months in England and Wales, figures show.Despite Rishi Sunak's attempt to introduce tough sentences for criminals in the run-up to the general election, shoplifters, offenders convicted of battery, and those who have assaulted emergency workers, are the top three groups who will avoid prison under the government's new measure.Theft from shops - 3,848 / 5,289Common assault and battery - 3,153 / 3,071Assault or assault by beating of an emergency worker - 3,050 / 2,233Breach of restraining order (Protection from Harassment Act 1997) - 2,221 / 2,477Having an article with a blade or point in a public place - 2,089 / 2,346Driving while disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence - 1,817 / 1,817Burglary with intent in a building other than a dwelling - 1,392 / 1,868Assaults occasioning actual bodily harm - 1,316 / 1,470Production, supply and possession with intent to supply a class B drug - 1,249 / 1,330Aiding, abetting, causing or permitting reckless driving - 1,430 / 1,260 Continue reading...
Australian Retail Association predicts $23.9bn in spending for sales period ending on 15 JanuaryRetailers are expecting Boxing Day shoppers to spend $1.25bn on Tuesday as the sector hopes for relief from a drop in discretionary spending.Retail sales have been sluggish throughout 2023 as cost-of-living pressures bite. Continue reading...
Monarch says in his second Christmas Day message that his coronation was a call to us all to serve and care'King Charles has praised the work of volunteers, calling them a selfless army of people" who form an essential backbone of our society".In his second Christmas speech, the king said he was delighted that hundreds of volunteers and their representatives attended his coronation in May, saying their presence emphasised the meaning of coronation itself, above all, a call to us all to serve one another, to love and care for all". Continue reading...
by Nadeem Badshah (now), Yohannes Lowe (earlier) on (#6HCK2)
This blog is now closed. See all our Israel-Gaza war coverage here Here are more details of the Egyptian plan to end the conflict, as reported by the Associated Press:The call is for an initial ceasefire of up to two weeks during which Palestinian militants would free 40 to 50 hostages in return for the release of 120 to 150 Palestinians from Israeli prisons, the Egyptian official said.At the same time negotiations would continue on extending the ceasefire and the release of more hostages and bodies held by Palestinian militants, he said.Egypt and Qatar would work with all Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to agree on the establishment of a government of experts, he added.The government would rule Gaza and the West Bank for a transitional period as Palestinian factions settled their disputes and agreed on a roadmap to hold presidential and parliamentary elections.In the meantime, Israel and Hamas would continue to negotiate a comprehensive all-for-all" deal, the official said. This would include the release of all remaining hostages in return for all Palestinian prisoners in Israel, as well as the Israeli military's withdrawal from Gaza and the Palestinian militants' halting of rocket attacks into Israel. Continue reading...
Man in his 20s died and man in his 40s remains in serious condition after attack at Browne's SteakhousePolice have stepped up uniformed patrols in Dublin after a shooting incident at a restaurant on Christmas Eve.A man in his 20s died and a man in his 40s is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds after the incident at 8pm on Sunday. He remains in a serious condition in Connolly hospital. Continue reading...
Spirit Airlines sent boy to Orlando instead of Fort Myers, leaving his grandmother to drive 160 miles to pick him upA six-year-old boy boarded the wrong airplane last week, making a holiday trip look more like a Home Alone sequel in Philadelphia.Spirit Airlines placed Casper on the wrong flight on Thursday, making his first flight one to remember. His grandmother was expecting him to arrive in Fort Myers, Florida, but instead he landed in Orlando. Continue reading...
Bandits' started attacks in Bokkos area and spilled into neighbouring Barkin Ladi, according to local chairmanArmed groups have killed at least 160 people in central Nigeria in a series of attacks on villages, local government officials said on Monday.The toll marked a sharp rise from the initial figure reported by the army on Sunday evening of just 16 dead in a region plagued for several years by religious and ethnic tensions. Continue reading...
Keir Starmer mulling detailed plans' to outsource process overseas as alternative to Rwanda planLabour is reportedly considering a scheme that would see asylum seekers' claims processed elsewhere.Keir Starmer is mulling detailed plans" for an offshoring scheme as he seeks to deter Tory attacks on Labour's alternative to the Rwanda plan, the Times said on Monday. Continue reading...
Iranian officials vow revenge after Sayyed Razi Mousavi, top member of Revolutionary Guards, reportedly killedAn Israeli airstrike in a Damascus neighbourhood on Monday killed a high-ranking Iranian general, Iranian state media has said.Iranian officials and allied militant groups in the region vowed revenge for the killing but did not immediately launch any retaliatory strike. Continue reading...
Opposition group Serbia Against Violence staged protests over elections deemed irregular by international rights watchdogsSerbian police have detained at least 38 people who took part in a protest over an election earlier this month that international monitors said was unfair.Opposition group Serbia Against Violence has been staging protests since the 17 December elections, saying there was election fraud, particularly in the capital, Belgrade. The governing populists were declared winners of the parliamentary and local councils' elections. Continue reading...
Jailed Russian opposition leader doing well', according to aides, nearly three weeks after going missingThe jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been located in a remote prison colony above the Arctic Circle after going missing for nearly three weeks, his aides have said.Navalny was tracked down to the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets region, about 1,200 miles north-east of Moscow, his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on Monday. We have found Alexei Navalny," she wrote on X. Continue reading...
Snowflakes in Aviemore warrant Met Office certification but mid-Atlantic conditions hand Exeter airport 13.2CForecasters have officially declared a white Christmas" with snow falling across parts of Scotland - after the record for the highest daily minimum temperature for Christmas Day was broken further south.Snow, sleet and rain moved across parts of Scotland, with Tulloch Bridge and Aviemore recording snowflakes, the Met Office said. Continue reading...
Ukraine celebrates holiday on 25 December rather than 7 January for first time, in move to distance itself from RussiaVolodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the shooting down of two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve and said this Christmas sets the right mood for the entire year ahead".In a Christmas message marking the first time Ukraine has officially observed the holiday on 25 December rather than 7 January, Zelenskiy also referred to Ukraine's claim to have destroyed a further three Russian fighter planes on Friday. Continue reading...
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