World news | The Guardian

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...

Follow the day's news live

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...

Zoopla says December's figures have been boosted by an increase in the number of homes for saleProperty sales and demand across the UK were almost a fifth higher in the final weeks of 2023 than a year earlier as sentiment improved, according to a survey.The property website Zoopla said new sales agreed were 17% higher in December than this time last year, when higher mortgage rates hit market activity. Demand is up 19%, measured by would-be buyers contacting agents to inquire about and arrange viewings for a specific property listed on Zoopla. An increase in the number of homes for sale is increasing choice and supporting sales, it said. Continue reading...

The Politics Weekly America team are taking a break. So for the next two weeks, we're looking back at a couple of our favourite episodes of the year.From August: Jonathan Freedland and Amanda Marcotte try to figure it out why rightwing politicians and pundits took such a disliking to Barbie, Greta Gerwig's summer blockbuster. They look at what the outrage can tell us about how the Republicans will campaign in 2024Archive: Fox News, NBC, The Ben Shapiro Show Continue reading...

Princess Royal shares details from Elizabeth II's final days in BBC documentary to be broadcast on Boxing DayAfter a lifetime of public service, the late queen was still preoccupied with her duty in the last days of her life, expressing concern that it would be difficult" if she died at Balmoral, the Princess Royal has revealed.But Elizabeth II was advised her worries shouldn't be part of the decision-making process", says Anne in a documentary marking the first year of King Charles's reign, which will be shown on Boxing Day. Continue reading...

Indigenous Australians department says it is giving advice on treaty and truth processes, but declines to reveal commission's status

A vote on the security council resolution will most likely be held off until Friday, according to reportsThe World Health Organization said on Thursday that northern Gaza had been left without a functional hospital due to a lack of fuel, staff and supplies.There are actually no functional hospitals left in the north," Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in Gaza, told reporters via video link from Jerusalem. Continue reading...

It took a day for the authorities to get access after the flooding, but a mud-soaked army of volunteers had already emerged

Hospital and aged care operator says cyber-attack was first detected on Tuesday and is investigating what data has been accessed

Investigation found complaints of serious neglect' related to former archbishop's failure to act on knowledge of abuse were substantiated

One person injured in Russian drone attack on Kyiv; Zelenskiy says military intelligence suggests Russia's military activity is slowing down

A marine expert has said that locals should be careful around the seal and remember that he is a wild animal after footage of his antics went viralThe rising fame and viral antics of a 600kg southern elephant seal known for venturing away from the coast and hauling himself about the streets of Tasmania's southern beach suburbs, have left marine experts concerned for his welfare.Neil the seal has become a social media celebrity, with an Instagram account that documents his life accruing more than 45,000 followers since he was officially identified on a haul out", a period in which seals come to land to rest, in July 2022. Continue reading...

Average cost comes despite recent fall in cost of petrol at the pump as drivers pay 12.50 more per tank than in 2019This year fuel forecourt prices have been the second highest on record, according to the AA, even though petrol fell to its lowest level in more than two years this week.Despite the recent drop, the average cost of petrol and diesel across 2023 has meant another year of pain for drivers, beaten only by last year's shock at the pumps, according to the motoring body. Continue reading...

Listed places of worship grants were awarded to almost 5,000 religious buildings for essential work to roofs, masonry and monumentsCarol services, midnight mass, small children dressed up as wise men and angels: for many people, Christmas is the one time each year when they visit their local church. And on Thursday the government announced it had given 42m of public money in 2023 to help conserve and maintain almost 5,000 listed churches and other religious buildings.Grand cathedrals and small parish churches benefited from grants dished out by the listed places of worship grant scheme for essential work to roofs, masonry and monuments. Since 2010, the fund has paid out 346m. The money covers VAT liable on the cost of works. Continue reading...

Asta Jonasson alleges Fast and Furious actor assaulted her in 2010 in Atlanta hotel during Fast Five filmingThe actor Vin Diesel, of the Fast and Furious franchise, has been accused of sexual battery by a former assistant in a lawsuit filed on Thursday.The incident allegedly occurred during the filming of Fast Five in 2010, according to the lawsuit, which was first reported by Vanity Fair. Asta Jonasson said that the actor forced himself on her while she was working as his assistant. Hours after the alleged assault, she was fired, the lawsuit states. Continue reading...

Exclusive: We could forever redefine the term Murphy's law",' one politician says in tribute to late colleague Peta Murphy

Rise in unsecured debt which includes car loans and unpaid utility bills shows fragility of national economic health, Labour saysBorrowing on the likes of credit cards and overdrafts will rise by 5,000 a household in the next five years, according to Labour analysis that the party says shows the fragility of national economic health.Analysis of statistics in the November economic outlook produced by the government's Office for Budget Responsibility shows that unsecured debt, also covering many car loans, is forecast to rise 154bn by 2028, the party said. Continue reading...

A 74-year-old carer was mistakenly declared dead by Centrelink two times in a case advocates describe as illustrating the devastating consequences of automation'

Department unexpectedly announces interim increase to just 29,000, with no timeline given for planned full rise to 38,700The Home Office has made a U-turn on its much-criticised plan to imminently raise the minimum salary requirement for British nationals bringing foreign family members to the UK, saying the threshold will first be raised to 29,000 instead of 38,700.The revised proposal, announced unexpectedly and without fanfare in a parliamentary answer, said the threshold would be increased incrementally" and would still eventually hit 38,700, but gave no timescale for when this would happen. Continue reading...

Police say gunman owned multiple firearms, as allowed by among the most permissive gun laws in the EUA fatal mass shooting in the cloistered environs of Prague might seem a bolt from the blue. In a city historically renowned for defenestrations but less for violent crime, safety and security are taken for granted much more than in most European capitals.The reaction of Prague's mayor, Bohuslav Svoboda, whose offices at Prague New Town Hall lie a short distance from the scene of the crime, conveyed many locals' bewilderment as they struggled to digest the horror that had unfolded. Continue reading...

Police chief says premeditated violent attack' at Charles University appears to have been inspired by massacres abroadA student at Prague's Charles University shot and killed 14 people and injured 25 others, 10 of them seriously, before being found dead, in what is believed to be the worst mass shooting in the Czech Republic's modern history.The city's police chief, Martin Vondraek, told a press briefing on Thursday evening that the death toll may rise further, adding that the shooting had been a premeditated violent attack", apparently inspired by similar massacres abroad. Continue reading...

After 11-year wait for inquest into his death in custody, relatives say Devon and Cornwall police still need to admit mistakes

But critics say the raising of the San Jose, sunk in battle with British ships in 1708, might damage the country's cultural heritageThe Colombian government has announced that it will attempt to raise objects from the 1708 shipwreck of the galleon San Jose, which is believed to contain a cargo worth billions of dollars.The 300-year-old wreck, often called the holy grail of shipwrecks", has been controversial, because it is both an archaeological and economic treasure. Continue reading...

Officials say gunman was a 24-year-old Charles University studentAmid tensions about Poland's state media, members of parliament from the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) went to the headquarters of the Polish Press Agency.Brussels today disbursed 1.5bn for Ukraine - the last past of a 18 billion package. Continue reading...

Church observers allege further irregularities after difficult polling day, but main opposition leader declines to join call for re-runVoters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been left with more questions over the credibility of this week's presidential election, amid fresh accusations of irregularities, as voting came to an end on an unplanned second day of balloting.An observer mission formed by two church bodies, the Episcopal Conference of the Congo and the Church of Christ in the Congo, reported that 11% of voting machines had been set up at military schools, contrary to election law, according to reports from the local news site Actualite.cd. Continue reading...

Program - under scrutiny after imprisonment of Canadians in China - said to lack safeguards to protect officers overseasA controversial intelligence-gathering program run by Canada's foreign affairs ministry operates in a distinctly grey zone", puts its officers at risk and breaches global diplomatic conventions, says a damning watchdog report.Canada's global security reporting program (GSRP), a critical part of the foreign ministry's security and intelligence footprint overseas, places officers in countries with poor human rights records" including Ethiopia, India, Egypt, Turkey, Israel and China. Continue reading...

Annual results show it holds only 244m for payments to wrongly convicted branch managers, after fewer appeals than expectedThe Post Office has almost halved the amount set aside for payments to branch managers wrongly convicted in the Horizon IT scandal as fewer than expected have won or brought appeals.The scandal, frequently described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history", resulted in more than 700 post office operators being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 for theft, fraud and false accounting because of faulty accounting software installed in the late 1990s. Continue reading...

Adam Bodnar is determined to reverse damage to judicial system inflicted by defeated PiS, which led to clashes with EUPoland's new justice minister has vowed to find any niche in the legal system" that will allow him to push through reforms, as he starts work to reverse the rule of law breaches carried out under the previous government.Adam Bodnar, a law professor and former human rights ombudsman, was elected to Poland's upper house of parliament in the October election and became justice minister last Wednesday, part of a new government led by prime minister Donald Tusk. Continue reading...

Last-minute Eurotunnel strike by French unions in Calais halts services as Storm Pia causes travel problems across countryPassengers are suffering fresh disruption in the Christmas getaway after severe weather left rail lines blocked around Britain, while a strike by French Eurotunnel workers has halted Eurostar trains and cross-Channel shuttle services.Strong winds from Storm Pia, including gusts of up to 80mph in northern Britain, have blown down trees on tracks around the country. Continue reading...

Measure, introduced in August, in effect gave people granted leave to remain just seven days' notice to move onMinisters have quietly reversed an administrative change made in the summer that resulted in refugees being evicted from hostels with just seven days' notice, triggering a surge in street homelessness.The Home Office admitted that it had abandoned the measure, introduced in August, which in effect reduced the notice-to-quit period from 28 days to just a week, giving refugees awarded leave to remain little time to find alternative housing and get social security support. Continue reading...

Victoria Atkins had claimed many junior doctors were unhappy about the BMA's decision to call strikes for this weekNHS Employers has said hospital staffing levels seen during this week's junior doctors' strike in England will not be sustainable" when they stage the longest walkout the health service has ever seen next month.Danny Mortimer, the chief executive of NHS Employers, which is part of the NHS Confederation, made the point in a letter to the BMA seen by PA Media. In it Mortimer said January would be when the NHS faced greatest pressure on services and teams, each and every year".In a system already facing enormous demand, it is the week that most teams dread as it is likely to be the busiest for emergency care.Your joint letter with NHS England makes clear that in relation to the December action that the staff recall and derogations process remains largely the same as the previous strikes.I recognise that there are countless examples where our colleagues are not able to do their very best for their patients, but the first fortnight in January is one of the times when this risk dramatically increases.I would urge the leadership of the BMA to not therefore make this position worse during strike action in January. Continue reading...

Migration through the treacherous Darien gap is slowing as less restrictive air routes open up between South and Central AmericaTwo children from the west African nation of Guinea who were abandoned in Bogota's airport have been taken into government custody after spending several days on their own in the international departures terminal.Colombia's national immigration department said the children, aged 10 and 13, had been travelling with separate groups and were left in the airport by their relatives earlier this month for reasons that have not been clarified. Continue reading...