Pope cancelled Saturday activities due to light flu' a week before key climate addressPope Francis has undergone hospital tests after he came down with the flu but the results ruled out any respiratory problems, the Vatican said.Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, underwent a Cat scan, the Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said. Continue reading...
by Hayden Vernon (now) and Angela Foster and Hamish M on (#6GN2T)
This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story herePictures show a school that was hit by Russia's drone attack on Kyiv last night. Ukraine said the overnight drone attack was the largest of the war so far.It's approaching 2pm in Kyiv. Here are the day's main developments so far:The former Russian prime minister turned Kremlin critic Mikhail Kasyanov has been added to a list of foreign agents", Russia's justice ministry has announced. Kasyanov, who was the first head of Putin's government in the early 2000s, now appears in the justice ministry's register of foreign agents, a term reminiscent of the Soviet-era enemy of the people".Five people have been injured after Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in what officials said was its largest drone attack of the war to date. The attack began hitting different districts of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, with more waves coming at sunrise. The air raid warning lasted six hours.The Swiss president, Alain Berset, is in Kyiv to meet his Ukrainian counterpart and attend an international summit on food security.The UK says Russia's Black Sea fleet is facing issues reloading its vessels with cruise missiles. Continue reading...
Five people injured in Kyiv attack in what could be start of winter campaign to destroy infrastructure Russia-Ukraine war - latest news updatesRussia has sent waves of kamikaze drones into Ukraine in what Kyiv claims is the most intensive drone attack since the start of the war. Many in Ukraine fear it could be the start of a long campaign of strikes aimed at destroying the energy infrastructure.Kyiv was the main target," the Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his Telegram channel. The capital was attacked in the early hours of Saturday with around 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones, Ukrainian officials claimed, adding that 71 had been shot down. Continue reading...
Office for Budget Responsibility says UK entry into the Indo-Pacific agreement will add just 0.04% to GDP in the long runThe UK's flagship trans-Pacific trade deal, which was presented as a cornerstone of post-Brexit global Britain", will deliver even less benefit to the economy than the tiny uplift that was previously predicted, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.In a report accompanying last week's autumn statement, the OBR said the UK's entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would add just 0.04% to GDP in the long run", which it defines as after 15 years of membership. Continue reading...
by Agence France-Presse in Antananarivo on (#6GN5X)
Ten of the dozen other candidates had refused to campaign and called on voters to shun the ballotThe president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has been re-elected in the first round of a ballot boycotted by nearly all opposition candidates, the national election commission said.Rajoelina won 58.95% of the votes cast in the 16 November presidential election, according to figures presented by the poll body, although the result needs to be validated by the constitutional court. Continue reading...
Feras al-Jayoosi, 36, charged with stalking Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, in series of emailsA man has been remanded in custody for allegedly sending threatening and abusive messages about Israel and Gaza to a Conservative MP.Feras al-Jayoosi, 36, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was arrested by counter-terrorism officers on Thursday on suspicion of harassment. Continue reading...
No new investment in staffing and buildings in England and Wales, despite Rishi Sunak's funding pledgeHeadteachers have called the government's failure to invest in school staff and crumbling buildings in the autumn statement an absolute disgrace".Unions said this weekend that the government had now lost any vestiges of credibility among teachers after the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, failed to announce any new investment for schools on Wednesday - despite Rishi Sunak's pledge at last month's Conservative party conference that education would be his main funding priority". Continue reading...
Billionaire submits proposals for scheme that government minister Robert Jenrick pushed in 2020, with nearly twice the number of properties of original plansA Tory donor is drawing up fresh plans for a controversial property scheme that was at the heart of a lobbying row involving a senior minister.Richard Desmond, the billionaire former owner of the Daily Express, has submitted new proposals for a huge housing project in east London, with almost twice the amount of housing envisaged under the original plans. Continue reading...
Efforts to free 41 workers stuck in tunnel for almost two weeks hit another setback as earth-boring machine breaks downIndian rescue workers have brought in a new digging machine to open a vertical shaft to free 41 men trapped inside a collapsed road tunnel, after efforts via another route hit a snag metres away from them.In the latest setback in attempts to rescue the increasingly desperate workers, who have been trapped for almost two weeks, engineers driving a metal pipe through 57 metres (187ft) of rock and concrete ran into metal rods and construction vehicles buried in the earth. Continue reading...
Former PM accused of opposing special military operation' in Ukraine and being member of Anti-War Committee of RussiaThe former Russian prime minister turned Kremlin critic Mikhail Kasyanov has been added to a list of foreign agents", Russia's justice ministry has announced.Kasyanov, who was the first head of Putin's government in the early 2000s, now appears in the justice ministry's register of foreign agents, a term reminiscent of the Soviet-era enemy of the people". Continue reading...
Home secretary says policy not be all and end all' of plans to tackle illegal immigration, in clear break from BravermanJames Cleverly has said he is frustrated with the fixation on the government's Rwanda policy, saying it is not the be all and end all" of plans to tackle illegal immigration.The home secretary, who replaced Suella Braverman after she was sacked almost a fortnight ago, told the Times he had become frustrated with the focus on the Rwanda plan. Continue reading...
Deadly blaze that began on fourth floor of six-storey building in commercial capital leaves 35 injuredAt least 11 people have been killed and 35 injured in a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's commercial capital of Karachi, officials said.More than 60 people were inside the mall when the fire broke out on the fourth floor of the six-storey building in the southern port city. Continue reading...
by Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent on (#6GN1S)
Findings may not be released until summer as process of writing to those likely to be criticised proving time-consuming'The official findings about what caused the Grenfell Tower disaster have been delayed again and may not be released until the middle of next year - seven years after the council block fire that killed 72 people.It was initially hoped that the report would be published this autumn, then it was pushed to early next year. But now it may not be until summer. It means potential criminal prosecutions for manslaughter, fraud and health and safety offences will also be delayed, with any trials unlikely to start until late 2025 or even 2026. Continue reading...
Shake-up will mean people can pay into more than one Isa of the same type, but experts say 20,000 limit should also riseGetting the best out of Isas should become easier for UK savers after the government announced a shake-up that will let them hop on to higher-paying accounts if they become available.The autumn statement documents revealed ministers are making a series of changes to simplify" Isas. As well as giving people more choice, these will reduce the risk of people accidentally breaking the rules. But some commentators argued that the various changes made the system more complicated, not less. Continue reading...
Richard Marles says two countries committed to a peaceful region where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected'Australia and the Philippines have begun joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China.The three-day exercises follow discussions earlier this year on joint patrols to underscore what the countries say is their commitment to closer cooperation and a rules-based order in the region. Continue reading...
Discovery of intact bottles on 1852 shipwreck sparks development of underwater ageing processYou might think that 1,500 years after the first bottle was drunk there wasn't much more innovation left to be had in the rarefied world of champagne. You would be wrong. The next big thing in the 6bn-a-year industry is: undersea ageing.Like so many of the world's best innovations, it began by accident. In 2010, a group of divers in Finland's Aland archipelago came across the wreck of a ship that sank in 1852 and were surprised to find 145 bottles of champagne 160ft below the surface. Even more surprisingly, the bottles were still full and tasted - in the words of a professor of food biochemistry - incredible - I have never tasted such a wine in my life". Continue reading...
by Adam Fulton and (earlier) Léonie Chao-Fong, Maya on (#6GM62)
This blog is now closed. See all our Israel-Hamas war coverage hereOne woman has been killed and three others wounded after Israeli forces raided the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza, Al Jazeera is reporting, citing Dr Munir al-Bursh, the director general of the Hamas-run ministry of health in Gaza.Another three people were arrested at the hospital, which has been forced to cease operations. As of Thursday, there were an estimated 550 patients remaining at the hospital, as well as 200 medical workers and at least 1,500 displaced Palestinians sheltering at the hospital, according to Al Jazeera.Last night, Israeli forces attacked the hospital with tanks and destroyed all of the first floor. The damage was very bad.Previously, they had attacked the third floor. They arrested at least three people. This is their way of taking over the hospitals before the ceasefire today.IDPs [internally displaced persons] interviewed by OCHA reported that Israeli forces had established an unstaffed checkpoint where people are directed from a distance to pass through two structures, where a surveillance system is thought to be installed.IDPs are ordered to show their IDs and undergo what appears to be a facial recognition scan. Continue reading...
Home Office data reveals impact of end of free movement and raises questions over Border Force hostilityThe number of EU citizens refused entry to the UK since Brexit has increased fivefold, Home Office figures show.In the first three quarters of 2019 just over 2,200 people from the EU were turned away at the border - compared with 11,600 in the first three quarters of 2023. Continue reading...
Concerns echo White House remarks that blocking human rights laws could undermine Northern Ireland peace processRishi Sunak risks ripping up the Northern Ireland peace process if he blocks human rights laws so the UK can deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, senior Conservatives have said.After similar concerns from the White House on Thursday, the MPs said widely reported plans from Downing Street to disregard parts of the Human Rights Act could undermine the Good Friday agreement and damage UK-US relations. Continue reading...
Drew Harris says radicalised people exploited terrible crime' of knife attack to unleash mayhem on streetsIreland's police chief has warned that far-right radicalisation will continue to disrupt the country after a night of arson, rioting and looting left parts of Dublin resembling a war zone.The capital was tense on Friday as significant numbers of police remained on the streets and Dublin counted the cost of an anti-immigrant protest that turned into anarchy, leaving the political establishment shocked. Continue reading...
Consumers report problems using bank's app on one of the busiest shopping days of year, Black FridayThousands of HSBC customers reported they were unable to access its online and mobile banking services on one of the busiest online shopping days of the year - Black Friday.More than 4,000 customers said they could not access their accounts via the HSBC app on Friday, according to Downdetector, which tracks and collates website outages and complaints. Continue reading...
Officers were called to an address in Dagenham, east London where they found 40-year-old and two firearmsA man who told officers he had firearms and was going to harm himself has died in a police shooting in east London.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the incident in Dagenham.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 counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Louie Turnbull pleads guilty to owning dangerously out of control animals after they attacked woman's dog by east London canalA man whose two dogs were shot dead by police in front of him has been given a suspended sentence for owning dangerously out of control animals.Viral footage circulated on social media of Metropolitan police officers killing Louie Turnbull's canines beside an east London canal in May this year. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6GMJG)
Force's boss called prosecution of PC Paul Fisher over crash while racing to Streatham stabbings appalling'A police officer who was cleared of dangerous driving after crashing while racing to the scene of a terrorism attack may still face the sack, the Guardian has learned.PC Paul Fisher was acquitted by a jury at Southwark crown court on Friday, leading the Metropolitan police commissioner to describe his ordeal as appalling". Continue reading...
Jonathan Freedland talks to survivors, displaced people and senior political and military figures about life in Israel before and after 7 October, and considers the longer-term ramifications Israel-Hamas war - latest updatesThe war is paused, but it is not over.There will be relief at the promised four days of quiet between Israel and Hamas, and there will be joy for the families waiting to be reunited with loved ones, thanks to Friday's exchange of hostages held in Gaza for prisoners held in Israel. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6GMRE)
Organisers of London protest against anti-Jewish hatred demand that far-right leader stays away, after he claimed to support itOrganisers of a march against antisemitism billed as Britain's biggest since the second world war have demanded that the far-right leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon stay away.Yaxley-Lennon, who uses the name Tommy Robinson, has claimed to support the aims of the march through central London due to be held this Sunday. Continue reading...
Producers take advantage of new shipping options, including government-owned Trans Mountain pipeline, to boost exportsOil and gas producers say they will drill 8% more wells in Canada next year as they look to take advantage of new shipping options, including a controversial government-owned pipeline.Amid forecasts that Canada is not on target to reach its emissions reductions goals, on Friday the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC) predicted nearly 500 more wells next year, to 6,229 projects. Continue reading...
Founder of London restaurants and award-winning author, who was at forefront of small plates' movement, died after short illnessRussell Norman, the award-winning restaurateur and author, has died after a short illness, aged 57.A former English teacher, Norman founded the Italian restaurant Brutto and co-founded Polpo and Spuntino in London. His first cookbook, Polpo: a Venetian Cookbook (of Sorts) won the inaugural Waterstones book of the year in 2012. Continue reading...
Amid festive Thatcher baubles, Johnson mugs and Cameron jugs there's no place for Truss among prime ministers pastFor the man or woman who has everything but an acrylic Christmas jumper bearing the knitted tree logo of the Conservative party: good news.It can now be yours - with 10% off on your first purchase! - from the Conservative party's festive online shop, along with a 2024 calendar of historic election posters and a bauble on which Margaret Thatcher festively bellows: "No, no, no." Continue reading...
Exclusive: UK's largest high-street bank preparing review of middle-management roles in response to expected income squeezeMore than 2,500 jobs are at risk at Lloyds Banking Group, which is poised to become the latest financial institution to announce cost cuts, the Guardian can reveal.Britain's largest high street lender is understood to be considering axing a series of middle-management roles including analyst and product management posts as part of a consultation that is expected to be shared with staff next week. Continue reading...
Second biggest force in England and Wales accused of carrying out poor investigations and failing victims of crimeWest Midlands police said they did not deserve the humiliation of being placed into special measures, as the official watchdog declared it was failing victims and needed extensive improvement.The second biggest force in England and Wales, based in Birmingham, is accused by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) of carrying out poor investigations into crimes, leading to poor results for victims. Continue reading...
Gambling giant Entain reaches deal over past practice at company it owned in TurkeyThe owner of Ladbrokes and Coral has agreed to pay almost 600m to settle an investigation into alleged bribery at a business it owned in Turkey.Entain said it had reached an agreement with HM Revenue and Customs which will make the gambling giant pay a total of 585m in the form of a financial penalty and a disgorgement of profits". Continue reading...
Nick Merriman says inclusion of difficult stories of slavery and empire is not wokery, but simply good history'Stories about the legacy of slavery and colonialism must be central to the way museums and heritage organisations present their collections, as part of a new chapter of what heritage is about", the incoming head of English Heritage has said.Nick Merriman said that a focus on the country's often highly problematic colonial role [has] to be part of the mainstream narrative about British history", and should not be confined only to historic properties, statues or artefacts that had a direct link to slavery or imperial wealth. Continue reading...
PM under pressure from ministers and Conservative backbenchers to crack down on overseas workersRishi Sunak has refused to apologise for record net immigration that breaks a key election promise amid growing pressure for further government action from ministers and Conservative backbench MPs.After official figures showed the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and those leaving had peaked at 745,000, the prime minister said immigration needed to fall to more sustainable" levels. Continue reading...
Burials can go ahead of men who never returned from bombing mission over Germany in 1943Eighty years after they were shot down by the Germans over Dutch waters, British airmen Arthur Smart, Raymond Moore and Charles Sprack can be laid to rest after the Dutch defence ministry confirmed that their remains had been identified.Two silver-plated cigarette cases were found with the initials of 27-year-old flight engineer Smart and 21-year-old wireless operator Moore. Their Lancaster bomber never returned from a mission targeting Bochum in Germany on 13 June 1943. Instead the Pathfinder" was tracked on its way home and shot down into the Dutch waters of the IJsselmeer with seven men onboard. Continue reading...
Drilling machine stalls metres away from where men have been trapped for 13 days since roof collapseHopes are high that in a few hours' time the 41 workers who have been trapped in a tunnel for 13 days in north India will emerge to freedom and fresh air.The mood at the scene - where heavy machinery and a more than 200-strong rescue team have been toiling without a break - was upbeat after a monumental and torturous operation. Continue reading...
Carmaker confirms full details of 2bn investment, including battery factoriesNissan will build three new electric car models at its plant in Sunderland as part of a 2bn investment led by the Japanese manufacturer, in a move welcomed by the UK government and industry.The factory will produce three separate models, yet to be named, and the decision will require a third gigafactory" to supply batteries, to add to one in operation and another under construction near to the plant. The Chinese-owned battery company AESC is in negotiations with Nissan over building the third gigafactory nearby. Continue reading...
Jeff Zucker of Abu Dhabi-backed Redbird IMI insists editorial independence of titles would be protectedThe US boss of the Abu Dhabi-backed company that is the frontrunner to acquire the Telegraph newspapers has accused rival bidders of hypocrisy and reiterated a pledge to the UK government that he would guarantee the newspaper's editorial independence.The bid is being fronted by Jeff Zucker, a former chief executive of CNN who now runs RedBird IMI, which is mostly funded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates and owner of Manchester City football club. Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian