World news | The Guardian

Hundreds rescued in NSW over Christmas break as hot weather sends people flocking to beaches and waterways

Quarter of consumers more likely to visit branches amid struggles with surging energy, food and housing costs, finds KPMG surveyCost of living pressures have increased the number of customers relying on bank branches to help manage their squeezed budgets, research shows.While the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online-only banking, particularly during lockdowns, research from the accountancy firm KPMG showed a quarter of UK consumers were more likely to visit bank branches now that households were grappling with surging energy, food and housing costs. Continue reading...

England to become first country to eliminate virus thanks to targeted screening campaigns and effective treatmentsThe NHS is set to eliminate hepatitis C in England by 2025 due to targeted screening campaigns for those at risk and effective drug treatments, according to health officials. NHS England said the measures are helping to dramatically cut deaths from the virus five years ahead of global targets.Deaths from hepatitis C – including liver disease and cancer – have fallen by 35% since NHS England struck a five-year deal worth almost £1bn to buy antiviral drugs for thousands of patients in 2018. Continue reading...

Exclusive: ONS analysis shows black households five times more likely to struggle to pay energy billsLabour has reaffirmed its commitment to tackle structural racism after new analysis showed black households are five times more likely to struggle making energy bills repayments.Black and minority ethnic people were already 2.5 times more likely to be in relative poverty, and 2.2 times more likely to live in deep poverty (defined as having an income more than 50% below the relative poverty line), than their white counterparts regardless of the energy crisis, figures from the Office for National Statistics show. Continue reading...

Authorities did not confirm if they were charging anybody over use of the restricted spray, which was posted on social media

The Boeing 787 was more than four hours into the flight when it was denied permission to land and forced to return to Melbourne

Health workers report huge jump in mostly elderly Covid patients as China adjusts to living largely without virus restrictionsChinese hospitals were under intense pressure as a surging wave of Covid-19 infections strained resources in the last major country to move towards treating the virus as endemic.In an abrupt change of policy, China earlier this month began dismantling the world’s strictest Covid regime of lockdowns and extensive testing, putting its battered economy on course for a complete re-opening next year. Continue reading...

Rain-induced floods and landslides unlike previous disasters in the country, which are typically triggered by severe typhoonsRescue teams across nine provinces in the Philippines raced to try to locate 26 people missing after weekend rains, floods and landslides that have killed at least 25 people, in one of its deadliest weather events this year.The national disaster agency on Wednesday said casualties reported so far had increased to 25 from 17 the previous day, with most deaths caused by drowning from flash floods. Continue reading...

Daniel Duggan’s lawyer says the 54-year-old pilot will fight any extradition request and resolutely maintains his innocence

Plan will bring Durham, Northumberland, Gateshead, Sunderland, Newcastle, South Tyneside and North Tyneside under control of one mayorA £1.4bn devolution deal for the north-east of England would bring seven local authority areas under the control of an elected mayor in 2024, Michael Gove has announced.The levelling-up secretary set out the £48m-a-year deal for Northumberland, Durham, Newcastle, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Gateshead and Sunderland on Wednesday after months of negotiations over the new devolved area covering 2 million people. Continue reading...

Families losing millions of pounds to unsolved crimes, party says, as it pledges to put 13,000 extra officers on the streetsMore than 1m thefts went unsolved last year, Labour has said, as it branded the figures “disgraceful”.The party’s analysis of crime statistics found that 1,145,254 cases of theft were dropped last year because the police failed to find a suspect. It said that on average a domestic burglary costs victims £1,400, with Labour warning that families were losing millions due to unsolved crimes. Continue reading...

Sydney, Brisbane and Darwin could have showers on New Year’s Eve but forecast sunny for other capitals

Felonies facing rapper Tory Lanez include assault with a semiautomatic weapon and could lead to up to 22 years in prisonA Los Angeles jury on Friday found rapper Tory Lanez guilty of three felonies in the 2020 shooting of hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion that left her wounded with bullet fragments in her feet.The jury deliberated for one day before convicting the 30-year-old Canadian rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. The counts could lead to up to 22 years in prison. Continue reading...

Footballer’s family say they lost their ‘best friend’ in Boxing Day attack and plead for privacyPolice have launched a murder investigation after a man was stabbed on the dancefloor of a nightclub in Birmingham on Boxing Day.The family of the victim, named as 23-year-old footballer Cody Fisher, said in a statement that whoever was responsible had “broken our hearts” and that they had lost their “best friend”. Continue reading...

Warning of further strike disruption as users on some routes advised to avoid non-essential travel until at least 9 JanuaryCrowds of people were left waiting at train stations amid chaotic scenes as Britain’s struggling rail network stuttered back to life after Christmas.Hundreds of passengers were stuck in long queues at major stations on Tuesday and others faced lengthy delays due to overrunning engineering work. Continue reading...

Emma Lovell, 41, was stabbed during an alleged break-in at her family’s home near Brisbane on Boxing DayTwo teenagers have been charged with murder after a woman from Suffolk was killed in an alleged break-in at her family’s home in Australia on Boxing Day.Emma Lovell, 41, was stabbed in the chest at her home on Monday and later died in hospital. Continue reading...

As more people explore outdoors and rescue callouts rise, experts advise use of maps and compassWalkers in the UK have been warned not to rely on smartphones to find their way on hills and mountains, and instead learn to use a map and compass, amid an increase in calls to rescue services.On Christmas Day a walker became unwell and later died after getting into difficulty at Buckstones Jump, near Rydal, in the Lake District. Continue reading...

Death of Pavel Antov, who reportedly criticised Ukraine war, comes days after his travelling companion died at same hotelIndian police are investigating the sudden deaths at a luxury hotel of a wealthy Russian politician who reportedly criticised the Ukraine war, and his travelling companion.The body of Pavel Antov, 65, was found on Saturday in a pool of blood outside his lodgings in eastern Odisha state, where he was on holiday with three other Russian nationals. Continue reading...

Not enough money to repay up to 30,000 customers for deposits on goods ordered at collapsed furniture makerMore than 30,000 Made.com shoppers are collectively owed almost £12m they will not get back, according to the latest report by administrators to the collapsed furniture seller.Shoppers paid £13.7m in deposits on large items such as sofas, according to documents filed with Companies House late last week. However, less than £1.9m has been recouped by customers through card charge-backs, which is where credit card providers refund borrowers when purchases go wrong. Continue reading...

Some voluntary groups have closed and farmers report problems after slow disbursal of UK funds to replace EU money

Ex-Labour MP and former critic of privatisation risks claims of hypocrisy over advisory role with Daniel KřetínskýThe MP turned banker, Chuka Umunna, is advising a Czech tycoon who was accused of planning a secret takeover of Royal Mail by union leaders.The former Labour MP is one of a team of bankers working on Daniel Křetínský’s British business interests, many of which are held within Vesa Equity Investment, including a 23% stake in Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distributions Services (IDS). Continue reading...

Directive also orders personnel not to ‘sanitise’ reports and warns commanders of their potential liability for subordinates’ actions

Conscripts will see the length of their service extended from four months to one year in plans to be outlined by Taiwan’s president

Reconstruction minister quits amid accusations of election law violations and ties to Unification churchJapan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, has ended the year facing fierce political headwinds after his reconstruction minister became the fourth member of his scandal-hit cabinet to resign in two months.Kenya Akiba announced his resignation on Tuesday after opposition MPs accused him of election law violations and of having ties to the Unification church, a controversial religious group whose connections to the ruling party have sent Kishida’s approval ratings to record lows. Continue reading...

The children, aged five, two and two months, were found alive at the crash scene near their Kondinin home

Firefighters forced to flee scene of Newport fire after part of the roof collapsed revealing a ruptured gas line; Louis Ryckmans of the crew of Yeah Baby says he initially thought collision with ‘leviathan’ sunfish was boat hitting a reef. This blog is now closedHeavy rainfall expected across northern Australia: BoMHowe says the tropical monsoon period is “very active” at the moment across northern Australia.That’s associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie which is continuing to deliver heavy rainfall across the NT.There is a warning for intense rainfall and damaging winds. We’ve already seen rainfall totals of more than 200mm over the last few days, causing roads to be washed out. Reminding travellers to take care and check conditions before heading out.We will see a cool change move through Adelaide late tonight and towards midnight, moving through western Victoria in the early hours of tomorrow morning.We will see the cool change move through around lunchtime today for Melbourne and also tomorrow afternoon for Hobart. Continue reading...

Trade was ‘luckiest’ in draw and number 39 was best-bet for jackpots, finds operator CamelotBuilders were once again the luckiest by employment type among national lottery players in a year when more than one millionaire was made each day.The trade was followed by teachers, drivers, retail workers and administration staff, said Camelot, operator of the lottery. Continue reading...

Calls for more funding as potential surge in demand for services in England threatens to put unsustainable pressure on systemMore people will be shut out from mental health services if no new cash is invested in the next two years, experts have warned.Sean Duggan, chief executive of the mental health network at the NHS Confederation, which represents the health and care system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said that a lack of long-term investment combined with a potential surge in demand due to the cost of living crisis would cause unsustainable pressure on the system. Continue reading...

Firm says suburban sites are among its fastest-growing as workers try to save on commuting costsThe return to the office after the pandemic lockdowns gathered pace in 2022 as hybrid working took hold at British businesses and employees headed to desks in suburban locations, according to figures from the workspace provider IWG.The average number of visits to IWG’s more than 300 UK workspaces climbed by 54% from January to November, as more workers split their time between home and office. Continue reading...

From terms to mock the Russian foe to those that mask the grim reality of war, new usages aboundIt was once a superstition only among Ukrainian air crew: the word “last”, especially in the context of a last or final meeting, should be avoided as it denotes a premonition of death.In its place air crew would say krajne, which translates very roughly to English as “on the edge”. Continue reading...

Survey finds 16% of Indigenous Australian staff experienced bullying or harassment – almost double the rate of their non-Indigenous coworkers

Surveillance Australia handed six-year extension just three months after auditor general found home affairs’ management of contract ‘not effective’

Russia can only be invited if it has faced a war crimes tribunal first, says foreign minister, Dmytro KulebaUkraine is aiming to hold a peace summit by the end of February – preferably at the United Nations with its secretary general, António Guterres, as a possible mediator – according to its foreign minister.But Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia could only be invited if the country faced a war crimes tribunal first. Continue reading...

Eight days of isolation will no longer be needed, and officials say citizens’ ability to travel will be slowly restoredChina will drop Covid-19 quarantine requirements for passengers arriving from abroad from 8 January, its National Health Commission has announced in the latest easing of the country’s once-strict virus-control measures.Currently, arriving passengers must quarantine for five days at a hotel, followed by three days at home. At one stage there was a requirement to quarantine for three weeks. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs committee chair says holding of men allegedly involved in protests part of ‘industrialised taking of hostages’All British people still in Iran should leave immediately because of the “industrialised” level of people being taken state hostage, the chair of the foreign affairs select committee has said.Alicia Kearns made her call after the Iranian government said it had arrested seven “British linked” suspects including some dual nationals allegedly involved in the country’s anti-government protests, which began 100 days ago. Continue reading...

Growing numbers of students are experiencing hidden homelessness or accepting poor accommodationStudent housing is reaching a “crisis point” not seen since the 1970s, when students slept in sports halls and their cars, and is set to worsen in the new year, a charity has warned.Since the start of the academic year, students at universities across the UK have complained of fierce competition for rooms in flatshares for the 2022 and 2023 academic years. Continue reading...

Former PM says Rishi Sunak can turn things round, but another senior Tory MP says it’s ‘almost impossible’The Conservative party can still win the next general election if it shows the public it is on their side, Theresa May has said.The former prime minister said Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt could rebuild the party’s reputation for “sound money and sound public finances” within the next two years, after the damage done by Liz Truss’s mini-budget. Continue reading...

Labour says plan to ditch national targets equates to ‘scrapping standards altogether’ , after review by Patricia HewittThe government is preparing to ditch NHS national targets in an attempt to “boost efficiency”, as part of recommendations from a review led by a former Labour health secretary.Patricia Hewitt led the government-commissioned review into the NHS in England, looking at how the new integrated care systems (ICSs) could operate efficiently. The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced the assessment during the autumn budget. Continue reading...

Delays and cancellations linked to 20 years of privatisation, rising costs and labour shortages worsened by pandemic, say expertsRail passengers have been delayed or disrupted on more than half of all train services departing from 15 of Great Britain’s busiest stations in the last year, Guardian analysis shows, exposing what has been described as a “broken” railway system that cannot easily be fixed.Experts said the figures – which show rail services in the north and Midlands as the hardest hit – demonstrated the impact of two decades of privatisation, which had increased costs and public subsidies, combined with labour shortages exacerbated by the pandemic. Continue reading...

At least seven international NGOs have suspended aid, saying they cannot work without female staffThe acting head of the UN mission in Afghanistan met Taliban leaders on Monday in a bid to persuade them to withdraw their ban on all women working for aid agencies.Ramiz Alakbarov met the Taliban’s economy minister, Din Mohammad Hanif, in Kabul, telling him that millions of Afghans need “humanitarian assistance and removing barriers is vital”. Continue reading...

President condemns anti-LGBTQ rhetoric after comment by Orit Strook, which she later said referred to certain proceduresA suggestion by one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s incoming ministers that Israeli doctors should be allowed to refuse treatment to LGBTQ patients on religious grounds has heightened fears that the new government poses an unprecedented threat to gay rights.The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, has weighed in to condemn the growing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, saying: “The racist pronouncements of recent days against the LGBTQ community and other sectors of the public make me extremely worried and concerned.” The president, whose post is largely ceremonial but who commands a degree of authority, added that such rhetoric undermined Israeli “democratic and moral values”. Continue reading...

Concerns over increased influenza and RSV cases also high after indoor gatherings and abandoned preventive measuresUS public health officials are bracing for a possible Covid-19 surge in the coming weeks following indoor holiday gatherings among a populace that has largely abandoned preventive measures.Concerns over this uptick come amid rising influenza and RSV cases in America. This so-called “tripledemic,” experts warn, could further strain the already overburdened US health system. Continue reading...

Defence ministry says drone was shot down on approach to Engels airbase but falling debris killed three

The number of people who have made the dangerous journey this year is now 45,756Ninety people crossed the Channel in two small boats on Christmas Day, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.That takes the provisional total for people making the perilous journey from France during 2022 to 45,756, the highest total since the data was first collected in 2018. According to official figures, last year’s total was 28,526. Continue reading...

With reports of surf life saving rescues up in some states, there are fears of a repeat of last summer, when 145 people drownedAustralians are being urged to be safe in the water this week, as the country enters the most dangerous time of the year for fatal drownings.Two swimmers drowned on Christmas Day – a 36-year-old man in Sydney and a 19-year-old in Lorne in Victoria – and police divers in Western Australia are searching Black Diamond Lake near Collie in the state’s south-west after a 30-year-old man did not return from a swim. Continue reading...

Cloud Act deal will allow authorities to demand data from tech giants in days or weeks, rather than months or yearsA parliamentary inquiry has given the green light to greater information sharing with US law enforcement despite its concern Australians will be kept in the dark about the number of orders made for data.The joint standing committee on treaties has approved Australia’s Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (Cloud) Act agreement with the US, signed by the Morrison government in December 2021, labelling it an “important tool” for investigating serious crime. Continue reading...

A shared sense of national history is proving to be a crucial weapon, spurring on Ukraine resistance and Russian soldiersThe Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko recalls a quote attributed to Otto von Bismarck: “Wars are not won by generals, but by schoolteachers and parish priests.” It’s a country’s taught collective memory, its shared sense of its own history, that are the decisive instruments for mobilisation, and are as important on the battlefield as weaponry.Few conflicts have been so shaped by the chief actors’ sense of their own national story as the Ukrainian war that began in February. It is the competing grand narratives of the past, not just in Russia and Ukraine, but in Germany, France, Poland, the Baltics, the UK, the US, and even the global south, that make this war so hard to resolve. Continue reading...

Warning shots fired after drones crossed military demarcation line from north, South Korea military saysSouth Korea scrambled warplanes and attack helicopters and fired warning shots on Monday after North Korean drones violated its airspace, the South Korean military said.South Korea tracked the drones crossing from North Korea over what is known as the military demarcation line between the two countries after detecting them in the skies of the western city of Gimpo at about 10.25am (0125 GMT), the military said. Continue reading...

No services on railways for second consecutive day as RMT union members strike over payThousands of people face Boxing Day travel chaos across Britain as a rail strike means no services will be running.Many have been forced to cancel or make alternative plans as the industrial action continues. Continue reading...

The slowdown is expected to intensify with price declines between 5% and 12%The housing market will cool sharply next year after a bumpy 2022, industry experts are predicting, as the UK contends with recession and higher mortgage rates.As the cost of living crisis has intensified amid soaring inflation and as interest rates have increased, house prices have already started falling month-on-month. The average house price dropped 2.3% in November from October – the most since the start of the financial crash in 2008 – according to Halifax. Continue reading...