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Exclusive: Officially commissioned research lays out effects of shelving anti-obesity pledges

Just in time for Christmas, Adams county SPCA adopts out 598 animals and reunites 125 with their ownersAn animal shelter in Pennsylvania reached a milestone this Christmas season, celebrating one of the rare moments where less is more.The Adams county SPCA, which houses dogs, cats and other homeless, abandoned or lost animals, was empty for the first time in 47 years, according to a Facebook post from the shelter, reported by CNN. Continue reading...

The streets are usually thronged with tourists and pilgrims but this year the town is mourning the dead of the Gaza war

Frog seller' trend sparks debate on intellectual property amid concerns over copyright infringement

All Ukrainians are together,' president says after government changed date of Orthodox Christmas in snub to Russia

Metropolitan police say 16-year-old boy known to victim and being held on suspicion of murderPolice have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of murder after a woman was stabbed to death in Bermondsey, south London, on Christmas Eve.The Metropolitan police were called shortly after 10pm to reports of a 22-year-old woman with a stab injury at a residential property in Spenlow House on Jamaica Road. Continue reading...

Bjartmar Leosson says at first he was motivated by his anger at Reykjavik's bike thieves. Now he empathises with themIt all started in 2019, when Bjartmar Leosson started to see a rise in bike theft in Reykjavik. Rather than accepting that once a bicycle was stolen it had disappeared forever, the bus driver and self-confessed bike nerd" decided to start tracking them down and returning them to their rightful owners.Four years and, he estimates, hundreds of salvaged bikes later, the 44-year-old has developed a reputation in the Icelandic capital among cyclists and potential bike thieves. Known as the Reykjavik bike whisperer", people across his home city turn to him for help to find their missing bicycles, tools and even cars. Often, he says, bike thieves hand over bikes without being asked and some former bike thieves have started to help him. Continue reading...

Workers claim they have been forced to clean up human faeces, had payments cut off after a death in the family and have had to cancel work to attend provider appointmentsJobseekers say their employment providers have put them in positions where they have been given just one shift a fortnight, had to clean up large amounts of human faeces, and have been cut off payments after a close family member died.In one case, Rebecca, who did not want her last name used, said her disability provider, Multiple Solutions, registered her as a sole contractor and placed her into a role cleaning an aged care home in Gawler, South Australia, without telling her she was technically self-employed. Continue reading...

Professional dancer shares image on Instagram of her and husband Marius Iepure with new babyThe former Strictly Come Dancing dancer Oti Mabuse has given birth to her first child.In a Christmas Day Instagram post, the professional dancer shared images of her and her husband, Marius Iepure, in matching festive outfits, a baby in her arms with a Christmas tree in the background. Continue reading...

One of deadliest periods in conflict, with safe' evacuation zone of Deir al-Balah hit overnight

Clips of chef saying meecro-wah-vay' were shared widely online. That's what we call it at home,' she saysIt was a mispronunciation that launched a thousand memes. Now Nigella Lawson has said she feels too self-conscious to utter the word microwave" after her pronunciation went viral.A clip of the celebrity chef pronouncing microwave" as meecro-wah-vay" while talking about heating milk was shared widely online in 2020. Continue reading...

Police called to fire at Finchley and Golders Green MP's office in north London at about 7pm on Christmas EvePolice in London are investigating a suspected arson attack at the office of the Conservative MP Mike Freer.Officers were called to a fire at the north London constituency office at about 7pm on Christmas Eve, with the London Fire Brigade also on the scene. Continue reading...

So many parts of the world seem beset with violence,' Justin Welby to say as he reflects on plight of children in warThe archbishop of Canterbury and the pope are using their Christmas addresses to show solidarity with Bethlehem and those caught up in the Israel-Gaza war.Referring to Jesus Christ's birthplace, which is now in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Justin Welby will say the skies of Bethlehem are full of fear rather than angels and glory". Continue reading...

Food Standards Agency announces recall on Christmas Eve, saying products should not come in contact with other foodsFour types of cheese have been precautionarily" recalled due to a possible E coli contamination before Christmas Day.The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced the recall for Mrs Kirkham's Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham's Tasty Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham's Mature Lancashire and Mrs Kirkham's Smoked Lancashire on Christmas Eve. Continue reading...

Scientists are studying how a decline in our olfactory abilities can signal conditions such as Alzheimer'sWhether it is the waft of clove-studded oranges or the crisp fragrance of a fir tree, the festive season is filled with aromas that conjure Christmases past. Now researchers say our sense of smell, and its connection to our memory, could be used to help fight dementia.Our senses can worsen as a result of disease and old age. But while impairment to hearing or vision is quickly apparent, a decline in our sense of smell can be insidious, with months or even years passing before it becomes obvious. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Orders should be done within a year of sentence as experts blame chronic understaffing' in probation serviceMore than 5,500 unpaid work orders that form part of community sentences have not been completed more than two years after being handed down, with experts blaming chronic understaffing" in the probation service.Ordinarily the orders, which can be for between 40 and 300 hours, should be completed within 12 months of sentence. Figures show there are more than 15,100 unpaid work orders not completed in that time in England and Wales, Continue reading...

Canberra Raiders recruit dies aged 26 while holidaying with his family at ChristmasThe NRL player Troy Dargan has died in a motorcycle accident while holidaying in the Cook Islands.Dargan played two NRL games, both for South Sydney in 2020, and had joined Canberra on a two-year contract for the upcoming season. Continue reading...

The Bureau of Meteorology warns of more thunderstorms and heavy rain for large parts of Australia's east coastQueenslanders and parts of New South Wales have been told to hunker down amid Christmas Day warnings for large hailstones, heavy rain and possible flash flooding.The Bureau of Meteorology issued thunderstorm warnings on Monday afternoon for parts of Queensland's southern interior and the north of the state, Continue reading...

Two other protesters were denied entry at the gates to the concert at Sidney Myer Musical BowlThousands of people joined in to sing along at Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne on Sunday, with the festivities momentarily interrupted by two Pro-Palestine protesters who stormed the stage as children were performing.The protesters were tackled and quickly removed, with host David Campbell appealing for calm and assuring people the children were safe. Continue reading...

Five killed in Russian attacks on Kherson region; Ukrainian Orthodox Christians prepare to mark Christmas on 25 December for first time

Spokesperson says attack on the Maghazi camp in central Gaza is a massacre' and warns that death toll is likely to rise furtherSee all our Israel-Gaza war coverageThe UN high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, has said a humanitarian ceasefire" is the only way to ensure aid reaches civilians in Gaza, hostages are released and to stop the devastating loss of lives".The death toll from Israeli strikes inside Gaza has climbed to 20,258, the majority of them women and children, said the health authorities on Saturday. Continue reading...

Palestinian health officials say death toll after attack on Maghazi camp likely to rise

The 14-year-old was being towed behind a boat on a tube when he fell off and disappeared from view on SundayA search and rescue effort has ended in tragedy after the body of a 14-year-old boy was pulled from a river on Queensland's Fraser Coast.The boy was being towed behind a boat on a tube when he fell off and disappeared from view just after 10am on Sunday. Continue reading...

Serbian opposition hold rally after populist ruling party wins most votes in snap poll deemed unfair by observersPolice fired teargas as thousands gathered in Belgrade to demand the annulment of parliamentary and local elections a week ago that international observers said were unfair.The populist ruling Serbian Progressive party (SNS) won 46.72% of the votes in snap parliamentary elections last weekend, according to state election commission preliminary results. Continue reading...

Footfall was nearly 7% lower than last week and more than a fifth down on 2022 levelsThe number of in-person shoppers has fallen on Christmas Eve compared to last year amid Sunday trading hours and the cost-of-living crisis.Footfall across all UK retail destinations up to 5pm on Sunday was 6.8% lower than last week, and 20.6% lower than 24 December 2022, the latest data from industry analyst MRI Software shows. Continue reading...

Birth of Christ was formerly celebrated on 7 January, but has moved in symbolic shift away from RussiaRussian shelling in southern Ukraine's Kherson region has killed four people, including an 87-year-old man and his 81-year-old wife who died after a strike on their apartment building.The barrage on Sunday injured nine other people, including a 15-year-old, sparked fires in homes and at a private medical facility, and set a local gas pipeline alight, the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said. Continue reading...

Organizers focus on second-most popular shopping day in cities including New York, Chicago and Los AngelesThousands of pro-Palestinian protesters waved the pan-Arab colors flag and wore the symbolic Palestinian keffiyeh in a series of coordinated No Xmas as Usual in a Genocide" rallies and marches across the US on Saturday.Organizers with Shut It Down for Palestine said the organization had focused its protests on the second-most popular shopping day of the year - the day before Christmas Eve - as part of ongoing civic and commercial disruptions. Organizers said they planned to organize actions to boycott, disrupt and rally at commercial centers". Continue reading...

Warmest 24 December recorded in Britain since 1997, with forecast for 13C in south of England on Christmas DayThe UK has experienced its warmest Christmas Eve in more than 20 years.Temperatures in Heathrow, south-west London, hit 15.3C on Sunday, well above average for the time of year, making it the warmest 24 December since 1997. Continue reading...

There are 121,327 in short-term housing, while 261,189 homes are empty long-term, say Lib DemsEngland has more than twice as many long-term empty homes this Christmas as there are children living in temporary accommodation, the Liberal Democrats have said, calling this a stark indication of a broken" housing market.The numbers of families without a permanent home and in short-term housing, whether hotels and B&Bs or temporary rental properties, has hit a record high this year, with the latest statistics showing it now affects 121,327 children, according to data collated by the House of Commons library. Continue reading...

Waves of Russian attacks hit Kherson region, say officials; Ukraine to celebrate Christmas Day on 25 December for first time

Experts link 44% increase in four years to a growing mental health crisis and underinvestment in health services

Met police arrest man after incident in which Marie Theobald was killed while walking dogs in ChigwellA man has been arrested after a woman and two dogs were killed days before Christmas in a suspected hit-and-run crash in Essex.Marie Theobald, 48, from Hainault, was walking with two dogs named Riley and Honey on Manford Way, Chigwell, when she was hit by a car, believed to be a white Seat Leon. Continue reading...

Home secretary has apologised for remark at Downing Street reception about spiking his wife's drinkThe home secretary is facing calls to resign after making jokes about spiking his wife's drink with a date rape drug at a Downing Street reception.James Cleverly apologised for making the remarks just hours after the Home Office announced plans to crack down on spiking - putting drugs into another person's drink or directly into their body without their knowledge. Continue reading...

When Vladimir Kosarevsky was ordered to destroy books referring to same-sex relationships, he raised the alarm instead - then went to Spain to rebuild his lifeAs a gay man growing up in Russia, books were Vladimir Kosarevsky's refuge, offering him a precious glimpse into lives that in some way echoed his own. So when the Moscow librarian received orders late last year to destroy books referencing same-sex relationships - part of a sweeping attack on gay and transgender rights - Kosarevsky knew it was a line he wouldn't cross.I realised that if I did it, I would never ever be able to forgive myself," Kosarevsky told the Guardian from northern Spain, where he is claiming asylum. It had always been important to me to see those heroes in books, because it represents you somehow. It makes you visible, even when the politics in Russia are determined to erase you." Continue reading...

Metropolitan police say they have made another arrest after art installation was removedA second man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after the removal of a Banksy art installation in Peckham, south-east London, the Metropolitan police said.More details soon ... Continue reading...

Accident happened during repair work on furnace, says spokesperson for industrial park in eastern IndonesiaAt least 13 people were killed and 46 injured in eastern Indonesia on Sunday after an explosion at a Chinese-funded nickel-processing plant, an industrial park official said.The island of Sulawesi is a hub for the mineral-rich country's production of nickel, a base metal used for electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel. Continue reading...

Image was taken just after midnight on last Friday before Christmas, also known as Black Eye Friday for its drunken revelryA photograph of police arresting a drunken man outside a Swansea takeaway on Black Eye Friday" has gone viral, with some comparing it to a boozy Renaissance painting" and others seeing the influence of French Romanticism.One admirer of the shot, by Dimitris Legakis, thought it merited a spot alongside the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo: Wind Street. Swansea. Put it in the Louvre." Continue reading...

Thirteen figurines, which include human forms, appear to pay tribute to cult goddess Cybele and her tragic love AttisThirteen Nativity-style statuettes have been found amid the ruins of Pompeii, a discovery experts say provides evidence of pagan ritual traditions in the ancient Roman city.The terracotta figurines were found in an upright position on what was probably a shelf in the hallway of a home during recent excavations at the archaeological park in southern Italy. Continue reading...

Foreign secretary also said Iran was a thoroughly malign' geopolitical influenceA failure to tackle the issue of small boat crossings in the English Channel would be destructive to people's faith in politicians and government, David Cameron has claimed.In comments aimed at rebellious Tory backbenchers unhappy with Rishi Sunak's Rwanda legislation, Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, said it was the best bill to get the job done". Continue reading...

Richard Tice assures senior members of his party in writing that he will not revive Brexit party's 2019 deal with ConservativesThe leader of Reform UK has given cast-iron guarantees" to senior members of his rightwing populist party that it will not step aside for the Conservatives at the forthcoming general election.The Tories were able to win a majority in 2019 after Reform's previous incarnation, the Brexit party, did not field any candidates against them in return for Boris Johnson's commitment to leave the EU by 2020 before pursuing a Canada-style trade deal. Continue reading...

Connor Lapworth, 18, and Corey Mavin, 15, have died and three other people are seriously injured after crash in CramlingtonTwo teenagers have died and three other people have been seriously injured in a car crash in Northumberland.Northumbria police said Connor Lapworth, 18, died at the scene and Corey Mavin, 15, suffered head injuries and died in hospital. Continue reading...

And churches used to dwindling congregations are delighted to see numbers boosted by worshippers of all agesFather Happy Jacob has a reason to be cheerful. When he started St Thomas's Indian Orthodox Church in Liverpool in 2002, his congregation numbered about 60 families, and stayed at that level for almost two decades.Then, a few years ago, things began to change. We have seen a massive increase in families coming to the church," says Jacob, 48. At his last count, there were 110 families, with worshippers including NHS workers, international students and about 100 school-age children. Continue reading...

Ukraine says movement of lorries restored after suspension of protest, but truckers' blockades of three other crossings continue

Club consisting of many Syrians living in Germany has its trip interrupted, as attitudes to migration seem to be hardeningFor the past seven years, they've crisscrossed Germany, climbing mountains, following babbling streams and trekking through leafy forests.It was the hiking club's most recent outing in the eastern state of Saxony, however, that thrust them into uncharted territory. As members of the group, many of them Syrians living in Germany, made their way through the area's spectacular scenery, a call was made to police to report a group of migrants, amid suspicions that they had been smuggled across the nearby Czech border. Continue reading...

HMS Trent will take part in exercises with Guyana as tensions over mineral-rich Essequibo region raise anxietiesA Royal Navy patrol ship will be sent to Guyana in a show of British support for the Commonwealth country.The South American country is in a dispute with Venezuela over a mineral-rich border region. Continue reading...

All five children remain in Pakistan, despite efforts of Surrey council to secure their returnThe older brother and half-siblings of the 10-year-old schoolgirl Sara Sharif, who was found dead at the home of her father and stepmother in August, have been made wards of court in this country.Despite efforts by Surrey county council to secure their return to the UK, all five children, aged one to 13, remain in Pakistan where they were taken by their father, Urfan Sharif, and the mother of the younger four siblings, Beinash Batool, the day before Sara's body was discovered by police on 10 August. Continue reading...

NSW police say no one should open or remove any of the packages after finding seven washed ashoreNew South Wales police have issued a warning to the public about packages suspected of containing cocaine washing up on beaches between Sydney and Newcastle.At least seven packages - with significant barnacle growth" on the outer plastic wrapping - have been found on beaches since Friday night, and police on Sunday warned people not to open or remove any further finds. Continue reading...

International visitors are pouring in to see where Wonka walked and Herriot practisedSet-jetting - flying off to see where a favourite movie was filmed - has long been a small but important tourism niche.But while feature films such as Wonka and Napoleon are boosting visitor numbers in Bath and Blenheim, the growth of TV streaming is also fuelling a rise in screen tourism that is expected to transform the pastime into big business next year. Continue reading...

Robert Jenrick's resignation leads to reprieve until new year, as charities warn of more people being made homelessThe Home Office has been forced to pause its eviction of refugees from hotels on the eve of Christmas following evidence that unacceptable" numbers are ending up destitute and sleeping on streets.Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick had, according to sources, refused to countenance any pause as part of a hardline stance that saw him order the removal of cartoon murals at a children's asylum centre. Continue reading...

Analysis of five decades of festive TV schedules shows that only one in eight films were Christmas-relatedThink of Christmas films and the chances are your mind is drawn towards snowmen, mistletoe and Jimmy Stewart.But analysis of five decades of Christmas TV schedules in the UK reveal that the most-aired films feature a magic car, a straw man and Kenneth Williams. Continue reading...