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Even in a country with automatic increases to pay and benefits, there are concerns over the cost of livingAt first glance, Belgium seems to have found the answer to the cost of living crisis that is gripping Europe. In this prosperous country where trade unions remain relatively powerful, wages, pensions and benefits rise automatically in line with inflation.Many governments abandoned similar policies after the oil price shocks of the 1970s, but Belgium has continued to protect workers’ wages in this way. Luxembourg is the only other European country that still fully links wages to prices, although a few other countries have more restricted indexation policies. Continue reading...

North of Western Australia, NT and Queensland to swelter in up to 47C as ‘monsoon break’ allows build-up of intensely hot air mass

Demand back to normal in emergency department after long wait times for some patients with less urgent illness

Alley’s children say the actor died ‘after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered’Kirstie Alley, the TV and film star known for her roles in Cheers, Veronica’s Closet and Look Who’s Talking, has died at the age of 71.Alley’s death was confirmed on Monday night in a statement from her children, William “True” Stevenson and Lillie Price Stevenson, which was posted to her social media account. Her manager also separately confirmed her death. Continue reading...

The prime minister, who is isolating with Covid, rejected suggestion that putting off national cabinet by two days will affect timing of proposed intervention

US network says the anchors, who are married to other people, will be temporarily pulled from GMA3 as their romance is ‘an internal and an external distraction’Two TV anchors working for ABC News in the US have been pulled from air after their workplace romance came to light, amid a storm of public gossip and tabloid coverage.TJ Holmes and Amy Robach, who have worked as hosts on Good Morning America spinoff talkshow GMA3 since 2020, were revealed to be in a relationship last week after paparazzi photos of the pair were published online. Both Holmes and Robach are married, but after the photos were published a representative for the pair said they had both separated from their spouses and the relationship only began recently. Continue reading...

Warning comes as health official says earlier start to cases in UK could be knock-on effect of pandemicDowning Street has told parents to be on the lookout for signs of strep A infection after reports a primary-school pupil has become the eighth child to die in a matter of weeks.On Monday, Alison Syred-Paul, headteacher at Morelands primary in Waterlooville, Hampshire, said: “Very tragically, we have learned of the death in recent days of a child who attended our school, who was also diagnosed with an invasive Group A streptococcal (iGAS) infection.” Continue reading...

Ngozi Fulani talks of very difficult time for her charity Sistah Space since encounter with Susan HusseyA black guest who was asked where she “really came from” by the late queen’s senior lady-in-waiting at a Buckingham Palace royal reception has said she has suffered “horrific abuse” on social media.Ngozi Fulani, founder of the charity Sistah Space, said Susan Hussey moved her hair so she could see her name badge and then subjected her to what felt “like an interrogation” about where her “people” came from. Continue reading...

Guardian Australia brings together all the figures on Covid-19 cases, as well as stats, charts and state-by-state data from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, WA, Tasmania, the ACT and NT. Here you can also find the numbers on the vaccine rollout and fourth dose booster vaccination rates.

Ex-minister claims Tory peer intimated unnamed firm she was helping was being treated unfairlyThe Conservative peer Michelle Mone made “extraordinarily aggressive” lobbying efforts on behalf of a company bidding to supply Covid tests during the pandemic, Matt Hancock has claimed in a serialisation of his diaries.The former health secretary claimed that Lady Mone made “wild accusations” about the procurement process, intimating that the company she was helping, which is not named, was suffering unfairly. Continue reading...

In submission to anti-siphoning review, Free TV Australia calls for tougher restrictions for new entrants when bidding for broadcast rights

Raid on village of Kishishe in Democratic Republic of Congo blamed on M23 insurgentsAbout 300 people died in an attack on villagers blamed on the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last week, industry minister Julien Paluku has said.The army had initially accused insurgents of killing at least 50 civilians in Kishishe village in eastern North Kivu province, before the government put the number of dead at more than 100. Continue reading...

Levelling up secretary confirms government will change levelling up bill after number of Tory MPs tabled rebel amendment. This blog is now closed

Labour accuses PM of putting party before country after up to 100 Tory MPs threatened to rebelRishi Sunak is to drop compulsory housebuilding targets to see off an embarrassing backbench rebellion, prompting criticism he is putting party unity over the national interest.The move, which comes in the middle of a national housing crisis, will spark fresh concerns that the prime minister is too weak to take on unruly Conservative backbenchers. Continue reading...

Private emails from 2018 show Robert advised Synergy 360 boss not to join supporter network for Liberal colleague

About 1,500 people take part in protest march in Thessaloniki with teenager in critical conditionViolent protests have broken out in Greece’s second-largest city over the police shooting of a Romany teenager after he allegedly filled his vehicle at a fuel station and drove off without paying.The 16-year-old boy was being treated at a Thessaloniki hospital where he was in critical condition. The officer who allegedly shot him in the head was arrested and suspended from duty, police in the northern city said. Continue reading...

Union recommends members reject latest offer and adds 24-27 December strike but drops overtime banHopes of a deal to avert severe Christmas rail disruption were dashed on Monday night when the RMT union announced additional strike dates and rebuffed a pay offer from Network Rail just before the industry’s deadline.The union said it would put the offer to members in an electronic referendum this week but recommend that they reject it. It affirmed that two 48-hour strikes that will stop much of the railway next week would go ahead either way. Continue reading...

Eleanor Williams, 21, from Cumbria, denies a further seven counts relating to rape claims she made about a series of menA woman accused of lying about being raped by multiple men and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang has pleaded guilty to one count of perverting the course of justice.Eleanor Williams, 21, from Walney in Barrow-in-Furness, denies a further seven counts relating to rape claims she made about a series of men between October 2017 and May 2020. Continue reading...

Leader wants to ‘return power to where it should be’ but some in his own team are reluctant to expend the political capitalAt the launch of Labour’s sweeping plans for constitutional change, Keir Starmer was asked a question that has been troubling some of his own shadow cabinet for months: “After 12 years out of power, is handing it away really going to be the first thing you do?”The Labour leader, despite some briefing over the weekend that sought to play down parts of the 155-page report, was categorical that if he did end up in office after the next election, there would be no time for delay. Continue reading...

Club has no continuing rights after refusing to sign new tenancy agreement, says stadium’s ownerMike Ashley, the billionaire owner of Sports Direct and House of Fraser, has served Coventry City with an eviction notice ordering the Championship football club to leave its home stadium.Frasers Group, which is majority owned by Ashley and took over the stadium last month, on Monday said the Blues had no continuing rights to use the ground after the club refused to sign a new tenancy agreement it claimed was “less favourable”. Continue reading...

Tory ex-minister Steven Dorrell questions whether Hancock would stand by some of his claims under oathMatt Hancock has been accused of rewriting history as he seeks to rescue his reputation with the launch of a book about helping to lead the UK’s response to Covid.Fresh from spending three weeks in the Australian jungle on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!, the former health secretary has written what is billed as a tell-all account of “the successes and the failures” of tackling coronavirus. Continue reading...

Aminu Adamu’s detention had sparked widespread outrage before Aisha Buhari withdrew complaintNigeria has freed a student charged with “criminal defamation” over a tweet he posted about the physical appearance of the country’s first lady.Aminu Adamu was arrested at his university in northern Jigawa state on 18 November after Aisha Buhari filed a complaint and then remanded into custody until January. Continue reading...

The Engels-2 and Dyagilevo airbases house aircraft believed responsible for attacking Ukrainian infrastructureThe explosions at the Engels-2 and Dyagilevo airbases, if confirmed as Ukraine’s, would mark its deepest attack so far into Russia and against key military facilities used in the Kremlin’s war. Continue reading...

Russia confirms blasts at military facilities as Kyiv finds way to target long-range bombers

Planned legislation aims to curb illegal street races and other cases of extreme speedingDrivers in Austria guilty of extreme speeding will have their cars seized and auctioned off, the government has said, as it seeks to deter “boy racers” by threatening to take away their prized possession.The planned change in legislation announced by the governing coalition of conservatives and Greens aims to toughen Austria’s rules to bring them closer to those in other countries including neighbouring Germany and Switzerland. Continue reading...

Organisation questions use of ‘illegal’ to describe asylum seekers in report calling for radical crackdown

Al Saqi Books in London, which was established in 1978, blames closure on rise in prices of Arabic-language books and ‘detrimental’ effect of BrexitEurope’s largest specialist bookseller for Middle Eastern books, based in London, has been forced to close because of the hike in prices of Arabic-language books and because Brexit has been “detrimental” to its business.Al Saqi Books in Bayswater opened in 1978, and sells books on the Middle East and north Africa in English, and on all subjects in Arabic. Continue reading...

Comedian loses out to Abtisam Mohamed, who will stand as party’s candidate in Sheffield CentralEddie Izzard has failed in her bid to become Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Sheffield Central.Abtisam Mohamed, a local councillor, was selected by members of the local constituency party after winning 433 votes. Izzard came second with 175 votes. Rizwana Lana, backed by leftwing figures in the party including the MPs Nadia Whittome and Lloyd Russell-Moyle, got 173 votes. Continue reading...

A mild start to winter is about to come shivering halt, putting extra strain on the country’s power supplies

Health agency warns of frost and wintry showers across UK from Wednesday as Arctic airmass hitsThe UK health security agency (UKHSA) has issued a cold weather alert for England, as temperatures were expected to plunge to -10C in some places with possible wintry showers and snow.The severe conditions, brought by an Arctic maritime airmass and expected to start on Wednesday evening and last until Monday 12 December, could lead to disruption and increased health risks for vulnerable people. Continue reading...

‘We know the full truth,’ Harry’s voiceover says in trailer for his and Meghan’s Netflix docuseriesPrince Harry has highlighted the “pain and suffering” of women marrying into the British royal family, in a new trailer for the Sussexes’ highly anticipated behind-the-scenes docuseries.Netflix has promised an “unprecedented and in-depth documentary series” over six episodes where the couple “share the other side of their high-profile love story”. Continue reading...

Wintry conditions will arrive this week, with temperatures plummeting and possibility of snow showersThis week winter will arrive in earnest in the UK, driven by a large area of high pressure over Iceland that will drag Arctic air southwards.As this cold air descends over the UK on Tuesday, northern Scotland will experience the first signs of this wintry weather, with daytime temperatures forecast to be barely above freezing, alongside some possible sleet and snow showers throughout the day. The cold front will make its way further south over the course of Wednesday, pulling temperatures to well below the seasonal norm. Continue reading...

Explosions at Russian airbases raise possibility Kyiv can target Moscow’s long-range bombers; German chancellor cautions against creating new cold war

Families of customers who died after eating food containing allergens welcome report urging reformsThe families of two Pret a Manger customers who died after experiencing severe allergic reactions have welcomed a report from a senior coroner suggesting hospitals should be obliged to report fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis.Maria Voisin, the senior coroner for Avon, said a robust system of capturing and recording serious cases of anaphylaxis could provide an early warning of the risk posed to allergic individual byproducts with an undeclared allergen content. Continue reading...

Lawsuit claims ‘millions of fans waited up to eight hours and were unable to purchase tickets as a result of insufficient ticket releases’A group of Taylor Swift fans is suing Ticketmaster over what they call the “disastrous” recent debacle to secure tickets for her 2023 Eras US tour.In November, Ticketmaster had to cancel the public on-sale date for the tour “due to extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet that demand”, the company said at the time. Continue reading...

With temperatures expected to plummet to -20C or lower, Russian troops could be most vulnerable

Workload from treating high number of extremely unwell children means patients may face 12-hour wait

Rejoining single market would create even more uncertainty, says Labour leader, who instead wants a ‘better Brexit’

Arguably England’s standout performer at the World Cup, the young midfielder’s desire to be the best was always apparent, his coach at Birmingham City recallsJude Bellingham’s talent was always apparent, his youth coach at Birmingham City has said, after the England midfielder helped propel his nation through to the last eight of the World Cup on Sunday night. But what set him apart as a child was his sheer will, not just to make a professional career, but to be the very best.“He was a seven-year-old when he walked through the doors at Birmingham City’s training ground. Talented boy, but talented like most seven-year-olds that come into most academies up and down the country,” said Mike Dodds, who coached Bellingham at the club. Continue reading...

‘It is bittersweet that the mystery surrounding the remains of the last thylacine has been solved’, says Tasmanian museum director

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Victor Dominello says interstate bans on the practice are being examined amid a ‘hot marketplace’

Company expects further significant drops in trade and ‘the potential for more black swan-type events’

Vulnerable people and regional areas hardest hit, report shows, as experts demand urgent action to increase affordable housing

More than 600 staff set to walk out over pay, with Unite saying some workers worried about becoming homeless themselvesMore than 600 workers at the housing and homelessness charity Shelter are beginning an “unprecedented” fortnight of strike action on Monday in a dispute over pay – coinciding with one of its busiest times of the year.The Unite union said a 3% pay increase this year had left some of Shelter’s staff unable to pay their rent and very worried about the possibility of becoming homeless themselves. Continue reading...

In keeping with tradition, jokes chosen by Gold TV poll more likely to elicit groans of despair than laughterJokes about Phil Schofield, Liz Truss, and the cost of living crisis are among the best contemporary Christmas cracker jokes selected by the British public in an annual poll.The vote asked members of the public to vote on a shortlist of 10 modern jokes considered as being worthy of inclusion in a cracker. In keeping with festive tradition, the jokes are more likely to elicit deep groans of despair at their attempted wordplay rather than a sincere cackle.Why does Kate Bush need to turn the heating off? She’s running up that billHow did King Charles III sign his Christmas cards to his family? The Artist Formerly Known as PrinceWhat’s the difference between Liz Truss and a shepherd? One U-turns and the other turns ewesWhy are Will Smith and Chris Rock not having turkey this Christmas? Because they’ve got beefWhy has Santa been banned from sooty chimneys? Carbon footprintsWhat crisps do Phil and Holly serve at their Christmas party? SkipsWhy are the government having problems with their own version of the Christmas Nativity? They can’t find three wise menWhat do people heating their homes and wrapping paper have in common this Christmas? Both of them are getting ripped offHow can you keep your home warm this Christmas? Tinsulation Continue reading...

Analysis of database tailored to EU needs shows 85% of GB exports stay in the region’s factories and shopsUK hopes that controversial Brexit checks on goods crossing the Irish sea can be eliminated have risen after early analysis of government data showed that at least 85% of goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain stay in factories or shops in the region.The research comes from a new HM Revenue and Customs database, the EU Access system, that tracked the movement of 1m goods crossing the Irish Sea in 2021. Continue reading...

Findings for British Beer and Pub Association indicate businesses will face loss of 20% on average after energy bill relief scheme endsMany pubs and breweries across the UK will be forced to shut their doors for good as they face rocketing losses without further energy support, industry bosses have warned.Calculations in a report by the consultancy Frontier Economics, produced for the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), showed that energy bills returning to their regular rate from April would put pubs and brewers at a loss of 20% on average. Continue reading...

Daniel Andrews says too many First Nations children taken from families and plans to work with minister to ‘devise a new system’

Pentecostal church founder denies the comment and has pleaded not guilty to concealing sexual abuse by his father Frank, who confessed to police in 1999