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Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com
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Princess Beatrice to spend Christmas at Sandringham after Italy trip shelved
Published: December 21, 2024 23:35
Plan for pregnant royal go overseas for festive period scrapped after doctors advise against travelPrincess Beatrice will be joining the royal family at Sandringham this Christmas after changing her travel plans due to medical advice, it is…
Trump appoints The Apprentice producer as US special envoy to UK
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/21/trump-appoints-mark-burnett-special-envoy-uk
Published: December 21, 2024 22:26
Mark Burnett, who also created Survivor, Shark Tank and The Voice, lacks diplomatic and foreign policy experienceDonald Trump has appointed Mark Burnett, a British television producer who helped produce Trump’s show The Apprentice, as the US’s special…
Thousands gather at Stonehenge to celebrate the winter solstice
Published: December 21, 2024 22:05
Dawn of shortest day of year welcomed with drumming, chanting and singing at neolithic monument in WiltshireThousands of people greeted the dawn with cheers and applause at Stonehenge on Saturday as they marked the winter solstice.Those who observed the…
The Wanted singer Max George has pacemaker fitted after heart block
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/21/the-wanted-singer-max-george-pacemaker-heart-block
Published: December 21, 2024 19:56
Singer says successful operation is ‘best Christmas present I could’ve wished for’ Max George, a member of the boyband the Wanted, has revealed he has had a pacemaker fitted after an operation to address a 2:1 heart block.George, 36, who announced he had…
Labour fears grow as Reform eyes victories in local election battleground
Published: December 21, 2024 19:35
Nigel Farage’s party is building on the unpopularity of the government and is set to challenge it in next year’s polls For many Labour and MPs and party officials, it was a nightmarish image that encapsulated the forces buffeting politics across the west.A…
Ministers resist calls to block Musk donations to Farage’s Reform UK
Published: December 21, 2024 19:35
Government fears moves to curb any potential cash from the tech titan could backfire and play into Reform UK’s handsMinisters are resisting demands to rush through measures to block Elon Musk from handing millions to Nigel Farage, amid a growing clamour…
Diplomats defend Mandelson after US aide’s ‘absolute moron’ jibe
Published: December 21, 2024 19:28
Confirmation of role as ambassador to Washington drew attack by Trump campaign adviser on XSenior diplomats have dismissed insults aimed at Peter Mandelson by allies of Donald Trump, saying he has more than enough experience in the hard world of diplomacy…
Revealed: property developers behind ‘breakfast club’ that donated £130,000 to Labour
Published: December 21, 2024 18:37
Funding from property firms raises questions over loopholes in political finance rulesA secretive group that donated £130,000 to Labour and claimed to be “merely a platform for people” is in fact funded by property developers, the Observer can reveal.The…
Man charged with murder of teacher, 42, in south London
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/21/man-charged-with-of-teacher-42-in-south-london
Published: December 21, 2024 18:21
Gemma Devonish died after being found with stab wounds at an address in Carshalton on ThursdayA man has been charged with the murder of a 42-year-old teacher who was found with stab wounds in south London.Police were called at about 10.30am on Thursday to…
UK flights and ferries cancelled owing to high winds as Christmas getaway begins
Published: December 21, 2024 18:21
Travellers urged to allow more time for journeys amid ‘perfect storm’ of festive season and bad weatherSome flights and ferries were cancelled on Saturday amid a “perfect storm” of the Christmas getaway and bad weather.The disruption has been caused by…
Just 2% of busiest trains on key London to Manchester line run on time
Published: December 21, 2024 17:47
Failing passenger service is a ‘national embarrassment,’ says Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham Just 2% or fewer of trains on some of the busiest Avanti West Coast services between London and Manchester are leaving and arriving on time, analysis of…
UK teachers should be allowed to work from home, education secretary says
Published: December 21, 2024 16:29
Bridget Phillipson insists move to marking and class preparation out of school would help stem retention crisis‘We need a total culture change’: the teacher told to work 60-hour week or leave after having babyAll state school teachers should given the…
Court clears way for ‘the Slab’ office block to be built on London’s South Bank
Published: December 21, 2024 15:55
Judge dismisses challenge that argued development failed to provide housing and could damage London landmarksThe building of a controversial 25-storey office block nicknamed the Slab on London’s South Bank is to go ahead after the high court upheld a…
Letters from Lord Byron, Elizabeth I and Benjamin Franklin among collection discovered in British stately home
Published: December 21, 2024 15:23
Rare autographed cache found by researcher at National Trust’s Waddesdon ManorBaron Edmond de Rothschild was one of Europe’s richest and best connected men. But his lifelong hobby – hunting the autographs of the famous – was more akin to that of an…
Elderly activist to spend Christmas in prison because tag does not fit
Published: December 21, 2024 13:04
Woman jailed for M25 protest not allowed to continue home detention because electronic tags are too bigA 77-year-old environmental activist will spend Christmas in prison despite having been released on an electronic tag, because the authorities cannot…
Prince William to end feudal restrictions on his Duchy of Cornwall estate
Published: December 21, 2024 13:00
The royal has bowed to pressure over residents’ right to buy freeholds on parts of his hereditary landPrince William has agreed to end the last feudal restrictions on land ownership in parts of his hereditary Duchy of Cornwall estate after decades of…
Newly uncovered sites reveal true power of great Viking army in Britain
Published: December 21, 2024 12:00
Previously unseen artefacts show invading forces included communities of men, women, children, craftworkers and merchantsDozens of sites linked to the Viking great army as it ravaged Anglo-Saxon England more than 1,000 years ago have been discovered.…
Chris Packham and Caroline Lucas accuse RSPCA of ‘legitimising cruelty’
Published: December 21, 2024 11:13
TV presenter and Green party politician resign from animal-welfare charity over response to undercover abattoir videosThe BBC presenter Chris Packham and the former Green party leader Caroline Lucas have resigned from the RSPCA animal-welfare charity,…
Quarter of NHS England trusts raised parking fees in cost of living crisis, data shows
Published: December 21, 2024 10:23
Mark-ups criticised by patients’ charity for punishing those with ill health, but NHS defends fees amid financial pressuresA quarter of NHS trusts in England Hospital raised car parking fees during the cost of living crisis, data has revealed.Figures…
Weather warnings in place across UK as millions set off for Christmas getaway
Published: December 21, 2024 09:51
Rain and strong winds may cause delays in north and west of UK on Saturday, spreading to southern regions on SundayWeather warnings have come into force across much of the UK as millions of people set off for their Christmas getaway.Wet and windy weather…
Unpeeled tomatoes and barn conversions: Nicky Haslam reveals what’s ‘common’ this year
Published: December 21, 2024 08:00
Instagram release of tea towel featuring what the UK designer ‘finds common’ has become an annual ritualWhat is “common” these days – and is it even OK to say it?Some might say it’s a controversial term, but for Nicky Haslam, the 85-year-old English…
UK to ban bee-killing pesticides but highly toxic type could still be allowed
Published: December 21, 2024 06:00
Ministers set out plans for outlawing neonicotinoids but considering application by farmers to use Cruiser SBBee-killing pesticides are to be banned by the UK government, as ministers set out plans to outlaw the use of neonicotinoids.However, the highly…
Can I survive for 24 hours without GPS navigation?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/21/can-i-survive-for-24-hours-without-gps-navigation
Published: December 21, 2024 06:00
Spatial memory is a use-it-or-lose it commodity, so I gave life without Google Maps a tryTaxi and ambulance drivers are less likely than other workers to die of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a Harvard study published in the British Medical Journal.On…
Could $100m of Elon Musk’s money sway a general election for Reform UK?
Published: December 21, 2024 06:00
Spending such a seemingly game-changing sum would face several hurdles and could even hinder the party’s chancesOver the 2024 general election period, combined donations to every UK party totalled about £50m. If reports are to be believed, Elon Musk could…
Sara Sharif told social worker ‘they don’t hit me’ four years before her murder
Published: December 21, 2024 05:00
When she was six, Sara complained that her mother hit her, but that her father and stepmother, who were convicted of her murder, didn’tSara Sharif told a social worker she felt safe living with her father and stepmother because “they don’t hit me”, four…
Met apologises to black community leader detained by officer who has faced three misconduct proceedings
Published: December 20, 2024 19:59
Exclusive: Jason Matthews alleges Connor Jones used unnecessary force on him and pushed him to the groundThe Metropolitan police has apologised to a black man who was detained by an officer who has faced three misconduct proceedings for excessive force…
Met police officer who slapped boy, 16, around the face found guilty of assault
Published: December 20, 2024 19:14
PC Sevda Gonen hit the boy ‘multiple times’ in the back of a police van as he was being taken to hospitalA police officer who slapped a 16-year-old boy with mental health difficulties “multiple times in the face” as he was being transported to a hospital…
Reeves says economic turnaround will take time and Farage ‘hasn’t got a clue’
Published: December 20, 2024 18:51
Chancellor pledges renewed focus on growth after Bank of England warning that Britain is on brink of stagnationRachel Reeves insists she won’t “gaslight” working people over her plans to turn round the economy as she launched a scathing attack on Reform’s…
Countdown crowns first female champion in 26 years
Published: December 20, 2024 18:46
Fiona Wood solves final conundrum to clinch victory and encourages other women to ‘give it a go’A forensic accountant has become the first female Countdown champion in 26 years.Fiona Wood prevailed in the series final on Friday after correctly identifying…
Appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to US divides Labour MPs
Published: December 20, 2024 18:37
Ministers hail peer as a heavyweight but others question the selection of a previously outspoken critic of party policyPeter Mandelson has been formally unveiled as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, with a series of ministers hailing him as a political…
Met apologises to black community leader detained by officer who has faced three misconduct cases
Published: December 20, 2024 18:03
Exclusive: Jason Matthews alleges Connor Jones used unnecessary force on him and pushed him to the groundThe Metropolitan police has apologised to a black man who was detained by an officer who has faced three misconduct proceedings for excessive force…
Rosemarie Everton obituary
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec/20/rosemarie-everton-obituary
Published: December 20, 2024 17:34
When, in 1998, my friend Rosemarie Everton was appointed to the UK’s first ever chair in fire law, at the University of Central Lancashire, it marked the culmination of a 40-year endeavour on her part to establish the study of fire safety law as a serious…
Children’s charity rejects archbishop of Canterbury’s Christmas donation
Published: December 20, 2024 17:14
Children’s Society says accepting donation from Justin Welby would be inconsistent with its principles and valuesA children’s charity has rejected a Christmas donation from the archbishop of Canterbury, who resigned over the Church of England’s failures in…
Man charged with murder after death of woman, 62, in Coventry
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/20/man-charged-with-after-death-of-woman-62-in-coventry
Published: December 20, 2024 16:22
Arturs Putrasevics, 39, also charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place after death of Astra SirapinaA man has been charged with murder after the death of a woman who was found with serious injuries at a house in Coventry.Astra Sirapina,…
Reeves may have to U-turn over no more tax rises, warn economists
Published: December 20, 2024 15:54
Dramatic economic slowdown means chancellor could face lower receipts and higher borrowing costs in 2025A dramatic slowdown in economic growth and rising borrowing costs since the budget could undermine the government’s finances and force the chancellor,…
Boohoo shareholders vote to block Mike Ashley from joining board
Published: December 20, 2024 15:52
Chair hails ‘resounding vote of confidence’ as investors reject seats on the board for Sports Direct founder and associateBoohoo shareholders have blocked Mike Ashley and an associate from joining its board in a blow to the Sports Direct founder’s effort…
Booksellers predict Orbital by Samantha Harvey will be UK No1 bestselling book
Published: December 20, 2024 15:52
The Booksellers Association spoke to staff who also highlighted James by Percival Everett, and everything from Chris Hoy’s autobiography to a book about fishing by a dogThis year’s Booker prize winner will be the Christmas No 1 bestseller, predict UK…
Michael Mosley’s cause of death ‘unascertainable’, coroner says
Published: December 20, 2024 15:36
TV presenter’s death on Greek island in June probably due to heatstroke or a pathological cause, coroner findsA coroner has recorded an open conclusion regarding the “unascertainable” death of the TV presenter Michael Mosley, who died on a Greek island…
Man held hostage in Kuwait in 1990 says BA staff’s homophobia made ordeal worse
Published: December 20, 2024 15:06
Barry Manners says when British Airways crew discovered his partner had Aids they were both forced out of hotel where other hostages were being heldA man who was among British Airways passengers and crew taken hostage in Kuwait and used as human shields…
Travellers bring legal action after Manchester police allegedly forced children on to trains
Published: December 20, 2024 15:05
Allegations include false imprisonment, negligence, excessive use of force, and safeguarding failuresRepresentatives for Gypsy and Traveller children who were allegedly forced on to trains and prevented from visiting Manchester’s Christmas markets have…
Sue Gray given peerage as Labour seeks to rebalance Lords
Published: December 20, 2024 14:51
Senior civil servant stepped down from role as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff amid tensions in Downing StreetSue Gray, the former chief of staff to Keir Starmer, has been announced as one of 30 new Labour peers as the government moves to rebalance the…
Laughter and tears as Zoe Ball presents her final breakfast show for BBC Radio 2
Published: December 20, 2024 14:34
Presenter thanks listeners for ‘special intimate relationship’ and signs off with message of female empowermentZoe Ball’s final BBC Radio 2 show was a spectacle of laughter and tears, as the presenter was flooded with messages of support, including a…
Britain braces for big Christmas getaway amid weather warning
Published: December 20, 2024 14:12
Airports, train operators and motoring bodies forecast traveller numbers unseen since before pandemicBritain’s biggest festive getaway in years was set to start on Friday, as millions of people took to road, rail and skies to see thei loved ones over…
Pop-up heart-health hubs sought for Premier League clubs in England
Published: December 20, 2024 14:11
Pilot of screening and treatment unit at Everton diagnosed almost one third of fans tested with hypertension Premier League football clubs across England could soon offer fans a one-stop clinic, designed to scan, diagnose and treat some early signs of…
String of UK peers accepted free trips to authoritarian Azerbaijan
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/20/uk-peers-lords-free-trips-azerbaijan
Published: December 20, 2024 14:00
Human rights groups say endorsements by members of the House of Lords hosting events and acting as election observers risk legitimising regimeIn years gone by, the two members of the House of Lords had been political enemies, running the headquarters of…
A hunger crisis in Gaza and Macron in Mayotte: Photos of the day – Friday
Published: December 20, 2024 13:42
The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...
High profile, high risk: could Mandelson help tame Donald Trump?
Published: December 20, 2024 13:39
Labour veteran Peter Mandelson is the first political appointment as ambassador to Washington in 50 yearsFor some months, Lord Mandelson had been going round London suggesting he had no desire to be appointed to the role of Washington ambassador, saying he…
Last-minute Christmas shoppers set to spend £3bn over ‘Super Weekend’
Published: December 20, 2024 13:35
British retailers anticipate some of the biggest shopping days of the year with people ‘clearly leaving it late’Business live – latest updatesMillions of last-minute Christmas shoppers are expected to spend £3bn over what has been called Super Weekend,…
Starmer faces first major Brexit test as unionists request Stormont brake
Published: December 20, 2024 12:36
UK government has been asked to veto EU law update applying in Northern Ireland relating to chemical labellingKeir Starmer is facing his first major test over Brexit after unionists in Northern Ireland decided to pull what is known as the Stormont brake on…
Freed double killer given whole-life sentence for murder of neighbour in Welsh village
Published: December 20, 2024 12:17
Brian Whitelock, 57, tortured and killed Wendy Buckney, 71, who had given him odd jobs to help his rehabilitationA double killer freed from prison after being deemed low risk by the Parole Board has been sentenced to a whole-life term for murdering a…
Ex-pupil wins damages over face-down restraint at Oxfordshire special school
Published: December 20, 2024 12:03
Boy was restrained face down by staff and others placed a towel around the door of his room to stop him leavingA former student who was repeatedly restrained face down and once imprisoned for nearly five hours at a special school has been awarded £18,900…
Police warn UK shoppers over ‘porch pirates’ stealing parcels from doorsteps
Published: December 20, 2024 12:02
Total value of parcels stolen estimated at £376m, with Black Friday and run-up to Christmas the worst periodsPolice forces across the UK are warning shoppers about a rise in “porch piracy”, an emerging criminal trend involving doorstep parcel thefts that…
‘You won’t find the real criminals here’: a Just Stop Oil activist in jail at Christmas
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/20/just-stop-oil-activist-jail-christmas
Published: December 20, 2024 12:00
Protester Anna Holland says their shock at being behind bars was quickly followed by a stronger feeling of powerRecord number of protesters will be in UK prisons this ChristmasAnna Holland, 22, was one of two young people from Just Stop Oil who threw…
Two men charged over Manchester airport disturbance involving police
Published: December 20, 2024 11:44
Mohammed Amaaz and Muhammed Amaad charged with actual bodily harm after incident in July Two men have been charged over a disturbance at Manchester airport involving police officers in July, the Crown Prosecution Service said.Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20,…
Taxpayers may need to bail out Sadiq Khan’s London housing fund, say auditors
Published: December 20, 2024 10:34
GLAP missed repayment deadlines for £300m government loan and concerns raised over poor managementTaxpayers may be forced to bail out Sadiq Khan’s London housing fund, after it repeatedly missed repayment deadlines for a £300m government loan and its…
Diplomats welcome Peter Mandelson’s expected appointment as next ambassador to US – UK politics live
Published: December 20, 2024 10:19
Keir Starmer on the verge of appointing Labour grandee to key post at start of Trump presidencyDuring her interview round this morning Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, was also asked about Peter Mandelson becoming the next ambassador to the US.…
King Charles’s cancer treatment ‘will continue into next year’
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/20/king-charles-cancer-treatment-continue-next-year
Published: December 20, 2024 09:52
Palace source reportedly says there is optimism about treatment as king maintains busy public scheduleKing Charles’s cancer treatment will reportedly continue in 2025, almost a year after it was announced he had been diagnosed with the disease.A Buckingham…
Lift for Rachel Reeves as UK borrowing hits three-year low
Published: December 20, 2024 09:36
November drop to £11.2bn a welcome figure for chancellor after backlash from business leaders to budgetBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s debt bill fell last month as government borrowing dropped to just over £11bn, giving Rachel Reeves an early…
University bans on big oil firms at recruitment fairs rise by 30%
Published: December 20, 2024 09:32
Survey finds post-1992 universities leading the way on sustainability and ethicsMore universities are banning fossil fuel companies from recruitment fairs in a sign of the sector’s shrinking social licence among young people.The annual survey of…
Paul McCartney reunites with Ringo Starr at London concert
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/20/paul-mccartney-reunites-ringo-starr-london-concert
Published: December 20, 2024 09:26
Former Beatles bandmates perform together at O2 Arena in final show of McCartney’s Got Back tourPaul McCartney welcomed his former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr to the stage while playing to a packed crowd at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday.Arriving on…
Retail sales in Great Britain weaker than expected despite early Black Friday deals
Published: December 20, 2024 08:09
Sales volumes up 0.2% month on month in November but economists had forecast 0.5% riseBusiness live – latest updatesRetail sales in Great Britain were weaker than expected in November despite stores starting to cut prices early as part of Black Friday…
Richard Desmond set for court clash with regulator over National Lottery bid
Published: December 20, 2024 07:00
Exclusive: Tycoon rejects settlement offer from Gambling Commission linked to failed bid to run UK lotteryThe media tycoon Richard Desmond is set for a courtroom showdown with the Gambling Commission that could cost good causes tens of millions of pounds,…
Mother of murdered Bristol teenager calls for better knife crime education
Published: December 20, 2024 07:00
Leanne Ekland, whose son Max Dixon was stabbed to death in January, says killers ‘have taken my heart’The mother of a boy stabbed to death alongside his best friend in a case of mistaken identity in Bristol has said the teenage killers have “taken my…
Homes for sale with dining rooms fit for Christmas lunch – in pictures
Published: December 20, 2024 07:00
From cosy oak beams and inglenook fireplaces to an open-plan converted tin-clad chapel to host large gatherings Continue reading...
Inquiry to look at ‘huge task’ of special educational needs reform in England
Published: December 20, 2024 06:00
Chair of committee of MPs, Helen Hayes, says current Send ‘deep crisis’ is neither sustainable nor acceptable Parents frustrated by the multiple failings of England’s special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system have been warned it is not…
Stonehenge may have been erected to unite early British farming communities, research finds
Published: December 20, 2024 06:00
The alter stone, which we now know is from Scotland, may have been a gift or marker of political allianceFive thousand years after the first monument was created at Stonehenge, it continues to give up dramatic new secrets – such as the “jaw-dropping”…
Allow teachers to fine parents over pupils’ bad behaviour, says Tony Blair’s thinktank
Published: December 20, 2024 00:01
Report argues for more powers, but teachers say this could strain already fraught relationships with parentsMinisters should give teachers the power to fine parents if they do not engage with the school to tackle an “epidemic” of bad behaviour, according…
Post Office costs defending itself at Horizon inquiry exceed £130m
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/19/post-office-costs-horizon-inquiry-exceed-130m
Published: December 19, 2024 20:45
Company’s annual report shows costs of £132m up to March 2024 in inquiry that ended this weekPost Office executives have spent more than £130m of taxpayers’ money defending the company at the long-running inquiry into the wrongful prosecution of more than…
Peter Mandelson to be announced as UK’s next US ambassador
Published: December 19, 2024 20:14
Keir Starmer understood to be on the cusp of appointing Labour grandee to key post at start of Trump presidency Peter Mandelson is set to become Britain’s next ambassador to the US, the first time a politician has been appointed to the role for almost half…
Four teenagers jailed for Bristol mistaken-identity murders
Published: December 19, 2024 18:26
Four aged between 15 and 18 sentenced over deaths of Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, in 33-second attackFour teenagers have been jailed for life for murdering two boys in a case of mistaken identity in Bristol.Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, were…
Man who falsely claimed to be bitcoin creator sentenced for continuing to sue developers
Published: December 19, 2024 18:12
Craig Wright given one-year suspended sentence for breaching court order to stop suing bitcoin developersAn Australian computer scientist who falsely claimed to be the creator of bitcoin has been given a one-year suspended prison sentence after the high…
Water bills in England and Wales: how much more might you pay in your area?
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/dec/19/water-bills-england-and-wales-how-much-rise-charge
Published: December 19, 2024 17:43
The average bill is to rise by 36% over five years. Here’s what each firm will charge, and how they will spend the cashAverage water bill in England and Wales to rise by 36% over five yearsWater bills in England and Wales will soar by 36% over the next…
Keir Starmer says inheritance from Tories was worse than he expected – video
Published: December 19, 2024 17:17
Asked by the liaison committee about his five months as prime minister, Starmer said he was in a better position 'to change lives' than he was before being in power. He decried, however, the state in which the previous Conservative government had left the…
Anora and The Brutalist lead London film critics’ award nominations
Published: December 19, 2024 17:03
Sean Baker’s and Brady Corbet’s films received seven nominations each from the London Critics’ Circle, while feminist body horror The Substance and Ralph Fiennes’ papal drama Conclave have sixThe Palme d’Or winner Anora and epic architect drama The…
Minister issues warning after British Sikhs report harassment by India
Published: December 19, 2024 17:00
Exclusive: Dan Jarvis has written to the Sikh Federation after allegations of people being stopped at UK airportsThe UK will not tolerate attempts by foreign countries to harass or intimidate British citizens, the security minister has warned, after a…
Bushey crossbow murder accused is charged with raping one of victims
Published: December 19, 2024 16:55
Ex-soldier Kyle Clifford faces further charge as he pleads not guilty to killing Carol Hunt and adult daughters Louise and HannahA former soldier accused of murdering a woman and her two adult daughters at their family home has been further charged with…
Starmer backs minister accused of embezzling billions in Bangladesh
Published: December 19, 2024 16:07
Tulip Siddiq denies claims that she brokered corrupt deal with Russia to build nuclear power plant Keir Starmer has given his full support to Tulip Siddiq, the Treasury minister, after Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission accused her and family members…
AI learns to distinguish between aromas of US and Scottish whiskies
Published: December 19, 2024 16:00
One algorithm identified the five strongest notes in each drink more accurately than any one of a panel of expertsNotch up another win for artificial intelligence. Researchers have used the technology to predict the notes that waft off whisky and determine…
UK arts and media reject plan to let AI firms use copyrighted material
Published: December 19, 2024 14:38
Exclusive: Coalition of musicians, photographers and newspapers insist existing copyright laws must be respectedWriters, publishers, musicians, photographers, movie producers and newspapers have rejected the Labour government’s plan to create a copyright…
Inflation fears trump growth concerns among Bank of England’s MPC members
Published: December 19, 2024 13:25
The monetary policy committee voted six to three to hold interest rates steady despite consumers’ reticence to spendBusiness live – latest updatesThere was no doubt in the City that the Bank of England would hold interest rates at 4.75%. An increase in…
HS2 boss blames failure to control costs on rush to start work
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/19/hs2-mark-wild-costs-budget-department-transport
Published: December 19, 2024 13:22
Mark Wild says ‘fundamental reset’ needed, as Department for Transport admits it has no final cost estimateEnormous budget overruns on the HS2 high-speed railway have been blamed by its new chief executive on a “rush to start”, as the Department for…
Taps dry in 58,000 Hampshire homes due to Southern Water fault
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/19/southern-water-fault-hampshire
Published: December 19, 2024 12:19
Outage comes as customers hear they will face the highest bill increases in England and WalesTens of thousands of homes in Hampshire are without water because of a technical fault at a Southern Water supply works.About 58,000 homes in Southampton, Romsey,…
UK data regulator criticises Google for ‘irresponsible’ ad tracking change
Published: December 19, 2024 12:10
ICO says allowing advertisers to track digital ‘fingerprints’ will undermine consumers’ control over informationBusiness live – latest updatesBritain’s data protection regulator has labelled Google as “irresponsible” for allowing advertisers to track…
Bank of England keeps UK interest rates on hold amid jitters over rising inflation
Published: December 19, 2024 12:00
Decision to leave borrowing costs at 4.75% was widely forecast, despite worsening picture for economy and jobs• Business live – latest updatesThe Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold amid concerns over rising inflation, despite a worsening…
Minimum term increased for then 12-year-olds over Wolverhampton murder
Published: December 19, 2024 11:54
Boys, believed to be UK’s youngest knife murderers, who killed Shawn Seesahai with a machete have minimum term raised to at least 10 yearsTwo boys, believed to be Britain’s youngest knife murderers after killing a 19-year-old man with a machete when they…
Calls for abortion law change in England after couple sentenced for buying pills
Published: December 19, 2024 11:44
Campaigners say case of Sophie Harvey and her partner exposes harmful and unnecessary criminalisation of womenThe prosecution of a young couple who were handed community orders at Gloucester crown court more than six years after the stillbirth of a baby…
Hospices in England to get £100m boost to help with cost pressures
Published: December 19, 2024 11:25
Government announcement comes as hospices struggle with higher wage bills and national insurance increaseUK politics live – latest updatesHospices in England are to receive a £100m-plus boost to funding amid worries that some end-of-life services could…
Number of people in hospital in England with flu jumps 41% in a week
Published: December 19, 2024 10:27
Average of 2,629 patients this week is more than four times number at this point last year, NHS figures showThe number of people in hospital in England with flu has jumped 41% in a week and continues to be more than four times the number at this point last…
Starmer to be grilled on economy and public services as No 10 firms up Trump links – UK politics live
Published: December 19, 2024 10:14
Prime minister to be questioned for first time by liaison committee as No 10 says he spoke to Trump on the phone on WednesdayBritish troops could start training Ukrainian troops in Ukraine itself, John Healey, the defence secretary, has suggested. He…
Watchdog gives lenders a year to respond to UK car finance complaints
Published: December 19, 2024 10:06
Financial Conduct Authority sets 4 December 2025 deadline for handling rising number of customer queriesBusiness live – latest updatesThe City regulator has given lenders a year to respond to the rising number of customer complaints over the way they were…
Navantia to buy Titanic builder Harland & Wolff, saving about 1,000 jobs
Published: December 19, 2024 09:59
Northern Ireland secretary hails rescue deal reached with Spanish state-owned company that secures all four shipyardsA Spanish state-owned shipbuilder will buy Belfast-based Harland & Wolff in a deal that will secure all four of its shipyards and save…
Keir Starmer’s chief of staff met Trump team earlier this month
Published: December 19, 2024 09:49
Morgan McSweeney flew to Florida and Washington for meetings with key members of president-elect’s teamUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s chief of staff travelled to Florida for talks with Donald Trump’s incoming White House team earlier this…
Thames Water to pay £18m penalty after breaking dividend rules
Published: December 19, 2024 07:41
Regulator Ofwat penalises struggling utilities firm and announces bills can rise by more than third over five years• Water bills for households in England and Wales to rise by £31 a yearThames Water will have to pay an £18.2m penalty after the water…
Water bills for households in England and Wales to rise by £31 a year
Published: December 19, 2024 07:20
Average bill will rise by £157 over five years to £597 after regulator agrees to increase amount firms can chargeHouseholds in England and Wales will see their water bills rise by an average of £31 a year, as suppliers pay to fix leaky pipes and cut…
Body Shop is back for good … and back in profit, new boss tells staff
Published: December 19, 2024 07:00
Ethical beauty chain books £2m profit in first three months after rescue from administration in SeptemberThe new boss of the Body Shop has told staff the struggling ethical beauty retailer is “back for good” after it booked a profit in its first 100 days…
Just four fines issued for wood-burning complaints in a year in England
Published: December 19, 2024 06:00
Law around illegal wood burning in smoke-control areas is not being enforced, campaigners sayOnly four fines out of 5,600 complaints have been issued for illegal burning of wood in smoke-control areas from September 2023 to August 2024 in England, data has…
Toadstool with teeth and ghostly palm among plant and fungus finds of 2024
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/19/toadstool-with-teeth-ghost-palm-plant-finds-2024
Published: December 19, 2024 05:00
Scientists race to discover new species before destruction of natural world drives them to extinctionFrom a toadstool with teeth to a vine smelling of marzipan and a flower that has cheated its way out of having to photosynthesise, a weird and wonderful…
Review of the year: how will we remember 2024? – Politics Weekly UK
Published: December 19, 2024 05:00
John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s Politics Weekly Westminster hosts, political editor Pippa Crerar and correspondent Kiran Stacey, to look back at 2024 and ahead to what 2025 might bringWith thanks to ITV News and The Bath Philharmonia Young Carers’…
Can a steel town survive if its furnaces are turned off? – podcast
Published: December 19, 2024 03:00
Port Talbot in Wales is defined by its huge steelworks. But in January Tata Steel announced it was ending primary steelmaking there. George McDonagh charts a year that could change the town for everIn January, Tata Steel announced it was ending primary…
Cancer screening take ups not back to pre-pandemic levels, charity warns
Published: December 19, 2024 00:01
Cancer Research UK concerned over dwindling participation in breast and cervical cancer screeningA health charity has sounded the alarm over a dip in the proportion of people taking up the offer for cancer screening as figures show how effective the tests…
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