The Guardian

PM hails former deputy and says ‘she’s going to be a major voice in the Labour movement’Pat McFadden has defended the chancellor’s decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap at last week’s budget, which is estimated to cost £3bn a year by 2029-30.The scrapping of the cap, which came amid intense pressure from Labour backbenchers, was welcomed by campaigners and charities who argue it is the most cost-effective way to cut child poverty.The manifesto that we fought the election on said that we would reduce child poverty. There are a number of ways to do that. We set up a

Cameras capture lone creature collecting materials for its lodge in riverside nature reserveA wild beaver has been spotted in Norfolk for the first time since beavers were hunted to extinction in England at the beginning of the 16th century.It was filmed dragging logs and establishing a lodge in a “perfect beaver habitat” on the River Wensun at Pensthorpe, a nature reserve near Fakenham in Norfolk. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/07/no-one-knows-where-it-came-from-first-wild-beaver-spotted-in-norfolk-for-400-years Author : Donna Ferguson Publish date : 2025-12-07 06:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Fire broke out at midnight in the popular club in Arpora in the North Goa district, according to reportsAt least 23 people have been killed in a fire at a popular nightclub in the Indian resort city of Goa, officials said.Several tourists were among the dead in the fire, which broke out at about midnight at a club in Arpora in the North Goa district, according to the Press Trust of India. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/06/several-tourists-among-killed-in-blaze-at-goa-nightclub Author : AFP Publish date : 2025-12-07 03:29:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Positive tone after Florida talks with Ukrainian president heading to London Street to see Starmer, Macron and Merz. What we know on day 1,383Three days of talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami, Florida produced no evident breakthrough by the end of Saturday. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said he joined his negotiators for a “very substantive and constructive” call with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. “Ukraine is committed to continuing to work honestly with the American side to bring about real peace,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram, adding that the parties agreed on the next steps and a

Albanese says communications minister’s family trip to Thredbo was ‘completely within rules’. Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese has also defended a $100k expense for communications minister Anika Wells, a staffer and a public servant to join the prime minister and foreign minister Penny Wong in New York for a United Nations meeting.Anika Wells was doing her job as the communications minister who is in charge of this world-leading, world-leading legislation, passed with bipartisan support, to give credit to Peter Dutton when he was opposition leader. And it was an important

Several additional people, including children, have severe liver damage amid 21 cases of amatoxin poisoningCalifornia officials are warning foragers after an outbreak of poisoning linked to wild mushrooms that has killed one adult and caused severe liver damage in several patients, including children.The state poison control system has identified 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning, likely caused by death cap mushrooms, the health department said Friday. The toxic wild mushrooms are often mistaken for edible ones because of their appearance and taste. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/06/california-mushroom-poisoning Author : Associated Press Publish date : 2025-12-06 20:19:00 Copyright for syndicated content

Andrew Wolfe was shot in the head on 26 November, while Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuriesThe West Virginia national guard soldier who was wounded in the 26 November shooting that killed a colleague of his in Washington DC is “slowly healing”, according to West Virginia’s governor.Andrew Wolfe, 24, was shot alongside fellow West Virginia national guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom, 20, while they patrolled the US capital as part of the Trump administration’s push to deploy military members on to the city’s streets. Beckstrom died of her injuries the day after she was shot while Wolfe was hospitalized in critical

Malcolm Offord was unveiled as Reform UK’s latest recruit by party leader Nigel Farage in Falkirk on SaturdayReform UK has gained its first peer after a defection a from the Conservative party.Malcolm Offord was unveiled as Reform UK’s latest recruit by party leader Nigel Farage during a rally in Falkirk on Saturday. The businessman served as a Scotland Office minister under the last government and until recently was treasurer of the Scottish Conservatives. Offord confirmed his intentions to stand for Reform UK in next May’s Holyrood elections. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/06/reform-uk-gains-its-first-peer-after-conservative-party-defection-malcolm-offord Author : Geraldine McKelvie Publish date :

Four people arrested after protest against UK inequality claimed by civil-resistance group Take Back PowerPart of the Tower of London has been closed to visitors on a busy Saturday after food was thrown at a display case containing the crown jewels in a protest against inequality in the UK.Four people were arrested after the action, which was claimed by Take Back Power – a self-described new non-violent civil-resistance group. It said custard and apple crumble was flung at the case, which contained the imperial state crown. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/dec/06/tower-of-london-closes-apple-crumble-thrown-on-crown-jewels-display-case Author : Kevin Rawlinson and agency Publish date

The Trump administration released a policy paper on Friday that made explicit Washington’s support for Europe’s nationalist far-right partiesThe protective shield over the Chornobyl disaster nuclear reactor in Ukraine has degraded enough after a drone strike earlier this year that it can no longer perform its main function of blocking radiation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced.An inspection last week revealed that the steel confinement structure, which was painstakingly built at a cost of €1.5bn ($1.75bn) next to the destroyed reactor, “had lost its primary safety functions,” said Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director general. Continue reading... Source link :

Moscow ‘continuously reinforcing’ its presence in the region, says Swedish chief of operations Capt Marko PetkovicThe Swedish navy encounters Russian submarines in the Baltic Sea on an “almost weekly” basis, its chief of operations has said, and is preparing for a further increase in the event of ceasefire or armistice in the Ukraine war.Capt Marko Petkovic said Moscow was “continuously reinforcing” its presence in the region, and sightings of its vessels were a regular part of life for the Swedish navy. Its “very common”, he said, adding that the number of sightings had increased in recent years. Continue reading... Source

Move from CDC advisers mirrors Trump team’s regressive approach to longstanding vaccine guidanceWho’s allowed to get the hepatitis B vaccine in the US now?Vaccine advisers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted on Friday morning to limit hepatitis B vaccines in a major move signaling the Trump administration’s regressive approach to vaccines that have been given safely and effectively for decades.The panel of advisers, hand-picked by the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, decided to remove the well-established and far-reaching recommendation that all newborns in the US receive a hepatitis B vaccine. Continue reading... Source

Settlement one of US’s largest and comes after officer killed Konoa Wilson, who was running from teen shooting at himThe city of San Diego has agreed to pay a $30m settlement to the family of Konoa Wilson, the 16-year-old boy fatally shot in the back by a police officer while running away after narrowly missing another shooting by an unknown third party at a train station.The payout is the result of the wrongful death lawsuit Wilson’s family filed against the city in June, claiming the officer who shot the teen acted with “racial violence”. Wilson is half Black, family attorneys

French president’s remarks come a day after a report claimed he had warned Washington could betray KyivEmmanuel Macron has said there is “no mistrust” between Europe and the US, a day after a report claimed the French president had warned privately there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine.“Unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is essential. And I say it again and again, we need to work together,” Macron told reporters during a visit to China on Friday. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/05/no-mistrust-between-europe-and-us-over-ukraine-macron-says Author : Oliver Holmes Publish date : 2025-12-06 00:43:00 Copyright for syndicated content

Hundreds driven into Rwanda as M23 militia battles Congolese army and Burundian soldiers for border town of KamanyolaFresh fighting in eastern DR Congo has forced hundreds to flee across the border into Rwanda, a day after a peace deal was signed in Washington DC.Thursday’s agreement was meant to stabilise the resource-rich east but it has had little visible effect on the ground so far, in an area plagued by conflict for 30 years. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/05/people-flee-dr-congo-fighting-one-day-after-peace-deal-signed-in-washington Author : Agence France-Presse Publish date : 2025-12-05 22:17:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

US politicians and Hollywood guilds have voiced concerns against the proposed $83bn purchase of the studioThe news that Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros in an $83bn deal has led to backlash among figures in and out of the entertainment industry.Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic senator, called it “an anti-monopoly nightmare” in a statement released soon after the announcement. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/05/netflix-warner-bros-deal-backlash Author : Benjamin Lee Publish date : 2025-12-05 19:31:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, said the government was not ‘backing away’ from benefits changesThe UK welfare system is not helping enough people into work and has significantly rising costs, and no one should think the government is backing away from reforming it, the work and pensions secretary has said.Pat McFadden made the comments as the government published its new child poverty strategy on Friday. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/new-uk-child-poverty-strategy-pat-mcfadden-welfare-reform Author : Rowena Mason Whitehall editor Publish date : 2025-12-05 17:09:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Four killed in attack on boat in eastern Pacific as questions continue over earlier double strikePentagon announces it has killed four men in another boat strike in PacificIn other pressing news, vice-president JD Vance is insisting that, amid a tonne of speculation online about missing rings and such, his marriage is just fine – in fact, it’s “as strong as it’s ever been”.Asked whether he was frustrated by tabloid-style headlines about his wife Usha being spotted without her wedding ring on a number of occasions, Vance said in an interview with NBC News yesterday: “I think that we kind of

Starmer hails child poverty strategy as a ‘moral mission’ which will include measures to help with childcare and getting families out of temporary housingReaders may be aware, going into the weekend, that Edinburgh airport had to temporarily suspend flights this morning due to technical issues.The delays last about an hour. A report here: Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/dec/05/labour-child-poverty-keir-starmer-nigel-farage-reform Author : Frances Mao Publish date : 2025-12-05 12:14:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Two leaders are due to hold defence and trade talks on Friday, against the backdrop of the Ukraine war, which has seen the US hit India with tariffs over its continued purchases of Russian oilAnalysis: Putin and Modi to meet amid politically treacherous times for Russia and IndiaThe results of the Putin-Modi summit are beginning to filter through.Following talks this morning, Putin said that Russia is ready to continue to provide uninterrupted fuel supplies for India. India has been an important market for Russian oil following its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Western sanctions that followed. Continue reading...

Heatwave warnings in place for parts of New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western AustraliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydney’s CBD has recorded its highest temperature in nearly two years as the east coast of NSW experiences its first heatwave of the summer, while fire authorities in Tasmania and NSW battled bushfires.Temperatures at Observatory Hill in the Sydney CBD reached 37.8C on Friday, the highest since 26 January 2024, while Penrith Lakes in the city’s west hit 40.3C, the hottest day since 28 January this

Jurors return verdicts on two rape charges in Victorian trial of man who cannot be identified for legal reasonsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA man from a high-profile family has been found guilty of raping a woman inside his own home.The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denied the two rape charges and took the case to trial in the Victorian county court. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/05/high-profile-man-melbourne-guilty-raping-woman-pretending-boyfriend-ntwnfb Author : Australian Associated Press Publish date : 2025-12-05 02:51:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to

Judge allows call from manager of Pennsylvania McDonald’s to be made public after press urged its releaseAn audio recording of a 911 call that led to Luigi Mangione’s arrest has been made public after the press advocated for its release.The audio recording was played in Manhattan state court this week during a proceeding about evidence gathered during Mangione’s arrest over the murder of senior United HealthCare executive Brian Thompson a year ago. Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania in December last year after the restaurant’s manager called 911. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/04/luigi-mangione-court-audio-911 Author : Victoria

Bushfires in Tasmania with firefighting efforts focused on Dolphin Sands area and Glenlusk, near Hobart. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian government’s controversial “adult time for violent crime” bill has passed parliament without amendment.The bill, which will move serious crimes committed by children as young as 14 from the children’s court to adult courts, passed at about 6pm on Thursday with the support of the Coalition.I’m pleased these laws can now be put in place as soon as possible to protect Victorians. There are no easy solutions to youth crime, and

Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate armed services committee, comments on briefing by navy admiral Frank BradleyExperts urge release of boat strike video as US admiral denies ‘kill them all’ orderHegseth broke rules in sharing Yemen strike details on Signal, report findsAmong the beneficiaries of Donald Trump’s pardons and commutations, there is a group that legal experts and political scientists see as some of the clearest evidence of how such actions undermine the rule of law: those who were released from prison and again arrested for different alleged crimes.During his first term, Trump issued 237 acts of clemency