The Guardian

Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford among five Europeans hit with visa bans over claims they wish to ‘suppress American viewpoints they oppose’ Good morning. Christmas is the time of peace on earth and goodwill towards all men. But there is not much sign of that in US/UK relations this morning, where the Trump administration has just sanctioned two Britons, among others, for supposedly trying to suppre…

Police say suspect, who later died in gas explosion, was former partner of teenager’s mother A 13-year-old British boy has reportedly been stabbed to death in Portugal. The country’s Judicial Police said it was investigating the deaths of the teenager, who was identified by local media as a British national, and the alleged perpetrator, who police say was the former partner of his mother. Continu…

RAC says traffic expected to reach highest level since pandemic, while Heathrow predicts busiest festive season Travel this Christmas Eve could be the UK’s busiest ever, as millions of drivers take to the roads and hundreds of thousands of passengers catch planes for festive getaways. Train journeys are also forecast to be very busy, with rail services ending earlier than normal. Continue reading…

Charity finds grants for crucial alterations take average 375 days, with many MND patients dying in this time People with motor neurone disease (MND) are dying waiting for grants to make their homes fit to live in due to a huge backlogs in applications, campaigners have said. The MND Association has found it takes an average of 375 days for people in England to get essential home adaptations thro…

Big brands such as Sainsbury’s and M&S also selling directly in app through links in videos and livestreams It is better known for its viral dances and for making hits out of forgotten songs , but the social media site TikTok is becoming a force to be reckoned with as a shopping platform. Major retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Samsung, QVC, Clarks, and Sainsbury’s are now selling their wares on…

‘Explosive device’ was triggered when police approached a suspicious person, say officials Two traffic police officers and a third person have been killed in a car explosion in Moscow, Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said early on Wednesday. The committee said in a statement “an explosive device was triggered” when the officers approached a “suspicious person” near th…

Reports that Stanislav Orlov was killed by Moscow security services highlights careful managing of non-state power Beneath the frescoed ceilings and golden icons of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, hundreds of men packed tightly into the lower hall as priests intoned prayers for the dead. Dressed in dark winter jackets, the mourners on Monday filled one of Russia’s most sacred spaces – a…

Advertising regulator said operators and a ticket seller could not prove bookings were cheapest Train companies have been warned over price claims made on their ticketing websites after the advertising watchdog banned ads run by three sellers. The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that claims made for fares booked via ScotRail and Greater Anglia’s website, as well as by a third-party ticketin…

Introduced in response to the Bondi beach terror attack, the laws give police powers to ban on protests for up to three months after a terrorist event Ten minutes of terror: how the Bondi mass shooting unfolded in real time – video Follow the latest live updates The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has said it is up to the state’s police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, when to activate controversi…

Security stepped up at mosques amid spate of targeted abuse as leaders mourn Bondi victims and say community will not ‘claim victimhood’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Threats and hate speech against Muslim Australians have surged in the wake of the Bondi beach attack, with one mosque receiving dozens of offensiv…

Home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the government had ‘no time for hatred when it came to cancelling visas’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The federal government has cancelled the visa of a British man charged with displaying prohibited Nazi symbols, after police seized swords bearing “swastika symbology” fr…

Prime minister says awards will celebrate extraordinary acts of courage and kindness in the wake of the terror attack Anthony Albanese has announced the creation of a special honours list to recognise the bravery of those who helped respond to the Bondi terror attack, paying tribute to police, medical staff and ordinary citizens who leapt into action during the antisemitic massacre. The awards, t…

Known as Tea Tyme, Tynesha McCarty-Wroten arrested over 3 November death of Darren Lucas in Zion, Illinois The social media creator who allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian as she hosted a livestream while simultaneously driving through a Chicago suburb has been arrested, according to authorities. Known best to her online followers as Tea Tyme, Tynesha McCarty-Wroten was arrested Tuesday for her…

Video shows Gen Xu Qinxian explaining why he refused to deploy troops to crush 1989 student-led demonstrations Rare footage of a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) general who defied orders to lead his troops into Tiananmen Square and crush the 1989 student protesters has been leaked online, offering a highly unusual glimpse into the upper echelons of the military at one of the most fraught moments i…

State department accuses group of pressuring tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints through regulation of disinformation The state department has barred five Europeans from the US, accusing them of leading efforts to pressure tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints, in the latest attack on European regulations that target hate speech and misinformation. Secretary of sta…