General news

• Wesley Plaisier claims ‘biggest victory’ in stunning upset of Gerwyn Price

  21-12-2025 23:52 via theguardian.com
  World No 92 beats former world champion 3-0Luke Littler eases past David Davies into round threeBy the end, all Gerwyn Price could do was applaud. There was no snarling and no sullenness from the former champion, just a nod of recognition, an admission that sometimes the other guy just plays darts from the gods. And here the other guy was Wesley Plaisier, the world No 92 from the Netherlands, a player of rich potential, but nothing that would ever have suggested he was capable of a shock of this
  
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• Puppy farm ban promised by animal welfare strategy

  21-12-2025 23:30 via bbc.com
  The government promises its animal welfare strategy will bring "the biggest reforms in a generation".
  
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• The incredible abandoned European town in the mountains that's a haven for dark tourism

  21-12-2025 23:24 via express.co.uk
  An abandoned European town in France is home to the remains of a mining site, including abandoned buildings and canteens.
  
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• New UK theme park to be as big as Disneyland Paris

  21-12-2025 23:22 via express.co.uk
  A huge theme park is coming to the UK, promising major rides, jobs and billions in economic benefits.
  
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• Liverpool fear Alexander Isak has fractured leg after horror injury against Spurs

  21-12-2025 23:05 via theguardian.com
  Striker hurt by Van de Ven tackle when opening scoringMRI scan results to reveal length of spell on sidelinesLiverpool fear their record signing, Alexander Isak, has fractured his left leg and will face months on the sidelines.The league champions are waiting on the results of an MRI scan after the £125m man was injured against Tottenham in Saturday’s Premier League game. The 26-year-old sustained the problem while scoring the opener against Spurs – his second league goal of an
  
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• Epidural kit shortage could last until March, regulator says

  21-12-2025 23:03 via bbc.com
  The shortage is due to a major supplier stopping manufacturing epidural bags, the government says.
  
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• Amadeus review – this Mozart series is a pale, petty version of the movie it’s based on

  21-12-2025 23:00 via theguardian.com
  Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany’s new TV drama is flat, airless and banal. It’s a crass affair with a thin, half-hearted performance from SharpeHere’s my position. If you are going to create a miniseries about the life, death and music of one of the defining geniuses of the last 1,000 years of western civilisation, and if you are going to use as your source material a script for a great play that was made into a near-perfect film beloved by almost everyone for its wit and immense,
  
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• US justice department restores photo featuring Trump from Epstein files

  21-12-2025 22:56 via theguardian.com
  Department says image was flagged by prosecutors before determining it posed no risk to survivors of late sex offenderThe US justice department said on Sunday it had restored an image it had removed a day earlier from the public release of investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein after concluding that the photograph, which included within it a photo of Donald Trump, posed no risk of public exposure to victims of the late convicted sex offender.The justice department said the image had been
  
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• Find the attacker who took my son's life twice

  21-12-2025 22:56 via bbc.com
  Leon Adams, 24, was paralysed in a brutal attack and needed 24/7 care until he died last December.
  
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• NFL round-up: Steelers outlast Lions as late penalty negates Goff’s winning TD

  21-12-2025 22:50 via theguardian.com
  Chiefs down to QB3 as Minshew hurt in loss to TitansMcCarthy hurt as Vikings hand Giants ninth straight lossChargers close on playoffs behind Herbert surgeThe Pittsburgh Steelers pushed the Detroit Lions to the brink of elimination from the playoffs on Sunday, holding on for a 29-24 win when Jared Goff’s touchdown on the final play was negated by an offensive pass-interference penalty on Amon-Ra St Brown.Goff threw a fourth-down pass to St Brown just short of the goal line. The receiver pu
  
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• NFL round-up: Chiefs down to QB3 as Minshew injured in loss to Titans

  21-12-2025 22:50 via theguardian.com
  Titans snap skid as Ward outshines reeling ChiefsMcCarthy hurt as Vikings hand Giants ninth straight lossChargers close on playoffs behind Herbert surgeCam Ward threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and the Tennessee Titans snapped an 11-game home skid by beating the Kansas City Chiefs 26-9 on Sunday.The Titans (3-12) improved to 1-7 at home this season with their first win at Nissan Stadium since 3 November 2024. The skid matched the franchise’s worst since moving to Tennessee in 1997.
  
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• El Kaabi’s stunning strike caps Morocco’s win over Comoros in Afcon opener

  21-12-2025 22:40 via theguardian.com
  The Africa Cup of Nations hosts, Morocco, overcame a nervy start to beat Comoros in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday after Brahim Díaz and the substitute Ayoub El Kaabi scored second-half goals.It was a far from convincing showing, however, from highly fancied Morocco who are 97 places above the small Indian Ocean island nation in the world rankings and had to toil hard for the points in the rain at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium. Continue reading...
  
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• James Ransone, US actor known for The Wire, dies aged 46

  21-12-2025 22:37 via theguardian.com
  LA medical examiner reports Ransone, who played Chester ‘Ziggy’ Sobotka in the HBO crime drama, died by suicideJames Ransone, the American actor best known for his work in 12 episodes of The Wire, has died in Los Angeles.Information from the Los Angeles medical examiner indicated Ransone, 46, died on Friday from suicide. Continue reading...
  
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• Gripes and infighting on display as Maga stars gather at Turning Point conference

  21-12-2025 22:12 via theguardian.com
  Figures at event include Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Trump Jr as cohesion of political right shows signs of stressThe stars of the Maga conservatism converged for the four-day AmericaFest conference in Phoenix this weekend amid reports that the cohesion of the political-religious right, a year into Donald Trump’s second presidential term, is showing signs of stress.The sold-out Turning Point USA event brought together figures from the right including Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Steve
  
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• I was on same plane as 'dead' grandma and saw carers hold her head up

  21-12-2025 22:00 via express.co.uk
  Fellow travellers suspect the 'fragile old lady' was already dead before boarding - given how she was slumped lifelessly with carers holding up her head.
  
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• Police watchdog may investigate force over Maccabi fan ban

  21-12-2025 21:35 via bbc.com
  The IOPC says it can exercise its investigatory power if warranted, after its director said she was willing to launch a probe.
  
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• Major UK high street store to close all UK stores for three days

  21-12-2025 21:08 via express.co.uk
  A major retailer warned customers they will be closed for three days.
  
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• The 197 new M&S stores opening in London - full list

  21-12-2025 21:07 via express.co.uk
  Marks and Spencer recently announced it wants to open 500 new stores across the country, and a slew of them are in London.
  
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• Another 130 kidnapped schoolchildren released in Nigeria

  21-12-2025 21:05 via theguardian.com
  Presidential spokesperson says all those abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state last month are now freeNigerian authorities say they have secured the release of a further 130 schoolchildren kidnapped from a Catholic school in November, after 100 were freed earlier this month.“Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity,” presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare said on X, in a post accompanied by a photo of smiling children. Continue reading...
  
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• Morgan Rogers’ golden spell spearheads Aston Villa’s most unlikely title charge | Jonathan Wilson

  21-12-2025 21:02 via theguardian.com
  England forward’s brilliance is proving difficult to stop but Unai Emery will surely not be able to keep relying on him every timeIt is only two months since Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball as Aston Villa failed to beat a team that played for an hour with 10 men. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn’t clear whether Rogers’ form was a symptom or a caus
  
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• Two Palestine Action-linked hunger strikers taken to hospital

  21-12-2025 21:01 via theguardian.com
  MPs and next of kin of prisoners Amu Gib, 30, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, call for immediate government interventionTwo Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners taking part in a hunger strike have been taken to hospital, as their next of kin and MPs expressed concern over prison conditions and called for immediate government intervention.Amu Gib, 30, who was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey while awaiting trial, is on day 50 of their hunger strike and 28-year-old Kamran Ahmed was being held at Pen
  
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• Mass clearout of England leadership not in ECB plans after Ashes failure

  21-12-2025 21:00 via theguardian.com
  McCullum’s position likely to come under scrutinyECB believes mass sackings would be a mistakeThe England and Wales Cricket Board is eager to avoid a mass ­clearout of England’s senior leadership in the wake of another humiliating away Ashes series defeat.England’s hopes of winning the urn were expunged inside 11 days for just the fourth time in the contest’s 143-year history with Sunday’s 82-run defeat in Adelaide, and a fourth Ashes whitewash is on the cards i
  
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• More than 800 people cross Channel in dinghies, breaking record for December

  21-12-2025 20:39 via theguardian.com
  Saturday’s arrivals were the most on a single day in December and take the annual total to 41,455More than 800 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday, a record for a day in December, according to the Home Office.December is traditionally one of the quietest months for Channel crossings, as a combination of low temperatures and stormy weather makes the journey particularly difficult. Poor visibility and less daylight have also been cited as factors influencing the crossings.
  
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• King's Foundation chair and nominee peer admits 'misleading' doctorate claim

  21-12-2025 20:33 via bbc.com
  Dame Ann Limb tells the Sunday Times she did not complete a doctorate previously listed on her CV.
  
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• Labour MSP to quit Holyrood over links to sex offender

  21-12-2025 20:12 via bbc.com
  Pam Duncan-Glancy stood down as the party's education spokeswoman earlier this month after admitting a "serious error of judgement".
  
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• Police seize £10m of cocaine and heroin after house raid

  21-12-2025 19:59 via bbc.com
  Two men, aged 43 and 22, are due to appear before Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday following the operation in Shettleston.
  
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• UK supermarkets import European turkeys for Christmas as bird flu hits supply

  21-12-2025 19:31 via express.co.uk
  More than 5% of the UK's Christmas poultry flock are thought to have been culled since the start of October, creating shortages for the upcoming roast dinner.
  
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• Warning issued to anyone with washing machine or dishwasher in kitchen

  21-12-2025 19:19 via express.co.uk
  Christmas is a busy time of year for our kitchens but you could be making a costly mistake this week.
  
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• London City Lionesses sack manager Prêcheur while West Ham close on Guarino

  21-12-2025 19:03 via theguardian.com
  Frenchman led team to promotion from second tierHammers set to turn to former Juventus head coachLondon City Lionesses have sacked their manager Jocelyn Prêcheur, with the newly promoted club sixth in the Women’s Super League.The Frenchman oversaw London City’s promotion to the WSL last season and has guided them to the top half of the top tier, but the big-spending club are known to be ambitious and their defeat at Leicester a week ago was their sixth of the season. Prêc
  
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• ‘Miracle’ of Zealandia: chick is born to rare takahē pair thought to be infertile

  21-12-2025 19:00 via theguardian.com
  Unexpected arrival is a boon for birdlife in New Zealand, where there are only 500 takahē leftA pair of rare native New Zealand takahē birds who were believed infertile have stunned staff at the world’s largest urban eco-sanctuary, after hatching a “miracle” chick.The roughly seven-week old chick was discovered inside Zealandia, a fully fenced eco-sanctuary 10 minutes from Wellington’s city centre, in November, but its arrival has been a closely guarded secret t
  
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• Two teens killed and another fighting for their life after Tesla crashes into tree

  21-12-2025 18:41 via express.co.uk
  A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
  
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• Latest Epstein images shine a light on access seemingly granted by ‘useful idiot’ Andrew

  21-12-2025 18:40 via theguardian.com
  Photos suggest former Duke of York served as Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s pass to British high societyThe former Prince Andrew at Sandringham lying across the laps of five elegantly dressed women as Ghislaine Maxwell looks on; Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein on a shoot near Balmoral; the three of them peering down from the royal box at Ascot.The images are just some of the “Epstein files” released by the US Department of Justice on Friday. Continue reading...
  
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• One in eight of 14- to 17-year-olds in Great Britain say they have used nicotine pouches

  21-12-2025 18:36 via theguardian.com
  Survey adds to experts’ concern about addiction risk and highlights support for plan to ban sales to under-18sOne in eight teenagers aged 14 to 17 have used nicotine pouches, a survey has found, adding to health experts’ concern about their growing popularity.Users hold the small sachets, which look like mini-teabags and are often flavoured, in their mouths to enjoy the release of the nicotine they contain. They are also known as “snus”. Continue reading...
  
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• The Guardian view on Labour’s difficult year: denial of hard choices is no longer an option | Editorial

  21-12-2025 18:30 via theguardian.com
  All the incentives in Westminster politics militate against confronting difficultissues, but a failing government may as well try honestyThe formula for stable government, according to Britain’s constitution, is a big parliamentary majority and divided opposition. Sir Keir Starmer’s predicament proves that those conditions are not sufficient.The prime minister’s inability to convince voters that he has an agenda for national renewal, and the demoralising effect that has had on
  
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• The Guardian view on gene editing: breakthroughs need a new social contract | Editorial

  21-12-2025 18:25 via theguardian.com
  Cutting-edge therapies exist, but the market cannot deliver them cheaply. Britain must build NHS capacity so that cures become collective goods, not expensive productsJust a small fraction of our 20,000 genes can cause disease when disrupted – yet that sliver accounts for thousands of rare disorders. The difficulty is: what can a doctor do to treat them? In a common condition such as type 2 diabetes, the underlying biology is similar for millions of patients. The doctor can prescribe metfo
  
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• Tragedy as man and woman killed in horror three-vehicle crash

  21-12-2025 18:15 via express.co.uk
  Drivers are being urged to check dashcam devices for any footage that may show the vehicles involved in the moments leading up to the collision.
  
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• Dan Frost freezes out Newcastle to put dominant Bath back on top of Prem

  21-12-2025 18:13 via theguardian.com
  Newcastle 14-50 BathChampions score eight tries against bottom sideBath returned to the summit of the Prem, ruthlessly exposing the gulf between top and bottom at Kingston Park. Despite resting several front-liners, including Finn Russell, they ran in eight tries against Newcastle to bounce back emphatically from last week’s Champions Cup defeat in Toulon.They simply had too much firepower for Newcastle who were shut out for the last 53 minutes of the game. Continue reading...
  
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• Rejoining Erasmus+ is brilliant news for Britain | Letters

  21-12-2025 18:08 via theguardian.com
  Guardian readers celebrate the European exchange programme and the fact that Britain will be rejoining it in 2027Julian Baggini is right to laud the opportunities for European student exchange activities, with the announcement that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus scheme in 2027 (Britain rejoining Erasmus+ won’t halt the nativist tide – but it’s a step in the right direction, 17 December). Until Brexit, there were diverse chances for students to sample courses, cultures and envir
  
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• How the BBC can resist ‘entrumpification’ | Letters

  21-12-2025 18:08 via theguardian.com
  Enough of the orchestrated outrage – the BBC needs to be clear that there’s no systemic dishonesty at play, writes Anthony Lawton. Plus letters from Michele Ryan and Mike PenderYour editorial (16 December) rightly calls for collective resistance to Donald Trump’s assault on the BBC. But it is important to name what we are witnessing: “entrumpification” – a political technology that attacks democratic institutions where they are strongest, not weakest.The BBC m
  
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• From Charles Darwin to Noel Gallagher, here’s inspiration for young stammerers

  21-12-2025 18:07 via theguardian.com
  Peter Botha sings the praises of the Stuttering Foundation website’s ‘celebrity corner’ pagesWhat a great piece by Ross Coleman about embarking on his speech therapy programme for stammering (My cultural awakening: Jonathan Groff inspired me to overcome my stammer, 6 December). Coleman was inspired by the example of Jonathan Groff, who is not a stammerer, tackling something head-on.The McGuire Programme that Coleman signed up for seems to have helped many people. While Groff se
  
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• Tate’s greats are certainly not kept hidden from view | Letters

  21-12-2025 18:06 via theguardian.com
  Roland Rudd of Tate responds to an article by Jonathan Jones that questioned the organisation’s ambition and priorities. Plus a letter from Liz Goddard on Máret Ánne Sara’s installation at Tate ModernOne of the joys of art is that it never fails to spark debate. In that spirit, I always enjoy Jonathan Jones’s reviews, but I must disagree with his particular criticism that Tate has hidden its treasures (Don’t blame Maria Balshaw for Tate’s failings. Its
  
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• Starmer has no coherent social mobility plan, says top government adviser

  21-12-2025 17:21 via theguardian.com
  Exclusive: Warning from Social Mobility Commission chair comes after UK report found ‘entrenched disadvantages’Keir Starmer has no coherent strategy to tackle entrenched inequalities harming the life chances of millions of people, the government’s social mobility commissioner has said.A report warned last week that young adults in Britain’s former industrial heartlands were being left behind as a result of failed or abandoned promises by successive governments. Continue r
  
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• UK asylum seekers not widely abusing modern slavery rules, report finds

  21-12-2025 17:00 via theguardian.com
  Exclusive: Thinktank’s findings undermine successive home secretaries’ statements about misuse of system in England and WalesAsylum seekers are not abusing the modern slavery system in a widespread manner, according to a report from a centre-right thinktank that undermines statements from successive home secretaries.The report from Bright Blue finds limited evidence that asylum seekers are falsely claiming to have been the victims of modern slavery to stay in the country, despite sev
  
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• Tom Gauld on the last-minute Christmas rush at the bookshop – cartoon

  21-12-2025 17:00 via theguardian.com
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• Nicola Jennings on Trump and the Epstein files – cartoon

  21-12-2025 16:48 via theguardian.com
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• In pictures: Druids descend on Stonehenge to mark winter solstice

  21-12-2025 16:40 via bbc.com
  Thousands take to the Neolithic circle to welcome the sunrise on the shortest day of the year.
  
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• Arrest after two teenagers die in car crash with tree

  21-12-2025 16:23 via bbc.com
  A third teenage man is in a "life-threatening" condition in hospital after the crash in Surrey.
  
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• Santas on a hill and a donkey at the opera: photos of the weekend

  21-12-2025 16:01 via theguardian.com
  The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...
  
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• Manchester Museum seeks help to uncover hidden histories of African collection

  21-12-2025 16:00 via theguardian.com
  New Africa Hub confronts colonial-era silences by asking visitors to share insights on 40,000 objectsIt’s a rare thing for a museum to talk about what it doesn’t know. But unanswered questions and archival silences are at the heart of the new Africa Hub at Manchester Museum, north-west England, which is inviting people around the world to help fill the gaps.The museum holds more than 40,000 items from across Africa, many of which were traded, collected, looted or preserved during the
  
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• Passenger dies in hospital two days after driver killed in crash

  21-12-2025 15:56 via bbc.com
  Police say a 64-year-old man died from injuries sustained during the collision, which also claimed the life of a 48-year-old woman.
  
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