General news

• ‘Why would he take such a risk?’ My censor and me

  17-04-2025 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Online dissent is a serious crime in China. So why did a Weibo censor help me publish posts critical of the Communist party?It is 2013. For four full months, Liu Lipeng engages in dereliction of duty. Every hour the system sends him a huge volume of posts, but he hardly ever deletes a single word. After three or four thousand posts accumulate, he lightly clicks his mouse and the whole lot is released. In the jargon of censors, this is a “total pass in one click” (一键
  
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• Post Office boss makes commitment to UK high streets - branches are going nowhere

  23-12-2025 07:22 via express.co.uk
  EXCLUSIVE: Britain's beleaguered high streets have been handed a major boost from Post Office boss Neil Brocklehurst.
  
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• 'Crossbow Cannibal' killer who 'put victim's brain in microwave' suffers brutal attacks

  23-12-2025 07:14 via express.co.uk
  Stephen Griffiths, who called himself the 'Crossbow Cannibal', was jailed for life in 2010 after admitting to murdering three women in Bradford
  
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• Air Fryers remain top Christmas gift choice - even though many already own one

  23-12-2025 07:05 via express.co.uk
  The humble air fryer is stealing the gift spotlight - outshining even the latest tech gadgets.
  
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• A1(M) closure recap: Major road reopens after two hospitalised following crash

  23-12-2025 06:02 via express.co.uk
  Both the northbound and southbound routes have reopened following a crash between a lorry and motorcyclist which left two people in hospital
  
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• AA tells drivers common mistake could ruin Christmas

  23-12-2025 06:00 via express.co.uk
  With Christmas almost here, a warning has been issued by the AA
  
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• Police forces reveal 'magnetic hijabs' in bid to recruit Muslims

  23-12-2025 05:55 via express.co.uk
  A revolutionary design is set to transform UK police forces. Discover the story behind this massive change in police uniform and demographics
  
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• Pretty English village where The Holiday and Bridget Jones was filmed

  23-12-2025 05:45 via express.co.uk
  The picturesque village served as a key filming location for the beloved 2006 Christmas classic The Holiday, starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz.
  
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• Vile predator who raped young girls dies behind bars months into 25 year sentence

  23-12-2025 02:06 via express.co.uk
  The predator has died behind bars after being jailed last year for 'subjecting the victims in this case to horrific ordeals'
  
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• Christmas Eve opening hours for Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Waitrose, Lidl and more

  23-12-2025 01:05 via express.co.uk
  With just one day to go before Christmas Day, some last minute shopping may be on the cards. Here's the full list of supermarket opening hours on Christmas Eve.
  
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• Prince Harry's one 'big win' in battle to return to UK exposed over 'chess pieces' comment

  23-12-2025 00:17 via express.co.uk
  The Home Office has reportedly requested a threat assessment for Prince Harry for the first time since 2020, in a move that could have huge implications
  
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• ‘I want that escape route’: once a sign of disloyalty, Americans seek dual citizenships under Trump

  22-12-2025 17:00 via theguardian.com
  Some US citizens, grappling with issues from LGBTQ+ rights to the economy, are looking to the countries their families once left behindDaniel Kamalić was born and raised in New York City, where he spent his summers riding his bike around Brighton Beach before pedaling home to his “Brooklyn Jewish” mother and his “smooth talker” father. He went out for Cub Scouts and soccer before realizing, during his time studying at MIT, that he loved sailing most of all. Now 48, h
  
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• Mali 1-1 Zambia: Africa Cup of Nations – live reaction

  22-12-2025 16:59 via theguardian.com
  ⚽ Sinayoko fires Mali to winning start against Zambia at Africa Cup of Nations
  ⚽ Scores | Follow us on Bluesky | Email WillShe’s offered £36k under asking price. Surely she has no chance.We are the business end of A Place in the Sun on 4Seven before the football starts. Will they make an offer on a property? The tension is palpable!. Continue reading...
  
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• More than 75% of Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters think PM should open talks on joining EU customs union – UK politics live

  22-12-2025 16:52 via theguardian.com
  YouGov poll for the Times suggests even 40% of Conservative voters support such a moveWes Streeting, the health secretary, used an interview with the Observer published at the weekend to suggest that he favours joining a customs union with the EU. This is something that Keir Starmer has ruled out.But Labour supporters back Streeting on this. According to YouGov polling for the Times, 80% of people who voted Labour at the last general election say a future leader should open negotiations on joini
  
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• Manchester music and football stars gather for funeral of Stone Roses’ Mani

  22-12-2025 16:46 via theguardian.com
  Liam Gallagher, Paul Weller, David Beckham and former bandmates among the mourners at Manchester cathedralThe Stone Roses singer, Ian Brown, has remembered his bandmate Gary “Mani” Mounfield as a “true musical comrade” and “always a beautiful soul and spirit” as hundreds gathered for the charismatic bassist’s funeral.Paul Weller, Liam Gallagher, Peter Hook, Tim Burgess, Bez, David Beckham and Gary Neville were among the mourners at the service at Manches
  
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• Fatberg weighing 100 tonnes discovered in east London sewer

  22-12-2025 16:33 via theguardian.com
  Mass of congealed fat, oil and grease 100 metres in length found blocking sewers in Whitechapel area of capitalA “fatberg” weighing an estimated 100 tonnes has been discovered blocking sewers in east London, officials have said.The mass of congealed fats, oils and grease measures about 100 metres long (328ft) and weighs about a third more than the heaviest of the British army’s battle tanks. It has been called the grandchild of the 2017 Whitechapel fatberg, which weighed 130 to
  
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• UK drivers being overcharged as fuel prices fail to track oil market, watchdog finds

  22-12-2025 16:28 via theguardian.com
  CMA rejects retailers’ claims on operating costs, saying weak competition is not passing on lower wholesale pricesDrivers hitting the roads over the Christmas holidays are being overcharged for petrol and diesel, the UK’s consumer watchdog has said, dismissing forecourt operators’ excuse for charging more at the pump.Fuel retailers have said they are unable to lower pump prices to keep pace with falling global oil markets because they need to make up for higher non-fuel “
  
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• Milan agree loan deal for Niclas Füllkrug as West Ham look to sign new striker

  22-12-2025 16:12 via theguardian.com
  Milan have option to buy German at end of seasonWest Ham interested in Wolves’s Jørgen Strand LarsenMilan have agreed to sign West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. The Germany striker has toiled since moving to the London Stadium from Borussia Dortmund for £27.5m in the summer of 2024 and it is hoped that his exit will free up funds for Nuno Espírito Santo to boost his side’s fight against relegation by bring
  
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• Chris Rea, rock and blues singer-songwriter, dies aged 74

  22-12-2025 16:02 via theguardian.com
  Middlesbrough-born musician had hits with Driving Home for Christmas, On the Beach and The Road to Hell Chris Rea, the British singer-songwriter whose hits included Driving Home For Christmas, has died at the age of 74, a spokesperson for his family said.The statement said that he died “peacefully in hospital … following a short illness”. Continue reading...
  
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• The best outfits to wear on New Year’s Eve – whatever your plans

  22-12-2025 16:00 via theguardian.com
  From pub chic to sofa-ready, we’ve got looks for every kind of NYE celebration, including the New Year’s Day walk• The best party dressesWhether you’re curled up at home watching Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny, braving the cold to catch a fireworks display or escaping to the countryside with your nearest and dearest, New Year’s Eve offers the perfect excuse to get dressed up.No matter your plans, there are simple ways to add sartorial sparkle to your night,
  
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• Chance of ‘odd wintry flurry’ of snow in UK for a white Christmas – Met Office

  22-12-2025 15:54 via theguardian.com
  South coast most likely to see snowflakes, though a full festive blanketing has been unlikely for decades now While ongoing showers might suggest this Christmas will be a washout, experts say a wintry snap is on its way and some areas of the UK might even have a white Christmas.According to the Met Office, high pressure is building – meaning that, while some areas may experience showers, many will have drier and more settled weather. Continue reading...
  
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• How to navigate difficult conversations on immigration at the dinner table – video

  22-12-2025 15:53 via theguardian.com
  Christmas dinner with family can sometimes feel tense, especially when topics like immigration or politics come up. While it’s tempting to shut down a difficult conversation or lead with facts alone, this can often lead to further resentment and division. We spoke to Who Is Your Neighbour?, a charity with fifteen years of experience in facilitating non-judgmental conversations. They suggest that meeting people with empathy and asking curious questions can be more effective than simply
  
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• You cannot annex other countries, Danish and Greenlandic leaders tell Trump

  22-12-2025 15:16 via theguardian.com
  Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen demand respect for borders after US appoints Greenland envoy The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland have demanded respect for their borders after Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to the largely self-governing Danish territory, which he has said repeatedly should be under US control.“We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law … You cann
  
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• Larry Ellison provides personal guarantee for Paramount takeover of Warner Bros Discovery

  22-12-2025 15:11 via theguardian.com
  WBD had urged shareholders to reject $108.4bn hostile takeover bid from Paramount, which is controlled by the Ellisons, following $82.7bn Netflix deal The tech billionaire Larry Ellison has agreed to provide a personal guarantee of more than $40bn for Paramount Skydance’s fight to gain control of Warner Bros Discovery, amid an extraordinary corporate battle over the entertainment giant.WBD urged shareholders to reject a $108.4bn hostile takeover bid from Paramount – which is controll
  
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• Yet again, released Epstein files raise more questions than answers | Moira Donegan

  22-12-2025 15:00 via theguardian.com
  The documents are disturbing. But they seem largely to reflect information that has already been made publicAfter months of public outcry and pressure from within the Maga coalition, Donald Trump’s justice department released what it called The Epstein Files, with the Trump world’s typical fanfare. A media frenzy ensued. But the “files” that were released by Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice left many observers frustrated and confused. The release was partial and he
  
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• Patches of the moon to become spacecraft graveyards, say researchers

  22-12-2025 15:00 via theguardian.com
  As number of lunar satellites soars, sites will be marked out where defunct hardware can be crash-landedPatches of the moon are destined to become spacecraft graveyards where dead lunar satellites and other defunct hardware can be crashed into the ground, far away from sites of cultural and scientific importance, researchers say.The number of satellites circling the moon is set to soar in the next two decades as space agencies and private companies build moon bases and dabble with mining operati
  
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• David Walliams dropped from Waterstones festival

  22-12-2025 14:56 via theguardian.com
  The bookshop chain said the bestselling author will ‘no longer be appearing’ at a Dundee event after HarperCollins announced it won’t publish new titles by him following allegations of inappropriate behaviourDavid Walliams has been dropped from the Waterstones Children’s book festival following allegations of inappropriate behaviour. The decision comes days after his publisher, HarperCollins, cut ties with the author. Walliams has denied the allegations.Walliams was set t
  
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• China hits EU dairy industry with tariffs of up to 42.7%

  22-12-2025 14:49 via theguardian.com
  Move made after first phase of anti-subsidy investigation widely seen as retaliation for bloc’sEV tariffsChina will impose provisional duties of up to 42.7% on certain dairy products imported from the EU from Tuesday after concluding the first phase of an anti-subsidy investigation widely seen as retaliation for the bloc’s electric vehicle tariffs.The tariffs will range from 21.9% to 42.7% – although most companies will pay about 30% – and target products such as milk and
  
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• Festive cars in South Africa and a youth protest in Nepal: photos of the day – Monday

  22-12-2025 14:43 via theguardian.com
  The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...
  
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• Rugby brain injury case suffers blow after judge rejects court appeal

  22-12-2025 14:30 via theguardian.com
  Up to 80% of league and 20% of union claims face strikeoutAppeal over medical record disclosure denied on all groundsTwo appeals launched by the legal firm representing former players in rugby league and rugby union have both been denied in a significant blow to the ongoing legal action about brain damage caused by the sport. It means that after five years of legal arguments a large number of the claimants in both codes face the risk of having their cases struck out before they come to trial.The
  
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