More than 360,000 trains across Britain were fully or part-cancelled over the past year

Politics

Analysis shows fossil fuels are supercharging heatwaves, leaving millions prone to deadly temperaturesThe climate crisis caused an additional six weeks of dangerously hot days in 2024 for the average person, supercharging the fatal impact of heatwaves around the world.The effects of human-caused global heating were far worse for some people, an analysis by World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central has shown. Those in Caribbean and Pacific island states were the hardest hit. Many endured about 150 more days of dangerous heat than they would have done without global heating, almost half the year. Continue reading...

Society

A now-viral video shows how an enraged customer allegedly assaulted employees at a Chipotle in northeast Washington DC on Saturday. She alleged her Uber Eats order was made incorrectly.

Economics

Information on alcohol consumption, rabies, and bites – both animal and human – were among the top of the list for NHS advice being sought on Christmas and Boxing Day last year

Sport

Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger

Events

Few actors are brave enough to admit that they turned down some of the most famous films in recent memory, but these ones did, writes Adam White

Culture

Mutations are rare but have been reported in some cases in other countries and most often in extreme infectionsThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday its analysis of samples from the first severe case of bird flu in the country last week showed mutations not seen in samples from an infected backyard flock on the patient’s property.The CDC said the patient’s sample showed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, the part of the virus that plays a key role in it attaching to host cells. Continue reading...

Science

Are you the lucky recipient of some very chic luxe cashmere and silk pieces? Amy Francombe has your complete guide to keep them going all year long

Politics

Dunelm customers are raving about the retailer's 'gorgeous' bedding set that 'washes like a dream' - and you can get it for a fraction of the price using a TopCashback deal

Economics

Favourite for line honours Master Lock Comanche was in hot pursuitFleet of 104 expected to move quickly down NSW coast in north-easterly breezeReigning line honours champion LawConnect has led the Sydney to Hobart fleet out of the Sydney Heads as the 79th running of the blue-water classic gets under way.Favourite for line honours Master Lock Comanche was in hot pursuit behind her rival 100ft supermaxi, the pair leaving the iconic Sydney Harbour behind at about 1:15pm – 15 minutes after the start. Continue reading...

Sport

Exclusive: Tests showing dogs swallowed contaminated substances triggered action against trainers

Events

Meghan, 43, and Harry, 40, are believed to have missed out on an invite to the celebrations at Sandringham and stayed at their nine-bedroom mansion in Montecito.

Politics

Americans still dreaming of a really big Christmas present can keep that dream alive during Friday’s Mega Millions drawing for a jackpot worth an estimated $1.15 billion

Economics

Roy Quaden, 55, and Nick Smith, 65, dead after being struck by booms on yachts Flying Fish Arctos and BowlineGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo sailors on separate Sydney to Hobart yachts, Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, have died at sea on the first night of the race. They were fatally struck by booms – a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail – on their respective boats amid wild weather conditions that forced line honours favourite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw, among mass retirements.The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred about 30 nautical miles east-south-east of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) receiving a mayday call just before midnight.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

Flaky pastry filled with seafood delicacy gains cult status and draws crowds to sleepy beach communityCelebrities have raved about them, politicians have bulk-ordered them, local people line up and tourists drive hours for them. The legendary pāua pie – a flaky pie filled with a New Zealand seafood delicacy – is enticing crowds to a remote cafe on the isolated East Coast.The savoury pie may be one of the closest things New Zealand has to a national dish. From the basic mince pie found in corner stores and petrol stations to the more inventive gourmet pies offered in cafes and fine dining restaurants, wherever you go, there are pies. Continue reading...

Politics

Members are in limbo as Lupin Lodge is on the market after nearly 90 years – with next buyer likely to require clothesAfter nearly 90 years as a historic nudist resort, California’s Lupin Lodge is up for sale – and its next owners are likely to require guests to wear clothes.The 112-acre Silicon Valley property became a retreat for members of the “naturist” movement in 1935. Today, its hundreds of members enjoy the resort’s clothing-optional hiking trails, pickleball court and its nude-only community pool. (Yes: the members really do hike naked.) Continue reading...

Economics

Roy Quaden, 55, and Nick Smith, 65, dead after being struck by booms on yachts Flying Fish Arctos and BowlineGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo sailors on separate Sydney to Hobart yachts, Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, have died at sea on the first night of the race. They were fatally struck by booms – a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the mainsail – on their respective boats amid wild weather conditions that forced line honours favourite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw, among mass retirements.The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred about 30 nautical miles [55.5kms] east-south-east of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) receiving a mayday call just before midnight.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spent Christmas in California for the past few years, with only Doria Ragland joining them at their Montecito mansion for the festive season

Politics

Manager plays down claims Arsenal could buy in January Saka out for ‘many weeks’ after injury at Crystal PalaceMikel Arteta is hoping Gabriel ­Martinelli can help to fill the void created by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury, with the England forward likely to miss key fixtures including the north London derby next month.Arteta confirmed on Monday that Saka was expected to be absent for “many weeks” after tearing a hamstring during the first half of Arsenal’s win at Crystal Palace. That would rule him out of Premier League ­fixtures including Arsenal’s game with Totten­ham on 15 January, the ­Carabao Cup semi‑final first leg against Newcastle and an FA Cup third‑round tie with Manchester United. Continue reading...

Events

Why did we succeeded when other hominins didn’t, and can lessons from our evolutionary past help rein in our destructive impulses?In an institute in Germany, scientists are growing “Neanderthalised” human brain cells in a dish. These cells form synapses and spark as they would have done in a living Neanderthal as she (they are female cells) foraged or breastfed or gazed out of a cave mouth at dusk. That is the spine-tingling opening gambit of a book co-authored by one of the directors of the institute, Johannes Krause, and the information that sets it apart from a host of popular science books that attempt to predict humanity’s future based on our evolutionary past.A mere 90 genetic differences distinguish modern humans, Homo sapiens, from Neanderthals, Homo neanderthalensis. That’s paltry, given the roughly 20,000 genes that make up the human blueprint, and not all of them affect the brain. Yet those 90 differences could explain why Neanderthals died out, s...

Politics

Researchers say drugs may be able to increase lifespan by extending health and thus shortening the rate of ageingNot for nothing are dogs called man’s best friend: they are good for their owners’ mental and physical health, and some studies have shown that if you’re looking for a date and want to seem more attractive, it might be time to get a canine companion.So what would it be like if dogs could live for ever – and what if that secret could help their owners live longer, healthier lives too? Continue reading...

Events

Think the seaside is just for summer? Think again as the coast is full of charm on a crisp winter's day

Politics

U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza

Events

Consumer Reports' Rich Handel shares a few laundry tips on TikTok - from how much detergent you should use to stain removal - that can help you prolong clothes and save money

Politics

At one particularly large site in Thailand's southern fishing town of Ban Nam Khem, a large illuminated sign read '20 Tsunami' was surrounded by flames after huge numbers of people flocked to pay homage

Events

Abkhazia is in the South Caucasus, along the eastern coast of the Black Sea. It borders Georgia to the southeast and Russia to the northwest. The ethnic Abkhaz people are indigenous to the region.

Politics

The world’s richest man has clashed with incoming Health and Human Services chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the role weight-loss medications should play in making Americans healthier and thinner.

Events

Updates from the Boxing Day Test at the MCGStart time in Melbourne is 10.30am AEDTAny thoughts? Get in touch with an email 89th over: Australia 324-6 (Smith 74, Cummins 16) Now the key battle of the morning: Steve Smith v Jasprit Bumrah. India’s master quick yesterday added 3-75 to his 21 wickets for the series. Smith has taken guard two inches outside leg stump to allow his now-customary stride across the pegs. He watches the first four warily, then flinches at the last with a half-shot, edging along the ground and through slips for four.88th over: Australia 320-6 (Smith 70, Cummins 15) Akash Deep will bowl the second over, probably to allow Bumrah to charge in from his preferred end. Deep went to stumps with 1-59 from his 19 wickets and he starts with a maiden today. Continue reading...

Politics

Ravenous California ground squirrels have been hunting and eating rodents for the first time

Events

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have celebrated Christmas in California with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet - and a royal expert believes it's in stark contrast to the festivities enjoyed by the Royal Family on the other side of the Atlantic

Politics

Approaching disagreements with respect and curiosity can deepen our connections with even difficult relativesBecca Bland is a journalist and researcher with a specialism in family estrangement and social policyThe Christmas period has always tested our ability to spend time with those to whom we may be biologically related, but struggle to relate to philosophically. Divisive world events such as the US election can make matters much worse, and family relationships are increasingly becoming casualties of stark political differences. As a researcher around family estrangement, I know how challenging it can be to keep the goodwill flowing.Take Alexis, for example, who is originally from a rural town in California. He is planning to attend a large Christmas gathering with more than 20 relatives, the majority of whom voted Republican and are strong Donald Trump supporters. As an openly gay man, he struggles with some of the political talk that “the other side” brings to the table during ...

Events

Bengal tiger, cougars, a lynx and bobcats dead as disease spreads rapidly among US poultry flocks and dairy herdsTwenty exotic cats, including a Bengal tiger, four cougars, a lynx and four bobcats, have died after contracting bird flu at an animal sanctuary in Shelton, Washington.The feline deaths come as bird flu, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, has spread rapidly through poultry flocks and dairy herds in the US, infected and killed domestic cats, and caused a severe illness in a person in Louisiana. Continue reading...

Events

Having stepped back as senior royals in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spent nearly five years living in Montecito, California, and have been busy carving out their own paths

Politics

Security personnel and three armed men killed in clashes in Tartus province, a former Assad stronghold, say monitorsFourteen security personnel from Syria’s new authorities and three armed men were killed in clashes in Tartus province after forces tried to arrest an officer linked to the notorious Sednaya prison, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.The monitoring group said the clash broke out in Tartus, a stronghold of the ousted president, Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite minority, on Wednesday, and was sparked by the attempted arrest of the former prison official. Continue reading...

Events

Jarrod Bowen’s goal settled victory on south coast after scare involving goalkeeper

Politics

A powerful 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on December 26 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed about 230,000 people across a dozen countries

Events

At least one dead and three missing amid storm that has split wharf, wrecked boat and piled up debrisCalifornia residents are being warned to stay off wharves, piers and other waterside structures as 20-30ft waves are expected to batter the northern Pacific coast for the rest of the week.The National Weather Service advisory comes after a 150ft section of the wharf in Santa Cruz collapsed amid high waves on Monday, and storm debris was blamed for the death of a Santa Cruz county man on a beach in Watsonville. Continue reading...

Politics

Security personnel and three armed men killed in Tartous province after forces sought to arrest officer linked to Sednaya prison, says Syrian Observatory for Human RightsHello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza and developments in the Middle East more widely.Fourteen security personnel from Syria’s new authorities and three armed men were killed in clashes in Tartous province when forces attempted to arrest an officer linked to the notorious Sednaya prison, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Five journalists were killed when their vehicle was struck in the vicinity of Al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat in central Gaza, health authorities said. Palestinian media and local reporters said the vehicle was marked as a media van and was used by journalists to report from inside the hospital and Nuseirat camp. The journalists worked for the Al-Quds Al-Youm television channel. The Israeli army said its air force attacked the vehicle in a “targete...

Events

Former First Lady of California Maria Shriver appeared in the holiday spirit as she enjoyed some quality time with three of her four children on Christmas Day.

Politics

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the fighters were from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the stunning offensive that toppled Mr Assad with the fall of Damascus

Events

Information on alcohol consumption, rabies, and bites – both animal and human – were among the top of the list for NHS advice being sought on Christmas and Boxing Day last year

Politics

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Young Nathaniel Rodriguez was the sole survivor of a terrifying car crash in California that killed four of his relatives on December 15, he's now fighting for his life in hospital

Events

Brain processes signals from sensory organs at only about 10 bits per second, researchers say

Politics

Holidaymakers and locals on a popular beach in Gran Canaria were taken aback after a mysterious creature that usually lives in the Twilight Zone of the deep ocean washed up onto the shore

Events

It seemed as though a new era of cleanliness was dawning, but then we just washed our hands of it allRead more petty gripesFor hygiene enthusiasts like me, a silver lining to the dark cloud of the Covid pandemic was the widespread awareness campaign on how to properly wash your hands, and the proliferations of hand sanitiser dispensers at most businesses.Despite this huge leap forward for my community, a laissez-faire attitude to maintaining sanitiser and bathroom soap dispensers since the pandemic lockdowns eased has had dire consequences. Continue reading...

Politics

Communities and firefighters across Australia’s second-most populous state are bracing for potentially devastating wild fires as a heat wave fanned by erratic winds presented the worst fire conditions in several years

Events

Environmental groups are also petitioning Biden to protect Sáttítla, Kw’tsán and Chuckwalla in CaliforniaHidden amid a vast expanse of snow-brushed pines in northern California is a rare, half-million-year-old volcano called Sáttítla. Thousands of years ago, its flows created crystalline mountains of obsidian and dim grey bands of pumice rock, which from a bird’s-eye view look like ripples of taffy.“When you’re there, you really do feel like you’re in another world, or on the moon or even another planet,” said Brandi McDaniels, a member of the Pit River Tribe in northern California, whose ancestral homelands encompass the area. “The way it glistens and twinkles – deep black, but shiny like diamonds.” Continue reading...

Politics

President reaffirms US weapons support to Kyiv after Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, which Zelenskyy condemned as ‘inhuman’. What we know on day 1,037See all our Ukraine war coverageJoe Biden has asked the US defence department to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, describing Russia’s Christmas Day attack against some of Ukraine’s cities and its energy infrastructure as “outrageous”. “The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardise the safety of its grid,” Biden said. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Washington has committed $175bn in aid for Ukraine.Christmas morning in Ukraine was overshadowed by a massive Russian aerial attack using cruise missiles to target energy infrastructure across the country, which Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as “inhuman”. “Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhuman? More than 70...

Events