1 hour ago Ukraine cannot continue to survive on Europe’s starvation rations

Editorial: Despite agreeing to a €90bn interest-free loan that could keep Kyiv afloat for two years, European leaders seem unduly nervous about forcing Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. If Europe is ever to defeat Russia, it must now go further – or risk humiliation

Events

2 h. ago Helen Mirren hails restoration of Second World War cello that was ‘cruelly’ broken by Nazis

The cello belongs to Denville Hall, a north London care home for entertainment industry professionals

Events

3 h. ago The Guardian view on the rise of romantic fiction: finally getting the respect it deserves

Jilly Cooper, Joanna Trollope and Sophie Kinsella all changed the genre. A new generation of novelists are doing the same and sales are soaringAt last, the perception of popular fiction by women as “silly novels by lady novelists”, as George Eliot sniffily put it back in 1856, is changing. Next year, the British Book Awards will recognise romantic fiction for the first time. The recognition is long overdue.This welcome news came in the same week as the deaths of two doyennes of the form, Joanna Trollope and, at just 55, Sophie Kinsella, only a couple of months after the loss of national treasure Dame Jilly Cooper. Between them these publishing power houses produced more than 100 books, sold millions of copies, and inspired hit films and TV series, most recently last year’s star-studded adaptation of Cooper’s 1985 Riders. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago At the dark end of a brutal year, I’m grateful to these heroes for showing us the light | Jonathan Freedland

From Palestinians standing up to Hamas to the Bondi beach rescuers, great acts of courage offer hope even in the bleakest timesSome traditions are getting harder to maintain. Among them, my own custom of devoting the last column before Christmas to reasons to be hopeful. In recent years, amid war and bloodshed, that task has been especially challenging – and this week was no exception.It began with the news from Bondi beach, where 15 people were gunned down and dozens more injured, most of them Jews celebrating the festival of Hanukah. That came just two-and-a-half months after the deadly attack on Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester, on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. To be a Jew at the end of 2025 is to fear that to gather together, whether at moments of joy or sorrow, is to take a mortal risk. That even to do relatively ordinary things together has become a matter of life and death.Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist and the author of The Traitors Circl...

Politics

3 h. ago Ukraine strikes Russian tanker in the Mediterranean after receiving £80bn European loan

Putin reiterated his hardline demands of Ukraine at a conference as Ukraine met for more talks to end the war

Events

3 h. ago Holy Land's top Catholic leader visits Gaza parish, greeted by children in Santa hats and keffiyeh

The top Catholic leader in the Holy Land has visited the Gaza Strip’s only Catholic church, sharing a message of Christmas hope and support as conditions in the war-torn territory slowly improve while the Israel-Hamas ceasefire holds into its third month

Politics

3 h. ago Gaza no longer in famine but hunger levels remain critical, UN says

Monitor says almost one in eight people face food shortages as flooding and cold exacerbate humanitarian emergencyThe famine in Gaza has ended as a result of increased humanitarian aid deliveries into the territory, the UN said on Friday, though it warned that levels of hunger and the humanitarian situation remained critical.Almost one in eight people in Gaza still faced food shortages, the UN said, adding that persistent hunger had been made worse by winter flooding and the colder weather. Most people in Gaza live in tents or other substandard accommodation as Israel destroyed much of the housing and civilian infrastructure during its two-year war. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Bungling hospital staff lose chunk of woman's SKULL during surgery then offer her a $25 gas station gift card to add insult to injury

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: A 'chunk' of her skull was removed during surgery, but doctors found it missing when it was time to reattach it - allegedly given to another patient.

Events

4 h. ago 'It's WAR': Inside story of Thomas Skinner's BBC lawsuit, why infuriated Strictly bosses are 'extra super cross', their damning assessment of his claim... and the SECOND woman he's selfishly betrayed

It seemed, on the surface, to be an inspired hire by Strictly casting experts.

Events

5 h. ago MAGA civil war erupts at Turning Point USA event as speakers turn on each other over Charlie Kirk shooting conspiracies

Several of the night's headliners sent the Thursday event in Phoenix, Arizona, off the rails.

Events

5 h. ago Zelenskyy and Polish PM hail EU’s €90bn loan: ‘Scariest thing for Russians is when we’re together’ – live

Ukrainian leader welcomes move as Donald Tusk says ‘it could be better’ after Russian frozen assets left out of dealEU leaders agree €90bn loan for Ukraine but without use of frozen Russian assetsIn his first comments on Ukraine, Putin swiftly blames Kyiv for the continuing war, saying “they are basically refusing to finish this conflict via peaceful means” (whatever that means from the literally invading party).But he says there are “some signals indicating they are willing to engage in some type of dialogue.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago The horrifying moment former international footballer, 33, is gunned down at point blank range by two gunmen after he begs for mercy

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: This is the horror moment Ecuador international footballer Mario Pineida is shot dead alongside his companion at a butcher's.

Politics

7 h. ago Michael van Gerwen renews Peter Wright feud with savage dig: 'He couldn't win a raffle'

Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright could be in line for an early meeting at the PDC World Darts Championship and the war of words between the two has started already

Politics

7 h. ago Giant billboard highlighting UAE role in Sudan war appears in London

Giant billboard highlighting UAE role in Sudan war appears in London  Middle East Eye

Events

8 h. ago Denmark blames Russia for ‘destructive’ cyberattacks ahead of elections

The intelligence service said the attacks were part of Russia's ‘hybrid war’ against the West

Politics

8 h. ago ‘A lot of these scary blokes doing time are terrified little boys’: Dennis Kelly on writing a new kind of prison drama

The new project from the creator of Pulling and Utopia is the real-life tale of a teacher whose life is upended by working with inmates. ‘It upends your prejudices,’ he saysWriter Dennis Kelly has a few mantras he’s always lived by. They’re all there, clearly defined in his very earliest interviews, right from the start of his career. Write like you mean it (perhaps that’s why his plays have so much heart and drive). Never write for money and never compromise (maybe that’s why two of the best TV shows he had a hand in, the controversial conspiracy drama Utopia and the Sharon Horgan comedy Pulling, were cancelled after two series). And finally: make sure your writing always contains a secret.In the case of Matilda, the smash-hit stage adaptation he wrote alongside Tim Minchin, Kelly only figured out the secret hidden inside his writing long after the awards came flooding in. It turns out that Matilda, a show that glows with love but also aches with a sense of a loss, was al...

Events

8 h. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy says EU’s €90bn loan is a ‘signal to Russians’ despite frozen assets not being part of deal

Ukrainian leader welcomes move and says it is critical Russian assets remain frozenEU leaders agree €90bn loan for Ukraine but without use of frozen Russian assetsIn his first comments on Ukraine, Putin swiftly blames Kyiv for the continuing war, saying “they are basically refusing to finish this conflict via peaceful means” (whatever that means from the literally invading party).But he says there are “some signals indicating they are willing to engage in some type of dialogue.” Continue reading...

Economics

9 h. ago Putin warns EU leaders of ‘grave consequences’ if Russia robbed of frozen assets

Vladimir Putin warned EU leaders of “grave consequences” if Russia had been robbed of its frozen assets.

Events

9 h. ago Horrific moment Ecuador star Mario Pineida is shot dead caught on harrowing CCTV footage

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: An international footballer has been shot and killed outside a shop in an 'attack' as his heartbroken football club have confirmed his death

Events

9 h. ago Trump refuses to rule out going to war with Venezuela and says Maduro ‘knows what I want’

The US has amassed a huge military force near the country and announced a ‘blockade’ on sanctioned vessels

Politics