CATEGORIES

Belgium found guilty of crimes against humanity in colonial Congo

The Belgian state has been found guilty of crimes against humanity for the forced removal of five mixed-race children from their mothers in colonial Congo, in a landmark decision.

Vatican puts webcam at tomb of St Peter to launch holy year

St Peter's tomb will be livestreamed as the Vatican embraces technology to connect with Catholics in far-flung places during holy year, an event expected to bring as many as 33 million pilgrims to Rome.

Ireland's main centre-right parties expected to retain power

The two main centre-right parties in Ireland are expected to start talks on returning to government as the general election put the incumbents within touching distance of forming the 34th Dáil.

After Putin call, Scholz promises £540m military aid on surprise Visit to Ukraine

Olaf Scholz has met with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an unannounced visit to Kyiv as he sought to reassure Ukraine of German support.

Anti-Franco guerrilla fighter sues for 'moral reparations' over torture

One of the last surviving fighters from the guerrilla war waged against the Franco dictatorship in the 1940s is suing the Spanish government for €1m in reparations.

Damascus Assad must engage with opposition, says Turkey

The crisis in Syria is the result of President Bashar al-Assad's refusal to engage in dialogue with the opposition, and not external interventions, the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, said after meeting his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, for emergency talks in Ankara.

HTS Who are the group that seized Aleppo?

For about five years, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham has controlled the north-western Syrian province of Idlib, where it has set up what it calls the Syrian Salvation Government to administrate schools, clinics and courts for an estimated 4 million people.

Concerns over ceasefire as Israel retaliates against Hezbollah rockets

Israel has carried out a series of airstrikes in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah rocket fire near a watchtower, the first time the group has attacked Israel since a ceasefire came into effect last week.

Airstrikes hit hospitals in Syria as insurgents fight government forces

Hospitals and neighbourhoods in the rebel-held northern Syrian region of Idlib were pummelled by a wave of airstrikes as Islamist insurgents battled forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad after their assault on Aleppo.

Lego figures to wear sunflower lanyards in push for inclusivity

Lego is introducing characters that wear sunflower lanyards to its brick universe to raise awareness of a badge worn to indicate someone has a hidden disability such as autism.

Sanctuary owner says dogs may have to be put down

The owner of a sanctuary for traumatized dogs has said up to 17 animals will have to be put down unless she can find a new home for them within three weeks.

NHS bosses 'worried by new waiting lists pledge'

NHS bosses are said to be privately concerned about Keir Starmer's ambitious targets to cut waiting lists for routine operations, to be announced this week.

Resilient buyers fuel surge in UK house prices - with a nearby pub a big attraction

House prices rose at the fastest rate in nearly two years in November in a surprise acceleration, according to figures published yesterday by Nationwide.

Scotland Ministers consider tax rises for wealthy as Greens and Lib Dems push spending priorities

Ministers in Scotland are contemplating modest tax increases for the better off and plan to scrap the freeze in council tax rates as they search for extra money in this week's budget.

Vocational T-levels to get a shake-up as placements prove hard to deliver

T-levels, the \"gold standard\" vocational qualifications in England that have been dogged by low uptake and high drop-out rates, are to be shaken up, the government said yesterday.

Protection of Skripal and public was 'abject failure', inquiry told

There was an \"abject failure\" by the UK government to put in basic security measures to protect the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and to keep the wider public safe, the family of a woman who died in the Wiltshire novichok poisonings has said.

Talks over Parthenon marbles 'well advanced', sources say

Talks concerning the Parthenon marbles between Athens and the British Museum are \"well advanced\", the Guardian has learned, even if officials have decided the cultural row will be low on the agenda when the prime minister, Keir Starmer, meets his Greek counterpart today.

Dry volcanic activity rules out 'Earth-like life' on Venus, say scientists

With a surface hot enough to melt lead and clouds of sulphuric acid in its atmosphere, Venus has been described as \"Earth's evil twin\" - similar in size, yet worlds apart.

Most riot hotspots suffer 'torn social fabric' and deprivation

The majority of towns that saw rioting in the summer have a \"torn social fabric\" and have been bearing the brunt of economic deprivation, according to a report.

Even a Trump-loving US thinktank can't cope with the Trusster in full world-war-three flow

It was a sight for sore eyes. At least for any speaker who has turned up to an event to discover the organisers easily outnumber the audience.

What is allowed under UK law

What are the rules on political donations?

Allies Britain 'will not have to choose' between US or Europe

Keir Starmer has \"utterly rejected\" the idea that the UK must choose between the United States and Europe once Donald Trump comes to power, arguing it is in the national interest to work with both.

Boost trust in politics or risk 'Trumpian' disaster, say campaigners

The next UK general election could be a disaster of \"Trumpian proportions\" if the Labour government does not adopt measures to boost public trust in the political system and stem the decline of \"elective dictatorship\", former ministers and campaigners have warned.

Stage review Piratical retirees delight with riotous take on high-seas tale

Who is the protagonist of Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure story? The obvious answer is Jim Hawkins, the innkeeper's son who is drawn into a high-seas escapade complete with piracy and plundering.

Counselling charity Relate faces insolvency as 80 staff lose jobs

Britain's biggest relationships counselling charity is on the verge of insolvency after failing to overcome financial difficulties caused by a collapse in funding from NHS, schools and local authority contracts.

Letby's parents complained she was 'singled out for punishment'

Lucy Letby's parents wrote to hospital bosses expressing their \"intolerable anguish\" after police began investigating their neonatal nurse daughter, a public inquiry heard yesterday.

Rich nations 'must take legal responsibility for climate change impact'

A handful of countries should be held legally responsible for the ongoing impacts of climate change, representatives of vulnerable nations told the international court of justice yesterday.

Rising threat 'I would take it seriously... I don't think it's hyperbole'

The Swedish government checklist for surviving a war would not have looked out of place decades ago: bottled water; sleeping bags; extra batteries; enough cash for a week; and non-perishable food like rice and cereal.

Speaker urged to say sorry after opening Betfred HQ

Anti-gambling campaigners have called on the Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to apologise after he opened Betfred's multimillion-pound new HQ with a plaque.

Frustration as natural history GCSE put on hold

The natural history GCSE has been shelved because it is \"seen as a Conservative party initiative\", one of the architects of the proposed qualification has said.