Revellers in England and Ireland mark the shortest day of the year and official first day of winter Continue reading…
Freezing fog and winter solstice: Tuesday’s best photos
The Guardian’s picture editors select photo highlights from around the world Continue reading…
Monkeys blamed for hundreds of puppy deaths captured in India
Villagers claim animals were carrying out ‘revenge killings’ after dogs killed an infant monkeyTwo monkeys that allegedly killed hundreds of puppies in the Indian state of Maharastra have been captured.Villagers in Lavool village, in the Beed district…
Covid news live: WHO urges caution over festive gatherings, London cancels NYE celebration
WHO warns holiday festivities will lead to “increased cases, overwhelmed health systems and more deaths”; London records the UK’s highest number of Omicron cases amid steep rise in hospitalisationsOmicron is now dominant Covid-19 variant in US, officia…
European markets rebound, but Omicron fears remain – business live
Rolling live coverage of business, economics and financial marketsThe mood of consumers in Europe’s largest economy is darkening as the Omicron variant spreads across the region. According to the latest consumer sentiment index from Germany’s GfK insti…
Ex-police officer wins appeal over force’s guidance on hate incidents
Judge rules Humberside’s actions were ‘disproportionate interference’ with right to freedom of expressionA former police officer has won a court of appeal challenge over police guidance on hate incidents after claiming it unlawfully interferes with the…
Covid live: UK reports 82,886 new cases in huge weekly jump; Omicron dominant in Ireland
Latest UK daily cases show a 72% jump on the 48,071 new infections recorded last Sunday; Irish officials say 52% of cases estimated to be new variantUK health secretary refuses to rule out further curbs before ChristmasThe science case for more Covid r…
Hundreds queue for passports in bid to leave Afghanistan
Crowds brave sub-zero temperatues after Taliban announces it will resume issuing travel documentsHundreds of people have braved sub-zero temperatures in Afghanistan’s capital to queue outside the passport office, a day after the Taliban government anno…
Germany tightens restrictions on travel from UK to curb Omicron spread
Carriers banned from transporting British tourists to Germany as it classifies UK as virus variant area of concernCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageGermany is tightening restrictions on travel from the UK in an attempt to cur…
Paul Rudd Saturday Night Live to film without audience amid Omicron surge
People’s Sexiest Man Alive to host show for fifth timeNBC cites ‘abundance of caution’ behind Covid moveThe actor Paul Rudd, People’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2021, was set to be inducted into the vaunted Five-Timers Club on Saturday Night Live but the sur…