Naccom members accommodated record 4,434 refugees and migrants in 2024-25 but could not house another 3,450 Thousands of refugees are facing a growing homelessness crisis, according to a network of more than 100 organisations across the UK who say homelessness has more than doubled among refugees in the last two years. Naccom, the national charity of 140 frontline refugee and migrant organisations, blames the increase on “near-constant government policy changes” and the introduction of eVisas, which some refugees have not been able to activate in order to access vital services and support. Continue reading...

Incidents rose from four in 2023 to 28 in 2024 as 22 Serco officers also investigated for serious misconduct at Gatwick centre There has been a sevenfold increase in serious incidents at an immigration detention centre near Gatwick airport, a watchdog report has revealed. There were 28 serious incidents at Gatwick immigration removal centre in 2024 compared with four recorded in 2023, the report from the independent monitoring board said. These included large protests and men jumping on to anti-suicide netting. On 12 occasions the National Tactical Response Group, a specialist unit to deal with protests and other serious problems, was called in to quell disorder. Continue reading...

Many now concerned about ability to make living in fast-changing climate after one of worst grain harvests recorded Record heat and drought cost Britain’s arable farmers more than £800m in lost production in 2025 in one of the worst harvests recorded, analysis has estimated. Three of the five worst harvests on record have now occurred since 2020, leaving some farmers asking whether the growing impacts of the climate crisis are making it too financially risky to sow their crops. Farmers are already facing heavy financial pressure as the costs of fertilisers and other inputs have risen faster than prices. Continue reading...

Health secretary has asked experts to investigate whether normal feelings have become ‘over-pathologised’ The health secretary, Wes Streeting, has ordered a clinical review of the diagnosis of mental health conditions, according to reports. Streeting is understood to be concerned about a sharp rise in the number of people making sickness benefits claims because of diagnoses for mental illness, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the Times reported. He has asked leading experts to investigate whether normal feelings have become “over-pathologised”, the newspaper said, as he seeks to grapple with the 4.4 million working-age people now claiming sickness or incapacity benefit. The figure has risen by 1.2 million since 2019, while the number of 16 to 34-year-olds off work with long-term sickness because of a mental health condition is said to have grown rapidly in the same period. Streeting told the Times he knew from “personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support”. He added: “I also know, from speaking to clinicians, how the diagnosis of these conditions is sharply rising. “We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services. “That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.” The review, which is expected to be launched on Thursday, is set to be led by Prof Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist at University College London specialising in child mental health, with Sir Simon Wessely, a former president of the Royal College of Psychiatry, acting as vice-chair. Continue reading...

Data from Australia shows women told about density had more anxiety and confusion, as measure considered in UK Telling women whether they have dense breasts as part of their breast cancer screening results may leave them feeling unnecessarily anxious and confused, according to a study. Breast density refers to the level of glandular and fibrous tissue relative to fat in breasts. Dense breast tissue is a risk factor for breast cancer, and can also make mammograms more difficult to read. Continue reading...

Agency says missile struck citizens in Khan Younis, as Israel reports targeting ‘Hamas terrorist’ after clash with militants An Israeli strike on Palestinian territory has killed five people including two children, Gaza’s civil defence agency told AFP on Wednesday. “Five citizens, including two children, killed and others injured, some seriously, as a result of an Israeli missile strike” in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP. Continue reading...

Exclusive: event, scheduled to air on 13 December, will focus on ‘grief, faith, politics, and more’, according to internal files Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News, is scheduled to moderate a network town hall event with Erika Kirk, the widow of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Guardian has learned. The event will air on 13 December at 8pm and will focus on “grief, faith, politics, and more”, according to internal marketing materials. Continue reading...

Liverpool’s big name, big money summer signings owed Arne Slot following poor starts to life at Anfield and, right on cue, Florian Wirtz delivered. A deflected shot from the potential £116m recruit spared the Premier League champions the ignominy of a 10th defeat in 14 games with a late equaliser against Sunderland, who will count this as an opportunity missed. Chemsdine Talbi had set the in-form visitors on course for a first win at Anfield since 1983 before Wirtz levelled in style in the 81st minute. Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor was close to restoring his side’s lead when rounding Alisson in stoppage time but a superb goalline clearance from striker Federico Chiesa salvaged a point for Liverpool. Continue reading...

Leeds produced arguably their performance of the Premier League season so far to inflict a rare defeat on Chelsea and perhaps alleviate some of the pressure engulfing Daniel Farke. A run of four wins in succession had left speculation rife that Farke was entering a pivotal period if he wanted to keep his job at Elland Road, having guided the Whites to promotion last season. He and his team responded accordingly with a wonderful display filled with energy, aggression and quality to move out of the relegation zone. Continue reading...

Prolific musician was known for work on songs like Green Onions and Otis Redding’s (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist whose work as an instrumentalist, producer and songwriter at Stax Records left an indelible impression on Memphis soul music, has died at the age of 84. Hs son Cameron confirmed his death to Variety. Continue reading...

This risibly sombre, laughably self-important documentary about the felling of the tree on Hadrian’s Wall is 90 minutes of your life that you will never get back It’s not often, honestly, that I truly feel my time has been wasted. I have a really, really low bar for what constitutes an amiable or reasonable way of passing the hours. I do not habitually feel a tremendous urge to fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds’ worth of distance run, admirable though I find the people who manage it. But filling 90 of them with a two-part documentary about the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree by a pair of local berks two years ago? Come. On. The wildly inflated sense of the film’s own importance is demonstrated by the fact that its original title was The Slaying at Sycamore Gap. The slaying. The slaying. Just before broadcast it was renamed The Sycamore Gap Mystery, but it is the original that better suits the risibly sombre tone of the programme and the gathering bathos as the 90 minutes – 90 minutes! – progress. The Sycamore Gap Mystery is on Channel 4. Continue reading...

MG4 only managed 281km of its claimed 405km range, while Tesla Model Y came closest to matching expectations Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Electric vehicles are not travelling as far as their manufacturers promise, with independent road tests showing all models analysed have failed to meet their advertised range. One popular small car produced the worst EV result to date in the latest tests, pulling up more than 120km short of the distance printed on its sticker. At the other end of the scale, Tesla’s latest Model Y SUV was only a few kilometres short of its claim. Continue reading...

A night on from the chaos of Manchester City beating Fulham 5-4, Arsenal seized the opportunity to prove that they are a sturdier proposition than Pep Guardiola’s side. They kept their eighth clean sheet of the season despite losing another centre-back to injury and restored their five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League by seeing off Brentford thanks to an early header from Mikel Merino and a late goal from Bukayo Saka. It was another stolid effort from Mikel Arteta’s side. They made an enterprising start, delighting the Emirates Stadium when a lovely move ended with Merino’s second goal in four days, but they could not maintain their flow and were leaning on their resilience when Cristhian Mosquera increased their defensive issues by limping off before half-time. Continue reading...

Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to giving actor ketamine in the month leading up to his death A Los Angeles doctor who sold ketamine to Matthew Perry before his overdose death has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Dr Salvador Plasencia, 44, had pleaded guilty on Wednesday to giving Matthew Perry ketamine in the month leading up to the Friends star’s overdose death in 2023. Perry died at age 54 after struggling with addiction for years, dating back to his time as one of the biggest stars of his generation for his role as Chandler Bing. The actor had been taking the surgical anesthetic ketamine legally as a treatment for depression. But when his regular doctor wouldn’t provide it in the amounts he wanted, he turned to Plasencia, who admitted to illegally selling to Perry and knowing he was a struggling addict. He texted another doctor that Perry was a “moron” who could be exploited for money, according to court filings. Continue reading...

Oaxacan napkins from Mexico, a Koala beanie from Australia, skincare from Korea – these are the expert picks locals are gifting each other Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things I’m a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to physical gifts. Give me a certificate to a local restaurant or spa any day over yet more clothes or another gadget. But there are some notable exceptions: the Oaxacan napkins and mole my mother-in-law brought from Mexico. The sheepskin rug from New Zealand. The now-ubiquitous Turkish towels that were a novelty in the US a decade ago. Continue reading...

Report says defense secretary violated policies in sharing secret information in March on planned airstrike in Yemen A widely awaited Department of Defense report concluded that defense secretary Pete Hegseth violated departmental policies when he shared secret information in a Signal messaging chat in March that included details of a planned airstrike in Yemen against Houthi fighters, said a source familiar with the report. The Signal chat was disclosed after a reporter for the Atlantic was added as a member. It also included JD Vance, CIA director John Ratcliffe and then-national security adviser Mike Waltz. The report did not examine the conduct of those officials, since they do not work at the Department of Defense. Continue reading...

US House and Senate lawmakers to meet with top admiral on Thursday about double strike on boats from Venezuela As the Trump administration continues military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, several Republican lawmakers are ramping up scrutiny on the administration over a double strike in early September. The strikes on suspected drug boats from Venezuela have drawn pushback from both parties – in particular, the second strike on a single boat to kill remaining survivors. The Washington Post reported that the order for a second strike came from defense secretary Pete Hegseth, which Hegseth has denied. Continue reading...

Mbappé scores twice and Camavinga once in 3-0 win Napoli and Atalanta reach Italian Cup quarter-finals Kylian Mbappé scored twice as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in La Liga. Mbappé’s France teammate Eduardo Camavinga also found the net as Real moved back within a point of Barcelona, who beat Atlético Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Sport and Rights Alliance has made seven requests for action Amnesty International USA also worried by US government’s role Fifa risks becoming “a public relations tool of an increasingly authoritarian US government,” human rights organisations have warned as they call on football’s international governing body to do more to protect the rights of residents and supporters at next summer’s World Cup. With concerns rising over the possibility of local communities and travelling fans being subjected to immigration raids or arbitrary detention during the tournament, the Sport and Rights Alliance has made seven requests for action from Fifa before Friday’s World Cup draw in Washington. The key demand is that Fifa “commit to ensuring effective protections against racial profiling, arbitrary detention, and unlawful immigration enforcement during the tournament”. Continue reading...

O’Neill has been in interim charge since Rodgers’ exit Celtic two points behind Hearts with a game in hand Celtic have appointed Wilfried Nancy, coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, as their new permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers, who was dismissed in October. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract. The Glasgow club are two points behind the Scottish Premiership leaders, Hearts, with a game in hand after winning all four of their league matches under Martin O’Neill. The interim manager also beat Rangers in a League Cup semi-final to set up a match at Hampden Park against St Mirren scheduled for 14 December. Continue reading...

Survey shows rise in GPs using tools such as ChatGPT to produce appointment summaries and assist with diagnosis Almost three in 10 GPs in the UK are using AI tools such as ChatGPT in consultations with patients, even though it could lead to them making mistakes and being sued, a study reveals. The rapid adoption of AI to ease workloads is happening alongside a “wild west” lack of regulation of the technology, which is leaving GPs unaware which tools are safe to use. That is the conclusion of research by the Nuffield Trust thinktank, based on a survey of 2,108 family doctors by the Royal College of GPs about AI and on focus groups of GPs. Continue reading...

⚽ Updates from the 8.15pm GMT kick-off at Anfield ⚽ Scores | Table | Follow us on Bluesky | Read Football Daily There are five more Premier League games tonight, including the leaders Arsenal at home to Igor Thiago Team. You can follow those with Daniel Harris. Hello and welcome to live coverage of Liverpool v Sunderland at Anfield. Who’d have thought, when the fixture list was released in the summer, that Sunderland would be above Liverpool going into this game? An eejit, that’s who, or somebody who time travelled back from the future with a copy of Football Yearbook 2026-27. Continue reading...

Forget aprons and baking trays: these tried-and-tested gifts – from a lime squeezer for margaritas to a bare root rose – hit the spot for mothers • The best home gifts for Christmas and beyond Mothers do A LOT in the buildup to Christmas: studies show the mental load increases significantly for women in particular. Yet while they’re often the ones finding thoughtful gifts for every relative (and their dog), they can sometimes feel a bit forgotten on the big day. We’re here to change that, with a selection of the best, most thoughtful gifts for mothers. You won’t find any washing-up sponges, reusable baking-tray liners or three years’ worth of pink leather driving gloves (all genuine gifts that haunt my Christmas past). But there are a few dos and don’ts. Continue reading...

Inquiry into British Army Training Unit in Kenya by Kenyan parliament says it faced ‘institutional resistance and non-cooperation’ A report by the Kenyan parliament into the conduct of troops stationed at a British military base close to the town of Nanyuki in Kenya has alleged human rights violations, environmental destruction and sexual abuse by British soldiers. The inquiry into the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) was carried out by the Departmental Committee on Defencе, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. It collected testimony at public hearings in Laikipia County and Samburu County, and also received oral and written submissions from affected civilians, victims, community leaders, civil society organisations and relevant public agencies. Continue reading...

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