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guardianworldnews_feedSima Samar has spent a lifetime working for the ideals of a country that no longer exists, but even in exile she dreams of rebuilding for a second time
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The peace of the graveyard has descended upon Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan might seem safe now, there are not a lot of explosions, but it is a graveyard kind of security. The most peaceful place is the grave: there nobody protests,” says Dr Sima Samar.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedIt’s so nice to have the old gang back together – yes, even Olivia Colman. They’re all clearly still friendly, which makes for seasonal TV that’s exactly as comforting as it should be
It’s 22 years since Peep Show began its nine-season run. God, weren’t we all happier then? With the possible exception, ironically, of its beleaguered leads Mark (David Mitchell) and Jez (Robert Webb) – though whether Jez, who made the average whelk look like a philosopher king, ever had the psychological capacity to be beleaguered, I’m not sure. Never mind. Mark was surely beleaguered enough for both of them.
Whatever. Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Andrew O’Connor’s breakthrough show was a joy – however agonisingly painful at times. What’s more, it is lovely to see the old gang again: this time in the spotlessly clean environs of the Bake Off tent instead of a shabby Croydon flat painted various shades of B&Q’s Miasmic Despair range, for The Great Christmas Bake Off.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedDisturbed sleep is very common as you adapt to a new environment but, with good sleep hygiene and some practical adjustments, you can quickly settle in
As the working year draws to a close, many of us only have one hope for the season, and that’s a decent night’s sleep. While not every family visit or post-Christmas getaway is going to be a trip to Rancho Relaxo, a few things can help us catch holiday kip. Pre-departure apps can be useful, so can pillow mists and thermoregulation, but when it comes to maximising rest on the road, some say less is more.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedEmergency services launched major search at Budleigh Salterton after reports of people in difficulty in the water
Two men are believed to be missing in the water off a beach in Devon, after a number of people were reported to be in difficulty.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns for people in the water.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedImran Ahmed, an anti-disinformation advocate, claims he is being targeted for scrutinising social media companies
A British anti-disinformation campaigner close to Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has launched a legal challenge against the Trump administration after being told he could face deportation from the US in a row over freedom of speech.
Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), has filed a complaint against senior Trump allies including the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the attorney general, Pam Bondi, in an attempt to prevent what he says would be an unconstitutional arrest and removal.
Continue reading...stonepicnicking_okapi
kassNew babies mean new routines.
ysabetwordsmith
guardianworldnews_feedSergei Udaltsov, Putin critic affiliated with the Communist party, convicted of justifying terrorism
A court in Russia on Thursday convicted a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison.
Sergei Udaltsov, the leader of the Left Front movement that opposes Putin and is affiliated with the Communist party, was arrested last year.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedExperts and novices alike hunt for specimens that could change our understanding of evolution – and all only a short day trip from Melbourne
Between the cliffs and the sea at Jan Juc, on Victoria’s Surf Coast, researchers scour the shore platform for evidence of life from 25m years ago, as beachgoers revel in the sand and surf nearby.
“You can be there discovering a fossil that might change our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth. And you’re sharing it with a family that’s just gone down to the beach for the day,” says Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedSima Samar has spent a lifetime working for the ideals of a country that no longer exists, but even in exile she dreams of rebuilding for a second time
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
The peace of the graveyard has descended upon Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan might seem safe now, there are not a lot of explosions, but it is a graveyard kind of security. The most peaceful place is the grave: there nobody protests,” says Dr Sima Samar.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedDisturbed sleep is very common as you adapt to a new environment, but with good sleep hygiene and some practical adjustments you can quickly settle in
As the working year draws to a close, many of us only have one hope for the season, and that’s a decent night’s sleep. While not every family visit or post-Christmas getaway is going to be a trip to Rancho Relaxo, a few things can help us catch holiday kip. Pre-departure apps can be useful, so can pillow mists and thermoregulation, but when it comes to maximising rest on the road, some say less is more.
Continue reading...ysabetwordsmith ysabetwordsmith guardianworldnews_feedThe trailblazing female duo’s days of effortlessly holding the BBC dance competition together are over. They open up on the joy of working together
For the past 21 years, there has been only one ever-present on Strictly Come Dancing. It’s not dancer-turned-judge Anton du Beke, who usually got knocked out of the contest early. It’s not the panel’s panto villain, Craig Revel Horwood, who might be the longest-serving judge but took sick leave after testing positive for Covid in 2021. It’s not even trusty band leader Dave Arch, who didn’t join until series four.
No, Strictly’s sole permanent fixture is Tess Daly. She took a few weeks maternity leave in autumn 2004 after giving birth to eldest daughter Phoebe but since then, the glitterball stalwart hasn’t missed a show, clocking up in excess of 500 episodes. It’s an astonishingly resilient record. Daly has been the linchpin of the ballroom behemoth since the very start. And now that she and co-host Claudia Winkleman have stepped down, it is truly the end of a TV era.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedEmergency services launched major search at Budleigh Salterton after reports of people in difficulty in the water
Two men are believed to be missing in the water off a beach in Devon, after a number of people were reported to be in difficulty.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns for people in the water.
Continue reading...tozkaWelcome back to another Community Thursday! Original Community Thursday info here, if you're interested and want to participate, too.
recthething fancakeonesongadayyoutuberecsysabetwordsmith posted a list of comms focusing on language and linguistics and one of them led me to the_magick_circle, which I joinedinkingitout is a low-stress writing comm, with the goal to write 75k words in a year. Sign-ups close January 3rd!icons is hosting a friending meme!yourlibrarian in common_natureguardianworldnews_feedWhen the president targeted me and my TV show, millions said no. So don’t give up on us – and always remember, we’re not all like him
I have no idea if you know who I am, but I was asked to deliver this year’s alternative Christmas message (which I’ve heard is a big deal) so I hope you do, but if not I host what you call a chatshow (we call it a talkshow) in what you call the colonies, I think? I honestly have no idea what’s going on over there.
I do know what’s going on over here though, and I can tell you that, from a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year. Tyranny is booming over here.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedEmergency services launched major search at Budleigh Salterton after reports of people in difficulty in the water
Two men are believed to be missing in the water off a beach in Devon, after a number of people were reported to be in difficulty.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns for people in the water.
Continue reading...kalira posting in smallfandomfestkaliraguardianworldnews_feedOver the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look at the impact of devolution on growing volatility of party political allegiance
Next year will be pivotal in British politics, and 7 May will be the point around which things pivot. Elections to local councils, the Scottish parliament and the Welsh Senedd will give millions of voters across the UK a chance to express party preferences. Their verdicts could imperil Labour and Conservative leaders. In Wales, Labour might be sent into opposition for the first time since devolution. Plaid Cymru and Reform UK are set to make substantial gains. At Holyrood, the Scottish National party (SNP) is on course for a majority. That would be an extraordinary defiance of political gravity for a party weighed down by nearly two decades of incumbency.
In England, both Labour and the Tories risk losing scores of councillors as their vote shares are gobbled up by the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Greens. Those results will be taken as evidence that Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch are failing as leaders. But it would be a mistake to filter the results only through that lens. The fragmentation of national allegiances began much longer ago.
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedEmergency services launched major search at Budleigh Salterton after reports of people in difficulty in the water
Two men are believed to be missing in the water off a beach in Devon, after a number of people were reported to be in difficulty.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns for people in the water.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedJohn Goldthorpe questions the rationale of the Social Mobility Commission’s latest report, while Chrispher Tanner says that Labour’s focus should be on equality rather than upwards mobility
Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, says that Keir Starmer has no coherent plan for social mobility (Starmer has no coherent social mobility plan, says top government adviser, 21 December). That would indeed appear to be the case. But one can question how far a Labour government should be looking to the commission for guidance. What seems to not be widely recognised is that when in 2021 the commission was reconstituted by Liz Truss, as the then minister for women and inequalities, it took on a highly politicised form. Of its six current members, four have, or have had, Conservative party affiliations.
The commission’s recently published annual report for 2025 provides some useful information on various matters, including regional differences in opportunity structures, youth unemployment and the Neet (not in education, employment or training) problem that the chair now emphasises. However, what also has to be noted from his foreword to the report is the distinct rightwing slant on social mobility that was initiated by his predecessor as chair, Katharine Birbalsingh, and that he maintains.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedWith the right funding, housing associations should be able to provide a refuge for those who have experienced violence, writes Helena Doyle
The government’s new violence against women and girls strategy sets out welcome ambitions to strengthen protection and tackle misogyny, but the real test will be in delivery (UK government strategy to protect women and girls from violence ‘seriously underfunded’, 18 December). Housing remains one of the most critical yet underfunded parts of the national response to abuse. Without a secure home, survivors cannot rebuild their lives, access work or engage with support services.
Every week, too many women and families seeking help are turned away because there simply isn’t enough safe, suitable housing available. A survivor can’t start again if they have nowhere to go. Housing associations are uniquely placed to bridge that gap – combining safe accommodation with specialist, trauma-informed support that helps people rebuild confidence and independence.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedAn anonymous reader says the pain of her estrangement from her son during the festive season is just part of the story
In response to Jason Okundaye (Bad blood between the Beckhams at Christmas might seem trite. But here’s why it’s important, 23 December), I would like to say that heartbreak is not just for Christmas. As the mother of a son who has cut himself off from his parents (blocking us on social media and not responding to letters), I can categorically state that the pain is year-round.
Like the Beckhams, our situation appears to have started at the time of a marriage, followed by a gradual realisation that for unknown reasons we were no longer acceptable as parents or in-laws, then an abrupt (and inexplicable to us) termination of all contact.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedFrankie Meehan on the decline of letter writing and Amnesty International’s annual Write for Rights campaign
Your editorial (22 December) declares that the “writing’s on the wall” for letter writing. In the month of Amnesty International’s annual Write For Rights campaign, I would like to suggest that the pen can still be powerful. Last year’s event generated 4.7m handwritten letters to human rights defenders and their oppressors. Every letter takes time, attention and physical effort. Leaders will always be more impressed by real letters than by easy clicks, and activists under pressure will always feel uplifted when they read personalised messages of solidarity.
Frankie Meehan
Singapore
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedHappy Christmas, glitterati! Tissues at the ready for Tess and Claud’s last hurrah. Join us for every minute of this tinsel-strewn tearjerker
Season’s greetings, hoofing fans. Michael here – I hope you’re all enjoying some comfort, joy and purple ones from the Quality Street. You might just be weeping into the tin soon, because the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special promises to be a tinsel-adorned tearjerker.
Yes, today’s edition is one for the history books: it’s the last time ever that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman present the BBC ballroom blockbuster before new hosts take over in 2026. After 21 years beneath the gliiterball for Tess and nearly as long for Claud, it’s truly the end of a twinkle-toed era.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedWe can share images and sounds, so why not smells? Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie hopes her new atlas will make scents
Christmas may be associated with the aromas of oranges and mince pies but our towns and cities also boast special scents during the rest of the year. Now, one researcher is publishing an atlas attempting to capture these quirky “smellscapes”.
Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie, a designer and researcher at the University of Kent, said she first became intrigued by the sense of smell 15 years ago.
Continue reading...guardianworldnews_feedImran Ahmed, an anti-disinformation advocate, claims he is being targeted over his work scrutinising social media companies
A British anti-disinformation campaigner close to Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has launched a legal challenge against the Trump administration after being told he could face deportation from the US in a row over freedom of speech.
Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), has filed a complaint against senior Trump allies including the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the attorney general, Pam Bondi, in an attempt to prevent what he says would be an unconstitutional arrest and removal.
Continue reading...muccamukk
Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan Death Threat by Vivek Shraya and Ness Lee Fun House: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lordeguardianworldnews_feedAre her recent candid remarks about Trump an attempt to distance herself from an increasingly unpopular president?
She was now one of the family. When Donald Trump addressed supporters in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, in early December, he asked: “Susie Trump – do you know Susie Trump? Sometimes referred to as Susie Wiles.”
The US president was referring to his chief of staff, who he said had persuaded him to return to the campaign trail ahead of the 2026 congressional midterm elections. But a week later, Wiles appeared at risk of becoming the family outcast.
Continue reading...sarajayechan in yuletide - Rec list 2025guardianworldnews_feed - ‘International community has lost interest’: Afghanistan’s first female vice-president sees historyguardianworldnews_feed - The Great Christmas Bake Off review – there’s something very soothing about this Peep Show reunionguardianworldnews_feed - Don’t fret the first night and nap if you need: how to sleep well, away from homeguardianworldnews_feed - Two men missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Dayguardianworldnews_feed - British campaigner launches legal challenge against Trump administration after deportation threatstonepicnicking_okapi - My fic: Sherlock Holmes (ACD): Genkass - More fic for me!!ysabetwordsmith - Friending Memeysabetwordsmith - Birdfeedingguardianworldnews_feed - Russian opposition leader sentenced to six years in prisonguardianworldnews_feed - ‘All you need are your eyes’: a stretch of Victorian shore is a magnet for fossil fossickersguardianworldnews_feed - ‘International community has lost interest’: Afghanistan’s first female vice-president sees historyguardianworldnews_feed - Don’t fret the first night and nap if you need: how to sleep well, away from homejames - Happy Thursdayysabetwordsmith - Holiday Wishestozka in podcastjoy - some podcasts I listened to recently (and enjoyed)ysabetwordsmith - Vocabulary: Bokehguardianworldnews_feed - ‘Pure magic!’ Farewell Tess and Claudia, the power couple who were Strictly’s life and soulguardianworldnews_feed - Two men feared missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Daytozka - community thursday (dec. 18-24) (more or less)princessofgeeks - Heated Rivalry recsjames_davis_nicoll - Jólabókaflóðið 2025!guardianworldnews_feed - Dear Britain: things are bad, but America will recover from Donald Trump. Just give us three years |guardianworldnews_feed - Two men feared missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Daykalira in smallfandomfest - Fanfic, Maleficent, Maleficent/Diaval, joy of flyingaurumcalendula - (no subject)goss - Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!guardianworldnews_feed - The Guardian view on May 2026 elections: a new political geography is coming into view across Britaiguardianworldnews_feed - Two men feared missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Dayhildigunnur - Christmas Timeguardianworldnews_feed - Social mobility is still viewed through a rightwing lens | Lettersguardianworldnews_feed - Abuse survivors need safe housing above all | Lettersguardianworldnews_feed - The heartache of fractured families at Christmas | Lettersguardianworldnews_feed - Handwritten letters are still a powerful force for good | Letterguardianworldnews_feed - Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025 – liveguardianworldnews_feed - Nosy researcher’s quest to map the world’s ‘smellscapes’guardianworldnews_feed - British campaigner launches legal challenge against Trump administration after deportation threatmuccamukk - Reading Thursday (The October Edition)guardianworldnews_feed - ‘Not an enabler’? A glimpse behind the curtain at Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wilesregnakrja
