Iran newspaper: Strike Haifa if Israel killed scientist An opinion piece published by a hard-line Iranian newspaper has suggested that Iran must attack the Israeli port city of Haifa if Israel carried out the killing of a scientist linked to its disbanded military nuclear program

Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse dies aged 85 Former weightlifter and actor best known for playing Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies has died, his agent has saidDavid “Dave” Prowse, the actor best known for playing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, has died at the age of 85, his agent has said.Agent Thomas Bowington said: “It’s with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and million of fans around the world, to announce that our client Dave Prowse MBE has passed away at the age of 85.” Continue reading...

A year after Wuhan alarm, China seeks to change Covid origin story Reports in state media signal an intensifying propaganda effort to place the birth of the virus in other countriesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNearly a year after doctors identified the first cases of a worrying new disease in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the country appears to be stepping up a campaign to question the origins of the global Covid-19 pandemic.State media has been reporting intensively on coronavirus discovered on packaging of frozen food imports, not considered a significant vector of infection elsewhere, and research into possible cases of the disease found outside China’s borders before December 2019. Continue reading...

Seattle-area homeowners report ‘sovereign citizen’ property seizure attempts: report Police in suburbs north of Seattle say so-called “sovereign citizens” have been visiting homes in at least two communities, presenting homeowners with official-looking documents, and announcing that they’re the rightful owners.

\"Merry Christmas with family could mean burying them in New Year\" expert warns Leading epidemiologist Dr Gabriel Scally said he will avoid meeting his relatives this festive season due to concerns about the spread of Covid-19 when spending time with others indoors

The photo is the clue: Arthur Conan Doyle’s love for his Lost World hero Author dressed up as Professor Challenger, whom he preferred over his Sherlock creationSir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Professor Challenger, the fictional scientist and explorer who discovers a forgotten land of dinosaurs, went on to inspire a string of adventure films, including Jurassic Park. He was a headstrong and irascible antihero, but there is now proof he also served as his creator’s literary alter ego.The evidence of handwritten notes and amendments, laid out this week with the first publication of the full manuscript of Conan Doyle’s original and most famous Challenger story, The Lost World, show the author not only posed for a photograph of himself dressed as the professor, but also initially gave the character his own age and address. Continue reading...

The Treasury must release more money – and relinquish more control Sunak’s plan to pinch pennies in a pandemic is unwise. But the bigger problem is the centralisation of his spending projectsRishi Sunak has spent billions of pounds rescuing the economy during the year of Covid, but he needs to go further.To start with, the chancellor, who set out his 2021-22 spending plans last week, needs to make permanent the £20-a-week increase in universal credit which is due to expire in the spring. Without that increase, about 6 million households, many of them the most vulnerable to financial shocks, will lose £1,000 a year of vital funds just as the unemployment rate is expected to hit its post-pandemic peak. Continue reading...

Fiancée of skateboarder killed in freak fall to have his child with frozen sperm Jess Claassens was left devastated when her partner Chris Pinto, 32, suffered critical head injuries at Mudjimba Skate Park in Australia. She wants to have IVF to keep a part of him with her

Senior Tories fear £4bn cut to overseas aid will be made permanent MPs campaigning against chancellor’s plans believe they can ‘humiliate’ the government into U-turnSenior Tories fear that the cut to Britain’s aid budget will become permanent, amid a growing campaign inside and outside parliament to reverse the decision.Conservatives opposed to the move are already vowing to “humiliate” the government by forcing it to stand by its manifesto commitment to spend 0.7% of GDP on overseas aid – a vow chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would breach in his review of public spending last week. He announced that £4bn would effectively be cut from the aid budget by reducing it to 0.5%, despite pleas from Tories and the archbishop of Canterbury. Continue reading...

Mike Tyson fans slam comeback for being 'a Snoop Dogg concert, not a fight' Fans paid $50 USD (£38) to watch Mike Tyson take on Roy Jones Jr – but were left perplexed when they tuned in to discover Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and French Montana performing instead

LIVE UPDATES: BLM activists protest LA mayor as potential Cabinet pick Follow for the latest updates on the 2020 election.

Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse has died aged 85 after short illness The Star Wars acting legend, born in Bristol, played the villain in the original trilogy though the character was voiced by James Earl Jones

Anything but the virus: Roman bar calls time on all Covid chat Locals welcome chance to meet up and gossip about the weather and football in a more convivial atmosphereCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe patrons of a bar in Rome can talk about history, gossip, culture, the weather – anything but coronavirus. Cristina Mattioli, owner of the aptly named Bar Feeling, banned all Covid chat after the mood became too heavy, spoiling the convivial atmosphere, especially over morning coffee.She recently pinned two notices behind the bar. One of them reads: “Speaking about coronavirus is prohibited”, while giving examples such as prophesying over possible outcomes of the pandemic or what rules might be included in the next government decree. The sign next to it suggests alternative topics of conversation, including who will win this season’s Grande Fratello VIP, the Italian version of Big Brother. Continue reading...

The Observer view on Donald Trump and the murder of Iran’s leading nuclear scientist | Observer editorial As the president lashes out wilfully during his last days in office, it seems likely that he at least gave the nod to this killingDangerous military adventurism in the dying days of a US presidency is not without recent precedent. In December 1992, George HW Bush sent 25,000 US troops to Somalia, weeks before handing over to Bill Clinton. The US intervention ended badly with the 1993 battle of Mogadishu, scene of the infamous “Black Hawk Down” incident.In 2009, Israeli officials are said to have sought US help and weapons for an airstrike on Iran before Barack Obama took office. George W Bush refused. Advice given to Bush was similar to that which Donald Trump reportedly received from officials in a briefing this month: a military strike would be ineffective, could push Iran closer to building an atomic bomb and might start a war. Continue reading...

Canada bans mass exports of prescription drugs The new policy comes in response to a US plan to import drugs from Canada.