The ‘magicians of glass’ who have created luxury Christmas decorations for decades
The entire production process is described as a ‘closely guarded trade secret’

© Associated Press/Czarek Sokolowski
The entire production process is described as a ‘closely guarded trade secret’

© Associated Press/Czarek Sokolowski
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio anticipated ‘more progress’ from talks with Ukrainian officials

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Pressure grows on Pedro Sánchez amid series of claims involving his family, party and administration
Tens of thousands of people have attended an anti-government demonstration in Madrid to demand a snap general election as the country’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, tries to weather a series of corruption allegations involving his family, his party and his administration.
Sunday’s protest, called by Spain’s conservative People’s party (PP) under the slogan, “This is it: mafia or democracy?”, was held three days after one of Sánchez’s closest erstwhile allies, the former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, was remanded in custody by a judge investigating an alleged kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.
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© Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images
Ludwig Minelli, whose work had lasting influence on Swiss law, dies just days before his 93rd birthday
The head of the Swiss right-to-die organisation Dignitas has ended his life through an assisted death, the group has said.
Ludwig Minelli, who founded the group in 1998, died on Saturday, days before his 93rd birthday, Dignitas said. It added: “Right up to the end of his life, he continued to search for further ways to help people to exercise their right to freedom of choice and self-determination in their ‘final matters’ – and he often found them.”
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© Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

© Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

© Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet Kyiv delegation amid more deadly Russian attacks in Ukraine
Ukrainian negotiators met US officials in Florida to thrash out details of Washington’s proposed framework to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, as Kyiv faces pressure on military and political fronts.
The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, the special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, sat down with a Ukrainian delegation on Sunday before planned US talks this week in Moscow with Vladimir Putin.
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© Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Donald Trump has also written a letter urging Herzog to consider pardoning Benjamin Netanyahu

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The vote gives an indication of how a European populace views mandatory national duty amid the Ukraine war

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Exclusive: French artist planning to cover bridge over Seine in tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude
The enigmatic French artist JR will undertake what he says is his biggest ever challenge next year when he “wraps” Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the Seine River in Paris, in a tribute to a monumental art project by Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
For three weeks next June, the 232-metre (761ft) long bridge will be wrapped in fabric, 40 years after the married artists known for their large-scale, site-specific environmental installations did the same thing.
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© Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
Discussions to refine the 28-point peace plan are being held in Florida on Sunday

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Sea Baby naval drones had disabled vessels capable of transporting oil worth almost $70 million

© SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP
Two new books analyse what makes the ‘perfect pub’ and both come to a sobering conclusion: Irish pubs are in trouble
Like triple-distilled whiskey, Irish pubs appear to have timeless appeal. They are staple setting in films, books and plays, draw tourists to Ireland, replicate themselves around the world and induce social media quests for the perfect snug and the perfect pint.
Scholars have now bestowed academic imprimatur on this cultural treasure status by examining – and celebrating – pubs through the lens of history, sociology, architecture, psychology, design, art and literature.
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© Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images

© Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images
Kyiv tries to pile pressure on Russia with attack on empty vessels on way to load up with oil for foreign markets
Ukrainian naval drones hit two tankers operating under sanctions in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian port to load up with oil destined for foreign markets, an official said on Saturday, as Kyiv tries to pile pressure on Russia’s vast oil industry.
The two oil tankers, identified as the Kairos and Virat, were empty and sailing to Novorossiysk, a major Russian Black Sea oil terminal, the official at the security service of Ukraine told Reuters.
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© Photograph: security service of Ukraine/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: security service of Ukraine/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: security service of Ukraine/AFP/Getty Images