Monday evening news briefing: Vladimir Putin drives across bomb-hit bridge

Also from this PM's Front Page newsletter: Prince Harry accuses royals of 'dirty game' & first cold weather alert of winter. Sign up below

Good evening. Vladimir Putin has got the closest yet to the Ukrainian frontline after driving across a bomb-hit bridge. Also this evening, the Met Office has issued the first cold weather alert of winter. But, first, the headlines...

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

Strike talks intensify | Rail union chiefs have been urged to "think again" and call off strikes set to cause transport chaos in the run-up to Christmas. Downing Street sought to put pressure on the RMT to accept a new pay deal, insisting it was the "right offer" to bring certainty to workers. After an 8pc pay rise was rejected last night, it has emerged that demands for driver-operated doors are a major sticking point. Eleventh-hour talks are taking place today in a bid to find a breakthrough before strike rosters for next week's industrial action are effectively set in stone.

The big story: Putin gets closest yet to Ukraine front

In an attempt to boost morale, Russian president Vladimir Putin today drove over a key bridge weeks after it was hit by a blast

He was pictured at the wheel of a Mercedes to cross from the Russian mainland into the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. 

In what is the closest the 70-year-old leader has come to the frontline in Ukraine, Putin crossed the Kerch bridge as Russia re-opened it to traffic after it was partially blown up in a truck bombing in October that was blamed on Kyiv. 

He discussed the repairs with Marat Khusnulin, a deputy prime minister in charge of the project, in an exchange that was broadcast by Russian television

The 12-mile link has been the main conduit for ferrying supplies to Crimea that has served as a key base for Russian military operations in Ukraine. 

Russia responded to the bombing with several waves of strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities and other key infrastructure, the latest of which was launched this morning.

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Meanwhile, Ukraine carried out its deepest strikes inside Russian territory to date in an apparent bid to disrupt the Kremlin's bombing campaign against energy infrastructure. 

At least three people are said to have been killed today when a fuel tanker exploded at the Dyagilevo airfield near the city of Ryazan, southeast of Moscow. 

Unofficial Russian social media channels reported that four aircraft were also damaged. Footage of one the strikes is in this report by Roland Oliphant.

Prince Harry accuses royals of playing 'dirty game'

The Duke of Sussex has condemned the "pain and suffering of women" marrying into the Royal family, as he compared the treatment of his wife Meghan to his mother, Princess Diana, and accused those around them of playing a "dirty game".

 Prince Harry, speaking in a trailer for his new Netflix documentary, makes claims about the "hierarchy" of the Royal family, appearing to accuse the institution of "leaking". 

In a dramatic series of clips showing his late mother being chased by paparazzi, interspersed with footage of the couple, he says: "I was terrified. I didn't want history to repeat itself." 

The Sussexes' six-part Netflix series is due to air from Thursday. Royal editor Hannah Furness explains what we learnt from today's clips

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a photograph used for the first trailer has no connection to the Royal family.

Don't go out without telling people, Met Office warns

The weather has turned cold – and is becoming considerably colder. As the Met Office puts in place its first cold weather warning of the winter, it has urged the public in the worst affected areas who venture out to tell someone where they are going and when they will be back. 

Temperatures are set to reach -6C overnight in parts of the country, driven by northerly winds sweeping down on Britain from the Arctic. 

See a map of this week's forecast and advice on three easy preemptive steps to boost your immunity and avoid the winter sniffles.

Comment and analysis

World news: Crime wave grips New Zealand

Jacinda Ardern's popularity has plunged to the lowest level since she entered government as New Zealanders grow increasingly concerned about crime. Some 29 per cent of poll respondents said Ms Ardern was their preferred prime minister, a one per cent drop. Support for the Labour party which Ms Ardern leads has also dropped one per cent in the polls to 33 per cent. It is the prime minister's lowest ranking since she became Labour leader in 2017. The poll reflects disillusionment among the electorate with New Zealand's Labour government, which has been plagued by the rising cost of living and an escalating crime rate.

Monday interview: 'In our sexualised society, it's horrifying what children can access online'

As Kate Winslet stars with her daughter in a hard-hitting TV drama, she talks to Chris Harvey about parenting in the social media age. Read the interview

Kate Winslet

Sport briefing: England beat Pakistan in thriller

England's aggressive, bold tactics paid off as they clinched a remarkable 74-run victory in the final session of day five in their first Test in Pakistan since 2005. Reporting from Rawalpindi, Nick Hoult writes how the daring, audacious cricket led to a win that will stand the test of time. It brought vindication for captain Ben Stokes. Michael Vaughan says that he has never seen a better captaincy performance. In Qatar, Japan and Croatia were heading into extra time as I sent you this email.

Editor's choice

  1. Where's the best pub in Britain? | Meet the man who has been to 4,500 of them
  2. Rise in adult ADHD | Hidden health crisis – or simply an epidemic of overdiagnosis?
  3. Ask the expert | 'I want a new car… but without the gadgets. Does one exist?'

Business briefing: Councils charge double to park

Drivers risk seeing car parking charges double as local councils raise prices in their latest attack on motorists. At least 16 local authorities across England have either raised their fees in the last two months or plan to do so. See the results of comparison site data. Meanwhile, B&Q is expanding its presence on the high street with new smaller convenience stores, while rising costs force many other retailers to close shops.

Tonight starts now

Boost your travel IQ | Black Friday is over. The January sales have yet to begin. The next three weeks are a strange time in the travel trade because most people are focused on Christmas and very few are thinking about next year's holidays. That provides an opportunity. If you want to get the best advice on your travel plans, this is an excellent time to do so. Business is quiet, agents and operators have time on their hands and they will be mustard keen to help: any bookings they take are a bonus. Nick Trend explains the benefits of learning from a travel expert.

Three things for you

And finally... for this evening's downtime

'People didn't think I could dance, and I did. So... why not Shakespeare?' | She conquered Strictly – and changed Britain's perception of deaf people. Now, the ex-EastEnders actress has her sights on the West End. Helen Brown speaks to Rose Ayling-Ellis.

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