Transport Secretary Mark Harper has said “there is a deal to be done” with the rail unions to bring planned industrial action to an end following a “constructive” meeting with RMT leader Mick Lynch.
Mr Harper said he and Mr Lynch, the boss of the sector’s biggest union, “had an open and honest conversation about the serious challenges facing the railways” amid the looming strikes and have “common ground”.
“We both want the dispute to end and we both want a thriving railway which delivers for passengers and workers alike. To achieve this though, we need to work together, across the entire industry to ensure our railway industry thrives,” the transport secretary said in a statement.
“There is a deal to be done, and I believe we will get there – I want to facilitate the RMT and the employers to reach an agreement and end the dispute for the benefit of the travelling public.”
Speaking to broadcasters, he added: “So, I think there is a lot of shared agreement there, but we need to have the two sides – the trade unions and the employers – sit down, agree on the detail so that we can bring this dispute to an end.”
Mr Lynch agreed that the meeting was “positive”, telling reporters outside the Department for Transport: “We’re now starting to get a dialogue.”
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He added that there had been a change in tone from what he called the “bellicose nonsense” from Grant Shapps, who was transport secretary under Boris Johnson from July 2019 to September of this year.
The RMT boss said Mr Harper had committed to writing to him about how he plans to take “forward steps towards a resolution”.
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“We want him to set down in writing what he’s going to do about the mechanics of how a resolution will be facilitated,” Mr Lynch said.
Ahead of today’s meeting, the transport secretary told Sky News the government is “simply not in a position to pay inflation pay rises”.
Mark Harper told The Take with Sophy Ridge that he understands why “people facing these cost-of-living pressures want more pay”, but said if ministers were to grant this wish, “the danger is that we would embed inflation”.
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Union boss has ‘positive’ meeting with government
Rail unions must “understand” the importance of getting inflation down to get the economy back on track, he said.
Earlier this week, Mr Lynch insisted he’s “not the Grinch” as he announced four 48-hour strikes over Christmas and New Year, saying that there had been no improved offer on jobs, pay and conditions.
About 40,000 staff from Network Rail and 14 train companies are set to strike on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December and 3, 4, 6 and 7 January.
It means disruption for travellers, workers and shoppers in the run-up to Christmas and for people returning home after the festive break.
There could also be problems on other days because the RMT said an overtime ban would run from 18 December to 2 January.
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More rail strikes at Christmas
The transport secretary warned Sky News that the upcoming strikes are going to be “really disruptive” and will have “a very significant cost”.
Train drivers who belong to the Aslef union are staging a separate strike this Saturday, hitting services run by 11 operators, including Great Western and Southeastern.
The inside of the superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily almost a year ago has been seen for the first time after it was resurfaced.
British billionaire Mike Lynch, 59, his daughter Hannah, 18, and five others died after the 56-metre (184ft) Bayesian sank off Porticello on 19 August 2024.
Images reveal what the inside of the British-flagged vessel looks like now – after it was resurfacedand placed in a manufactured steel cradle in Termini Imerese.
In one picture, a lounge area can be seen, complete with sofas and other furniture, while another shows the hatch down to the lower deck.
Image: The tragedy last August claimed seven lives
Image: A full examination of the yacht is being carried out
Now the boat is back on land, a balloon-like instrument will be used to lift its 72m (236ft) mast after it was cut off with a remote-controlled tool to rest on the seabed.
While salvage workers continue a “full sweep” of the ocean floor nearby, a full examination of the yacht will look at what could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will then publish a report into its investigation.
Image: Salvage teams managed to raise the vessel and bring it ashore
Image: The boat had lain on the seabed at a depth of 50 metres
The family of the Bayesian chef Recaldo Thomas, who was among those who died, says “lessons need to be learned”.
In a statement through the Thomas family lawyers Keystone Law, they said they want the investigation to “establish the truth of what happened” and “bring those responsible to justice”.
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Bayesian superyacht raised from seabed
Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, said of the investigation previously: “When the wreck is brought ashore, we’ll be completing a full examination of the wreck and we’ll be finding out all of the elements that might have contributed to the safety of the vessel.”
Things like the vessel’s “escape routes” will be included in the final report, Mr Graves added.
“Once we get access to the vessel we’ll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events.”
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A UK inquest will look at the deaths of Mr Lynch, Miss Lynch, Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife Judy, 71, who were all British nationals.
US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda also died.
Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, were rescued.
Serbian riot police have clashed with anti-government protesters calling for snap elections and an end to the 12-year rule of President Aleksandar Vucic.
The protest by tens of thousands of demonstrators was held in Belgrade on Saturday after months of persistent demonstrations led by Serbia‘s university students that have rattled Mr Vucic’s grip on power.
The crowd chanted “We want elections!” as they filled the capital’s central Slavija Square and several streets around it.
Students gave speeches. One, who didn’t give her name, said: “Elections are a clear way out of the social crisis caused by the deeds of the government, which is undoubtedly against the interests of their own people.
“Today, on June 28 2025, we declare the current authorities illegitimate.”
Image: Tens of thousands joined the protest. Pic: AP
Image: Pic: AP
Tensions were high before and during the gathering.
Riot police had been deployed around government buildings, parliament and nearby Pionirski Park, where hundreds of Mr Vucic’s loyalists from across the country have been camping for months.
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As the protest ended in the evening, some demonstrators threw bottles, rocks and flares at the police who were preventing the crowd from approaching Pionirski Park and confronting Mr Vucic’s backers.
Skirmishes between riot officers and groups of protesters lasted for several hours, with police firing tear gas to disperse crowds in several locations across Belgrade’s city centre.
Image: Police said they detained several dozen demonstrators. Pic: Reuters
Police detained several dozen protesters, while six officers were reported injured in the clashes, Dragan Vasiljevic, the director of police, told a news conference late on Saturday.
Responding to the violence, President Vucic said in an Instagram post: “Serbia always wins in the end.”
University students have been a key force behind nationwide demonstrations that started after a renovated rail station canopy collapsed, killing 16 people in November last year.
Many blamed the concrete roof crash on government corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects, leading to recurring protests.
Image: President Aleksandar Vucic. File pic: Reuters
President Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party have repeatedly refused the demand for an early parliamentary vote and accused protesters of planning to spur violence on orders from abroad, which they have not specified.
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A former extreme nationalist, Mr Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power more than a decade ago. He formally says he wants Serbia to join the European Union, but critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms and strengthened ties with Russia and China.
While demonstrations have shrunk in recent weeks, the large showing for Saturday’s rally suggested that the resolve persists, despite relentless pressure and after nearly eight months of almost daily protests.
Image: The scene in Slavija Square. Pic: AP
Image: Pic: Reuters
Serbian police, who are tightly controlled by Mr Vucic’s government, said 36,000 people were present at the start of Saturday’s protest.
An independent monitoring group that records public gatherings said a total of around 140,000 people were in attendance.
Serbia’s presidential and parliamentary elections are due in 2027.
If Hungary’s authorities thought banning this year’s Pride march would keep people off the streets, they were wrong.
Thousands turned out in Budapest, defying a law which said LGBTQ+ events like this should be cancelled to protect children.
The crowd was determined to fight for their rights.
Image: Rainbow flags were on display everywhere as people celebrated Pride. Pic: Reuters
Image: Huge crowds crossed the Elisabeth Bridge over the Danube. Pic: Reuters
“This is a special march, not just because it was the 30th, but also because it was banned,” said Orsi, who proudly wore a rainbow headband and waved a rainbow flag.
“I mean that’s all the more reason to go out on the street and show that Budapest and Hungary is a place where everybody is welcome, where love is equal,” she added.
Image: Orsi told Sky News that it was a special march and worth the risk of being fined
Attendees had been warned that just being there could mean a 500 euro fine or prison time for the organisers.
They were told police would use facial recognition cameras to identify them, but they didn’t care.
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Orsi said it was worth a fine.
Leonas had travelled from Poland to show his support and was also happy to take the risk.
“LGBT rights are attacked across the whole world, and we need to defend each other and work with each other,” he said.
Image: Leonas from Poland felt it was important to defend LGBTQ+ rights
Viktor Orban’s government has repeatedly pitched family values against LGBTQ+ rights.
“The mother is a woman, the father is a man and leave our kids alone,” he told conservative audiences in the past.
He says he is protecting Hungary’s Christian values, but critics say this is just part of a wider attack on democracy which has happened during his 15 years in control.
Image: Budapest was transformed into a sea of bright colours, as marchers defied a ban. Pic: AP
Image: Pic: Reuters
In 2020, the country abolished its legal recognition of transgender people, and in 2021, politicians passed a law banning the depiction of homosexuality to under-18s.
While many were outraged by the attempt to cancel the Pride march, a small number of far-right activists organised demonstrations to show their support:
“Hungary and the Hungarian nation don’t want the aggressive LGBTQ+ propaganda. They are dangerous for our families, they are dangerous for our kids,” said Gabor Kelemen, a member of the 64 Counties Youth Movement.
Image: Gabor Kelemen, from a far-right group, thinks Pride represents LGBTQ+ propaganda that is ‘dangerous for our families’
However, the packed streets showed many disagree.
At one point, as far as the eye could see, the march snaked through streets and across the city’s bridges. The sound of drums and whistles mixing with gay anthems blaring out of speakers.
The organisers said they believed this will be the largest Pride march ever in Budapest.
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The crowd was eclectic, with Hungarians from different communities joining a demonstration which many believe is now part of a fight for Hungary’s future.
“This is not only about the complexity of Pride, not only about love or equality… for Hungarians, it’s about sticking together, supporting each other, showing the government that we believe in a different kind of Hungary. We believe in freedom, we believe in democracy,” said activist Adam Kanicsar.
Image: Activist Adam Kanicsar believes the Pride march will send an important message to Hungary’s government
Despite the ban, today Pride attendees were celebrating a victory. But make no mistake, many in Hungary do not support the parade or what they see as an attack on traditional values.
Next year, the country will hold a general election, a vote which will expose how divided Hungary really is.