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The legislation will be introduced today and the government says it will lift almost 500,000 children out of povertyPeter Walker is the Guardian's senior political correspondent.Louise Haigh, the Labour MP former transport secretary, is calling for the government and her party to quit X in the wake of a wave of digitally altered images on the site showing women and children with their clothes removed.It was already an unpleasant place prior to its takeover by Elon Musk but since his acceptance of hate speech and anonymous online abusers, it has become utterly unusable.I continued to maintain an account and occasionally post because a critical mass of people, including the government and journalists who we need to communicate with as MPs, remained on the site. Continue reading...

The Russian foreign ministry said statements by of pro-Ukraine governments becoming increasingly dangerousEuropean governments have been accused of fuelling Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine as new data shows the Kremlin earned an estimated 7.2bn (6.2bn) last year from exporting its liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU.Brussels has pledged to ban imports of Russian LNG - natural gas that is supercooled to make it easier to transport - by 2027 but an analysis suggests there is yet to be any letup in the vast quantities being received at European ports from Russia's LNG complex on the Yamal peninsula in Siberia. Continue reading...

Governor Tim Walz said he was prepared to deploy the National Guard and expressed outrage over the shootingCable news networks sprung into action on Wednesday to cover the breaking news of a woman killed by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis, rushing correspondents to the scene and bringing on former government officials and legal analysts to offer commentary.The three main cable networks' on-screen graphics framed the incident slightly differently. Fox News referred to it as a Deadly ICE-involved Shooting", while CNN said more plainly: ICE Officer Kills Woman in Minneapolis." Continue reading...

Coote, 43, had previously pleaded guilty to making an indecent moving image of a childFormer Premier League referee David Coote has been given a suspended sentence after he was found to have a sexual video of a 15-year-old boy in school uniform on his laptop.Coote, 43, previously pleaded guilty to making an indecent moving image of a child of the most serious kind, and his sentencing judge said he had had a spectacular fall from grace". Continue reading...

Jonty Bravery given 16-week term for attack at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital where he is serving life sentenceA man who threw a six-year-old boy off the Tate Modern's 10th-storey balcony has been given a 16-week jail sentence after attacking two nurses at Broadmoor hospital.Jonty Bravery, 24, was found guilty of assaulting Linda McKinlay and Kate Mastalerz after he kicked one in the thigh and clawed at the face of another in September 2024. Continue reading...

Mayor says ICE claims incident was self-defense are not true and urged ICE to leave Minneapolis. Plus, Trump pulls US out of 66 international bodiesGood morning.Federal agents shot and killed a woman during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday. The woman has been identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.What has the Trump administration said? In a post on X, the homeland security department (DHS) insisted the person was a domestic terrorist" who weaponized her vehicle" and attempted to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them". Videos appeared to contradict that statement, showing the SUV clearly reversing away from ICE officers as they approach.What have local elected officials said? Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, affiliated with the national Democratic party, said the Department of Homeland Security was trying to spin this as an action of self-defense. Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly, that is bullshit."Frey added: To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety and you are doing exactly the opposite." Continue reading...

Pat McFadden says stance on potential peace deployment casts doubt on Reform leader's commitment to national security

President reportedly hopes falling price will cut domestic consumer energy bills

CMA's move comes as Associated British Foods, which also owns Primark, issues profit warning

The prime minister says he takes the time to choose the right path' - but it was right there in front of him the whole timeTen days ago, Anthony Albanese fiercely argued against a royal commission into antisemitism. On Thursday, from that very same lectern, he declared such an inquiry was vital to heal" and unite a wounded nation after its worst-ever terror attack.Which invites the obvious question: What prompted such a screeching reversal? Continue reading...

Article by former British ambassador to US is likely to be seen as criticism of Keir StarmerPeter Mandelson has accused European leaders including Keir Starmer of a histrionic" reaction to Donald Trump's plan to take over Greenland, arguing that without hard power and hard cash" they will continue to slide into unimportance in the age of Trump".In his first political comments since being sacked as Britain's ambassador to Washington last year, Lord Mandelson said Trump had achieved more in a day than orthodox diplomacy was able to achieve in the past decade" when he captured the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro. Continue reading...

Poor festive fashion sales deepen fears of squeeze on UK household budgets and falling high street footfall

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Prime minister confirms commission on antisemitism and social cohesion after initially resisting demands for a broad national inquiry

The Hope appeal aims to reach milestone of 1m for grassroots organisations tackling extremism and hatred

Discovery of more than 800 whetstones, used to sharpen weapons, seen as one of the most significant finds in northern England for a centuryArchaeologists have found evidence of a huge and previously unknown industrial hub of Roman manufacturing in a discovery seen as one of the most significant finds in northern England for a century.Researchers were astonished to discover more than 800 whetstones at a site on the banks of the River Wear, and evidence of there being hundreds, if not thousands, more buried in the riverbank. Continue reading...

Abdel-Fattah accuses the board of blatant and shameless' anti-Palestinian racism and censorship, as other authors pull out in solidarity

Human Rights Watch and Justice say recent legislative changes have had a chilling effect and should be repealedThe right to protest is under attack in England and Wales with laws trampling over human rights protections and more oppressive restrictions in the pipeline, two major reports have warned.Both Human Rights Watch and the cross-party law reform organisation Justice say recent legislative changes have created a chilling effect on lawful protest and should be repealed. Their reports, simultaneously published on Thursday, also say that proposals for more curbs should be halted. Continue reading...

West Midlands police face MPs after barring Israeli football team's supporters from match against Aston VillaWest Midlands police did not do themselves any favours" when giving evidence to MPs about a decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, a Birmingham Jewish leader has said.The force's chief constable, Craig Guildford, is facing growing calls from MPs and Jewish groups to resign after further details emerged about the circumstances surrounding a ban on away fans attending the Europa League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on 6 November. Continue reading...

Scam allegedly involved one man telling the women there was an issue with their vehicle while the other stole items

The Trump administration is asserting control over Venezuelan oil, after seizing a pair of sanctioned tankers on WednesdayVenezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has defended plans to open up her country's oil market to Washington, as Donald Trump's vice-president JD Vance reiterated that the US would have complete control of the country's supplies.Rodriguez said on Wednesday that America's attack to remove her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, put a stain" on the countries' relations, but added it was not unusual or irregular" to trade with the US, adding that Venezuela was open to energy relations where all parties benefit." Continue reading...

Blak Caucus, Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation 48 launch challenge in court, arguing the laws are invalid

Chen founded the Prince Group, a multinational conglomerate authorities allege served as a front for one of Asia's largest transnational criminal organisations'Chinese-born tycoon Chen Zhi, who was indicted by the US on fraud and money-laundering charges for running a multibillion-dollar online scam network from Cambodia, has been arrested there and extradited to China, Phnom Penh said.Chen allegedly directed operations of forced labour compounds across Cambodia, where trafficked workers were held in prison-like facilities surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, according to US prosecutors. Continue reading...

Abandoning checks on staff and officers was a dereliction of the Met's duty to keep London safe', says home secretarySerial rapists including David Carrick were left in the ranks of the Metropolitan police because of a failure to carry out necessary vetting on thousands of officers and staff, it has been revealed.An internal review by the force found it had lowered vetting checks into the backgrounds of prospective and existing police officers and staff between 2013 and 2023. Continue reading...

Joshua Johnson died in a collision near Rotherham in December but was initially identified by police as Trevor Wynn, who survivedThe family of a teenager who died in a car crash in Yorkshire and was mistakenly identified as another boy by police have spoken of their unimaginable" ordeal.Joshua Johnson, 18, died after a collision near Rotherham in the early hours of 13 December. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Chancellor says Reform leader wants to keep children in poverty based on skin colour after U-turnRachel Reeves has said she was angered by Nigel Farage's suggestion that only British-born families should have the two-child benefit cap lifted, saying the Reform UK leader would keep children in poverty based on their skin colour.The chancellor, who will introduce legislation to lift the cap on Thursday, said it had been a burden for her not to be able to do so sooner, but it had been vital to do it at a moment of market stability. Continue reading...

People gathered at the scene of the killing to protest after city's mayor demands ICE get the fuck out'When a federal agent shot and killed a woman during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, the Guardian was nearby, shadowing observers who have trained for months to monitor and respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the state.ICE vehicles, unmarked, lined the street, and yellow police tape cordoned off the area in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Dozens of protesters and community members were seen on the snowy street, shouting at ICE agents and at the local police. More agents arrived amid the chaos. Continue reading...

Governor readies national guard as Minneapolis mayor and others denounce immigration agent killing woman during raid

John Healey gives operational update in the House of CommonsFarage is now talking about London, where council elections are taking place.He says that Sadiq Khan has said he will run for a fourth term as mayor. Continue reading...

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel peace prize winner will lay out vision for the country in book publishing in USVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will publish a book in the US that lays out her vision for Venezuela's political reconstruction as the country faces significant upheaval.The 120-page work titled The Freedom Manifesto is being released by Regnery Publishing, a conservative book publisher acquired by Skyhorse Publishing in 2023. Continue reading...

The White House's official retelling of the January 6 insurrection strains credulity

Remarks by US secretary of state come after Greenland and Denmark request urgent meeting over Trump threats

US European Command says it boarded the Marinera over alleged sanctions violations, a move that risks confrontation with Moscow

Nine children and nine adults suffered minor injuries in collision, with two taken to hospital for further treatmentTwo school buses have crashed on icy roads as Arctic weather conditions continue to cause widespread disruption and parts of the country brace for up to 30cm of snow.Nine children and nine adults suffered minor injuries following a collision between a school coach and a Reading bus on icy roads in Wokingham on Wednesday. Continue reading...

The White House has said using the US military is always an option, but few analysts believe it a likely one

New guidance presented by Robert F Kennedy Jr prioritizes protein, healthy fats and declares war on added sugar'The Trump administration has released updated dietary guidelines for Americans on Wednesday that emphasize eating whole and minimally processed foods, scaling back refined carbohydrates, and declaring war" on added sugars.The recommendations encourage prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains" while steering clear of highly processed foods. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the health and human services (HHS) secretary, and Brooke Rollins, the agriculture secretary, are presenting the new guidance at a White House briefing. Continue reading...

Marco Rubio lays out three-point plan as US signals interior minister must back acting president, Delcy RodriguezThe Trump administration has reportedly put Venezuela's hardline interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, on notice that he could be next to fall if he does not support the acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, who has been in power since Nicolas Maduro was seized on Saturday.Reuters reported that US officials are especially concerned" that Cabello, long seen by many as the regime's real No 2, could sabotage Washington's plan to keep key figures from Maduro's inner circle in place in the name of stability while pursuing a transition and unrestricted access to Venezuela's oil. Continue reading...

Stonewall's corporate funding halves against backdrop of US attacks on DEI and freezing of aid for LGBTQ+ causesLGBTQ+ charities in the UK are operating in a newly hostile environment", experts have warned, as the ripple effect of Donald Trump's attacks on equalities programmes sharpens financial pressures.The concerns come as yearly accounts submitted by Stonewall, the UK's biggest LGBTQ+ charity, revealed corporate donations had more than halved in the last financial year, falling from 348,636 in 2024 to 143,149 in 2025. Continue reading...

Officers find murderer Matthew Armstrong, 35, in Warwickshire and Daniel Washbourne, 40, in BristolA convicted murderer and a second man have been arrested after allegedly absconding from an open prison on New Year's Day, police have said.Matthew Armstrong, 35, and Daniel Washbourne, 40, left HMP Leyhill, South Gloucestershire, between 5pm and 8pm on 1 January. Continue reading...

Laila Cunningham tells press conference that people pity Londoners for having to live in a city that is no longer safe'

John Healey confirms RAF provided extra surveillance and navy refuelling while capture under way

Camp beds set up as more than 1,000 travellers spend night at key flight hub during freezing European weather

Miles Cross sentenced to 14 years in prison for selling the substance anonymously via online forum to four peopleA man who sold a deadly chemical online to help people kill themselves has been jailed in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the UK.Miles Cross, 33, pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide and was sentenced at Mold crown court on Wednesday to 14 years in prison. Continue reading...

Video game spinoff was the highest-grossing film of the year at 56.88m as the sector continued its recovery after CovidThe UK and Irish box office has recorded its best annual performance since the Covid pandemic, with A Minecraft Movie ending 2025 as the highest-grossing film of the year.Figures released by box-office analysts Comscore show that box office revenue in the UK and Ireland totalled 1.07bn, an increase of 1% on 2024's total of 1.06bn. At the same time there was a slight decrease in the amount of films released: 1,092 in 2025, compared with 1,124 in 2024. Continue reading...

Unseasonably high rate of influenza, dubbed Super-K, comes as vaccination rates plummet among those most vulnerable, GPs say

Updated government assessment says measures will now entail no more than a modest increase' for employersLabour watering down its sweeping overhaul of workers' rights is expected to slash the cost of the plan for UK businesses by billions of pounds, the government's own analysis shows.According to an updated Whitehall impact assessment published on Wednesday, concessions by ministers could reduce the cost of the employment rights bill for businesses to about 1bn. Continue reading...

Harte, who was been Aurora orchestra's chief executive since 2009, replaces Kathryn McDowellThe London Symphony Orchestra has announced that John Harte will be the orchestra's next managing director, replacing Dame Kathryn McDowell, who steps down after 20 years in the role at the end of the summer.Harte has been chief executive of Aurora Orchestra since 2009, where, alongside principal conductor Nicholas Collon and creative director Jane Mitchell, he has built the group from a startup into one of the most successful and innovative new British arts organisations in recent decades. Prior to his role with Aurora, Harte worked for the British choral label Collegium and completed a doctorate in Middle Eastern history at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Continue reading...

UK and France ready to send peacekeeping troops PM tells House of Commons

Service attended by singers, animal rights activists, and public figures including Marine Le PenBrigitte Bardot, the film star turned animal rights activist, will be laid to rest in her home town of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday during a funeral attended by her favourite politician, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.Bardot died at her La Madrague villa on 28 December aged 91. Her funeral is being held at the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church and broadcast on large screens across the town. Continue reading...

Nine in 10 families are worried about price of back-to-school essentials as inflation continues to bite, research has found