Bassim Haidar says Nigel Farage's party worth considering' and Mohamed Amersi says energy at event was electric'Two major Conservative donors, Bassim Haidar and Mohamed Amersi, paid 25,000 each to attend a Reform fundraising dinner on Tuesday night, and sources say the party brought in pledges of more than 1m beforehand from businesspeople.Reform sources said ticket prices ranged from 10,000 for the dinner to 25,000 for a seat at the top table with Nigel Farage at Oswald's in Mayfair, central London. Continue reading...
Shares jump 15% in pre-market trading after president's social media startup announced launch of Truth.FiDonald Trump's social media startup has announced plans to branch out into financial services including cryptocurrencies, drawing the president's business empire further into crypto as his administration looks to boost the space.Shares in Trump Media & Technology Group, owner of Trump's Truth Social platform, jumped 15% during pre-market trading after it announced the launch of Truth.Fi, a financial technology brand Truth.Fi, in a brief statement. Continue reading...
Buckley space force base in Aurora will be used by Ice to process and detain undocumented immigrantsThe US military is allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) to process and detain arrested undocumented immigrants at Buckley space force base in Colorado, according to multiple reports and a statement by the US Northern Command on Tuesday.A spokesperson for the US Northern Command said in a statement shared by CBS News on Tuesday that, at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, facilities at Buckley space force base in Aurora, Colorado, had been made available to Ice officials for immigration operations starting on Monday 27 January. Continue reading...
Search under way after John Matthew Nigh, facing attempted murder charges, fled Craven county jailA search is under way for an inmate who escaped a North Carolina jail through its ventilation system, police have said.John Matthew Nigh, 37, was determined to be missing from the Craven county jail in New Bern, North Carolina, on Monday afternoon. Authorities say Nigh managed to remove a grating to wriggle into the ventilation system and onto the roof. Continue reading...
Letter to Ursula von der Leyen urges European Commission not to weaken enforcement of DSA and DMAA coalition of NGOs has urged the president of the European Commission not to be bullied by Donald Trump and Elon Musk into weakening the enforcement of the EU's tech regulations.The letter to Ursula von der Leyen comes after the EU executive played down reports that it was reassessing its investigations into Meta, Google and X, following the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Continue reading...
Rajan Naidu and Niamh Lynch pleaded not guilty to two charges after incident on 19 June 2024Two people have denied charges of damaging Stonehenge with orange powder during a Just Stop Oil protest.Rajan Naidu, 74, and Niamh Lynch, 22, pleaded not guilty to two charges of damaging an ancient protected monument and causing a public nuisance after the incident on 19 June 2024. Continue reading...
Joseph Rowntree Foundation calls for changes to benefits system amid pressure on Labour to scrap two-child limitChild poverty is on course to increase in most of the UK by the end of this parliament, with only Scotland bucking the trend, according to analysis by a poverty charity.Although Labour's election manifesto committed it to an ambitious strategy" to reduce child poverty, only in Scotland will rates have fallen by 2029 under current economic projections, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) said. Continue reading...
Texas-born actor says Thanks for the laugh' after politician attacks her over video expressing sympathy for immigrantsSelena Gomez - the Texas-born pop star and actor whose paternal grandparents are from Mexico - has laughed off a failed Republican US Senate hopeful's call for her to be deported from the country after she recorded a video of herself expressing sympathy for people affected by Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.Responding to a comment from the former candidate that she should be deported" over her video, Gomez took to social media and wrote in part: Thanks for the laugh." Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: After Donald Trump's remarks, renewed alarm about what will follow the first phase of the ceasefireGood morning. Donald Trump presented his proposal as one rooted in a concern for the safety of Palestinians: it was time to find many of the residents of Gaza somewhere else to live. I'd rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change," he said. You're talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say: You know, it's over.'"That was more than stream of consciousness: Trump doubled down on his comments on Monday. But the idea of cleaning out" Gaza is not welcomed by the Palestinians who live there - or the countries that Trump has in mind as their new home. And if they were to be forced to leave after Gaza was devastated by the Israeli military, it would appear to be a clear case of ethnic cleansing.Kumbh Mela festival | Dozens of people are feared to have died in crowd crushes at India's Kumbh Mela festival, local officials have said, as vast crowds went to bathe at one of the holiest sites of the Hindu gathering. People were crushed in the early hours of Wednesday as tens of millions flocked to immerse themselves in the sacred confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.UK economy | Rachel Reeves is unveiling plans to create Europe's Silicon Valley" between Oxford and Cambridge as she stakes the government's success on kickstarting economic growth. The chancellor will announce a blueprint to improve infrastructure across the region in the hope of adding 78bn to the UK economy within a decade.Extremism | Yvette Cooper will reject internal Home Office advice to widen the definition of extremism to include violent misogyny and conspiracy theorists, the Guardian understands. The home secretary is expected to reject a report saying that authorities should adopt an ideologically agnostic" approach in favour of focusing on Islamist and far-right violence.Tax | Roman Abramovich, the billionaire Russian oligarch, may owe British tax authorities as much as 1bn, according to analysis of documents that suggests his companies failed to pay tax on profits made through an elaborate offshore investment scheme.Technology | US tech stocks tentatively recovered on Tuesday after the emergence of the Chinese DeepSeek app wiped $1tn (800bn) in value from the leading US tech index. Nvidia recovered somewhat from Monday's 17% drop, rising 9%. Continue reading...
Police interviews shown during the extraordinary trial for the manslaughter of the eight-year-old Queensland child reveal the beliefs behind the inaction of her parents and others
More than 2,500 native trees have been planted to form a temperate rainforest in decades to comeThe first step towards creating a Celtic rainforest - a now extremely rare habitat that once covered large swathes of the west coast of Britain - has been completed in Devon.More than 2,500 native trees have been planted so far this winter at Devon Wildlife Trust's Bowden Pillars site, above the Dart valley and close to the green-minded market town of Totnes. Continue reading...
Protesters will gather outside court of appeal in support of activists, who say judges defied decades of precedentSixteen environmental activists jailed in the past year will appear at the high court on Wednesday to ask England's most senior judge to quash their unduly harsh" sentences.The appellants, from four separate cases, will appear before a bench of judges led by Lady Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, in a full session of the court of appeal in which they will argue that judges defied decades of precedent to hand them long jail terms for nonviolent protests. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Leaked papers suggest billionaire's overseas firms should have paid UK tax on profits from hedge fundsRoman Abramovich, the billionaire Russian oligarch, may owe British tax authorities as much as 1bn, according to analysis of documents that suggests his companies failed to pay tax on profits made through an elaborate offshore investment scheme.Leaked papers and court filings shed new light on how the income from a $6bn (4.8bn) cash pile amassed by one of the world's richest men was managed. Continue reading...
From China to Indonesia, the year of the snake symbolises wisdom and vitality and is marked by family gatherings and festive red banners across many parts of East and Southeast AsiaHundreds of millions of people across Asia will celebrate the lunar new year with their families on Wednesday, as they bid farewell to the year of the dragon and usher in the year of the snake.In China, people will enjoy eight days of consecutive public holidays for the 2025 Spring festival, an opportunity to share meals, attend traditional performances, and set off firecrackers and fireworks. Continue reading...
All 176 people onboard escaped safely after blaze began inside Airbus jet preparing to take off from Gimhae airportAn Airbus plane belonging to South Korean carrier Air Busan has caught fire on a runway at Gimhae international airport in the country's south while preparing for departure to Hong Kong, fire authorities said on Tuesday.All 169 passengers and seven crew members were evacuated, with three having minor injuries, fire authorities in Busan said. Continue reading...
Prediction by ex M16 counter-terror director comes as security paused around two main detention facilitiesDonald Trump has thrown into doubt the security and administration of the main two detention facilities in north-east Syria that hold thousands of Islamic State fighters, the former counter-terrorism director of M16 Richard Barrett says.The state of limbo has been caused in the short term by the US president unexpectedly suspending all USAid funding for 90 days, and by long-term uncertainty over his willingness to retain troops in Syria. Continue reading...
Crowds give life to the Paris museum and the painting is a silent, compelling mystery at the heart of the hubbubWhat a wonderful headache for a museum to have. The Louvre in Paris gets so many visitors it is taking drastic measures to cope, which include moving its most famous treasure to a dedicated space where fans can visit without entering the main museum at all. It will no longer suck the oxygen from other art. Nearly 9 million visitors a year stream through the Louvre and it's believed 80% of them are looking for Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, better known as La Gioconde, better still as the Mona Lisa.I'm worried the Louvre is trying to solve a problem that is not really a problem. Ask Britain's museums if high visitor numbers are a bad thing: they still haven't recovered their pre-pandemic crowds. The decision, dramatically announced by Emmanuel Macron, to move the Mona Lisa to a special hygienically isolated gallery where les idiots who flock to take selfies in front of it won't bother more cultured visitors who wish to study art in a hushed atmosphere, is a misguided act of snobbery. It may ruin the Louvre's ecosystem as a place where high art becomes popular culture. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor on (#6TWRA)
Prosecutor at Old Bailey says Katrin Ivanova was only member of Bulgarian spy ring able to pull off plotA lab technician has been accused of being the only member of a Bulgarian spy ring able to pull off a plot to steal the mobile numbers of Ukrainian soldiers training in Germany.Katrin Ivanova, 33, was told by prosecutor Alison Morgan KC at the Old Bailey that she had been described by the plotters' leader as the most technically adept member of the group and that she was necessary to the planned surveillance in Stuttgart. Continue reading...
Italy caused controversy over release of Osama Najim, who is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimesGiorgia Meloni has said she is under investigation in connection with Italy's unexpected release and repatriation last week of a Libyan general who is wanted for war crimes by the international criminal court.The Italian prime minister said in a video message posted on social media that she is suspected of aiding and abetting a crime and embezzlement in connection with the case of Libya's chief of judicial police, Osama Najim - also called Almasri. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent and Jennifer R on (#6TWB0)
Mette Frederiksen calls for greater cooperation as she visits Berlin, Paris and Brussels to shore up unityThe Danish prime minister said Europe must stand together" in the face of changing relations with the US during a tour of Berlin, Paris and Brussels to shore up support amid Donald Trump's threats over Greenland.After weeks in the spotlight over the US president's plan to take over the autonomous Danish territory, and days after a reportedly horrendous" call with Trump, Mette Frederiksen went on the whistle-stop tour in an attempted show of unity. Continue reading...
This blog is now closed, you can read more of our UK political coverage hereQ: Are doctors able to recognise depression? And can they decide if that affects someone's capacity to make a decision about their health?Whitty says doctors can identify depression. But he says it is harder for them to assess if that is affecting capacity.That's where help from colleagues from psychiatry, mental health more widely, is going to be useful. But that should be good medical practice, in my view, under all circumstances.Certainly what I wouldn't want is to be in a situation where the existence of the fact that someone who has a terminal diagnosis has some degree of low mood in itself just rules them out from any kind of medical intervention, this or any other. That shouldn't be the case. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Keir Starmer suspended the seven in July after they voted against two-child benefit capThe first of the seven Labour MPs who were suspended for voting against the two-child benefit cap are set to have the whip restored within days if they agree to avoid further rebellions in future, the Guardian understands.However, several of the MPs, including John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, are not expected to have the whip restored at the same time as whips believe they have continued to be troublemakers". Continue reading...
by Christy Cooney (now) and Yohannes Lowe (earlier) on (#6TW7F)
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Israel-Gaza war coverage hereIn the UK, the chair of the House of Commons international development committee has issued a statement today on Israel banning the UN's aid agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa. As a reminder, Israel has ordered the UN agency to vacate its headquarters in East Jerusalem by Thursday, after the country's parliament passed a law in October banning its operations in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel's ban only directly covers Israeli territory, which Israel considers East Jerusalem to be. Unrwa also operates in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, but it was unclear how the law will affect Unrwa's work there.The international development committee, which scrutinises the aid policy of the British foreign ministry, has warned that the Unrwa ban could cause the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to deteriorate rapidly, possibly irreparably" and would almost certainly lead to further conflict and increased displacement".Let us be clear: this ban will be devastating for Palestinian refugees across the region. Food, water, education, even rubbish collection will all be affected.In the strongest possible terms, I urge the UK government to do everything it can to get all parties round the table and ensure that Unrwa can fulfil its UN-mandated work. The success of the current ceasefire hangs in the balance if not. Continue reading...
French president says world's most famous portrait will get its own room in the LouvreAs mentioned earlier, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen continues her European tour to show the EU's unity over Greenland, and she has just been to see French president Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.No comments to the press this time. Continue reading...
Office of National Statistics projects population will reach 72.5m by mid-2032, with growth driven by migrationThe UK population exceeded that of France for the first time on record, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The UK population is projected to reach 72.5 million by mid-2032, up nearly 5 million from 67.6 million in mid-2022, according to figures from the ONS. Continue reading...
Gary Peters's decision not to run in 2026 midterms comes as Republican fortunes rise in stateThe Michigan Democratic senator Gary Peters said he would not seek re-election in 2026, a decision that could reshape the political battlefield in a state where Republican fortunes are rising.Peters, 66, told the Detroit News he planned to retire when his second term ends in January 2027, just as Michigan marks a dramatic political shift. His announcement comes as Democrats grapple with the state's return to swing status, highlighted by Donald Trump's recent presidential victory there - his second win in Michigan in three attempts. Continue reading...
Milo Vuevi steps down in order to defuse tensions' as demonstrations continueMilo Vuevi, the prime minister of Serbia, has resigned, becoming the highest-ranking official to step down amid a wave of anti-corruption protests that have spread across the country.The anti-government demonstrations sprang up after the roof collapsed at a railway station in the city of Novi Sad, killing 15 people and leading to calls for Vuevi to quit., Continue reading...
Spoof fires back at supposed inauthenticity of Oscar-tipped screen musical with a song-and-dance tale of boulangeries at warThe war of words between Mexico and France over trans gangster musical Emilia Perez has heated up even more after the release of a spoof film called Johanne Sacreblu poking fun at French stereotypes.Emilia Perez, directed by Jacques Audiard and which is up for the best picture Oscar along with a best actress nomination for its star Karla Sofia Gascon, is the story of a cartel boss who hires a lawyer (played by Zoe Saldana) to enable a gender transition, and has attracted much criticism in Mexico, where it is supposedly set. Continue reading...
Top US Jewish advocate Halie Soifer calls Trump adviser's address to far-right Germany rally incredibly dangerous'Elon Musk's remarks to a German far-right party that Germans should not focus on their country's Nazi past should prompt deep concern" about the security of American Jews" and of Jews worldwide", a leading US Jewish advocate has told the Guardian.Speaking as a deeply concerned American Jew," said Halie Soifer, chief executive of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), I am deeply concerned about the security of American Jews, of Jews worldwide, given our president's clear alignment with dangerous rightwing extremists." Continue reading...
Karim Khan says civilians being targeted and communities destroyed in western region of SudanThe prosecutor for the international criminal court has said he is seeking arrest warrants for people accused of atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region, where the US and others have determined that a paramilitary group and its allies have perpetrated genocide.Karim Khan told the UN security council in New York: Criminality is accelerating in Darfur. Civilians are being targeted, women and girls are subjected to sexual violence, and entire communities are left in destruction. Continue reading...
Home Office to maintain focus on Islamist and far-right threats despite report's call for behaviour-based approachYvette Cooper will reject internal Home Office advice to potentially widen the definition of extremism to include violent misogyny and conspiracy theorists, the Guardian understands.A report commissioned in the wake of violent riots after the Southport murders last year suggests authorities should adopt a behaviour-based and ideologically agnostic approach" to combating extremism rather than ideologies of concern". Continue reading...
Severe weather warnings remain in place as Somerset declares major incident after homes and businesses floodedParts of the UK are facing another day of weather-related disruption as more rain and wind sweep across the country, while hundreds of people are having to clean up after homes and businesses were flooded.Two Met Office severe weather warnings remained in place and there were concerns about further flooding in the south-west of England and parts of Wales. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: the US had a huge head start on artificial intelligence - but now a low-cost rival from Hangzhou has turned the industry on its headGood morning. Since the emergence of ChatGPT, OpenAI's groundbreaking artificial intelligence tool, American companies have appeared to have a huge head start in the development of the most significant technology of its generation.But now a small Chinese rival has emerged that appears to match what OpenAI and the other US giants can do at a much lower cost, and without the same hunger for computing power that has made the chip manufacturer Nvidia the most valuable company in the world. The result was a stunning collapse in the value of Big Tech stocks yesterday - and a $593bn fall in the value of Nvidia, the biggest in the US stock market's history.Gaza ceasefire | Tens of thousands of Palestinians flooded back into northern Gaza on Monday after Israel opened military checkpoints that had divided the strip for more than a year, ending a forced exile from homes and loved ones that many feared could become permanent.UK security | Hindu nationalism, misogyny and the manosphere" have been identified as breeding grounds for extremism in a leaked government report commissioned after last summer's riots. The rapid analytical sprint" also dismissed claims of two-tier policing" as a rightwing extremist narrative".Auschwitz | Elderly former inmates of Auschwitz gathered for perhaps the final time on the 80th anniversary of the concentration camp's liberation. In remarks at the event, four survivors warned world leaders against the danger of rising antisemitism.Roman Abramovich | An offshore scheme appears to have helped companies owned by the billionaire Roman Abramovich avoid duties potentially amounting to tens of millions of dollars. Abramovich's lawyers denied he had knowledge of or was personally responsible for any alleged tax evasion.Local government | Bristol city council could become the first local authority in England to collect black rubbish bins only once every four weeks. The Green-led council says switching from a two- to four-weekly collection would save it more than 2m a year and help reverse a dip in recycling rates. Continue reading...
Cyprus Confidential files suggest offshore scheme was used to evade tens of millions in VAT on long list of expensesWhen it came to his fleet of superyachts, the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was nothing if not generous.As 2011 drew to a close, his biggest boat yet - the 162-metre (533ft) Eclipse - lay moored in the glittering waters of St Barts, the picturesque Caribbean island where billionaires like to gather to see in the new year. Continue reading...
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