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US president says he had lengthy and productive phone call' with Russian president and will begin by calling Volodymyr ZelenskyyBack to Budapest, where the Alternative fur Deutschland's co-leader Alice Weidel has just been speaking at a press conference with Viktor Orban.She said that Europe is leaderless" when it comes to responding to Donald Trump and his threats of tariffs. Continue reading...

Both sides accuse other of violating terms of truce, but Hamas says there are positive signals' hostage exchange will go ahead Middle East crisis - live updatesArab mediators are scrambling to save the Gaza ceasefire as the Israeli military bolsters troop and tank deployments to the strip's periphery in advance of the possibility the truce breaks down this weekend.A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss ways to end the current crisis", the Palestinian militant group said. Meanwhile, Egyptian and Qatari mediators were working intensively" to compel Israel to address Hamas's new demands before Saturday's scheduled release of three Israeli hostages, Egypt's state-run al-Qahera television reported. Continue reading...

An officer of Sangamon county, Illinois, is charged with first-degree murder for fatally shooting MasseyThe family of Sonya Massey and officials from Sangamon county, Illinois, reached a settlement in which the Illinois county agreed to pay Massey's family $10m.The settlement comes nearly a year after Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman and mother of two, was shot and killed in her home by a sheriff's deputy who was responding to her call for help. Continue reading...

Eight officials from variety of government agencies file suit seeking redress for unlawful and unjustified' dismissalsSeveral federal watchdogs fired by Donald Trump have filed a lawsuit against his administration to get their jobs back.In the suit filed on Wednesday, eight former inspectors general from eight government departments - including defense, veterans affairs, health and human services, state, agriculture, education and labor - and the Small Business Administration said they were seeking redress for their unlawful and unjustified purported termination" by Trump and their respective agency heads. Continue reading...

Judge-led statutory inquiry announced into killings of three people by Valdo Calocane in June 2023A judge-led public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will take place in a matter of weeks", Keir Starmer has told the families of the three people killed and the injured survivors.At a meeting at No 10 on Wednesday, the prime minister said the inquiry would scrutinise a number of different agencies" and a retired judge will soon be appointed to lead the process. Continue reading...

Opposition leader says PM was wrong when he said that the decision was taken under the last governmentAfter PMQs there will be an urgent question in the Commons, tabled by the Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine, on the potential security implications of the involvement of Chinese companies including Mingyang in energy infrastructure projects". After that Dan Jarvis, the security minister, will make a statement to mark the publication of the report into Prevent's dealings with Ali Harbi Ali, the man who killed the Conservative MP David Amess.Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan police commissioner, has blamed Home Office foot-dragging for a failure to change the rules to allow forces to sack officers who fail vetting procedures, Matthew Weaver reports. Continue reading...

Kristie Higgs was dismissed after sharing posts on plans to teach equalities programme at her son's C of E schoolA Christian school worker who was sacked after she shared Facebook posts raising concerns about lessons in LGBTQ+ relationships for primary school children has won her battle in the court of appeal.Kristie Higgs was dismissed from her role as a pastoral administrator and work experience manager at Farmor's, a secondary school in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019 after an anonymous complaint from a parent at the school. Continue reading...

Delay will probably mean return to fighting, but releasing more hostages could force talks on next stage of ceasefire

Exclusive: Geoffrey Robertson KC calls for investigation into prosecutors' handling of case against footballerA leading human rights lawyer has called for an investigation into the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to charge the footballer Sam Kerr, calling it an attack on free speech".Geoffrey Robertson KC, the founding head of Doughty Street Chambers and one-time boss of Keir Starmer, said there was no public interest in charging Kerr, especially at this time when the criminal justice system is in chaos". Continue reading...

Disagreements over key posts and issues like migration mean snap election is likely, with far-right Freedom party ahead in polls

Top-ranking immigration enforcement officials removed from their positions reportedly due to deportation numbersTwo senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officials have been reassigned amid frustration that deportation and arrest numbers were not increasing fast enough to meet Donald Trump's targets.Russell Hott and Peter Berg, the two highest-ranking members of Ice's enforcement agency, were removed from their positions, the Washington Post first reported, citing three people with knowledge on the moves. Hott was reassigned to Ice's local office in Washington DC, and Berg to St Paul, Minnesota. Continue reading...

Fashion grandee takes his love of a suit step further with oversized embroidered jackets in British-made tweedsThom Browne has said that if one of his catwalk shows receives only positive reviews, he worries he has played it too safe. He much prefers to ruffle a few feathers.Literally so, this season. Birds, which along with shrunken grey suits are a Thom Browne signature, were everywhere. The models' eyelashes, made from bright feathers, had a wingspan that dusted the collar. Above the catwalk, 2,000 origami birds were suspended in flight. Continue reading...

Clover Moore says police would have power to block peaceful demonstrations and warns against eroding civil rightsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydney's mayor has warned that new laws proposed by the New South Wales government would give police powers to block peaceful protests at town hall - a regular site for demonstrations in the city.The laws, introduced to parliament on Tuesday and carrying a maximum of two years in prison, are the first tranche of a suite of measures aimed at stemming antisemitism after a series of arson attacks and graffiti on synagogues and in Sydney's suburban streets in recent months.Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Continue reading...

Study by Monash University recommends spending increase to fix inequalities in housing, health and education

Far-right linked group LifeWise pushing model bill to allow students to leave school grounds for religious release time'A group of rightwing Christian organizations is pushing a model bill to require public school districts to allow students to receive religious education during school hours, according to footage from a December meeting of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers.During the meeting, a group of state lawmakers voted to create a model bill that would allow students to leave school grounds to receive religious education for one to five hours a week, a practice referred to as religious release time. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Dozens of congressional Democrats urge president to reconsider threatened import duties on US's two largest trading partnersPressing ahead with steep tariffs on Canada and Mexico risks exacerbating the US housing crisis and threatening the broader economy, dozens of congressional Democrats have warned Donald Trump.The US president, after threatening to hit imports from the US's two biggest trading partners with a 25% tax, is weighing how to proceed after approving a one-month delay. Continue reading...

Estimate by Close Brothers follows thorough assessment' of court case's impact on UK vehicle loan industryOne of the UK's biggest providers of motor finance has warned it expects to set aside up to 165m in the first half of its financial year to cover possible legal and compensation costs as a result of the car loans commission scandal.Close Brothers said it had come up with the estimate after a thorough assessment" of the long-running case, although it warned there was still significant uncertainty" over the outcome of appeals and the investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Continue reading...

New analysis warns of serious implications for water supply given nuclear plants consume 1.4 times more than coal-fired power stations

Exclusive: Ukraine president says British PM had nothing to do with decision not to seek deal with RussiaVolodymyr Zelenskyy has rubbished claims that Boris Johnson scuppered a possible peace deal between Ukraine and Russia in spring 2022, calling them illogical" in an interview with the Guardian.There were several approaches with ultimatums and I never gave my approval for it," said Zelenskyy of Russian demands for ending its full-scale invasion. Continue reading...

Mark Rowley says officials have dragged their feet' over changing rules so forces can sack unfit officersBritain's most senior police officer has blamed Home Office foot-dragging for a failure to change the rules to allow forces to sack officers who fail vetting procedures.The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said civil servants had known about the problem for more than 20 years, leaving the force stuck" with officers not fit to serve the public. Continue reading...

Ofwat's enforcement case into whether company breached obligations follows Guardian investigationThames Water is being investigated by the water regulator for England and Wales, Ofwat, after it delayed environmental improvement schemes.The investigation comes after the Guardian revealed that the UK's largest water company intentionally diverted millions of pounds pledged for environmental clean-ups towards other costs, including bonuses and dividends. Continue reading...

Don Farrell agrees to amendments to secure Coalition support on electoral law reforms

Company will give up to 20% off treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro through private coverVitality has become the first health insurer in the UK to offer customers discounted weight loss treatments for up to a year through its health cover.The UK's third-largest health insurer behind Bupa and Axa, with 1.9 million members, said it would offer discounts of up to 20% for medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro - which are popular but pricey - to members, based on their body mass index (BMI) and weight-related health conditions. Continue reading...

Report tabled by Labor MP Josh Burns finds there is an urgent need for reform' to ensure safety of Jewish students

Thinktank cautions Trump tariffs could blow hole in forecast, with 63% of UK firms exporting to US expecting to be hitThe British economy is on course to expand by 1.5% this year after the budget gave a boost to public spending but could be blown off course if Donald Trump goes ahead with threatened tariffs, a leading economic thinktank has warned.In a boost to Rachel Reeves after a bruising month of negative economic figures, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) upped its annual growth prediction from 1.2% to 1.5%. Continue reading...

In three years Natural England has designated just two new SSSIs, which protect areas from developmentThe government's wildlife watchdog for England is failing to halt the decline of nature after a sharp fall in the number of new places given top protection, according to campaigners.On average over the past 15 years, Natural England has designated four new sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) each year. SSSIs are nationally or internationally important places for rare wildlife and habitats, meet strict criteria and are then usually protected from almost all possible development. Continue reading...

ABC manager tells court she did not see anything wrong' with disputed Instagram post, which has been compared to various posts by Patricia Karvelas

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Watchdog upholds complaint about advert that digitally altered clothing and used low angle to accentuate long legsThe UK advertising watchdog has banned an advert from high street retailer Next for featuring an unhealthily thin" model in digitally altered clothing.The advertisement, which ran on its website, featured a model marketing Next's power stretch denim leggings". Continue reading...

Exclusive: Military experts raise concerns over change to protocols on Pakistan border to allow project that was handed to billionaire Gautam AdaniThe Indian government relaxed national security protocols along the Pakistan border to make way for a renewable energy park, a project ultimately handed to one of India's richest men, Gautam Adani, official documents reveal.The Adani Group is constructing the Khavda plant, the largest renewable project in the world, in the state of Gujarat. The conglomerate is controlled by Adani, whose close relationship with the prime minister, Narendra Modi, has recently been under intense scrutiny. Continue reading...

Russia, Turkey and Egypt also among worst perpetrators of transnational repression around the globeA quarter of the world's countries have engaged in transnational repression - targeting political exiles abroad to silence dissent - in the past decade, new research reveals.The Washington DC-based non-profit organisation Freedom House has documented 1,219 incidents carried out by 48 governments across 103 countries, from 2014 to 2024. Continue reading...

Prime minister hoping to revive bromance' of Trump's first term despite US president calling India a very big abuser'The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, is heading to Washington for high-stakes talks in an attempt to avoid a trade war with Donald Trump.India is considering tariff cuts in at least a dozen sectors in the hope of dodging US tariffs that would pile more pressure on its already slowing economy. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Bookmakers consider fighting proposal to increase fees from 0.9% to 1.5% of turnover from most bets

Court finds Salvatore Vasta is immune from a civil suit and that the guards and security officers are not liable

PM has condemned footage as sickening' as police and the healthcare watchdog investigate the incident

An already saturated north Queensland is at risk of more flooding, while Tasmania battles bushfires before an Antarctic blast rolls in

Deputy PM Angela Rayner announces plans as she presents 350m funding increase for affordable housingRogue landlords in England will face curbs on how much housing benefit they can receive if their properties are substandard, Angela Rayner has said as she announced an extra 350m for affordable housing.The deputy prime minister presented the funding increase, adding to 500m already announced at the budget, as part of the government's drive to build 1.5m homes. Continue reading...

Research shows happiness levels have bounced back post-Covid, although depression also remains more commonPeople 50 and over in England have greater life satisfaction and sense life is more worthwhile than before the Covid pandemic, although depression is more common, researchers have found.Prof Paola Zaninotto, first author of the research from University College London, said the study showed wellbeing and mental health worsened between the early stages of the pandemic and later in 2020, contrary to some reports. However, this situation subsequently improved. Continue reading...

A 750 mai tai previously earned the city centre bar the title of world's most expensive cocktailSpending a grand on an unforgettable experience might not feel extreme for people keen to shake up their routines. But what if it doesn't involve falling through the skies, or even going outside at all?A life-changing experience" is the promise of one Belfast hotel's 1,000-pound cocktail, launched as part of a new drinks menu. Continue reading...

Total of 89 contracts ended, essentially wiping out agency's research and statistics, the Institute of Education SciencesElon Musk and the Trump administration's department of government efficiency" (Doge) has terminated nearly $1bn in US Department of Education contracts, in effect eliminating a research office that tracks US students' progress.After announcing $101m would be slashed from 29 DEI training grants on Monday, the Doge account on Twitter/X said that Musk's team terminated 89 contracts worth a total of $881m on Tuesday. Continue reading...

US president says we're going to take' Gaza as King Abdullah urges caution; Israeli PM says fighting will resume' if Hamas fails to return hostages by noon on SaturdayWe are pausing this live blog for the moment but for a full report on Trump's latest comments on the ceasefire deal our reporters in Washington and Jerusalem have this comprehensive read:International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan is the first person to be hit with economic and travel sanctions authorised by US President Donald Trump, according to a report by Reuters. Continue reading...

President dismisses Biden-appointed chair of Federal Labor Relations Authority to advance America-First agenda'

Satirical petition from Denmark, which owns Greenland, racks up 200,000 signatures as Trump eyes Arctic islandSince returning to the presidency last month, Donald Trump has called for Canada to become the 51st US state, suggested he might take over the Panama Canal, floated US ownership of Gaza - and tried to buy Greenland.Now, Denmark - which owns Greenland - is clapping back. Continue reading...

Author says I was screaming because of the pain' in trial of man accused of trying to kill himSalman Rushdie took the stand in the trial of the man accused of attempting to kill him at a literary gathering in western New York in August 2022, and described the shocking attack more than 35 years after he was first placed under a death warrant by Iranian religious leaders.Rushdie, 77, is testifying for the prosecution against Hadi Matar, 27, the man accused of assaulting him with a knife as he was about to address an open-air audience on a theme of shelter and home. Continue reading...

Commissioner says force in hopeless position' after being told to reinstate scores of officers who had failed its vettingThe Metropolitan police vowed to keep scores of officers facing allegations including rape and sexual misconduct away from the public after the high court struck down its policy of sacking those who fail their vetting.A furious Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Met, said the force had been left in a hopeless position" after a test case brought by an officer facing unproven claims including rape. Continue reading...

Chef Kirk Haworth impressed judges by taking his classical training and inventively adapting it to a vegan diet'A vegan restaurant in London has become the first in the UK to be awarded a Michelin star.Plates London, located on Old Street, serves a fully plant-based menu and chef Kirk Haworth impressed judges by taking his classical training and inventively adapting it to a vegan diet", Michelin said. Continue reading...

Bank of England governor says there is no trade-off' between economic growth and financial stabilityThe governor of the Bank of England has warned against watering down City regulations introduced after the 2008 banking crash, saying there was no trade-off" between economic growth and financial stability.In a thinly veiled response to chancellor Rachel Reeves's push to loosen the constraints brought in over the past 17 years, Andrew Bailey said that it was important not to forget the damage to the economy caused by the implosion of the global financial system. Continue reading...

Leadership takes further action over Trigger Me Timbers' group after suspension of two of its MPsEleven Labour councillors have been suspended from the party over their membership of the Trigger Me Timbers" WhatsApp group that has already led to the suspension of two MPs.Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester, was sacked as a health minister and suspended from the party after messages he had posted in the chat were leaked. Continue reading...

UK failed to sign agreement at end of Paris summit, along with the USThere will be two urgent questions after 12.30pm: on the Clonoe inquest, which found that the SAS acted unlawfully when they killed four IRA terrorists in an ambush in 1992; and then another on the US steel tariffs.A Northern Ireland Office minister will respond to the first, and a business minister will respond to the second. Continue reading...