Tory leader says PM should apologise to pensioners and asks how U-turn will be fundedReeves says her changes to the fiscal rules last year will make more investment possible.The decisions that we made in October mean that, for the first time, the Treasury actually takes account of the benefits and not just the costs of investment, and together, the fiscal rules mean that, unlike our predecessors, we will not be balancing the books by cutting investment.And that is why we can increase investment by over 113bn more than the last government plans, meaning public investment will be at its highest sustained level since the 1970s.I have had to say no to things that I want to do too, but that is not because of my fiscal rules. It is the result of 14 years of Conservative maltreatment of our public services, our public realm and of our economy. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#6XR9C)
Parliament votes against divestment proposal after tearful speeches in chamber and protests outsidePoliticians in Norway have rejected calls to stop investing its sovereign wealth fund - the largest in the world - in the occupied Palestinian territories despite emotional scenes inside and outside parliament.The 1.4tn oil fund, which is run by Norges Bank according to rules set by MPs, is the largest European investor in Israel's occupation. Continue reading...
by Tom Ambrose (now); Jakub Krupa (earlier) on (#6XQZV)
John Healey says Europe needs to continue supporting Ukraine for our security today, tomorrow and for future generations'Opening, Nato's Rutte reiterates the aim of achieving a durable and lasting peace" in Ukraine as he praises president Trump's effort to get there."Let's pray that we will get there as soon as possible, but in the meantime, [it's about] making sure that you have what you need to stay in the fight and to make sure that whenever it ends, Putin will know that he should never, ever again, try to attack Ukraine so again," he said. Continue reading...
by Amy Sedghi (now); Tom Ambrose and Martin Belam (ea on (#6XQYW)
Horrifying scenes' of Palestinians being killed while trying to access food are result of deliberate choices', says Tom Fletcher, UN aid chiefThe civil defence agency in Gaza said an Israeli strike on a tent housing displaced Palestinians near the southern city of Khan Younis on Wednesday killed at least 12 people. Earlier reports had put the death toll at 10 (see 7.47am BST).At least 12 people were killed, including several children and women, in a strike by an Israeli drone this morning on a tent for displaced persons" near Khan Younis, the agency's spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that four more people had been killed in other strikes. Continue reading...
German and Portuguese officers work in countryside near resort where British toddler went missing in 2007Searches for Madeleine McCann have resumed in Portugal with police using a digger to clear debris around an abandoned building a mile from where the British toddler was last seen in 2007.On Wednesday, Portuguese and German authorities continued focusing on derelict structures in countryside a few miles from the resort of Praia da Luz. They were also seen deploying ground-penetrating radar near the scene. Continue reading...
Two leaders are on first-name terms after phone chats but German chancellor knows he may have to tread fine lineGermany's new conservative leader, Friedrich Merz, is due in Washington on Thursday for his first official meeting with Donald Trump, putting political Berlin on tenterhooks like no other transatlantic encounter in living memory.Discussions between the German chancellor and the US president will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East and trade policies. How well or badly the talks go - during a small group meeting, followed by a lunch and then, perhaps most nailbitingly, a press conference in the Oval Office - may shape relations for decades to come, analysts say. Continue reading...
Exclusive: source says couple feared unexplained wait was due to king's opposition to their children bearing HRH titleThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex explored the idea of changing their family name to Spencer amid repeated delays by British officials to issue passports for their children, the Guardian has been told.The suggestion was a result of sheer exasperation" and came during a face-to-face meeting between Prince Harry and his uncle Earl Spencer. He was understood to be enthusiastic and supportive of the name change. Continue reading...
Devon and Cornwall officers deny Godrick Osei, who was dragged by collar and handcuffed, was treated inhumanely' because of raceA vulnerable and terrified" black man who was suffering a medical emergency and crying out for help died after police dragged him across a bathroom floor by his collar and handcuffed him, an inquest jury has heard.Godrick Osei, 35, who was said to be experiencing acute behavioural disturbance (ABD), became floppy" and suffered a fatal collapse within two minutes of being restrained. Continue reading...
Dutch far-right leader's withdrawal from ruling coalition has upset allies and misjudged political landscapeIt is a gamble that Geert Wilders may live to regret. Increasingly frustrated by his coalition partners' unwillingness to embrace his promised strictest asylum policy in Europe", the Dutch far-right leader brought down the government.Wilders' calculation, if it is more than a fit of political pique, appears simple: if he can turn this autumn's snap elections into a referendum on immigration and asylum, his Freedom party (PVV) can win it - and he might even become the Netherlands' prime minister. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6XR3G)
Marcus Monzo, 37, is accused of attempting to murder four others in series of attacks on 30 April last yearA man armed with a large sword murdered a boy who was on his way to school and attempted to kill four others in a brutal" early morning series of attacks, a jury has heard.Marcus Monzo, 37, denies all charges including the murder of Daniel Anjorin, 14, in Hainault, east London, in April 2024. The Old Bailey was told that at the time of the 20-minute rampage, Monzo had a psychotic disorder triggered by cannabis use. Continue reading...
Independent senator disputes Anthony Albanese's claim allegations against Greens-turned-Labor senator have been dealt with'Lidia Thorpe has revealed she was one of the people to complain to the parliamentary watchdog about the former Greens senator Dorinda Cox and has disputed Anthony Albanese's claim that allegations about Cox had been dealt with".The Western Australian Greens confirmed on Tuesday the party would end its independent investigation into allegations of bullying by Cox after she announced on Monday she would defect from the Greens to Labor.Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6XQXQ)
Exclusive: Government-ordered review concludes term in NHS should be changed because of risks to patients' safetyPhysician associates in the NHS will be renamed to stop patients mistaking them for doctors after a review found that their title caused widespread confusion.Thousands of physician associates who work in hospitals and GP surgeries across the UK take medical histories, examine patients and diagnose illnesses but are not doctors. Continue reading...
Israel's defence minister says he holds Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa responsible for the two projectile launchesIsrael hit southern Syria with a series of strikes overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday, saying it had targeted weapons belonging to Syrian authorities after the launch of projectiles towards its territoryIsrael launched the two attacks after reporting projectiles had been fired from Syria on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the two projectiles. Continue reading...
Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd make plea to help track down cherry red Gibson, 40 years after film's releaseMarty McFly grabbed a guitar in Back to the Future and rocked out with the band at a 1950s high school dance, helping him narrowly avoid blinking out of existence before time-traveling back to the 1980s.The guitar, in real life, wasn't as lucky. Continue reading...
One-off 100,000 prize awarded to Girl, Women, Other writer for entire body of work and dedication to uplifting under-represented voices'Bernardine Evaristo is to receive 100,000 after being announced as the winner of the Women's prize outstanding contribution award, a one-off prize to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Women's prize for fiction.The author of Girl, Woman, Other and Mr Loverman has been rewarded for her entire body of work, as well as her transformative impact on literature and her unwavering dedication to uplifting under-represented voices across the cultural landscape". Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6XQSJ)
ORR criticises inconsistent outcomes' across Britain's network with some passengers punished for honest errorsSome train operators have excessively prosecuted alleged fare dodgers, according to the rail regulator, which has called for clearer tickets and a fairer system to avoid penalising mistakes.A report by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said passengers who boarded trains without a valid ticket faced inconsistent treatment and outcomes" across the network, with disproportionate action" sometimes taken over small errors. Continue reading...
Commander Julian Bennett had 2023 dismissal overturned and has been suspended on full pay for five yearsA senior Metropolitan police officer has been sacked for a second time after refusing to take a drugs test.Commander Julian Bennett was initially dismissed by a misconduct panel in October 2023 over the incident, but he took his case to the police appeals tribunal (PAT) in July last year and had his sacking overturned. Continue reading...
by Philip Oltermann European culture editor on (#6XQJF)
Kurier editor says Q&A that was picked up by other outlets contained old quotes from round-table eventsOne of Austria's leading newspapers has severed ties with a Hollywood reporter after admitting she repackaged old comments by Clint Eastwood and presented them as a supposedly exclusive interview.In an apparent journalistic coup, the Vienna-based daily Kurier published a Q&A with Eastwood last Friday and it was picked up around the world over the weekend due to the Oscar-winning actor's outspoken criticism of Hollywood's era of remakes and franchises". Continue reading...
by Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem and Malak A Tantesh in on (#6XQ15)
Gaza spokesperson says Israel fired with tanks and drones as Israeli military acknowledges troops shot at suspects'At least 27 people were killed by Israeli fire as they waited for food at a distribution point set up by an Israeli-backed foundation in Gaza, according to health officials in the strip.It is the third such incident in three days, with Israel admitting on Tuesday for the first time that its forces shot at individuals who were moving towards them. Continue reading...
Home secretary appears to accept early release proposals will put more pressure on police as she is questioned at select committeeDefence sources believe that Britain will be forced to sign up to a target of lifting defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 at this month's Nato summit after a campaign by the alliance's secretary general to keep Donald Trump onboard, Dan Sabbagh reports.Later today the data (use and access) bill will return to the Commons from the Lords in the third round of ping pong" between the two houses. It is not unusual for ping pong" to go on for a round or two, as bills which are almost ready for royal assent shuttle between the elected and unelected chamber while they try to resolve matters of dispute. But, in this case, the Lords are digging in a bit more than usual.The government has been accused of supporting thieves", as it suffered a further heavy defeat at the hands of peers pressing their demand for steps to safeguard the creative industries against artificial intelligence.The fourth and latest setback for the Labour frontbench over the issue in the House of Lords was inflicted despite pleas by a minister for the upper chamber to end its prolonged stand-off over the data (use and access) bill. Continue reading...
Soueif is willing to do what it takes' to free Alaa Abd el-Fattah, after a lifetime of speaking up against injusticeLaila Soueif, lying shrunken on a hospital bed at St Thomas' hospital in London on the 247th day of her hunger strike in pursuit of freedom for her son, imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, is locked in what may prove to be her last of many trials of strength with Egypt's authoritarian regime.A remarkable, witty and courageous woman, she has the self-awareness to admit: I may have made a mistake, God knows," but she will not back down, and anyone looking back at her rich life has little evidence to doubt her perseverance. Continue reading...
Teams expected to use radar equipment that can scan beneath ground as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian BrucknerA new search for Madeleine McCann is under way in Portugal with police officers gathering a few miles from where the British toddler was last seen in 2007.Portuguese and German police are carrying out the search 18 years after the three-year-old disappeared from the resort of Praia da Luz while her parents were having dinner out, leaving her sleeping in a nearby room with her toddler twin siblings. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The problems and proposed solutions of a major new strategic defence review pitched as a blueprint to modernise the militaryGood morning. The government's strategic defence review was launched on Monday and billed as a blueprint to modernise the military so that, in the words of Keir Starmer, the UK is safer and stronger, a battle-ready, armour-clad nation with the strongest alliances and the most advanced capabilities".Reviews like this one come along every decade or so - but the context now appears more urgent than at any time since the end of the cold war. In the place of the old consensus that the UK simply needed to be ready for (deeply questionable) deployments to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan is a view that the threats now are much closer to home, and much closer to existential. UK armed forces have begun the necessary process of change in response to this new reality," the review said. But progress has not been fast or radical enough."Israel-Gaza war | A series of recent deadly airstrikes on school buildings sheltering displaced people in Gaza were part of a deliberate Israeli military bombing strategy, the Guardian has learned. The strikes followed a loosening of controls on actions targeting Hamas operatives at sites with large numbers of civilians present, sources said.Health | The proportion of people surviving cancer in the UK has doubled since the 1970s amid a golden age" of progress in diagnosis and treatment, a report says. Half of those diagnosed will now survive for 10 years or more, up from 24%, according to the first study of 50 years of data on cancer mortality and cases.US news | Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, has been charged with a federal hate crime and multiple other offences after he allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary devices to burn people in Boulder, Colorado who were raising awareness about Israeli hostages in Gaza.Iran | Tehran is on the brink of rejecting US proposals on the future of its nuclear programme after a US draft insisted on the suspension of enrichment of uranium inside the country. The US proposal also offered no clear route map for lifting sanctions.Scotland | A Scottish Labour councillor has defected to Reform UK on the eve of a pivotal Holyrood byelection, as the rightwing populist party's leader, Nigel Farage, defended a controversial advert attacking Anas Sarwar that has prompted accusations of racism. Continue reading...
Morocco's commercial centre has brought investment to the continent - but critics say it masks domestic inequalityFor centuries, Casablanca was a significant trading hub for merchants from across the breadth of the Atlantic coast, given its geographical position between Africa, the Middle East and Europe.These days, Morocco's economic capital is merging those historical roots with a strong modern commercial identity. One such manifestation is the Casablanca Finance City (CFC) district, whose high-rise buildings stand as a symbol of the city's dream of being a main gateway for international investment into Africa. Continue reading...
Hamit Coskun, found guilty of religiously aggravated public order offence, was motivated at least in part by a hatred of Muslims', judge saysA man has been fined after he set fire to a Qur'an outside the Turkish consulate in London, in an act that was deemed motivated at least in part by a hatred of Muslims" by a judge.Hamit Coskun, 50, who was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence on Monday, called his prosecution an assault on free speech". Continue reading...
Election pitting liberal Lee Jae-myung against conservative candidate Kim Moon Soo comes after months of chaos following Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial lawMillions of South Koreans are voting for a new president in a snap election triggered by the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who now faces an explosive trial on rebellion charges over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.Pre-election surveys suggested Yoon's liberal arch-rival, Lee Jae-myung, appeared headed for an easy win, riding on deep public frustration over the conservatives in the wake of Yoon's martial law debacle. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh, Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker on (#6XPVE)
Strategic defence review will make Britain battle-ready', says Keir StarmerBritain will spend an extra 2bn on drones and seek to introduce weapons and tactics developed during the war in Ukraine under a strategic defence review unveiled by the government.The plan will prioritise cheap one-way attack craft and more expensive reusable systems, as well as the creation of a drone centre to share knowledge and better coordinate across the armed forces.Explore the possibility of reintroducing air-launched nuclear weapons by discussing with the US and Nato the possibility of buying F-35A fighters equipped with US B61-12 bombs.Spending 15bn to develop new submarine-launched nuclear warheads - and committing to build 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines in Derby and Barrow, starting in the 2030s.Investing 1bn in air and missile defence, 6bn on munitions during this parliament and opening at least six weapons factories to increase military stockpiles, which currently may last only a few days in a crisis.Developing a home guard, modelled on the army reserves, to ensure the protection of airports, communications sites and other parts of the critical national infrastructure in a major crisis. Continue reading...
Claudia Sheinbaum defends decision to put 2,600 judges' posts to vote despite record low turnoutMexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum has defended the country's unprecedented judicial elections after just 13% of Mexicans turned out to vote, a record low in a federal election.Roughly 2,600 posts, from local magistrates to supreme court justices, were up for grabs on Sunday, as an entire judicial system was put to the vote for the first time in the world. Continue reading...
Prime minister seeks to shore up his fragile coalition and vows not to back downDonald Tusk says he will call a vote of confidence in his government to try to shore up support for his coalition after a bruising setback in Poland's presidential election.In his first public comments since Sunday's election result was declared, the prime minister sought to regain momentum as he promised to get to work" and submit a number of draft laws. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspon on (#6XPN1)
More than century on, wronged officer is in line for posthumous promotionMore than a century ago he was wrongly convicted of treason in a case that convulsed France and laid bare a rising tide of antisemitism.On Monday, French politicians took the first step towards remedying the injustice - unanimously backing a symbolic effort to promote Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish French army captain, to brigadier general. Continue reading...
Man, 48, arrested at Stansted airport on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger lifeA fourth man has been arrested over suspected arson attacks on two properties and a car linked to Keir Starmer.The 48-year-old was arrested at Stansted airport in Essex on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Continue reading...
Defence secretary says the world is more dangerous' as he addresses MPs about strategic defence reviewHere is the clip of Keir Starmer in his Today programme interview refusing to say when the government will raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.In an interview with the Times published on Saturday John Healey, the defence secretary, said that he had no doubt" that Britain would reach the 3% target by 2034 - ie, before the end of the next parliament. Yesterday he described this as an ambition". Continue reading...
The actor, best know for voicing John Redcorn in the long-running animated series, was killed on Saturday in TexasActor Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill, has died in a shooting.San Antonio police confirmed to Variety that the 59-year-old died on Saturday after an incident. Officers were reportedly dispatched while the shooting was in process and found him near the road. After an attempt to revive him, he was pronounced dead on the scene. Continue reading...
by Josh Halliday North of England editor on (#6XPDZ)
Inquiry into Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust follows deaths and serious injuries related to maternity careAn NHS trust is being investigated on suspicion of corporate manslaughter after the deaths and severe harm of potentially more than 2,000 babies and women in Nottinghamshire.Police are reviewing more than 200 alleged failures of maternity care at Nottingham university hospitals (NUH) NHS trust but this figure could rise to about 2,500. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#6XPM2)
Inquiry head accuses Swedish state of human rights violations, citing child-trafficking cases across four decadesSweden should ban international adoption and apologise after thousands of children were illegally and unethically taken from their home countries including South Korea, Colombia, China and Sri Lanka over several decades, a government inquiry has found.Presenting the damning findings of the almost four-year investigation, the head of the inquiry, Anna Singer, accused the Swedish state of violations of human rights", citing child-trafficking cases spanning from the 1970s to the 2000s. Continue reading...
by Eromo Egbejule West Africa correspondent on (#6XPH0)
Attack in Timbuktu comes as Islamist group JNIM claims separate assault near border with Burkina FasoAn al-Qaida-linked group has launched an assault on a Malian army base in Timbuktu, according to military sources and local officials, a day after it claimed responsibility for another attack near the border with Burkina Faso.The terrorists arrived today in Timbuktu with a vehicle packed with explosives," a local official told Agence France-Presse. The vehicle exploded near the [military] camp. Shooting is currently continuing." Continue reading...
At least 150 people killed, thousands displaced and buildings destroyed after heavy rains in north of countrySignificant flooding affected Nigeria last week, with more than 150 deaths reported so far. Heavy rain struck the north of the country on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday, leading to flooding along the Niger River, displacing thousands and destroying hundreds of homes. The district head said it was the region's worst flood in 60 years.Heavy rain is not unusual at this time of year in Nigeria. The country has a tropical climate and is influenced by the west African monsoon, with the wet season running from April until October. This type of seasonality is linked to land-sea temperature differences, alongside the shifting intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a band of low pressure roughly around the equator that shifts north and south with the angle of the sun. Continue reading...
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