Badenoch defends Jenrick over comments that he ‘did not see another white face’ in Birmingham – UK politics live
Conservative leader suggests remarks in Guardian report could have been taken out of context and he was ‘making an observation’Asked about the Jenrick story, Badenoch again suggests Guardian reporting is reliable.Q: Jenrick was making a distinction between white faces and brown faces. Continue reading...
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Badenoch defends Jenrick’s ‘no white faces in Birmingham’ comments
Tory leader says ‘nothing wrong with making observations’ after Jenrick said Handsworth was ‘worst integrated places I’ve ever been to’UK politics live – latest updatesKemi Badenoch has defended her colleague Robert Jenrick over his complaint about not seeing “another white face” in part of Birmingham but said the debate should not be about what people look like in the streets.The Conservative leader said the shadow justice secretary had made a “factual statement” and there was “nothing wrong with making observations”. But she also told BBC Breakfast: “I don’t think this is where the debate should be about how many faces people see on the street and what they look like.” Continue reading...
Gaza ceasefire talks live: negotiations to continue as Israelis mark two-year anniversary of 7 October attacks
The first day of Gaza talks between Hamas and mediators on Monday ended in Egypt ‘amid a positive atmosphere’, local media reportedIsrael and Hamas begin indirect talks as hopes rise of ending Gaza warUnrwa, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has published some figures showing the catastrophic human damage Israel’s war has caused in Gaza (you can read more in the organisation’s factsheet here):Over 66,100 people reported killedNearly all of Gaza’s residents have been displacedNearly 80% of structures damaged or destroyedOver 370 Unrwa workers killedLess than 40% of hospitals remain functional, all partiallyThis is a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defies comprehension. Put an end to the hostilities in Gaza, Israel & the region now. Stop making civilians pay with their lives & their futures. After two years of trauma, we must choose hope. Now. Continue reading...
French PM in final bid to salvage cabinet amid political turmoil – Europe live
Macron has asked Lecornu to stay on for 48 hours to try to win over lawmakersFor those in need of a refresher on what happened yesterday (and a little history of France’s highly dramatic political scramblings…), here is an excellent explainer by my Paris-based colleague, Jon Henley:The key part is at the end, where Jon lays out three options for Macron going forward:First, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension overhauls.On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Given the pressing need to achieve a minimum of consensus to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to a non-party political technocrat. Continue reading...
Five Georgia opposition leaders charged with ‘coup’ attempt after protests
The arrests followed clashes on Saturday, as many opposition parties boycotted local elections.
Albanian judge shot dead in court by man on trial
Judge Astrit Kalaja was killed while two others were injured during a hearing at Tirana's Court of Appeal.
Andrew Hastie, the divisive star of the Liberal party’s internal political theatre, is staying silent – for now
The former shadow minister insists he won’t challenge Sussan Ley for party leadership. But the spectre of the dysfunctional Victorian Liberals remainsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAndrew Hastie has never been one for the theatre of parliamentary question time.While his colleagues and political opponents revel in hurling insults and interjections across the chamber floor, the Liberal MP has more often than not remained conspicuously muted. Continue reading...
Israel Marks Two-Year Anniversary of Oct. 7 in Subdued Fashion
The second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks comes with peace talks underway, but with hostages still in Gaza, more than 67,000 Palestinians dead and Israel more isolated than ever before.
Ineos to cut a fifth of Hull jobs, blaming ‘dirt-cheap’ imports from China
Company says more roles will be at risk unless UK government supports tariffs to protect industryBusiness live – latest updatesIneos, the chemicals company owned by the billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is to cut a fifth of jobs at its East Yorkshire plant, blaming “sky high” energy costs and “dirt-cheap” imports from China.The company said it would cut 60 jobs at the Ineos Acetyls site in Hull, which makes petrochemical products such as acetic acid, and said more roles would be at risk across the industry unless the government stepped in. Continue reading...
Two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza: By the numbers
Israel has killed or injured more than 10 percent of Gaza's population over the past 24 months.