Trump calls for Americans to ‘move on’ from Epstein files – US politics live
President’s commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and on-off ally Elon Musk have both featured in the Epstein filesTom Homan, the president’s so-called “border czar” is set to speak to reporters in Minneapolis shortly.A reminder that Homan took over the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota from senior border official Gregory Bovino, just days after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and the mounting backlash in the Twin Cities. Continue reading...
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Revealed: Israel bulldozed part of Gaza war cemetery containing allied graves
Satellite images and witness testimony show destruction as IDF claims it was forced to take defensive measuresIsraeli forces have bulldozed part of a Gaza cemetery containing the war graves of dozens of British, Australian and other allied soldiers killed in the first and second world wars, satellite imagery and witness testimony reveal.Satellite imagery of the Gaza war cemetery in al-Tuffah, a district of Gaza City, shows extensive earthworks in the southernmost corner of the graveyard. Bomb craters can be seen around the cemetery, but in this area the destruction appears to have been more systematic. Continue reading...
Angela Rayner leads Labour MP calls to back Tory demand for independent ruling on release of Mandelson files – UK politics live
Former deputy PM says allowing intelligence and security committee to rule on redactions would help ‘keep public confidence in the process’Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files: 10 key takeawaysPMQs is starting soon. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.The Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has dismissed claims that his party’s plan to support the pub industry would cost far more than the £3bn it claims.To be honest with you, we’re not interested in who you’ve been talking to. We’re more interested who we’ve been talking to, and we’ve been talking to landlords and small businesses up and down the country, and every landlord that I speak to … they want this VAT cut.We can go on all day about the numbers. I’m not interested in the numbers that the BBC have sourced. You’re hardly a bastion of truth at the BBC when it comes to things like this.This doesn’t add up. This is an unfunded tax cut which also pushes hundreds of thousands of children into poverty.Reform says that reinstating the two-child limit for most, but not all, families would save £2.29bn in 2026/27. The party claims its package of tax cuts would also cost £2.29bn – making it cost neutral – with the bulk coming from a proposal to halve VAT on hospitality, which it estimates would cost £1.7bn. Continue reading...
Yair Golan’s Battle for a Two-State Solution and the Future of Israel
To many Israelis, he’s a war hero. To others, he’s a traitor guilty of “blood libel.” Can Yair Golan change politics in Israel?
Washington Post undergoing significant layoffs as part of ‘strategic reset’
Employees were told Wednesday that the paper’s sports desk would close among other cuts and restructuringsWashington Post editor in chief Matt Murray on Wednesday morning announced internally a “broad strategic reset” that will result in “significant” layoffs across the company.Staffers at the Post have been on edge for weeks about the rumored cuts, which the publication would not confirm or deny. Leading up to Wednesday’s cuts, the atmosphere in the newspaper was “funereal”, one employee, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said. Continue reading...
Ukraine-Russia talks under way in Abu Dhabi in wake of ‘massive’ strikes on Kyiv – Europe live
Both sides downplay chances of immediate breakthrough in US-brokered talks as western allies reportedly weigh new defence pactThe Kremlin has reacted to comments made by French president Emmanuel Macron that he was looking to resume contact with Putin on the war in Ukraine.According to Reuters news agency, the Kremlin confirmed ongoing technical discussions between Russia and France, but provided no further details or indicated any dialogue between Putin and Macron.At night, the enemy carried out a massive attack with strike drones on the Odesa region. Damage to civilian, residential and industrial infrastructure was recorded.In the city of Odesa, about 20 residential buildings and cars were damaged. Four people were rescued from the rubble, but one person was unfortunately injured. Continue reading...
Labour MPs say they will vote down plan to limit Mandelson disclosures
Ministers urged to allow intelligence and security committee to review documents before publicationUK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs have warned they will vote down a government amendment to limit the disclosures about Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, with government sources saying they may be forced to change their own amendment.The former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and the chair of the Treasury select committee, Meg Hillier, have publicly asked the government to allow the intelligence and security committee to review the documents before public disclosure. Continue reading...
Drax insiders privately raised concerns over its sustainability claims, court papers show
Company publicly denied allegations that primary forests were being cut down to fuel UK’s biggest power plantSenior executives at Drax raised concerns internally about the validity of the energy company’s sustainability claims while it publicly denied allegations that it was cutting down environmentally important forests for fuel, court documents have revealed.Britain’s biggest power plant assured ministers and civil servants of the company’s green credentials as it scrambled to defend itself against claims in a BBC Panorama documentary that it had burned wood sourced from “old-growth” forests in Canada. Continue reading...
ADF veterans warn selloff of 60 historic defence properties will take a decade and cost billions
RSL, federal opposition and local MPs cast doubt on the plan, which Labor says will result in about $3bn for defenceGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVeterans say the government’s planned sell off of more than 60 defence properties will take at least a decade and cost billions, urging Labor not to repeat the mistakes of previous divestment drives.The RSL, the federal opposition and local MPs expressed doubts about the plan announced on Wednesday, set to see as much as $1.8bn raised from the sale of properties including training sites, bases, warehouse and disused land, all deemed to offer no strategic value. Continue reading...
Not delivering any Aukus nuclear submarines to Australia explored as option in US congressional report
Report offers alternative of the US navy retaining boats and operating them out of Australian basesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA new United States congressional report openly contemplates not selling any nuclear submarines to Australia – as promised under the Aukus agreement – because America wants to retain control of the submarines for a potential conflict with China over Taiwan.The report by the US Congressional Research Service, Congress’s policy research arm, posits an alternative “military division of labour” under which the submarines earmarked for sale to Australia are instead retained under US command to be sailed out of Australian bases. Continue reading...