55 minutes ago Top Badenoch ally defends claim pensions could be subject to more means

Nigel Huddleston suggested means-testing the triple lock was among ‘exactly the things’ the party could look at.

Politics

22 hours ago Gaza deal should benefit Netanyahu in short term, but he is critically exposed

Israeli PM must appease his coalition to avoid fresh elections, as well as reckoning with unpredictable TrumpMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe nature of Israel’s febrile coalition politics has long favoured theatrics. The standing and psychology of its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, adds a further element of panic and cynical calculation.All those characteristics were in evidence as Israel and Hamas edged towards a ceasefire deal, particularly in Netanyahu’s struggle to triangulate his portrayal of an agreement that has the potential to damage him politically. Continue reading...

Economics

1 hour ago Israel's security Cabinet meets to vote on a ceasefire to pause the war in Gaza and release hostages

Israel’s security Cabinet has convened to vote on a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants there

Events

22 hours ago Keir Starmer tells school children Roy Of The Rovers is his favourite book

The Prime Minister also said his favourite football player is Arsenal star Martin Odegaard.

Culture

2 hours ago Keir Starmer vows 'closer collaboration' with Poland on visit TODAY ahead of Donald Trump's return to White House

The Prime Minister has said that it is 'time to take our partnership to the next level' and that 'closer collaboration' with allies such as Poland will 'protect the UK's national security'.

Politics

31 hours ago Liz Truss is long gone from Downing Street – but zombie economics lives on | Aditya Chakrabortty

Labour’s panicked reaction to turbulence is to promise ‘ruthless’ cuts. It has learned the wrong lessons from Britain’s shortest-lived PMBritain’s centre of power is stalked by a zombie. Across Westminster, the mere mention of her name summons up a grim past, but she remains ever present: blond bob, eyes that never move and a grin slightly aslant so it expresses not mirth, but faint menace. When least expected, she can bark a laugh that sends shivers up a cabinet minister’s spine. And whenever her shadow looms in SW1, the dread murmur starts: she used to be prime minister, you know.Liz Truss’s stint at the top of politics ended years ago. Perhaps close confidants and trained medics are yet to break the news, but for her, power is a fading memory, a shrinking image in the rear-view. As the voters of South West Norfolk ensured last July, she is now an ex-politician. Yet in British political culture, she is the great undead. No other prime minister since the Brexit vote so haunts curre...

Economics

15 hours ago Keir Starmer to hold talks on new security treaty during visit to Poland

The Prime Minister has said that it is ‘time to take our partnership to the next level’ with Poland.

Events

6 hours ago Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi sentenced to combined 21 years in corruption case

A Pakistan court has sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife to 14 and seven years in jail respectively after finding them guilty of corruption, his lawyers and officials said.

Politics

32 hours ago Starmer travels to Ukraine to sign partnership deal lasting ‘for generations’

Sir Keir Starmer said the 100 Year Partnership would cement the friendship between the two countries for the next century.

Economics

18 hours ago Families of hostages held in Gaza say they are in agony over ceasefire delays

Relatives of some of 98 still believed held by Hamas describe being in limbo but remain ‘cautiously optimistic’Middle East crisis – live updatesFamilies of hostages being held in Gaza have said delays to the ceasefire and hostage deal have left them in limbo and agony.Relatives of some of the 98 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas reacted with “guarded optimism” to the truce announced by Qatar and the US on Wednesday, but a vote by the Israeli cabinet has been delayed by the Israeli prime minister until Friday, saying Hamas must accept “all elements of the agreement”. Continue reading...

Events

6 hours ago Gaza ceasefire latest: Israeli cabinet will meet to approve agreement today, says Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages

Politics

23 hours ago Starmer says UK prepared to play a role in guaranteeing Ukrainian security

But Sir Keir said the current focus was on ensuring Ukraine was in a position of strength rather than any future peacekeeping mission.

Events

8 hours ago Elon Musk’s attempts to sway German and UK politics thought ‘unacceptable’ – poll

Exclusive: Majority polled by YouGov viewed billionaire negatively – except among Reform UK and AfD votersMost people in the UK and Germany consider Elon Musk’s efforts to influence their national politics unacceptable and believe the US tech magnate does not know much about either country or the issues they face, a poll has shown.The survey, by YouGov, follows a spate of hostile statements by the billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X attacking the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and their respective governments. Continue reading...

Politics

24 hours ago Israel Hamas ceasefire agreement hits snag hours before Sunday peace deal set to start

Israel's Cabinet won't meet to sign off any Hamas ceasefire agreement until a late snag has been resolved, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - just days before Sunday's ceasefire was due to start

Events

8 hours ago Elon Musk knows little about UK and Germany and should not interfere – poll

Exclusive: Majority polled by YouGov viewed billionaire negatively – except among Reform UK and AfD votersMost people in the UK and Germany consider Elon Musk’s efforts to influence their national politics unacceptable and believe the US tech magnate does not know much about either country or the issues they face, a poll has shown.The survey, by YouGov, follows a spate of hostile statements by the billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X attacking the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and their respective governments. Continue reading...

Politics

28 hours ago Middle East latest: Netanyahu says Cabinet won't meet over ceasefire until Hamas drops new demands

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages until Hamas backs down from what it called a “last minute crisis.”

Events

9 hours ago Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire and hostage release deal as Donald Trump prepares to take office

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that a ceasefire deal as well as a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached.

Politics

29 hours ago Netanyahu says Cabinet won't meet over ceasefire until Hamas backs down from 'last minute crisis'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the Gaza ceasefire deal until Hamas backs down from what it called a “last minute crisis.”

Events

15 hours ago Prominent banker Mark Carney enters race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The prominent banker also serves as the United Nations special envoy for climate action and finance

Politics

33 hours ago Israeli strikes on Gaza reported after Sunday ceasefire deal with Hamas announced – live

Medics in Palestinian territory say more than 30 killed in strikes late on Wednesday; Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says ‘final details’ of deal still being worked on ahead of security cabinet meetingGaza ceasefire deal: what we know so far A ceasefire deal is here. For Gaza, the Middle East and the world, the future remains unknown Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire deal, pausing the war in Gaza and designed to broker an end to the brutal 15-month conflict. The agreement is set to be officially accepted by Israel after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.The announcement on Wednesday night from Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, was made after weeks of negotiations in the Qatari capital, Doha. There were intensified efforts in recent days to hammer out the final details after increased pressure on Israel to reach a deal from the US president-elect, Donald Trump, which Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged in his media conference.Israel’s prime minister, Ben...

Events

15 hours ago Canada considering drastic measures that could impact your pocketbook if Trump makes good on tariffs vow

After meeting with provincial and territorial premiers, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, ‘everything is on the table’

Politics

21 hours ago Bathgate MP uses Prime Minister’s Questions to demand action on ‘dental deserts’

Bathgate and Linlithgow MP Kirsteen Sullivan called on the Prime Minister to tackle the growing problem of dental deserts and ensure local NHS dentistry is accessible to all communities across the UK.

Politics

22 hours ago Starmer considers UK troops in Ukraine in peacekeeper role as he meets Zelensky in Kyiv

Keir Starmer has made his first trip to Kyiv as UK prime minister to offer long term support to Ukraine which could see British troops brought in as peacekeepers

Politics

24 hours ago Starmer finds alleged spiking on parliamentary estate ‘incredibly concerning’

Parliamentary authorities have said they are treating the matter extremely seriously.

Politics

25 hours ago Netanyahu: no vote on Gaza ceasefire deal until Hamas accepts all terms

Israeli prime minister’s demand before expected cabinet meeting threatens to derail peace negotiationsMiddle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu has said his cabinet will not meet to vote on the ceasefire and hostage release deal announced by Qatar to pause the war in Gaza until “Hamas accepts all elements of the agreement”, in a development that threatens to derail months of work to end the brutal 15-month conflict.The announcement from the Israeli prime minister’s office on Thursday morning came before an expected cabinet meeting in which ministers were expected to ratify the deal reached in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Wednesday night. Continue reading...

Politics

29 hours ago Keir Starmer visits Ukraine to sign major deal just days before Donald Trump enters office

Prime minister’s visit to Kyiv comes amid questions over president-elect’s commitment to continued military assistance of Ukraine

Politics

30 hours ago UK's Starmer arrives in Kyiv for security talks with Zelenskyy days before Trump is sworn in

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Ukraine's capital on Thursday with a pledge to help guarantee the country’s security for a century, days before Donald Trump is sworn in as U.S. president

Politics

31 hours ago Pakistan PM orders inquiry after national airline ad accused of evoking 9/11 imagery

Online advertisement by PIA is called ‘stupidity’ by finance minister, who said PM Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an investigationPakistan’s prime minister has ordered an investigation after the country’s national airline released an advert that drew accusations that it evoked imagery of the 9/11 attacks.The advert was released by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) last week to celebrate the resumption of flights to Paris, which had been suspended for four years over safety concerns about its pilots. Continue reading...

Politics

37 hours ago Ed Davey urges Starmer to join new EU customs union to defend against Trump tariffs

It comes as a leading think tank urged the prime minister to boost trade defences to deter against economic threats from Donald Trump

Politics