67 minutes ago Snap! The London Standard: Best Photos of the Day from around the world

See the best images of the day from around the world.

Politics

79 minutes ago Middle East crisis live: displaced residents start to return to southern Lebanon after Israel

Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah takes effect at 02.00GMT; Hundreds of cars defy warning from IDF to stay away from evacuated areasFull report: Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire comes into forceBiden announces ceasefire dealDown to the final half-hour before the ceasefire comes into effect and AFP is reporting strikes on south Beirut after the Israel army’s evacuation warning.“Urgent warning to residents of the Beirut area,” army spokesperson Avichay Adraee had earlier said in a post on X, telling people in the Bachoura area in the city centre to leave, as well as “all residents in the southern suburb area”, specifically in Ghobeiry. Continue reading...

Politics

89 minutes ago France has the highest cannabis consumption in Europe. It’s high time to tax it | Alexander Hurst

With the nation’s finances in a parlous state, decriminalisation could raise millions of euros – as well as cut crimeFrance might not be broke, but the state of its public finances is, well, definitely not good. Total debt stands at €3.2tn – 112% of GDP. Interest payments on that debt are the second largest public expenditure after education (which includes everything from crêche, or preschool, to universities) and are higher than the amount spent on defence. And this year’s budget deficit is projected to be 6%, three points above the EU’s 3% limit.If it weren’t for the euro, France might very well be in the throes of a fiscal crisis – as it is, interest rates on some French debt are higher than for Portugal or Spain. Continue reading...

Politics

90 minutes ago Inside The Traitors' star Charlotte Chilton's rustic nursery for baby daughter

As Charlotte Chilton introduces her newborn baby, Penelope, to the world, OK! takes a look inside The Traitors' star's rustic and cosy nursery for the little one.

Politics

2 hours ago Australian police officer convicted of manslaughter in Taser death of 95

Nowland, a nursing home resident, fell and fatally hit her head after being tasered by Kristian White, dying a week later in hospital

Events

2 hours ago British mother of Egyptian political prisoner to press Lammy to take action

Laila Soueif is to meet the foreign secretary, who in opposition called for the release of Alaa Abd el-FattahThe British-born mother of an Egyptian political prisoner who has been on hunger strike for 58 days is preparing to meet the foreign secretary, David Lammy, to urge him to secure her son’s release.Laila Soueif’s son Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a British and Egyptian dual citizen who wrote eloquently about the Arab spring and its aftermath, was jailed for five years for “spreading false news”. He was due to be released in September, but has not been freed. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago Why SNP has been told to 'begin changing course' and end tax divergence with UK

John Swinney and Shona Robison have been urged to close the tax gap between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Politics

2 hours ago Scotland should take a warning from Donald Trump 25% tariffs on 'day one' of presidency

Donald Trump has said he will introduce 25 per cent tariffs on goods coming from Canada and Mexico on day one of his presidency

Events

3 hours ago Plan to cut Berlin arts budget will ‘destroy’ city’s culture, directors warn

Leading theatre figures warn ‘drastic’ reduction in funding will cause bankruptcy and harm city’s tourism appealPlans to slash Berlin’s culture budget by tens of millions of Euros have led to a huge backlash, with leading venues saying they have been forced to cut performances and others warning they will be pushed into bankruptcy.About 450 institutes that are reliant at least in part on state subsidies, from theatres and opera houses to nightclubs and galleries, have formed an alliance in an attempt to force a rethink over the €130m (£108.6m) cuts. At around 12 to 13% of the current annual budget, they have been described even by those proposing them as “brutal”. Continue reading...

Events