10 h. ago New Pentagon spokesperson promoted antisemitic conspiracy theory – US politics live

Kingsley Wilson, who has repeatedly shared false claim, promoted to press secretary as critics blast her ‘clearly unfit for her role’Harvard University has sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the Ivy League school’s ability to enrol international students, a move the school called unconstitutional and retaliatory.Reuters reports that in a complaint filed in Boston federal court, Harvard called the revocation a “blatant violation” of the US constitution’s first amendment and other federal laws. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Reform hits 30% landmark as more than half of Tory voters switch to Farage

The latest Techne UK tracker poll results for The Independent

Politics

16 h. ago The 10 English councils left with no overall party control and who leads them

Gains for Reform and Liberal Democrats saw some councils left under no overall control

Politics

17 h. ago Courts temporarily halts Trump administration’s ban on Harvard foreign student enrollment – US politics live

US district judge Allison Burroughs issues temporary restraining order after Harvard sued over ‘blatant violation’ of US constitutionJudge blocks bar on Harvard accepting international studentsFresh attack on Harvard intensifies chaos for international students in USHarvard University has sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the Ivy League school’s ability to enrol international students, a move the school called unconstitutional and retaliatory.Reuters reports that in a complaint filed in Boston federal court, Harvard called the revocation a “blatant violation” of the US constitution’s first amendment and other federal laws. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Judge blocks Trump administration’s ban on Harvard accepting international students

Ivy league had filed suit saying the ban was unconstitutional retaliation for defying White House’s demandsUS politics live – latest updatesUS university scholars and international students: are you considering working or studying elsewhere?A US federal judge on Friday blocked the government from revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students just hours after the elite college sued the Trump administration over its abrupt ban the day before on enrolling foreign students.US district judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued the temporary restraining order late on Friday morning, freezing the policy that had been abruptly imposed on the university, based in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Shooting of Israeli embassy staffers underscores US ‘era of violent populism’

This is the latest act of violence in a string of incidents that have affected Jewish, Arab and Muslim communitiesUS politics live – latest updatesThe killing of two staff of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC comes as the war in Gaza has splintered the American body politic alongside the ongoing rise in political violence.A shooter, identified as Elias Rodriguez, shot the two people, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday after they left an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. Rodriguez reportedly chanted “free, free Palestine” while being detained by security. Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago California hummingbird beaks transformed by feeders: ‘more tapered and longer’

Study details evolutionary change of Anna’s hummingbirds and finds ranges have expanded to follow such devicesWhich came first: the feeder or the bird?A seemingly straightforward question, but the answer might not be so simple. According to a recently published study in Global Change Biology, the use of human-made hummingbird feeders has changed the beak sizes and shapes of Anna’s hummingbirds, and spread their range from a narrow pocket of California all the way up the coast to British Columbia. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago The 10 councils left with no overall control after local elections

Gains for Reform and Liberal Democrats saw some councils left under no overall control

Politics

26 h. ago ‘Declining’ is the most common word associated with Britain, damning poll shows

Exclusive: Seven in 10 voters feel ignored by politicians, fuelling the rise of Reform UK, a report by an influential group of Labour backers warns

Politics

36 h. ago Suspect charged with murder in shooting of Israeli embassy staffers

US attorney general says Chicago-based suspect believed to have acted alone in killing of couple at Jewish museumUS politics live – latest updatesThe US justice department on Thursday charged the lone suspect in a brazen attack that killed two young Israeli embassy staff members outside an event at the Jewish museum in downtown Washington DC with two counts of first degree murder.Jeanine Pirro, the interim US attorney for Washington, said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon that authorities were also investigating as a “hate crime and a crime of terrorism” the killings that left the US capital in shock as world leaders condemned the “horrible” and “antisemitic” shootings. Continue reading...

Events

38 h. ago Harvard says Trump administration’s block on international student enrollment ‘unlawful’ – US politics live

In a major escalation between Trump and Harvard, homeland security secretary Kristi Noem says move to halt enrollment should ‘serve as a warning’Trump administration halts Harvard’s ability to enroll international studentsIsrael’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has accused unnamed European officials of “toxic antisemitic incitement” he blamed for a hostile climate in which the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington took place, Reuters reports.Israel has faced a blizzard of criticism from Europe of late as it has intensified its military campaign in Gaza, where humanitarian groups have warned that an 11-week Israeli blockade on aid supplies has left the Palestinian territory on the brink of famine. Continue reading...

Society

38 h. ago Trump administration halts Harvard’s ability to enroll international students – live

In a major escalation between Trump and Harvard, homeland security secretary Kristi Noem says move should ‘serve as a warning’Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has accused unnamed European officials of “toxic antisemitic incitement” he blamed for a hostile climate in which the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington took place, Reuters reports.Israel has faced a blizzard of criticism from Europe of late as it has intensified its military campaign in Gaza, where humanitarian groups have warned that an 11-week Israeli blockade on aid supplies has left the Palestinian territory on the brink of famine. Continue reading...

Society

40 h. ago Which parties are leading hung councils after the local elections?

All 10 councils left with no party in overall control after ballots this month have confirmed their executive arrangements.

Politics

42 h. ago UK signs £3.4bn deal to cede sovereignty over Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Starmer says there’s ‘no alternative’ and defends cost, saying it is ‘part and parcel of using Britain’s reach to keep us safe at home’UK politics live – latest updatesThe UK has signed a £3.4bn agreement to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after an 11th-hour legal challenge failed.Keir Starmer told a press conference on Thursday afternoon he had signed the deal and that it was “one of the most significant contributions that we make to our security relationship with the United States”. Continue reading...

Economics

45 h. ago House passes Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ tax and spending bill after months of wrangling – US politics live

Sweeping legislation will now be sent to the SenateThe Kremlin said on Thursday that a report in the Wall Street Journal which said US president Donald Trump had told European leaders that President Vladimir Putin did not want to end the war in Ukraine contrasted with its own knowledge.The Journal said Trump had briefed European leaders after talking to Putin by phone on Monday and said Putin wanted to keep fighting in Ukraine because he thought he was winning.With a narrow 220-212 majority, House Speaker Mike Johnson could not afford to lose more than a handful of votes from his side.Republicans on the party’s right flank had pushed for deeper spending cuts to lessen the budget impact, but they met resistance from centrists who worried they would fall too heavily on the 71 million low-income Americans enrolled in the Medicaid health program. Continue reading...

Politics

48 h. ago Net migration to UK down by half in 2024 compared with year before

Office for National Statistics estimate shows fall from 860,000 in 2023 to 431,000 last yearUK politics live – latest updatesNet migration to the UK is estimated to have almost halved from 860,000 in the year ending December 2023 to 431,000 in the year ending December 2024, the Office for National Statistics said.The estimate for the difference between the number of people moving to and from the UK is the biggest fall since the pandemic. Continue reading...

Politics

48 h. ago UK politics live: Net migration to UK plummets by more than 400,000 in a year

Difference between the number of people moving to the UK and leaving the country has fallen to the lowest level since the pandemic

Politics

49 h. ago UK politics live: Chemical castration considered for sex offenders as review reveals prison capacity crisis

An independent review has recommended that prisoners be released for good behaviour and shorter sentences of less than 12 months to be scrapped

Events

60 h. ago Trump ambushes South African leader with evidence of ‘genocide’ during Oval Office meeting

Despite tense moments, Ramaphosa says Trump ‘heard’ him, and meeting ‘went very well’

Politics

61 h. ago Trump ambushes South African president with video and false claims of anti

Cyril Ramaphosa responds to hectoring stunt in Oval Office and egregious claim of white genocide by suggesting calmUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump ambushed the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, by playing him a video that he falsely claimed proved genocide was being committed against white people under “the opposite of apartheid”.The hectoring stunt on Wednesday set up the most tense Oval Office encounter since Trump’s bullying of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. But Ramaphosa – who earlier said that he had come to Washington to “reset” the relationship between the two countries – refused to take the bait and suggested that they “talk about it very calmly”. Continue reading...

Politics