64 m. ago Transgender US military personnel must be identified and stood down, says Pentagon memo

Being transgender is not compatible with service, court filing says, foreshadowing removal of people from service within 60 daysTransgender service members will be separated from the US military unless they receive an exemption, according to a Pentagon memo filed in court on Wednesday – essentially banning them from joining or serving in the armed forces.Donald Trump signed an executive order in January that took aim at transgender troops in a personal way – at one point saying that a man identifying as a woman was “not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member”. Continue reading...

Events

76 m. ago Jodie Whittaker shines a light on another hidden British scandal in Toxic Town

It’s ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’ all over again as Jodie Whittaker heads a fine cast bringing a historic injustice to wider attention

Events

79 m. ago Trump might not know it, but he’s forging a new relationship between Britain and the EU | Martin Kettle

Support for Ukraine means that closer ties to Europe are now a patriotic priority, opening up avenues that Brexit had once blockedIt would be absurd to claim to see a silver lining behind every Donald Trump cloud. Those clouds are too many, too dark and too dangerous. All the same, viewed from a domestic political perspective, there is a clear emerging British upside to Trump’s efforts at crashing the post-cold war order. It might even get a boost from Thursday’s Washington visit by Keir Starmer.In July 2024, when Starmer became prime minister, Labour was rigidly on the defensive about Europe. Brexit was seen as an electorally unstable issue for a party whose priority was to reconnect with leave voters. Everything about Europe was thus sidelined during the election. Only vague generalities were permitted. The only foreign leaders pictured in the party manifesto were Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canada’s Justin Trudeau.Martin Kettle is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago ‘Woodhenge’ unearthed in Denmark likely linked to UK’s Stonehenge

Henge structures made of giant stone slabs or wood have been discovered in Britain, Ireland, parts of continental Europe, and even Russia

Politics

2 h. ago Stark warning more than two million are in need of urgent NHS dental care

Although the Department of Health and Social Care said that it was rolling out the new appointments from April, it is feared this won't be enough to fix the UK's denistry dilemma

Events

2 h. ago ‘I don’t want it to die’: one man’s battle to save the last phone box in his village

In 1935, Derek Harris was born – and so was the K6 red phone box. Now, Harris is spending his 90th year ensuring this beloved local facility isn’t lostThe battleground at the heart of a struggle between an 89-year-old man and a multi-billion pound multinational is a small junction in a Norfolk village, where a red phone box stands. And at the red phone box, sheltering from the wind, is Derek Harris. Last month, he learned that BT (formerly British Telecom) was threatening to close the phone box in the village of Sharrington, where he has lived for 50 years, when he saw it on the agenda of the parish council meeting. “I thought: ‘I’d better do something about this,’” says Harris.He has described it as a “David and Goliath” campaign. It is that, and – as becomes clear on this sunlit but biting February day – so much more. We will talk mortality and reprieves, heritage and value. I’ll leave with a renewed sense of how it’s possible to feel real affection for an inanimate object, and wh...

Events

3 h. ago Huge £99m skyscraper set to tower over popular Spanish resort loved by Brits

A 144-metre tall luxury skyscraper is set to begin construction along the dock of one of Spain's most popular and crowded tourist destinations, and locals aren't pleased

Economics

3 h. ago Brit tourists start snubbing Europe as bookings to three countries begin to soar

British travellers are expanding their horizons well beyond Europe in 2025, according to flight search data. But which three countries are poised to welcome the most visitors and why?

Politics

4 h. ago Urgent warning to anyone throwing away a banana peel to 'do this instead'

Gardening experts have issued stellar advice to garden owners not to toss away their banana peel as it can provide a massive boost to plants as they enter into spring

Events

5 h. ago I was sectioned at 17 after my severe OCD led to several suicide attempts. This is the terrifying truth of my time at a mental health unit

Hammering on the nurses' station door, I called out for help. 'Please,' I shouted. 'It's urgent.' Down the corridor, a 14-year-old patient was trying to strangle herself with pieces of torn-up fabric.

Events

5 h. ago More than 500,000 benefit claimants who are out of work because they're sick have NEVER had a job

More than 500,000 people receiving benefits for health reasons have never had a job as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has vowed to get more Brits into work

Politics

5 h. ago Now he's shown one scintilla of sense on defence, will Starmer stop Net Zero Ed destroying Britain

On Tuesday something extraordinary happened. The idea stole into my mind that Sir Keir Starmer might have a scintilla of common sense.

Politics

5 h. ago I'm a nurse with 5 children quitting grim Britain for a Florida mansion

Julie Barnes, her husband Sam, and children Lola, 19, Colby, 15, Bentley, 11, Fleur, nine and Kitty, four, are set to pack up their lives near Bath for good to settle in the US at the end of next month.

Politics

5 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv’s troops regain village near Pokrovsk where ISW says Russians falter

Moscow claims recapture of some Russian territory held by Ukrainian troops in Kursk; ‘security guarantees’ hole in US-Ukraine mineral deal. What we know on day 1,100Ukrainian troops on Wednesday announced a successful counterattack to retake the settlement of Kotlyne near the key city of Pokrovsk, which many Russian forces have died trying to take over the past year. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said: “The year-long Russian effort to seize Pokrovsk has so far failed, and Russian forces appear to have abandoned the effort to take the city directly, preferring instead to conduct a wide envelopment. The Kremlin may have abandoned even that effort for now, however, in the fact of increasing Ukrainian resistance in the area and extremely high Russian losses.”The Russian defence ministry said its forces had recaptured the settlements of Pogrebki and Orlovka, north of the town of Sudzha, in Kursk oblast where Ukraine has held territory inside Russia since August 2024. The minis...

Events

5 h. ago Revealed: The 15 small 'wins' a week which help to keep us happy

Despite the cost-of-living crisis and recent world events, Brits are keeping their chins up and appreciating the small things in life.

Politics

6 h. ago Justice Department abandoning cases alleging discriminatory police and firefighter hiring

The Justice Department is abandoning Biden administration cases that sought to force police and fire departments to end alleged discriminatory hiring practices, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday

Events

6 h. ago Inside Manchester's new migrant camp set up just yards away from dismantled tent city that was torn down after plaguing city centre for months

Dozens of mostly African men, who have been living in tents for up to a year while claiming asylum in Britain, were finally evicted by bailiffs on Monday morning.

Events

6 h. ago Pentagon orders new purge of social media sites to dump diversity, inclusion mentions by March 5

Building lethality in the military may be the buzzword for the new Trump administration, but busywork and paperwork have become the reality at the Pentagon, as service members and civilian workers are facing a broad mandate to purge all of the department’s social media sites and untangle confusing personnel reduction moves

Politics

6 h. ago Brits who need urgent dental treatment could be forced to rely on 'Victoria

The 700,000 extra dental appointments promised by the Government will only cover a third of people who need urgent care, the British Dental Association (BDA) said.

Politics

6 h. ago EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Leftie in TV rant about privilege is really a toff

Channel 4 series Go Back to Where You Came From showed six Britons exploring war-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa to learn about what drives migrants to our shores.

Politics