60 h. ago Trump officials intensify Columbia dispute with accreditation threat

Education department accuses university of violating federal anti-discrimination laws and notifies accreditorThe Department of Education announced on Wednesday afternoon that it has notified Columbia University’s accreditor of an alleged violation of federal anti-discrimination laws by the elite, private university in New York that is part of the Ivy League.The alleged violation means that Columbia, in the Trump administration’s assessment, has “failed to meet the standards” set by the relevant regional, government-recognized but independent body responsible for the accreditation of degree-granting institutions, as a kind of educational quality controller. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Sweden urged to ban international adoption after damning inquiry findings

Inquiry head accuses Swedish state of human rights violations, citing child-trafficking cases across four decadesSweden should ban international adoption and apologise after thousands of children were illegally and unethically taken from their home countries including South Korea, Colombia, China and Sri Lanka over several decades, a government inquiry has found.Presenting the damning findings of the almost four-year investigation, the head of the inquiry, Anna Singer, accused the Swedish state of “violations of human rights”, citing child-trafficking cases spanning from the 1970s to the 2000s. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago China accuses US of ‘seriously violating’ trade war truce; UK factory output shrinks again – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsToday’s UK PMI report (see 9.52am) also shows that business confidence at British factories remained ‘subdued’ last month.Manufacturers continued to raise concerns that turbulent trade conditions, the weak economic outlook and rising cost burdens will make market conditions tough during the year ahead.Weak global market conditions, trade uncertainty, low customer confidence and cost pressures resulting from recent increases to UK employer NICs and minimum wages also contributed to clients’ reluctance to spend. That said, a recent bout of good weather did boost sales at some manufacturers. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago China vows ‘forceful measures’ after accusing US of violating tariffs truce

Beijing says it is ‘strictly implementing’ consensus reached in Geneva but US is taking steps that ‘seriously undermine’ it

Politics

5 d. ago China accuses US of ‘seriously violating’ trade war truce – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTrade war fears don’t seem to have hurt the UK housing market last month.Lender Nationwide has reported that the average house price rose by 0.5% duing May, reversing most of the 0.6% fall recorded in April.“Despite wider economic uncertainties in the global economy, underlying conditions for potential home buyers in the UK remain supportive.“Unemployment remains low, earnings are rising at a healthy pace (even after accounting for inflation), household balance sheets are strong and borrowing costs are likely to moderate a little if Bank Rate is lowered further in the coming quarters as we, and most other analysts, expect.“What China is doing is they are holding back products that are essential for the industrial supply chains of India, of Europe. And that is not what a reliable partner does.” Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago China accuses US of ‘seriously violating’ trade truce and vows to respond

Beijing promises to take strong measures to defend its interests

Politics

7 d. ago Donald Trump accuses China of ‘totally violating’ tariffs deal with US in blow to moves to avoid trade war

Trade talks between Washington and Beijing were said to be a ‘bit stalled’

Economics

8 d. ago US and allies accuse North Korea and Russia of flagrantly violating UN sanctions in military deals

The United States and 10 allies say the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea flagrantly violates U.N. sanctions and has helped Moscow increase its missile strikes on Ukrainian cities

Events

1 week ago Future of Maradona trial in doubt as judge steps down over TV show role

Julieta Makintach accused of behaving ‘like an actress’ after shooting documentary about trial of footballer’s medical teamA key judge in the trial of the late Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona’s medical team has stepped down after it emerged she had been shooting a racy miniseries about the months-old trial, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules.Julieta Makintach, 47, who has been called the “judge of God”, recused herself after she was accused on Tuesday of violating her impartiality, influence-peddling and bribery over her role in the documentary miniseries Divine Justice, casting doubt on the future of the high-profile trial. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Lorraine Kelly 'is ready to take drastic measures to save her long

Lorraine Kelly is reportedly ready to take drastic measures following brutal cutbacks at ITV in a bid to save her long-running show.

Politics

2 w. ago Trump administration says Columbia violated civil rights of Jewish students

The Trump administration is accusing Columbia University of violating the civil rights of Jewish students by “acting with deliberate indifference” toward what it describes as rampant antisemitism on campus

Politics

2 w. ago Judge finds police acted reasonably in shooting New Mexico man while at wrong address

A federal judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit that accused police in New Mexico of violating constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures when they fatally shot a man after showing up at the wrong address

Events

2 w. ago Netanyahu hits back after UK, France and Canada threaten action – Israel

Leaders of UK, France and Canada condemn Israel’s ‘egregious actions’ in Gaza and warn of joint action if offensive continuesFull report: Netanyahu vows to ‘take control’ of GazaAs we mentioned in the opening post, the UK, France and Canada issued a rare joint condemnation of Israel, denouncing its expanded offensive in Gaza and the blocking of aid into the territory.It marks a change in tone from the UK and Canada - in particular – which have broadly backed Israel’s war and insisted on its “right to defend” itself despite it being accused of committing genocide and carrying out widespread and systematic violations of international law. France has been more openly critical of the Israeli military’s conduct. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago JJ Slater sparks concern by revealing he's been rushed to hospital

The on-off boyfriend of former glamour model Katie Price , who has type 1 diabetes , was forced to take precautionary measures after suffering a setback with the chronic autoimmune condition.

Politics

3 w. ago Week of geopolitical poker over Ukraine ends with no endgame in sight

Path to peace looks as unclear as it was before European leaders’ meeting with Zelenskyy in KyivRussia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap but peace talks fail to make progressThis week began with four European leaders, standing defiantly in Kyiv alongside Volodymyr Zelenskyy, issuing an ultimatum to Vladimir Putin: sign a ceasefire now, or together with Donald Trump we will force you to do so, with sanctions and other tough measures.Over the subsequent days, there followed a series of offers, counter-offers, ultimatums and deflections, in a dizzying week of high-stakes diplomacy that often seemed to resemble a geopolitical poker game. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Police raid Oregon safari park amid reports of starving lions and dead tiger left for months

West Coast Game Park Safari, popular attraction that has more than 450 animals, accused of multiple violations A dead tiger, left in a freezer for months. Starving lions and leopards. Animals dying without medical attention. One full-time staffer feeding over 300 animals. According to police and USDA inspection reports, that’s the state of affairs at Oregon’s West Coast Game Park Safari.State police served multiple search warrants at the south Oregon property on Thursday as part of a “lengthy” criminal investigation. The park is a regional attraction, with over 450 animals across 75 species, and has been in operation since 1969. USDA reports in recent years have noted consistent violations. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Online dating advice: five ways to stay safe, according to the experts

Spotting red flags while online dating is far from easy – especially in the age of AI. We asked the experts for their top tipsMost dating apps have been forced to bolster their safety measures in recent years due to a litany of complaints of online abuse as well as negligence when handling reports of sexual violence. Several of them are now taking steps to combat this and encourage users to verify their identities to ensure everyone is who they say they are. Typically, this is done with facial recognition technology by asking users to take a video selfie or provide a photo ID that the app uses to compare with the photos used in their profile. Many have also introduced features to help users stay safe, including block and report systems alongside bans on sexual harassment, fetishisation and hate speech.Still, there are precautions to be taken whenever you agree to meet someone you’ve spoken to online, like meeting in public places and withholding any private information. Here are mor...

Politics

3 w. ago The Guardian view on a Himalayan truce: it follows a familiar pattern of conflicts past | Editorial

After drone strikes, nuclear jitters and a ceasefire, the latest fighting between India and Pakistan reveals how peace dies by routine “The arms race between India and Pakistan poses perhaps the most probable prospect for future use of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons,” James Woolsey, the CIA director, told Congress in 1993. That assessment is relevant now, after days of escalating conflict that included missile and drone strikes on military bases. It is a uniquely modern arms race: high on nationalist fervour and habitual mistrust, choreographed so that each clash is always just one provocation away from becoming the last.On Saturday, Donald Trump announced a “full and immediate” ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The truce, brokered by US officials, came amid speculation by military analysts that Pakistan was edging closer to using nuclear weapons. It was met with cautious optimism – not least as both sides accused each other of violating the agreement wit...

Events

3 w. ago India and Pakistan accuse each other of violating ceasefire deal

Explosions were reportedly heard in at least three cities in India-controlled Kashmir

Economics

3 w. ago India and Pakistan agree Kashmir ceasefire but accuse each other of breaches

Truce agreed after US mediation but both sides accuse each other of violations only hours laterAnalysis: now the battle turns to India and Pakistan’s narratives of KashmirIndia and Pakistan have agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire with immediate effect, though its longevity was thrown into question after reports of cross-border shelling and explosions in Indian-administered Kashmir just hours after it was announced.The ceasefire – which was hoped to end days of escalating clashes between the two nuclear-armed countries – was first declared by the US president, Donald Trump, on Saturday afternoon, after 48 hours of diplomacy between India and Pakistan, apparently brokered by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and vice-president, JD Vance. Continue reading...

Events