2 h. ago Israeli strikes latest bloody chapter in war of extraordinary civilian casualties

International rules of combat to deter impact on noncombatants have been loosened or ignored – and other regimes may followIt is a casualty rate that would have unimaginable before the start of the Israel-Hamas war. More than 400 Palestinians have been reported killed after 10 hours of resumed Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, including, according to one early report, at least six members of one family in an attack on a car east of Khan Younis.Though it is too soon to determine how many noncombatants died in attacks that Israel says were directed at Hamas military commanders and political officials (casualty totals from Gaza’s health ministry do not distinguish combatants from the uninvolved), the likelihood is that civilians will have been killed in large numbers. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Canada announces C$6bn deal with Australia to develop Arctic radar missile

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney says deal on ‘over the horizon’ radar is part of effort to assert Canada’s sovereignty over Arctic as US priorities shiftThe Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has announced a C$6bn deal (A$6.6bn) with Australia to develop an Arctic radar system, warning that Canada must take more responsibility for its defence as US priorities shift.Carney made the announcement on Tuesday in Iqaluit, capital of the Nunavut territory in the Canadian Arctic, on the final leg of his first official trip as prime minister since taking over from Justin Trudeau last week. Continue reading...

Economics

13 h. ago Civilian deaths from strikes on Gaza ‘appalling’, says Foreign Office minister

Lord Collins of Highbury said the UK Government is focused on trying to return to the ceasefire agreement.

Politics

15 h. ago For Palestinians, this was never a ceasefire | Dalia Hartuqa

Even before this brutal attack, Israel has acted with impunity – safe in the knowledge that yet again, its allies will do nothingIn less than 24 hours, heavy Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip has killed more than 4oo Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, marking the end of a ceasefire that was announced in name only between Hamas and Israel on 15 January and took effect four days later. Even after months of negotiations led by the US, Qatar and Egypt, those observing Palestinian-Israeli affairs knew the ceasefire never really meant Israel ceased its fire on the besieged coastal territory.Between 22 January and 11 March, at least 700 Palestinians were either killed by the Israeli military or their bodies were retrieved from areas medics could not previously access, according to ministry of health in Gaza as reported by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In the past two months, Israel has also reneged on the terms of the truce,...

Events

33 h. ago A perk too far: Whitehall freeze on staff credit cards after spending rose to £675MILLION... including £1,200 on Nespresso coffee pods

The major crackdown has been launched by ministers horrified by wasteful spending - including Foreign Office staff splashing out on shoes, DJ equipment and drinks at nightclubs.

Economics

41 h. ago More than 30 countries ready to play part in ‘coalition of the willing’ – No 10

A ‘significant number’ of countries will provide troops on the ground, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters.

Politics

4 d. ago Canada's new prime minister Mark Carney immediately attacks Trump within seconds of taking office

Canada 's new Prime Minister Mark Carney has put US President Donald Trump in the dog house just seconds after taking office following Justin Trudeau's exit.

Politics

4 d. ago John Swinney’s decision to meet Donald Trump’s son slammed as ‘bad call’

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said the sit-down with Eric Trump at the First Minister’s official residence sent a “bad message”.

Politics

5 d. ago Starmer says welfare system indefensible on ‘moral’ terms amid backlash

The Prime Minister denied Britain would be ‘returning to austerity’ under the changes but said the cost of benefits was ‘going through the roof.’

Events

5 d. ago Keep your head above water: art show looks at the rising seas

From a high chair to the ocean floor, Can the Seas Survive Us? in Norfolk’s Sainsbury Centre explores our watery world and the climate crisisOne of the most striking things that will be on display at an exhibition in Norfolk this weekend is an oak chair. Ordinary enough, except that it is elevated high in the air. Why? Because this is where it will need to be in 2100, given rising sea levels in the Netherlands, where it was made by the artist Boris Maas.Entitled The Urge to Sit Dry (2018), there is another like it in the office of the Dutch environment minister in The Hague, a constant reminder of the real and immediate threat posed to the country by rising sea levels.The Dutch artist Boris Maas with his 2018 work The Urge to Sit Dry, which uses wooden blocks to lift the chair to the height it needs to be to sit above predicted sea levels Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Antonia Romeo named as new top civil servant at the Home Office

Dame Antonia replaces Sir Matthew Rycroft, who announced in February he would leave the Home Office after a 35-year Civil Service career.

Society

6 d. ago Downing Street rejects ‘chainsaw’ characterisation of Civil Service reforms

‘There is no approach here where we are taking a chainsaw to the system,’ the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

Politics

8 d. ago Labour's move to shake up planning rules with yet another consultation

Ministers will review whether to remove official bodies like Sport England, the Theatres Trust and the Garden History Society from the list of those legally required to be consulted on decisions.

Politics

8 d. ago Energy bills could fall by £250 a year if you live near new pylon project

Ministers are also looking to slash the number of official bodies that get a say in planning decisions in a drive to cut red tape.

Economics

9 d. ago People living near pylons to get money off bills in planning overhaul – report

Ministers are also looking to slash the number of official bodies that get a say in planning decisions in a drive to cut red tape.

Economics

9 d. ago Ministers could cut the number of official bodies that get a say on planning

Officials will consult on removing Sport England, the Theatres Trust and the Garden History Society from the list of ‘statutory consultees’.

Politics

9 d. ago MoJ readies extra prison places in case summer riots happen again

Exclusive: Justice minister James Timpson says more cell capacity means emergency early release schemes won’t be neededPrisons are being prepared to cope with a sudden influx of offenders in case there is a repeat of last summer’s riots, the justice minister, James Timpson, has told the Guardian.Hundreds of extra makeshift cells and newly refurbished cells will be in use by the end of this year, officials have disclosed, as the prisons minister said there will be “no more emergency measures” such as early release schemes. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Minister confirms whether conscription will return to UK after Donald Trump meltdown

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said 'Europe does have to step up in terms of its own defence' but that the UK was not considering conscription to boost its armed forces

Politics

9 d. ago Underperforming civil servants could be incentivised to leave roles under new reforms

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has said that ‘the state is not match-fit to rise to the moment our country faces’.

Politics

1 week ago Unions on alert as Labour prepares to unveil ‘Trumpian’ plan for civil service

Performance-related pay, exit process for poor performers and more digitalisation among proposed measures intended to revolutionise WhitehallHighly controversial plans to revolutionise Whitehall by introducing performance-related pay, an accelerated exit process for under-performing mandarins and more digitalisation will be announced this week in what ministers say is a programme to “reshape the state” so it can respond to a new “era of insecurity”.The proposed changes, to be announced by Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, will inevitably provoke alarm and resistance from civil service unions, and be seen as the government using the current wave of global uncertainty as cover to drive through radical modernisation of civil service methods and culture. Continue reading...

Politics