3 h. ago Ed Miliband is accused of 'playing into Vladimir Putin's hands' after approving plans to concrete over Britain's remaining fracking sites

The Energy Secretary, who is spearheading government efforts to transition to cleaner energy, greenlighted proposals to plug Britain's only shale gas wells with cement.

Politics

58 h. ago Senate passes budget funding Trump’s mass deportations; Pentagon reportedly delays firing civilians – US politics live

Republicans approve spending plan that will pay for hardline immigration policies; sackings on hold amid concerns they could hit military readinessMass firings could cause ‘monumental’ bill, say expertsNational security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd of Donald Trump loyalists that he believes the president will receive the Nobel peace prize.“This is the presidency of peace. He’s going to end the war in Europe. He is going to end the wars in the Middle East. He is going to reinvest the United States and our leadership in our own hemisphere, from the Arctic to the border to Panama all the way down to our good friends in Argentina,” Waltz told the Conservative Political Action Conference.The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations, which could affect over 50,000 civilian employees across the Pentagon, could run afoul of Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Following that report, Pentagon lawyers began reviewing the legality of the planned terminations m...

Politics

58 h. ago Trump is the world’s greatest showman – and the weakest strongman it has ever seen | Jonathan Freedland

His capitulation to Putin over Ukraine reveals a pattern. He’s the patsy: giving everything away, getting little in returnHe parades as a strongman, but in fact he’s weak, weak, weak. In the face of America’s adversaries Donald Trump is, as he might put it, a patsy, a sucker, a pushover. He folds like a pack of cards. He’s a human doormat. A loser.Just consider the gifts he has handed Vladimir Putin this week. He has brought Russia in from the diplomatic cold after three years of ostracism following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, whose anniversary is nearly upon us. Sergei Lavrov, Putin’s foreign minister, was meant to be persona non grata; he remains under international sanctions. Nevertheless, this week in Riyadh he met Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in so-called peace talks.Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Senate passes budget funding Trump’s mass deportations; federal workers brace for more firings – US politics live

Senate Republicans approve spending plan that will pay for hardline immigration policies; mass layoffs get all-clear after judge lifts blockMass firings could cause ‘monumental’ bill, say expertsThe defense department will delay a plan to fire civilian employees on probation as it assess whether the move complies with the law and if it affects military readiness, CNN reports.The cuts were to be made as part of Donald Trump’s effort to dramatically downsize the federal government, which is being led by Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency”. Here’s more, from CNN:The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations, which could affect over 50,000 civilian employees across the Pentagon, could run afoul of Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Following that report, Pentagon lawyers began reviewing the legality of the planned terminations more closely, the officials said.That law says that the secretary of defense “may not reduce the civilian workforce ...

Politics

61 h. ago First Minister John Swinney challenged over Dumfries and Galloway pylons project

The Kendoon to Tongland Reinforcement project has been given planning approval - despite a Scottish Government reporter recommending refusal.

Politics

3 d. ago Hundreds of new homes to be built on land next to the M4 in Cardiff

Cardiff Council's planning committee approved the plans despite concerns from local councillors about public transport, noise and air pollution

Politics

3 d. ago Why IS Trump putty in Putin's hands? Rumours of Russian kompromat have been dismissed as 'fake news' by US president so what is the real reason he's cosying up to Putin?

In 2013 Miss Universe, American Olivia Culpo , travelled to Moscow to film a music video with a Russian pop star who was the son of a billionaire real estate mogul with ties to President Vladimir Putin.

Politics

4 d. ago Council drops school music service cuts as final draft budget approved

The plans will go for final approval next week with other cuts still on the table

Culture

4 d. ago Trump’s rush to strike a deal on Ukraine hands Putin the advantage

US president’s public exchange of insults with Zelenskyy forms part of rapid pivot towards Russia

Politics

4 d. ago Future of Pembrokeshire attraction that 'makes a real difference to thousands of lives' secured

The Willhome Farm Barn farm park, near Camrose, was refused retrospective permission by planning officers in 2023 - but has now been approved after a petition of support

Politics

4 d. ago Additional Support Needs expansion plans for South Ayrshire approved by council

Plans for a dedicated space for ASN learning at Troon Primary School have been given the go-ahead

Politics

5 d. ago A huge section of Cardiff city centre is being transformed into this

The site of the former Debenhams store in Cardiff city centre will be home to a new public square. Cardiff Council has approved plans for the square, which will include a splash pad and space for outdoor performances, markets, local street food vendors and other events.

Politics

5 d. ago MP says he intends to appeal against approval of Thames Water restructure plans

Barristers for Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard previously told the court the company should be put into special administration.

Politics

5 d. ago Steel giant Tata hails planning approval for Port Talbot plans

Tata is switching to an electric arc furnace-based steelmaking process which is greener, but needs fewer workers.

Politics

5 d. ago Judge approves emergency plan to keep Britain’s largest water company afloat

A judge has approved an emergency plan to keep Britain’s largest water company afloat and averted a possible temporary government takeover

Events

5 d. ago Thames Water is handed £3bn emergency loan to rescue ailing utility firm from financial collapse

Thames Water Utilities Holdings Limited (TWUH), the parent company of Thames Water Group (TWG), England's biggest water company with about 16 million customers, is in around £16 billion of debt.

Economics

5 d. ago Plans to restructure struggling Thames Water are approved by High Court judge

Thames Water Utilities Holdings Limited (TWUH), the parent company of Thames Water Group (TWG), England's biggest water company with about 16 million customers, is in around £16 billion of debt.

Events

6 d. ago New housing estate set for former railway cutting classed as ‘wildlife corridor’

It has taken more than five years for detailed plans to be submitted following the approval of outline proposals

Politics

6 d. ago Thames Water to discover if restructuring plan has been approved on Tuesday

The High Court heard several days of arguments over whether the plan should be approved earlier in February.

Politics