18 h. ago Government update on plans to reduce age when you can get free NHS prescriptions

Several groups of people can currently get free NHS prescriptions

Politics

39 h. ago Government update over 'supply issues' for these two medications

There have been supply issues affecting medicines for several years

Politics

54 h. ago Trump's hatchet man says 'substantial' bloodbath now underway in federal workforce

Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on the social media site X that the 'RIFs have begun,' referring to reduction-in-force plans.

Politics

62 h. ago Popular High Street chain to shut almost 90 stores with plans to axe 100 more

The charity has announced plans to close nearly 90 of its UK stores by May 2026 as part of a plan to reduce its retail footprint by nearly half

Politics

4 d. ago US shutdown deadlock deepens as senators reject competing bills

Proposals from both sides fail to receive enough support as no senators change their votes from recent daysUS politics live – latest updatesThe deadlock over ending the US government shutdown deepened on Wednesday, with senators once again rejecting competing bills to restart funding as Democrats and Republicans remain dug in on their demands for reopening federal agencies.The funding lapse has forced offices, national parks and other federal government operations to close or curtail operations, while employees have been furloughed. Signs of strain have mounted in recent days in the parts of the federal government that remained operational, with staffing shortages reported at airports across the US as well as air traffic control centers. Further disruptions may come next week, when US military personnel and other federal workers who remain on the job will not receive paychecks, unless the government reopens. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Senate again fails to pass stopgap funding bill as government shutdown drags into eighth day – live

Senate fails for sixth time to pass a funding bill in 54-45 vote – three Democrats sided with Republicans in attempt to reach 60-vote thresholdUS airport staffing shortages set to cause more delays amid shutdownDemocrat bill aims to help federal workers cover childcare costsA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago US airport staffing shortages expected to cause more delays amid shutdown

Air traffic controllers warn of escalating delays and stress as the government shutdown enters its second weekUS politics live – latest updatesStaffing shortages at US airports are anticipated to cause further disruption to air travelers on Wednesday as effects from the US government shutdown, now in its seventh day, ripple out across the country.Union leaders for air traffic controllers and airport security screeners have warned the situation is likely to get worse, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing issues at airports in Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia, as well at its air traffic control centers in Atlanta, Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago ‘This madness needs to end’ say House Republicans as shutdown enters eighth day – US politics live

Majority leader Steve Scalise continues to blame Democrats for not passing House-passed funding bill as shutdown continuesEx-FBI director pleads not guilty on lying to Congress chargeA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Former FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty in case accusing him of lying to Congress – US politics live

Trump critic arraigned at federal courthouse in VirginiaA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump says Chicago mayor ‘should be in jail’ for not protecting Ice officers after Texas national troops arrive in Illinois – live

Trump posts on social media that Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois governor JB Pritzker ‘should be in jail’ A series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Government issues update on plans for major new UK laws around buying vapes

The Government is calling for evidence on the flavours, nicotine strength, and appearance of vapes as part of a series of measures to tackle youth vaping

Politics

5 d. ago UK steel manufacturers face ‘existential threat’ from EU tariff hikes

The European Commission plans to double tariffs on steel to 50% and reduce tariff-free import volumes.

Economics

5 d. ago Pam Bondi spars with Democratic senator over Epstein ‘client list’ and national guard deployments in tense hearing – live

Illinois senator Dick Durbin grills Trump’s attorney general on the Epstein investigation and Bondi tells him ‘national guard is on the way’ to ChicagoBefore we turn our attention to Capitol Hill, we’re also keeping an eye on Illinois today. On Monday, a federal judge did not immediately block the president’s move to deploy national guard troops, including hundreds from Texas, to Chicago.Instead, the judge set a hearing for Thursday, leaving room for the military to make their way to the windy city as soon as today. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Bondi expected to be grilled about use of justice department to investigate Trump’s political enemies – live

Trump’s attorney general testifies to Senate judiciary committee and is expected to face ire from Democrats about the direction of the justice department under her tenurePam Bondi to testify before Senate amid Trump’s troop deploymentsBefore we turn our attention to Capitol Hill, we’re also keeping an eye on Illinois today. On Monday, a federal judge did not immediately block the president’s move to deploy national guard troops, including hundreds from Texas, to Chicago.Instead, the judge set a hearing for Thursday, leaving room for the military to make their way to the windy city as soon as today. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act as Bondi faces Senate – US politics live

Legal wrangles over troop deployments continue with attorney general also likely to face questions over Epstein filesThe US government shutdown entered its second week as the Senate again rejected rival bills to restart funding and Donald Trump suggested he might be open to negotiating with Democrats over the healthcare subsidies they have put at the heart of the stalemate.A fifth Senate vote to advance a Republican-written bill that would reopen the government failed on a 52-42 tally – well below the 60-vote threshold needed for advancement. The Democrats’ proposal was defeated in a 50-45 party-line vote. No lawmakers changed their votes from recent days, though there were a handful of absences.A career federal prosecutor in Virginia has told colleagues she does not believe there is probable cause to file criminal mortgage fraud charges against New York attorney general Letitia James, according to a person familiar with the matter. The prosecutor, Elizabeth Yusi, oversees major cri...

Politics

5 d. ago Government shares major cancer research update amid growing calls for action

Each year, approximately 13,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour

Politics

6 d. ago Judge refuses to block Trump’s deployment of national guard to Illinois

State had sued the administration after president deployed troops to state against governor’s wishesUS politics live – latest updatesWhat to know about Trump’s national guard deployment, from rulings to protestsA federal judge will not immediately block national guard troops from being deployed in Illinois after a lawsuit from the state against the president on Monday.Troops from Texas could be deployed to Chicago later this week and Trump is also seeking to federalize Illinois’ national guard. A similar effort to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, was blocked by a judge in that state. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Illinois governor vows to resist Trump administration ‘power grab’ after suing over national guard deployment to Chicago – live

JB Pritzker says Illinois will use ‘every lever’ to stop Trump’s use of military in state; federal judge says administration has two days to file a response and sets a hearing for ThursdayIllinois sues Trump seeking to block deployment of national guardThe supreme court has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s challenge of her criminal conviction for recruiting and grooming minors, who were sexually abused by her former boyfriend and companion Jeffrey Epstein – the disgraced financier who died in a New York prison in 2019.Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year-sentence for her crimes. She was recently moved to a minimum-security prison in Texas. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago White House calls court ruling blocking Portland national guard deployment ‘untethered from reality’ – live

Karoline Leavitt criticizes Trump-appointed judge’s decision; Trump deploying military to Chicago on ‘flimsy pretext’, Illinois lawsuit alleges Illinois sues Trump seeking to block deployment of national guardThe supreme court has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s challenge of her criminal conviction for recruiting and grooming minors, who were sexually abused by her former boyfriend and companion Jeffrey Epstein – the disgraced financier who died in a New York prison in 2019.Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year-sentence for her crimes. She was recently moved to a minimum-security prison in Texas. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Trump deploying military to Chicago on ‘flimsy pretext’, Illinois lawsuit alleges – live

Complaint filed by Illinois says ‘these advances in President Trump’s long-declared ‘War’ on Chicago and Illinois are unlawful and dangerous’Illinois sues Trump seeking to block deployment of national guardThe supreme court has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s challenge of her criminal conviction for recruiting and grooming minors, who were sexually abused by her former boyfriend and companion Jeffrey Epstein – the disgraced financier who died in a New York prison in 2019.Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year-sentence for her crimes. She was recently moved to a minimum-security prison in Texas. Continue reading...

Events