41 m. ago ‘Trump is a horror story, isn’t he?’ Stephen King on villains, dark secrets and dreams

One of the world’s most successful authors answers readers’ questions on his sources of inspiration, the colour of fear, knowing when to quit – and why manual labour is invaluable for writersI once entered a short story competition in the Guardian, judged by you, but failed. Is it simply a case of trying until something sticks? Or is accepting a lack of talent a relief over chasing an impossible dream? EvolAnthWell, it’s not necessarily a lack of talent. I think everybody has talent, but you have to hone it. The more you do it, the more you like it. And when you have talent, you want to do it, you know? You signed my copy of Christine with the words “Keep on screaming for vengeance” because I was wearing a Judas Priest badge. Is music still important to you? RobFramptonYeah, music is still important to me. I’ve moved on from Judas Priest because I couldn’t get the rights to use the lyrics from You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ for my [2008] novel, Duma Key. So I’ve moved on to Rancid,...

Politics

72 m. ago Recommendations must be implemented after three Scots died in train derailment

"Rail crashes may be rare in 21st - century Scotland, but that is no excuse to allow vigilance to drop."

Events

1 hour ago Inheritance tax changes under consideration amid spending gap concerns – reports

Government U-turns over winter fuel payments and welfare reform have left Chancellor Rachel Reeves with a multibillion-pound fiscal shortfall.

Economics

2 h. ago MP removed from New Zealand parliament in heated debate over Palestinian recognition

Green party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick accused government MPs of lacking a ‘spine’ during debate on whether to recognise a Palestinian stateNew Zealand parliamentarian Chlöe Swarbrick was ordered to leave parliament on Tuesday during a heated debate over the government’s response to the conflict in Gaza.An urgent debate was called after the centre-right government said on Monday it was weighing up its position on whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Close ally Australia on Monday joined Canada, the UK and France in announcing it would recognise a Palestinian state at a UN conference in September. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago National Guard descends on Washington DC as Trump mulls plan for 'reaction force' to invade U.S. cities at any time

Troops with the National Guard arrived into the capital late on Tuesday night in a bid by the White House to curb violent crime.

Politics

4 h. ago National guard begins deploying on DC streets after Trump police takeover

Officials say troops to start appearing in nation’s capital on Tuesday night as president’s move widely condemnedUS politics live – latest updatesThe Washington DC national guard will begin deploying on the city’s streets on Tuesday night, a day after Donald Trump ordered their arrival and took control of the city’s police force, calling Washington DC a “lawless” city, despite official crime statistics saying otherwise, a White House official confirmed.The national guard is expected to “begin being on the streets starting tonight”. Defense officials said a small number of the roughly 800 guard members planned for the mission had already been mobilized by Tuesday afternoon, with more expected to arrive in the coming days. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago China’s crackdown on lavish civil servant perks will ‘harm’ the economy, experts warn

Updated regulations ban the country’s 40 million civil servants from lavish banquets, and restrict them from overseas travel for ‘personal leisure’Adjacent to a municipal government building in Beijing, a normally bustling restaurant is now eerily quiet, at lunchtime most of its seats are empty.The recent crackdown on civil servants frequenting restaurants – part of a government austerity drive intended to crack down on corruption – has likely affected business and caused liquor sales to plummet, admits one waitress who works in the opulent establishment. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Woman, 23, who tried to smuggle £800,000 worth of crack cocaine into the UK in a wheel of cheese is jailed

US national Jamie Choi, 23, was stopped by Border Force officers at Heathrow on May 25 after arriving on a flight from Brazil.

Economics

4 h. ago Police told to release ethnicity of suspects in high profile cases after string of secrecy rows

Forces will disclose the ethnicity and nationality of a suspect when it could reduce the risk of disorder, there are high levels of false information about an incident or there is significant public interest.

Events

5 h. ago Government urges households to check if they can save £150 on energy bills

There are less than two weeks to ensure you will receive the discount, the government has warned

Economics

5 h. ago ICE ordered to improve conditions at NYC facility after lawsuit alleges unsanitary cells where immigrants lack food and water

Detainees say they were forced to sleep with ‘horrific stench’ of sweat, urine and feces in cells with open toilets

Events

5 h. ago Live facial recognition to expand across the country amid Government overhaul of neighbourhood policing

The technology will be deployed to catch 'high-harm' offenders with new rules to support its use and ensure 'safeguards and oversight', the Home Office said.

Politics

5 h. ago UK trade envoy to Turkey's trip to Northern Cyprus turns into a full diplomatic row

The Greek Cypriot government condemned the 'unacceptable' trip by Labour's Afzal Khan, piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to sack him.

Politics

5 h. ago Facial recognition vans to be deployed across Britain to help police target serious criminals

The Home Office has announced 10 new Live Facial Recognition vans will be distributed across seven forces, allowing officers to use cutting-edge technology to target and locate wanted criminals

Events

5 h. ago Government issues reminder that millions could save £150 off energy bills

It takes the number of households set to benefit from the Warm Home Discount to over six million – an increase of 2.7 million households

Economics

5 h. ago Speed of improvement in cancer survival rates ‘slowing’, say experts

The Government launched a call for evidence to help shape a national cancer plan earlier this year.

Events

5 h. ago Live facial recognition to be widened in neighbourhood policing drive

A new legal framework will be drawn up to support the expanded use of the technology, the Government said.

Events

5 h. ago £13m scheme boosts rare wildlife but experts warn ‘time running out’ for nature

Rare species from water voles to adders across England have been helped with cash from the Species Recovery Programme’s capital grants scheme.

Events

5 h. ago UK police should consider revealing ethnicity of suspects, says new guidance

Disclosure of migration status, and ethnicity, could help keep peace ‘where there are high levels of disinformation’Police forces should consider disclosing the ethnicity and migration status of suspects when they are charged in high-profile and sensitive investigations, according to new official guidance.After a row over claims that police “covered up” the backgrounds of two men charged in connection with the alleged rape of a child, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing have backed plans to release details of nationality when there is a “policing purpose” for doing so. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago National Guard rehearsed show of force against immigration raid protesters, general testifies

A general has testified that National Guard troops repeatedly rehearsed their role in an operation at a Los Angeles park intended as a show of force against people protesting immigration raids

Events