20 m. ago Rachel Reeves says she ‘chooses investment’ ahead of unveiling Labour’s spending review – UK politics live

Chancellor will reveal how the government plans to spend almost £1.4tn in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29Good morning. The government plans to be spending almost £1.4tr in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29. Those annual limits are already agreed. Today, when Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, stands up at 12.30pm to present the spending review, she will explain how she has decided to divvy up that money between government departments over the next three years.This is not a budget, and she will not be announcing changes to tax policy. But it will feel like a budget because, like a budget, it will involve decisions that affect the public services people rely upon. And it is bound to intensify speculation about whether taxes will have to go up in the next budget, in the autumn.This government is renewing Britain. But I know too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it.This government’s task – my task – and the purpose of this Spending Review – i...

Politics

1 hour ago Axed Love Island star Sophie Lee breaks silence on exit as she says 'summer's not over'

Sophie Lee was the first person to get the boot from the Love Island villa and she's opened up about her early exit and her first impression on partner Harry Cooksley

Politics

2 h. ago LA protests: LAPD says it has made ‘mass arrests’ after mayor issued curfew for downtown – live

Mayor Karen Bass issues curfew for one square mile area in downtown, beginning at 8pm local time on Tuesday until 6am local time on WednesdayWelcome to the Guardian’s continued coverage of the protests in Los Angeles. If you are just tuning in, here is a handy summary to bring you up to speed.The LAPD says it has made ‘mass arrests’ in downtown LA after the Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a curfew for the city’s downtown area following several days of intense protests against Ice raids. The protests have been marked by clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, widespread vandalism and some looting. The curfew began at 8pm local time on Tuesday and will last until 6am local time on Wednesday. It will apply to a one-square-mile area in downtown.California governor Gavin Newsom delivered a searing rebuke of the Trump administration on Tuesday evening, accusing the government of “pulling a military dragnet” across LA and warning democracy is “under assault before our eyes”....

Events

3 h. ago 'My family think I gave kids 'disgusting' names – but they're important to me'

A mum claimed she's been accused of being 'selfish' by giving her children names that are important to her – and her mother-in-law has even called the monikers 'disgusting'

Politics

7 h. ago My mother killed my dad by hitting him on the head with a hammer

When Mum drove me to work that Sunday morning, I thought she seemed subdued - but then she hadn't been her usual chatty self for more than a year, ever since she and Dad split up...

Events

8 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Deaths in Kharkiv as Russia continues strikes on civilian targets

Latest prisoner exchange includes Mariupol defenders; European Commission unveils 18th round of sanctions. What we know on day 1,204At least two people were killed and 28 injured in an overnight Russian drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday morning. “Seventeen strikes by enemy UAVs were carried out in two districts of the city this night,” said the Kharkiv mayor, Igor Terekhov. More than 15 apartments were on fire in a five-storey building and several houses were hit. Terekhov added “there may be people trapped under the rubble”.Separately the death toll rose to at least three with 13 wounded after Russia attacked Kyiv and Odesa with waves of drones and missiles early on Tuesday. The civilian targets hit included a maternity ward and a cathedral. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, voiced his frustration with Donald Trump by calling for “concrete actions” rather than “silence” after seven of the Ukrainian capital’s 10 districts were hit, writes Daniel ...

Events

9 h. ago Brutal killer who raped and shot young mum twitches during execution after 30 years on death row

Anthony Wainwright kidnapped Carmen Gayheart from a supermarket car park in Florida in April 1994 before raping her and shooting her twice in the back of the head

Events

10 h. ago Tragic teaching assistant 'stabbed to death by pupil' pictured for first time

A 14-year-old French schoolboy is facing 20 eyars in prison after allegedly stabbing a teaching assistant to death after she asked to search his bag for weapons.

Events

11 h. ago Reuben Owen issues urgent plea for help after getting trapped at Ravenseat

Reuben Owen was forced to call brother Miles for help after getting his car stuck in a ditch.

Politics

11 h. ago He was trapped in hospitals for a decade because he’s autistic – now Nicholas is finally free

Special Report: For more than 10 years, Nicholas Thornton was detained in dementia care homes, psychiatric units and A&E wards because he couldn’t get the help he needed for his autism. It took a huge toll on his health, leaving the 29-year-old unable to speak. Now, one year after The Independent told his story, Nicholas is in his own home – and even able to talk again. Rebecca Thomas reports

Politics

12 h. ago EastEnders fans 'rumble' Joel Marshall's real mum as Walford legend who is set for 'return'

EastEnders viewers are convinced that Joel Marshall is the secret son of a Walford icon - meaning he has more relatives on the Square than he originally thought

Politics

12 h. ago Iran is 'intensifying efforts to acquire nuclear weapons with new covert weapons scheme', political opponents claim

Under the so-called 'Kavir Plan' (Desert Plan), Tehran is said to be intensifying efforts to acquire weapons with a range exceeding 3,000km (1,864 miles)

Events

12 h. ago Stella McCartney gets tested for disease on the same day every year for heartbreaking reason

Sir Paul McCartney's youngest daughter Stella speaks on the heartbreaking loss of her mum

Politics

12 h. ago Toddler 'beaten to death by grandparents' while mum was upstairs on her phone, court told

Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, deny murdering their grandson

Events

12 h. ago Stella McCartney gets tested for killer disease with sister on same day

Sir Paul McCartney’s daughter Stella has spoken out about the pain of losing her mum Linda, nearly three decades after her tragic death.

Events

15 h. ago AI can ‘level up’ opportunities for dyslexic children, says UK tech secretary

Peter Kyle, who is dyslexic and uses AI in his work, says government should look at how it ‘can transform education’Artificial intelligence should be deployed to “level up” opportunities for dyslexic children, according to the UK science and technology secretary, Peter Kyle, who warned there was currently not enough human capacity to help people with the learning difficulty.Kyle, who is dyslexic and uses AI to support his work, said the government should carefully look at “how AI can transform education and help us assess and understand a young person’s abilities into the future”. Continue reading...

Society

15 h. ago Brits to become sleep zombies with 27C heat, thunder and 'intense' rain, warn Met Office

UK weather to warm up - roasting Brits as temperatures soar, with the South East and central England potentially reaching 27C on Wednesday and Thursday and then 29C on Friday

Events

16 h. ago Stella McCartney gets tested for killer disease with sister on same day every year

Sir Paul McCartney and his late wife Linda's youngest daughter Stella speaks on the heartbeaking loss of her mum nearly three decades ago

Events

16 h. ago Los Angeles protests follow weeks of intensifying immigration enforcement

The Pentagon’s deployment of about 700 Marines to Los Angeles to help the National Guard respond to immigration protests follows weeks of rapid developments in President Donald Trump’s signature domestic priority for mass deportations

Events

17 h. ago Mercedes driven through classroom wall when mum 'suffered seizure before crash'

Joanna Murray previously pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving but not guilty to failure to provide a specimen for analysis.

Events