23 m. ago Ministers locked in talks over ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Aston Villa tie

No 10 says discussions happening ‘at pace’ to resolve issue after decision by West Midlands police to issue banUK politics live – latest updatesMinisters have been locked in talks in an attempt to persuade West Midlands police to reverse a ban on fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv attending a match at Villa Park next month.After a political outcry about the decision, Downing Street said on Friday that discussions were happening “at pace, across government” to resolve the issue. Continue reading...

Politics

29 m. ago John Bolton pleads not guilty to charges of mishandling classified information – live

Former Trump adviser makes first court appearance over 18-count indictment handed down by federal grand jury in MarylandEx-Trump adviser John Bolton surrenders after indictmentThe US Senate failed on Thursday to re-open the government and to vote to fund the military during the federal government shutdown, ensuring that the standoff will stretch into next week.The Senate vote on a short-term Republican funding bill failed for the 10th time with just 51 votes. A second vote on Pentagon funding in the afternoon similarly failed in a floor vote, meaning the process to begin fully funding military operations also becomes a non-starter. After the votes, senators are expected to leave Washington for the weekend, almost guaranteeing the shutdown lasts until at least Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

90 m. ago John Bolton appears in court as former Trump adviser surrenders on criminal charges of mishandling classified information

Bolton, who is accused of retaining and sharing national defense information, has denied wrongdoing

Events

3 h. ago John Bolton at court to surrender to authorities after being indicted – US politics live

Eighteen-count indictment of former Trump adviser handed down by federal grand jury in Maryland as US president calls ex-ally a ‘bad guy’Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton expected to surrender after indictmentThe US Senate failed on Thursday to re-open the government and to vote to fund the military during the federal government shutdown, ensuring that the standoff will stretch into next week.The Senate vote on a short-term Republican funding bill failed for the 10th time with just 51 votes. A second vote on Pentagon funding in the afternoon similarly failed in a floor vote, meaning the process to begin fully funding military operations also becomes a non-starter. After the votes, senators are expected to leave Washington for the weekend, almost guaranteeing the shutdown lasts until at least Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago John Bolton expected to surrender to authorities on Friday after being indicted – US politics live

Eighteen-count indictment of former Trump adviser handed down by federal grand jury in Maryland as US president calls ex-ally a ‘bad guy’The US Senate failed on Thursday to re-open the government and to vote to fund the military during the federal government shutdown, ensuring that the standoff will stretch into next week.The Senate vote on a short-term Republican funding bill failed for the 10th time with just 51 votes. A second vote on Pentagon funding in the afternoon similarly failed in a floor vote, meaning the process to begin fully funding military operations also becomes a non-starter. After the votes, senators are expected to leave Washington for the weekend, almost guaranteeing the shutdown lasts until at least Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago China threatens UK with ‘consequences’ over delayed London mega embassy

Diplomatic tensions escalate amid rows over planning hold-ups and collapse of spying trialUK politics live – latest updatesTensions between Britain and China have escalated after Beijing criticised further delays to a planning decision on its proposed “mega embassy” in London.China’s ministry of foreign affairs expressed “grave concern and strong dissatisfaction” after Steve Reed, the housing secretary, pushed back his final decision on the proposal until 10 December. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago West Midlands police pressed over ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Aston Villa tie

Area’s crime commissioner demands review and culture secretary to speak to Home Office over decisionUK politics live – latest updatesPressure is mounting on West Midlands police over their ban on fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv from a match at Aston Villa next month, as the area’s crime commissioner demanded a review of the decision.Senior cabinet ministers, including Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, and Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, are due to meet on Friday to “find a way through”, after the ban was criticised by politicians across the spectrum including the prime minister. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago Police under rising pressure over ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Aston Villa tie

West Midlands crime commissioner demands review as ministers meet to ‘find a way through’UK politics live – latest updatesPressure is mounting on West Midlands police over their ban on fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv from a match at Aston Villa next month, as the area’s crime commissioner demanded a review of the decision.Senior cabinet ministers, including Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, and Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, are due to meet on Friday to “find a way through”, after the ban was criticised by politicians across the spectrum, including the prime minister. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago John Bolton says he hopes to expose Trump’s ‘abuse of power’ after being indicted – US politics live

Eighteen-count indictment of former Trump adviser handed down by federal grand jury in Maryland as US president calls ex-ally a ‘bad guy’After a federal judge tossed Donald Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, book publisher Penguin Random House and two Times reporters last month, the US president filed a 40-page amended complaint on Thursday.US district court judge Steven Merryday in Florida gave Trump 28 days to refile and amend the action he threw out on 19 September. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Government officials seek to lift ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Aston Villa tie

Culture secretary to speak to Home Office as minister says barring Israeli supporters is ‘utterly unacceptable’UK politics live – latest updatesSenior government officials will meet on Friday as they look to reverse a decision by West Midlands police to ban fans of the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv from a European match at Aston Villa next month.Ian Murray, a minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said on Friday the decision to ban travelling supporters was “completely and utterly unacceptable” and that the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, would meet officials from the Home Office and elsewhere to discuss it. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Tax hikes will ‘devastate’ London’s live music venues and raise ticket prices, warns O2 boss

Tax changes could result in higher ticket prices, fewer concerts and some grassroots music venues closing down, with London particularly vulnerable

Events

15 h. ago Mamdani and Cuomo spar in New York mayoral debate – US politics live

Candidates debate Trump, Gaza and New York-specific issues, while John Bolton indicted by federal grand juryFormer Trump adviser John Bolton indicted on 18 countsA reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Former Trump adviser John Bolton indicted by justice department

Former national security adviser was charged with 18 counts of mishandling classified documentsUS politics live – latest updatesA federal grand jury has indicted John Bolton, the former national security adviser in Donald Trump’s first term, on charges of mishandling and transmitting classified information.The indictment, filed in Maryland, appears to ultimately have been signed off on from career prosecutors in the US attorney’s office there despite initial reluctance to bring a case before the end of the year. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Warning new tax plan will ‘devastate’ London’s live music venues resulting in ticket price hikes and closures

Tax changes could result in higher ticket prices, fewer concerts and some grassroots music venues closing down, with London particularly vulnerable

Events

28 h. ago MI5 chief ‘frustrated’ at failure to put men accused of spying for China on trial

Ken McCallum, the domestic spy chief, says he will ‘never back off’ from confronting threats from BeijingUK politics live – latest updatesThe MI5 director general, Ken McCallum, has acknowledged his frustration at the failure to put on trial two Britons who had been accused of spying for China, in an apparent rebuke to prosecutors who dropped the high-profile case last month.The domestic spy chief insisted he would “never back off” from confronting threats from Beijing, which he said posed a national security threat “every day”, although the wider UK-China relationship was a matter for the government. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago UK ministers met fossil fuel lobbyists 500 times in first year of power, analysis shows

Lobbyists attended 48% more meetings than Tories, as Labour accused of giving them ‘backstage pass’ UK politics live – latest updatesGovernment ministers met representatives from the fossil fuel industry more than 500 times during their first year in power – equivalent to twice every working day, according to new research.The analysis found that fossil fuel lobbyists were present at 48% more ministerial meetings during Labour’s first year in power than under the Conservatives in 2023.Ministers at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) met fossil fuel lobbyists 274 times, with industry figures present at almost a quarter of meetings.Ed Miliband, the secretary for energy and climate change, met fossil fuel lobbyists 250 times – with a third of all his meetings attended by industry figures.During the same period DESNZ ministers met trade union representatives 61 timesThree fossil fuel companies: BP, Shell and Equinor , met ministers 100 times between them.Fossil fuel l...

Politics

30 h. ago Labour ministers met fossil fuel lobbyists 500 times in first year of power, analysis shows

Lobbyists attended 48% more meetings than Tories, as Labour accused of giving them ‘backstage pass’ UK politics live – latest updatesGovernment ministers met representatives from the fossil fuel industry more than 500 times during their first year in power – equivalent to twice every working day, according to research.The analysis found that fossil fuel lobbyists were present at 48% more ministerial meetings during Labour’s first year in power than under the Conservatives in 2023.Ministers at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) met fossil fuel lobbyists 274 times, with industry figures present at almost a quarter of meetings.During the same period DESNZ ministers met trade union representatives 61 times.Ed Miliband, the secretary for energy and climate change, met fossil fuel lobbyists 250 times – with a third of all his meetings attended by industry figures.Three fossil fuel companies: BP, Shell and Equinor, met ministers 100 times between them.Fossil fuel lobby...

Politics

39 h. ago JD Vance calls Republican operatives, aged 24 to 35, who wrote racist texts ‘kids’ – follow live

Vice-president further said media was paying too much attention to ‘what a bunch of kids say in a group chat’The far-right US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is further distancing herself from her fellow Republicans and accusing men in her party of being “weak”.In an interview with the Washington Post, Greene expressed her frustrations with Republicans, signaling her further deviation from the political strategies of her party, as the government shutdown beginning 1 October was slated to enter its third week. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Trump says US looking at land attacks in Venezuela after lethal strikes on boats – live

Trump also claims without evidence that every US strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat saves thousands of lives The far-right US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is further distancing herself from her fellow Republicans and accusing men in her party of being “weak”.In an interview with the Washington Post, Greene expressed her frustrations with Republicans, signaling her further deviation from the political strategies of her party, as the government shutdown beginning 1 October was slated to enter its third week. Continue reading...

Events

45 h. ago Federal judge temporarily blocks mass layoffs as Trump official estimates 10,000 could be affected – live

Judge Susan Illston says administration has ‘taken advantage of lapse in government functioning’; Russell Vought says his office wants to be ‘very aggressive in shuttering bureaucracy’Full report: judge temporarily blocks firings by Trump administration during shutdownThe far-right US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is further distancing herself from her fellow Republicans and accusing men in her party of being “weak”.In an interview with the Washington Post, Greene expressed her frustrations with Republicans, signaling her further deviation from the political strategies of her party, as the government shutdown beginning 1 October was slated to enter its third week. Continue reading...

Politics