9 h. ago Mandelson praises Trump’s ‘graciousness’ and declines to apologise for friendship with Jeffrey Epstein – UK politics live

In first TV interview since he was sacked as UK ambassador to US, Mandelson says association with Epstein was ‘terrible mistake’ but adds: ‘I was not culpable’Laura Kuenssberg asks Peter Mandelson if he liked Donald Trump when he was the UK ambassador.Mandelson says he did like Trump, listing of numerous reasons why, but said he did not like all of his “language”.I like him, yes, I liked his humour, his graciousness I liked his directness. You knew exactly what he was thinking and where you stood and what he wanted. And how he was proposing to engage, with you. Did I like in all his language? No, I didn’t, did I? Did he make me gasp? What’s going to happen is there’s going to be, another discussion, a lot of consultation and a lot of negotiation.At the end of the day, we are all going to have to wake up to the reality that the Arctic needs securing against China and Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Fury as Peter Mandelson refuses to apologise over Jeffrey Epstein friendship

In a bombshell interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, former Ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson declined to apologise for his friendship with Epstein after his conviction for child sex offences

Politics

52 h. ago US military forces seize fifth tanker in effort to control Venezuelan oil

Pre-dawn assault on the Olina oil tanker was carried out by US marines and navy sailors in the Caribbean near TrinidadUS politics live – latest updatesThe US early on Friday boarded another oil tanker, the US military said, as part of efforts to target sanctions-busting vessels traveling to and from Venezuela.US forces were seen in video footage that officials posted online landing on the ship’s deck as the vessel named Olina was seized in the Caribbean near Trinidad. It is the fifth interdiction of such ships in recent weeks, separately from the series of previous US operations since the start of the fall to strike suspected drug boats off the coast of Venezuela. Continue reading...

Events

52 h. ago ‘A more convenient dictatorship’: fear and uncertainty in Venezuela after fall of Maduro

US capture of president gave many Venezuelans hope, but a week on, an even more draconian atmosphere pervades the South American countryUS politics live – latest updatesFreddy Guevara will never forget the 34 excruciating days he spent inside Venezuela’s most notorious political prison after being snatched by masked men from President Nicolás Maduro’s intelligence agency.The black hood, the interrogations, the stress positions, the salsa music his captors blasted at him in an attempt to make him crack. Continue reading...

Politics

54 h. ago US in process of seizing fifth tanker in effort to control Venezuelan oil

The Olina, seized in the Caribbean, was falsely flying the flag of Timor Leste, according to a public shipping databaseUS politics live – latest updatesThe US is in the process of seizing the Olina tanker in the Caribbean near Trinidad in the fifth such interdiction of ships in recent weeks as part of Washington’s efforts to control Venezuelan oil exports, two US officials said on Friday.The Olina, according to public shipping database Equasis, was falsely flying the flag of the tiny south-east Asian nation of Timor Leste. The vessel had previously sailed from Venezuela and had returned to the region, said an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter. Continue reading...

Events

55 h. ago No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool

Spokesperson says limiting access to paying subscribers just makes ability to generate unlawful images a premium serviceUK politics live – latest updatesDowning Street has condemned the move by X to restrict its AI image creation tool to paying subscribers as insulting, saying it simply made the ability to generate explicit and unlawful images a premium service.There has been widespread anger after the image tool for Grok, the AI element of X, was used to manipulate thousands of images of women and sometimes children to remove their clothing or put them in sexual positions. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago UK ministers considering leaving X amid concern over AI tool images

Labour party chair says government having conversations about use of platform in light of sexualised Grok images UK politics live – latest updatesUK ministers are considering leaving X as a result of the controversy over the platform’s AI tool, which has been allowing users to generate digitally altered pictures of people – including children – with their clothes removed.Anna Turley, the chair of the Labour party and a minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, said on Friday that conversations were happening within the government and Labour about their continued use of the social media platform, which is controlled by Elon Musk. Continue reading...

Politics

58 h. ago Trump claims to have cancelled ‘previously expected’ second wave of attacks on Venezuela – US politics live

US president says move was reaction to Caracas releasing large numbers of political prisoners as ‘sign of seeking peace’US border patrol agents shot two people outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon, a day after an ICE officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis.The Portland police bureau (PPB) said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that two people were in hospital after a shooting involving federal agents, adding that the conditions of those shot were not known.Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of “Seeking Peace.” This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure. Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes. At least ...

Politics

62 h. ago ICE shooting updates: Protests erupt in Minneapolis as officer who killed Renee Nicole Good is identified

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

66 h. ago ICE shooting updates: Protests erupt in Minneapolis and other cities across the country after the killing of Renee Nicole Good

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

67 h. ago ICE shooting updates: Two shot and injured by federal agents in Portland as protesters gather after Minneapolis death

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

2 d. ago Minneapolis ICE shooting updates: Jonathan Ross named as agent who fatally shot woman as Walz preps National Guard for protests

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

3 d. ago Minneapolis ICE shooting latest: Agent who fatally shot Renee Good is identified as Vance calls death ‘tragedy of her own making’

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

3 d. ago Kristi Noem doubles down on claim ICE agent killed woman in self

DHS secretary’s claims have been widely disputed with video of shooting showing vehicle turning away from agentUS politics live – latest updatesKristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, has doubled down on her claim that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis was acting in self-defense and responding to an “act of domestic terrorism”.Noem also said that she was “not opposed” to sending additional federal agents to Minneapolis. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Minneapolis ICE shooting latest: Vance blames Renee Good for her own death and says agent ‘protected by absolute immunity’

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

3 d. ago Minneapolis ICE shooting latest: Walz demands state be part of investigation and dubs Noem ‘judge, jury and executioner’ for response

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

3 d. ago FBI takes over investigation of killing of US citizen by ICE officer and revokes Minnesota’s access to materials

Minneapolis remains on edge, with several protests planned after shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin GoodUS politics live – latest updatesThe FBI has taken full control of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, it emerged on Thursday.In a statement, the Minneosta Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said it was initially called upon to help investigate the shooting before federal officials “reversed course” and said the case would be solely led by the FBI. As it now no longer has access to the case materials, witnesses and evidence, the BCA said it had “reluctantly” withdrawn from the investigation. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago FBI takes over case of ICE agent killing US woman and cuts Minnesota’s access to evidence

Minneapolis remains on edge, with several protests planned after shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin GoodUS politics live – latest updatesThe FBI has taken full control of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, it emerged on Thursday.In a statement, the Minneosta Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said it was initially called upon to help investigate the shooting before federal officials “reversed course” and said the case would be solely led by the FBI. As it now no longer has access to the case materials, witnesses and evidence, the BCA said it had “reluctantly” withdrawn from the investigation. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Minneapolis ICE shooting updates: State barred from taking part in investigation by DOJ after Renee Nicole Good killed by agent

Protesters clash with federal agents Thursday in Minneapolis following fatal shooting of mother-of-three

Events

3 d. ago Minneapolis shooting updates: ICE refuses to cooperate with state investigators after Renee Nicole Good shot dead by agent

The FBI is investigating the ICE agent's shooting of the mother-of-three. Trump administration officials have described the killing as an act of self defense by the officer

Events