1 hour ago Starmer under scrutiny as Mandelson ‘admitted long ties with Epstein in vetting’

Questions are swirling about the Prime Minister’s political judgment after he sacked the peer a day after defending him.

Politics

1 hour ago Ed Sheeran: Play review – subcontinental sounds and shards of darkness – but still unmistakably him

(Gingerbread Man/Atlantic)Despite embracing Indian and Persian sounds, Sheeran’s eighth album goes back to basics after two records of muted melancholy – albeit with some surprising undercurrentsAs he points out on the opening track of Play, Ed Sheeran has now been around a long time. It’s 20 years since he self-released his debut album and 14 since he signed to a major label and set about becoming the most commercially successful British artist of his age: long enough that we’re now seeing the appearance of pop stars who claim him as a formative influence. (Singer-songwriter Myles Smith, who was just into his teens when Sheeran released his breakthrough album +, even plays one of those little acoustic guitars that have long been Sheeran’s trademark.) It’s certainly long enough that anyone with even a passing interest knows what to expect when Ed Sheeran releases a new album.Sheeran’s success is based on a certain dependability: it doesn’t seem to matter who he works with – Pharrell...

Politics

2 h. ago Keir Starmer ignored string of warnings before finally sacking Mandelson: Questions grow over PM's judgment as Labour MPs brand his handling of the episode 'a shambles'

The Prime Minister finally acted to remove the disgraced peer as ambassador to the United States amid a growing Labour revolt over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Events

2 h. ago Trump asks appeals court to let him fire Lisa Cook before next week’s Fed meeting

US central bank set to make a pivotal decision on interest rates

Events

3 h. ago Venezuela says none of 11 killed in US boat strike were Tren de Aragua members

Interior minister says ‘murder has been committed’ amid rising tensions over US military strike on boat in CaribbeanNone of the 11 people killed in a US military strike on a boat in the Caribbean last week were members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Venezuela’s interior minister has said, as the South American nation deployed troops amid heightened tensions with the US.The administration of Donald Trump has said the boat was transporting illegal narcotics, but has provided scant further information about the incident, even amid demands from members of the US Congress for a justification for the action. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Mother of woman killed by boyfriend tells Starmer justice system is ‘broken’

Linda Westcarr sent a letter to the Prime Minister calling for an urgent meeting after her daughter’s killer was handed a hospital order.

Events

4 h. ago Netanyahu accuses Spain's Prime Minister of making a 'genocidal threat' after leader said his country 'cannot stop Israel alone' because they 'don't have nuclear bombs'

Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Spain's socialist prime minster for issuing what he called a 'blatant genocidal threat' against Israel.

Politics

4 h. ago Canada: Mark Carney announces array of national projects to ‘turbocharge’ economy

List leaves out oil pipelines and focuses on LNG expansion, mines and nuclear power as it fends off US trade warCanada’s Liberal government has said that a liquefied natural gas facility, critical mineral mines, a nuclear reactor and port expansion will mark the first wave of major national projects to “turbocharge” the country’s economy as it fends off a trade war with the United States.Notably, the list unveiled by the prime minster, Mark Carney, on Thursday does not include any new oil pipelines – projects which have proven to be deeply divisive and politically fractious in recent years. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Canada: Carney unveils array of national projects to ‘turbocharge’ economy

List leaves out oil pipelines and focuses on LNG expansion, mines and nuclear power as it fends off US trade warCanada’s Liberal government has said that a liquefied natural gas facility, critical mineral mines, a nuclear reactor and port expansion will mark the first wave of major national projects to “turbocharge” the country’s economy as it fends off a trade war with the United States.Notably, the list unveiled by the prime minster, Mark Carney, on Thursday does not include any new oil pipelines – projects which have proven to be deeply divisive and politically fractious in recent years. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Starmer faces growing scrutiny over Mandelson appointment as PM sacks US ambassador for Epstein relationship

The Prime Minister fired Lord Mandelson after new revelations about his relationship with the disgraced financier

Politics

5 h. ago Reform vow to set up ministry for migration staffed only by civil servants who believe in secure borders

A Reform UK government would only allow civil servants who 'believe' in secure borders to work in a new ministry to tackle migration, Richard Tice announced today.

Politics

5 h. ago Reform would only have believers working on migration policy in new ministry as Right unites on path to leave ECHR and Braverman calls for judges to be political appointments

A Reform UK government would only allow civil servants who 'believe' in secure borders to work in a new ministry to tackle migration, Richard Tice announced today.

Events

5 h. ago Netanyahu accuses Spain's Prime Minister of making a 'genocidal threat' after leader said his country 'cannot stop Israel alone' because they 'don't have nuclear bombs'

Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Spain's socialist prime minster for issuing what he called a 'blatant genocidal threat' against Israel.

Politics

6 h. ago Phillipson faces Powell in final stage of Labour deputy leader race

Contest to replace Angela Rayner is an unwelcome distraction for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

Politics

6 h. ago Spotlight falls on Starmer’s political judgment after Mandelson sacking

Decision to end support for US ambassador over Jeffrey Epstein links comes just before Donald Trump state visit Keir Starmer is facing serious questions about his political judgment after he was forced to sack his US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.In the second damaging departure for the government in a week, the prime minister withdrew support for Lord Mandelson over emails to Epstein from 2008 suggesting his sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution should be challenged. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago The Guardian view on Peter Mandelson in Washington: a parable of short

Any association with Jeffrey Epstein was obviously toxic and it reflects poorly on Keir Starmer’s judgment that he didn’t anticipate the riskAs UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson was obviously a risky appointment. There was never any doubt that the former cabinet minister, European commissioner and international business lobbyist would be a skilled operator. The danger came from another of his reliable traits – attracting attention for the wrong reasons.Sure enough, little over six months into the role, Lord Mandelson’s position became untenable. Sir Keir Starmer had stood by him when links to Jeffrey Epstein first resurfaced – extraordinary given the billionaire financier’s status as a convicted paedophile. The position changed with the publication of evidence showing that Lord Mandelson reaffirmed the friendship even after Epstein’s conviction, expressing solidarity and urging him to seek early release.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this ar...

Politics

7 h. ago He wanted to keep his late mother's home so he made an 'idiotic decision'

Hamza Hardy, 29, now faces several years behind bars

Politics

7 h. ago Controversial holiday park expansion back on the cards despite High Court ruling

A major Pembrokeshire holiday park's plans were initially approved by councillors in late 2023 before a successful court challenge was brought by a residents' group

Events

8 h. ago Gurkha recruitment ongoing despite Nepal unrest, says minister

Britain has long-standing links with the landlocked Himalayan country, which has been rocked by violent protests

Politics

8 h. ago Judge allows Trump to cut more than $1bn in National Science Foundation grants

Court declined preliminary injunction in case brought by scientists seeking to halt purge of more than 1,600 grantsThe Trump administration can go ahead and purge more than 1,600 research grants issued by National Science Foundation (NSF) worth more than $1bn, after a judge declined to grant a preliminary injunction in a case brought by a coalition of organizations representing thousands of scientists.The NSF is the premier federal investor in basic and cutting-edge science and engineering, which until Trump’s second term enjoyed bipartisan support, with the agency’s independent review process revered globally as the gold standard. Continue reading...

Politics