2 h. ago House begins voting on bill to end government shutdown as new Epstein revelations roil US politics – live

The White House announced that Donald Trump plans to sign the legislation to reopen the federal government at 9:45pm Eastern Time, on live televisionIn a new batch of emails released by Democrats on the House oversight committee, Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Donald Trump knew about the late financier and sex-offender’s conduct. In the three emails released, Epstein apparently told his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump “spent hours” at his house with one of Epstein’s victims.In two other emails to author Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote that “of course he knew about the girls”, referring to the now-president. According to the exchanges, Epstein also solicited Wolff’s advice about how he should handle Trump discussing their friendship in an interview with CNN. “I think you should let him hang himself,” Wolff writes. “If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a p...

Politics

3 h. ago World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds

Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heatingThe world is still on track for a catastrophic 2.6C increase in temperature as countries have not made sufficiently strong climate pledges, while emissions from fossil fuels have hit a record high, two major reports have found.Despite their promises, governments’ new emission-cutting plans submitted for the Cop30 climate talks taking place in Brazil have done little to avert dangerous global heating for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Climate Action Tracker update. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Scottish Government handed same credit rating as UK ahead of bonds plan

Moody’s rated the Scottish Government as Aa3 while S&P Global rated it as AA.

Politics

9 h. ago Fury as asylum seekers fleeing war zones housed near police firearms test site

The government plans to house asylum seekers at a military training camp in East Sussex - but campaigners fear its proximity to a police firearms test centre could be re-traumatising

Events

9 h. ago Zelenskyy fires ministers accused of involvement in bribery scheme as public outrage grows

Ukraine president also calls for sanctions against friend and former business partner, saying ‘there must be maximum integrity’Volodymyr Zelenskyy has moved to contain growing public outrage in Ukraine over a corruption scandal in the energy sector by firing two ministers who are accused of involvement in a large-scale bribery scheme.Ukraine’s president said the pair – justice minister Herman Halushchenko and energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk – could no longer remain in their jobs. He also called for personal sanctions against his friend and former business partner Timur Mindich, the scheme’s alleged organiser. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Government issues update on ticket prices for Great British Railways passengers

The Government is not planning to withdraw current discount schemes for trains

Politics

13 h. ago Government announces plans to use army to help tackle driving test backlog

The DVSA will fork out £100,000 for the extra support

Politics

19 h. ago New UK Government plans to tackle benefits and public sector fraud set to become law

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill is now ready for royal assent.

Politics

22 h. ago African countries boost family planning funding in ‘shift from dependency’ after aid cuts

Zambia, Zimbabwe and DRC take steps to protect decades of progress in reproductive health, as donor fatigue leads to steep cuts in aidAfrican governments are boosting funding for family planning programmes as cuts in foreign aid threaten decades of reproductive health progress and access to birth control for millions of women and girls.Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are the latest countries to announce increased budgets for family planning supplies and services. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Three countries boost family planning funding in ‘powerful shift from dependency’ in Africa after aid cuts

Zambia, Zimbabwe and DRC take steps to protect decades of progress in reproductive health, as donor fatigue leads to steep cuts in aidSeveral African governments are boosting funding for family planning programmes as cuts in foreign aid threaten decades of reproductive health progress and access to birth control for millions of women and girls.Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are the latest to announce increased budgets for family planning supplies and services. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Trump administration planning to allow oil and gas drilling off California coast

Plan, which Gavin Newsom, the governor, has said would be ‘dead on arrival’, will allow six lease sales from 2027 to 2030The Trump administration is planning to allow oil and gas drilling off the California coast for the first time in decades, according to a draft plan shared with the Washington Post.The move is guaranteed to set up a battle with the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, a staunch opponent of offshore drilling. Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago UK Government unveils plan to phase out animal testing in 'ambitious' move

A UK minister has set out plans to phase out animal experiments in science

Politics

39 h. ago Migrants and refugees welcome here just not near me! Green deputy leader complains about 600 asylum seekers being housed in her local area

In a recent letter to the Home Office, Rachel Millward complained about Government plans to temporarily use a military site in East Sussex as asylum accommodation.

Events

40 h. ago Britain's ambitious plan to end animal testing: UK government reveals shift away from 'suffering' creatures toward futuristic organ

Science ministers have laid out their ambitious plans to eliminate the use of animals in research, marking a significant step away from the 'suffering' of millions of creatures in the UK.

Politics

51 h. ago Major change to root out 'bad actors' in councils amid misbehaviour

Councillors and mayors who repeatedly break the rules or commit serious misconduct will face tougher sanctions under Government plans published today

Politics

56 h. ago Scots Secretary of State Douglas Alexander MP visits college campus and Summerlee Museum in Coatbridge to hear about projects

Coatbridge MP Frank McNally secured £20 million Plan for Neighbourhoods money from the Labour Government following the election last summer.

Politics

4 d. ago Return to the office? Public sector splurges nearly £1.3million of taxpayers' cash on WFH equipment

A Mail on Sunday investigation lays bare the outlay on desks, office chairs and IT equipment for public sector workers still reaping the benefits of hybrid working brought in during the pandemic.

Economics

4 d. ago Prince Philip's brave Highlanders to be evicted from barracks to make way for asylum seekers

War heroes are to be evicted from their ­historic base to make way for the UK Government 's controversial plans to house asylum seekers in MoD barracks.

Politics

4 d. ago England facing drastic measures due to extreme drought next year

Government and water companies are devising emergency plans for worst water shortage in decadesWater companies and the government are drawing up emergency plans for a drought next year more extreme than we have seen in decades.Executives at one major water company told the Guardian they were extremely concerned about the prospect of a winter with lower than average rainfall, which the Met Office’s long-term forecast says is likely. They said if this happened, the water shortfall would mean taking drastic water use curtailment measures “going beyond hosepipe bans”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Why Scotland should learn from Spain to save fossil fuel workers from unemployment

The Scottish and UK governments need a better plan to deal with mass job losses in the North Sea oil and gas industries

Politics