39 h. ago New UK Government update on calls to change free bus travel scheme for people over 60

The national entitlement scheme operates UK-wide, but there are different eligibility rules under devolved governments.

Politics

51 h. ago Senate Republicans consider joining Democrats to oppose Trump over tariffs

Republican defections would amount to rare public rebuke as concerns mount over impact of president’s plansUS politics live – latest updatesOn the eve of Donald Trump’s so-called “liberation day” for tariffs, a handful of Senate Republicans are debating whether to defy the president and join Democrats to stop the US from imposing levies on Canadian imports.The resolution, offered by the Democratic senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, would terminate the emergency order that Trump is using to justify tariffs against Canada, citing the flow of fentanyl across the US’s northern border. The vote is largely symbolic – the House is not expected to take up the measure – but several defections would amount to a rare and notable rebuke of the president by his own party. Continue reading...

Politics

58 h. ago French far right calls for nationwide protests against Marine Le Pen ban

National Rally president says French electorate ‘must be outraged’ at judgment that would ‘rob’ them of a voice Europe live – latest updatesFrance’s far-right National Rally (RN) party is calling for nationwide demonstrations against a court decision to ban Marine Le Pen from public office for five years, seemingly wrecking her hopes of becoming president in 2027.Jordan Bardella, the RN president, said French people “must be outraged” after what he called a “disproportionate, political and partisan” judgment that would rob them of a voice in the election. Continue reading...

Events

65 h. ago BBC TV licence 2025: how much it now costs after price rise? Explained

TV licence fee has officially gone-up and this is what it now costs 💲

Economics

3 d. ago BBC warns of ‘unprecedented’ issues after £1bn drop in income

The corporation issued the warning after two years when the licence fee was frozen.

Events

5 d. ago Full list of people who don't have to pay for a TV licence as fee rises

On April 1 the TV licence fee will rise for households

Politics

5 d. ago BBC TV licence ways to save £174 before price rise next week

The TV licence fee will increase in cost from April 1 and even users of Netflix and Amazon Prime could have to fork out

Economics

6 d. ago Another top US law firm strikes deal with Trump to avoid being targeted – US politics live

Law firm criticized by Elon Musk agrees to $100m in pro bono legal work for the federal government amid criticism of top law firms caving to pressureBig law firms being threatened by Trump face pressure to speak outVance Greenland visit – live updatesCanadian prime minister Mark Carney and Donald Trump’s first phone call will take place this morning, a source with knowledge of the matter has told Radio-Canada.It will be their first conversation as leaders and comes days after Trump announced plans to impose sweeping 25% tariffs on cars from overseas, a move Carney condemned as a “direct attack” on Canadian workers. Trump later threatened further tariffs if the EU worked with Canada “in order to do economic harm to the USA”. Carney said:We will defend our workers, we will defend our companies, we will defend our country, and we will defend it together.I’m available for a call, but you know, we’re going to talk on our terms as a sovereign country, not as what he pretends we are. Conti...

Politics

7 d. ago Call The Midwife fans get major update over next series after axe fears

Call the Midwife is reportedly set to return to the BBC later this year for a new Christmas special and series, despite fans' fears over the future of the show

Politics

7 d. ago Call The Midwife new series update as show faces 'biggest challenge'

The popular show's creator previously said she might put a pause on the show to work on spin-off idea

Culture

8 d. ago Republican senators break ranks to call for investigation of Signal leak scandal

Senior GOP figures warn of potential ‘significant political problem’ for Trump administration in rare sign of unrestUS politics live – latest updatesIn rare signs of unrest, top Republican senators are calling for an investigation into the Signal leak scandal and demanding answers from the Trump administration, as they raise concerns it will become a “significant political problem” if not addressed properly.“This is what happens when you don’t really have your act together,” the Alaska Republican senator Lisa Murkowski told the Hill. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Assisted dying bill is ‘flawed and dangerous’ after changes, says group of Labour MPs

Bill, which passed committee scrutiny on Tuesday, has ‘insufficient protections’ for most vulnerableUK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs opposed to assisted dying have called the bill “irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law” in a letter to their parliamentary colleagues, saying “significant new risks” emerged during the scrutiny process.The letter from six critics, circulated to all Labour MPs, including two select committee chairs, came as the scrutiny committee finalised changes to the bill, which will now return to the Commons in April for its final stages. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Five killed by Israeli shelling in southern Syria, officials say; US appears to confirm fresh Yemen strikes – Middle East crisis live

Israel shells province of Darra amid warning of escalation in region; US attacks Houthis in a bid to regain control of international shipping lanesIn a statement regarding the airstrike on Syria, the Israeli military said:IDF (army) troops identified several terrorists who opened fire toward them in southern Syria. The troops returned fire in response and the IAF (air force) struck the terrorists. Hits were identified. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago US appears to confirm fresh strikes on Yemen; Israel issues fresh calls to evacuate northern Gaza – Middle East crisis live

US attacks target Houthis in a bid to regain control of international shipping lanes; IDF tells people to head towards ‘known shelters’ At least five people have been killed in Israeli shelling of the southern Syrian province of Daraa, local authorities said.In a post on Telegram, provincial authorities reported a provisional toll of “five people killed in the Israeli bombardment of the town of Kuwayya... west of Daraa”. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Israel military issues further calls to evacuate northern Gaza as airstrikes continue – Middle East crisis live

Military tells people to head towards ‘known shelters’ despite the fact there is no guarantee of safety as 57 people killed in past 24 hoursAs we mentioned in the opening summary, Israel’s security cabinet has approved a suggestion by the country’s defence minister, Israel Katz, to set up a new administration within his department tasked with enabling Palestinians to “voluntarily” leave Gaza, their homelands.In a statement a couple of days ago, Katz’s office said the new directorate would work to:Prepare for and enable safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries, including securing their movement, establishing movement routes, checking pedestrians at designated crossings in the Gaza Strip, as well as coordinating the provision of infrastructure that will enable passage by land, sea and air to the destination countries.The ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates condemned in the strongest terms Israel’s announcement of the establ...

Events

1 week ago Scots warned over TV licence fee hike with just days left to claim reduction

It comes as the annual cost of a standard colour TV licence will rise from £169.50 to £174.50 from next week.

Events

1 week ago New update on calls to make State Pension payments exempt from income tax

More than 104,000 people have signed an online petition calling for State Pensions to be exempt from income tax.

Economics

1 week ago New update on calls to scrap £174.50 TV licence fee for all pensioners

The BBC TV licence fee will rise from £169.50 to £174.50 on April 1.

Economics

2 w. ago Ontario’s police force using ‘growing ecosystem’ of Israeli spyware – report

Findings raise questions about extent and scope of Canadian authorities’ use of cyberweaponsResearchers have uncovered “possible links” between Ontario’s provincial police force and an Israel-based military-grade spyware maker called Paragon Solutions, raising questions about the extent and scope of Canadian authorities’ use of cyber weapons.The new findings were published by the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which tracks and identifies digital threats against civil society, and come three years after a parliamentary committee in Canada called for Ottawa to update the country’s privacy laws in the wake of press reports that the national police force was using spyware to hack mobile phone devices. No laws were ever passed to address the controversy. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Trump and Zelenskyy share ‘frank’ but ‘very good’ call as Ukraine accepts partial ceasefire

Ukraine’s president says his country is ready to implement pause in strikes on energy and infrastructureEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a “very good telephone call” on Wednesday, according to Trump, in the first conversation between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart since their disastrous showdown in the White House three weeks ago.Zelenskyy described the call as “positive, very substantive and frank”, and said he had signed up to a partial ceasefire that Trump agreed with Vladimir Putin a day earlier. The White House said Trump had promised to help with a Ukrainian request to source more air defence batteries for Kyiv. Continue reading...

Politics