12 h. ago A key hurdle to Ukraine peace deal has been overcome thanks to Britain and France – this is what’s next

Zelensky himself has admitted that a ceasefire is unlikely given Moscow’s refusal to accede on its demands. But a pledge by the UK and France to deploy troops in Ukraine if there is a peace deal represents progress, writes Bel Trew

Economics

24 h. ago France and UK commit to deploying troops under proposed Ukraine peace deal

US pledges support to European-led ‘deterrence’ force after Paris summit focused on security guarantees

Economics

25 h. ago Britain and France commit to boots on the ground in Ukraine if peace deal reached

Sir Keir Starmer made the announcement alongside Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky

Economics

3 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Ukraine will fight on if peace talks fail, Zelenskyy vows

Ukraine’s top allies hold security talks in Kyiv; Russia condemns US attack on Venezuela. What we know on day 1,411The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says he hopes for a leaders’ summit in the US by the end of January to discuss proposals on how to end the war with Russia. Security advisers from Ukraine’s top allies met in Kyiv on Saturday for talks on a US-brokered plan to end the war, days after Kyiv announced a deal was “90%” ready. Officials from 15 countries including the UK, France and Germany as well as representatives from Nato and the EU joined the meeting. The US special envoy Steve Witkoff also joined virtually, a Ukrainian official said, although the US military attack on Venezuela earlier in the day overshadowed proceedings.Next week, the talks will continue during a European leaders’ meeting in Paris and then with US negotiators. “And after that we will be preparing for a meeting in the United States at the leadership level. We would like all of this to happ...

Events

4 d. ago Vaping safer than smoking – so why are people struggling to quit e

With vaping now more common than smoking, experts explain addiction and what actually helps people quitMore socially acceptable than smoking – yet just as addictive – vaping has become the UK’s default way of consuming nicotine.Figures published by the Office for National Statistics last month showed that the number of over-16s in Great Britain who use vapes or e-cigarettes has overtaken the number who smoke cigarettes for the first time, with 5.4 million adults now vaping daily or occasionally, compared with 4.9 million who smoke. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Fury at 'sick joke' £240,000 handout for Islamist double killer under ECHR rules after he whined that putting him in solitary for taking prison officer hostage breached his human rights

In what has been branded a 'sick joke' Fuad Awale was given the cash by the High Court after he claimed that a decision to place him in solitary confinement left him 'severely depressed'.

Events

5 d. ago One in, one out migrant returns deal with France branded a joke as figures show Britain has accepted more people than it has sent back

So far 193 people who crossed the Channel in small boats have been sent back to France - while 195 asylum-seekers have been allowed to come to the UK legally under the scheme.

Economics

1 week ago In the battle against antisemitism we must accept that Zionism means different things to different people | David Slucki

Among Jews the meaning of the term has evolved – but there is still no consensus. And when people talk past one another there are real-world consequencesThe 14 December Bondi Beach attack targeting Jews at a Hanukah celebration has brought the issue of antisemitism into sharp national focus. In response, the New South Wales government announced measures to further curb hate speech and symbols, and, more controversially, new protest powers. This event and the government’s response have once again raised questions about the relationship between Jews, Israel, Zionism and anti-Zionism.Zionism is a Jewish national movement that sought to create a Jewish state, then to secure and sustain it. But “Zionism” is also a contested label: for many Jews it signifies safety, continuity and belonging; for Palestinians – and for many others – it denotes dispossession and ongoing domination. It’s clear that for different people, the word Zionism means very different things, which leads to people talk...

Events

1 week ago Red Rachel's RECORD £75bn tax bomb: Reeves has hit Britain harder than any Chancellor since figures began

An historic database of Budget measures shows Ms Reeves has been 'scored' as adding £75.1billion a year to the burden on hard-working Brits.

Economics

1 week ago Breaking bad: The huge number of prison officers dismissed in the last 12 months

More than a thousand prison staff have faced disciplinary action so far this year in Britain, damning new figures reveal.

Events

2 w. ago Why are drug prices so high in America? Trump doesn’t have the right answer | Susi Geiger and Théo Bourgeron

Americans are not paying high prices because of other western countries. Pharmaceutical companies are to blame When Donald Trump spoke about drug prices on 19 December, he struck a familiar note. Americans, he said, were paying far too much for medicines – and it was everyone else’s fault.There would be no talk of reining in private insurers or pharmaceutical profits. Instead, Trump blamed foreign governments for getting a better deal. Countries like France, Germany and Japan, he argued, were piggybacking on the United States by keeping their drug prices low.Susi Geiger and Théo Bourgeron are the authors of Peak Pharma: Toward a New Political Economy of Health (Oxford University Press) Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago That's a real cracker! Pull the other one... Gyles Brandreth picks the best cracker joke of the year

We asked self-proclaimed 'Christmas cracker obsessive' Gyles Brandreth to pick his favourite out of six supermarket boxes.

Politics

2 w. ago Sony collars Snoopy in £340m deal to take control of Peanuts franchise

Japanese conglomerate raises to 80% its stake in firm that owns the intellectual property created by Charles SchulzBusiness live – latest updatesSony has taken control of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts franchise including Snoopy and Charlie Brown in a deal worth C$630m (£340m).The Japanese conglomerate has bought 41% of Peanuts Holdings, which owns the intellectual property Schulz created, from the Canadian children’s entertainment company WildBrain. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Warner Bros Discovery urges shareholders to reject Paramount takeover bid

Bosses at Warner Bros, which makes franchises such as Harry Potter and Batman, said the proposed deal from Paramount was ‘inadequate’.

Events

3 w. ago Young people bearing brunt of UK jobs downturn, thinktank warns

Resolution Foundation report comes in week when data is expected to show October unemployment riseYoung people are bearing the brunt of Britain’s jobs downturn, according to a report, before official figures this week that are expected to show the UK unemployment rate rising to 5.1%.The Resolution Foundation thinktank said a “jobs deficit” was pushing a growing number of graduates and non-graduates into unemployment as employers reduced hiring. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago More than 700 migrants cross English Channel to push yearly total over 40,000 and end 28

Home Office figures showed 737 people made the journey to Britain via small boats on 13 December across 11 vessels - an average of 67 people per vessel.

Events

3 w. ago 'My daughter wants to be called something else and it really breaks my heart'

A mum was left heartbroken after her 11-year-old daughter started going by something other than her first name - and people say she needs to 'let it go' and accept her decision

Politics

3 w. ago Britain's most obese streets revealed... so do YOU live in one of them?

More than one in four people are dangerously fat in Britain's most obese neighbourhoods, according to analysis of official figures.

Politics

3 w. ago David Walliams cuts a sombre figure as he's seen for the first time since revealing he'll be spending Christmas apart from son Alfred, 12

The Little Britain star, 54, who was 'cancelled' in 2022 after making offensive comments during a break in Britain's Got Talent auditions, cut a sombre figure.

Politics

3 w. ago Nascar settles antitrust lawsuit with Michael Jordan–backed team after bruising trial

Jordan says ‘today’s a good day’ as deal reachedTrial exposed hardline France stance on chartersNascar reached a settlement Thursday of the bruising antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said as he waited in the gallery for attorneys to announce the deal. Details were not immediately released. Continue reading...

Politics