5 h. ago Vladimir Putin mouthpiece says UK 'perfect' target for nuclear weapons in rant

Vladimir Putin's propagandists have threatened to test nuclear weapons on Britain in response to Keir Starmer's announcement yesterday that the Government will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027

Events

6 h. ago Rachel Reeves warns European allies that global trade is at risk unless they follow UK's new ambition to spend 3% of GDP on defence as she attends G20 in South Africa

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will insist Western powers must 'step up and do more' or face huge penalties from disruption to trade.

Events

6 h. ago A Bangladesh 'shrimp health' study, a Porsche deal for Albanian prisons and 'inclusion' in the DRC: How foreign aid is spent amid Labour row over using cash for defence instead

Sir Keir said defence spending would rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 in the wake of the Trump administration's decision to leave Europe to fend for itself and move closer to Russia .

Economics

7 h. ago Wildfire breaks out across Table Mountain National Park blanketing Cape Town in thick smoke

A wildfire has broken out across Table Mountain National Park, blanketing South Africa’s Cape Town in thick smoke.

Events

8 h. ago Food for Thought review – breezy documentary makes a light meal of vegan debates

Peppy look at the rise of plant-based diets skates around the planet from Los Angeles to South Africa but doesn’t really pause to sift through the statsThis bright and proselytising documentary about veganism will no doubt win some new converts to the cause, with lots of sun-dappled footage of rescued farm animals restored to Edenic freedom. But it doesn’t delve seriously enough into still-debated issues to sway interested fence-sitters, let alone diehard carnivores that must be converted if animal agriculture’s carbon footprint is to be reduced to sustainable levels; this latter is surely the most universally compelling argument in the vegan arsenal.Co-directors Dan Richardson and Giles Alderson, also appearing front of camera, initially present the film as a fanfare for veganism’s recent growth and new acceptability. But with the film skating superficially through various locations – a vegan fair in Croatia, a sanctuary farm in South Africa, vegan mecca Los Angeles, a Super Size M...

Politics

11 h. ago South African court dismisses claim of ‘white genocide’ in country

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have accused South Africa of enabling ‘genocide’ of white farmers

Events

11 h. ago Toxic Town’s Jack Thorne: ‘We’re not looking at pain exclusively, but at resilience and survival’

The ‘Toxic Town’ writer talks activism, autism and why television has an originality problem

Events

17 h. ago Reeves says Europe must follow UK’s lead and ‘step up’ defence spending

The chancellor will be talking to European allies at the G20 on the importance of bolstering defence capabilities

Politics

17 h. ago Starmer to meet Trump in Washington as Kyiv and US agree minerals deal

European nations must ‘step up and do more on defence’ Rachel Reeves said after the UK pledged to raise defence spending.

Politics

21 h. ago UK foreign aid: How much is spent and who receives it as Starmer slashes budget

UK foreign aid will be slashed from 0.5 to 0.3 per cent of GDP to fund an increase in defence spending

Economics

22 h. ago Washout leaves Australia set for last four but potentially short of game time | Geoff Lemon

They should beat Afghanistan to progress, but the batters would have benefited from a hit-out against South AfricaIf you were an Australian supporter of a certain pragmatic bent, you might be quite pleased with a washout against South Africa at the Champions Trophy. With a win already banked, you slide past your most dangerous opponent in Group B without having conceded any advantage to them. It leaves you level with them on three points and guaranteed a semi-final as long as you can beat an Afghanistan team that, despite their recent advancements and the memorably close result last time you played, you should still beat anytime, anywhere across a format as extended as 50 overs.If you’re an Australian supporter of the sort of bullishness natural to Australian supporters, including any past or current Australian player, you would say that you always want to play the best teams because you’ll beat them while having a grand old time in the process, and that sliding past your most dange...

Politics

23 h. ago Watch: Starmer defends cutting foreign aid budget to boost defence spending

Watch as Sir Keir Starmer holds a press conference on Tuesday, 25 February, after announcing he will slash the foreign aid budget to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP to counter “tyrants” like Vladimir Putin.

Economics

23 h. ago Starmer slams accusation he is ‘Farage in disguise’ over defence spending increase

Sir Keir Starmer dismissed an accusation he is "Nigel Farage in disguise" over his plans to slash the foreign aid budget to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP to counter “tyrants” like Vladimir Putin.

Politics

23 h. ago We must stop Putin in Ukraine to protect Europe: Keir Starmer puts UK on a war footing by increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP

The Prime Minister pledged to accelerate an increase in the UK's defence spending in the face of Russia's belligerence and growing US indifference to European security.

Politics

23 h. ago Starmer announces big cut to UK aid budget to boost defence spending

PM confirms rise in military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than plannedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has announced drastic cuts to Britain’s international aid budget to help pay for a major increase in defence spending, amid fears over Donald Trump’s commitment to European security.The prime minister said the UK government would increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than planned – as he prepared for what is likely to be a diplomatically fraught visit to Washington DC this week. Continue reading...

Economics

24 h. ago Watch live: Starmer defends cutting foreign aid budget to boost defence spending

Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer holds a press conference on Tuesday, 25 February, after announcing he will slash the foreign aid budget to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP to counter “tyrants” like Vladimir Putin.

Economics

25 h. ago Jos Buttler admits stakes high for England and his captaincy against Afghanistan

Captain hopes to banish negative thoughts from sideEngland look to get back on track after opening defeatJos Buttler goes into Wednesday’s crunch encounter with Afghanistan in Lahore knowing a win is not simply a non-negotiable as regards England’s Champions Trophy prospects but potentially his future as their white-ball captain.The washout between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi on Tuesday has at least clarified England’s situation. Barring further rain affecting Group B, two wins would rule out any net run-rate calculations and guarantee a semi-final berth. By the same token, it also means they are just one defeat from flying home at the earliest opportunity. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago JD Vance responds to Trump's refusal to endorse him as his successor... and issues new warning to woke European leaders in our uncensored West Wing interview

A month into Trump's new administration and J.D. Vance has the swagger of someone who has been in the job for years. Lounging in his office, Vance reveals he's just got off the phone with his boss.

Events

26 h. ago Civil servants face disciplinary action in crackdown on Whitehall credit cards

Less than two weeks after Rachel Reeves was facing questions over her own company credit card spending in a previous job, the government has issued a threat across departments over abuse of its cards

Events

27 h. ago Champions Trophy clash between South Africa and Australia washed out in boost for England’s hopes

England’s fate is now in their own hands as they prepare to face Afghanistan in their second group fixture

Politics