7 h. ago Teachers in England face growing misogyny and need help dealing with sexual aggression, says Phillips

Comments from safeguarding minister come as violence against women and girls strategy due to launch• UK politics live – latest updatesSchools are reporting growing misogyny from pupils towards teachers and a lack of avenues to seek help about sexually aggressive behaviour, the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, has said.Phillips’ comments came as the government was due to launch its long-awaited violence against women and girls strategy. Children as young as 11 who demonstrate misogynistic behaviour will be taught the difference between pornography and real relationships, as part of a multimillion-pound investment to try to tackle misogyny in England’s schools. Continue reading...

Economics

15 h. ago US military says it carried out lethal strike on vessel in Pacific, killing four, as Trump addresses country – live

Pete Hegseth says no US military harmed as US Southern Command says it hit three vessels in international watersFour Republicans join Democrats to force vote on bill that would extend Obamacare subsidiesThe Donald Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, will soon make his first appearance before Congress since sparking an uproar with comments seen as pressuring ABC to temporarily pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel from the air.ABC indefinitely suspended Kimmel’s show over statements he made following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which prompted Carr to say that he wanted broadcasters to “take action” on Kimmel, and: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Continue reading...

Events

16 h. ago Donald Trump says Venezuela ‘illegally took’ US oil and ‘we want it back’ – live

President tells reporters that Venezuela ‘took all of our energy rights’ in latest ramping up of rhetoricFour Republicans join Democrats to force vote on bill that would extend Obamacare subsidiesThe Donald Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, will soon make his first appearance before Congress since sparking an uproar with comments seen as pressuring ABC to temporarily pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel from the air.ABC indefinitely suspended Kimmel’s show over statements he made following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which prompted Carr to say that he wanted broadcasters to “take action” on Kimmel, and: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Four Republicans join Democrats to force vote on bill that would extend Obamacare subsidies

Stunning move comes after House Republicans pushed ahead with bill that doesn’t address soaring premiums if Affordable Care Act tax credits expireUS politics live – latest updatesIn a major setback for Mike Johnson and the House GOP, four Republicans have joined with the Democrats to sign a petition forcing a vote on legislation that will extend for three years premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act healthcare plans.The rebellion underscores the nervousness among Republicans over an increase in healthcare costs before the 2026 midterm elections, in which the party will be defending its slim control of the House. Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago Top House Democrat demands immediate action to extend Obamacare subsidies after four Republicans help force vote – live

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries calls on Mike Johnson to allow vote on legislation extending Affordable Care Act subsidies before recessFour Republicans join Democrats to force vote on bill that would extend Obamacare subsidiesThe Donald Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, will soon make his first appearance before Congress since sparking an uproar with comments seen as pressuring ABC to temporarily pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel from the air.ABC indefinitely suspended Kimmel’s show over statements he made following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which prompted Carr to say that he wanted broadcasters to “take action” on Kimmel, and: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Top House Democrat demands immediate vote on extending ACA subsidies – US politics live

Hakeem Jeffries, House minority leader, calls on Mike Johnson to immediately allow vote on legislation before House is set to go on recessThe Donald Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, will soon make his first appearance before Congress since sparking an uproar with comments seen as pressuring ABC to temporarily pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel from the air.ABC indefinitely suspended Kimmel’s show over statements he made following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which prompted Carr to say that he wanted broadcasters to “take action” on Kimmel, and: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago UK gives Abramovich final warning to transfer £2.5bn to Ukraine fund

Keir Starmer says oligarch must commit funds from sale of Chelsea football club or face court actionEurope live – latest updatesUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK has given its final warning to Roman Abramovich to release £2.5bn from the oligarch’s sale of Chelsea FC to give to Ukraine, telling the billionaire to release the funds within 90 days or face court action.Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the funds from Abramovich, who is subject to UK sanctions, would be converted into a new foundation for humanitarian causes in Ukraine and that the issuing of a licence for the transfer was the last chance Abramovich would have to comply. Continue reading...

Events

28 h. ago Venezuela condemns ‘warmongering threats’ as Trump orders oil blockade – US politics live

Trump has ordered a ‘total and complete’ blockade of sanctioned oil tankers to and from the countryWe will get a sense later in the day on whether the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has any misgivings about Donald Trump’s strategy towards Venezuela, when a war powers resolution intended to halt his escalation against the country comes up for a vote.Proposed by Democrat James McGovern, the resolution would require the president to remove troops from the country’s vicinity. It has 39 Democratic co-sponsors, and, perhaps crucially, three Republicans: Don Bacon of Nebraska, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Kentucky. The latter two are not on good terms with the president. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Doctors strike live: Starmer dodges question on NHS walkout ban despite hammering ‘dangerous’ strikes at PMQs

Resident doctors have started a five-day walkout

Society

29 h. ago UK will transfer £2.5bn of Abramovich cash to Ukraine fund, Starmer says

Prime minister says oligarch must commit funds from sale of London football club or face court actionEurope live – latest updatesUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK will formally issue instructions to transfer £2.5bn from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea FC to humanitarian causes in Ukraine, telling the billionaire to commit the funds or face court action.Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the funds from the oligarch, who is subject to UK sanctions, would be converted in to a new foundation for Ukraine and that the issuing of a licence for the transfer was the last chance Abromovich would have to comply before legal action was taken. Continue reading...

Economics

29 h. ago Watch live: Starmer faces off against Badenoch in final PMQs of 2025

Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer faces off against Kemi Badenoch for the final time this year at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday (17 December).

Politics

30 h. ago House price growth slowed in October on Budget rumours, official figures confirm

House prices fell across large swathes of the country in October, according to official figures.

Economics

30 h. ago Doctors strike live: Streeting apologises to patients as NHS faces £250m bill for walkout

Resident doctors begin five-day walkout

Science

32 h. ago Watch live: Wes Streeting grilled by MPs as doctors begin five

Watch live as Wes Streeting is questioned by MPs on Wednesday (17 December), as resident doctors begin their five days of industrial action.

Society

32 h. ago UK inflation latest: Christmas interest rate cut on the way after food prices drive inflation down

Interest rate cut appears likely after inflation eases further than expected

Economics

33 h. ago Christmas interest rate cut set to follow after UK inflation drop exceeds expectations – latest

Falling food prices helped drag inflation down

Economics

34 h. ago Inflation falls more than expected to 3.2% as official figures released – latest

Falling food prices helped drag inflation down

Economics

45 h. ago Trump’s chief of staff suggests real goal of US boat strikes is to topple Venezuela’s Maduro – live

Susie Wiles says Trump wants to keep ‘blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle’ in a wide-ranging interview with Vanity FairWiles also said she had told Donald Trump that his second term was not supposed to be a retribution tour.“We have a loose agreement that the score settling will end before the first 90 days are over,” she said in an interview in March.I mean, people could think it does look vindictive. I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t think that.I don’t think he [Trump] wakes up thinking about retribution. But when there’s an opportunity, he will go for it.Some clinical psychologist that knows one million times more than I do will dispute what I’m going to say. But high-functioning alcoholics or alcoholics in general, their personalities are exaggerated when they drink. And so I’m a little bit of an expert in big personalities. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago Trump’s chief of staff acknowledges ‘score settling’ behind prosecutions of political rivals: ‘He will go for it’ – live

‘In some cases, it may look like retribution,’ Susie Wiles says in a wide-ranging interview with Vanity FairWiles also said she had told Donald Trump that his second term was not supposed to be a retribution tour.“We have a loose agreement that the score settling will end before the first 90 days are over,” she said in an interview in March.I mean, people could think it does look vindictive. I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t think that.I don’t think he [Trump] wakes up thinking about retribution. But when there’s an opportunity, he will go for it.Some clinical psychologist that knows one million times more than I do will dispute what I’m going to say. But high-functioning alcoholics or alcoholics in general, their personalities are exaggerated when they drink. And so I’m a little bit of an expert in big personalities. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago UK to hold inquiry into foreign financial interference in domestic politics

Review, which will focus on effectiveness of political finance laws, follows conviction of former Reform politician for accepting bribesUK politics live – latest updatesAn independent review into the impact of foreign financial influence and interference in domestic politics from Russia and other hostile states has been announced after one of Reform UK’s former senior politicians, Nathan Gill, was jailed for accepting bribes from a pro-Kremlin agent.Amid growing concern inside the security services and parliament over the scale of the foreign threat to British democracy, the government-commissioned inquiry will focus on the effectiveness of the UK’s political finance laws. Continue reading...

Politics