18 m. ago Bombshell Epstein emails claim Trump ‘knew’ what was going on and asked Maxwell to ‘stop’: Live updates

House Democrats on Wednesday released several emails, obtained by Epstein’s estate, that mentioned Trump

Politics

26 m. ago Keir Starmer under pressure over future of Morgan McSweeney amid briefing row

Ministers and Labour MPs point finger at PM’s chief of staff over No 10 operation that targeted Wes StreetingUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer is facing intense pressure over the future of Morgan McSweeney after the prime minister’s chief of staff was blamed for No 10’s pushback against a possible leadership challenge.After Starmer dodged a question from Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions about whether he had full confidence in his key aide, Downing Street later clarified that he did. Continue reading...

Events

66 m. ago Trump knew about Jeffrey Epstein’s conduct, newly released emails reveal

In messages released by Democrats, Epstein wrote Trump ‘spent hours’ at his house in company of one of his victimsUS politics live – latest updatesDamning new emails that suggest Donald Trump knew about the conduct of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released Wednesday, including one in which Epstein said “of course [Trump] knew about the girls” that were procured for his sex-trafficking ring.The release of the three messages by Democrats on the House oversight committee is likely to add significant pressure on the White House to release the so-called Epstein files. Continue reading...

Politics

86 m. ago Epstein emails claim Trump spent ‘hours’ with victim and asked Maxwell to ‘stop’: Live updates

House Democrats on Wednesday released several emails, obtained by Epstein’s estate, that mentioned Trump

Politics

93 m. ago No 10 says Starmer has confidence in Morgan McSweeney after PM condemns attacks on cabinet members – UK politics live

PM’s spokesperson says he has confidence in his chief of staff after Starmer challenged over ‘toxic culture’ at Downing StreetThe No 10 briefing row is not the only story around this morning. Amy Sedghi is writing a live blog about the ongoing turmoil at the BBC and she has details of Donald Trump saying he has an “obligation” to sue the BBC.In a related development, Reform UK has pulled out of a BBC documentary about the party amid a row over the broadcaster’s editing of the Trump speech. Robyn Vintner has the story. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago House gears up for vote to end government shutdown after historic 54

The government could reopen as soon as Wednesday, potentially ending the longest shutdown on record

Politics

2 h. ago Keir Starmer says any No 10 briefings against ministers ‘unacceptable’

Starmer defends Wes Streeting at PMQs but dodges question on his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeneyUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has condemned as “completely unacceptable” any briefings against cabinet ministers from inside Downing Street as he tried desperately to close a rift at the top of government.Questioned by Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions, Starmer defended Wes Streeting, the health secretary, who was the apparent target of a pre-emptive No 10 push against a feared imminent leadership challenge against the prime minister. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Starmer says any attack on his cabinet is ‘completely unacceptable’ and adds Streeting is doing a great job – UK politics live

Kemi Badenoch probes Starmer over ‘toxic culture’ at Downing Street The No 10 briefing row is not the only story around this morning. Amy Sedghi is writing a live blog about the ongoing turmoil at the BBC and she has details of Donald Trump saying he has an “obligation” to sue the BBC.In a related development, Reform UK has pulled out of a BBC documentary about the party amid a row over the broadcaster’s editing of the Trump speech. Robyn Vintner has the story. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Streeting denies plot to oust Starmer and condemns briefings from No 10

Health secretary says attacks on him from Downing Street ‘self-defeating’ after reports PM’s job could be under threatUK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has denied leading a plot to overthrow the prime minister and called for those briefing against him to be sacked, widening an extraordinary rift at the top of government. The health secretary condemned the “self-defeating” attacks on him coming from Downing Street and said they were indicative of a toxic culture inside No 10. He rebuked the senior aides who were behind the anonymous briefings and said they proved that “there are people around the prime minister who do not follow his model and style of leadership”. Streeting was responding to the Guardian’s report that Downing Street has launched an operation to protect Keir Starmer against a leadership challenge his allies believe could come from Streeting after the budget or May local elections. The prime minister’s closest allies insisted he would fight any “reckless” ...

Politics

8 h. ago UK politics live: Wes Streeting denies plan to challenge Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer’s allies say prime minister is prepared to fight any attempt to topple him

Politics

17 h. ago Airlines warn flight disruptions to continue even after government shutdown ends: Live updates

More than 1,200 flights were canceled so far on Tuesday

Events

19 h. ago House votes to end shutdown Wednesday as Democrat says party ‘crossed a line’ putting politics over country: Live

Chuck Schumer faces calls to step down as top Democrat as Congress prepares to pass short-term funding bill

Politics

26 h. ago Tim Davie tells BBC staff ‘we have to fight for our journalism’ but does not address Trump’s $1bn lawsuit threat – live

Outgoing director general says freedom of press under pressure and that he sees ‘weaponisation’Here is a round-up of what various lawyers and commentators have been saying about Donald Trump’s legal case against the BBC.Joshua Rozenberg, the legal commentator and a former BBC journalist, has said in a post on his A Lawyer Writes Substack that the corporation should settle. He explains:Given what Brito is claiming, the lawyer is unlikely to be impressed with the BBC’s assertion that “the purpose of editing the clip was to convey the message of the speech made by President Trump so that Panorama’s audience could better understand how it had been received by President Trump’s supporters and what was happening on the ground at that time”.So the BBC would be well advised to draft a retraction and apology in terms that the president’s lawyer finds acceptable. Brito is also calling for this to be broadcast as prominently as the original programme. And the corporation will have to pay compe...

Politics

26 h. ago Catherine Connolly sworn in as 10th president of Ireland and promises to be a ‘catalyst for change’ – Europe live

Independent leftwing politician inaugurated as president after landslide election winYou can watch the live stream of the Irish presidential inauguration here:Irish president-elect Catherine Connolly has just arrived at the Dublin Castle for her presidential inauguration. Continue reading...

Politics

27 h. ago Tim Davie tells BBC staff ‘we have to fight for our journalism’ as Trump threatens $1bn lawsuit – UK politics live

Outgoing director general says freedom of press under pressure and that he sees ‘weaponisation’Here is a round-up of what various lawyers and commentators have been saying about Donald Trump’s legal case against the BBC.Joshua Rozenberg, the legal commentator and a former BBC journalist, has said in a post on his A Lawyer Writes Substack that the corporation should settle. He explains:Given what Brito is claiming, the lawyer is unlikely to be impressed with the BBC’s assertion that “the purpose of editing the clip was to convey the message of the speech made by President Trump so that Panorama’s audience could better understand how it had been received by President Trump’s supporters and what was happening on the ground at that time”.So the BBC would be well advised to draft a retraction and apology in terms that the president’s lawyer finds acceptable. Brito is also calling for this to be broadcast as prominently as the original programme. And the corporation will have to pay compe...

Politics

28 h. ago Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer

PM attacks ‘toxic division of Reform’ and gives strongest signal yet that two-child benefit cap will be liftedUK politics live – latest updatesDecades-old racism is returning to British politics, and “it makes people feel very scared” Keir Starmer has said, warning that divisive hard-right politics was “tearing our country apart”.Speaking to the GP and TV personality Amir Khan, the prime minister accused Nigel Farage’s Reform UK of overseeing a return of the racist and divisive politics “that frankly I thought we had dealt with decades ago”. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Minister suggests BBC should apologise to Trump over documentary as president threatens $1bn lawsuit – UK politics live

Alison McGovern speaks to media about BBC crisis as culture secretary due to address MPs in attempt to contain falloutYesterday Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, gave an interview that indicated very strongly that she will get rid of the two-child benefit cap in full in the budget. It had been reported that the government was only going to partially remove it (by replacing the cap with a softer version, like a three-child benefit cap), but Reeves signalled that the cap will go in its entirety.If anyone did not get the message, Keir Starmer has signalled exactly the same intention – only even more strongly. In an interview with Amir Khan, a doctor and ITV broadcaster, the PM said he was determined to drive child poverty down. In the clip, recorded yesterday but broadcast this morning, Starmer said:I can tell you in no uncertain terms I’m determined to drive child poverty down. It is what the last Labour government did. And it’s one of the things we were proudest of. I am personally dete...

Politics

37 h. ago Senate advances bipartisan bill to end government shutdown – live

The vote would bring the longest shutdown in history to a close after a small group of Democrats struck a deal with Republicans.Senate Democrats who defected: ‘This was the only deal’Here’s how each senator votedThe eight Democratic and Independent senators who broke ranks with the party to advance a bill that would end the government shutdown – the longest in US history – have defended their decisions amid furor from their party and base.“What happened tonight is not the closing of a chapter. It’s the opening of an opportunity. What the chapter does close is the damaging shutdown that is only getting worse, that is only going to impact more and more people,” said Angus King, the Independent lawmaker from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Schumer faces calls to resign as minority leader after some Democrats work with Republicans to end shutdown – live

Schumer, who did not vote in favor of the legislation, faces steep pushback from progressive lawmakers who blame him for the Democrats who defectedSenate Democrats who defected: ‘This was the only deal’Here’s how each senator votedThe eight Democratic and Independent senators who broke ranks with the party to advance a bill that would end the government shutdown – the longest in US history – have defended their decisions amid furor from their party and base.“What happened tonight is not the closing of a chapter. It’s the opening of an opportunity. What the chapter does close is the damaging shutdown that is only getting worse, that is only going to impact more and more people,” said Angus King, the Independent lawmaker from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Senate Democrats defend breaking ranks to end shutdown as Johnson to finally swear in Arizona’s Adelita Grijalva

Decision to advance bill that would reopen government has sparked furor from party and base; House speaker to swear in Democratic representative when chamber returns, a month after her election winSenate Democrats who defected in shutdown vote: ‘This was the only deal’How each senator voted on legislation to end US government shutdownThe eight Democratic and Independent senators who broke ranks with the party to advance a bill that would end the government shutdown – the longest in US history – have defended their decisions amid furor from their party and base.“What happened tonight is not the closing of a chapter. It’s the opening of an opportunity. What the chapter does close is the damaging shutdown that is only getting worse, that is only going to impact more and more people,” said Angus King, the Independent lawmaker from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. Continue reading...

Politics