65 m. ago Cut off by their banks and even iced out by Alexa, sanctioned ICC staffers remain resolute

International Criminal Court judges and prosecutors are trying to live and work under the same financial and travel restrictions brought against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Osama bin Laden

Politics

69 m. ago Abrego Garcia won release from detention. He must check in with immigration officials 14 hours later

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was due to check-in with immigration authorities less than 14 hours after he was released from detention on a judge’s orders

Politics

1 hour ago Police Scotland's new phone system leaves members of the public waiting for 2 hours

Calls to the non emergency 101 number were initially taking up to 40 minutes before someone responded.

Events

1 hour ago Avoid HMRC 'threshold' fines selling on Vinted by using new tax tool

A free method has been launched to help Vinted sellers and side hustlers check if they've crossed the £1,000 tax threshold and calculate what they might owe HMRC

Politics

3 h. ago Behind the scenes documentary on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour to launch on Disney+

Swift’s tour smashed records and she made history as the first solo artist to perform at London’s Wembley Stadium eight times on a single tour.

Culture

4 h. ago Putin phones Venezuelan president to offer Russia's support after Trump seizes oil tanker off coast

Putin called Maduro a day after United States forces seized control of an oil tanker in Venezuela as part of an escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and Maduro's government.

Politics

4 h. ago Trump expands Venezuela sanctions as Maduro decries new ‘era of piracy’

Six more oil supertankers added to sanctions list, as well as members of Maduro’s extended family, amid rising tensions following tanker seizureDonald Trump has exerted more pressure on Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro, expanding sanctions and issuing fresh threats to strike land targets in Venezuela, as the South American dictator accused the US president of ushering in a new “era of criminal naval piracy” in the Caribbean.Late on Thursday, the US imposed curbs on three nephews of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, as well as six crude oil supertankers and the shipping companies linked to them. The treasury department alleged the vessels “engaged in deceptive and unsafe shipping practices and continue to provide financial resources that fuel Maduro’s corrupt narco-terrorist regime”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago PATRICK MARIMON: This sluggish Playboy needs to be bawdier to land a West End hit

It's a terrific rowdy set-up, but the ratio of blether to action - over nigh-on three hours - can be challenging; not least because it's written in a dense, rustic, 'Hiberno-English' dialect.

Events

5 h. ago Trump signs executive order blocking states from regulating AI

Order, which lacks the force of law, also creates taskforce whose ‘sole responsibility’ will be challenging states’ AI lawsDonald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that seeks to halt any laws limiting artificial intelligence and block states from regulating the rapidly emerging technology. The order also creates a federal taskforce that will have the “sole responsibility” of challenging states’ AI laws.At a signing ceremony, the president touted AI companies’ enthusiasm for wanting to “invest” in the United States and said that “if they had to get 50 different approvals from 50 different states, you could forget it”. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Serious A4119 crash live as road expected to be closed until 'after rush hour'

Police have warned that the road is likely to remain shut until after rush hour ends as they deal with an incident - the nature of which has not yet been revealed

Events

6 h. ago Littler lights up Ally Pally opening night as prize money raises stakes

The PDC world darts championship is back, but could the new £1m winners’ cheque make this show too big?A team of assistant referees walks into the Twelve Pins in Finsbury Park carrying linesmen’s flags and whistles. It’s 3pm on a Thursday, you think, they’ve probably just been reffing a local game. Then, you think, there isn’t a football pitch around here. And why haven’t they changed and showered? Then more referees walk in, more linesmen, one of them in a comedy wig. And eventually the penny drops.Yes, “the Darts” is back: an indispensable festive trimming that – much like Christmas itself – always seems to roll around a little sooner every year. Fire up all the old cliches: “the beauty of set play”, “bent the wire”, “pressure the shot”. Wheel John Part out of the attic. Fingers poised on the 180 zoom. You know it’s serious, because it’s two hours before his match and Luke Littler is already on the practice board. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago White House on the defensive when asked how billionaire Trump can tell average Americans to limit kids’ Christmas gifts

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also ignored a question on why President Donald Trump has falsely claimed a farm bailout program is funded by tariffs

Events

7 h. ago Trump and White House blast ‘Fake News’ journalists and negative polls as president pushes affordability agenda: Live updates

A new poll found Trump’s approval rating on the economy has declined substantially in recent months

Politics

7 h. ago Elon Musk teams with El Salvador to bring Grok chatbot to public schools

President Nayib Bukele entrusting chatbot known for calling itself ‘MechaHitler’ to create ‘AI-powered’ curriculaElon Musk is partnering with the government of El Salvador to bring his artificial intelligence company’s chatbot, Grok, to more than 1 million students across the country, according to a Thursday announcement by xAI. Over the next two years, the plan is to “deploy” the chatbot to more than 5,000 public schools in an “AI-powered education program”.xAI’s Grok is more known for referring to itself as “MechaHitler” and espousing far-right conspiracy theories than it is for public education. Over the past year, the chatbot has spewed various antisemitic content, decried “white genocide” and claimed Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Epstein Files update sends shockwaves leaving Andrew and Trump in the hot seat

The upcoming release of Jeffrey Epstein’s long-sealed files threatens an explosive scandal for the world's elite, putting Donald Trump's presidency at risk and thrusting Andrew back into the spotlight

Politics

7 h. ago Village Christmas tree cut down hours after lights switch on

The tree in Shotton Colliery, Co Durham, was chopped down between 10pm and 11pm on Wednesday, according to police.

Politics

7 h. ago Are you a couch potato? Just eat these foods to help your heart out

One in four American adults sits for more than eight hours a day

Politics

7 h. ago Fed reappoints regional chiefs in move that allays Trump challenge fears

Decision eases concerns that central bankers aligned with the US president would block them remaining in their roles

Politics

7 h. ago New Epstein files update will cause 'catastrophic' threat for Andrew and Trump

A whole new wave of documents from the Epstein files are set to be released next week, and the results could prove to be damaging not just to Andrew — but also US President Donald Trump

Politics

7 h. ago Celtic vs Roma player ratings: Nightmare inducer, tortured teammate, 4s aplenty and one 2 on dire night at Parkhead

How we rated the performances of each Celtic player in the humbling 3-0 Europa League defeat to Roma at Parkhead

Sport