29 h. ago UK's most senior female police officer left sleepless amid pensioner stalker hell

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Pippa Mills told magistrates how Richard Jackson's harassment gave her "sleepless nights" and left her fearful to go to work at New Scotland Yard

Events

31 h. ago UK launched huge operation to find suspected Russian double agent in MI6

Exclusive: Operation Wedlock lasted up to 20 years and took MI5 teams across world amid panic about ‘another Philby’Britain’s spy chiefs were forced to launch one of the most sensitive and risky investigations since the cold war over fears a senior officer at the foreign intelligence service MI6 was a double agent for Russia.The extensive hunt for the alleged mole, called Operation Wedlock, was run by MI6’s sister agency, MI5, which deployed a team of up to 35 surveillance, planning and desk officers, who travelled across the world. Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago No 10 climbs down over welfare bill in move to win over Labour rebels

Compromises include exempting those currently receiving disability benefits and increasing health element of universal credit in line with inflationDowning Street has announced major changes to the welfare bill in an attempt to win the support of more than Labour 120 rebels who had threatened to vote against it next week and hand Keir Starmer a damaging first defeat as prime minister.Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, wrote to Labour MPs on Thursday night to lay out the concessions, which were thrashed out over 24 hours of negotiations between senior rebels and government officials. Continue reading...

Economics

40 h. ago Scots cops say underworld killings in Costa Del Sol "not linked" to gang war on home turf

Scotland's most senior police officer says the fatal shootings of two men in Spain were not planned in Scotland or are linked to ongoing gangland violence here.

Events

60 h. ago Zelenskyy approves plans on special tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders over Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has formally approved plans to establish a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Politics

69 h. ago US government role to be excluded in review into Harry Dunn’s death

Commons review into handling of motorcyclist’s death will not scrutinise actions of US authoritiesA parliamentary review into how the UK’s Foreign Office handled the death of the teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn will not include scrutiny of the role or actions of the US government, it is understood. The 19-year-old’s family met senior officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Wednesday where they were told the probe will be led by former chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers. The review is expected to examine the support the FCDO offered the Dunn family after Harry was killed by a former US state department employee in a road crash in 2019 in Northamptonshire, the PA news agency reported. The American driver, Anne Sacoolas, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf after the incident outside RAF Croughton before a senior Foreign Office official said they should “feel able” to put her on the next flight home. PA understands the review, which is sche...

Politics

4 d. ago Where is Iran's missing 880lbs of uranium? Ayatollah may have moved enough to build nukes before Trump struck

Senior Trump administration officials conceded they do not know the fate of Iran's 880 pounds of near-bomb-grade uranium. 

Politics

6 d. ago The Guardian view on Trump bombing Iran: an illegal and reckless act | Editorial

The US president has chosen war at Israel’s behest. He may imagine he has scored an easy win, but the world is likely to pay a steep priceDonald Trump was predictably quick to claim victory following the illegal US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities: “Completely and totally obliterated,” he crowed. Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and sycophants at home rushed to fawn over his “courageous” and “brilliant” decision. The most senior US military official, Dan Caine, offered a more muted assessment: it was “way too early” to know the full outcome despite severe damage. We cannot yet know whether the blow has ended Iran’s nuclear aspirations – or will spur it to pursue the bomb. It may be weeks or months, too, before Iranian retaliation plays out, with all its potential repercussions.Two nuclear-armed states have gone to war on the unevidenced claim that a third state is on the verge of acquiring its own nuclear arms. In March, the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said I...

Events

6 d. ago US attacks on Iran inflicted major destruction, Pentagon officials say

Defence secretary denies US is pursuing policy of regime change after strikes on Iranian nuclear sitesMiddle East crisis – latest updatesThe surprise overnight US attack on Iran inflicted major damage and destruction on three of its key nuclear sites, senior Pentagon officials said, as the US defence secretary denied that the Trump administration was pursuing a policy of regime change in the Middle East.In a press conference in Washington, Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, detailed Operation Midnight Hammer, in which seven B-2 Spirit bombers flew 18 hours from the US to sites in Iran to drop 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators in strikes that were said to have caused “extremely severe damage” to Iranian uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Police say why Christians were told to stop preaching gospel outside one of London's busiest stations

A video circulating on Instagram showed two Christians being told to move on by a British Transport Police officer - attracting furious comments from users.

Events

8 d. ago Cannibal Russian soldier 'ATE his dead comrade and lived off his remains for two weeks' on frontline, phone call intercepted by Ukrainian spies reveal

Ukraine released what it said was an intercepted call between two of Vladimir Putin's troops in which they were heard discussing an alleged case of cannibalism among the ranks.

Events

8 d. ago Widow of British soldier whose decomposing body was found in barracks after lying there for three weeks blasts 'unforgivable' delay in finding him

Father-of-three Lance Corporal Bernard Morgan was discovered on January 23 2020 in his bedroom at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

Events

9 d. ago Ministers urged to publish legal advice on UK involvement in Israel

Calls follow news that attorney general advised government to limit its involvement to defending alliesUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesMinisters are facing calls to publish legal advice given to the government on Israel’s war against Iran after reports emerged that the attorney general had warned that any UK involvement beyond defensive support would be illegal.Richard Hermer, the government’s most senior legal officer, is said to have raised concerns internally about the legality of joining a bombing campaign against Iran. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago US spies contradict Donald Trump as Iran 'not racing for nuclear weapon'

American officials and senior lawmakers have pushed back on Donald Trump's claims that Iran is weeks away from a nuclear weapon, suggesting they are not supported by available US intelligence

Events

1 week ago Trump is ‘losing confidence’ in Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as he mulls removing her entire office, senior official says

President reportedly angered by intelligence chief’s social media warning against ‘warmongers’ placing the world ‘on the brink of nuclear annihilation’

Politics

1 week ago Trump is ‘losing confidence’ in Tulsi Gabbard as he mulls removing her entire office, senior official says

President reportedly angered by intelligence chief’s social media warning against ‘warmongers’ placing the world ‘on the brink of nuclear annihilation’

Politics

1 week ago Cambodia threatens to ban Thai fruits amid escalating border tensions

The threat follows a skirmish in a disputed area where cross-border gunfire left one Cambodian soldier dead

Events

1 week ago 'Investment in saving lives': Contract for alcohol and drugs crisis outreach service approved by Renfrewshire councillors

Elected members authorised senior officers to award deal to nationwide charitable organisation Change, Grow, Live.

Events

1 week ago Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran’s supreme leader – report

US officials say Israelis reported they had opportunity to kill Iranian leader, but Trump waved them off of planPresident Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two US officials told Reuters on Sunday.“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” said one of the sources, a senior US administration official. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump 'vetoed plot to kill Iran's supreme leader,' claim US officials

Two senior US officials alleged the US president vetoed an Irsraeli plan to assassinate Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, claims that Benjamin Netanyahu has denied

Politics