22 h. ago Ready to serve in dad's Army? Brits warned to be ready for WW3

The UK Government has admitted it is in the process of “developing plans” to implement “civilian assistance” to the military given the Trump chaos around the world this week

Events

22 h. ago Trump administration suspends $129m in benefit payments to Minnesota

USDA notified state’s governor of decision, citing inquiries into alleged fraud by local non-profits and businessesThe Trump administration announced it is suspending $129m in federal benefit payments to Minnesota amid allegations of widespread fraud in the state.The secretary of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Brooke Rollins, shared a letter on Friday on social media that was addressed to Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, and the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, notifying them of the administration’s decision and citing investigations into alleged fraud conducted by local non-profits and businesses. Continue reading...

Economics

42 h. ago St Andrews rector removed from university’s governing body for second time

The university’s senior governing body said Stella Maris’ actions have diverted attention away from addressing the university’s financial challenges.

Politics

49 h. ago I advised the government on new dietary guidelines. Here’s what they ignored

On the surface, the guidelines share a lot of similarities with the previous version, but they also have a few important differences

Politics

51 h. ago Spotify no longer running ICE recruitment ads, after US government campaign ends

The ad campaign ended in late 2025, the Swedish streaming giant confirmed, having previously said, despite protests, that it did not violate advertising policiesSpotify is no long running advertisements for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the streaming service has confirmed, after the Trump administration campaign ended in late 2025.“There are currently no ICE ads running on Spotify,” the Swedish company said in a statement. “The advertisements mentioned were part of a US government recruitment campaign that ran across all major media and platforms.” Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – review roundup

Godfall by Van Jensen; The Salt Bind by Rebecca Ferrier; The Poet Empress by Shen Tao; A Hole in the Sky by Peter F Hamilton; Hello Earth, Are You There? by Brian AldissGodfall by Van Jensen (Bantam, £20)The debut novel by a popular comic-book writer is set in a small town in Nebraska, after the landing of a three-mile-long alien figure dubbed “the Giant”. Local sheriff David Blunt is struggling to do his job following the sudden boom in population: in addition to scientists, government agents and soldiers at the highly classified research area established around the mystery from outer space, many more enthusiasts flood to the town, possibly including a serial killer. Two people have been killed in a horrifically brutal way when the FBI takes over and tries to shut him out. But when the next victim is a man he’s known all his life, Blunt is more determined than ever to catch the killer. His investigation draws him to infiltrate a doomsday cult and to discover more about the tangled ...

Events

55 h. ago ‘In isolation, we’ll never flourish’: What Iranians think about the protests and an end to the Islamic Republic

In Tehran this week, young adults told the Guardian about collapsing living standards, the mass anti-government protests and their hopes for the futureMahsa is single and lives with her family. She has been working in fashion design for years and runs a page online where she sells her clothes. In recent months, she says she had achieved good sales and arranged for a prominent influencer to run a major promotion for her. But because of the current situation, the influencer returned the money, and her sales and page activity came to a halt. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago Grok AI: is it legal to produce or post undressed images of people without their consent?

Deluge of ‘nudified’ images on social media platform X raises questions about regulation of use of AI technologiesThe deluge of images of partly clothed women – stripped by the Grok AI tool – on Elon Musk’s X has raised further questions over regulation of the technology. Is it legal to produce these images without the subject’s consent? Should they be taken off X?In the UK alone there is some doubt over the answers to these queries. Social media regulation is a nascent area, let alone trying to control the deployment of artificial intelligence. There are laws in place to tackle the problem, such as the Online Safety Act, but the government has yet to introduce additional measures such as banning nudifying apps. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Historic Scottish brewer calls for budget action on business rates after pumping £5m into pubs

“We need the government to listen to the industry and address the need for meaningful reform of business rates” – David McBride, Belhaven Pubs

Economics

3 d. ago Government is 'secretly' advertising £81,000 'deputy director' role for controversial digital ID programme

Every working adult in Britain will require the virtual identification card under a 'dystopian' plan announced by Keir Starmer in September.

Politics

5 d. ago New Year... same old Keir: Robotic PM reads out 'rousing' note to grim

Gathering his senior team for the first time in 2026, Keir Starmer talked up his action to ease pressure - admitting that will be what the government is judged on come the election.

Politics

5 d. ago Does anyone believe you, Keir? Starmer tells Cabinet he IS tackling cost of living crisis despite Brits struggling with debt and food bills

Gathering his senior team for the first time in 2026, Keir Starmer talked up his action to ease pressure - admitting that will be what the government is judged on come the election.

Economics

5 d. ago 'Crippling' workload of teachers in Scottish schools must be reduced, union warns

Scotland’s largest teaching union continues to caution the government over its failure to address a key SNP manifesto pledge on classroom hours

Events

6 d. ago Anas Sarwar: I know Scots are angry with unpopular Keir Starmer

The Scottish Labour leader admitted the UK Labour government had made mistakes

Events

6 d. ago Anas Sarwar: I'm running to be First Minister 'in defiance' of Starmer's unpopularity

The Scottish Labour leader admitted the UK Government had made mistakes

Politics

6 d. ago Government to address nation from 2.30pm today as Keir Starmer criticism mounts

The US flexed it's military and intelligence capabilities on Saturday when they 'captured' Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in a top secret strike that shocked the world

Politics

6 d. ago Junk food advertising to children banned in the UK but new rules spark debate

The UK Government has introduced new rules banning adverts for 'less healthy' foods on TV during daytime hours and online at any time - but the changes have been met with mixed opinions

Society

6 d. ago UK ban on adverts for ‘unhealthy’ food comes into effect in bid to tackle obesity

The government estimates the advertising ban will prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity

Society

7 d. ago Keir Starmer admits government failings and expresses regret over social post on Egyptian activist

In an interview with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged government failings in vetting a controversial Egyptian activist social media and expressed regret over a post welcoming him back to Britain.

Politics

7 d. ago Ban on adverts for ‘less healthy food’ set to come into full effect

They will not be allowed to appear on television between 5.30am and 9pm, or online at any time.

Society