63 m. ago Disability benefit cuts impossible to support, 42 Labour MPs tell Starmer

Exclusive: backbenchers sign letter calling for change in direction on plans expected to be put to vote next month UK politics live – latest updatesMore than 40 Labour MPs have warned the prime minister that planned disability cuts are “impossible to support” and have called for a pause and change in direction.The letter from parliamentarians spanning the new intake and veterans, and from the left and right of the party, sets Keir Starmer up for the biggest rebellion of his premiership when the House of Commons votes on the measures next month. Continue reading...

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13 h. ago Jennifer Lopez reveals 'promise' she made to twins Max and Emme about her Ben Affleck divorce

Now Lopez will be officially embarking on a summer tour, Up All Night: Live in 2025, where she plans to celebrate following years of growth.

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15 h. ago US judge rules deportation flight to Libya would violate court order amid reported Trump plans – live

Brian Murphy rules in favor of immigrant rights advocates as reports suggest US military planned to begin deportations later this weekBritain is in “active discussions” with US officials over the extraordinary 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the US proposed by Donald Trump, as it tries to protect one of its biggest creative industries.“We are already in active discussions with the top of the US administration on this subject. We are working hard to establish what might be proposed, if anything, and to make sure our world-beating creative industries are protected,” creative industries minister Chris Bryant told parliament. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago US judge rules deportation flight to Libya would violate court order amid reported Trump administration plans – live

US federal judge blocks the deportation of migrants to Libya, ruling that such removals violate an existing court orderBritain is in “active discussions” with US officials over the extraordinary 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the US proposed by Donald Trump, as it tries to protect one of its biggest creative industries.“We are already in active discussions with the top of the US administration on this subject. We are working hard to establish what might be proposed, if anything, and to make sure our world-beating creative industries are protected,” creative industries minister Chris Bryant told parliament. Continue reading...

Events

48 h. ago Programme for Government LIVE: John Swinney sets out SNP Government policy plans on economy, NHS, transport

John Swinney’s Programme for Government statement is early this year, perhaps due to the Holyrood election being in 2026

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49 h. ago Palestinians ‘desperate for food but getting bombs’, says UN as it criticises Israel’s Gaza aid plan – Middle East crisis live

Reports say that Israel is planning to use private American security contractors in move that OCHA says falls short of ‘humanitarian principles’China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said Beijing is “highly concerned about the current Palestine-Israel situation”.“We oppose Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, and hopes all parties continuously and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement,” Jian said.The government of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hopes that the Israel Defense Forces’ call-up of tens of thousands of reservists, the threat of the new offensive and the prospect of Israel seizing swaths of territory will force Hamas’s leaders to make concessions.If it fails to do so, then physical possession of terrain will offer useful leverage in future negotiations and allow Hamas to be squeezed further in the meantime Continue reading...

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53 h. ago Hamas says it will not engage with Israel again until ‘hunger war’ in Gaza ends

‘No sense’ in considering new truce proposals, says group, hours after Israel agrees plan for ‘conquest’ of territoryMiddle East crisis – live updatesHamas has said it is no longer interested in truce talks with Israel and urged the international community to halt Israel’s “hunger war” against Gaza, hours after Israeli officials agreed an intensified offensive in the devastated territory that would involve displacing “most” of its residents and a sustained Israeli military presence in the devastated territory.“There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip,” Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told AFP. Continue reading...

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53 h. ago Trump live: Mike Pence slams tariff plan in major intervention against former ally

Former vice president’s comments come as President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ready for their high-stakes White House meeting

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68 h. ago White House claims ‘no final decisions on foreign film tariffs’ after Trump announces plan – live

Trump spokesperson says the administration is ‘exploring all options’ but not yet enacting 100% tariff on movies ‘produced in Foreign Lands’ as president saidDonald Trump’s bombshell announcement that “Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands” will be subject to a 100% tariff has certainly caught the attention of Hollywood, as well as the international film industries it seems to be aimed at – principally Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, as well as European countries such as Hungary and Italy that have often acted as bases for US film production.Vague and grandstanding at it is, the chaotic rollout of previous Trump tariffs has triggered feverish speculation, as well as defiance, in the film industry in exactly how this might play out. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Trump’s 100% film tariff plan ‘not in the interests of American businesses’ – US politics live

Australian and UK politicians push back against US president’s move, which is expected to send ‘shock waves’ through global industry Israel is to expand its military operations in Gaza in the coming weeks, with the aim of “conquering” the territory and establishing a “sustained presence” there, Israeli officials have said.The plan, which was unanimously approved at a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday, goes beyond any aims so far outlined by Israel for its offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory and is likely to prompt deep international concern and fierce opposition. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Israeli ministers ‘approve plan to capture all of Gaza’

Officials tell Associated Press that plan would involve troops staying there for an unspecified amount of timeYemen’s Houthis have said the US of carried out strikes in and around Sana’a, after the Iran-backed rebels claimed a missile strike on Israel’s main airport yesterday, AFP reports.The Houthi-run Saba news agency said the strikes included two on Arbaeen Street in the capital and the airport road, blaming them on “American aggression”. Saba said 16 people were wounded, citing the Houthi’s health ministry. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Israel approves plans to intensify Gaza operations

Plan could mark a significant escalation in fighting in the beleaguered territoryIsraeli ministers on Monday agreed to ramp up the war against Hamas in Gaza, an official said.Associated Press reported Israel has plans to capture more territory in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave and call up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers. The plan, which the official said would be gradual, could mark a significant escalation in the fighting in Gaza, which resumed in mid-March after Israel and Hamas failed to agree on an extension to an eight-week truce. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. On Sunday, Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers and said Israel would “operate in additional areas” in Gaza and continue to strike militant infrastructure. Israel already controls roughly half of Gaza’s territory, including a buffer zone along the border with Israel as well as three corrid...

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5 d. ago Jeff Bezos to sell up to $4.75bn in Amazon stock over next year

Company’s founder plans to offload up to 25m shares through a trading planBusiness live – latest updatesJeff Bezos is preparing to sell up to $4.75bn (£3.6bn) worth of Amazon stock over the next year, according to a regulatory filing made on Friday.The technology company’s executive chair and former chief executive plans to offload up to 25m shares through a trading plan that ends on 29 May 2026. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Trump live: White House proposes huge federal cuts but still plans massive parade for president’s birthday

President Trump also closed a major shipping loophole that allowed Americans to purchase cheap goods from China without paying tariffs

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6 d. ago English local elections: Reform UK wins Runcorn byelection by six votes as Labour says result means it must ‘move faster’ with plans – UK politics live

New Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin pays tribute to Farage as ‘great leader’; Labour wins North Tyneside and Doncaster mayoral racesLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago LIVE: People 'seriously injured' in Barton Aerodrome plane crash as emergency services race to scene

It's understood two people have been injured

Events

1 week ago Jeanette Winterson: ‘I’d like to go up in space as a very old lady and just be pushed out’

The Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit author on being a good landlord to a grumpy ghost, her optimism about AI and the ideal size for catsRead more 10 Chaotic QuestionsGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailYour debut novel Oranges are Not the Only Fruit turns 40 years old this year. How do you feel about it at this point in your life?Can you believe it? I find that astonishing. I’m always having to think about it because people keep bothering me about it! Its next iteration is a musical, and then I really hope that’s the end. Just let me go! Obviously I love Oranges and I revisited it again with [her 2011 memoir] Why Be Happy When You Could be Normal? and the musical too. Surely, by the rule of three, this is it? Then I can live in peace and plant potatoes. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Sir Richard Branson's wife saved him from 'wardrobe malfunction' in full Crystal Palace kit

Back in the day when shirt sponsorship of football clubs cost thousands not millions, Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson planned to strip off on live television to reveal a full Crystal Palace kit - but it nearly ended in disaster

Events

1 week ago Xi announces plan for Chinese economy to counter impact of US trade war

Beijing will ‘strengthen bottom-line thinking’ as reports say it could drop tariffs on some US products Business live – latest updatesXi Jinping has announced a plan to counter China’s continuing economic problems and the impact of the US trade war, as reports swirl that it could drop tariffs on some US products, including semiconductors.Friday’s meeting of the politburo was convened to discuss China’s economic situation, which since the pandemic has faced difficulties fuelled by a housing sector crisis, youth unemployment, and Donald Trump’s tariffs on all Chinese exports. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Steve Witkoff arrives in Moscow for further talks with Russia about Ukraine peace plan – Europe live

US peace envoy to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine ahead of US president’s 100 days in office next weekAnd the Interfax news agency has now reported that Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow, where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin.Reuters noted that Witkoff has emerged as Washington’s key interlocutor with Putin as Trump pushes for a deal to end the war in Ukraine, and has already held three long meetings with the Kremlin leader. Continue reading...

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