8 h. ago Tories withdraw ‘mental health’ briefing about Suella Braverman after former Tory home secretary joins Reform – UK politics live

Her defection means there are now eight Reform MPs in the CommonsKeir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excellent job.The battle of our times is the battle between patriotic, Lab...

Society

10 h. ago Labour says Farage ‘stuffing his party full of failed Tories’ after Suella Braverman joins Reform – UK politics live

Her defection comes shortly after Robert Jenrick joined Nigel Farage’s party, meaning there are now eight Reform MPs in the CommonsKeir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excellen...

Politics

11 h. ago ‘I feel like I’ve come home’: former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK – UK politics live

Her defection comes shortly after Robert Jenrick joined Nigel Farage’s party, meaning there are now eight Reform MPs in the Commons.Keir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excelle...

Society

12 h. ago US gripped by severe winter storm with snow, ice and plunging temperatures – latest news

Many alerts remain in place with power outages in some regionsTens of millions of Americans hunkered down on Monday or ventured out to help neighbors under bitter cold, blizzards of snow and lashings of freezing rain from a huge winter storm that paralyzed the eastern United States.From New York and Massachusetts in the northeast to Texas and North Carolina in the south, roads were frozen slick with ice and buried under often more than a foot of snow, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Events

13 h. ago Starmer brushes off claims blocking Burnham from byelection was ‘cowardly’ – UK politics live

PM praises Manchester mayor and urges Labour to unite to fight Reform Keir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to what he would say to Labour MPs who think he is being “cowardly” and just blocking Burnham to avoid the risk of a leadership contest.Millions of people will be better off if we have the continuation of a Labour government in Wales, and if we’re able to win the government in Scotland and retain and win councils across England.When I came into politics in 2015, the first thing I did was support Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign. The first team I worked in was for Andy Burnham. And in the job he’s doing now, he and I work closely together ..So there’s no question of me and Andy not working very well together. He’s doing an excellent job.The battle of our times is the battle between patriotic...

Politics

14 h. ago Weather tracker: Severe storms grip US as snow, ice and deep freeze spread

Warnings issued across 26 US states, while Portugal braces for heavy rain as Storm Joseph rolls inThe US is enduring another bout of severe winter weather, as a succession of powerful weather systems brings heavy snow, freezing rain and extreme cold temperatures to much of the country.Twenty-six states, from Texas to Massachusetts, were under storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service over the weekend, with many alerts remaining in place this week. Continue reading...

Events

28 h. ago US winter storm leaves seven people dead as more than 1 million lose power

Snow, sleet and perilously cold temperatures sweep eastern two-thirds of country as thousands of flights groundedSnowstorms strike the US: in picturesAt least seven people are dead as the result of a monster winter storm in the US that has brought heavy snowfall and ice from the Gulf coast to the north-east, leaving more than one million in the south without power and cancelling more than 10,000 flights.The Louisiana department of health confirmed two deaths related to the winter storm in Caddo parish. According to the agency, two men of unknown ages died of hypothermia. Continue reading...

Events

29 h. ago US winter storm leaves seven people dead as more than 700,000 lose power

Snow, sleet and perilously cold temperatures sweep eastern two-thirds of country as thousands of flights groundedSnowstorms strike the US: in picturesAt least seven people are dead as the result of a monster winter storm that has brought heavy snowfall and ice from the Gulf coast to the north-east, leaving more than 700,000 in the US without power and cancelling more than 10,000 flights.The Louisiana department of health confirmed two deaths related to the winter storm in Caddo parish. According to the agency, two men of unknown ages died of hypothermia. Continue reading...

Events

34 h. ago Massive winter storm across the US brings frigid temperatures and widespread power outages

A massive winter storm continues to hit large parts of the country, dumping snow, sleet and freezing rain

Events

35 h. ago US storm cuts power to hundreds of thousands of homes and grounds flights

Snow, sleet, freezing rain and perilously cold temperatures forecast to sweep eastern two-thirds of nationMore than 500,000 households and businesses in the US are without power and more than 9,600 flights are expected to be cancelled ahead of a monster winter storm that threatens to paralyse eastern states with heavy snowfall.Forecasters said snow, sleet, freezing rain and dangerously frigid temperatures would sweep the eastern two-thirds of the nation on Sunday and into next week. Continue reading...

Events

50 h. ago Snow, sleet and power outages: 140m Americans under warnings for major winter storm

Dangerous weather engulfing large area of country as 16 states plus DC declare states of emergencyA powerful winter storm with more than 140 million Americans in its crosshairs started sweeping across much of the US on Saturday, packing heavy snow and sleet as well as freezing rain and causing widespread power outages.Snowfall was already being reported on Saturday morning across parts of the plains, the south and the midwest, including in areas of Oklahoma, Iowa, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas and Missouri. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago HMRC warns 3.3 million taxpayers have days left to avoid £100 fine

HM Revenue and Customs is urging millions of customers to act now or risk missing the January 31 deadline

Economics

3 d. ago Why freezing rain has millions at risk of losing power — and heat

Utility companies and state officials are preparing for a forecasted ice storm that could bring down power lines and cause widespread outages

Events

4 d. ago Powerful winter storm to bring heavy snow across much of US this weekend

Storm expected to hit from south Rockies and plains into mid-south on Friday before spreading eastA powerful winter storm is set to sweep across much of the US this weekend, bringing potentially record-breaking cold, heavy snow and ice that forecasters warn could cause hazardous conditions, potential power outages and travel disruptions.The storm is expected to bring “widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain” from the south Rockies and plains into the mid-south beginning on Friday, before spreading east to the mid-Atlantic and New England areas this weekend, according to the US National Weather Service on Thursday. The impact in New England will potentially linger into Monday. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Crews spread salt on roads and people stock up on batteries as a winter storm threatens the US

Crews spread salt on roads and readied snowplows as a storm threatened to bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to a broad section of the U.S. in the coming days

Events

5 d. ago Trump storms Davos: How US president has insulted leading figures ahead of his arrival

As Trump arrives in Switzerland to address political leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF), he is set to clash with several notable figures on the guest list.

Politics

5 d. ago A simple test could identify the people most at risk of experiencing sex problems triggered by common antidepressants prescribed to millions

Scientists have pinpointed a way to identify people who are at most risk of suffering from sexual issues while taking antidepressants.

Events

6 d. ago Chernobyl power plant LOSES external power supply after Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, IAEA warns

The International Atomic Energy Agency Director General, Rafael Grossi, reported this morning that several Ukrainian power substations had been affected by large-scale military activity.

Events

7 d. ago Dallas given deadline to remove ‘political’ road markings or risk losing millions in funding

The Texas Department of Transportation rejected Dallas’ request for an exemption to the ruling

Events

7 d. ago UK snow forecast as two rare and 'hazardous' weather events are just days away

Two rare and potentially dangerous weather events could hit the UK at the beginning of February, with weather maps showing ice pellets and freezing rain are on the cards

Politics