Announcement after proposed sale falls through prompts backlash and union says more than 200 jobs at risk A Reform UK-led council plan to shut eight of its residential care homes has been condemned as “a betrayal of local people”. Days before Christmas, Derbyshire county council announced that the homes would have to close after a proposed sale fell through. Continue reading...

Anthony D’Esposito will be expected to investigate ethical lapses, despite his own alleged ethical lapses.

From 1 January, contraceptives will be subject to a 13% VAT rate – part of a carrot-and-stick approach by the government to increase births China is set to impose a value-added tax (VAT) on condoms and other contraceptives for the first time in three decades, as the country tries to boost its birthrate and modernise its tax laws. From 1 January, condoms and contraceptives will be subject to a 13% VAT rate – a tax from which the goods have been exempt since China introduced nationwide VAT in 1993. Continue reading...

Chile’s new leader wants to rewrite its past and recast its future.

The Russian strategy of exporting chaos to provoke extremism only works if liberals succumb to cynicism and despair, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

Open letter to Reform UK leader expresses ‘dismay and anger’ at his response to racism and antisemitism allegations Nigel Farage has been told to apologise for his alleged teenage racism by 26 school contemporaries who have written an open letter telling of their “dismay and anger” at his response in recent weeks. In a united challenge to the Reform UK leader, the alleged victims and witnesses condemn him for what they describe as his refusal to acknowledge his behaviour at Dulwich college. Continue reading...

Several European nations are already planning similar moves while Britain has said ‘nothing is off the table’

Aggressive tactics employed by Trump and his allies did not sit well with state lawmakers, who delivered a major political blow to national Republicans ahead of the midterms.

With the US threatening to support ‘patriotic’ parties here, we need better defences, starting with tough new rules about political donations, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

With the US threatening to support ‘patriotic’ parties here, we need better defences, starting with tough new rules about political donations, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Reform UK leader has pocketed £415,500 so far this year to act as the company's “Brand Ambassador”

Opposition politician María Corina Machado thanks people who ‘risked their lives’ to get her to Norwegian capital Germany’s Merz and Nato’s Rutte are now giving a press conference after their talks this morning. I will bring you all the key quotes. Continue reading...

YouTube video by Antony Jones

Exclusive: Campaign urges PM to show independence from US and push to rein in development of superintelligence More than 100 UK parliamentarians are calling on the government to introduce binding regulations on the most powerful AI systems as concern grows that ministers are moving too slowly to create safeguards in the face of lobbying from the technology industry. A former AI minister and defence secretary are part of a cross-party group of Westminster MPs, peers and elected members of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish legislatures demanding stricter controls on frontier systems, citing fears superintelligent AI “would compromise national and global security”. Continue reading...

When his book Notes on Being a Man was released last month, it raced to the top of the bestseller lists. The US author, tech entrepreneur and podcaster explains his theories on dating, crying – and the rise of Donald Trump

Centrist governments are failing badly in Europe’s leading economies, setting the stage for a far-right sweep.

One donor tells FT that Reform leader described an agreement as ‘inevitable’, despite denials from both sides Nigel Farage has told donors he expects a deal or merger between his Reform UK party and the Conservatives before the next general election. Reform donors told the Financial Times that the leader expected his party to join with or make a deal with the Tories. Continue reading...

A new breed of unapologetic, mercilessly on-message Democrats rise to the moment