The Guardian

Campaigners hail U-turn during legal challenge over proposed centre an ‘embarrassing climbdown’ The government has been forced to admit its own planning approval for a major AI datacentre should be quashed after it failed to fully consider the climate impact, in what campaigners described as “an embarrassing climbdown”. Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, had overruled opposition fro…

Decision marks dramatic expansion of so-called ‘Mexico City policy’, which abortion rights supporters call ‘global gag rule’ US politics live – latest updates The Trump administration will block organizations from using US foreign aid to subsidize diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and what the administration calls “gender ideology”. The new policy will affect about $30bn in foreig…

The US president unveiled the board with a gold logo whose resemblance to the UN emblem sparked European criticism Donald Trump ’s newly launched “board of peace” already has a logo – and perceptive eyes have noted its close resemblance to the United Nations emblem, except reworked in Trump fashion: all in gold, and focused squarely on the US. Launched this week at the World Economic Forum in Dav…

Minister says use of former army barracks at Crowborough is part of plan to move people out of hotels A first group of asylum seekers has been moved into a former military camp in East Sussex, the Home Office has said, amid expectations of further protests and legal challenges. Crowborough training camp received 27 men in the early hours of Thursday morning, a statement said, which will be scaled…

Celebrity chef warns UK government’s plans for higher business rates from April ‘simply will not work’ The celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has accused the government of cooking up a kitchen nightmare at restaurants across the country with tax changes that he says will make hospitality businesses “lambs to the slaughter”. Ramsay, whose company operates 34 restaurants in the UK including Bread Street …

President again disparages allies and tells Fox News he is ‘not sure’ Nato would come to US’s defence Donald Trump has again disparaged America’s Nato allies, claiming that troops from allied nations “stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines” while fighting in Afghanistan in support of the US campaign against the Taliban. The only time Nato has ever invoked its mutual defence clause – st…

Storm expected to hit from south Rockies and plains into mid-south on Friday before spreading east A 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, sle…

US president alleges JPMorgan stopped offering him banking services in wake of January 6 Capitol riot Donald Trump has sued JPMorgan Chase and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, for at least $5bn after accusing America’s largest bank of “debanking” him. The US president alleged that JPMorgan stopped offering him banking services in the wake of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Earlier this month, he claime…

Dallas Pokornik accused of using fake ID to fool airlines in case likened to Hollywood thriller Catch Me If You Can A Toronto man posed as a pilot for years in order to fool airlines into giving him hundreds of free flights, prosecutors have alleged, in a case that has prompted comparisons to the Hollywood thriller Catch Me If You Can. Authorities in Hawaii announced this week that Dallas Pokorni…

Ukraine president accuses EU leaders of waiting for direction from Donald Trump in blistering speech at Davos Davos live – latest updates Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken aim at Europe in a fiery speech at Davos, accusing leaders of being in “Greenland mode” as they waited for leadership from Donald Trump on Ukraine and other geopolitical crises rather than taking action themselves. The Ukrainian pr…

Met says allowing protest would risk serious disorder, including from local residents Far-right Ukip supporters will be stopped from marching through Tower Hamlets for fear of serious violence, including from local residents, Scotland Yard has said. The Metropolitan police said it was not a ban, as the march on 31 January calling for mass deportations can take place in another part of London. Con…

Marineland seeks approval to sell belugas to United States after its China export proposal was rejected ‘It’s heartbreaking’: how 30 captive beluga whales have become pawns in row over animal cruelty Marineland, the Canadian amusement park and aquarium which has threatened to kill its captive whales , wants government approval to sell the belugas to the United States after its China export propos…

Island’s PM says sovereignty is non-negotiable after Trump claimed agreement would give US full access with ‘no end, no time limit’ Europe live – latest updates Greenland has demanded its red lines on sovereignty be respected after Donald Trump claimed an agreement with Nato would give the US full and permanent access to the Arctic island, the object of an increasingly bitter months-long dispute.…

Emmanuel Macron says the oil tanker was boarded and searched ‘subject to international sanctions’ The French navy has intercepted a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean suspected to be part of the “shadow fleet” that enables Russia to export oil despite sanctions. “This morning, the French Navy boarded and searched an oil tanker from Russia, subject to international sanctions and suspected of flyi…

High court ruling marks first time a foreign state has been held liable for domestic servitude by its envoy on UK soil The United Arab Emirates must pay a victim of human trafficking more than £260,000 after being exploited by one of their diplomats in London, the high court has ruled. Lawyers representing the woman said it was unprecedented for a court to order a foreign state to pay for domesti…