The Guardian

Largest January total since records began in 1993 is sharp reversal from December’s £11.6bn deficit Business live – latest updates The UK government has posted the biggest ever budget surplus, official figures show, after a large boost in self-assessment and capital gains tax receipts. In a boost for the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in the run-up to her spring statement next month, public sector fi…

Exclusive: Sir Ian McKellen portrays artist in BBC documentary that draws on trove of previously unheard recordings LS Lowry was convinced his paintings would be worthless after his death, he confided in a previously unheard interview. Although the artist had enjoyed some success in his final years, Lowry could never have imagined he would become one of Britain’s best-loved artists or that his pa…

In today’s newsletter: As investigators dig deeper into newly ​​released documents, the arrest of a once‑untouchable ​public figure​ puts us in uncharted territory Good morning. Some days there isn’t an immediately obvious theme for what tomorrow’s newsletter should be about. Yesterday was not one of those days. As Thames Valley police confirmed early on Thursday that a “man in his 60s from Norfo…

Kraków’s ban on burning solid fuels plus subsidies for cleaner heating has led to clearer air and better health As a child, Marcel Mazur had to hold his breath in parts of Kraków thick with “so much smoke you could see and smell it”. Now, as an allergy specialist at Jagiellonian University Medical College who treats patients struggling to breathe, he knows all too well the damage those toxic gase…

The arrest of the 66-year old former prince has sent shockwaves through the UK and abroad, with reaction rolling in from the US to Australia King says ‘law must take its course’ What the papers say Calls for justice in the US A search at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former Berkshire home by UK police remains underway following the former prince’s arrest on Thursday. Even though Thomas Valley poli…

Exclusive: England and Wales charity to examine safeguards after Guardian exposed ‘very dangerous’ advice on Google AI Overviews ‘ Very dangerous’: a Mind mental health expert on Google’s AI summaries Mind is launching a significant inquiry into artificial intelligence and mental health after a Guardian investigation exposed how Google’s AI Overviews gave people “very dangerous” medical advice. I…

Israeli police raid compound, arrest staff and curb Muslims’ access as Ramadan begins A six-decade agreement governing Muslim and Jewish prayer at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site has “collapsed” under pressure from Jewish extremists backed by the Israeli government, experts have warned. A series of arrests of Muslim caretaker staff, bans on access for hundreds of Muslims, and escalating incu…

Long-serving socialist former leader Evo Morales has reappeared in his political stronghold after almost seven weeks of unexplained absence Bolivia’s long-serving socialist former leader, Evo Morales , reappeared on Thursday in his political stronghold of the tropics after almost seven weeks of unexplained absence, endorsing candidates for upcoming regional elections and quieting rumours he had f…

Expert review will consider whether children and teenagers should be able to carry passengers Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast New South Wales will introduce a minimum age to ride an ebike as part of a bid to address safety concerns and clamp down on “dangerous behaviour”. The Minns government announced the reforms…

The president’s announcement came after predecessor Barack Obama went viral last week for saying aliens are ‘real’ Donald Trump has announced he is directing the defense department and other agencies to release whatever files they have on the search for alien life. In a post on his social media platform, Trump said that he will ask the defense secretary and others “to begin the process of identif…

Ex-state MP has pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing boy in 2017 with defence barrister claiming Amon did not know boy’s age Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A former politician accused of sexually abusing a young teenager in a car park bathroom has said he did not know the boy was 13 years old when they met. Ror…

Bilal El-Hayek, mayor of Canterbury Bankstown, says One Nation leader’s comments ‘will incite someone’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Federal police say they have “received reports of a crime” in relation to comments made to the media by Pauline Hanson this week. But an AFP spokesperson did not say whether they had begun a criminal investigation, only that they would…

Avalanche in Sierra Nevada killed at least eight people, including six who frequently went on ski trips together Six of the eight people who died after a major avalanche swept through the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada this week have been identified, according to multiple reports. The identified victims – Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vit…

Shawn DeRemer, husband of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, reportedly accused by at least two female staff members The husband of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Donald Trump’s labor secretary, has reportedly been barred from the labor department’s headquarters in Washington after at least two female staff members accused him of sexually assaulting them, the New York Times , Politico and the Wall Street Journal reporte…

Actor who played ‘McSteamy’ died on Thursday, 10 months after he revealed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a type of motor neurone disease Eric Dane, an actor in hit shows Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, has died aged 53, less than a year after he publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Dane died on Thursday afternoon, his representatives announced …