The Guardian

Communities secretary tells MPs that government has to act against record levels of hate crimes A new definition of anti-Muslim hate will not restrict freedom of speech, the communities secretary has pledged, as he said that “clear expectations” will still be set for new arrivals and existing communities in Britain to learn English. MPs were told by Steve Reed that the government had a duty to ac…

John Healey tells Commons crews working hard to prepare warship after criticism over slow response to drone attacks HMS Dragon will set sail in “the next couple of days”, the defence secretary has said, meaning the British destroyer may not arrive in the eastern Mediterranean until after the weekend. John Healey told the House of Commons that navy crews were working “tirelessly, 22 hours a day” t…

Kemi may be all in favour, but at least economic realpolitik is forcing her to take a slightly different tack There have been any number of opportunities for people to decide they wanted no part of America’s war with Iran. The first was after the US had launched its first wave of strikes. To be fair, this was the moment Keir Starmer and most of the UK reckoned enough was enough and that our invol…

Exclusive: Technology secretary urges tech companies to do more to tackle online misogyny Ministers need to act more quickly to combat fast-changing threats from technology such as deepfakes, the technology secretary has said, as she warned about the risks women and girls face online. Liz Kendall said on Monday that technology was developing at such a pace that it was outstripping the government’…

Andy Ogles posted ‘Muslims don’t belong in American society,’ among other statements, prompting Cair to call him an ‘anti-Muslim extremist’ Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Andy Ogles, a Republican representative of Tennessee, spent Monday on an Islamophobic rant, writing on social media: “Muslims don’t belong in American society,” among other statemen…

Republican senator warns of ‘consequences’ if kingdom does not join US strikes against Iranians Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Senator Lindsey Graham on Monday questioned whether the United States should honor a long-sought defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, saying the kingdom’s refusal to join military operations against Iran made the partnership …

Request for records related to election audit appears latest part of Trump effort to spread false claims about voting A federal grand jury subpoenaed Arizona’s legislature for records related the state senate’s widely criticized review of the 2020 election, the state senate president said on Monday, in what appears to be the latest part of the Trump administration’s efforts to spread false claims…

Anglers describe harrowing phone calls to loved ones once ice detached from shores of Georgian Bay in Ontario Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Kevin Fox thought the spring-like temperatures that had temporarily pushed the cold away from south-eastern Ontario meant a good day on for ice fishing, a popular winter pastime in the region. After shifting loc…

Home affairs minister in Queensland after dramatic night in which five female players were granted asylum. Follow updates live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Donald Trump ’s dramatic announcement about the granting by Australia of asylum to five Iranian women footballers was the big breaking news of the night. Trump said he had spoken to Antthony Albanese who had tol…

Social media company tells MPs of continual fight against state-backed efforts, with Russia being most prolific Elon Musk’s X said it had suspended 800m accounts over a 12-month period as it fights the “massive” scale of attempts to manipulate the platform. The social media company told MPs it was continually fighting state-backed attempts to hijack the agenda on its network, with Russia the most…

French president says attack on island is ‘an attack on Europe’ as EU states send military support Middle East crisis – live updates Emmanuel Macron has vowed that Europe will do whatever it takes to stand by Cyprus, the continent’s first state to be directly affected by the Iran war. In the strongest show yet of solidarity towards the EU member closest to the Middle East, Macron likened the atta…

There is talk of crude surpassing its record high of 2008 with potentially dire effects for consumers and businesses Fears over the global economy have been stoked by the oil price soaring past $100 a barrel as a result on the US-Israel war with Iran. Economists say the increasing likelihood of a prolonged conflict in the vital energy exporting region could have serious consequences for living st…

With new supreme leader’s strong connections to the IRGC, critics fear worse is to come – if he survives At around midday, even as airstrikes hit several parts of the capital, large crowds gathered in Tehran’s famous Enghelab Square to chant their allegiance to Iran’s new supreme leader. Carrying banners showing the face of the country’s slain leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, people on Monday held…

What Mojtaba Khamenei will do with his leadership is now the key question after he succeeds his father Middle East crisis – live updates Crowds in Tehran greeted the announcement of the country’s new supreme leader by chanting: “God’s hand is still upon us, Khamenei is still our leader.” As the world economy grinds to a halt, Iran is selling the elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei as a sign of reassuri…

Leader of rebel group says there is deep concern within Society of Labour Lawyers about courts and tribunals bill Lawyers affiliated to Labour were “blocked” from briefing party MPs to share concerns about plans to cut the number of jury trials in England and Wales, it has been claimed. The allegation was made by Karl Turner, the leader of a backbench rebellion against a flagship government bill …