The Guardian

After months of mounting anger from voters and pressure from MPs No 10 accepted a change had to be madeRarely are British voters united by one issue, but Labour MPs returning to Westminster after the local election campaign this month all reported a single policy dominating all others: cuts to the winter fuel allowance.“It is all people wanted to talk about on the doorstep,” said one. “Some were upset about the coming cuts to disability benefits, some were exercised by immigration. But everyone was angry about winter fuel payments.” Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/21/its-all-people-wanted-to-talk-about-how-labour-u-turned-on-winter-fuel-payment-cut Author : Kiran Stacey Political

National Parking Platform where motorists can pay for all parking on single app to launch ‘as soon as possible’ For motorists fed up with having to wrestle with a phone full of apps to pay for parking their car, relief could finally be in sight with a unified app.Lengthy delays have dogged a government-funded initiative, the National Parking Platform (NPP), designed to let people use one app to pay for all their parking instead of having to sign up to a plethora of services. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/may/21/uk-wide-parking-app-to-be-rolled-out-by-industry-bodies-after-pilot-scheme Author : Rupert Jones Publish date : 2025-05-21 16:55:00 Copyright

Downing Street unable to say how many more pensioners would receive winter fuel payments or when changes would come inYouGov has published more details of its polling on the electorate’s relationship with Labour, as covered in the Sky News report mentioned earlier. (See 10.06am.)It shows that Reform UK supporters are most likely to think that Labour is trying hard to appeal to them – but least likely to say they would respond positively. Only 4% of Reform UK supporters say they would consider voting Labour, the poll says.I ask her if there will be any changes as demanded by MPs

Twenty-eight-year-old polar bear, who had been at Highland Wildlife Park since 2015, is euthanised on vets’ adviceThe UK’s oldest polar bear, and the first in the country to give birth to a cub in 25 years, has been put down because of age-related health problems.Victoria was 28 and had been kept in Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands since 2015. Vets at the park took the decision to euthanise her on Tuesday morning after an assessment about her quality of life and wellbeing. Since December she had been receiving geriatric care after showing signs of arthritis. Continue

Case came to supreme court after court of appeal determined the term ‘open-air recreation’ included campingWild camping will be allowed on Dartmoor after the supreme court ruled that a multimillionaire landowner was wrong to ban it on his land.Dartmoor was – until the legal action – the only place in England where wild camping without the permission of the landowner was enshrined in law. In Scotland, people have enjoyed this right since 2003. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/21/wild-camping-on-dartmoor-is-legal-supreme-court-rules Author : Helena Horton Environment reporter Publish date : 2025-05-21 09:14:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

The European Union said it would review its trade cooperation deal with Israel over the blockade of Gaza, while the UK suspended free-trade negotiationsIsrael still blocking aid for Gaza despite promise to lift siege, says UNA car has been struck by an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon near Tyre according to reports. Lebanon’s National News Agency said the attack happened on the Al-Hawsh-Ain Baal road. Israeli news service Kan reported that one person had been killed.The former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has said that what Israel “is doing now in Gaza, is very close to a war crime” during

NSW premier Chris Minns says service not ‘good enough’ as delays continue on Wednesday after high-voltage wire fell on train, crippling networkAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales premier has called for an independent review as hundreds of thousands of Sydney commuters continue to face severe disruptions after a high-voltage wire collapsed on to a train on Tuesday afternoon, crippling the city’s rail network.Chris Minns also announced a fare-free day for Monday to compensate commuters who faced chaotic train platforms, long bus queues and Uber surge pricing as

Two days of heavy rainfall still on way as SES carries out 130 rescues amid floods in Taree and nearby areasAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastResidents of the mid-north coast of New South Wales have described anxious waits for rescue in the dark as unprecedented flooding inundates homes and businesses across the region.The State Emergency Service has performed 130 rescues in the past 24 hours, the bulk of those occurring in Taree, Wingham and Glenthorne.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/21/nsw-weather-bom-warns-of-lots-of-flooding-to-come-on-mid-north-coast Author :

Uinversity students’ mental health and wellbeing must be ‘prioritised alongside their studies’, argue campaignersA review of student suicides in England dodged “the real issues” with universities, the parents of a student who killed herself before a class presentation have said.The national review of higher education student suicide deaths, commissioned by the Department for Education, heard that families suffered “distressing experiences” at the hands of university administrators, and concluded that universities owed a “duty of candour” to relatives, including greater transparency and involvement.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In

Wednesday’s power outage at Strathfield still causing delays across the system. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydney trains still disrupted after yesterday’s power failureSydney commuters face widespread disruption this morning as the city’s train network recovers after a high-voltage wire fell on to the top of a train at Strathfield yesterday afternoon, trapping 300 passengers and sparking chaotic scenes during the evening rush. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/may/21/australia-news-live-sydney-train-delays-taree-nsw-floods-coalition-breakup-david-littleproud-sussan-ley-nationals-liberals-ntwnfb Author : Martin Farrer Publish date : 2025-05-20 20:39:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Hospital plans to keep Adriana Smith on life support until August, when doctors will deliver baby via C-sectionThe fetus of a brain dead Georgia woman who is being kept alive to carry out her pregnancy is continuing to grow, the woman’s mother said late Monday, days after the controversial case exploded into the national news and sparked questions about the ethics of using the state’s anti-abortion law to keep a woman with no chance of recovery on life support.“He has his toes, arms, limbs – everything is forming,” the mother, April Newkirk, told the local news station 11Alive. “We’re just

Foreign secretary tells parliament that the Israeli government’s ‘egregious actions and rhetoric’ are isolating the country from its friends and partnersThe Scottish secretary has said the new UK-EU trade deal provides “12 years of certainty and stability” for the fishing industry, amid criticism from the industry that the government has made too large a concession to the EU on fishing rights.The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has described the deal as a “horror show”, but Ian Murray said: “I don’t agree with that.”It gives 12 years of certainty and stability for the industry, it doesn’t change any of the deal that

New rules on agrifood products viewed as positive but some companies say they no longer need to use British suppliersThe UK’s trade deal with the European Union is expected to smooth trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but for some businesses in the latter it no longer matters, as they have ditched British suppliers.“Overall the deal is welcome but we’re indifferent,” said Peter Bradley, a director of the Mid-Ulster Garden Centre. “We give our business now to Dutch, Italian and Republic of Ireland companies. We’ve got into a nice pattern and rhythm, post-Brexit, and British suppliers have almost become

PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani dismisses concerns country is trying to buy influence as Schumer introduces bill to block such a movePresident Donald Trump is expected to head to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet congressional Republicans as they aim to reach agreement on a sweeping tax-cut bill, with their narrow majority divided over the scope of spending cuts, reports Reuters.Hardline Republicans in the US House of Representatives on Friday briefly blocked the advance of the bill – which nonpartisan analysts say could add $3tn to $5tn to the federal government’s $36.2tn debt – but relented on Sunday.

Ukrainian president says ‘pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace’Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses ceasefireRussia has lost 975,800 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on 20 May.This number includes 1,030 Russian casualties over the past day. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/may/20/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-war-news-live-updates Author : Jane Clinton Publish date : 2025-05-20 08:09:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Simon Spurrell was forced to sell his business because of £600,000 loss caused by Brexit red tapeA British cheese maker who was forced to sell his business because of a £600,000 loss caused by Brexit red tape has welcomed the new deal with Brussels – but says it comes four years too late.Simon Spurrell, who made headlines when he highlighted prohibitive export costs after the UK’s exit from the single market, said he was delighted the “grownups are back in the room” and he will now consider relaunching his business as long as the details are confirmed. Continue reading... Source

Mid-north coast and Hunter region cops barrage of extreme weather, with more than 30 schools closed and people in Taree advised to take shelter Australia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPersistent and heavy rain has caused flash flooding in New South Wales, with emergency services responding to more than 2,000 calls and assisting with evacuations.Much of NSW’s mid-north coast and Hunter region has copped the barrage, with 22 flood rescues performed overnight.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/20/nsw-flash-flooding-floods-weather-newcastle-taree-warnings-school-closures Author : Lisa Cox and Australian

President signs bill with first lady Melania Trump to criminalize sharing intimate images without consentPresident Donald Trump on Monday signed into law the Take It Down Act, a measure that imposes penalties for online sexual exploitation that first lady Melania Trump helped usher through Congress, and he had her sign it, too, despite what sounded like a mild objection on her part.“C’mon, sign it anyway,” the president told his wife. “She deserves to sign it.” Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/19/trump-take-it-down-act-bill Author : Associated Press Publish date : 2025-05-20 00:21:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Intense rainfall and damaging winds predicted in NSW’s mid-north coast and Hunter regions. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLiberals question role of advocacy group AdvanceWe have an exclusive story this morning about the bitter aftermath within the Liberal party after its election defeat with some senior Liberal sources questioning the impact of Advance Australia, the rightwing advocacy that campaigned for the party.We are absolutely deeply and gravely concerned about the situation in Gaza. For anyone who is watching the images or reading about what is happening there, we have been calling to

Family of Kayden Moy, 16, say he will be ‘sorely missed’, while police continue investigation and call for informationA 17-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the death of Kayden Moy, 16, who died after a “targeted” attack on a Scottish beach.Police were called to reports of a teenager being seriously injured at Irvine beach in North Ayrshire on Saturday at about 6.45pm. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/19/tributes-paid-as-boy-17-charged-over-death-of-teenager-on-scottish-beach-kayden-moy Author : PA Media Publish date : 2025-05-19 19:24:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

‘He would punch her, choke her, slap her,’ says Richard as second week of music mogul’s sex-trafficking trial resumesThe second week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking trial began on Monday morning with the singer Dawn Richard returning to the witness stand.Combs, 55, is facing charges of sex-trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in September 2024 and has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid.

People in area told it is ‘considered a dangerous combat zone’In a post on X, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee has told residents living in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, Bani Suheila and Abasan to “evacuate immediately” ahead of an “unprecedented attack” he claims is targeting Hamas infrastructure.“The IDF will launch an unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations in this area,” he wrote in the social media post.You should know that when Gazans who were related to those who were holding me were injured by IDF actions, I would be badly beaten and sent to solitary confinement

Pro-European centrist Rafał Trzaskowski and historian Karol Nawrocki, backed by the populist right, each secured about 30% of the voteA deal clinched between the UK and EU to remove checks on agrifoods will add £9bn to the UK economy and lower food prices, No 10 has said, as the last-minute agreement was clinched early on Monday morning.The deal – which will grant EU fishers access to British waters for an additional 12 years – will remove checks on a significant number of food products as well as a deeper defence partnership and agreements on carbon taxes. Continue reading... Source link

Unclear what US president can achieve after direct talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without conclusionHello and welcome to the US politics live blog. I’m Tom Ambrose and I will be bringing you all the latest news throughout the next few hours.Donald Trump is due to speak to both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to stop what he called the “bloodbath” war in Ukraine.Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400m Boeing jet from Qatar is the “definition of corruption”, a top Democrat said on Sunday, as several senior Republicans joined in a bipartisan fusillade of criticism and concern

Agreement would mark a symbolic step in turning the page on BrexitGood morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, picking up from Yohnannes Lowe.Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, is giving interviews this morning saying that the post-Brexit reset deal between the UK and the EU has not been finally agreed (see 7.37am), but he’s just being pedantic. It all seems sorted. It just has not been formally announced yet.Nothing on these deals is sorted until it all gets sorted. There’s a deal to be done here, we’ve always said that.There are real benefits to the UK which are on offer on sorting this