The Guardian

Office of personnel management orders agencies to dismiss workers who had not yet gained civil service protectionThe Trump administration on Thursday intensified its sweeping efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce, the country’s largest employer, by ordering agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protection – potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of workers.In addition, workers at some agencies were warned that large workplace cuts would be coming. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/13/trump-probationary-government-workers-layoffs Author : Associated Press Publish date : 2025-02-14 00:41:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked

Mayor says plan to reestablish Ice office under discussion despite New York law prohibiting such a moveIn a sign of increasing cooperation with Donald Trump’s anti-immigration plans, the Republican administration’s hardline so-called “border czar”, Tom Homan, met with New York’s Democratic mayor Eric Adams on Thursday as the White House pushes for more detaining and deporting of immigrants, especially those accused of crimes.The two resumed discussions on a controversial topic they had talked about in a previous meeting in December – re-establishing an office for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (Ice) at the city’s notorious Rikers Island jail.

Claudia Sheinbaum gives riposte to Trump’s accusation of ‘intolerable alliance’ between Mexican government and gangsMexico’s president has accused the US of harboring drug cartels and American citizens of working with organized crime groups in Mexico, in a riposte to Donald Trump’s allegation of an “intolerable alliance” between traffickers and her government.“There is also organized crime in the United States and there are American people who come to Mexico with these illegal activities,” Claudia Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference on Thursday. “Otherwise who would distribute fentanyl in the cities of the United States?” Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/13/claudia-sheinbaum-us-drug-cartel

Rail union announces protected industrial action. Follow the latest news headlines liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDutton calls for more details on interaction between Australia and China in South China SeaThe opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has also weighed in on that interaction between Australian and Chinese aircraft in the South China Sea on Tuesday.And then Richard Marles did a press conference to provide details. So we haven’t had a briefing on it as yet, but on what the deputy prime minister says it is deeply concerning because it puts that safety at risk, the safety

President says US will impose ‘reciprocal’ duties but no new specific tariffs were announcedDonald Trump threatened to ramp up his economic assault on some of America’s biggest trading partners on Thursday , vowing to impose new tariffs on countries that target products made in the US within weeks.The US will impose “reciprocal” duties, the president announced on Thursday. “We want a level playing field,” Trump declared. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/13/trump-tariffs Author : Callum Jones in New York Publish date : 2025-02-13 19:14:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Foreign secretary says ‘we will discuss issues where the UK and China do not always see eye to eye’ as he meets Wang Yi, Beijing’s foreign affairs ministerKeir Starmer has been forced to cut short a visit to a housing development after a protest by farmers, PA Media reports. PA says:A group of tractor-driving protesters staged a noisy demonstration as Keir Starmer visited a housing development in Buckinghamshire.The vehicles could be heard sounding musical horns while the prime minister spoke to workers at the site. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/feb/13/new-towns-england-keir-starmer-angela-rayner-labour-donald-trump-ukraine-vladimir-putin-uk-politics-live-news Author : Andrew Sparrow Publish date : 2025-02-13 17:46:00

The vaccine skeptic will now lead the US’s vast healthcare system after gaining backing of key Republican senatorsUS politics live – latest updatesRobert F Kennedy Jr will take control of America’s vast healthcare apparatus, as the Senate voted on Thursday to confirm the controversial anti-vaccine campaigner’s nomination as health secretary.The Senate voted 52 to 48, with all Republicans other than Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell backing the former environmental lawyer who abandoned his independent presidential bid last year to endorse Donald Trump. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/13/rfk-health-secretary-confirmed Author : Joseph Gedeon in Washington Publish date : 2025-02-13 16:32:00 Copyright for

If European court of justice agrees, Parallel Society Act could violate EU law, forcing Copenhagen to change itDenmark’s “ghetto law”, which allows the state to demolish apartment blocks in areas where at least half of residents have a “non-western” background, constitutes direct discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin, a senior adviser to the EU’s top court has found.Danish social housing law categorises neighbourhoods on the basis of unemployment, crime, education, income and immigrant population. Those where more than 50% of residents are from a “non-western” backgrounds are labelled a “parallel society”, formerly referred to as a “ghetto”. Continue reading...

Constitutional law expert Helen Irving says such a change appears to be a distraction from serious nature of anti-Israeli comments from NSW nursesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPeter Dutton’s proposal to toughen citizenship-stripping laws in response to comments made by two NSW nurses would probably require a referendum, a constitutional lawyer says.Both major party leaders have been accused of a “bidding war” on who can look tougher on the issue, with Abul Rizvi, a former senior immigration official, urging politicians not to throw more petrol on the fire amid social tensions.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s

Group says it will stick to agreed timeframe to release hostages following threats from Israel it would resume war if they were not freedHamas has confirmed its commitment to continue implementing the Gaza ceasefire deal according to an agreed timeframe, Reuters is reporting in a breaking news line.More details soon … Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/13/gaza-ceasefire-hopes-hostages-hamas-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-crisis-live-news Author : Martin Belam (now) and Amy Sedghi (earlier) Publish date : 2025-02-13 12:43:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Vaccine sceptic likely to face early vote after wavering Republicans said they would support appointmentThe Senate will convene to resume consideration of Robert F Kennedy Jr’s nomination as health secretary on Thursday morning.Writing for CBS News, Kaia Hubbard noted that “Kennedy’s path to confirmation was once considered among the most fragile of president Trump’s nominees,” but the Senate has cleared the final hurdle to a vote on his appointment 53 to 47 along party lsines.Today’s ruling is a setback in the fight for dignity and fairness for public servants. But it’s not the end of that fight. Importantly, this decision

Jewish creatives and activists also sign New York Times ad after US president’s proposal to ‘take over Gaza’More than 350 rabbis, alongside additional signatories including Jewish creatives and activists, have signed an ad in the New York Times in which they condemn Donald Trump’s proposal for the effective ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza.The ad, which was signed by rabbis including Sharon Brous, Roly Matalon and Alissa Wise, as well as Jewish creatives and activists including Tony Kushner, Ilana Glazer, Naomi Klein and Joaquin Phoenix, says: “Trump has called for the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish people say

US defence minister to meet Nato counterparts in Brussels after Trump says he is ready to negotiate a Ukrainian ceasefire with RussiaTrump says he has spoken to Putin and agreed to negotiate Ukraine ceasefireFrench defence minister Sébastien Lecornu strikes a similar tone, cautioning against “peace through weakness,” which he warns could have dramatic consequences, opposite to the aim of bringing peace to Europe.He says that while it’s “historically true” that Nato has been the most important military alliance, the real question is whether it will still be in 10-15 years, given how the world is changing with new threats emerging

ONS data showing British national output rose in final quarter of 2024 confounds forecasts of 0.1% decline• Business live – latest updatesBritain’s economy unexpectedly grew in the final three months of last year, official figures show, easing pressure on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves.Figures from the Office for National Statistics show gross domestic product rose by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, beating the forecasts of City economists and the Bank of England for a decline of 0.1%. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/13/uk-economy-grows-by-01-in-unexpected-boost-for-rachel-reeves Author : Richard Partington Economics correspondent Publish date : 2025-02-13 07:01:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs

Roads are set to be closed as system moves towards the Pilbara before it’s expected to make landfall on FridayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSchools have been closed as northern Australia braces for a tropical cyclone that has developed into a destructive category five system.Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia has rapidly intensified since developing off the Western Australian coast, sparking authorities into action. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/13/tropical-cyclone-zelia-western-australia-bom-warning Author : Australian Associated Press Publish date : 2025-02-13 05:38:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

What will the world look like without US foreign assistance? Nesrine Malik reports“My community, living here in the refugee camp, is already vulnerable,” Sahat Zia tells Lucy Hough. “I’m very concerned, especially for the children and the women.”Sahat is a Rohingya activist and photographer based in Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh. Hearing Donald Trump’s decision to cut USAid came as a shock to Sahat. US foreign assistance is a lifeline for the many thousands of people in the camp, providing access to food, education and healthcare. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/feb/13/what-trump-dismantling-usaid-means-world-podcast Author : Presented by Lucy Hough with Nesrine Malik.

Statement from countries including France, Germany and UK comes after US president says he and Putin are ready to begin talksEuropean powers, including Britain, France and Germany, have said they have to be part of any future negotiations on the fate of Ukraine, underscoring that only a fair accord with security guarantees would ensure lasting peace.“Our shared objectives should be to put Ukraine in a position of strength. Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations,” seven European countries and the European Commission said in a joint statement after a foreign ministers meeting in Paris. Continue reading... Source link

Private plans, such as State Farm, required to give to Fair plan so all residents have access to fire insuranceCalifornia’s home-insurance safety net does not have enough money to pay all of the claims from damage caused by the Los Angeles wildfires and has asked private insurers to contribute $1bn toward those claims.All private insurers operating in California are required to contribute to the Fair plan, a plan of last resort established so all Californians would have access to fire insurance. More than 450,000 California homeowners got their insurance through the Fair plan in 2024 – more than double the

Exclusive: Strategies for life sciences to be published earlier but broader report expected in JuneLabour’s long-awaited industrial strategy will not now be published until June, while ministers will bring forward plans for individual sectors in a bid to show they are working to kickstart growth, it has emerged.Strategies for life sciences – highlighted by Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, in her high-profile growth speech in Oxfordshire – and advanced manufacturing have been earmarked for early publication. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/12/labour-postpones-long-awaited-industrial-strategy Author : Heather Stewart and Richard Partington Publish date : 2025-02-13 00:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the

Eaton fire destroyed more than 9,400 structures in the neighborhood while residents mourn loss of communityAfter the Eaton fire tore through Altadena last month, residents of the historically Black Los Angeles neighborhood – many of whom had purchased their homes decades earlier – began putting up signs declaring: “Altadena is not for sale.”However, it appears that the first burned-down property put up for sale is in escrow, just over a week after the fire reached containment. The sale is expected to close Friday, says Brock Harris, a real estate agent, who adds that he’s received “lots of calls from people

Journalist with US-funded broadcaster among those in release hailed by ambassador as ‘big day for team America’Belarus has released three detainees including a veteran journalist for a US government-funded broadcaster and a US citizen, the White House said on Wednesday.The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed the release on Wednesday of three people including “one American and two individuals from Belarus, one of whom worked for Radio Liberty”. The released American has not been identified. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/12/belarus-prisoner-release-andrey-kuznechyk Author : Guardian staff and agencies in Washington Publish date : 2025-02-12 21:01:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs

Prime minister will say it was his proudest day in politics. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcasAre the electoral reforms a ‘stitch up’ as the independents say?Cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek told ABC News Breakfast earlier the reforms passed last night with the support of the Coalition help get big money and big donors like Clive Palmer (who also yesterday lost his high court bid to re-register his party, the United Australia Party).The rules apply equally to any candidate, and they say that we don’t want billionaires running our electoral system. The reforms

Both sides accuse other of violating terms of truce, but Hamas says there are ‘positive signals’ hostage exchange will go ahead• Middle East crisis – live updatesArab mediators are scrambling to save the Gaza ceasefire as the Israeli military bolsters troop and tank deployments to the strip’s periphery in advance of the possibility the truce breaks down this weekend.A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to “discuss ways to end the current crisis”, the Palestinian militant group said. Meanwhile, Egyptian and Qatari mediators were working “intensively” to compel Israel to address Hamas’s new demands before Saturday’s scheduled release of

Kristie Higgs was dismissed after sharing posts on plans to teach equalities programme at her son’s C of E schoolA Christian school worker who was sacked after she shared Facebook posts raising concerns about lessons in LGBTQ+ relationships for primary schoolchildren has won her battle in the court of appeal.Kristie Higgs was dismissed from her role as a pastoral administrator and work experience manager at Farmor’s, a secondary school in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019 after an anonymous complaint from a parent at the school. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/feb/12/sacking-of-christian-school-worker-kristie-higgs-lgbtq-critical-posts-unlawful-court-of-appeal-rules Author : Sally Weale Education correspondent Publish date : 2025-02-12

Judge-led statutory inquiry announced into killings of three people by Valdo Calocane in June 2023Keir Starmer has told the families of the three people killed in the Nottingham attacks that a judge-led public inquiry will take place in “a matter of weeks”.During an emotionally charged meeting at No 10 on Wednesday, Starmer told the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates that the inquiry would scrutinise a “number of different agencies”. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/12/nottingham-attacks-statutory-public-inquiry-starmer Author : PA Media Publish date : 2025-02-12 16:14:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.