White House fires USAid inspector general who issued damning report on Trump’s funding freeze – as it happened

12/02/2025 02:49 The Guardian

This live coverage has ended. You can find all of our live US politics coverage hereDonald Trump announced he is dispatching Treasury secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while also predicting the war in the country would end “soon”.The US president made the news on Truth Social:I am sending Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky. This War MUST and WILL END SOON — Too much Death and Destruction. The U.S. has spent BILLIONS of Dollars Globally, with little to show. WHEN AMERICA IS STRONG, THE WORLD IS AT PEACE.“As you know we have been ordered to cease all work. I don’t believe in these conditions I can effectively serve in my role, which is protecting American consumers,” said Halperin wrote. “Today I made the difficult decision to resign effective today.”Salas said she believed the decision by Vought to halt all supervisory work was illegal. Continue reading...

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Your Russia-Ukraine war questions answered as Europe marks four years since the full-scale invasion - live

Central and eastern Europe correspondent Shaun Walker joins Jakub Krupa to answer readers’ questions about four years of war, and where it’s headingZelenskyy says “we must be just as determined and strong as we were when the invasion began,” as “the threat hasn’t become smaller.”He say...

24/02/2026 14:11 The Guardian

Andrew ‘rude, arrogant and entitled man’, says minister as government backs release of trade envoy documents – UK politics live

Chris Bryant says former prince ‘could not distinguish between public and private interest’Keir Starmer is taking part in a coalition of the willing video call to discuss Ukraine. There is a live feed of his public contribution here.Kemi Badenoch is holding a press conference now. She is appeari...

24/02/2026 14:07 The Guardian

Zelenskyy urges Trump to visit Ukraine in speech marking invasion anniversary

Leader says Vladimir Putin has not achieved his goals and visit by Trump might make clear ‘who the aggressor is’Europe live – latest updatesVolodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to Donald Trump to visit Kyiv, in a video address on the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, an...

24/02/2026 14:05 The Guardian

Trump’s new global tariffs kick in at 10%; Meta strikes $60bn chip deal with AMD - business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsWhile many exporters around the world cheered when the supreme court ruled against Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs last week, the unintended consequence could be that the trade war escalates further, says Neil Wilson at the broker Saxo Mar...

24/02/2026 13:19 The Guardian

Witness to immigration agent’s killing of friend last year dies in Texas car crash

Joshua Orta was passenger when Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot in his car by immigration agent in March 2025The passenger in the car when Texas driver Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot in March 2025 by a federal immigration agent gave a lengthy statement to lawyers for the slain man’s family...

24/02/2026 13:13 The Guardian

Russia opens criminal case into Telegram founder Pavel Durov

Claim of ‘abetting terrorist activities’ comes as Kremlin attempts to steer users on to state-controlled appRussia has launched a criminal investigation into the Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, on suspicion of “abetting terrorist activities”, further escalating the Kremlin’s standoff with t...

24/02/2026 12:49 The Guardian

Court backlog to grow until end of decade despite Lammy axing of jury trials, says MoJ

Justice secretary says only his measures will stop backlog in England and Wales from increasing exponentiallyThe backlog in criminal courts in England and Wales will continue to rise until the end of the decade before it falls despite radical changes including curtailing jury trials, according to fi...

24/02/2026 12:47 The Guardian

Trump reportedly frustrated as he waits on envoys’ judgment over Iran strikes – US politics live

Trump’s decision to order airstrikes against Iran will hinge in part on the judgment of Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared KushnerHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Donald Trump is reportedly becoming increasingly frustrated as he weighs up whether to strike Iran. The pr...

24/02/2026 12:14 The Guardian

First Thing: Trump Iran airstrikes decision to be guided by Kushner and Witkoff’s advice

President has not yet made a final decision on any strikes as the US prepares for ‘last-ditch’ negotiations on Thursday. Plus, most US adults feel the country is moving in the wrong directionDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Donald Trump’s decision on whet...

24/02/2026 11:20 The Guardian

Tuesday briefing: The long and winding road of war in Ukraine, as the human cost mounts

In today’s newsletter: how the war looks from inside the country four years on – and what the west’s audience and leaders still misunderstandGood morning. Today marks four years since Russian tanks first rolled towards Kyiv as Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine – a wa...

24/02/2026 06:41 The Guardian

Criminals ‘systematically’ targeting UK shops, costing £400m last year, say retailers

British Retail Consortium warns over ‘endemic’ violence towards shop workers and says theft is causing anxietyCriminal gangs are “systematically” targeting shops, retailers have warned, with 5.5m incidents of shoplifting detected last year, costing the industry an estimated £400m.The Britis...

24/02/2026 06:00 The Guardian

Four years into Ukraine invasion, Russia’s gains are small, while Kyiv remains resilient

With the Russian military performing poorly, Ukraine is clarifying strategy and pushing back with modest successRussia’s invasion of Ukraine, now entering its fifth grim year, has already gone on longer than the entire fight on the eastern front in the second world war. The Soviets marched from th...

24/02/2026 05:00 The Guardian

Australian women held in Syrian camp say they would accept children returning home separately

Exclusive: Some of the 11 mothers detained in Kurdish-controlled al-Roj camp say they want Australian government to repatriate children at any costFamilies in convoy from Syrian camp warned they would be attacked unless they turned aroundFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our...

24/02/2026 04:25 The Guardian

Millions under road travel bans as blizzard conditions slam US north-east

Blizzard warnings issued as some areas receive two feet of snow, creating whiteout conditionsBlizzard shuts down the north-east US – in picturesMillions of people in the north-eastern US were stuck at home on Monday as heavy snow and strong winds created whiteout conditions, grounding flights in t...

24/02/2026 02:52 The Guardian

US accuses China of ‘massively’ expanding nuclear arsenal amid fears of new arms race

China has opposed the ‘smearing of its nuclear policy’ while insisting Beijing would not ‘engage in any nuclear arms race’The US has accused China of dramatically expanding its nuclear arsenal, while doubling down on claims that Beijing had conducted secret nuclear tests.Washington said the...

24/02/2026 01:06 The Guardian

Australia news live: Allan announces new rules for endometriosis diagnosis; severe storm warnings for Victoria

Heavy rain and damaging winds to lash large areas of state with potential for flash floods. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese plans to write to other commonwealth nations about decision on former prince AndrewBack to Mountbatten-Windsor, Al...

24/02/2026 00:46 The Guardian

Trump threatens ‘obnoxious’ tariffs as UK and EU seek clarity on trade deals

US president suggests trade war could escalate as administration says it will stop collecting levies ruled illegal by supreme courtStock markets stumble as global trade faces more Trump tariff uncertaintyDonald Trump has declared that he can use tariffs in a “much more powerful and obnoxious way...

23/02/2026 22:40 The Guardian

Australian families in convoy from Syrian camp warned they would be attacked unless they turned around

Exclusive: Government forces issued threat because Australian government failed to coordinate with them, official saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSyrian government officials warned a convoy of Australian families li...

23/02/2026 22:40 The Guardian

Channel 4’s Dirty Business is a clarion call to nationalise the water industry

As the drama shows, private firms no longer able to pollute the coast of England of Wales just switched to rivers instead There is a moment in Channel 4’s drama Dirty Business when Julie Maughan holds the body of her dead child and lets out an anguished cry. It is as brutal as it is compelling.Her...

23/02/2026 21:00 The Guardian

Met police arrest former British ambassador to US Peter Mandelson – as it happened

The arrest followed search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas, police saidBridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has been speaking about the Send reforms at an event in Peterborough.This is what she said about the need for inclusion.Inclusion is a choice. It is an educ...

23/02/2026 19:29 The Guardian

US evacuates staff from Lebanon embassy amid tensions with Iran

US state department official says it’s ‘prudent’ to reduce their footprint to essential personnelWashington has evacuated dozens of non-essential personnel from its embassy in Lebanon as US ships and warplanes have been positioned in the region for a potential strike against Iran in the coming...

23/02/2026 19:10 The Guardian

Killing of Mexican drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ triggers wave of violence

Schools close and flights suspended after military raid kills Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes• Who was El Mencho, the former police officer who co-founded an ultraviolent cartel in Mexico?Whole areas of western Mexico have been all but shut down after a surge...

23/02/2026 18:21 The Guardian

US government issues travel warnings for citizens in Mexico amid widespread violence – live

A travel alert from the US embassy in Mexico notes that no airports are closed, but roadblocks affect airline operations in Guadalajara and Puerto VallartaKilling of Mexican drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ triggers wave of violenceMajor institutions of higher education in the US are reckoning with...

23/02/2026 17:50 The Guardian

EU fails to agree on new sanctions on Russia ahead of fourth anniversary of war – Europe live

Hungary’s veto prevents EU countries from adopting latest round of sanctionsOne other thing we will be keeping an eye on today is the latest on the EU-US trade relationship after last Friday’s US supreme court ruling on Trump’s tariffs.The European Parliament is expected to discuss what to do...

23/02/2026 17:49 The Guardian

Keir Starmer opens investigation into Josh Simons over targeting of reporters

PM asks ethics adviser to examine conduct of Cabinet Office minister amid Labour Together scandal falloutUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has opened a formal investigation into a Cabinet Office minister involved in falsely accusing journalists of having links to pro-Russian propaganda...

23/02/2026 17:12 The Guardian

Netflix boss says $83bn Warner Bros takeover will benefit industry

Comments by Ted Sarandos follow Donald Trump’s demand for company to remove Democrat from boardTrump warns Netflix of ‘consequences’ unless it pulls top Democrat from boardBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Netflix has launched a fresh defence of its $82.7bn (£61bn) takeover of Warne...

23/02/2026 11:08 The Guardian

Weather tracker: Early taste of spring to sweep parts of Europe

South-western France could hit 25C, while a powerful Nor’easter is forecast to bring blizzards to BostonEurope live – latest updatesAn early taste of spring is on the way for millions across northern and western Europe this week. Temperatures could climb close to a near record-breaking 20C (68F)...

23/02/2026 10:33 The Guardian

Monsoon low could bring year’s worth of rain in a week to NSW, Queensland and South Australia

Further thunderstorms bringing heavy rain and flash flooding may hit Melbourne on Tuesday, Bureau of Meteorology warnsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA lingering monsoon low could deliver a year’s worth of rain in a w...

23/02/2026 06:45 The Guardian

Australia news live: union great warns young people will turn to ‘parties of hate’ if politicians don’t make tax system fairer

Bill Kelty tells parliamentary committee young people ‘do not believe you’re on their side’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese says former opposition leader, Sussan Ley was “undermined” by conservative colleagues, Angus Ta...

23/02/2026 04:41 The Guardian

Zohran Mamdani orders travel ban in New York as US north-east braces for heavy snow amid blizzard warnings

East coast scrambles to prepare for storm forecast to bring major disruption to more than 35 million peopleNew York mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered a citywide travel ban for all but emergency travel, as the north-eastern United States was preparing for an intense winter storm that is forecast to re...

23/02/2026 02:06 The Guardian

BREAKING NEWS

24/02 14:21 - Russia opens probe of Telegram chief, claiming app has been used for terrorism 24/02 14:17 - Europe’s aid for Ukraine hits setback on war’s fourth anniversary 24/02 14:11 - Your Russia-Ukraine war questions answered as Europe marks four years since the full-scale invasion - live 24/02 14:07 - After Six Decades of the War on Drugs, What Works? 24/02 14:07 - Andrew ‘rude, arrogant and entitled man’, says minister as government backs release of trade envoy documents – UK politics live 24/02 14:05 - Zelenskyy urges Trump to visit Ukraine in speech marking invasion anniversary 24/02 13:43 - 'Russia is lingering in the past, Europe wants to move on': Estonian ambassador to France 24/02 13:36 - Paramount Revises Its Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery 24/02 13:32 - ‘We asked UK gov’t to declare what’s happening in Gaza as a genocide’ 24/02 13:32 - ‘We asked UK gov’t to declare what’s happening in Gaza as a genocide’ 24/02 13:20 - Kyiv Is Freezing, but There Is Warmth, Too 24/02 13:19 - Trump’s new global tariffs kick in at 10%; Meta strikes $60bn chip deal with AMD - business live 24/02 13:13 - Witness to immigration agent’s killing of friend last year dies in Texas car crash 24/02 13:04 - Egyptian drama sparks outrage in Israel over Gaza war portrayal 24/02 13:04 - Egyptian drama sparks outrage in Israel over Gaza war portrayal 24/02 12:58 - ‘We’ll soon learn if aliens are real’ – Pentagon chief 24/02 12:57 - Iranians Brace for War as Trump Considers Targeted Strikes 24/02 12:57 - Video: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy receives standing ovation from EU Parliament 24/02 12:57 - Video: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy receives standing ovation from EU Parliament 24/02 12:49 - Russia opens criminal case into Telegram founder Pavel Durov 24/02 12:47 - Court backlog to grow until end of decade despite Lammy axing of jury trials, says MoJ 24/02 12:45 - Putin's war in Ukraine has forced Germany to change 24/02 12:38 - Four years into Russia's invasion, four young Ukrainians look to the future 24/02 12:14 - Trump reportedly frustrated as he waits on envoys’ judgment over Iran strikes – US politics live 24/02 12:12 - Ukraine marks four years of Russia’s war 24/02 12:12 - Ukraine marks four years of Russia’s war 24/02 12:07 - Volodymyr Zelensky urges EU to give clear date for Ukraine accession 24/02 11:44 - European leaders pray with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy on invasion anniversary 24/02 11:44 - European leaders pray with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy on invasion anniversary 24/02 11:44 - Russia-Ukraine four years of war 24/02 11:44 - Russia-Ukraine four years of war 24/02 11:41 - As invasion enters fifth year, the children of Ukraine learn to fight back 24/02 11:40 - Russia's 'death economy' and Ukrainian resistance: Four years of war in Ukraine 24/02 11:20 - First Thing: Trump Iran airstrikes decision to be guided by Kushner and Witkoff’s advice 24/02 11:08 - Reconstruction of Ukraine's economy could cost $588 billion over 10 years 24/02 10:52 - Ukraine marks four years since Russia's full-scale invasion 24/02 10:51 - No end in sight for displaced Ukrainians after four years of war 24/02 10:39 - Chocolate kept in anti-theft boxes as shops warn it's being stolen to order 24/02 10:37 - How Russia Put Its Future at Risk by Remaking Its Economy for War 24/02 10:36 - In Pictures: Four years of Ukraine war 24/02 10:36 - In Pictures: Four years of Ukraine war 24/02 10:32 - Blast kills policeman in Moscow train station on Ukraine war anniversary 24/02 10:32 - Blast kills policeman in Moscow train station on Ukraine war anniversary 24/02 10:09 - Zelensky addresses the European Parliament: What are the main takeaways? 24/02 10:06 - Replay: Zelensky addresses European Parliament as Ukraine marks four years since Russian invasion 24/02 10:03 - Ukrainians were shocked by Russia’s war. Now many are numb and hopeless 24/02 10:03 - Ukrainians were shocked by Russia’s war. Now many are numb and hopeless 24/02 10:02 - 'They look like a toy': Ukrainian civilians under threat from ‘petal mines’ 24/02 09:17 - What do four years of war in Ukraine add up to? 24/02 09:17 - What do four years of war in Ukraine add up to? 24/02 09:15 - Mapping Russian attacks and territorial gains across Ukraine 24/02 09:15 - Mapping Russian attacks and territorial gains across Ukraine 24/02 08:01 - In maps: Tracking the war with Russia 24/02 07:32 - 'Anyone who runs is shot': Watch Russian soldiers describe killings of troops who refuse orders 24/02 06:41 - Tuesday briefing: The long and winding road of war in Ukraine, as the human cost mounts 24/02 06:13 - Devastation and frozen frontlines: Ukraine marks four years of Russia’s war 24/02 06:13 - Devastation and frozen frontlines: Ukraine marks four years of Russia’s war 24/02 06:11 - How Russia’s 'thousand cuts' tactic is straining Ukraine’s frontline forces 24/02 06:02 - Bowen: Why Ukraine remains defiant and does not feel close to defeat 24/02 06:02 - Russian soldiers tell BBC they saw fellow troops executed on commanders' orders 24/02 06:00 - Criminals ‘systematically’ targeting UK shops, costing £400m last year, say retailers 24/02 05:33 - Russia-Ukraine war live: Europe vows to ‘stand firm’ with Kyiv 24/02 05:33 - Russia-Ukraine war live: Europe vows to ‘stand firm’ with Kyiv 24/02 05:01 - These Ukrainians Don’t Want to Be Traded to Russia for Peace 24/02 05:00 - Four years into Ukraine invasion, Russia’s gains are small, while Kyiv remains resilient 24/02 04:25 - Australian women held in Syrian camp say they would accept children returning home separately 24/02 04:06 - Moscow policeman killed in bomb attack on Ukraine war anniversary 24/02 04:06 - Moscow policeman killed in bomb attack on Ukraine war anniversary 24/02 03:58 - News24 | Iran would react 'ferociously' to any US attack, warns of regional conflict 24/02 03:47 - Live: Russia says it has ‘not fully achieved’ goals in Ukraine, four years into invasion 24/02 02:52 - Millions under road travel bans as blizzard conditions slam US north-east 24/02 02:10 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,461 24/02 02:10 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,461 24/02 01:41 - Trump hits out at reports that top general flagged risks of attacking Iran 24/02 01:41 - Trump hits out at reports that top general flagged risks of attacking Iran 24/02 01:14 - US aiming to shift blame for Iran strikes onto Israel – source 24/02 01:06 - US accuses China of ‘massively’ expanding nuclear arsenal amid fears of new arms race 24/02 01:04 - GPs to get £3,000 bonus to maximise weight loss drug prescriptions 24/02 00:46 - Australia news live: Allan announces new rules for endometriosis diagnosis; severe storm warnings for Victoria 24/02 00:31 - Iran-US tensions soar as second US aircraft carrier approaches region 24/02 00:14 - The Papers: 'Mandelson arrested' and 'Four years of tears' in Ukraine 24/02 00:10 - CIA intelligence helped Mexican forces track down slain cartel boss 24/02 00:01 - Sky correspondent's car hit by 'sleeper' drone in Russia 23/02 23:57 - Historic bomb cyclone paralyses US Northeast with record snowfall 23/02 22:40 - Trump threatens ‘obnoxious’ tariffs as UK and EU seek clarity on trade deals 23/02 22:40 - Australian families in convoy from Syrian camp warned they would be attacked unless they turned around 23/02 22:01 - EU hits pause on trade deal with US, Trump warns countries not to 'play games' after Supreme Court ruling 23/02 21:33 - Slovakia halts electricity supplies to Ukraine 23/02 21:00 - Channel 4’s Dirty Business is a clarion call to nationalise the water industry 23/02 20:58 - Are the US and Iran moving closer to war? 23/02 20:58 - Are the US and Iran moving closer to war? 23/02 20:54 - Slovakia halts emergency power supplies to Ukraine over Russian oil dispute 23/02 20:54 - Slovakia halts emergency power supplies to Ukraine over Russian oil dispute 23/02 19:48 - Puerto Vallarta Jolted By Violence After Cartel Boss Killing 23/02 19:48 - EU sanctions Russian officials as Hungary blocks funds to Ukraine 23/02 19:48 - EU sanctions Russian officials as Hungary blocks funds to Ukraine 23/02 19:31 - Threats we face echo run-up to WWII, warns minister 23/02 19:29 - Met police arrest former British ambassador to US Peter Mandelson – as it happened 23/02 19:27 - The War Room newsletter: What is Donald Trump’s aim for Iran? 23/02 19:26 - Internet (un)chained: Why cyber-censorship is here to stay