Trump administration directs federal agencies to fire all probationary employees – as it happened

BREAKING NEWS

19/02 00:34 - Trump speaks to journalists after US-Russia talks 19/02 00:32 - Trump signs order to expand IVF access ahead of joint interview with Musk – US politics live 19/02 00:28 - U.S.-Russia Talks in Saudi Arabia Set to Go Beyond Ukraine 18/02 23:48 - The Papers: 'Zelensky could fall' as price of peace', as US and Russia agree more talks 18/02 23:23 - More than 150 whales stranded on beach in remote north-western Tasmania 18/02 23:01 - Heat pump sales in Europe fall 23% to pre-Ukraine war levels 18/02 22:49 - Zelensky Lashes Out at Trump for Excluding Ukrainians From Peace Talks 18/02 22:41 - U.S. and Russia Pursue Closer Ties 18/02 22:39 - Trump threatens 25% tariffs on foreign cars and semiconductor chips 18/02 22:30 - U.S., Russia hold first talks on Ukraine without NATO allies, Kyiv 18/02 22:10 - Trump backs need for elections in Ukraine 18/02 22:06 - Russia and US agree to work toward ending Ukraine war 18/02 22:04 - Russia won't accept Nato troops in Ukraine, Lavrov says after talks with US 18/02 22:00 - British Army 'absolutely ready' if ordered to deploy to Ukraine 18/02 21:57 - EU imported more Russian LNG in 2024 despite a drop in gas consumption 18/02 21:18 - Fyodor Lukyanov: The last battle of the Cold War just took place in Germany 18/02 21:00 - White House labels Zelensky ‘short-sighted’ 18/02 20:52 - Trump's direction of travel in diplomacy does not look good for Ukraine 18/02 20:51 - Riyadh meeting first of its kind ‘since after Cold War’ – expert 18/02 20:26 - Russians feel "wind in their sails" as Trump pressed to show resolution to war, expert says 18/02 20:24 - Jeremy Bowen: No sign of a quick peace dividend for Trump in Ukraine 18/02 20:14 - News24 | Kyiv accuses Trump team of 'feeding Putin's appetite' after US-Russia talks 18/02 20:00 - Russia US Talks - The Room Where it Happened 18/02 19:58 - Ukraine rejects US-Russia talks as Moscow says no NATO peacekeepers 18/02 19:58 - Ukraine rejects US-Russia talks as Moscow says no NATO peacekeepers 18/02 19:47 - Europe, Dazed by Trump, Confronts Hard Choices in Ukraine 18/02 19:41 - Rubio: US and Russia agree to restore embassy staffing, create team to negotiate Ukraine peace 18/02 19:26 - Six-year-old girl and woman die in Sydney house fire 18/02 19:24 - At Ukraine's expense? US and Russia break the ice in Riyadh 18/02 19:21 - US and Russia agree to explore mutual opportunities of end to Ukraine war 18/02 19:19 - Rebuilding ties, finding common ground, Ukraine peace negotiations: key takeaways from Russia-US talks in Riyadh 18/02 19:13 - Zelenskyy again demands Ukraine is involved in talks after Russia and US agree to create team to explore peace deal – as it happened 18/02 18:59 - West will have to reconsider Russia sanctions as part of Ukraine peace deal – Rubio 18/02 18:43 - Zelenskyy demands Ukraine involvement after US-Russia talks on war 18/02 18:43 - Zelenskyy demands Ukraine involvement after US-Russia talks on war 18/02 18:42 - Security for Ukraine could be achieved with fewer troops, say UK sources 18/02 18:28 - When a Journey Home to Israeli-Occupied Lebanon Becomes Deadly 18/02 17:50 - Trump hints Ukraine election may be needed for peace - as he addresses Kyiv being left out of Russia talks 18/02 17:41 - Ukraine will never accept Russia’s ultimatums, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 18/02 17:40 - Hamas says it will hand over bodies of Bibas family and free six hostages 18/02 17:40 - Who was at the table at US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia? 18/02 17:35 - Gil Won-ok, memory keeper of wartime sex slavery by Japan, dies at 96 18/02 17:24 - News24 | Russia says US 'better' understands its position after Saudi talks 18/02 17:17 - British couple detained in Iran charged with spying 18/02 17:17 - British couple detained in Iran charged with spying 18/02 17:11 - Ukraine solution must be ‘permanent’ – Trump adviser 18/02 17:06 - In Ukraine peace talks Russia tries to appeal to Trump's business background - it sounds like Moscow's succeeding 18/02 16:59 - US postmaster to step down months after reporting billions in losses 18/02 16:57 - 'Gaza is uninhabitable': Palestinians decry complete destruction of enclave 18/02 16:54 - Germans protest military aid, arm supplies to Ukraine 18/02 16:50 - Who is Steve Witkoff, dealmaker at the heart of Trump’s foreign diplomacy? 18/02 16:47 - Ukraine and Europe made to sit outside as US and Russia sharpen their carving knives 18/02 16:40 - Saudi Arabia consolidates soft power as Riyadh hosts US-Russia talks 18/02 16:33 - What next after US-Russia talks and why was meeting in Saudi Arabia? 18/02 16:32 - Nigel Farage says Tories ‘not on the right in any measurable way’ and calls Labour government ‘miserable’ – as it happened 18/02 16:31 - EU weapons stocks empty – German defense contractor 18/02 16:25 - Australia 'should be prepared to contribute' to securing Ukraine's freedom, former PM says 18/02 16:14 - Nigel Farage, Jordan Peterson & co worship each other in alt-right heaven | John Crace 18/02 16:11 - What are Ukraine’s rare minerals and why is Trump eyeing them? 18/02 16:07 - Americans no longer want to fund Ukraine – RFK Jr. 18/02 16:06 - Shutting the EU and Ukraine out of the talks is the only way to peace 18/02 15:59 - Food head at FDA quits citing Trump administration’s mass staff cuts 18/02 15:54 - Washington hails Russia meeting 18/02 15:29 - Europe's leaders divided over their tactics with Trump 18/02 15:16 - Trump’s Ukraine policy shift: How are European leaders planning to respond? 18/02 15:16 - Trump’s Ukraine policy shift: How are European leaders planning to respond? 18/02 14:58 - EU wants Ukraine peace deal before ceasefire – Reuters 18/02 14:00 - As an election looms, will Australians remember Labor for one rate cut or the 12 hikes before that? 18/02 14:00 - ‘Served their time’: Nauru president backs Australian plan to resettle three members of NZYQ cohort 18/02 13:56 - Top aide comments on Putin-Trump summit plans 18/02 13:43 - US and Russia hold talks on Ukraine war in Saudi Arabia 18/02 13:43 - US and Russia hold talks on Ukraine war in Saudi Arabia 18/02 13:32 - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio presser in Riyadh 18/02 13:21 - Thousands of tourists flock to see Etna eruption, blocking rescue services 18/02 13:11 - ‘No place’ for EU ‘warmongers’ at Ukraine talks – Hungarian FM 18/02 12:47 - EU to uphold Russia sanctions regardless of US – commissioner 18/02 12:47 - China hopes all parties will eventually take part in Ukraine talks – Foreign Ministry 18/02 12:33 - Russia likely to seek lifting of US sanctions, specialist says 18/02 12:01 - 31 Pieces Of Free People Clothing You'll Wear So Much, The Price Per Wear Will Be Literally Pennies 18/02 11:33 - Saudi Arabia's stunning transformation from global pariah to diplomatic power 18/02 11:17 - Russian and US officials meet in Riyadh – without Ukrainians | First Thing 18/02 11:10 - EU ‘at kids’ table’ in Ukraine talks – German weapons giant 18/02 11:02 - UK pay growth rises 6% despite job loss warnings after Reeves’s budget 18/02 11:02 - Starmer says US 'backstop' needed for Ukraine deal 18/02 11:00 - DNC chair outlines pro-worker, union focus in first memo in fight against Trump 18/02 10:42 - Strong wage growth gives Bank of England interest rate dilemma 18/02 10:38 - Architects warn post-Brexit visa rules hindering recruitment 18/02 10:38 - US and Russia hold bilateral talks in Saudi Arabia 18/02 10:25 - Russia frees U.S. citizen ahead of high-stakes talks on Ukraine 18/02 10:20 - EU mulling new plan for Ukraine military aid – media 18/02 10:15 - Germany urges NATO unity following emergency meeting on Ukraine 18/02 10:13 - Ukrainians express concerns over US-Russia ‘peace’ deal 18/02 10:13 - Ukrainians express concerns over US-Russia ‘peace’ deal 18/02 10:01 - South Africa Is a Warning 18/02 10:01 - News24 | Elon Musk and DOGE seeking access to US taxpayer information to 'shine a light on the fraud' 18/02 10:01 - Canadians On The Internet Are Revealing The Winter Comfort Foods That *Actually* Keep You Warm, And It's The Only Thing Getting Me Through This Absolutely Freezing Weather 18/02 09:55 - Villagers prepare to return home as Israeli troops withdraw 18/02 09:55 - 27 Things From Amazon You'll Wear So Often, They'll Practically Pay For Themselves 18/02 09:50 - Zelensky meets Erdogan for talks: ‘Turkey has long played an intermediatory role’ 18/02 09:43 - ‘Dream in the making’ for Putin: US-Russia talks begin in Saudi Arabia