John McDonnell accuses ministers of lacking empathy over benefit cuts | Welfare

The former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has joined those criticising the government’s proposed benefit cuts, as he accused ministers of lacking empathy and understanding over the proposed changes. McDonnell, who sits as an independent MP after losing the Labour whip over a previous benefits vote, said he was surprised at how poorly Keir Starmer’s government … Read more

Notable Tesla investor says he hopes Musk’s government role is ‘short-lived’ | Elon Musk

A devoted investor in Elon Musk’s Tesla – and once a close childhood friend of the US president’s eldest son and namesake – says he hopes the world’s richest man’s role in cutting federal spending for Donald Trump’s administration is “short-lived” and that he returns to managing his businesses. Investment manager Christopher Tsai, whose firm … Read more

‘They killed him in cold blood’: the cycle of revenge in north-west Syria | Syria

Sipping tea on an unusually warm February afternoon on his veranda that overlooked the small Alawite village of Arza, north-west Syria, Mohammed Abdullah al-Ismaili said he trusted the new Syrian authorities to keep him safe. “We believe what [interim Syrian president Ahmed] al-Sharaa says, but the problem is these unknown groups,” the 62-year-old official in … Read more

Russia-Ukraine war live: Starmer warns Putin over ‘games’ as he prepares to present peace plan to world leaders | Ukraine

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Ukrainian air defences destroyed 130 out of 178 drones launched by Russia during its latest overnight strike, Kyiv’s air force said on Saturday. It added that another 38 drones had been “locationally lost”, typically a reference to electronic jamming, and that … Read more

Australia will not revise critical minerals-for-tariffs exemption deal rejected by Trump administration | Australian politics

The Australian resources minister was saddened the US did not accept an offer of guaranteed supply to critical minerals in return for steel and aluminium tariff exemptions, and has warned the package will not be improved. Australian diplomats proposed a more reliable supply of critical minerals – which are essential for renewable energy, computer and … Read more

Marco Rubio says South Africa’s ambassador to US is ‘no longer welcome’ | South Africa

The United States is in effect expelling South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, with secretary of state Marco Rubio accusing the envoy of hating the country and President Donald Trump. “South Africa’s ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” Rubio posted on X on Friday. Rubio accused ambassador Ebrahim Rasool … Read more