The wife of the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, attended two meetings with foreign defense officials during which sensitive information was discussed, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. The Journal’s report on Hegseth arrived late on Friday as he faced scrutiny for detailing plans of a military strike in a group … Read more
There is growing criticism of Rachel Reeves for her orthodox approach to managing the public finances. While it is clear that modest reductions in spending put forward in the spring statement cannot be described as a return to austerity, they are expected to deliver considerable harm to vulnerable people at a time when wealth inequality … Read more
Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector when headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life after a bruising inspection, is poised to join the House of Lords after being nominated by the Conservatives, the Observer can reveal. Spielman, who earlier this month launched what was widely seen as an overtly political attack on Labour’s schools bill, is … Read more
Hours before he was scheduled to report to prison and begin serving a nearly 10-year sentence for a federal fraud conviction, former talkshow host and media executive Carlos Watson received clemency from Donald Trump, sparing him from the punishment Friday. Watson was traveling to the Lompoc, California, federal correctional institution when he learned of the … Read more
Turkey’s main opposition has rallied in defence of the jailed Istanbul mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, in a move to sustain the largest anti-government demonstrations in years. Hundreds of thousands of people attended the protest called by the head of the opposition Republican People’s party (CHP) in a spot far from the Istanbul city centre. The party … Read more
An Oregon judge issued a preliminary injunction on Friday blocking the city at the heart of a US supreme court ruling on homeless encampments from enforcing its camping rules unless it meets certain conditions, as part of a lawsuit filed by advocates. Under the decision by Josephine county circuit court judge Sarah McGlaughlin, Grants Pass … Read more
A passenger flight preparing to take off near Washington DC and an incoming US military jet received instructions to divert and prevent a possible collision on Friday, officials said. The close call at Ronald Reagan Washington National airport came about two months after a passenger jet and US army helicopter collided near the airport, killing … Read more
People across the northern hemisphere have gathered to catch a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse. The eclipse peaked in London at about 11am on Saturday and was visible in parts of the UK between about 10am and noon. The phenomenon occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. As the three … Read more
A race to determine control of the Wisconsin supreme court that has profound stakes for voting, abortion and labor rights in the state, is also shaping up to be a litmus test of Elon Musk’s political power, making it one of the most consequential elections of Donald Trump’s second term. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 … Read more
Denmark has hit back against JD Vance’s comments that Copenhagen has not done enough for Greenland. The US vice-president made his remark on Friday during a trip to the Pituffik space base in north-western Greenland, viewed by both Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation. “Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done … Read more