~theguardian-world | Bookmarks (25)

Government auditors must look into claims of complicity in corruption on arms deals with UK, says Labour peerAlleged Ministry of Defence complicity in the “national scandal” of bribery on arms deals in Saudi Arabia must be investigated by government auditors, a senior Labour politician has said.Peter Hain, the antiapartheid campaigner and peer, said in a letter to the National Audit Office (NAO) that a...

Caribbean historians want Richard Drax to pay reparations – but now Barbados plans to buy his land for homesThe Conservative MP under fire for his ancestors’ role in Caribbean slavery is in line for a multimillion-pound payout from the Barbados government.Despite threats to make Richard Drax pay reparations and seize his family’s plantation – described by one historian as a “killing field” of enslaved...

How much should Britain get involved in the conflict in the Middle East? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the columnist Gaby Hinsliff and former national security adviser Peter Ricketts to talk about the fallout from Iran’s attack on Israel at the weekend. Plus, John talks to Gaby about smoking bans, NatCon and Liz Truss’s new bookArchive: Sky News, BBC News Continue reading...

The former prime minister spent just 49 days in office but wants to stay on the world stage. Her attacks on Biden and praise for Trump are aimed at the populist rightIn her new book, the former British prime minister Liz Truss directs scathing attacks and mockery at Joe Biden, president of her country’s closest ally. Biden was guilty of “utter hypocrisy and ignorance”,...

UK foreign secretary says Israel has right to respond but Britain does not support a retaliatory strikeMiddle East crisis – live updatesWorld leaders urge restraint in aftermath of Iran attack on Israel – what we know so farThe UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, urged Israel to act with its head as well as its heart and not escalate the conflict by mounting a revenge...

The UK foreign secretary’s Trump dinner appeared to fail to bring support for Ukraine, and his Washington meetings don’t look any more promisingWhatever happened at Mar-a-Lago between David Cameron and Donald Trump on Monday night, was clearly going to stay in Mar-a-Lago.Dinner at the Trump Florida residence was always going to be a stiff test of the UK foreign secretary’s influence over the former...

Johnny Mercer given 10 days to reveal source of claims British troops engaged in war crimesThe minister for veterans’ affairs, Johnny Mercer, has been given 10 days to reveal the source of allegations British troops engaged in war crimes in Afghanistan, or face a potential prison sentence.Mercer in effect admitted last month in front of the public inquiry into the claims that he believed...

Labour presses foreign secretary as human rights groups seek judicial review of government’s refusal to ban arms exportsUS resolution on Gaza ceasefire vetoedThe shadow UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, has urged David Cameron to publish the Foreign Office formal legal advice on whether Israel is breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza.Lammy’s move comes as two human rights groups have been given permission for an...

Nearly half of Fine Gael parliamentary party endorses 37-year-old as string of potential rivals rule themselves outThe contest to become Ireland’s next prime minister is turning into a one-horse race after the higher education minister, Simon Harris, secured the backing of nearly half his parliamentary party before he had even confirmed he was running.Within hours of nominations opening on Thursday to succeed Leo Varadkar,...

Foreign secretary to issue warning to Israeli cabinet minister during London visit that has infuriated Gantz’s rival NetanyahuMiddle East crisis: live updatesDavid Cameron is to tell the Israeli cabinet minister Benny Gantz that UK patience is wearing thin at the lack of humanitarian aid reaching the people of Gaza at a meeting in London.The foreign secretary, on the eve of Wednesday’s visit, issued the...

Lib Dem leader fears war will spread to West Bank if those pushing for more settlements are not penalisedThe UK should impose sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers who have pushed for more settlements on Palestinian land, Ed Davey has argued, saying this is vital to stop the fighting in Gaza spreading to the West Bank.The Liberal Democrat leader, who returned on Wednesday morning...

Move presents fresh challenge to speaker and Labour party after last week’s chaotic scenes in parliamentThe Scottish National party will push for another vote on a Gaza ceasefire this week, creating a fresh challenge for the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, and the Labour party after last Wednesday’s chaotic scenes in the Commons.Hoyle faced calls to quit after his decision to break with precedent and allow...

Leaders pay respects to former taoiseach of 1990s ‘rainbow coalition’ as he is laid to rest in DunboyneThe former Irish taoiseach John Bruton has been described as a “humbling and unassuming” man at his state funeral, attended by senior political figures including the president, Michael D Higgins, and the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.Ministers, TDs and parliamentary ushers were among those who attended the service at...

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei receives compensation from government after being stopped at GatwickThe home secretary, James Cleverly, has apologised and arranged for compensation to be paid to a human rights activist after officials unlawfully detained him at Gatwick airport on his return to the UK from a UN meeting in Switzerland.Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist and advocacy director of the London-based...

In today’s newsletter: The head of the British army has hinted at a future citizen’s army – so is Britain fighting fit?• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.As Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on and the prospect of a Trump presidency becomes more likely, military leaders in the UK and across Europe have been warning that peacetime may be coming...

Foreign secretary defends continued campaign in Yemen, while Labour says it was not briefed beforehandMiddle East crisis – live updatesA fresh set of US and UK airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were intended to “send the clearest possible message that Britain backs its words and our warnings with action”, David Cameron has said.The foreign secretary insisted he was confident that attacks carried out...

Exclusive: Report shows Russian ships loading at North Korean port, amid accusation that Pyongyang supplies missiles and shellsThe UK has provided satellite photographs of North Korean cargo shipments to Russia to a panel of UN experts as part of an attempt to trigger an official investigation into arms deals in violation of international sanctions.North Korea has been accused of supplying ballistic missiles and hundreds...

As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, this week John Harris speaks to Niku Jafarnia of Human Rights Watch about the regional conflicts. The Rwanda bill passed its third reading and Pippa Crerar, the Guardian’s political editor, reveals what happened behind the scenes. And the former No 10 adviser Gavin Barwell talks about the increasingly vicious struggles within the Conservative partyArchive: GB...

Flagship policy passes committee stage after tense lead-up in which Tory divisions came to the foreUK politics live – latest updatesRishi Sunak has survived a damaging row over his flagship Rwanda bill after a Conservative rebellion melted away and dozens of rightwing MPs balked at further undermining the prime minister’s authority.After a crucial 11th hour meeting of more than 45 Tory rebels, the group’s...

In today’s newsletter: The controversial Rwanda bill is back in the Commons – what happens next could shape the party’s future• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. It’s been another miserable week for Rishi Sunak, and it’s only Wednesday. The fulcrum of his despair is today’s vote on the third reading of the government’s Rwanda deportation bill, which is meant...

Grant Shapps says UK has no interest in wider Yemen conflict as Rishi Sunak prepares to address MPsMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe UK has no interest in taking part in any wider conflict in Yemen but is “waiting to see what happens” before deciding whether further military strikes against Houthi forces might be needed, the defence secretary has said.Discussing the US-led strikes on...

Friday’s trip comes as PM stresses Britain’s continued backing for Kyiv before meeting with Volodymyr ZelenskiyRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesThe UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is visiting Ukraine on Friday to meet his counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the UK announced it would provide further military aid to the country over the coming year.The UK has been one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters since Russia’s...

Ministers join video call to consider response to Red Sea attacks on shipsMiddle East crisis – live updatesRishi Sunak’s cabinet was meeting on Thursday evening amid expectations of UK involvement in imminent military strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.Ministers were scheduled to join a video call at 7.45pm, which was expected to discuss the UK response to recent attacks on ships in the...

Corruption and the cost of living have trumped concerns about a belligerent neighbour in close race for the presidencyDeep in the mountains of Hsinchu county in north Taiwan, a few dozen residents of Smangus are holding their daily morning meeting in a weatherboard hut, overlooking the towering peaks nearby.The remote Indigenous village, home to about 200 Atayal people, is preparing for Saturday’s presidential election....