Trump Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth’s books foreground anti-Muslim rhetoric

Hegseth’s conspiracy theory- and falsehood-laden book American Crusade depicts Islam as historic enemy of west

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Gregg Wallace steps away from MasterChef after allegations of misconduct

BBC received ‘complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct’, says production company

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First Thing: Canada leaders agree to unite against Trump tariff threat

Deputy PM says ‘we need to be smart, strong and united’. Plus: plastic lobbyists in rear-guard action

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Shares in Direct Line surge after insurer rejects £3.3bn bid from Aviva

Insurer says 250p per share offer was ‘highly opportunistic’ and undervalues the company

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Hezbollah keeping ‘hands on trigger’ amid fragile ceasefire with Israel

Lebanese given conflicting information about whether they can return home, as Israeli army strikes cars and areas along boundary

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Australia’s Macquarie offers to buy UK-listed waste management firm Renewi for £700m

Firms reach preliminary agreement on financial terms of deal that values Renewi at 870p a share

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Net migration hit record high of 906,000 in year to June 2023, revised figures show

ONS says net migration is now beginning to fall but remains high by ‘historic standards’

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Daniel Khalife: a fantasist or a player in the world of spies?

The young man who escaped Wandsworth prison offered a mixed picture of ineptitude and threat, according to police

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Massachusetts farmers turn cranberry bogs back to wetlands in $6m initiative

Restoration projects awarded grants to convert defunct bogs to bring environmental benefits and restore wildlife

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City regulator offers to water down ‘name and shame’ rules after pressure

FCA proposes giving 10 days’ notice before revealing identities of firms under investigation and will consider market impact

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Former soldier Daniel Khalife found guilty of spying for Iran

Khalife convicted of three counts relating to espionage, having admitted to prison escape while on remand

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UK hospitality group Loungers to be bought by US firm for £338m

London-listed company strikes deal with Fortress Investment Group, although shareholder approval needed

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Use robots instead of hiring low-paid migrants, says shadow home secretary

Tory MP Chris Philp calls for more investment in technology to reduce UK’s net migration figures

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David Cameron supports assisted dying bill due to ‘extremely strong’ safeguards

The legislation would lead to meaningful reduction in human suffering, says former prime minister

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Net migration falling, latest figures expected to show, as Tories claim it is due to their visa rule changes – UK politics live

Kemi Badenoch gave speech on Wednesday referring to James Cleverly’s 2023 visa rule changes, while government says it is important to tackle causes of high migration

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Yorkshire photographer who impressed Princess of Wales dies aged 17

Liz Hatton from Harrogate, who was being treated for rare terminal cancer, began photography bucket list

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Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah says its hands are still ‘on the trigger’ amid uneasy ceasefire

Iran-backed Lebanese militia says it remains ‘fully equipped’ and will monitor Israel’s withdrawal

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Face-down restraint led to NSW Indigenous man’s death, inquest finds

Michael Peachey died following a ‘harrowing’ engagement with police in 2021, in Gunnedah in central NSW

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Thursday briefing: The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire brings respite – but for how long, and what comes next?

In today’s newsletter: Behind the celebratory scenes on the streets of Beirut lies a battered, divided country teetering on the brink of becoming a failed state

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‘We deserve better’: Indigenous truth-telling head condemns Queensland government as treaty laws face axe

Liberal National party moves to urgently repeal historic legislation, eliminating state’s treaty-making body and truth-telling inquiry

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Australian households’ energy bills could be 20% lower in 10 years, report finds

AEMC says electrification of homes, including ending use of gas for heating and cooking, could reduce costs by about $1,000 a year

theguardian.com

Russia-Ukraine war live: Widespread air raids as Russia targets Ukraine’s energy grid

Ukraine’s power infrastructure was ‘under massive enemy attack’, the energy minister said, as missiles were detected headed for Kharkiv, Odesa and eight other regions. Follow the latest developments

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‘Massive attack’ on Ukraine’s power network under way, says minister

Emergency power cuts being brought in across the country amid missile alerts and freezing temperatures

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UK government failing to list use of AI on mandatory register

Technology secretary admits government departments are not being transparent over way they use AI and algorithms

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Environmental Defenders Office to pay $9m in costs to Santos over failed challenge to Barossa gas project

The case, brought by the EDO on behalf of three Tiwi Island traditional owners, was dismissed in January in a scathing judgment

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One in three consultant child psychiatrist posts in England are vacant, analysis shows

Child and adolescent mental health services have highest vacancy rates of any psychiatric specialism

theguardian.com

David Lammy to appoint envoy to support Britons detained abroad

After Guardian reporting, foreign secretary looks at cases of thousands who need consular help each year

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MPs’ big assisted dying moment, and the people watching every move – Politics Weekly UK

As MPs prepare to vote on a bill that would – for the first time – pass assisted dying into UK law, what are the are the arguments on either side?

theguardian.com

Iran says it could end ban on possessing nuclear weapons if sanctions reimposed

Comments made after nuclear inspectorate board passed motion censuring Iran for building uranium stockpile

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NSW sex crimes detective jailed after misusing position to abuse teen complainant

Glen Coleman sentenced to minimum two years’ jail after sexually touching 19-year-old without her consent in 2022

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