GDP growth an ‘encouraging sign but we are not complacent’, says Reeves – UK politics live

Chancellor says government ‘will remain pragmatic and cool-headed’ while seeking US trade deal

The care minister has defended the government’s cautious response to developments in global trade after the sweeping imposition of tariffs by the US administration in Washington.

Stephen Kinnock said “If we were to just jump in one direction or the other every time there’s a new development, we would be jumping around all over the place. I don’t think that that’s going to be in the interest of our economy or of our national security or of our business community.”

Continue reading...

Trump administration ordered to help return man wrongly deported to El Salvador – US politics live

Supreme court upholds earlier order that Kilmar Abrego Garcia should be released after being improperly sent to prison

The Mississippi library commission, which offers services such as specialized research assistance to libraries in the state, has ordered the deletion of two research collections: the race relations database and the gender studies database. The collections were stored in what’s called the Magnolia database, which is used by publicly funded schools, libraries, universities and state agencies in Mississippi.

The commission’s executive director, Hulen Bivins, confirmed the deletion to the Guardian, and said:

We may lose a lot of materials.

All of the states, we are in dire shape. We have had a reconsideration of everything with regard to what Doge [is doing].”

Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties.”

Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have under-invested in the people of Greenland and you have under-invested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.”

I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by vice-president Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik space base.”

Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.”

Continue reading...

UK economy far exceeds forecasts to grow 0.5% in boost to Rachel Reeves

February GDP rise was bigger than forecast – but impact from Donald Trump’s tariff war is yet to come

The UK economy unexpectedly expanded by 0.5% in February, figures show, in a boost for the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, before an expected downturn sparked by Donald Trump’s tariff war.

The increase in gross domestic product in February was five times larger than the 0.1% that a poll of City economists had forecast, while January’s figure of a modest fall of 0.1% was revised up to 0.0% growth.

Continue reading...

Head of US military base in Greenland fired after JD Vance visit

Col Susannah Meyers removed amid reports she distanced base from Vance’s criticism of Denmark’s oversight of territory

Europe live – latest updates

The head of the US military base in Greenland, a Danish territory coveted by Donald Trump, has been fired for criticising Washington’s agenda for the island.

Col Susannah Meyers, who had served as commander of the Pituffik space base since July, was removed amid reports she had distanced herself and the base from JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark and its oversight of the territory during the US vice-president’s visit to the base two weeks ago.

Continue reading...

First Thing: China raises tariffs on US imports to 125%

Xi Jinping makes move after urging EU to resist Trump’s ‘bullying’. Plus, the supreme court orders the US to help return a Salvadorian man it wrongly deported

Good morning.

China has raised its tariffs on US goods to 125% as the trade war between Washington and Beijing continues to escalate, just hours after its leader, Xi Jinping, said there were “no winners in a tariff war”.

How are markets reacting? Oil prices were expected to fall for the second week running, and US stocks fell again on Thursday. Follow our business live blog here and our US politics blog here.

What are her lawyers requesting? Öztürk’s attorneys on Thursday asked the federal court in Vermont to order her release or her transfer to the state of Vermont while her case is heard.

Continue reading...

‘A huge cudgel’: alarm as Trump’s war on universities could target accreditors

Advocates braced for revamp of certification system as experts warn of political pressure being brought to bear

Advocates for academic freedom are bracing for what they expect to be the next phase of the government’s effort to reshape higher education: an overhaul of the system accrediting institutions of higher learning.

Donald Trump has made no secret of such plans. During the campaign, he boasted that accreditation would be his “secret weapon” against colleges and universities the right has long viewed as too progressive.

Continue reading...

‘Cop City’ legal case could cast spotlight on US police foundations’ activities

Case related to Atlanta project raises issue of state open record laws, and whether they apply to police foundations

A legal case in Atlanta stemming from the controversial “Cop City” project is being closely watched because it has the potential to cast a spotlight on the activities of police foundations nationwide.

The case raises the issue of state open records laws, and whether they apply to police foundations. The private foundations exist in every major US city, with more than 250 nationwide, according to a 2021 report by research and activist groups Little Sis and Color of Change.

Continue reading...

Mississippi orders deletion of race and gender databases in state libraries

Library commission says state ‘in dire shape’ and has ‘had a reconsideration of everything with regard to’ Doge

The Mississippi library commission, which offers services such as specialized research assistance to libraries in the state, has ordered the deletion of two research collections: the race relations database and the gender studies database. The collections were stored in what’s called the Magnolia database, which is used by publicly funded schools, libraries, universities and state agencies in Mississippi.

The commission’s executive director, Hulen Bivins, confirmed the deletion to the Guardian, and said: “We may lose a lot of materials.”

Continue reading...

‘We’re location scouting’: where next for White Lotus and who will star?

HBO renewed Mike White’s hit drama before third season aired and rumours abound about luxury settings and return of stars

You’ve only just got home from a holiday when you start planning the next one. So it is with the super-rich spa satire The White Lotus. The gunsmoke is still clearing from the finale of the third season but speculation is rife about where the HBO hit will head next.

This week’s climax of Mike White’s drama might have divided critics, but it was still group chat-dominating, column inch-gobbling TV, notching its highest ratings yet. The show was renewed for a fourth trip before the third had even aired, with White reportedly pitching HBO execs his next idea while still filming in Koh Samui. Buzz is now building about the next chapter, expected on our screens in late 2026.

Continue reading...

‘Science nerd’ who ordered radioactive materials to his parents’ Sydney home spared conviction

Emmanuel Lidden pleaded guilty to two charges after buying uranium and plutonium from US-based science website

A “science nerd” who ordered uranium and plutonium to his parents’ apartment has escaped conviction and been given a two-year good behaviour bond.

Emmanuel Lidden, 24, admitted breaching nuclear non-proliferation laws by ordering various radioactive samples through the internet.

Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter

Continue reading...

‘People love being here’: London development shows harmony between nature and housing

Five thousand new homes alongside a paradise for newts appears to fly in face of government’s ‘false wedge’

Arriving at the Kidbrooke Village housing development in Greenwich on a morning in early spring, the first thing you notice is the sound of birdsong and the scent of blossom. Geese are gently honking in the distance.

This was once the Ferrier estate, a postwar housing estate that was demolished in 2009 to regenerate the area.

Continue reading...

Polish woman, 80, can stay in UK after Home Office U-turn

Elzbieta Olszewska had previously been told she faced deportation after mistakenly filling in form online

A Polish woman who had her application to remain in the UK rejected because she mistakenly filled in a form online instead of on paper has been granted permission to stay in Britain after a change of mind by the Home Office.

Elzbieta Olszewska, 80, had been living alone in her flat in Warsaw before arriving in the UK last September. Her only child, Michal Olszewski, 52, an aeronautical engineer and dual British-Polish citizen, who lives in Lincoln with his wife, had been travelling regularly to the Polish capital to support his mother.

Continue reading...