Politics

Ministry of Justice figures show dozens of Crown Court trials are scheduled four years ahead, with more than 2,600 trials listed for 2028 and proposed legislation introduced to limit some jury trials.

The Ministry of Justice reports about 80,000 outstanding cases and roughly 2,600 crown court trials are not scheduled to start until 2028 or later.

At least three explosions were reported in Kabul after cross-border fighting between Pakistani forces and the Afghan Taliban; both sides have made conflicting claims about losses and control of border posts.

Senior Democrats expressed concern after a classified briefing involving Marco Rubio about possible US military action in Iran, and House Democrats said they will force a vote next week to summon the president to explain his plans.

Governor Tim Walz announced legislation to strengthen fraud detection and enforcement after federal officials said they would temporarily withhold $259.5 million in Minnesota Medicaid payments; Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison are scheduled to appear before the U.S. House Oversight Committee next Wednesday.

Syrian government forces and Druze-run local authorities conducted a mediated prisoner exchange in Sweida, with the government releasing 61 people and Druze authorities releasing 25, facilitated by the ICRC and described by officials as the result of international and local efforts. Undetermined at this time.

The Vatican released a stamp honouring Ukraine's Catholics that depicts Kyiv's Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in a blackout, and Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk called the release "a great moment of consolation."

A DHS deputy assistant secretary told state election officials that ICE would not be stationed at polling locations for the November midterms, according to state secretaries of state; the department did not respond to a request for comment.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council that a Taliban decree signed last month defines crimes and punishments that contravene international obligations and is expected to take effect soon; he said it provides for corporal punishment and expands offences carrying the death penalty, while detailed text has not been published.

Disagreements over how and when Hamas should disarm have stalled the US‑brokered Gaza peace plan, and Israeli officials have said a U.S. 60‑day deadline for disarmament may be imminent.

A draft treaty published by the UK, Gibraltar and the EU proposes a 'fluid border' at the Spain‑Gibraltar land crossing with no routine passport or burdensome customs checks for daily crossers, while stating it does not affect sovereignty; the draft still needs to be signed and ratified.

The Duchess of Edinburgh began a two-day visit to Kenya to highlight women's roles in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, meeting President William Ruto and visiting the Kazuri Beads workshop in Nairobi where she was filmed dancing with women.

US and Ukrainian negotiators met in Geneva for talks about ending the invasion as Ukraine reported overnight strikes that injured at least 23 people. Hungary's prime minister has publicly alleged Ukraine could be behind energy disruptions, which Kyiv denies and attributes to Russian damage.

Cross-country memorial services for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. begin in Chicago, where he will lie in repose for two days at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, and will include events in Washington and South Carolina.

President Trump has backed leader-level talks between Ukraine and Russia, with President Zelensky saying a meeting with President Putin is expected; Ukraine's defence minister said Kyiv will accelerate installation of anti-drone nets on frontline roads, aiming for 4,000 km by year-end and about 20 km per day in March.

Australia's prime minister apologised after describing Grace Tame as "difficult" during a rapid-response game; Tame and other politicians criticised the label as dismissive of a woman who has spoken out about abuse and campaigned for law change.

Canada's finance minister François-Philippe Champagne said the United States appears unlikely to lift recent tariffs and described a baseline tariff as a 'price' for market access, following President Trump's State of the Union and a new 10% global tariff imposed under Section 122.

The government announced £50 million in funding split across two programmes to support councils and organisations working on homelessness and rough sleeping. The package includes a £37 million fund for community organisations and a £15 million innovation programme targeting 28 high-pressure areas, including London.

Business secretary Peter Kyle said the British public favour pragmatic steps to deepen trade and economic ties with the EU as he signed a cooperation deal on competition in Brussels, and EU officials described the agreement as reinforcing good cooperation.

A Courts and Tribunals Bill was introduced in Parliament to speed up criminal cases for victims, and officials report about 80,000 cases are currently waiting, with nearly 20,000 over a year.

President Trump used the State of the Union to urge Congress to ban schools and states from allowing transgender and nonbinary students to socially transition without parental consent, citing a Virginia teenager's case; the family lawsuit against the Appomattox County School Board is ongoing.

The Swiss government announced a one-off solidarity payment of 50,000 francs for each of the injured and the families of those who died in the Crans-Montana bar fire; officials say investigations and criminal proceedings are under way and additional federal funding will be provided.

David Hallam, a former Labour MEP, writes that Tony Blair's leadership fractured Labour's broad coalition and that internal dissent was treated as treason; he also links changes in electoral rules to UKIP gaining an early platform.

Sir Keir Starmer said he will explore ways to make the student loan system fairer, while ministers are reported to be considering changes to interest rates and the repayment threshold.

The Treasury and Department for Education are reported to be discussing reversing the freeze on the repayment salary threshold and lowering Plan 2 interest rates after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch backed changes.

A by-election in the Manchester constituency covering Gorton and Denton will be held on Thursday; Labour, Reform UK and the Green Party are competing amid reported local disappointment with national politics.

Ofgem has cut the energy price cap by £117, lowering the typical annual dual-fuel bill to £1,641 from 1 April; the change reflects a government pledge to reduce average household bills by £150 through shifting some renewable costs onto general taxation.

CAFOD analysis, drawing on research from the University of St Andrews and Save the Children, finds that reducing debt-servicing to about 10% of revenue could create fiscal space large enough to offset many impacts of the UK’s 40% cut to its aid budget and help restore funding for health, education, water and sanitation.

Abigail Spanberger, Virginia's newly elected governor and a former congresswoman and CIA officer, will deliver the Democrats' response to President Trump's State of the Union address.

The government published a SEND white paper asking mainstream schools to assess pupils and set individual support plans, and ministers say legislation will be introduced in 2028; education leaders and MPs welcomed the aim but warned the changes will add substantial workload and could affect staff wellbeing.