Tag: government
Belgium Forms a Government After 7 Months of Squabbling
The country’s tense negotiations hinged on taxing and social spending — and they highlight issues facing Europe, and Western democracies, as a whole. By Koba Ryckewaert and Jeanna Smialek Reporting from Brussels Belgium reached an agreement to form a coalition government on Friday, the nation’s monarchy announced, ending seven months of partisan squabbling over deeply…
Two ways Trump aims to reshape government. And, how U.S. children are doing in school
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. President Trump is working to dramatically reshape the federal government, as shown by two actions this week. He has issued a sweeping memo to pause trillions of dollars in…
‘We were betrayed’: families of apartheid victims sue South African government
High court case demands inquiry into 1985 Cradock Four killings and ‘constitutional damages’ worth £7.3m Lukhanyo Calata’s first memory of his father was the funeral. His mother sobbing, the earth beneath his feet shaking from the number of people gathered at the graveside, and the fear he felt aged three as the red box holding…
Oldham abuse survivors criticise government over inquiry decision
The BBC has changed the names of the women in this article in order to protect their identity. Three women who were left devastated by historical child sexual exploitation in Oldham have told the BBC ministers should have spoken to survivors before deciding not to conduct a government-led inquiry into grooming gangs in the town.…
9/11 guilty pleas delayed after US government objects
The US government has succeeded in temporarily blocking the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks from pleading guilty amid a dispute over the terms of a pre-trial agreement. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants reached deals last summer to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for not facing a death penalty trial. In…
Wildlife groups urge UK government to ban lead ammunition
Environment secretary Steve Reed urged to bring in ‘full and swift ban’ to protect health of people, wildlife and pets Wildlife charities have called on the government to ban the sale and use of lead in ammunition used for outdoor shooting. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), RSPB, Wildlife and Countryside Link, Chem Trust and…
Far-right group Blood and Honour has assets frozen by government
The neo-Nazi organisation Blood and Honour, which is linked to parts of the skinhead music scene, has become the first extreme right-wing group to have financial sanctions imposed by the UK government. Treasury ministers said they had “reasonable grounds to suspect” Blood and Honour of being involved in “terrorist activities through promoting and encouraging terrorism,…
A Far-Right Government in Austria Would Be a Jolt, but Not Unexpected
News analysis The Freedom Party and its leader, Herbert Kickl, have steadily built support by demonizing immigrants, while entering Austria’s political mainstream. By Jim Tankersley and Christopher F. Schuetze Reporting from Berlin The political party on the verge of leading Austria would take an already conservative country into a growing group of nations shifting to…
US imposes sanctions on senior Hungarian government minister
US treasury accuses Antal Rogán, a close aide of leader Viktor Orbán, as key to ‘system of corruption’ The United States has imposed sanctions on a senior member of the Hungarian government for alleged corruption, in a move which Budapest said it would challenge as soon as Donald Trump takes office. The US treasury accused…
British AI startup with government ties is developing tech for military drones
Exclusive: Concerns raised over role of Faculty AI, which has worked with NHS and government safety body A company that has worked closely with the UK government on artificial intelligence safety, the NHS and education is also developing AI for military drones. The consultancy Faculty AI has “experience developing and deploying AI models on to…
Syria’s New Rebel Government Orders Changes to School Curriculum, Worrying Some Syrians
Syria’s Civil War Syria’s new government has swiftly ordered changes to school curriculums. Some Syrians say the move is a worrying sign of how the former rebels plans to govern a diverse country. By Raja Abdulrahim Reporting from Damascus, Syria References to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his father, who ruled Syria before him,…
Anas Sarwar accuses Scottish government of ‘weakening every institution’
Scottish Labour leader sets out plan to revive party’s flagging fortunes before Holyrood elections Anas Sarwar has accused the Scottish government of “weakening every institution in Scotland” as he set out plans to revive Labour’s flagging fortunes before the Holyrood elections. The Scottish Labour leader said he would spend much of 2025 reminding the Scottish…
Austria’s far-right Freedom party tasked with forming coalition government
Austrian president asks anti-migration, pro-Kremlin Freedom FPÖ to begin negotiations with conservative ÖVP Austria’s president has tasked the anti-migration, pro-Kremlin Freedom party (FPÖ) with holding talks to form a ruling coalition, potentially paving the way for the far right to lead the government for the first time since the second world war. After meeting the…
Child sexual abuse inquiry chair urges government to act
Prof Alexis Jay, the former chair of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse, has called for the “full implementation” of reforms set out in her 2022 report, which warned of “endemic” abuse across society in England and Wales. A campaign group chaired by Prof Jay, called Act on IICSA, said ministers must commit to…
Government unveils plan to cut NHS waiting list backlog
The government has unveiled a new pledge to cut the list of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment in England by nearly half a million over the next year. The plan, to be announced on Monday, will expand access to Community Diagnostic Centres and surgical hubs, alongside reforms designed to enhance patient…
Syria’s International Airport to Reopen as Government Presses for Stability
Syria’s Civil War Tensions are high on Syria’s border with Lebanon. The ouster of President Bashar al-Assad led to worry that violence could spill over into neighboring countries. By Aaron Boxerman Syria’s main international airport in Damascus will reopen next week, the new government said on Saturday, as it tries to re-establish a sense of…
European Ministers Visit Syria to Strengthen Ties With New Government
Syria’s Civil War Top diplomats from Germany and France went to Damascus on behalf of the European Union. It’s the first such trip in years, part of a flurry of Western outreach. By Aaron Boxerman Syria’s new leaders met the French and German foreign ministers in the capital, Damascus, on Friday in one of the…
Government must look at effects of toxic smoke on Grenfell firefighters, minister says
Union calls for regular health checks for 600 Grenfell firefighters after many developed long-term conditions The government “needs to seriously look” at the effects of toxic smoke inhalation on firefighters who served at the Grenfell Tower fire, a minister has said. The comments from Andrew Gwynne, the health minister, came after the Guardian disclosed that…
Australian airlines more delayed than foreign competitors, but government decides not to nudge laws
Experts say lack of competition in Australia’s airline market is a likely factor behind prevalence of delays More than one in four flights operated by major Australian airlines in 2024 arrived at their destinations late, with local punctuality rates lagging significantly behind average carriers in comparable countries. Experts say a lack of competition in Australia’s…
UK government hires ‘nudge unit’ to help dispel heat pump myths
Behaviour experts say misinformation shared in media and by other stakeholders is impeding uptake Experts from a “nudge unit” have been hired to help ministers fight misinformation about heat pumps to try to encourage take-up of the devices. The appliances run on electricity instead of gas and are regarded as a way of decarbonising homes…
Labour government discussed Tanzania asylum camp plan in 2004, files show
Newly released files show proposals to divert £2m – earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa – to fund scheme Tony Blair’s government discussed diverting £2m earmarked to prevent conflict in Africa in order to fund a controversial pilot scheme to process and house asylum-seekers in Tanzania, newly released government files show. Under the scheme, Britain…
Syria’s New Government Steps Up Pursuit of Assad Loyalists
Syria’s Civil War Finding the remnants of the old dictatorship and bringing them to justice has emerged as a top priority for the new administration in Syria. By Adam Rasgon Syria’s new administration has stepped up its campaign to track down and arrest members of the ousted Assad dictatorship, signaling that it would act with…