Departure

Overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs pushing Starmer towards decision to step downUK politics – live updatesKeir Starmer is expected to announce on Monday that he will step down as prime minister, after overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become Labour leader.The prime minister and his allies had insisted for weeks that they would fight a leadership challenge from Burnham, or anyone else, before the Makerfield byelection in which Burnham secured a return to Westminster. Continue reading...

• NASA and international partners are preparing for the departure of the 34th SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft from the International Space Station. • The mission focuses on returning critical scientific research samples and hardware to Earth for further analysis. • This operation supports the ongoing effort of continuous human habitation aboard the station, which has lasted for over 25 years.

Despite his managerial veneer and quiet approach, outgoing defence secretary is a highly political operatorUK politics live – latest updatesIf there was one thing for which Downing Street could rely on with John Healey, it was avoiding unnecessary drama. Whether in parliament or on the morning broadcast round, his sober suits and general demeanour of a benign but firm headmaster spelled reassurance.But then just before 12.10pm on Wednesday, the drama arrived. In a letter posted to social media, Healey resigned as defence secretary, a job he had held – whether in government or its shadow equivalent – from the moment Keir Starmer became Labour leader. Continue reading...

• The BBC has announced the cancellation of the upcoming *Doctor Who* Christmas special following a period of "careful consideration." • Showrunner Russell T Davies has also confirmed his departure from the series, marking a significant leadership change for the long-running sci-fi drama. • This decision is unexpected given the show's historical tradition of holiday episodes and Davies' pivotal role in the program's modern revival.

Deputy PM says Andy Burnham would be ‘great addition to parliament’, but leadership row is an ‘own goal’ for LabourKeir Starmer is not about to set a timetable for his departure from Downing Street, David Lammy, one of the prime minister’s closest cabinet allies, has said, calling on Labour to get beyond the “spectacular own goal” of repeated leadership speculation.While allies of Starmer have suggested he is potentially willing to step aside if Andy Burnham wins next month’s Makerfield byelection and no other challenger emerges, Lammy insisted this was not being considered. Continue reading...

Change reflects both transformation of US in Trump era and China’s increasing confidence on world stageAsked before he departed for Beijing if he would raise with the Chinese president the case of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy activist jailed in Hong Kong, Donald Trump said: “I’ll bring him up.”But, the US president added: “It’s like saying to me, ‘If Comey ever went to jail, would you let him out?’ It might be a hard one for me.” Trump was referring to James B Comey, a former FBI director and a frequent target of Trump’s ire. Continue reading...

• A Boston Red Sox rookie delivered a strong outing in the team's first game without manager Alex Cora, calling the day a 'whirlwind.' • The rookie reacted positively to the sudden change, helping stabilize the team amid the transition. • Cora's exit creates uncertainty for the Red Sox, testing the young roster's resilience early in the season.

Exit of John Phelan, navy’s top civilian official, comes a week after Pete Hegseth fired army’s top officerThe Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the navy’s top civilian official, John Phelan, the secretary of the navy, is leaving his job.In a statement posted to social media, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately” Continue reading...

• A STAT national survey reveals NIH funding interruptions are causing layoffs, lab closures, and driving early-career scientists away from research careers due to federal budget and priority changes. • Harvard researcher Josiemer Mattei had her diabetes prevention trial in Puerto Rico terminated in May 2025 when the administration cut over $2.8 billion in grants across the university, forcing her to scramble to relocate the study to avoid losing patients and data. • The NIH remains committed to fully spending its 2026 budget but lags significantly behind prior years in grant awards and disbursements, with researchers reporting taking 95% pay cuts to avoid staff layoffs.

President thanks Grenell for ‘outstanding work’ and says Matt Floca, vice-president of operations, will take overDonald Trump has announced that Ric Grenell, the longtime Republican foreign policy adviser who oversaw far-reaching changes at the Kennedy Center, which prompted many artists to abandon the performing arts venue, will be replaced by Matt Floca, vice-president of operations at the center.Trump made the announcement on social media that he has replaced Grenell, thanking him for the “outstanding work he has done”. Floca was photographed in December personally overseeing the addition of Trump’s name to the center’s facade. Grenell’s departure comes as the Kennedy Center prepares to close this summer for a two-year renovation. Continue reading...