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Spokesperson says function is in line with official guidance as scrutiny of papers relating to Peter Mandelson continuesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s WhatsApp messages automatically delete from his smartphone, Downing Street has confirmed, calling into question how full a picture emerged of his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson from a recently released tranche of government documents.Asked at a briefing whether Starmer uses the function on his WhatsApp messages, the prime minister’s spokesperson said he “does use disappearing messages”, adding that this was in line with official guidance on the use of so-called non-corporate communications. Continue reading...

Nick Thomas-Symonds says messages between Pat McFadden and Peter Mandelson are ‘embarrassing’ UK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs are not looking to raise taxes to fund more benefits, the cabinet minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said.In messages between the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, and Peter Mandelson released on Monday, McFadden wrote: “Every meeting I have is: ‘Who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others?’ They’re asking the wrong questions.” Continue reading...

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart says it ‘beggars belief’ there were not more exchanges between Mandelson and the PMGood morning. Keir Starmer is chairing cabinet today as Labour MPs mull over the coverage of the Peter Mandelson files. In terms of revelations relating to Mandelson himself, the impact is probably not as bad as many MPs feared; Politico quotes one official as saying the mood last night was at the “top end” of expectations. Here is our main story about the data release, by Henry Dyer and Pippa Crear.There will be more coverage today.There’s a lot of stuff that’s missing. Anybody who’s looked at these 1,500 pages will see acres and acres of white space, these constellations of asterisks, huge amounts of redactions.Now, some of that is fine because it’s national security issues, our relationship with the Americans.It beggars belief that there were so few exchanges between Mandelson and the prime minister. There’s almost nothing in the record.So either this stuff is being deliberately withheld or it’s been deleted. Continue reading...

Conquering of Beaufort Castle for first time in 26 years bring back memories of occupation of southMiddle East crisis – live updatesWhen Hussain Alawieh used to take tourists to Beaufort Castle, they would marvel at the view. The ancient hilltop fort, captured nearly 1,000 years earlier by Crusaders, still offered the same sweeping panoramic views of south Lebanon and the Litani River that empires fought over for a millennia.On Sunday, the view from the castle was obscured by white phosphorus smoke, the toxic incendiary munition providing a smoke-screen for advancing Israeli soldiers. Out of the fog rose an Israeli flag, and the castle, for the first time in 26 years, was once again conquered. Continue reading...

Sources predict ‘toe-curling’ revelations as more than 1,000 pages of documents relating to his appointment as US ambassador to be publishedMandelson files show no mitigation of security concernsGood morning. Many people despair at the quality of governance in Britain at the moment, but in one respect we are living through a golden age; if you are interested in contemporary history, and learning about what actually happens at the heart of government, then you can now – sometimes – access the sort of information never available before.Today the government is publishing a mass of information – apparently running to three volumes, and more than 1,000 pages – containing the private messages Peter Mandelson exchanged with government ministers and officials when he was ambassador to the US, and before his appointment. Last month a minister compared this to the evidence released as part of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. But the Chilcot inquiry took place in the era before WhatsApp, and it was publishing secret memos – intended for circulation within Whitehall. WhatsApp messages are a lot more personal; reading them is like being able to eavesdrop on a private conversation. Mandelson is a man with spiky, controversial views, who loves gossip and plotting, and whose private views don’t always accord with what he has said in public. It should be fascinating.I think the level of transparency is going to be unprecedented. The volume of information that’s going to be put out is unprecedented.It’s right we do that. We have been very clear that the appointment of Mandelson was wrong. Continue reading...

• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval delivered a series of blunt warnings on global security during the first international security forum held in Moscow. • Doval specifically condemned Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and addressed critical regional instabilities, including the war in Iran and potential blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. • The speech highlighted India's concerns regarding the growing irrelevance of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in maintaining global peace.

• Mistral AI hosted its first AI summit in Paris, signaling a growing momentum for artificial intelligence development within Europe. • Despite a valuation of approximately $13.6 billion, Mistral remains significantly smaller than US giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google's Gemini. • The event highlighted Europe's struggle to compete with American rivals who possess vastly superior funding and infrastructure networks.