Spain declares state of the emergency amid power outages
Spain has declared a state of emergency after a massive power cut hit the country as well as Portugal. Tonight the Spanish Prime Minister says the cause of the blackout is still not known but nothing is being ruled out. Traffic lights, cash machines and street lights all switched off when the blackout hit.As voters prepare to take part in local elections, we head to Staffordshire to hear what’s on their mind.And can reading a book a day keep the upheaval of Donald Trump’s second term at bay? While President Trump’s first 100 days has delighted many of his supporters, we speak to a woman who has distracted herself from the tumult by reading a new book every day.
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Russia says talks with US envoy Witkoff "constructive"
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin had "constructive" talks in Moscow on Friday lasting three hours, according to an aide of Putin's. Ukraine and the US disagree over whether peace talks should encompass formally recognising Russian sovereignty over occupied Ukrainian territory, we explore the appetite of Ukrainians for conceding land to Russia.As we came on air the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission released interim guidance to highlight what it says are "the main consequences" of the recent Supreme Court judgement that in the 2010 Equality Act references to a person's sex must be taken to mean their biological sex. The guidance says workplaces and services open to the public should only permit people to use toilet facilities according to their biological sex.And what's behind the unlikely controversy surrounding the Bayeux Tapestry?
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Trump insists he’s “putting a lot of pressure” on Russia after Kyiv attack
President Donald Trump insisted his administration is “putting a lot of pressure” on Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, after an overnight rocket attack on Kyiv killed 12 people. In a post on Truth Social earlier, the US President wrote “Vladimir, STOP!” and called the attack “bad timing”. But differences between the US and Ukrainian positions continue, particularly over the future of the Crimean peninsula.The National Autistic Society rounded on Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage after he said doctors were “massively over-diagnosing those with mental illness problems”. We ask what’s behind the spike in diagnosis of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).And as the Liberal Democrats propose fining people for playing music out loud on their phone aboard public transport, we ask how the issue should be dealt with.
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Reeves could lower US car tariffs in push for trade deal
Chancellor Rachel Reeves signalled openness to lower tariffs Britain imposes on US car imports in order to reach a trade deal with President Trump. A document circulated among US business groups and unions seeking views on a potential deal with the UK, focused on lowering UK tariffs on US cars to 2.5% from their current 10%. The former Chief Executive of Aston Martin tells us the Chancellor should accept the proposal.Meanwhile President Trump has rounded on his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky again, denouncing what he called "inflammatory statements" after Zelensky said he'd never recognise Crimea as part of Russia.And experts say bite marks found on the skeleton of a Roman gladiator are the first archaeological evidence of combat between a human and a lion.
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What does IMF's stark forecast mean for UK?
In a stark forecast of the world's economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the Trump tariffs and market uncertainty will lead to slower growth and significant change. The IMF has also slashed the UK's growth prospects - we ask what that means for the government's "number one mission".Also on the programme:After last week's definitive ruling in the courts, the impassioned arguments over gender and sex have continued in the Commons. We ask our Political Editor Chris Mason where the debate over gender and trans rights goes next.And - as the Catholic Church considers its future direction - we ask how it can appeal to the younger generation.
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