Announcement prompts concerns that PM is pandering to US president and warnings over consequences of aid cuts

Keir Starmer has announced that Britain will “fight for peace in Europe” with a generational increase in defence spending paid for by slashing the foreign aid budget.

The move, just two days before the prime minister is due to meet Donald Trump, raised immediate concerns that he was pandering to the US president, and fury from aid groups that say it could cost lives in countries that rely on UK support.

Exclusive: Departure follows meetings with Wes Streeting and unusual criticism from two Commons committees

Amanda Pritchard is standing down as chief executive of NHS England, in a development that will shock the health service.

Her departure from the top job follows recent meetings she held with Wes Streeting, the health secretary, to discuss his plans to overhaul the service and her own future role.

Corporation apologises as inquiry finds it missed opportunities that could have led to action over former Radio 1 DJ’s behaviour

The BBC has admitted it “fell short and failed people” – including its own staff – and apologised after finding evidence of “bullying and misogynistic” behaviour by its former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood.

A £3.3m external inquiry published on Tuesday found the broadcaster “missed opportunities” during the DJ’s two decades at the organisation that could have led to action. The inquiry was triggered by a 2022 Guardian and BBC News joint investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by the DJ.

Exclusive: partial climbdown over use of work protected by copyright considered after intense lobbying by top artists

Ministers are planning to offer key concessions to their plans to make it easier for artificial intelligence companies to use copyright-protected work, in a partial climbdown after weeks of lobbying from some of the world’s most famous artists.

Sources have told the Guardian that ministers have accepted the need to protect British creative industries from the plans, which would otherwise have made their work available for access by AI companies unless they deliberately opted out.

Cottrell, who served eight months for fraud, paid £15,000 for Reform party leader’s flight to US in December

Nigel Farage’s trip to Florida where he met Elon Musk was part-funded by his friend and former fraudster George Cottrell, who paid for his £15,000 flight.

The Reform leader accepted the flight for his visit in December last year, when he was pictured smiling with Musk and the Reform party treasurer, Nick Candy.

Spokesperson reiterates position as sources say Putin is committed to Russian control of Ukraine’s political future

• Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates

The Kremlin has appeared to reject Donald Trump’s claim that Vladimir Putin is open to European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, underscoring Moscow’s reluctance to align with Trump’s efforts to quickly end the war despite a thaw in relations.

Pushing to deliver on a central campaign pledge, Trump asserted on Monday that the Ukraine war “could end within weeks” and claimed that he and Putin supported the presence of European troops on the ground.

Head of lobbying firm Blakeney says industry concerned about perceived lack of transparency and trust

• One in 10 peers paid for political advice

The leader of the House of Lords has been urged to back calls for tighter restrictions on peers being paid to offer political advice after a Guardian investigation found one in 10 have held such roles.

Gabe Winn, chief executive of Blakeney, a lobbying firm, wrote to Angela Smith on Tuesday, saying he and many others in the industry believed the issue was “bringing the work of the House of Lords into disrepute”.

Bhim Kohli died the day after allegedly being assaulted while walking his dog in a Leicester park

Two children used racist taunts during a fatal attack on an 80-year-old man in which he was slapped in the face with a shoe while kneeling on the ground, a court has heard.

Bhim Kohli died on 2 September last year, the day after he was allegedly assaulted by a balaclava-clad 14-year-old boy in Franklin Park, in the Braunstone Town area of Leicester, while walking his dog near his home.

Exclusive: State department memo directs officers to bar those deemed to misrepresent birth sex on applications

The US state department has ordered officials worldwide to deny visas to transgender athletes attempting to come to the US for sports competitions and to issue permanent visa bans against those who are deemed to misrepresent their birth sex on visa applications.

The 24 February state department cable obtained by the Guardian instructs visa officers to apply Immigration and Nationality Act section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) – the “permanent fraud bar” – against trans applicants. Unlike regular visa denials, this section triggers lifetime exclusion from the United States with limited waiver possibilities.

Officers had to fire 19 rounds into two dogs to stop incident in Warrington that left victim fighting for his life

Having an XL bully is “like owning a loaded firearm”, police have said after officers had to unload 19 rounds into two dogs to stop a “ferocious” attack on an 84-year-old man.

The victim, who was left fighting for his life in hospital, was walking along a residential street when he was dragged into a garden and mauled at about 6.40pm on Monday.