Le Journal

Agreement also calls for health service to increase net price it pays for innovative drugs by 25%Business live – latest updatesThe NHS is to pay 25% more for innovative drugs in return for zero tariffs on exports of pharmaceuticals to the US under a deal with Donald Trump’s government.Industry sources estimate it could cost about £3bn in higher spending on drugs over the next three years but also increase the portion of the NHS budget spent on medicines for diseases such as breast cancer, asthma and motor neurone disease, where innovation is key. Continue reading...

Kaja Kallas says negotiators should not ‘lose focus that it’s actually Russia who has started this war’Europe live – latest updatesThe EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said she fears talks between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will pile pressure on Ukraine to make concessions with the two men expected to meet on Tuesday.Witkoff, the property developer turned envoy recently exposed for coaching Russian officials on how to win Trump’s favour, is arriving in Moscow after leading a US delegation in talks with Ukraine at the weekend, nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Continue reading...

Group beaten in early hours of morning in village where they volunteered to help protect Palestinians from settler violenceItaly and Canada have raised concerns about the treatment of their citizens who were beaten and robbed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.Three Italians and a Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho, where they had volunteered to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence. Continue reading...

Late singer’s widow says building ‘ugly’ ice rink around statue in Pesaro is disrespectful and ridicules his memoryAn Italian mayor has apologised to the family of Luciano Pavarotti after a Christmas ice rink entrapped a statue of the legendary opera singer – and skaters were invited to “give [him] a high five”.The lifesize bronze, featuring Pavarotti wearing a tuxedo with his arms outstretched and holding a handkerchief in one hand, was unveiled to much fanfare last year in a square in the centre of Pesaro, a coastal city in the Marche region. Continue reading...

US president sent a ‘blunt message’ to his South American counterpart, sources sayHow US campaign against Venezuela has unfoldedUS politics – live updatesDonald Trump reportedly gave Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum to relinquish power immediately during their recent call – but Venezuela’s authoritarian leader declined, demanding a “global amnesty” for himself and allies.On Sunday, the US president confirmed the call had taken place, telling reporters: “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly, it was a phone call.” Continue reading...