7 h. ago Putin persists, Trump dithers – and a just peace for Ukraine still seems a long way off | Olga Chyzh

The US president could embrace the role of peacemaker, or become the patsy who restored Russia’s imperial standingThe past few weeks have seen a flurry of activity billed as progress in the Russia-Ukraine peace process. Yet for Ukrainians, the reality remains unchanged: airstrikes still thunder across their cities, homes still burn, lives are still lost. Against this grim backdrop, the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, has seemed more than content to bask in the literal red-carpet treatment afforded by the president of the United States.Donald Trump, who has anointed himself mediator of this war, has nearly exhausted the lexicon of contradiction. Some days he proclaims that he alone can end this war. Then he insists that peace talks should be left to the two parties. At times he boasts that Putin “respects” him; at others, he castigates Putin for “going absolutely crazy”. This month, Trump vacillated between putting US troops on the table and ruling it out. Now he is reportedly consid...

Politics

15 h. ago Xi and Modi say they are ‘partners not rivals’ in bid to repair ties

Donald Trump’s trade war drives a rapprochement between the world’s two most populous countries

Politics

19 h. ago Trump suggests Putin and Zelensky 'may have to fight longer' before talks can happen as he casts doubt on peace progress

Trump conducted high stakes meetings with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he seeks to restore peace to the region.

Politics

37 h. ago As RFK Jr. promises answer to autism, Trump’s war on universities leaves research twisting in the wind: ‘It’s infuriating’

Cutting off grants for international collaborators, punishing universities and freezing their money has all created a situation of uncertainty. One researcher tells Eric Garcia ‘makes you feel like you're losing your mind’

Politics

55 h. ago Sir Rod Stewart slams Lib Dem leader for 'snubbing' Donald Trump state banquet

Maggie May singer Sir Rod Stewart said US President Donald Trump is the “only man” that can end the Ukraine war, after Sir Ed Davey said he was boycotting the bash over Gaza

Politics

61 h. ago The Cracker Barrel mess exposes the cynicism of the rightwing culture war | Sidney Blumenthal

The restaurant means little to activists – it’s simply a tool to bludgeon perceived enemies and flex conservative powerFirst they came for the Smithsonian. Then they came for Cracker Barrel.Whether it’s the museums or the corporations – or the universities, law firms, federal departments and agencies – the attack lines of the Trump culture war and its culture warriors are the same. The vicious full-scale assault on the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain after the company naively wandered on to the battle zone by altering its “Old Timer” logo exposes the cynicism of the whole operation and its ulterior motive to impose an authoritarian regime over every aspect of American society.Sidney Blumenthal, former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published three books of a projected five-volume political life of Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man, Wrestling With His Angel and All the Powers of Earth. He is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...

Events

61 h. ago Boycott the banquet, send a tweet. But ending the horror in Gaza still relies on the worst people in the world | Marina Hyde

This humanitarian catastrophe is barely of passing interest to Donald Trump. The curse of our times is how little we can do about itDay 222 of Donald Trump’s presidency, and Russia’s war in Ukraine – which he promised to end on day one – shows no sign of having got the memo. This was not a single-use Trump promise; he made it at least 53 times. Yet the US president has failed to keep it, either literally or in his favourite manner: figuratively. Can you figuratively end a war? Not even, apparently.What his most recent round of failure means, however, is that Trump is pivoting back to another war, the grotesquely horrifying and unlawful humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. Not the way he’d phrase it, possibly. This week he swerved commenting on either Israel’s invasion of Gaza City or the mounting declarations that famine and starvation are clearly under way in the territory, and instead announced: “I think within the next two, three weeks, you’re going to have a pretty good, ...

Events

3 d. ago Lotus to cut 550 UK jobs amid auto industry ‘uncertainty’ including Trump tariffs

Production in Norfolk due to restart in early September but sportscar maker announces ‘restructuring proposal’Sportscar maker Lotus has confirmed it will cut 550 jobs in the UK as part of wider restructuring plans that will deliver a fresh blow to Britain’s automotive industry.Lotus, which has been struggling with a drop in sales and cash shortages, said it was necessary to slash 42% of its 1,300-strong UK workforce to “secure a sustainable future”, amid uncertainty sparked by factors including Donald Trump’s trade war. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Lotus to cut 550 UK jobs amid ‘uncertainty’ including Trump tariffs

Chinese-owned sportscar maker insists it is committed to Britain and will restart production in Norfolk in September The sportscar maker Lotus has confirmed it will cut 550 jobs in the UK as part of wider restructuring plans that will deliver a fresh blow to Britain’s automotive industry.Lotus, which has been struggling with a drop in sales and cash shortages, said it was necessary to cut 42% of its 1,300-strong UK workforce to “secure a sustainable future”, amid uncertainty sparked by factors including Donald Trump’s trade war. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Tony Blair urged to explain secretive Donald Trump meeting at White House

The former PM met with Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss post-war plans for Gaza - which the US President has frequently mused about turning into a Las Vegas-style waterfront resort

Society

3 d. ago Russia strikes British Council building in Kyiv as Putin blitzes city with hypersonic missiles and drones leaving at least 14 dead

Russia launched the strikes on the Ukrainian capital even as it talks about ending the war and despite US President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire.

Events

3 d. ago Putin blitzes Kyiv with hypersonic missiles while Ukraine hits Russian oil refineries as war shows no signs of ending

Russia launched the strikes on the Ukrainian capital even as it talks about ending the war and despite US President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire.

Events

4 d. ago Trump looks to buy stakes in military corps raising concerns about private contractors and war conflicts

Howard Lutnick says ‘monstrous discussion’ underway at the Pentagon

Events

4 d. ago Sir Tony Blair has briefed Donald Trump on how to rebuild Gaza 'when the war ends in the next four months'

The former Prime Minister held talks on the Middle East peace process with the US President and his son-in-law Jared Kushner at the White House.

Politics

4 d. ago FACT FOCUS: Rural hospitals are expected to lose money from Trump's bill, despite RFK Jr.'s promise

Rural hospitals are bracing for financial losses due to President Trump's tax and spending cut bill

Politics

4 d. ago Ed Davey to boycott King’s banquet for Trump over ‘horrifying’ Gaza war

Lib Dem leader suggests US president and Keir Starmer are hoping to ‘close their eyes and wish this away’ rather than act on escalating humanitarian crisis in the Strip

Politics

4 d. ago Trump imposes 50% tariff on India as punishment for buying Russian oil

US president has argued New Delhi indirectly helping fund Ukraine war as experts say move is ‘own goal’ against allyDonald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on most US imports from India, making good on a threat to punish one of the world’s largest economies over its purchases of discounted Russian oil.The tariffs, which came into effect just after midnight on Wednesday in Washington, risk inflicting significant damage on the Indian economy and further disrupting global supply chains. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago UK vows to help 30 more students leave Gaza to take up university places

Evacuation problematic and dependent on Israel’s approval amid claims more scholarship students still in darkMinisters have approved plans to help a further 30 students leave Gaza to take up places at UK universities next month but their evacuation remains uncertain and dependent on Israel’s approval.It takes the total to 39, after a government commitment last week to work to secure the evacuation from Gaza of nine Chevening scholars with places at some of the UK’s leading universities. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Meghan Markle's blunt reaction to Donald Trump question after bitter war of words

Meghan Markle has declined to comment on President Donald Trump’s rampage on America after being asked about him in a new interview after a years-long war of words between the US leader and the Sussexes

Politics

5 d. ago Trump says he expects ‘conclusive ending’ to Gaza war within two to three weeks

US president says there is a ‘very serious diplomatic push’ to end Israel’s war on the Palestinian territory

Politics