2 w. ago Trump is pushing students towards Britain – ministers, don’t let your immigration obsession stand in the way | Polly Toynbee

Beleaguered UK universities have a golden opportunity. If the government passes it up, it risks billions in revenue Shocking stories told at a US universities conference in San Diego described Donald Trump’s assaults on research grants, academics and students. Foreign students face deportation for infractions as minor as parking or speeding tickets. A reported 500 student visas have been suddenly revoked – with some students sent to deportation centres, and others told to “self-deport”. With a million foreign students warned by their universities not to travel abroad for fear of never getting back in, that’s a strong deterrent to others deciding whether to study in the US.Jo Johnson, former minster for universities, King’s College London visiting professor and chair of the Lords education committee, listening to this list of persecutions, spoke to me from San Diego. “The UK should be extending the warmest of welcomes, a safe port in a storm,” he says. Concerns about immigration numb...

Politics

3 w. ago Olivier winner John Lithgow attacks Trump’s second presidency as ‘a disaster’ for US arts

Speaking after his best actor victory, Lithgow said Donald Trump’s administration ‘has done some shocking, destructive things’ especially its takeover of the Kennedy CenterThe actor John Lithgow has described Donald Trump’s second presidency as “a pure disaster” for the arts in the US. Lithgow, speaking after his best actor victory at the Olivier awards in London on Sunday, singled out Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center, Washington DC’s national institution for the performing arts. “Our administration has done some shocking, destructive things,” he said, “but the one that grieves me most is taking over the Kennedy Center.”The US president is now chair of the prestigious cultural complex (which was founded as a government-funded, bipartisan venue) and has installed new board members and a new interim leader, loyalist Ric Grenell. The board had been in the process of selecting a successor to outgoing leader Deborah Rutter, who in January announced her intention to step down after ...

Events

3 w. ago Being a librarian was already hard. Then came the Trump administration

Already facing burnout and book bans, librarians face a ‘catastrophe’ for institutions deemed central to democracyFor many librarians, the stakes of the job are high – they’re facing burnout, book bans, legislation pushed by rightwing groups, and providing essential resources in an effort to fill gaps in the US’s social safety net.Now, as Donald Trump’s administration rolls out their agenda, many librarians are describing his policies as “catastrophic” to accessing information and the libraries themselves – institutions considered fundamental to democracy. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump extends deadline to keep social media TikTok running in the US

Donald Trump had described TikTok as "worthless" without a permit, which he insists the US will be able to provide - and he even used the social media as a bargaining tool amid his tariff chaos

Politics

4 w. ago Starmer briefed Trump about arrests over alleged vandalism at Turnberry golf course

US president describes three people accused of painting pro-Palestinian messages at his Scottish resort as ‘terrorists’

Politics

4 w. ago Donald Trump describes alleged Turnberry vandals as 'terrorists'

A 33-year-old man charged in connection with the incident is scheduled to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court today.

Politics