45 h. ago Trump prepares to unveil reciprocal tariffs as markets brace amid trade war fears

President promises he will be ‘very kind’ but critics warn his strategy risks triggering chain reaction and global trade warAs Donald Trump prepared to unveil a swathe of reciprocal tariffs, global markets braced and some Republican senators voiced their opposition to a strategy that critics warn risks a global trade war, provoking retaliation by major trading partners such as China, Canada and the European Union.The US president said on Monday he would be “very kind” to trading partners when he unveils further tariffs this week, potentially as early as Tuesday night. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Trump sanctions threat on Russian oil buyers could hit China, India

Trump threatens Putin over ceasefire; Russia claims it has taken control of a Donetsk village. What we know on day 1,132China and India could be affected if Donald Trump introduces tariffs of 25-50% against countries buying Russian oil, analysts and officials have suggested. Dan Sabbagh reports that the US president told NBC he would impose such measures within a month “if a deal isn’t made, and if I think it was Russia’s fault”, as he vented frustration at Vladimir Putin’s delaying tactics and attempts to discredit Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president.Some countries, including China and India, are not participating in anti-war sanctions against Russian oil. Secondary sanctions or tariffs imposed directly on them by the US could further limit Putin’s access to oil revenue to fund the war. While not joining the international sanctions against Russia, China has been wary about breaching them in case it attracts secondary penalties. Some Chinese banks, for example, have curtail...

Events

9 d. ago Elon Musk’s estranged daughter responds to his tweet calling her ‘dead’

Vivian Wilson responded to her father with a famous line from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

Events

1 week ago Trump makes rare admission of Musk’s conflicts of interest after Pentagon visit

President says plans for potential war with China would not be shared with billionaire due to his business interestsUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump said on Friday that plans for possible war with China should not be shared with Elon Musk because of his business interests, a rare admission that the billionaire faces conflicts of interests in his role as a senior adviser to the US president.Trump rejected reports that Musk would be briefed on how the United States would fight a hypothetical war with China, saying: “Elon has businesses in China. And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that.” Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Hegseth says Musk did not see China war plan as Trump announces new jet fighter program – US politics live

Defense secretary says Musk was at Pentagon to talk about efficiencies; president says new F-47 jet has state-of-the-art stealth technologyTrump awards Boeing contract to build next-generation US fighter jetIn Tempe on Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez praised Arizona voters for electing two Democratic senators. She then swiped at the state’s former one-term senator, Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic party to become an independent while in office and declined to seek re-election. “One thing I love about Arizonans is that you all have shown that if a US Senator isn’t fighting hard enough for you, you’re not afraid to replace her with one who will,” Ocasio-Cortez said. Sinema recently resurfaced old comments by Ocasio-Cortez attacking the then-senator over her refusal to abolish the filibuster, a Senate rule requiring 60 votes to pass most legislation. Last week, House Democrats implored their Senate counterparts to use the filibuster to block a Republican-drafted funding bill. “Change of...

Politics

1 week ago Musk arrives at Pentagon amid reports he will be briefed on China war plans – US politics live

Trump and Hegseth deny NYT report that ally due to be briefed on US military’s plan for any war that might break out with ChinaIn Tempe on Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez praised Arizona voters for electing two Democratic senators. She then swiped at the state’s former one-term senator, Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic party to become an independent while in office and declined to seek re-election. “One thing I love about Arizonans is that you all have shown that if a US Senator isn’t fighting hard enough for you, you’re not afraid to replace her with one who will,” Ocasio-Cortez said. Sinema recently resurfaced old comments by Ocasio-Cortez attacking the then-senator over her refusal to abolish the filibuster, a Senate rule requiring 60 votes to pass most legislation. Last week, House Democrats implored their Senate counterparts to use the filibuster to block a Republican-drafted funding bill. “Change of heart on the filibuster I see!” Sinema posted. “Still no. In fact, the same Dem...

Politics

1 week ago Musk to visit Pentagon amid reports of briefing on potential war with China – US politics live

Trump and Hegseth deny NYT report that ally due to be briefed on US military’s plan for any war that might break out with ChinaDonald Trump and his defense secretary Pete Hegseth have both denied reports that Elon Musk will be allowed to see the US military’s secret plan for a potential war with China when he visits the Pentagon today.The president posted about the matter not once, but twice on Truth Social. Last night, he wrote:How ridiculous?” China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow. But the fake news delivers again — this is NOT a meeting about “top secret China war plans.” It’s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great! Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Elon Musk responds to reports that he will be briefed on potential war with China

DOGE lead promised to prosecute those ‘leaking maliciously false information’ ahead of Pentagon meeting

Events

1 week ago London’s Heathrow Airport closed for the day after a substation fire, disrupting travel

London’s Heathrow Airport closed for the day after a substation fire, disrupting travel  The Associated PressA China War Briefing for Musk, and London’s Heathrow Shuts Down  The New York Times

Society

1 week ago Elon Musk summoned to Pentagon for mystery meeting on military plans as Trump issues denial about 'war with China'

Elon Musk has been summoned to the Pentagon for a top secret military briefing, with rampant speculation over whether the 'First Buddy' was getting increased power and access.

Events

1 week ago Elon Musk responds after Jimmy Kimmel mocks him over Tesla fires and Nazi salutes

‘You do one, maybe two Nazi salutes, everybody gets all bent out of shape!’ joked the late night host

Events

1 week ago Elon Musk responds after Republican senator alleges GOP lawmakers are scared of Trump and DOGE

‘We cannot be cowed into not speaking up’ Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski told reporters Tuesday

Politics

2 w. ago Five things we learned from rare Narendra Modi interview on Lex Fridman podcast

Modi discusses Ukraine war, conflict with neighbours Pakistan and China, and ‘friend’ Trump

Politics

2 w. ago Elon Musk responds to The Daily Show’s mocking of Trump’s Tesla purchase

‘Thanks for helping sell Teslas!,’ the EV company owner says

Politics

2 w. ago China says ‘US should have said big thank you’ over fentanyl crackdown

China accuses Trump of using fentanyl issue to ‘spread all kinds of lies’ against Beijing

Politics

3 w. ago China can live with Trump’s tariffs – his bullish foreign policy will help Beijing in the long term | Steve Tsang

By turning his back on US allies and global institutions, Trump will help Xi Jinping advance his plan for a China-centric worldIs Donald Trump China’s worst nightmare or a dream come true? He is both, but not in equal measure. In the near-term, his tariff-led approach to trade will cause problems for Beijing. However, in just a few weeks he has done more damage to the liberal international order, the cohesion of the democratic west, and the US’s global standing, than all the combined efforts to undermine them in the entirety of the cold war. This goes beyond the wildest dreams China’s leaders could have had.The tariffs already levied are serious enough, and Beijing cannot but see them as a harbinger of more to come. Unlike during his first term, this time Trump seems prepared to deliver the threats he makes. With China’s economy already misfiring, an intensified trade war is the last thing Beijing needs, despite the bravado of its diplomats.Steve Tsang is director of the China Insti...

Politics

3 w. ago Recession chances are ‘close to 50/50,’ Clinton’s treasury secretary says

The warnings from economists come amidst chaos and uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s trade war on Mexico, Canada, China and other nations

Politics

3 w. ago Wall Street falls again amid economic slowdown fears, as Musk’s Tesla falls 50% from all–time high – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as US markets slide after Beijing imposes tariffs on imports of agricultural goods from AmericaAnalysts at investment bank Jefferies remain optimistic about the prospects for the US economy in the second half of 2025 – while also fearing that it may slow more than expected in the first half of the year.In an updated US Economic Outlook, Jefferies tell clients:Broadly, these changes are modest relative to what we were looking for at the beginning of the year. We started out 2025 expecting growth to slow in the first half due to exactly the sort of tensions and uncertainty about policy that we are currently seeing. It now appears that the slowdown will be a bit more pronounced than we expected, but we remain optimistic about the second half of the year and beyond.We expect that the labor market will continue to cool gradually in the months ahead, with downside risks due to government spending uncertainty. We continue to expec...

Economics

3 w. ago Wall Street falls again as tariff fears grip markets – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as US markets slide after Beijing imposes tariffs on imports of agricultural goods from AmericaAnalysts at investment bank Jefferies remain optimistic about the prospects for the US economy in the second half of 2025 – while also fearing that it may slow more than expected in the first half of the year.In an updated US Economic Outlook, Jefferies tell clients:Broadly, these changes are modest relative to what we were looking for at the beginning of the year. We started out 2025 expecting growth to slow in the first half due to exactly the sort of tensions and uncertainty about policy that we are currently seeing. It now appears that the slowdown will be a bit more pronounced than we expected, but we remain optimistic about the second half of the year and beyond.We expect that the labor market will continue to cool gradually in the months ahead, with downside risks due to government spending uncertainty. We continue to expec...

Economics

3 w. ago Trump refuses to rule out recession as chaotic trade war with Canada, Mexico and China escalates: Live updates

President’s remarks follow turbulent week as markets rattled by series of aggressive tariff announcements and immediate walkbacks

Politics