8 h. ago Tony Blair says Net Zero push has become 'irrational' and 'hysterical' and warns critics of green energy costs must not be dismissed as 'climate deniers'

The former Labour prime minister said that while most people in developed countries believe it is real they are turning away from the politics because of the sacrifices they are being asked to make.

Events

4 d. ago Swiss leader says Trump administration foresees ‘privileged’ talks with 15 countries on US tariffs – US politics live

Karin Keller-Sutter, Swiss president, says Switzerland is among 15 countries with which US plans to hold negotiations to reach deals over tariffsThe Swiss president says Switzerland is among 15 countries with which the United States plans to conduct “privileged” negotiations to help reach a deal after sweeping US tariffs on dozens of countries that have shaken global markets, reports the Associated Press (AP).Karin Keller-Sutter, in an interview with broadcaster SRF published Friday, said she was “satisfied” with talks in Washington this week that included an International Monetary Fund conference and her one-on-one meeting with US treasury secretary Scott Bessent. Keller-Sutter also serves as Switzerland’s finance minister. “The United States has defined a group of 15 countries with which it wants to find a quick solution in this tariff question. Switzerland is part of this group of these 15 countries,” she told reporters separately late on Thursday in Washington, according to the ...

Politics

9 d. ago Hypocrisy row over plans to send failed asylum seekers to 'return hubs' overseas after Starmer scrapped Tory Rwanda scheme

Conservatives responded with fury to reports that ministers could pay countries in the Balkans to take Britain's failed asylum seekers - comparing it to the Rwanda scheme which Sir Keir Starmer scrapped.

Events

1 week ago Trump White House replaces Covid website with treatise on ‘lab leak’ theory

Site that once provided health information now includes criticism of Anthony Fauci, who led response to pandemicUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has replaced Covid.gov – a website that once provided Americans with access to information about free tests, vaccines, treatment and secondary conditions such as long Covid – with a treatise on the “lab leak” theory.The site includes intense criticism of Dr Anthony Fauci, who helmed national Covid policies under Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the World Health Organization (WHO) and state leadership in New York. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Government ‘in talks on migrant removals agreement with France’

A Home Office spokesman said ministers are ‘intensifying’ collaboration with France and other European countries.

Politics

1 week ago $500 for the nosebleeds? Lady Gaga fans furious over ticket prices for Australian shows

The Mayhem tour’s ticketing agencies deny dynamic pricing has been implemented, but fans have complained prices are high and inconsistentElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastThe little monsters are not happy. Lady Gaga fans have swamped social media to complain about exorbitant ticket prices for the pop star’s Australian concerts, with many speculating that dynamic pricing is involved – a claim the official ticketing agency for the Melbourne and Brisbane shows, Ticketmaster, has denied.Off the back of her chart-topping album Mayhem, Lady Gaga is heading to Australia for the first time in 11 years, with Live Nation bringing the Mayhem Ball to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in December. Ticketmaster, which is owned by Live Nation, is responsible for the ticket sales in Melbourne and Brisbane. Ticketek is separately handling the Sydney show, because of its affiliation with Sydney venue Accor Stadi...

Economics

1 week ago US removes sanctions from Antal Rogán, aide to Hungary’s Viktor Orbán

US secretary of state Marco Rubio also spoke with foreign minister about strengthening countries’ tiesThe United States has removed sanctions on a close aide of the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, the state department said, adding that the punitive measures had been “inconsistent with US foreign policy interests”.Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, spoke on Tuesday with his Hungarian counterpart, the foreign minister Péter Szijjártó, and informed him of the move, state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago LIVE: Major road closed outside retail park with huge emergency response at scene

Police, paramedics and fire crews are in attendance beside the Snipe Retail Park

Politics

2 w. ago France considers response after Algeria expels 12 embassy staff

Move by Algiers follows arrest of Algerian consular official in Paris over alleged involvement in kidnap of influencerFrance is considering its response after Algeria ordered the expulsion of 12 embassy staff over the arrest of an Algerian consulate official in Paris over alleged involvement in the kidnap of a TikTok influencer.Algiers has given the French representatives 48 hours to leave the country in a move that has stretched already strained relations between the two countries to breaking point. The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has warned that if the expulsions go ahead Paris would be forced to respond immediately. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump live updates: US stocks plunge day after historic surge in response to president’s 90

S&P 500 down five percent in midday trading, cutting into 9.5 percent surge that came on Wednesday after president paused many of his global tariffs

Politics

2 w. ago Trump live updates: US stocks plunge day after historic soar in response to president’s 90

S&P 500 down five percent in midday trading, cutting into 9.5 percent surge that came on Wednesday after president paused many of his global tariffs

Politics

2 w. ago Healey hosts ‘coalition of the willing’ as plans for Ukraine force continue

Defence ministers from 30 countries met in Brussels to discuss plans for a ‘reassurance force’ for Ukraine.

Politics

2 w. ago Euro strengthens as EU delays retaliatory tariffs against US by 90 days in response to Trump’s pause – business live

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Defense chiefs from around 30 countries expected at NATO for talks on a future Ukraine force

Britain and France are convening a meeting of defense ministers from around 30 countries to press ahead with plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to police any future peace agreement with Russia

Events

2 w. ago Ireland’s deputy PM to meet US secretary of commerce as EU finalises first part of response to Trump’s tariffs – Europe live

Simon Harris to meet Howard Lutnick as EU member states vote on final list of €21bn of goods facing retaliatory tariffsUS president Donald Trump continues to rewrite the rules of global trade, as his sweeping tariffs take effect.Rates on imports to the United States from dozens of economies rose further from 12.01am (0401 GMT) on Wednesday, with tariffs imposed on Chinese products since Trump returned to the White House reaching a staggering 104%. The new tariffs include rates of 20% on the European Union, 26% on India and 49% on Cambodia. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Tariffs driving India to strike trade deals, finance minister says ahead of UK talks

Nirmala Sitharam says turmoil forcing countries to seek accords beyond old ideological and political tiesIndia is seeking to strike more trade deals with other countries at a time of “global uncertainty”, its finance minister, Nirmala Sitharam, said before talks with the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves.Sitharam, who serves as finance and corporate affairs minister in Narendra Modi’s government, said she was hopeful the UK and India would finalise a free trade deal “sooner rather than later”. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Trump tariffs live: FTSE opens sharply down after Asian markets plummet over trade fears

US president calls sweeping tariffs ‘medicine’ as fears of global trade war lead investors to ramp up bets on risk of recession

Politics

3 w. ago Trump tariffs live: Asian markets plummet further with Hong Kong stocks down almost 10%

China's yuan slipps to its lowest value since January over Trump tariffs

Politics

3 w. ago Era of globalisation ‘at an end’, says UK minister, as countries mull tariff responses – live updates

Darren Jones says age of ‘fast-fashion or cheap TVs’ is over and people should be prepared for tougher times to come amid market turmoilStarmer orders economic reset amid Trump’s tariff mayhemDarren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, was also interviewed by Sky News’ Trevor Phillips this morning. He said the UK had been “treated differently to the European Union” as a result of Brexit. As a reminder, Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on UK goods but a 20% tariff on EU goods.Asked if the lower 10% tariff imposed by the US was a “Brexit dividend”, the chief secretary to the Treasury said:It is, there’s one. I’ve struggled to find one in the past but there is one we’ve ended up with.It’s good, but what we’re not going to do is pick or trade off the United States or the European Union.People should be prepared for things to be tougher in the global economy.Globalisation has “come to an end” in the wake of the new tariffs. Asked if the era of “cheap fast-fashion or cheap TVs” was over,...

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer to hold talks with other global leaders to discuss response to Trump tariffs, says No 10 – UK politics live

UK prime minister to speak to international leaders this weekend to ‘maintain stability and strengthen our partnerships abroad’Trump claims Starmer ‘very happy’ about tariffsDowning Street has refused to confirm President Trump’s claim that Keir Starmer was “very happy” about the treatment the UK is getting under the new US global tariff regime. (See 9.32am.) Asked about the president’s words at the morning lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson said that the government had already set out its position yesterday and that it was “disappointed” by the US tariff policy.Livia Tossici-Bolt has been sentenced at Poole magistrates’ court to a conditional discharge for two years for two charges of breaching a “buffer zone” outside an abortion clinic in Bournemouth, PA Media reports. See 11.22am. Continue reading...

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