3 h. ago US airstrike on ‘drug boat’ kills six as aircraft carrier sent to South America

Pete Hegseth claims six ‘narco-terrorists’ killed in Caribbean as US military conducts 10th strike US politics live – latest updatesThe United States has carried out another military strike against a boat it claims was carrying illegal drugs in the Caribbean, killing six people onboard, the Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, said on Friday morning.Later on Friday, the Pentagon said that an aircraft carrier was being moved to waters off South America, as part of the administration’s stated campaign to combat drug trafficking. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Schumer says Democrats will force vote to overturn Canada tariffs as Carney says nation ‘stands ready’ to continue US trade talks – live

Democratic leader calls Canada tariffs ‘damaging’ and vows effort to overturn them; Canadian prime minister says he wants to see progress on trade negotiationsUS and Canada spar over anti-Trump tariff ad that suspended trade talksThe US secretary of state has confirmed Donald Trump’s announcement that all trade negotiations with Canada have been suspended.Marco Rubio spoke during a visit to a civil-military coordination centre in southern Israel. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Pentagon chief announces another US military strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean

Pete Hegseth claimed that six ‘narco-terrorists’ onboard craft were killed in night strike in international watersUS politics live – latest updatesThe United States has carried out another military strike against what it claimed was a vessel carrying illegal drugs in the Caribbean, killing six people onboard, the Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, said.In a social media post on Friday morning, Hegseth stated: “The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics.” Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago Pentagon chief announces another US strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean

Pete Hegseth claimed that six ‘narco-terrorists’ onboard craft were killed in night strike in international watersUS politics live – latest updatesThe United States has carried out another military strike against what it claimed was a vessel carrying illegal drugs in the Caribbean, killing six people onboard, the Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, said.In a social media post on Friday morning, Hegseth stated: “The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics.” Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Caerphilly byelection a triumph of positivity over division, says Plaid Cymru leader

Rhun ap Iorwerth says party’s win was more than just rejection of immigration-obsessed Reform or rudderless LabourUK politics live – latest updatesPlaid Cymru can offer a positive vision for Wales for voters who want to reject the divisiveness of Reform UK, the party’s leader has said after a triumphant Welsh parliamentary byelection.Rhun ap Iorwerth said the 47% win for his party in the Caerphilly byelection was a rejection of Reform and its focus on immigration, which, while important, did not overshadow more pressing issues, such as healthcare and housing. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Caerphilly byelection result live: Plaid Cyrmu beats challenge from Reform UK to win pivotal Welsh parliament vote

Outcome of byelection in historically Labour stronghold could mark historic shift in Welsh politicsReform UK candidate Llŷr Powell denied the campaign had been all about immigration.He said: “My campaign has been about government policies and where best to put money into Caerphilly.”When you look at where we started, we had a blank slate. We had to go out there and find a lot of voters. We found a lot of support. It’s been a great campaign. The collapse of the Labour vote is there for everyone to see. It’s been a betrayal what Labour has done around here.Going into next year we’re in a really good place. A big part of what we were trying to do here is to master our campaigning. We’ve trained so many people up on our systems. We’re now a grassroots campaigning party. Continue reading...

Politics

21 h. ago Caerphilly byelection result live: Labour, Plaid Cyrmu and Reform UK braced for results of pivotal Welsh parliament vote

Outcome of byelection in historically Labour stronghold could mark historic shift in Welsh politicsLabour has long held the Caerphilly Senedd and Westminster constituencies but, unless opinion polling is wide of the mark, the party is likely to be beaten into third this week with either Plaid or Reform UK seizing the Welsh parliament seat.As Steven Morris has reported, Plaid appears to be picking up Labour votes disenchanted with the party’s performance both in Cardiff and Westminster while Reform hoovers up traditional Conservative voters and those impressed by its promises to end what it calls the other two parties’ “mass immigration agenda”. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Trump reveals the friends who convinced him to call off surging troops into San Francisco: Live updates

California Governor Gavin Newsom had threatened to sue the Trump administration if the president deployed the National Guard to the state

Politics

26 h. ago US Senate fails to pass bill to pay federal essential workers and troops through shutdown

Shutdown Fairness Act, introduced by Ron Johnson, a Republican senator of Wisconsin, failed in a 54-45 voteUS politics live – latest updatesThe Senate failed on Thursday to pass legislation that would keep federal workers deemed essential and troops paid throughout the ongoing government shutdown – now in its 23rd day.With a 54-45 vote, the upper chamber failed to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to advance the Shutdown Fairness Act, introduced by Ron Johnson, a Republican senator of Wisconsin. Continue reading...

Economics

27 h. ago Trump won’t send federal troops to San Francisco after ‘friends in the area’ asked him not to: Live updates

California Governor Gavin Newsom had threatened to sue the Trump administration if the president deployed the National Guard to the state

Politics

29 h. ago Trump news live: White House releases list of who’s paying for $300M ballroom as poll reveals Americans deep unhappiness with demolition

The White House’s gold-plated addition is now estimated to cost a whopping $300 million

Economics

30 h. ago Trump news live: California braces for federal troops as president holds meeting to discuss cartel targeting operations

Federal troops have started to arrive in the Bay Area - against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom

Politics

33 h. ago Frontrunner suffers blow in race to be UK ambassador to US over criticisms of Trump

Exclusive: Whitehall officials raise fears about Mark Sedwill’s newspaper article warning of president’s ‘blundering’ behaviourUK politics live – latest updatesMark Sedwill’s prospects of becoming the UK’s ambassador in Washington have taken a blow after officials raised concerns about an article he wrote in 2021 praising Joe Biden and criticising Donald Trump.The former cabinet secretary and national security adviser has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Peter Mandelson in Washington. But some in government are worried about an article he wrote four years ago in which he made several criticisms of Trump after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Biden. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago US sanctions major Russian oil companies and calls for Moscow to accept immediate Ukraine ceasefire – live

Trump says he canceled meeting with Putin because ‘we have good conversations but then they don’t go anywhere’US imposes sanctions on Russian oil over Putin’s ‘refusal’ to end war in UkraineMike Johnson said that he hasn’t spoken with the president about a New York Times report that he is seeking $230m from his own justice department in damages over past federal investigations.“I know that he believes he’s owed that reimbursement. What I heard yesterday was, if he receives it, he was going to consider giving it to charity,” he said. Continue reading...

Events

50 h. ago Trump administration considering curbs on exports to China made with US software

Plan would include everything from laptops to jet engines, to retaliate against Beijing’s latest round of rare earth export restrictionsUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration is considering a plan to curb a dizzying array of software-powered exports to China, from laptops to jet engines, to retaliate against Beijing’s latest round of rare earth export restrictions, according to a US official and three people briefed by US authorities.While the plan is not the only option on the table, it would make good on Donald Trump’s threat earlier this month to bar “critical software” exports to China by restricting global shipments of items that contain US software or were produced using US software. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago White House hasn’t filed plans for Trump’s new ballroom despite demolition under way

Amid backlash over footage of East Wing being partly demolished, White House reportedly intends to send plans for new constructionUS politics live – latest updatesThe White House has not submitted plans for Donald Trump’s new ballroom to the federal agency that oversees construction of federal buildings, though demolition is already underway.On Tuesday, the White House told Reuters it intends to send plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, an agency that typically approves and monitors construction on federal buildings. Demolition began earlier this week, with reporters taking video of a backhoe ripping out chunks of the White House’s exterior. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago No plans filed for Trump’s new ballroom despite demolition being under way

Amid backlash over partial demolition of East Wing, White House reportedly intends to send blueprintsUS politics live – latest updatesThe White House has not submitted plans for Donald Trump’s new ballroom to the federal agency that oversees construction of federal buildings, though demolition is already under way.On Tuesday, the White House told Reuters it intended to send plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, an agency that typically approves and monitors construction on federal buildings. Demolition began earlier this week, with reporters taking video of a backhoe ripping out chunks of the White House’s exterior. Continue reading...

Politics

53 h. ago Trump news live: Newsom deploys state National Guard to help food banks during government shutdown

Nearly 42 million Americans rely on the food assistance program

Politics

54 h. ago House speaker responds to Trump’s reported demand for $230m payment from justice department – US politics live

Mike Johnson said that he hasn’t spoken with the president about a New York Times report that he is seeking millions in damages over past federal investigationsTrump says he would have final say on damage payment for past investigationsMike Johnson said that he hasn’t spoken with the president about a New York Times report that he is seeking $230m from his own justice department in damages over past federal investigations.“I know that he believes he’s owed that reimbursement. What I heard yesterday was, if he receives it, he was going to consider giving it to charity,” he said. Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago UK grooming gangs inquiry suffers fresh setback as another potential chair pulls out

Jim Gamble, a former police chief and frontrunner for the role, withdraws amid growing discontent among survivorsUK politics live – latest updatesA frontrunner to chair the national grooming gangs inquiry has withdrawn amid growing discontent from survivors over the government’s handling of the process.Jim Gamble, a former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, is the second candidate to step down over the last two days, government sources have confirmed. Continue reading...

Events