8 h. ago JD Vance delivers special message from Trump to US troops based at UK RAF base

JD Vance delivered a message from Donald Trump to American troops stationed at a British navy base during his visit to the UK.

Politics

8 h. ago Merz’s manoeuvres on world stage fail to quell doubts about his leadership

The German chancellor’s high-wire statesmanship on Ukraine has done little to alleviate his domestic woesEurope live – latest updatesFriedrich Merz hosted the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Wednesday as a weakened leader 100 days into his term, with his attempts to rally western support for Kyiv and wrangle Donald Trump failing to silence his domestic critics.The German chancellor took the initiative for Wednesday’s lightning round of telephone conferences bringing in EU leaders, Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance. Zelenskyy’s surprise arrival in Berlin to sit in on the calls underlined Merz’s starring role in the diplomatic efforts. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago MIKEY SMITH: 10 unhinged Donald Trump moments as JD Vance faces fishing trip question

Donald Trump is moaning about the media again, JD Vance's holiday looks less like a holiday every day and there's more on Ghislaine Maxwell's prison status. Here's everything you need to know.

Politics

13 h. ago Trump praises European leaders as ‘great people’ as they make final diplomatic push ahead of US

Zelenskyy will join calls with Trump and Vance in last chance to shape US position before Alaska meetingUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warWe are now getting reports via agencies that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now arrived in Berlin ahead of the series of calls later today.Separately, Estonia has moved to expel a Russian diplomat over alleged “direct and active” involvement in “undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia.” Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin for calls with European leaders and Trump ahead of US

Ukrainian president will join calls with Trump and Vance in last chance to shape US position before Alaska meetingUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warWe are now getting reports via agencies that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now arrived in Berlin ahead of the series of calls later today.Separately, Estonia has moved to expel a Russian diplomat over alleged “direct and active” involvement in “undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia.” Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Leaders in frantic phone diplomacy with Trump ahead of Putin summit on Ukraine – Europe live

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join calls with Trump and Vance in last chance to shape US position before Alaska meetingUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warAs part of what promises to be a very busy day for diplomacy, we are also expecting to get press statements from Merz and Zelenskyy around 3pm BST (4pm CEST), after their call with Trump.So to help you plan your day, the rough timings appear to be: Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago ‘It felt like a scene from The Handmaid’s Tale’: US comics on the dangers of political satire

As Jena Friedman, Michelle Wolf and Sam Jay perform at the fringe, they discuss the threats to freedom of speech in the era of Donald Trump In April, comedian Jena Friedman had a strange encounter in Vancouver airport. She had just performed a Ted talk about the future of comedy and was heading home to the US, when someone she thought worked for airport security quizzed her about her visit.Thinking he was probing for visa infringements, “I just said I was doing comedy. Then he asked: ‘What do you joke about?’ Stupidly, I lightly flirted with him, and was like: ‘Everything other than airport security!’ He didn’t react at all. Then I realised he was US border control. He asked again: ‘What do you joke about?’” Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago Golf for them, grind for us: Trump, Vance and the hellish US holiday divide | Arwa Mahdawi

While American workers battle burnout and ‘infinite workdays’, the men at the top are living the endless vacation dreamYou know what the problem is with the US? Nobody wants to work any more. People feel entitled to cushy jobs with fat salaries and unlimited holiday time. And by “people” I mean American politicians, who seem to treat public office as an excuse for endless vacations. Because the president and vice-president are technically always on duty, there’s no official holiday policy – and it rather feels as if they are taking advantage of this.Take the vice-president, JD “OOO (out of office)” Vance. When he’s not inspiring memes or threatening to deport menswear influencers, he always seems to be off on a jolly. So far this year, the man has been skiing in Vermont, shut down bits of Disneyland for his family’s use and apparently raised the water level of a river in Ohio for a kayaking trip. Now, the Vances are summering in the Cotswolds. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Keir Starmer to speak with Donald Trump after US President warns Ukraine must do a 'land swap' with Russia's Vladimir Putin... but he'll try to recover 'oceanfront property'

The Prime Minister is set to join other European leaders for a videoconference with Mr Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance on Wednesday.

Politics

62 h. ago JD Vance wants Elon Musk back in White House but jokes Tesla boss ‘won’t take his calls’

JD Vance has revealed he wants Elon Musk to return to the White House but joked the SpaceX CEO “won’t take his calls”.

Events

65 h. ago JD Vance unwittingly sparks new wave of calls to release the Epstein files in Fox interview

VP’s attempt to shift narrative away from disgraced financier only succeeds in attracting further attention

Politics

3 d. ago JD Vance’s attempt to link Democrats to Epstein renews calls to ‘release the files’

Vice-president tries to deflect criticism and blames Biden for doing ‘absolutely nothing’ about convicted sex offenderFour days after JD Vance reportedly asked top Trump administration officials to come up with a new communications strategy for dealing with the scandal around the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, he appears to have put his foot in it, sparking a new round of online outrage even as he tried to defuse the furor.In an interview with Fox News broadcast on Sunday, the vice-president tried to deflect criticism of the administration’s refusal to release the Epstein files by blaming Democrats. He accused Joe Biden of doing “absolutely nothing” about the scandal when he was in the White House. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Vance says US is ‘done with funding Ukraine war’ ahead of Trump

American vice president also vows Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky will be ‘forced’ to meet by Donald Trump

Politics

3 d. ago JD Vance says Zelensky meeting Putin would not be 'productive'

U.S. Vice President JD Vance previewed the anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska this week.

Politics

4 d. ago Starmer vows ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine after defiant Zelensky rules out giving up land to Russia

Labour foreign secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance will host meeting of national security advisers on Saturday, as Trump prepares to meet Putin next week

Politics

4 d. ago Lammy and Vance host national security advisers ahead of Trump

The US president announced that he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the Ukraine war.

Politics

5 d. ago JD Vance: Hundreds of police officers to be deployed for US Vice President visit to Scotland next week

JD Vance’s visit comes just a fortnight after Donald Trump travelled to his golf courses in Scotland.

Events

5 d. ago JD Vance and David Lammy enjoy chummy fishing trip as Trump's VP starts UK holiday

Gone Fishin! Donald Trump's Vice President JD Vance has been snapped enjoying a day of angling with Foreign Secretary David Lammy

Politics

6 d. ago South Park doubles down on Donald Trump attack by viciously mocking JD Vance

South Park has been hitting out at US President Donald Trump in the latest series of their hit programme. JD Vance was also mocked in the episode titled Got A Nut

Politics

6 d. ago Democrats respond to FBI agreement to locate Texas lawmakers: ‘We will not be intimidated’ – live updates

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries accuses Trump administration of attempting to ‘weaponize law enforcement to target political adversaries’Vance urges Republicans in Indiana to redraw map to help tighten House gripDonald Trump on Wednesday celebrated a commitment by Apple to increase its investments in US manufacturing by an additional $100bn over the next four years.Apple’s plan to up its domestic investment comes as it seeks to avoid Trump’s threatened tariffs, which would increase the tech giant’s costs as it relies on a complex international supply chain to produce its iPhones. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, warned during an earnings call in May that the tariffs could cost the company up to $900m that fiscal quarter alone. Continue reading...

Society