51 h. ago ‘There is no ceasefire. Attacks are ongoing’: how Putin’s envoy played US over Ukraine

White House welcome for key member of Russian president’s inner circle raises fears over America’s commitment to peaceKirill Dmitriev’s meetings with US officials in the White House last week went largely below the radar. And deliberately so.The dapper investment envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who also serves as a key negotiator for Moscow on Ukraine, posted an image of his flight plan on social media to make the point that a senior sanctioned Russian official was being welcomed by the Trump administration. Otherwise, details of what was discussed remain opaque. Continue reading...

Events

64 h. ago Healey to convene next ‘coalition of the willing’ meeting next week

John Healey will host defence ministers in Brussels alongside his French counterpart.

Politics

67 h. ago Denise Van Outen reveals she would struggle to date if it weren’t for one thing

‘I can’t just go out on a week night to a pub to meet someone,’ presenter said

Politics

3 d. ago Hegseth is to travel to Panama for meetings following Trump's demands for the canal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to meet its leaders following recent U.S. allegations of Chinese interference in the operations of the critical Panama Canal shipping lane

Politics

4 d. ago I don’t want to interfere in trade talks by meeting US officials, says Swinney

The First Minister has defended his decision not to meet the US Government during his trip to New York this week.

Politics

5 d. ago UK's creepiest house has price slashed as buyers creeped out by two chilling words

Each room of the property is dark, dilapidated and covered in filth - but its due to be auctioned for a second time after with a slashed price failing to meet its reserve last week

Economics

7 d. ago Trumpism is sinking democratic values. It’s Starmer’s job to steer the UK back to safety | Polly Toynbee

US tariffs hit this week just as other costs start to bite in Britain. To meet these challenges, Labour will finally have to changeThe prime minister may pretend to “like and respect” Donald Trump, but elsewhere in parliament anti-Americanism is running hot. In a Lords debate on obesity last week, Labour’s Lord Brooke suggested imposing 25% tariffs on “American products which are causing us difficulties – Coca-Cola, Pepsi, KFC, McDonald’s”. The government replied that the US is an “indispensable ally”. That craven attitude may be politic today – right until it fails tomorrow.The outlook for Britain and other countries is bleak. Wednesday is “liberation day”, when Trump’s tariffs will hit a range of goods likely to send global economies tumbling. There is near-zero expectation that Britain’s genuflections will save us from the same punishment as the rest. As for Trump demanding no VAT on US imports to the UK, that’s extorting with menaces a benefit denied to our own producers. Even i...

Politics

2 w. ago Ayrshire roads campaigners hold 'constructive' meeting with Transport Secretary

Campaigners for both the A77 and A75 trunk roads say they held a "constructive and satisfactory" meeting with the Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop last week.

Society

2 w. ago How AfD’s Alice Weidel went from German pariah to top opposition figure

When the newly elected Bundestag meets for the first time this week, far-right Weidel, who lives in Switzerland with her Sri Lankan-born wife, will lead its largest opposition partyAlles für Deutschland, (“everything for Germany”) was once a Hitler-era rallying cry. It was more recently adopted by Björn Höcke, a high-ranking member of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland at party rallies, for which he was prosecuted.Then in August last year the slogan popped up at events attended by Alice Weidel, the party’s co-leader, but in a subtly modified form – Alice für Deutschland. The party printed blue cardboard hearts bearing the slogan and distributed them to members, who held them up at rallies to show their approval. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Bold but significant risk’: Fifa pulling out all the stops to sell Club World Cup

With ticket sales slow and concerns over burnout, football’s governing body is battling to win hearts and mindsThis week president Donald Trump convened a prayer meeting in the Oval Office. Gathered around the Resolute desk, constructed from the timbers of a British naval vessel, a series of pastors laid their hands on the president’s thinning hair and prayed for his success. The only other item on the desk? The enormous intricate bauble that will serve as the trophy for Fifa’s Club World Cup.That Trump should like the look of an object lacquered in 24-carat gold plating, and designed by the New York jewellers Tiffany & Co, is not perhaps a huge surprise. But its prominent position on the world’s most consequential desktop will surely also have been welcomed by the president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, who left the trophy with Trump this month on his visit to the White House, a week after Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago 'Stagflation' risk puts Federal Reserve in tricky spot as it meets this week

The Federal Reserve and its chair, Jerome Powell, are potentially headed to a tough spot as it prepares to meet Tuesday and Wednesday

Events

3 w. ago Trump to speak to Putin as Ukraine peacekeeping plans progress

Military chiefs will meet in London later in the week to discuss plans for a Western peacekeeping operation in Ukraine.

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s right, Putin can take the hard or easy way on Ukraine. He has to prove he wants peace | David Lammy

The G7 meeting in Canada was a vital show of unity that put the ball firmly in Russia’s court. There’s not a shred of ambiguity about thatIn diplomacy, focus is often on where we disagree. But Britain and our partners are stronger when we stand together. Last week’s G7 meeting made that clear.We arrived in Canada with real momentum. Our Ukrainian and American friends deserve a lot of credit for the breakthrough at Jeddah – with British diplomacy, from the prime minister down, making a big difference behind the scenes. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The week in audio: Where Politics Meets History; Down the Caff; Archive on 4: No Blacks No Irish – review

LBC’s Iain Dale and historian Tessa Dunlop tackle Very Important Topics. Plus, deliciously chaotic fun at a much-loved East End cafe, and a vital but uncomfortable retelling of recent racism in BritainWhere Politics Meets History LBCDown the Caff Down the CaffArchive on 4: No Blacks No Irish Radio 4/BBC SoundsI try, honest, but all these history podcasts just don’t do it for me. Also, while I’m in the confessional podcast booth, nor do many political ones either. The audio charts are full of both, but – sorry, clever bro-chatters! – they leave me cold. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine ceasefire plans moving to operational phase, Starmer says

UK prime minister accuses Putin of trying to delay peace and calls for ‘guns to fall silent’Keir Starmer has called for the “guns to fall silent in Ukraine” and said military powers will meet next week as plans to secure a peace deal move to an “operational phase”.The UK prime minister said Vladimir Putin’s “yes, but” approach to a proposed ceasefire was not good enough, and the Russian president would have to negotiate “sooner or later”. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Starmer announces 'coalition of the willing' militaries to meet next week over Ukraine peace plans

Starmer said the ‘world is watching’ Russia’s next moves closely.

Events

4 w. ago Taoiseach must tread carefully amid tensions before Trump meeting

Defence, the Palestinians and Irish-American trade will all be on the agenda as Micheál Martin heads to WashingtonSt Patrick’s Day has long been one of the sacred moments of the Irish-American calendar with more than 200 years of parades in New York and a shamrock reception at the White House launched by Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 to cement political ties between the two nations.But this year’s annual meeting between the taoiseach and the US president, a week early because of a congressional recess on 17 March, is laden with anxiety over the future of Ireland’s economy, which is heavily reliant on US multinationals Donald Trump wants to repatriate. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Luis Enrique makes honest admission ahead of crunch Liverpool vs PSG clash

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique says he has been thinking about this week's do-or-die meeting with Liverpool in the Champions League despite the team's Ligue 1 obligations

Events

4 w. ago Keir Starmer to lead fresh talks with 'coalition of the willing' allies on shoring up Ukraine's defence in frantic week of global meetings

The Prime Minister will host a virtual meeting with around 20 largely European and Commonwealth countries to end another week of frantic diplomatic activity.

Politics

last month Trump administration briefing: US backs Russia ahead of G7, Republican spending bill boosts defense

US has reportedly rejected Canadian proposal to tackle Russian ‘shadow fleet’, Republican bill trims everything aside from defense – key US politics stories from Saturday at a glanceThe US has reportedly rejected a Canadian proposal to establish a task force that would tackle Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and pushed to soften language on Moscow ahead of a G7 foreign ministers meeting this week.In negotiations to agree a joint statement on maritime issues, the US is pushing to strengthen language about China while watering down wording on Russia, the reports said. Continue reading...

Politics