27 h. ago ‘I wanted to go on my own terms’: former Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Farage, Trump 2.0 and his decision to stand down

He was the young, gay, mixed-race leader labelled a ‘badass’ by Matt Damon who unexpectedly quit. He talks about the ‘likability’ of rightwing populists – and his fears for the future of politicsLeo Varadkar suggests we do the ­interview at his house in Dublin. It’s unusual for ­politicians to invite you into their home, but Ireland is famous for its hospitality. The house looks impressively humble – a tiny, ­unprepossessing terrace. A woman answers. “Hi,” I say. “Does the taoiseach live here? “No,” she says.I start to panic. Our interview is due to start in two minutes. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Tom Curry to miss start of Prem Rugby season after wrist surgery

The Sale flanker had an operation on a long-term ligament problem after the British and Irish Lions tour

Politics

3 d. ago O’Neill ‘comfortable’ about decision not to attend Trump banquet at Windsor

The First Minister made the comment when she appeared before her scrutiny committee.

Politics

3 d. ago Kamala Harris blames Democrats’ ‘recklessness’ for sticking with Biden

Former president’s ‘ego’ behind decision to stay in race against Trump in US election, ex-contender says in book extract

Politics

6 d. ago The USTA’s censorship of Trump dissent at the US Open is cowardly, hypocritical and un

By asking broadcasters not to show any protest against Donald Trump at Sunday’s final, the governing body has caved to fear while contradicting its own history of spectacleWhen the dust finally settles in the days after Sunday’s eagerly awaited US Open men’s final, the United States Tennis Association will issue its annual victory-lap press release. It will tout another record-setting Open: more than a million fans through the gates, unprecedented social-media engagement, double-digit growth in food and beverage sales, and hundreds of celebrities packed into suites from Rolex to Ralph Lauren. It will beam about growing the game, championing diversity and turning Flushing Meadows into a pop-culture destination.But for all the milestones the USTA is preparing to celebrate, this year’s tournament will be remembered for a different kind of first: the governing body’s lamentable decision to ask broadcasters not to show dissent against Donald Trump. In making that pre-emptive concession, ...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump news live: President rebrands Pentagon to ‘Department of War’ as Hegseth promises ‘maximum lethality’

Trump called 1947 decision to use Department of Defense name, taken during Harry Truman’s presidency, ‘woke’

Politics

9 d. ago ‘They don’t have our backs’: Judges slam Supreme Court’s scant rulings in Trump cases as president asks for another appeal

With its conservative majority, the Supreme Court has frequently overturned lower courts’ decisions in Trump’s favor — but offered only brief explanations to support those rulings

Politics

1 week ago US House committee releases more than 33,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein files

Files appear to contain information already in public domain as calls grow for release of all pertinent documents The US House of Representatives oversight committee on Tuesday released thousands of pages of records related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from the department of justice.The release comes as the Trump administration has been embroiled in months of controversy over its decision not to release additional files in the case. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges and was alleged to have abused hundreds of girls. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump announces Space Command HQ will switch to Alabama from Colorado

President says national security operations in space will be based in state he won comfortably, reversing Biden decisionDonald Trump made his first public appearance in a week on Tuesday to announce that the US Space Command (Spacecom) headquarters, which is tasked with leading national security operations in space, would be in the Republican stronghold of Alabama.Flanked by Republican senators and members of Congress at a White House news conference, Trump said Huntsville, Alabama, would be the new location of the space command. The move reverses a Biden administration decision to put the facility at its current temporary headquarters in Democratic-leaning Colorado. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Putin claims he's reached 'understandings' with Trump over Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken of his 'understandings' with Donald Trump over the war in Ukraine as the world awaited his decision on talks with Volodymyr Zelensky

Politics

2 w. ago Appeals court finds Trump's sweeping tariffs unconstitutional but leaves them in place for now

The decision complicates Trump´s ambitions to upend decades of American trade policy completely on his own.

Politics

2 w. ago Rights of asylum seekers trump local Epping residents, Home Office argues as it appeals decision to shut migrant hotel

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper 's bid to appeal against a court ruling blocking asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping began at the Court of Appeal this morning.

Society

2 w. ago Trump signs order to criminally charge those who burn US flag in protest

US president attempts to circumvent 1989 supreme court decision which said flag burning is protected speechDonald Trump signed an executive order on Monday instructing federal prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against individuals who burn American flags during protests.The order tells the US attorney general, Pam Bondi, to look at cases where people burned flags and see if they can be charged with other crimes like disturbing the peace or breaking environmental laws. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago British businesses left reeling after Trump quietly brings in tariffs on hundreds of goods

Some of the UK's biggest firms will be affected as products including condensed milk, shampoo and motorcycles are set to be hit by the Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs.

Politics

3 w. ago FACT FOCUS: Posts overestimate number of noncitizens living in US by tens of millions

The Trump administration's decision to review the visas of more than 55 million people is leading to false reports on social media for the number of noncitizens living in the U.S., with claims as high as 70 million to 100 million people

Politics

3 w. ago Hegseth fires general whose agency's intel assessment of damage from Iran strikes angered Trump

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a general whose agency’s initial intelligence assessment of damage to Iran nuclear sites from U.S. strikes angered President Donald Trump, according to two people familiar with the decision

Events

3 w. ago MAGA political guru bashes Trump for Ukraine peace talks while ignoring war 'right here in this country'

One of President Donald Trump's fiercest supporters has slammed his decision to host peace talks with Ukraine rather than focus on crises closer to home.

Politics

4 w. ago Trump's mystery woman takes center stage charming Putin at Alaska summit

She may not be as famous as Trump or have as much sway in decision-making as some of his cabinet members, but the Chief of Protocol plays a vital role in all of the President's major US-hosted events.

Politics

4 w. ago Secret Service and US military engineers face scrutiny over raising river water level for Vance’s birthday

Senator Adam Schiff suggests in letter that use of funds to alter outflow of lake for personal use may have been inappropriateUS politics live – latest updatesThe US Secret Service and US military engineers are facing scrutiny after Adam Schiff, the California senator, demanded they answer questions about the Trump administration’s recent decision to change the water level of a lake in Ohio to facilitate a family boating trip for JD Vance on his birthday.The Secret Service has said that it requested the outflow of the Caesar Creek Lake in Ohio be changed shortly before the vice-president’s 2 August trip so that his security detail could safely navigate the Little Miami River, which the lake feeds into. The story was first reported by the Guardian last week. Continue reading...

Events

last month Terry Cole, chosen to take over DC's police force, has spent 22 years at DEA

Attorney General Pam Bondi has named the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration to be Washington’s “emergency police commissioner” as she carries out President Donald Trump’s unprecedented decision to take over the Washington police department

Events