44 h. ago Federal judge hints at early release of MLK Jr assassination files following Trump’s order

The official narrative surrounding the killing of the civil rights icon has long been disputed by his family, inspiring decades of conspiracy theories speculating about what really happened on April 4, 1968

Politics

55 h. ago Why is defence such a hard sell? The same reason Starmer is struggling in the polls | Martin Kettle

Decades of failures have left liberal democratic governments unable to command public confidence when it really mattersDefence reviews and foreign policy resets seem to turn up almost as often as the Sussexes’ lifestyle brand relaunches these days. Labour’s strategic defence review this week comes less than two years after the Conservatives’ hardly less detailed defence white paper in July 2023, which in turn was a “refresh” of Boris Johnson’s ambitious integrated review of defence and foreign policy of March 2021. By this measure, it must be doubtful if, come the 2030s, analysts will look back on Keir Starmer and John Healey’s review and say it broke the mould.The Labour government was entitled to try to put its own stamp on defence policy, of course, and its review team of George Robertson, Richard Barrons and Fiona Hill did a good, reasonably independent job. Yet this 2020s pattern of repeated strategic adaptation and refocus feels like the new normal now. It is also true that gr...

Politics

3 d. ago How the use of a word in the Guardian has gotten some readers upset | Elisabeth Ribbans

‘Got’ was changed during the editing of an opinion piece, leading to correspondence lamenting a slide into American English. But language isn’t a fortressIn Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part II, a messenger breathlessly announces to the king that, “Jack Cade hath gotten London bridge”. Hold this late 16th-century text in mind as we fast forward to last week when Martin Kettle, associate editor and columnist at the Guardian in the UK, was seen to suggest in an opinion piece that, if King Charles has pushed the boundaries of neutrality, such as with his speech to open the new Canadian parliament, he has so far “gotten away with it”.In a letter published the next day, a reader asked teasingly if this use of “gotten” – and another writer’s reference to a “faucet” – were signs the Guardian had fallen into line with Donald Trump’s demand that news agencies adopt current US terminology, such as referring to the “Gulf of America”.Elisabeth Ribbans is the Guardian’s global readers’ editorguardian...

Politics

5 d. ago JENNIE BOND: Prince Harry's fallen short with unexpected move

Prince Harry raised eyebrows when he appeared in China to address a travel conference in Shanghai, just as King Charles began his historic visit to Canada - and Jennie Bond believes the irony of Harry's trip was 'hard to ignore'

Politics

6 d. ago Turnstile’s Brendan Yates on how his band reimagined hardcore punk by following their intuition

In 2021, the breakout album ‘Glow On’ transformed Turnstile from underground cult heroes into one of rock’s most exciting bands. Hannah Ewens talks to the band’s frontman about pushing the boundaries of genre, their forthcoming visual album, ‘Never Enough’, and the endorsement that could help define their summer

Politics

7 d. ago Adorable moment King's Guard horse leans into the frame as a blind tourist poses for photo

A visually impaired tourist, thought to be from the US, travelled to Horse Guards Parade in central London where he politely asked the King's Guard and his horse whether he could take a picture with them.

Culture

7 d. ago New F1 wing rules are talk of pit lane in Spain but McLaren still out in front

Rules intended to close gap between the best driversMcLaren’s Oscar Piastri leading after second practiceAll the talk in Spain this week has been about the potential impact of the FIA’s clampdown on the flexing of front wings and the governing body’s hope this might close up the pecking order on the grid. Certainly those chasing the dominant McLaren were optimistic that might be the case.The technical regulation was imposed as teams look to push the boundaries of the rules, with a flex in the wing under load affording the maximum downforce in corners. In order to maintain a level playing field, the wings must now pass a deflection test measuring the leeway of their flex. This has been reduced from 15mm to 10mm. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago King Charles's secret trick for avoiding jet lag on whirlwind Canada visit

When King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Canada, the King did something one royal expert said was 'highly unusual' but made perfect sense when you consider the couple's ages

Politics

8 d. ago King Charles’s visit brings frustration for First Nations amid ‘backslide in reconciliation’

Spectacle of royal visit evoked a model of national identity at odds with efforts to confront Canada’s own violent history of colonizationKing Charles’s speech to Canada’s parliament this week was framed as a subtle rebuke to Donald Trump’s threats of annexation and an assertion of the country’s sovereignty.But for many Indigenous people, the elaborate spectacle of the royal visit – with its protocol, regalia, thrones and mounties in pith helmets – evoked a model of national identity at odds with ongoing efforts to confront Canada’s own violent history of colonization and dispossession. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Charles has pushed the boundaries of politics as king – and got away with it | Martin Kettle

Right now, the monarch’s political leanings appear in sympathy with the mood of Britain. But what if the public moves further to the right?It requires an effort to keep reminding yourself of the sheer historical oddity of monarchy’s healthy survival into the modern democratic age. Yet so rooted is the monarchy in the mental furniture of Britain that most people in our politics barely think about it. This week, however, the modern British monarchy has stood up and demanded to be counted, doing something new and perhaps genuinely consequential.Judged by any yardstick, Charles III’s visit to Canada was an audaciously disjunctive event. The idea that a vibrant democracy such as Canada, with a highly sophisticated sense of its own complex identity, might summon an elderly hereditary monarch from across the ocean to provide a focal point for its resistance to Donald Trump’s existential threat takes some believing. Yet that was exactly what played out this week, when the king travelled to ...

Politics

9 d. ago In Canada, Charles pushed the boundaries of politics as king. So far, he has gotten away with it | Martin Kettle

Right now, the monarch’s political leanings appear in sympathy with the mood of Britain. But what if the public moves further to the right?It requires an effort to keep reminding yourself of the sheer historical oddity of monarchy’s healthy survival into the modern democratic age. Yet so rooted is the monarchy in the mental furniture of Britain that most people in our politics barely think about it. This week, however, the modern British monarchy has stood up and demanded to be counted, doing something new and perhaps genuinely consequential.Judged by any yardstick, Charles III’s visit to Canada was an audaciously disjunctive event. The idea that a vibrant democracy such as Canada, with a highly sophisticated sense of its own complex identity, might summon an elderly hereditary monarch from across the ocean to provide a focal point for its resistance to Donald Trump’s existential threat takes some believing. Yet that was exactly what played out this week, when the king travelled to ...

Politics

9 d. ago King Charles cancer update as Canada visit brings defiant response to Donald Trump's warning

Charles announced that Canada is "strong and free" amidst an escalation of threats from US President Donald Trump that its North American neighbour should become the 51st state of the US.

Events

9 d. ago King Charles deliberately made pointed speech about the sovereignty of Canada, but did not want to 'call out' President Trump, aides reveal

King Charles ' pointed speech to President Trump regarding the sovereignty of Canada was 'thought-provoking, but not provocative', sources have insisted.

Politics

9 d. ago ‘No difference’ in the King despite cancer diagnosis, says senior royal aide

The Carolean reign is underpinned by Charles’ core commitments called the four Cs – climate, community, culture and Commonwealth.

Science

9 d. ago King Charles' telling move on Canada trip that 'won't have gone unnoticed by Trump'

King Charles was widely seen as delivering a warning shot to US president Donald Trump after his verbal attacks on Canada by delivering a speech at the start of new session of the Canadian Parliament - and royal expert Jennie Bond believes one move by the King made the impact of the message to Trump even greater

Politics

1 week ago King Charles and Canada just reminded Trump a 51st state is off the table

ANALYSIS: King Charles’s visit was a message to Trump, but it was so laced in royal ceremony, subtlety, and formal language that it might just escape provoking another trade war, writes Richard Hall.

Politics

1 week ago Queen Camilla's stunning pearl necklace steals the spotlight

During her two-day tour of Canada with King Charles, Queen Camilla turned to one of her signature pieces: a striking four-strand pearl necklace.

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump doubles down on calls for Canada to be made 51st US state in apparent rebuke after King Charles' declaration that country will remain 'strong and free'

The comments appears to run contrary to claims from the U.S. ambassador to Canada, who said last week that the annexation saga was 'over'.

Politics

1 week ago All the times King Charles has been political following tense Trump remark

King Charles III's recent speech given while opening the Canadian parliament has caused something of a stir amid ongoing tensions with US President Trump, who has repeatedly called to incorporate the nation as the '51st state'

Politics

1 week ago King Charles sends vital message to Trump in his 'Speech from the Throne' at Canada's opening of parliament, writes REBECCA ENGLISH

In a 'Speech from the Throne' (made of wood from a Windsor oak, no less) King Charles, 76, spoke of his 'deep pride and pleasure' at witnessing 'Canadians coming together'.

Politics