81 m. ago The UK’s £31bn tech deal with the US might sound great – but the government has to answer these questions | Matt Davies

The big firms making these pledges are not charities. We know there will be a quid pro quo; we just don’t know what it is yetPeter Kyle, until two weeks ago the technology secretary, once warned that tech companies such as Meta, Google and Microsoft were so powerful that the UK needed to approach them with “a sense of statecraft” and “humility”, and treat negotiations with them similarly to diplomacy between nations. That vision endures in the form of the UK-US tech prosperity agreement struck this week. While officially a new bilateral partnership, this seems to be a deal aimed at facilitating investment from US technology companies rather than advancing collaboration on goals such as AI safety, copyright protections for British rights holders or a digital services tax.The rationale is clear: US firms stand alone atop the global AI value chain, making the country an obvious partner for a UK government seeking to “turbocharge” its AI sector. Against a challenging economic backdrop, ...

Economics

92 m. ago US and UK have done ‘more good than any two nations in history’, says Trump – UK politics live

US president describes bond between US and UK as ‘unbreakable’ as he concludes his state visitPresident Trump is now leaving Windsor Castle. He will be flying to Chequers by helicopter.Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has thanked King Charles for what he said at the state banquet last night strongly supporting the Ukrainian cause.I extend my deepest thanks to His Majesty King Charles III @RoyalFamily for his steadfast support. Ukraine greatly values the United Kingdom’s unwavering and principled stance.When tyranny threatens Europe once again, we must all hold firm, and Britain continues to lead in defending freedom on many fronts. Together, we have achieved a lot, and with the support of freedom-loving nations—the UK, our European partners, and the US—we continue to defend values and protect lives. We are united in our efforts to make diplomacy work and secure lasting peace for the European continent.Our countries have the closest defence, security and intelligence rel...

Politics

1 hour ago Devastating terror plot to attack UK with bombs hidden in massage cushions is foiled

The UK, US and other allied nations are co-operating in the investigation into Russian-linked terrorists

Events

2 h. ago Learn to Play is back: Music makers in Scotland invited to join UK’s free national music making event

UK charity ‘Music for All’ have announced that their highly anticipated annual flagship event Learn to Play is returning this Autumn, and are opening the opportunity for anyone interested in music-making a chance to take part in the biggest free music making weekend of the year!

Politics

2 h. ago Trump and Starmer sign ‘tech prosperity deal’ as PM claims new US

Starmer says deals worth £250bn are ‘flowing both ways across the Atlantic’President Trump is now leaving Windsor Castle. He will be flying to Chequers by helicopter.Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has thanked King Charles for what he said at the state banquet last night strongly supporting the Ukrainian cause.I extend my deepest thanks to His Majesty King Charles III @RoyalFamily for his steadfast support. Ukraine greatly values the United Kingdom’s unwavering and principled stance.When tyranny threatens Europe once again, we must all hold firm, and Britain continues to lead in defending freedom on many fronts. Together, we have achieved a lot, and with the support of freedom-loving nations—the UK, our European partners, and the US—we continue to defend values and protect lives. We are united in our efforts to make diplomacy work and secure lasting peace for the European continent.Our countries have the closest defence, security and intelligence relationship ever know...

Politics

4 h. ago Trump and Starmer hold talks at Chequers as UK businesses hope for tariff concessions – UK politics live

US president is holding talks with Starmer before attending a business event and then appearing at a joint news conference with PMPresident Trump is now leaving Windsor Castle. He will be flying to Chequers by helicopter.Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has thanked King Charles for what he said at the state banquet last night strongly supporting the Ukrainian cause.I extend my deepest thanks to His Majesty King Charles III @RoyalFamily for his steadfast support. Ukraine greatly values the United Kingdom’s unwavering and principled stance.When tyranny threatens Europe once again, we must all hold firm, and Britain continues to lead in defending freedom on many fronts. Together, we have achieved a lot, and with the support of freedom-loving nations—the UK, our European partners, and the US—we continue to defend values and protect lives. We are united in our efforts to make diplomacy work and secure lasting peace for the European continent.Our countries have the closest de...

Politics

4 h. ago New call to scrap tax and National Insurance deductions on overtime for emergency service workers

More than 6,300 people have signed an online petition calling for the UK Government to make the change.

Economics

5 h. ago ‘Race against time’ to remove rubble after recent earthquake in Afghanistan’s east, says UN

UN officials say aid workers are still in a “race against time” to remove rubble and rebuild after a devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan east last month

Politics

5 h. ago Trump arrives at Chequers for talks with Starmer on final day of state visit – UK politics live

US president will hold talks with Starmer before attending a business event and then appearing at a joint news conference with PMPresident Trump is now leaving Windsor Castle. He will be flying to Chequers by helicopter.Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has thanked King Charles for what he said at the state banquet last night strongly supporting the Ukrainian cause.I extend my deepest thanks to His Majesty King Charles III @RoyalFamily for his steadfast support. Ukraine greatly values the United Kingdom’s unwavering and principled stance.When tyranny threatens Europe once again, we must all hold firm, and Britain continues to lead in defending freedom on many fronts. Together, we have achieved a lot, and with the support of freedom-loving nations—the UK, our European partners, and the US—we continue to defend values and protect lives. We are united in our efforts to make diplomacy work and secure lasting peace for the European continent.Our countries have the closest def...

Politics

11 h. ago What to know about Fat Bear Week, and the brawny bruins ready to battle for the title

The annual Fat Bear Week featuring gluttonous brown bears at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve is back

Events

15 h. ago Portland to issue land use violation notice to ICE building over alleged detention violations

Portland, Oregon, says it will issue a land use violation notice to the city's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building

Politics

16 h. ago Nationwide offers bumper cash bonus for current account switchers

Nationwide has launched a new switching deal for new customers who open one of its current accounts - one of five banks currently offering a cash bonus.

Economics

18 h. ago McDonald’s leads National Cheeseburger Day celebrations with 50 cent deal — full roundup

National Cheeseburger Day is September 18

Economics

18 h. ago Donald Trump joins royals for state banquet at Windsor as thousands protest against US president’s visit – UK politics live

Politicians, dignitaries and high-profile tech entrepreneurs attend feast Lucy Powell has hit out at the “sexist” framing of her deputy Labour leadership campaign, with people claiming she and her rival, Bridget Phillipson, are standing as “proxies” for two men, Aletha Adu reports.Most of Donald Trump’s policies horrify progressives and leftwingers in Britain, including Labour party members and supporters, but Keir Starmer has said almost nothing critical about the Trump administration because he has taken a view that maintaining good relations with the White House is in the national interest.I understand the UK government’s position of being pragmatic on the international stage and wanting to maintain a good relationship with the leader of the most powerful country in the world. Faced with a revanchist Russia, Europe’s security feels less certain now than at any time since the second world war. And the threat of even higher US tariffs is ever present.But it’s also important to ensu...

Politics

19 h. ago Donald Trump joins royals for state banquet at Windsor – UK politics live

Politicians, dignitaries and high profile tech entrepreneurs attend feast as protests mark US president’s second state visitLucy Powell has hit out at the “sexist” framing of her deputy Labour leadership campaign, with people claiming she and her rival, Bridget Phillipson, are standing as “proxies” for two men, Aletha Adu reports.Most of Donald Trump’s policies horrify progressives and leftwingers in Britain, including Labour party members and supporters, but Keir Starmer has said almost nothing critical about the Trump administration because he has taken a view that maintaining good relations with the White House is in the national interest.I understand the UK government’s position of being pragmatic on the international stage and wanting to maintain a good relationship with the leader of the most powerful country in the world. Faced with a revanchist Russia, Europe’s security feels less certain now than at any time since the second world war. And the threat of even higher US tarif...

Politics

21 h. ago Thousands protest in London over Trump UK visit | National | hpenews.com

Thousands protest in London over Trump UK visit | National | hpenews.com  High Point Enterprise

Politics

21 h. ago Part of Yellowstone National Park closed after hiker attacked by bear

A grizzly killed a woman just west of Yellowstone in 2023

Events

22 h. ago More than half of Londoners would be hit by rumoured annual property tax

The potential introduction of a national property tax on homes above £500,000 would equate to a ‘tax on London’, says Marc von Grundherr at Benham and Reeves

Events

23 h. ago National Academy of Sciences rebuffs Trump EPA's effort to undo regulations fighting climate change

The National Academy of Sciences says evidence supporting a 2009 U.S. government finding that climate change threatens public health is “beyond scientific dispute” and that evidence supporting that finding has only grown stronger

Politics

25 h. ago King and senior royals host Donald Trump in Windsor for US president’s second state visit – UK politics live

On the first full day of his state visit to the UK, the US president will attend various events in Windsor before a state banquetLucy Powell has hit out at the “sexist” framing of her deputy Labour leadership campaign, with people claiming she and her rival, Bridget Phillipson, are standing as “proxies” for two men, Aletha Adu reports.Most of Donald Trump’s policies horrify progressives and leftwingers in Britain, including Labour party members and supporters, but Keir Starmer has said almost nothing critical about the Trump administration because he has taken a view that maintaining good relations with the White House is in the national interest.I understand the UK government’s position of being pragmatic on the international stage and wanting to maintain a good relationship with the leader of the most powerful country in the world. Faced with a revanchist Russia, Europe’s security feels less certain now than at any time since the second world war. And the threat of even higher US ...

Politics