24 h. ago US and Saudi Arabia sign $142bn arms deal as Trump to meet Syrian leader

White House touts deal made on first stop of US president’s four-day diplomatic tour to Gulf statesUS politics live – latest updatesThe United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a $142bn arms deal touted by the White House as the “largest defence sales agreement in history” in the first stop of Donald Trump’s four-day diplomatic tour to the Gulf states aimed at securing big deals and spotlighting the benefits of Trump’s transactional foreign policy.During the trip, the White House also confirmed that Trump would meet with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former rebel commander whose forces helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The informal meeting will be the first face-to-face meeting between a US president and a Syrian leader since 2000, when Bill Clinton met with the late leader Hafez al-Assad in Geneva. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago McArthur hopeful ahead of crucial assisted dying vote on ‘historic day’

Supporters say there is a groundswell of public support for changing the law.

Politics

58 h. ago Scenic Scottish town home to country's best beer festival and largest wind farm

Just 20 minutes from Glasgow, Eaglesham becomes Scotland’s beer capital for a day each summer but offers charm, history and scenery all year round.

Politics

5 d. ago King Charles echoes his grandfather’s historic VE Day speech as he marks 80th anniversary

King Charles III remembered Queen Elizabeth II's lively VE Day celebrations — including joining a conga line — in 1945 as he delivered a speech exactly 80 years after his grandfather's historic address.

Politics

5 d. ago Voices: David Lammy: Trade deal proves UK does not need to choose between the US and EU

Foreign Secretary David Lammy reflects on his links to America and nn a historic day for the UK and US with a new trade deal

Economics

5 d. ago King calls for global commitment to peace as huge concert in London ends VE Day celebrations

King Charles echoes his grandfather’s historic VE Day speech as he marks 80th anniversary

Culture

5 d. ago King calls for renewed ‘commitment to peace’ in VE Day message

Charles says sacrifice of second world war heroes must not be in vainKing Charles called for a renewal of “global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy and to the prevention of conflict”, as the UK marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe day.Westminster Abbey was the focal point for national commemorations with a service of thanksgiving weaving poignant reminders of wartime deprivation and loss with the hopes for the future that historic day had promised. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago King Charles echoes grandfather King George VI as he delivers historic VE Day speech

In a historic address to the nation on VE Day, King Charles said, 'our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price' as he remembers the wartime generation

Politics

6 d. ago Starmer and Trump hail ‘historic day’ as UK and US agree trade deal

Speaking to Sir Keir from the White House, the US President said the agreement was a “great deal for both countries”.

Politics

6 d. ago Keir Starmer and Donald Trump hail ‘historic day’ as UK and US finally agree trade deal

The first details of the trade deal between the US and the UK was announced on Thursday.

Politics

6 d. ago April storms that killed 24 in US made more severe by burning fossil fuels – study

Study finds human-caused climate change made four-day rainfall across central Mississippi valley 40% more likelyThe four-day historic storm that caused death and destruction across the central Mississippi valley in early April was made significantly more likely and more severe by burning fossil fuels, rapid analysis by a coalition of leading climate scientists has found.Record quantities of rain were dumped across eight southern and midwestern states between 3 and 6 April, causing widespread catastrophic flooding that killed at least 15 people, inundated crops, wrecked homes, swept away vehicles and caused power outages for hundreds of thousands of households. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Friedrich Merz arrives as a humbled new German chancellor – but that may not be the worst way to start | Jörg Lau

Defeat in the first round of a confirmation vote was humiliating. It could be the lesson Merz needed to change his leadership styleThere goes the cliche about German politics being stable but dull. Germany finally has a new leader, but only after a day of drama, suspense and historic twists. The conservative Friedrich Merz failed to secure a majority confirming him as chancellor in the first round of voting in the Bundestag. In eight decades of postwar Germany, this has never happened before.When Merz’s cabinet was finally sworn in later on Tuesday afternoon, after a successful second round, both parties in the governing coalition – the conservative CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats (SPD) – were eager to play down the failure as a mere hiccup. But the high drama indicates a new degree of fragmentation and instability in the German party system. It is certain to affect the way this new administration will govern.Jörg Lau is an international correspondent for the German weekly Die Zeit...

Politics

8 d. ago VE Day: What is happening in Scotland for VE Day anniversary? Historic landmarks lit up, concerts

There are a series of VE Day anniversary events taking place from Monday to Saturday

Culture

9 d. ago Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary 

Second World War airplanes and Red Arrows soared over Buckingham Palace to mark 80 years since end of WWII

Politics

1 week ago VE Day 80 flypast: Painstaking planning for display like 'herding cats', pilot reveals

A RAF pilot due to fly over Buckingham Palace as part the historic 80th anniversary of VE Day has revealed the difficult planning and rehearsals have been like 'herding cats'

Politics

1 week ago 'Nothing will distract' King Charles from VE Day events after bombshell Harry interview

King Charles and the senior royals will not let the bombshell Prince Harry BBC interview 'distract' them from the historic celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, palace sources have revealed

Events

1 week ago Beautiful little seaside village with winding streets and stunning marina

The picturesque village of Polruan is located across the river from Fowey and offers some of the best views of the historic harbour town - it's a must-visit for a day trip

Politics

1 week ago One hundred days in, Donald Trump faces a problem: he can rage, but he can’t govern | Jonathan Freedland

Americans are beginning to worry about their future amid a shrinking economy, warnings of empty shelves – and the president’s failed promisesHe says it’s the “best 100-day start of any president in history”, but you can file that along with his boast about crowd sizes and his claim to have won the 2020 election. In truth, the first three months of Donald Trump’s second presidency have been calamitous on almost every measure. The single biggest achievement of those 100 days has been to serve as a warning of the perils of nationalist populism, which is effective in winning votes but disastrous when translated into reality. That warning applies across the democratic world – and is especially timely in Britain.Start with the numbers that matter most to Trump himself. A slew of polls appeared this week, but they all told the same story: that Trump’s approval ratings have collapsed, falling to the lowest level for a newly installed president in the postwar era. He has now edged ahead of h...

Politics

1 week ago The historic Greater Manchester pub with stunning reservoir views perfect for sunny day out

It has been a part of the area's heritage for generations and is situated right by a beautiful reservoir

Politics

1 week ago Manchester Marathon: Temperatures soar as record number complete 26.2 mile course

It was an unseasonably warm day in the North West on Sunday as 36,000 people contributed to the largest day of marathon running in UK history

Sport