10 h. ago Trump coveted a military spectacle but his parade proved underwhelming: ‘Just kind of lame’

Trump’s army parade was neither the totalitarian North Korean spectacle that critics had grimly predicted, nor the triumph of Maga nationalism fans cravedOn Saturday, as a crowd of thousands of people near the Washington Monument listened, a loudspeaker dramatically announced the names of the US secretary of defense, vice-president and president. The final name received a modest roar that surely flushed the watching commander-in-chief with validation. With that, and with the boom of a 21-gun salute, the military parade that Donald Trump had coveted for years finally began.A protester, Nicky Sundt, kept a lonely and mostly silent vigil at the side of the road. She held a sign depicting a cartoon Trump brushing back his comb-over to reveal a swastika emblazoned on his forehead. The placard said “Save our democracy”. Standing near her – as a “counterprotest to the counterprotest to the protest, or something,” as one of them put it – a group of pro-Trump men held court. One was draped i...

Events

3 d. ago Troops are now patrolling Los Angeles. This is a disaster waiting to happen | Kenneth Roth

Troops are trained for war, where they can shoot to kill. Asking troops to police is an invitation to brutalityThis was the moment that Donald Trump was waiting for. A Democratic city, Los Angeles. A Democratic state, California. His most popular issue, immigration. And protests where occasional violence could be spotlighted endlessly on social media. What better time to summon the troops and burnish the president’s tough-guy image.But Trump should be careful what he wishes for. The spectacle of needlessly calling in 4,000 national guard troops and 700 Marines may be red meat for his Maga base, but for most everyone else it is a bright warning sign of Trump’s autocratic tendencies. Rather than quell the protests, he is provoking more, not only in LA but in at least two dozen cities across the US. Even if this is not yet the mass mobilization that such repression has sparked in other countries, it is making Trump’s true colors clear.Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Ri...

Events

5 d. ago Trump reveals identity of Joe Biden 'deep state' official he believes wielded the autopen to sign orders

Donald Trump has suggested which former 'deep state' official he believes may behind Joe Biden 's infamous autopen.

Politics

1 week ago New Zealand MPs who performed haka in parliament given record suspensions

Parliament votes to enact punishment after hours of fraught debate including attitudes towards Māori cultureNew Zealand legislators have voted to enact record parliamentary suspensions for three MPs who performed a Māori haka to protest against a controversial proposed law.Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day ban and the leaders of her political party, Te Pāti Māori (the Māori party), Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, were barred for 21 days. Three days had previously been the longest ban for a New Zealand MP. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Federal judge blocks Florida from enforcing social media ban for kids while lawsuit continues

A federal judge has barred state officials from enforcing a Florida law that would ban social media accounts for young children, while a legal challenge against the law plays out

Events

1 week ago Nato to force UK to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP to appease Trump, say sources

Starmer bound to accept Mark Rutte’s higher target after announcing ‘Nato-first’ defence strategy, insiders sayDefence sources believe that Britain will be forced to sign up to a target of lifting defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 at this month’s Nato summit after a campaign by the alliance’s secretary general to keep Donald Trump onboard.One senior insider said Britain would “without a doubt” sign up to a proposal from the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, to lift allies’ defence spending, which would represent a real-terms increase of about £30bn from the Labour government’s plan. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Countries given Wednesday deadline for their ‘best offers’ to avoid tariffs: report

The reported letter may be a sign of Donald Trump’s eagerness — or, perhaps, desperation — to secure trade deals before his 90-day tariff pause expires on July 9

Events

2 w. ago Disposable vape ban goes up in smoke! Shopkeepers openly flout new law... and some say they've NEVER been told it was coming in

It is now illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes, such as Elf bars and Lost Mary, in shops and online.

Events

2 w. ago Mountainhead to See How They Run: the seven best films to watch on TV this week

Jesse Armstrong’s hilariously awkward tech bro satire sees Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman plot world domination, while a starry, Agatha Christie-inspired whodunnit is tons of funIn Jesse Armstrong’s squirmingly funny satire, four tech moguls gather at a retreat called Mountainhead (a wry nod to Ayn Rand’s paean to individualism The Fountainhead). When the launch of a deep-fake tool by Cory Michael Smith’s billionaire Venis plunges the world into financial and social meltdown, he and his alpha male peers – Jeff (Ramy Youssef), Randall (Steve Carell) and their host Souper (Jason Schwartzman) – insouciantly ponder exploiting this “moment of creative destruction” and taking over the world. As in Succession, Armstrong has a keen eye for the supercilious world of the super-rich, where people are expendable and petty grievances can be dressed up as utopianism. Sunday 1 June, 9pm, Sky Atlantic Continue reading...

Culture

2 w. ago Shoppers face ban in all UK stores and supermarkets from June as new law comes into force

The change will come into effect in a matter of days

Economics

2 w. ago Russia bends to Trump after 'crazy' Putin comments in latest sign peace is on the horizon

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov described Trump as a 'man who wants results' as he announced the breakthrough at an event in Turkey on Tuesday.

Politics

2 w. ago European Union countries call on Hungary to rethink Pride ban law

New law states facial recognition software could be used to identify people taking part in marches

Politics

2 w. ago A new Hungarian law could ban Pride events. A majority of EU countries are urging a rethink

Seventeen European Union countries are demanding that Hungary revise a new law that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities

Politics

3 w. ago Vape ban chiefs ask for public's help reporting those flouting new law

Trading Standards bosses have issued a plea for the public to report suppliers who ignore the upcoming ban on disposable vapes.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘I’m a liar and a fake who's in too deep with a passionate woman that expects the world’

JUST JANE: Today our agony aunt Jane O'Gorman is dealing with a new issue from a Daily Star reader who has lied about his wealth and status - and can’t keep up with his girl’s sexual needs

Politics

3 w. ago The Guardian view on Russia sanctions: a brittle economy is Putin’s weakness | Editorial

Ukraine’s allies must dial up sanctions to expose the fragility of the Kremlin’s strategy for perpetual warDonald Trump’s pledge to end the war in Ukraine on the first day of his second term as US president was a sign of his unsuitability as a peace broker. A clearer sign was his apparent sympathy with Vladimir Putin. Mr Trump’s tone regarding the Russian president has cooled somewhat on the discovery that the conflict cannot be frozen by White House diktat. There are hints of recognition that the peace process is failing because the Kremlin is cynically playing for time. Sadly, any such insight hasn’t evolved into outrage at the criminal aggression that started the war in the first place.Accounts of a telephone call between the two leaders earlier this week indicate no increase in American pressure on Russia. Mr Trump’s impatience with the whole issue seems likelier to result in him walking away. Mr Putin relishes that prospect.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this ar...

Politics

3 w. ago Melania joins Trump to sign law to ban ‘deepfake’ porn: ‘The wellbeing of our children is central to our future’

The bipartisan legislation criminalizes so-called ‘revenge porn’ at the federal level

Politics

3 w. ago Melania joins Trump to sign law to ban ‘deep fake’ porn: ‘The wellbeing of our children is central to our future’

The bipartisan legislation criminalizes so-called ‘revenge porn’ at the federal level

Politics