9 h. ago Trump administration orders US embassies to stop student visa interviews

Directive could severely delay visa processing and hurt universities that rely on foreign students for revenueUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has ordered US embassies worldwide to immediately stop scheduling visa interviews for foreign students as it prepares to implement comprehensive social media screening for all international applicants.A Tuesday state department cable instructs consular sections to pause adding “any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued” within days. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Trump says Putin is ‘playing with fire’ in wake of massive Russian strikes on Ukraine – US politics live

US president claims if it weren’t for him ‘really bad’ things would have happened to Russia amid signs he is frustrated with Russian president’s stalling of peace talksEarlier this morning, Alan Garber, president of Harvard University, told NPR’s Morning Edition that elite institutions need to double down on their “commitment to the good of the nation” and “be firm in our commitments to what we stand for”.Garber said he finds the measures taken by the Trump administration to be “perplexing”; while he acknowledges there is work to be done on campus regarding viewpoint diversity, he said he struggles to see a link between funding freezes and fighting antisemitism.I think that we have heard from some people that they do feel that [Harvard lacks viewpoint diversity]. What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these that don’t even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems. Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the...

Politics

10 h. ago NPR sues Trump administration over funding cuts it says violate first amendment

Lawsuit argues executive order violates constitution by targeting NPR for news coverage Trump feels is biasedUS politics live – latest updatesNational Public Radio, the US public broadcaster that provides news and cultural programming to more than 1,000 local stations, has filed a federal lawsuit against Donald Trump’s administration, challenging an executive order that cuts federal funding to the public broadcaster as an unconstitutional attack on press freedom.The lawsuit, which landed on Tuesday in federal court in Washington, argues that Trump’s 1 May executive order violates the first amendment by targeting NPR for news coverage the president considers “biased”. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago King Charles tells Canada’s parliament country will stay ‘strong and free’ amid Trump annexation threats – live

Monarch says Canada ‘faces critical moment’ as unprecedented address comes amid Trump’s repeated threats that US should make Canada the 51st stateEarlier this morning, Alan Garber, president of Harvard University, told NPR’s Morning Edition that elite institutions need to double down on their “commitment to the good of the nation” and “be firm in our commitments to what we stand for”.Garber said he finds the measures taken by the Trump administration to be “perplexing”; while he acknowledges there is work to be done on campus regarding viewpoint diversity, he said he struggles to see a link between funding freezes and fighting antisemitism.I think that we have heard from some people that they do feel that [Harvard lacks viewpoint diversity]. What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these that don’t even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems. Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after...

Politics

12 h. ago King Charles to give speech in Canada’s parliament in reminder to Trump of country’s sovereignty – live

Monarch’s unprecedented speech from the throne comes amid Trump’s repeated threats that the US should annex Canada and make it the 51st state Earlier this morning, Alan Garber, president of Harvard University, told NPR’s Morning Edition that elite institutions need to double down on their “commitment to the good of the nation” and “be firm in our commitments to what we stand for”.Garber said he finds the measures taken by the Trump administration to be “perplexing”; while he acknowledges there is work to be done on campus regarding viewpoint diversity, he said he struggles to see a link between funding freezes and fighting antisemitism.I think that we have heard from some people that they do feel that [Harvard lacks viewpoint diversity]. What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these that don’t even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems. Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after all...

Politics

13 h. ago Reform UK’s income tax plans ‘to cost up to £80bn’ warns IFS – UK politics live

Research institute says costs of plan to exclude those earning less than £20k from the tax will dwarf those of party’s winter fuel and two-child benefit changesThe co-leader of the Green party of England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay, has renewed his call for Russia to face greater sanctions. Posting to social media, the MP for Waveney Valley said “Putin has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian civilians because he thinks he’ll face no consequences. Much tougher sanctions are urgently needed to bring him into serious peace talks to end this horrific war.”As well as appearing on the media round today, shadow chancellor Mel Stride has written for the Daily Mail, saying that the Conservatives continue to back the two-child benefit cap. Continue reading...

Economics

14 h. ago Trump administration reportedly set to cancel last Harvard contracts – US politics live

Federal contracts worth an estimated $100m set to be pulled, according to media reports Donald Trump wants to “dictate” policies like those of far-right regimes in the 1930s, a leading billionaire investor has warned.Ray Dalio writes in a new book that the US president is acting like a chief executive without a board as he seeks to expand executive power even more aggressively than predecessors Andrew Jackson and Franklin D Roosevelt. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery – US politics live

President claimed that Scott Jenkins, who was convicted of accepting $75,000 in bribes, was a victim of a ‘corrupt and weaponized Biden DOJ’Harvard looks set to lose its remaining federal business worth an estimated $100m, with the New York Times reporting this morning that the Trump administration is set to cancel all contracts with the university.The NYT says a letter severing all business with Harvard is going out to federal agencies on Tuesday. They are also being told to find “alternative vendors”. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Labour turns fire on Farage ahead of Reform UK leader’s speech – UK politics live

Chair Ellie Reeves says Farage driven by personal ambition as he is expected to label Starmer ‘unpatriotic’ in speechEducation secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced new foundation apprenticeships, which she claimed “will make a really big difference to the lives of young people.”Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she told viewers:I’m announcing today a big step change that is really good news for young people across our country. 120,000 new opportunities to get on into trades like construction. So announcing foundation apprenticeships that are an earlier step in the career for young people.But we know we’ve got to go further, because I hear from apprentices how amazing that opportunity is, how optimistic they are about their future. I met with some bricklaying apprentices recently, really optimistic, wanting to start their own business, get on in construction.I back parents to make decisions about what’s right for them. For some parents that will involve sending their child to a privat...

Politics

20 h. ago More interstate dust storms expected if South Australia drought continues, expert warns

Haze hits Sydney suburbs on Tuesday morning after crossing NSW from SA and VictoriaAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastParts of Sydney faced “extremely poor” air quality warnings on Tuesday morning as a dust storm swept eastwards from inland Australia.Sydney’s north-west and central west including Parramatta had the heaviest air pollution, with very poor air quality also observed across Sydney stretching as far south as Goulburn and as far north as Muswellbrook, according to official pollution monitoring stations. Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago Sydney dust storm: some residents advised to stay inside due to ‘extremely poor’ air quality

Haze hits Sydney suburbs after crossing NSW from South Australia and VictoriaAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastParts of Sydney faced “extremely poor” air quality warnings on Tuesday morning as a dust storm swept in from the east.Sydney’s north-west and central west including Parramatta had the heaviest air pollution, with very poor air quality also observed across Sydney stretching as far south as Goulburn and as far north as Muswellbrook, according to official pollution monitoring stations. Continue reading...

Events

32 h. ago Trump in Memorial Day speech says: ‘I have everything. Amazing, the way things work out’ – US politics live

President honors fallen soldiers but also says says ‘God did that’ when when taking credit for US hosting world sports eventsThis year’s summer months promise to be among the hottest on record across the United States, continuing a worsening trend of extreme weather, and amid concern over the impacts of Trump administration cuts to key agencies.The extreme heat could be widespread and unrelenting: only far northern Alaska may escape unusually warm temperatures from June through August, according to the latest seasonal forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Trump says he is considering giving $3bn of Harvard’s grants to trade schools – US politics live

President says he could take grant money from Harvard, a week after his administration blocked institution from enrolling foreign studentsThis year’s summer months promise to be among the hottest on record across the United States, continuing a worsening trend of extreme weather, and amid concern over the impacts of Trump administration cuts to key agencies.The extreme heat could be widespread and unrelenting: only far northern Alaska may escape unusually warm temperatures from June through August, according to the latest seasonal forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Donald Trump announces he will pause threatened 50% tariffs on Europe after call with EU chief – US politics live

President says tariffs will be paused until 9 July after a ‘very nice call’ with European Commission president Ursula von der LeyenThe Kremlin on Monday said that US president Donald Trump’s claim that Vladimir Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” might be due to emotional overload, but thanked the US leader for his assistance in launching Ukraine peace negotiations.Trump said Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” by unleashing the largest aerial attack of the war on Ukraine and said he was weighing new sanctions on Moscow, though he also scolded Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Continue reading...

Politics

63 h. ago UK politics live: Badenoch blasts Starmer and Farage in benefits row as Rayner gives winter fuel U

Angela Rayner has suggested details on when winter fuel payments could be restored to more pensioners could be announced within a few weeks

Politics

2 d. ago ‘Desolate’: farmers in NSW’s west battle drought as east coast mops up after floods

The area is in the grips of disaster, with surrounding regions also expected to slip into drought by mid-winterAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email,free app ordaily news podcastWhile parts of Australia battle floods, farmers in the south are selling off stock, abandoning crops and pleading for help as drought deepens.Farmer Paul Manwaring has been living in the shadow of rain.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Western quolls and brushtail possums thrive in national park a decade after reintroduction

The Australian animals were locally extinct but have had a resurgence in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges national parkAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWestern quolls (Idnya) and brushtail possums (Virlda), once locally extinct, are flourishing in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges national park 10 years after their reintroduction.“They’re pretty funny. We go spotlighting at night you can spotlight at the campsite there and see them running around, looking for bits of food,” National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) reintroduction ecologist Talitha Moyle said.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago New Pentagon spokesperson promoted antisemitic conspiracy theory – US politics live

Kingsley Wilson, who has repeatedly shared false claim, promoted to press secretary as critics blast her ‘clearly unfit for her role’Harvard University has sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the Ivy League school’s ability to enrol international students, a move the school called unconstitutional and retaliatory.Reuters reports that in a complaint filed in Boston federal court, Harvard called the revocation a “blatant violation” of the US constitution’s first amendment and other federal laws. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Courts temporarily halts Trump administration’s ban on Harvard foreign student enrollment – US politics live

US district judge Allison Burroughs issues temporary restraining order after Harvard sued over ‘blatant violation’ of US constitutionJudge blocks bar on Harvard accepting international studentsFresh attack on Harvard intensifies chaos for international students in USHarvard University has sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the Ivy League school’s ability to enrol international students, a move the school called unconstitutional and retaliatory.Reuters reports that in a complaint filed in Boston federal court, Harvard called the revocation a “blatant violation” of the US constitution’s first amendment and other federal laws. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Judge blocks Trump administration’s ban on Harvard accepting international students

Ivy league had filed suit saying the ban was unconstitutional retaliation for defying White House’s demandsUS politics live – latest updatesUS university scholars and international students: are you considering working or studying elsewhere?A US federal judge on Friday blocked the government from revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students just hours after the elite college sued the Trump administration over its abrupt ban the day before on enrolling foreign students.US district judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued the temporary restraining order late on Friday morning, freezing the policy that had been abruptly imposed on the university, based in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics