7 h. ago Six million dead: Why Scotland needs to know about the forgotten conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo

Church of Scotland minister Martin Johnstone describes the conditions he witnessed at a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo and explains how people in Scotland can help

Events

20 h. ago ‘Trump is inconsistent with Christian principles’: why the Democratic party is seeing a rise of white clergy candidates

From Texas and Iowa to Arkansas, faith leaders are wading into politics to counter the rise of Christian nationalismHe grew up on a farm in Indiana, the son of a factory worker and eldest of five children. He studied at Liberty, a Christian university founded by the conservative pastor and televangelist Jerry Falwell, and recalls wearing a T-shirt expressing opposition to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.Two decades later, Justin Douglas is running for the US Congress – as a Democrat. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago In Trump’s ‘Central Casting’ world, do Democrats need to get ‘hot’ to win?

Republican and Democratic insiders tell Andrew Feinberg about a ‘hotness gap’ that could make a difference in next year’s midterm elections and beyond

Politics

49 h. ago US catholic bishops issues rare condemnation of Trump administration’s immigration enforcement – live

US Conference of Catholic Bishops calls for ‘meaningful immigration reform’ in first message of its kind in 12 years Donald Trump has cranked up his intense pressure campaign on congressional Republicans to oppose the full release of the justice department’s files related to Jeffrey Epstein, before a crucial and long-awaited House vote on the matter next week that scores of Republicans are slated to support.The belated swearing-in on Wednesday of the Democratic representative Adelita Grijalva – which the House speaker, Mike Johnson, had refused for almost two months during the government shutdown – brought the number of signatures on Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna’s discharge petition to the 218 needed to force a floor vote on legislation demanding the Department of Justice release all of its investigative files on Epstein within 30 days. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Republicans are regimented. Democrats are undisciplined. Just look at the shutdown | Robert Reich

Democrats finally had bargaining power and they caved. It’s nothing new – but it’s proof voters must make our demands clearChuck Schumer couldn’t hold his senators together at a time when their unity and toughness were essential. And at a time when they were winning: most of the public was blaming Republicans for the shutdown, and pressure was growing to reopen the government (flight delays were mounting).Does this mean Schumer should go? Yes.Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Guardian US columnist and his newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com. His new book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America, is out now Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago US justice department joins lawsuit to block California’s new electoral map

Move escalates legal battle over a redistricting effort designed to help Democrats flip House seats in 2026The justice department on Thursday joined a lawsuit brought by California Republicans to block the state’s new congressional map, escalating a legal battle over a redistricting effort designed to give Democrats a better chance of retaking the House of Representatives next year.The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, challenges the congressional map championed by Gavin Newsom, the state’s Democratic governor, in response to a Republican gerrymander in Texas, sought by Donald Trump. The justice department’s intervention in the case sets up a high-profile showdown between the Trump administration and Newsom, one of the president’s chief antagonists and a possible 2028 contender. Continue reading...

Society

65 h. ago Trump administration suing Gavin Newsom over California’s voter

Trump’s justice department is attempting to block the state’s new congressional maps , which voters overwhelmingly approved through Proposition 50.Democrats appear more enthusiastic than Republicans about voting in next year’s congressional elections following the party’s victories in recent state and local contests, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, which showed Republican President Donald Trump’s approval steady at 40%.The six-day poll, which closed on Wednesday, showed 44% of registered voters who called themselves Democrats said they were “very enthusiastic” about voting in the November 3, 2026, elections, compared with 26% of Republicans who said the same. Some 79% of Democrats said they would regret it if they didn’t vote in the election, compared to 68% of Republicans. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump signs funding bill to end longest US government shutdown

President signs legislation to restart federal operations after House passes measure in 222-209 voteThe longest US government shutdown in history ended on Wednesday after more than 42 days, following the House of Representative’s passage of a bill negotiated by Republicans and a splinter group of Democrat-aligned senators.The compromise sets the stage for government operations to return to normal through January, while leaving unresolved the issue of expiring tax credits for Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare health plans, which most Democrats demanded be extended in any deal to reopen the government. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Longest US government shutdown in history set to end after House passes bill

Measure to restart federal operations passes narrowly, but excludes healthcare funding demanded by DemocratsUS politics – follow liveThe longest US government shutdown in history is set to end on Wednesday after more than 42 days, following the House of Representative’s passage of a bill negotiated by Republicans and a splinter group of Democrat-aligned senators. The legislation restarts federal operations but does not include the healthcare funding the minority party demanded.The compromise sets the stage for government operations to return to normal through January, while leaving unresolved the issue of expiring tax credits for Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare health plans, which most Democrats demanded be extended in any deal to reopen the government. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago House votes to end longest government shutdown in US history

The vote comes after the government was shut down for almost 43 days with six Democrats joining Republicans, despite the fact that it does not include an extension of health care tax credits Democrats want

Politics

3 d. ago House begins voting on bill to end government shutdown as new Epstein revelations roil US politics – live

The White House announced that Donald Trump plans to sign the legislation to reopen the federal government at 9:45pm Eastern Time, on live televisionIn a new batch of emails released by Democrats on the House oversight committee, Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Donald Trump knew about the late financier and sex-offender’s conduct. In the three emails released, Epstein apparently told his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump “spent hours” at his house with one of Epstein’s victims.In two other emails to author Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote that “of course he knew about the girls”, referring to the now-president. According to the exchanges, Epstein also solicited Wolff’s advice about how he should handle Trump discussing their friendship in an interview with CNN. “I think you should let him hang himself,” Wolff writes. “If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a p...

Politics

3 d. ago US House begins voting on bill that could end longest ever government shutdown

House Democrats vow to vote no but Republican leaders optimistic legislation to reopen government will passUS politics – live updatesThe House on Wednesday began voting on legislation that would end the longest government shutdown in US history, as Democrats voiced fury that the Senate-brokered compromise fails to extend expiring healthcare subsidies.The House returned to Washington to vote after a more than 50-day absence ordered by the Republican speaker, Mike Johnson, to pressure Senate Democrats into reopening the government.The measure’s passage would be welcome news for the White House, which is looking to end the shutdown. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Bush and Obama lawyers warn Trump could challenge 2026 election results if midterms don’t go his way

‘This prospect must be taken seriously,’ the lawyers for former Democrat and Republican presidents wrote

Politics

3 d. ago Police launch murder investigation after man’s body found in field

Police Scotland have named the man who was found dead in Inverclyde as Robert Best, 50.

Events

3 d. ago Trump calls Epstein emails a Democratic deflection after correspondence alleges president ‘knew about the girls’ – live

Trump says release of Epstein emails is a distraction from Democrats’ performance during shutdown; White House says they ‘prove absolutely nothing’Trump knew about Epstein’s conduct, newly released emails suggestDemocrat who could force Epstein vote to be sworn in after standoffIn a new batch of emails released by Democrats on the House oversight committee, Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Donald Trump knew about the late financier and sex-offender’s conduct. In the three emails released, Epstein apparently told his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump “spent hours” at his house with one of Epstein’s victims.In two other emails to author Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote that “of course he knew about the girls”, referring to the now-president. According to the exchanges, Epstein also solicited Wolff’s advice about how he should handle Trump discussing their friendship in an interview with CNN. “I think you should let him hang himself,” Wolff writes. “If he says he hasn’t been on the plane o...

Politics

3 d. ago White House says new Epstein emails mentioning Trump ‘prove absolutely nothing’ – live

White House press secretary says, ‘Jeffrey Epstein was a member at Mar-a-Lago until President Trump kicked him out because Jeffrey Epstein was a pedophile and he was a creep’Trump knew about Epstein’s conduct, newly released emails suggestDemocrat who could force Epstein vote to be sworn in after standoffIn a new batch of emails released by Democrats on the House oversight committee, Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Donald Trump knew about the late financier and sex-offender’s conduct. In the three emails released, Epstein apparently told his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump “spent hours” at his house with one of Epstein’s victims.In two other emails to author Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote that “of course he knew about the girls”, referring to the now-president. According to the exchanges, Epstein also solicited Wolff’s advice about how he should handle Trump discussing their friendship in an interview with CNN. “I think you should let him hang himself,” Wolff writes. “If he says he...

Politics

3 d. ago With their government contracts in limbo, small businesses await a historic shutdown's end

The end of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history would be a relief for small businesses that depend on federal contracts or funding

Politics

3 d. ago White House says ‘unnamed victim’ Trump ‘spent hours’ with was Virginia Giuffre, accusing Democrats of ‘fake narrative’ – live

Spokesperson says Giuffre repeatedly said Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing as she accuses Democrats of trying to ‘smear’ presidentTrump knew about Epstein’s conduct, newly released emails suggestDemocrat who could force Epstein vote to be sworn in after standoffIn a new batch of emails released by Democrats on the House oversight committee, Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Donald Trump knew about the late financier and sex-offender’s conduct. In the three emails released, Epstein apparently told his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump “spent hours” at his house with one of Epstein’s victims.In two other emails to author Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote that “of course he knew about the girls”, referring to the now-president. According to the exchanges, Epstein also solicited Wolff’s advice about how he should handle Trump discussing their friendship in an interview with CNN. “I think you should let him hang himself,” Wolff writes. “If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the ...

Politics

3 d. ago Jeffrey Epstein alleged that Donald Trump knew about his crimes, newly released emails reveal – live updates

In new batch of emails released by House Democrats, Jeffrey Epstein told Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump ‘spent hours’ at his house with one of his victimsIn a new batch of emails released by Democrats on the House oversight committee, Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Donald Trump knew about the late financier and sex-offender’s crimes. In the three emails released, Epstein apparently told his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump “spent hours” at his house with one of Epstein’s victims.In two other emails to author Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote that “of course he knew about the girls”, referring to the now-president. According to the exchanges, Epstein also solicited Wolff’s advice about how he should handle Trump discussing their friendship in an interview with CNN. “I think you should let him hang himself,” Wolff writes. “If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a...

Politics

4 d. ago US House to vote on bill that could end longest ever government shutdown

House Democrats vow to vote no but Republican leaders optimistic legislation to reopen government will passUS politics – live updatesThe House on Wednesday was poised to vote on legislation that would end the longest government shutdown in US history, as Democrats voice fury that the Senate-brokered compromise fails to extend expiring healthcare subsidies.The House returned to vote on Washington after speaker, Mike Johnson, kept the chamber out of session for more than 50 days. The move would be a welcome sign for the White House, which is looking to speed through the process should the vote succeed. Continue reading...

Politics