96 m. ago Trump says US in direct talks with Iran over nuclear program as he holds Oval Office meeting with Netanyahu – US politics live

President says talks to continue on Saturday and adds he and Israeli president also discussed tariffs and Israel-Gaza warEU ministers are in Luxembourg to consider the European Union’s response to Trump’s sweeping tariff regime amid continuing market turmoil and heightened fears of a global economic recession.It comes after Trump doubled down on his tariff policy in comments aboard Air Force One overnight. He said Europe “has treated us very, very badly,” and “has taken our leaders for a ride”, and declined to hold talks on changing tariffs “unless they pay us a lot of money on a yearly basis”. He also repeated criticism of Europe for not spending a fair share on Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Swinney demands ‘big and bold response’ from UK Government to Trump’s tariffs

The Scottish First Minister called on the UK Government to change its fiscal rules and reverse the recent rise in employer national insurance charges.

Politics

5 h. ago Trump threatens China with extra 50% tariffs if country fails to withdraw 34% retaliatory levies – US politics live

US president escalates trade war with China, saying all negotiations will be terminated and additional levies will take effect on WednesdayGlobal stock markets tumble over tariff ‘medicine’Wall Street falls continue – business liveWhich Trump billionaires have lost the most?EU ministers are in Luxembourg to consider the European Union’s response to Trump’s sweeping tariff regime amid continuing market turmoil and heightened fears of a global economic recession.It comes after Trump doubled down on his tariff policy in comments aboard Air Force One overnight. He said Europe “has treated us very, very badly,” and “has taken our leaders for a ride”, and declined to hold talks on changing tariffs “unless they pay us a lot of money on a yearly basis”. He also repeated criticism of Europe for not spending a fair share on Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Trump says Federal Reserve should cut rates; Canada initiates WTO dispute over car tariffs – US politics live

US economic council head denies tariffs were part of strategy to pressure Fed to cut interest rates; Canada says measures breach trade agreementsEU ministers are in Luxembourg to consider the European Union’s response to Trump’s sweeping tariff regime amid continuing market turmoil and heightened fears of a global economic recession.It comes after Trump doubled down on his tariff policy in comments aboard Air Force One overnight. He said Europe “has treated us very, very badly,” and “has taken our leaders for a ride”, and declined to hold talks on changing tariffs “unless they pay us a lot of money on a yearly basis”. He also repeated criticism of Europe for not spending a fair share on Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Alarm as Republicans in Congress back Trump and Musk’s attacks on US judges

Mike Johnson and Jim Jordan echo president and key ally as experts express fears for ‘bedrock constitutional principles’As Donald Trump and Elon Musk widen their radical attacks on US judges who have stalled some of Trump’s executive orders and Musk’s slashing of federal agencies, they’re gaining backing from top House Republicans and other politicians, including some to whom the tech billionaire made big campaign donations.House speaker Mike Johnson and judiciary panel chairman Jim Jordan have echoed some of Trump’s attacks on judges, and a judiciary subcommittee hearing on April 1 explored “judicial overreach” and ways to curb judges who have stymied some Trump orders or Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) and its draconian cuts to the federal government. Continue reading...

Events

13 h. ago Global financial 'bloodbath' as Trump's tariffs spark fears of worldwide recession, Hong Kong shares have worst day for 28 years and European stock futures tank

Futures were pointing to further losses in Europe and on Wall Street, with Trump refusing to lift the levies unless foreign governments pay 'a lot of money'.

Economics

16 h. ago Retaliation or restraint: how should Keir Starmer react to US tariffs?

Tit-for-tat levies on American goods may appeal to voters but would risk adding to UK’s economic headwindsKeir Starmer has said he wants to shelter Britain from the storm of Donald Trump’s escalating trade wars.Governments the world over are considering how best to respond to the turmoil unleashed on the global economy by the US president last week.Meat, fish and dairy products.Whiskey and rum.Clothing.Motorcycles.Musical instruments. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Asian share markets routed in early trading as Trump says ‘you have to take medicine’

US president tells reporters the levies are ‘medicine to fix something’ as Nikkei tumbles nearly 9% in early trading, worsening huge losses from last week’s announcementMarkets react to Trump tariffs – live updatesDonald Trump said foreign governments would have to pay “a lot of money” to lift sweeping tariffs that he characterised as “medicine,” as markets in Asia plunged in early trading on Monday.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late on Sunday, the US president indicated he was not concerned about market losses that have already wiped out nearly $6tn in value from US stocks. “I don’t want anything to go down. But sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something,” he said. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Trump reveals his bold response to world leaders who BEGGED for tariff trade deal... as he gives chilling warning to China

The president, 78, told reporters onboard Air Force One that he has spoken to European and Asian leaders since his worldwide tariffs went into effect - devastating the world's stock markets.

Events

22 h. ago Starmer promises ‘bold changes’ to rules over electric cars in response to Trump tariffs

Department for Transport officials said ‘flexibilities’ in electric vehicle targets will help carmakers transition away from petrol engines

Politics

24 h. ago Starmer promises ‘bold changes’ to rules over electric cars in response to Trump’s tariffs

Department for Transport officials said ‘flexibilities’ in electric vehicle targets will help carmakers transition away from petrol engines

Politics

57 h. ago Tariff deals with foreign governments not a priority for Trump, say US officials

After markets tumble, president reiterates that his policies ‘will never change’ in social media post

Politics

58 h. ago Musk may soon leave the White House, but his bromance with Trump will remain

Rather than an explosive split that many predicted, Musk instead appears set to keep close ties with Trump and retain influence on US politicsAfter months of exerting extraordinary power over the US government and becoming a mascot for Donald Trump’s new administration, the first signs that Elon Musk may shift away from his prominent role in the White House began to appear this week.Both Trump and JD Vance have stated in interviews over the past few days that Musk would eventually leave the administration and the “department of government efficiency” (Doge) that he founded, their most direct statements yet on his tenure. Politico also reported on Wednesday that Trump had told members of his inner circle that the Tesla CEO would be departing in the coming weeks, though Musk called the article “fake news”. Musk is a “special government employee”, a designation that technically carries a 130-day term that, depending on how the administration chooses to log those days, could run out at ...

Politics

3 d. ago As Orbán quits the ICC, other nations have a choice to make: do we back the rule of law or not? | Steve Crawshaw

There is a principle that even the most powerful leaders must be accountable. Increasingly, that is under threat, but it must be defendedIt was unsurprising that Benjamin Netanyahu praised Viktor Orbán’s “bold and principled” stand, in response to Hungary’s announcement yesterday that it will leave the international criminal court (ICC). More dismaying is that too few governments seem ready to stand up against impunity at a time when, because of Donald Trump, the very existence of the Hague court is under threat.Hungary’s leader described the ICC as “a political forum”; the Israeli prime minister, during his defiant visit to Budapest this week, complained of a “corrupt organisation”. That is all logical enough. Four months ago, the court confirmed an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. He could hardly be expected to praise his own indictment.Steve Crawshaw is the author of Prosecuting the Powerful: War Crimes and the Battle for Justice. H...

Politics

3 d. ago RFK Jr says 20% of Doge’s health agency job cuts were mistakes

Health secretary says roles will need to be reinstated amid Trump administration’s push to slash federal workforceUS politics live – latest updatesAround a fifth of the 10,000 jobs cut from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were done in error and will need to be corrected, the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has admitted.Mass layoffs from the health department began this week amid a push by Donald Trump’s administration to shrink the size of the federal government workforce. Union representatives were told around 10,000 people were to lose their jobs ahead of further reductions that could see the department’s 82,000-strong workforce slashed by nearly a quarter. Continue reading...

Society

3 d. ago Britain did better than Europe in 'Liberation Day' tariffs because of Brexit, Labour told

Ministers were yesterday urged to thank the previous government for 'getting Brexit done', after Donald Trump levied tariffs on UK goods at only half the level imposed on the EU.

Politics

3 d. ago UK Government mulls response to Trumps tariffs as global markets slide

The UK has drawn up an ‘indicative list’ of possible retaliatory tariffs, but is unlikely to hit back this month.

Politics

4 d. ago Irish Government hoping for negotiated settlement on US tariffs

Senior figures in Ireland’s Government have expressed hope for a negotiated settlement to mitigate the impact of US tariffs.

Politics

4 d. ago Labour tries to seem in control while The Donald unleashes chaos on the world | John Crace

Underneath the measured words you could almost smell the panic as the government scrambled to come up with a plan to respond to Trump’s tariffsWith characteristic humility and good grace Hardly.Shortly after 9pm UK time on Wednesday, the Sun-Bed King made his way to the White House Rose Garden, looking every bit the dishonest bookie as he held up a board with every country’s separate tariff. He might as well have been signposting the odds on a global recession. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Scottish businesses say Trump tariffs 'major blow' as UK Government considers retaliation

The Prime Minister sought to assure business on Thursday morning

Politics