9 h. ago The EU beat COVID and ditched Russian energy. Now it must learn to live without US security help

The European Union is getting good at adapting to unprecedented circumstances

Events

9 h. ago Trump says US won’t give Ukraine security guarantees ‘beyond very much’ ahead of Starmer meeting – UK politics live

Starmer said he wants Trump to agree that, in the event of a peace settlement in Ukraine, US will offer security guarantees that make it durableEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

56 h. ago Starmer to make surprise announcement on ‘defence and security’ in Commons, ahead of meeting with Trump – UK politics live

Starmer is to give a statement to MPs at 12.30pm the Commons authories have announcedThe rightwing historian Niall Ferguson is in the audience for Badenoch’s speech, according to James Heale from the Spectator.Niall Ferguson spotted at Kemi Badenoch’s big speech on foreign affairs hearing we might get some policy tooTractors’ horns interrupt Badenoch’s speech shortly after she begins speaking. Attendant spinner heard swearing furiously Continue reading...

Politics

56 h. ago BREAKING: Watch live as Keir Starmer gives major update on defence and security

The Prime Minister is making a rare statement to the Commons about defence and security amid growing calls to ramp up spending due to the crisis in Ukraine and Donald Trump's interventions

Events

3 d. ago Trump says Europe must take ‘central role’ in Ukraine’s security as Macron says peace agreement ‘must not mean a surrender’ – live

US and French presidents touted productive talks at the White House amid concerns over US position on UkraineThe EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier said that she would be travelling to the US tomorrow to meet with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, adding that what she called the “Russian narrative” is “strongly represented” in comments being made by the second Donald Trump administration.She told reporters “I think it’s good that we have as many interactions with the new administration in US as possible. I’m also travelling tomorrow to the US to meet Marco Rubio and others there to discuss these issues, because it’s extremely important.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago German election live: voters head to polls amid fears over Ukraine security, Trump and rise of far right

Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz could unseat chancellor Olaf Scholz but threat of gains by far-right AfD looms largeBerlin correspondentIn the run-up to today’s vote, the Guardian’s Kate Connolly travelled more than 850 miles on trains across Germany to hear what its citizens have to say about the state of their nation. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Hamas hands over six hostages but Israel delays release of 600 Palestinians

Ceasefire in jeopardy as Israel waits for meeting of security cabinet under pressure from right-wingersMiddle East crisis – live updatesHamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday, but Israel delayed the handover of more than 600 Palestinians it was due to free from its prisons in exchange, putting the five-week-old ceasefire agreement once more in jeopardy.The government said the release would be delayed until after a scheduled meeting of the security cabinet on Saturday evening at the earliest. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Trump’s White House says Elon Musk not in charge of DOGE as top Social Security official quits: Live

Billionaire’s role in administration limited to senior adviser and employee status, court filing reveals, as acting commissioner Michelle King resigns over data access row

Politics

9 d. ago White House says Elon Musk not in charge of DOGE as top social security official exits: Live

Court filing reveals Musk's role in the Donald Trump administration is limited to a White House employee and senior adviser to the president

Society

1 week ago Europe at ‘turning point’ as leaders meet in Paris to discuss Ukraine crisis

Ursula von der Leyen urges ‘emergency mindset’ in response to US decision to enter bilateral talks with RussiaEurope live – latest updatesEurope’s security is “at a turning point”, the president of the European Commission has said, as leaders from major European powers prepared to meet in Paris for emergency talks on their role in an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.After last week’s shock move by the US to sideline Kyiv and its European backers from peace negotiations, Ursula von der Leyen said the issue was “about Ukraine – but also about us. We need an urgency mindset. We need a surge in defence. And we need both of them now.” Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Starmer warns UK faces ‘generational’ threat to security as PM to meet Trump in Washington: UK politics live

Badenoch claimed Western civilisation was in crisis as she spoke to global right-wing leaders on Monday

Events