42 m. ago Climate disasters in first half of 2025 costliest ever on record, research shows

LA wildfires and storms this year cost $101bn, new study by non-profit resurrecting work axed by Trump saysThe first half of 2025 was the costliest on record for major disasters in the US, driven by huge wildfires in Los Angeles and storms that battered much of the rest of the country, according to a climate non-profit that has resurrected work axed by Donald Trump’s administration that tracked the biggest disasters.In the first six months of this year, 14 separate weather-related disasters that each caused at least $1bn in damage hit the US, the Climate Central group has calculated. In total, these events cost $101bn in damages – lost homes, businesses, highways and other infrastructure – a toll higher than any other first half of a year since records on this began in 1980. Continue reading...

Events

93 m. ago MIKEY SMITH: 14 unhinged Donald Trump moments as he makes sinister and dictator

Donald Trump threatened the 2020 result must "never happen again", and gave out "Trump 2028" hats to Republicans while continuing to demolish the White House

Politics

97 m. ago UN chief defends science and weather forecasting as Trump threatens both

The United Nations chief has delivered a strong defense of science and weather forecasting as the Trump administration threatens both

Politics

2 h. ago US ‘Night Stalkers’ seen in Caribbean as fears of regime change rise in Venezuela

Elite helicopter unit’s part in military deployment comes as Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Nicolás MaduroThey call themselves the Night Stalkers and their unofficial motto hints at the group’s lethal nocturnal line of work: “Death Waits in the Dark.” “You can flee, but they will find you,” warns a rare book about the US army’s secretive 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).Since the elite helicopter unit’s creation in 1981, its daredevil pilots have taken part in some of the most dangerous missions in recent US military history: battling Islamic State during Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria, and Somali warlords during Operation Gothic Serpent; and spiriting Navy Seals into Pakistan to kill the al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden as part of Operation Neptune Spear. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago NY mayor and police distance themselves from Ice raids amid Chinatown protests – US politics live

Comments by Eric Adams and NYPD that city has ‘no involvement’ follow protests over raids related to ‘selling counterfeit goods’Donald Trump is at the White House today, per his official schedule.The president’s only listed event is his meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte at 4pm ET. Currently that meeting is closed to the press, but we’ll let you know if that opens up. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago NATO scrambles warplanes after devastating Russian strike on Ukraine

The devastating strikes follow reports that a proposed meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is off after the Russian President refused to halt his war on Ukraine

Events

3 h. ago Stephen Colbert scorns Trump over White House ballroom ‘lie’

Trump promised in July that his new White House ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere with the current building’

Politics

3 h. ago Trump’s call to freeze Ukraine conflict at current frontlines is ‘good compromise’, says Zelenskyy – Europe live

Ukrainian president’s comments come amid suspension of planned US-Russian summit and fresh attacks on Kyiv and KharkivChildren among six killed in Russian attack on KyivRussia said on Wednesday that preparation for a presidential summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump was still continuing, despite the latter announcing it had been shelved (see 10.30am BST).“We are saying that preparations for a summit are continuing,” Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the state TASS news agency.I want to officially confirm: Russia has not changed its position compared to the understandings that were reached during the Alaska summit. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Trump faces mounting legal battle over National Guard deployments across US

President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy the military in Chicago, Portland and other Democratic-led cities have brought an array of court challenges

Politics

4 h. ago SNP demands UK government cough up £26m to cover the cost of policing private visits to Scotland by Donald Trump and JD Vance

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said it was up to the UK government to pick up the tab for what were 'diplomatically significant' visits in the summer.

Economics

4 h. ago UK and Scottish governments row over footing £24.5m bill for Trump and Vance visits

Treasury says trips were private while Scottish ministers point out US president met Keir Starmer and it had to stump up for extra policingThe UK government needs to “step up” and reimburse the £24.5m cost of Donald Trump and JD Vance’s recent visits to Scotland, Holyrood’s public finance minister has said.Provisional costs of almost £24.5m for the two working visits have been published by the Scottish government. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Scotland demands £24.5m from Westminster for Trump and Vance visits

Treasury says trips were private while Scottish ministers point out US president met Keir Starmer and it had to stump up for extra policingThe UK government needs to “step up” and reimburse the £24.5m cost of Donald Trump and JD Vance’s recent visits to Scotland, Holyrood’s public finance minister has said.Provisional costs of almost £24.5m for the two working visits have been published by the Scottish government. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago The secret lives of autograph hunters: ‘Donald Trump was really hard to get’

Why do so many people spend their time at stage doors and sending out requests for signatures? Those who have collected thousands of autographs explain the thrillAndrew Broughton still remembers the first celebrity autograph he ever got. “It started by accident,” he says, when he was 13 and doing a project about horror films at school. “I love Hammer horror. I wrote a letter to [actor] Peter Cushing and sent it to the BBC. A large envelope came back and a lovely letter. He sent me some signed film stills. So I got the bug. I just thought: there’s nothing to stop me writing to anybody.”Since then, Broughton, 62, has collected autographs from some of the biggest stars in TV, film, music and sports, as well as royalty, politicians and world leaders. The walls of his home in Derby are covered in framed signed photos from the late queen, King Charles, Diana, Princess of Wales, Brigitte Bardot, John Travolta, Kylie Minogue, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Muhamm...

Politics

6 h. ago SNP Ministers demand bill for Donald Trump trip is picked up by Labour Government

The Scottish Government also wants reimbursed for vice president Vance's trip north of the border.

Politics

6 h. ago A Cuban man deported by the US to Africa is on a hunger strike in prison, his lawyer says

A lawyer representing a Cuban man deported by the United States to the African nation of Eswatini says he is on a hunger strike after being held at a maximum-security prison for more than three months without charge or access to legal counsel

Events

7 h. ago Trump warns Hamas he could 'take care of them in two minutes' as he condemns terror group for breaking peace deal terms after videos of them torturing and executing Palestinians emerge

Donald Trump has warned Hamas he could 'take care' of the terror group in just two minutes as he condemned them for not honouring its ceasefire deal with Israel. 

Events

9 h. ago North Korea fires ballistic missiles days before Trump's visit to South Korea

North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles in its first such weapons test in five months, the South Korean military said, in a move that comes days before U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the region.

Events

9 h. ago A massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s capital kills at least 2, Ukrainian officials say

Ukrainian officials say Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s capital, killing at least two people

Events

10 h. ago The EU was complicit in the war in Gaza. Trump's plan can't be an excuse to dodge responsibility now | Nathalie Tocci

Tiptoeing around Israel has cost Europe its credibility. It must exert meaningful pressure to ensure the horrors we have seen never happen againThe first phase of Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza has drawn a collective sigh of relief from European leaders. After two years of slaughter, the ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, the Israeli military’s partial withdrawal from Gaza and humanitarian access to the territory offer hope – and unfortunately, an excuse for Europe to continue doing nothing.When it comes to the war in Gaza, unlike Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European governments have shown their worst colours. They are divided, and their political splits have led to policy paralysis. But worse than sitting on the sidelines hand-wringing, European governments and EU institutions in Brussels can be accused of complicity in Israel’s war crimes. They have been unwilling to exert any pressure on the perpetrators, while continuing economic, political and...

Politics

11 h. ago Hillary Clinton melts down over Trump's 'big, beautiful White House Ballroom'

The original section of the building was being demolished on Monday to make way for the president's gilded $250 million ballroom.

Politics