5 h. ago One by one, leaders learn that grovelling to Trump leads to disaster. When will it dawn on Starmer? | Simon Tisdall

As the US president’s state visit looms, he’s leaving a trail of broken promises across the globe. Britain can’t afford to look like a lackey stateSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreSucking up to Donald Trump never works for long. Narendra Modi is the latest world leader to learn this lesson the hard way. Wooing his “true friend” in the White House, India’s authoritarian prime minister thought he’d conquered Trump’s inconstant heart. The two men hit peak pals in 2019, holding hands at a “Howdy Modi” rally in Texas. But it’s all gone pear-shaped thanks to Trump’s tariffs and dalliance with Pakistan. Like a jilted lover on the rebound, Modi shamelessly threw himself at Vladimir Putin in China last week. Don and Narendra! It’s over! Although, to be honest, it always felt a little shallow.Other suitors for Trump’s slippery hand have suffered similar heartbr...

Politics

11 h. ago Postal traffic into US plunges by more than 80% after Trump ends exemption

Dozens of operators have suspended service to the US until a solution is implemented on parcels worth $800 or lessPostal traffic into the United States plunged by more than 80% after the Trump administration ended a tariff exemption for low-cost imports, the United Nations postal agency said Saturday.The Universal Postal Union says it has started rolling out new measures that can help postal operators around the world calculate and collect duties, or taxes, after the US eliminated the so-called “de minimis exemption” for lower-value parcels. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Postal traffic to US sank 80% after Trump administration ended exemption on low

The U.N. postal agency says postal traffic into the United States plunged by more than 80% after a Trump administration move to end a tariff exemption for low-cost imports

Politics

22 h. ago Trump says he and Modi will ‘always be friends’ despite escalating trade war

India’s Modi responds saying says he reciprocates President Trump's ‘sentiments and positive assessment of our ties’ – but will it change anything about their trade impasse?

Politics

27 h. ago Alexander Isak must deliver after Liverpool transfer saga but deal doesn't hide ugly truth

MAC OF THE NET COLUMN: Things turned sour as Alexander Isak forced his way out of Newcastle by going on strike but Manchester United's treatment of Rasmus Hojlund showed the other side of the coin

Economics

29 h. ago Blindsided by Trump, Modi is learning hard lessons about India's place in the new world order | Mukul Kesavan

New Delhi spent decades cosying up to the US. The truth is, Washington doesn’t have allies outside the west – it has clientsSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreWhen Donald Trump won his second term, India’s ruling elite must have been quietly pleased. Prime minister Narendra Modi’s performative courting of King Donald, both in and out of office, suggested a special chemistry between these two titans of the hard right.As Trump set about remaking global trade and geopolitics by weaponising tariffs, India got into trade negotiations with the US early. New Delhi accepted that negotiations would be difficult, given its red lines on agricultural and dairy products. Yet it was optimistic about getting a deal commensurate with India’s economic heft – and strategic value to the US as a counterweight to China.Mukul Kesavan is an Indian historian, novelist and poli...

Politics

39 h. ago Carney launches ‘Buy Canada’ push in response to Trump tariffs

Prime minister seeks to diversify the economy as US measures hit lumber and manufacturing sectors

Politics

42 h. ago Canada's Carney to delay EV mandate as country deals with Trump's tariffs

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is delaying a requirement for automakers that sell in Canada to begin hitting minimum sales levels for electric vehicles next year

Economics

43 h. ago EU hits Google with €2.95bn antitrust fine despite trade tensions with US

Sanction comes despite Trump’s threat of retaliatory tariffs over digital regulations

Events

44 h. ago Pentagon expected to become ‘Department of War’ as US cities brace for Trump’s next national guard deployment – live

Move to rename Pentagon could cost tens of millions of dollars, with letterheads and signs needing to be changed; Chicago and Boston brace for troops after Trump’s threats this weekTrump expected to order rebrand of Pentagon as ‘Department of War’Chicago gears up for Trump’s national guard deploymentTensions between Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston, and the Trump administration have been escalating in recent months over the administration’s aggressive immigration policies, with reports now signaling the possibility of a federal immigration enforcement surge in the city.The friction came to a head last week when the Trump administration reportedly began preparing an “immigration enforcement blitz” for Boston in the coming weeks, according to Politico. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Trump’s radical agenda will ultimately reach a supreme court stacked in favor of conservatives

Court has already dramatically limited ability of lower courts to issue injunctions to pause administration policies across the USUS politics live – latest updatesThis week’s dramatic court ruling that Donald Trump’s sweeping trade tariffs, which he has used to upend global trade, were in fact illegal is the latest in a series of losses for the president’s radical agenda that are ultimately heading for a final showdown in the US supreme court.Trump has already asked the supreme court to overturn the lower court ruling in the tariffs case. Almost certain to follow are Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans, his hostile conflict with Harvard University and his deployment of the national guard and marines to Los Angeles. All have been deemed unlawful in lower courts. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago The one thing that could keep the price of wine down amid Trump’s tariffs

The harvesters are the highest paid agricultural workers in Europe

Politics

54 h. ago The cork in your wine bottle is one of very few products that dodged Trump's tariffs

U.S. winemakers have something to celebrate: the corks they’re popping aren’t subject to tariffs

Politics

58 h. ago Trump plans to sign executive order to rename Pentagon to ‘Department of War’ – live

Order would authorize Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, to introduce legislation to revert to pre-1949 nameHealth secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday, where he’s expected to face questions about turmoil at federal health agencies.The US Senate finance committee has called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again”. Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago RFK Jr grilled in tense hearing about chaos at federal health agencies and vaccines – live updates

Trump’s health secretary faces tough questions on about department layoffs and budget cuts amid scrutiny over his plans to ‘make America healthy again’Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday, where he’s expected to face questions about turmoil at federal health agencies.The US Senate finance committee has called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again”. Continue reading...

Society

66 h. ago RFK Jr and Democrats spar in tense hearing about chaos at federal health agencies and vaccines – live updates

Trump’s health secretary faces tough questions on about department layoffs and budget cuts amid scrutiny over his plans to ‘make America healthy again’Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday, where he’s expected to face questions about turmoil at federal health agencies.The US Senate finance committee has called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again”. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago RFK Jr defends chaos at federal health agencies as Democratic senators attack his ‘disaster’ tenure – live updates

Trump’s health secretary faces tough questions on about department layoffs and budget cuts amid scrutiny over his plans to ‘make America healthy again’Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday, where he’s expected to face questions about turmoil at federal health agencies.The US Senate finance committee has called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again”. Continue reading...

Events

68 h. ago RFK Jr to be grilled by senators on chaos at federal health agencies and vaccine policy changes – live updates

Trump’s health secretary is expected to face tough questions on about department layoffs and budget cuts amid scrutiny over his plans to ‘make America healthy again’Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday, where he’s expected to face questions about turmoil at federal health agencies.The US Senate finance committee has called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again”. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Trump asks Supreme Court to approve his tariffs after warning US would be ‘destroyed’ if they don’t go ahead

President demands highest court weigh in on his use of International Emergency Economic Powers Act 1977 to slap hefty levies on imported goods

Events

3 d. ago Donald Trump is having a lovechild with Satan: South Park sets up future chaos

At times, the latest episode of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s comedy feels like it’s running out of ammo when tackling the US President. But might it just be sowing the seeds of what’s to come?So far, South Park’s 27th season has had one clear goal: to provoke Donald Trump into a tantrum. Every episode has managed to pick on a new and different facet of his authoritarian rule – the silencing of his media critics, his use of Ice agents as an intimidation tactic – while simultaneously telling everyone what a tiny penis he has.So the anticipation levels were off the charts for this week’s episode, entitled Wok Is Dead, which promised to take on Trump’s tariff policy. And in fairness it did do this, but only in a couple of scenes where a Chinese character with an uncomfortably Mickey Rooney-esque accent complained about them. The rest of the episode just settled for a bunch of jokes about Labubu dolls, as well as calling Donald Trump “Satan” as many times as it feasibly could. Continue r...

Politics