64 h. ago House passes Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ tax and spending bill after months of wrangling – US politics live

Sweeping legislation will now be sent to the SenateThe Kremlin said on Thursday that a report in the Wall Street Journal which said US president Donald Trump had told European leaders that President Vladimir Putin did not want to end the war in Ukraine contrasted with its own knowledge.The Journal said Trump had briefed European leaders after talking to Putin by phone on Monday and said Putin wanted to keep fighting in Ukraine because he thought he was winning.With a narrow 220-212 majority, House Speaker Mike Johnson could not afford to lose more than a handful of votes from his side.Republicans on the party’s right flank had pushed for deeper spending cuts to lessen the budget impact, but they met resistance from centrists who worried they would fall too heavily on the 71 million low-income Americans enrolled in the Medicaid health program. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago 'Humiliated' Trump will let Putin off the hook on Ukraine to get Russia trade deal, says Ben Wallace

The Former Defence Secretary made the prediction after a two-hour phone call between the US president and Russian leader

Politics

5 d. ago Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses Ukraine ceasefire

Trump describes call as ‘excellent,’ despite Putin’s lack of support for ceasefire that US said was primary objectiveTrump says Russia-Ukraine ceasefire discussions to start immediately but Kremlin denies timeline for talks – liveVladimir Putin and Donald Trump have held a rare phone call, which the US leader described as “excellent,” but the Kremlin refused to agree to a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, despite pressure from Washington and European allies.Speaking to reporters in Sochi after the two-hour conversation on Monday, Putin described the call as “very meaningful and frank,” and said he was prepared to work with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum for future peace talks. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump and Putin's 'frank and informative' phone call lasts two hours

The phone chat between the two world leaders comes four months after Trump retook the Oval Office hot seat and promised a 'swift action' to end to the war in Ukraine

Politics

6 d. ago Cannes, Eurovision and a pope’s inaugural mass: photos of the weekend

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Culture

6 d. ago Cannes, Pope Leo’s Inauguration Mass and Eurovision: photos of the weekend

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Culture

6 d. ago AP PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV takes his first popemobile ride in St. Peter's Square ahead of installation

Pope Leo XIV took his first popemobile ride through St. Peter’s Square ahead of his installation on Sunday, waving from the back of the open-back truck to the crowd waving flags and cheering “Viva il Papa!”

Culture

2 w. ago Pope Leo XIV lays a white rose on the tomb of the late Pope Francis as he pays touching tribute to his predecessor

Vatican News published a photo of the white-robed pope kneeling before Francis's marble tomb at the basilica in central Rome, where the faithful are still queueing to pay their respects.

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy and European leaders hold ‘fruitful’ phone call with Trump

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy and European leaders hold ‘fruitful’ phone talk with Trump

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trove of documents unsealed in NYC mayor's criminal case offers a glimpse of thwarted investigation

Federal agents investigating New York City Mayor Eric Adams were still seizing phones and applying for search warrants days before Justice Department leaders ordered prosecutors to drop the corruption case

Events

2 w. ago AP PHOTOS: A look at Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the US

Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. On Thursday, he ascended to become Pope Leo XIV — the first pope from the U.S.

Culture

2 w. ago PHOTO COLLECTION: Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Culture

2 w. ago The new pope, VE Day tributes and airstrikes: photos of the day – Thursday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Culture

3 w. ago Donald Trump posts AI photo of himself as Pope and sparks fury after Francis funeral

United States President Donald Trump has shared a mock-up of himself dressed as the Pope just a week after attending the funeral of Francis at the Vatican, sparking outrage

Culture

3 w. ago PHOTO COLLECTION: Vatican Pope College of Cardinals' Meeting Week 2

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Culture

3 w. ago PHOTO COLLECTION: Vatican Pope Tomb inside St. Mary Major Basilica

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Culture

3 w. ago World leaders caught on phone at Pope Francis' funeral — who made the naughty list

Several world leaders were spotted whipping out their phones to take photos of the Pope Francis' coffin at his funeral on Saturday, with social media users left stunned

Politics

3 w. ago A sunbathing Dalek and farewells to Pope Francis: photos of the weekend

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Culture

3 w. ago First photos of Pope Francis' tomb show it is adorned with a single white rose and simple inscription

The Vatican has released the first images of the Pope's tomb at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome after he was laid to rest on Saturday.

Culture