16 h. ago Merz’s manoeuvres on world stage fail to quell doubts about his leadership

The German chancellor’s high-wire statesmanship on Ukraine has done little to alleviate his domestic woesEurope live – latest updatesFriedrich Merz hosted the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Wednesday as a weakened leader 100 days into his term, with his attempts to rally western support for Kyiv and wrangle Donald Trump failing to silence his domestic critics.The German chancellor took the initiative for Wednesday’s lightning round of telephone conferences bringing in EU leaders, Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance. Zelenskyy’s surprise arrival in Berlin to sit in on the calls underlined Merz’s starring role in the diplomatic efforts. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago My Festival – Hal Cruttenden: 'I should probably thank my wife for leaving me'

Stand-up comedian Hal Cruttenden is bringing ‘home truths about life, death, marriage and Trump’ to the Fringe. Here’s what he has to say about festivals past and present.

Politics

4 d. ago ‘We are at war – bring it on’: Democrats ready to fight dirty to stop Trump

Republican push for gerrymandered congressional maps triggers down-and-dirty from new generation – will it work?It was a stirring speech that brought Democrats to tears. “When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level,” Michelle Obama told them in Philadelphia in 2016. “No, our motto is: ‘When they go low, we go high.’”Fast forward to Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, speaking in Chicago this week. “This is not the Democratic party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight,” he insisted. “This is a new Democratic party. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we are going to fight fire with fire.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago What could the Cotswolds possibly offer JD Vance? I suggest a swim in one of its rivers | Marina Hyde

The VP of a thousand holidays has done Disneyland and skiing in Vermont. Now it’s time to skive off among the worst people Britain has to offerI don’t have access to the employment contract, but find myself increasingly intrigued by a question: how many days annual leave does a vice-president of the United States get? In the past five months alone, JD Vance has been on a skiing holiday, then a family trip to Disneyland, then a kayaking jaunt in Ohio – and now, he’s about to pitch up for an extended summer stay in the Cotswolds. More on all those in a bit. But let’s face it: if Vance were a politician in this country, he’d have been fitted with an unflattering holiday-related nickname months ago, and no one would take him remotely seriously.Still, time for another well-earned rest for Vacay Vance/the right honourable member for the Sun Lounger. And something of a break in tradition with recent times, in which he has preferred to holiday in national parks where the Trump administratio...

Politics

5 d. ago 'My friend gave their baby worst name ever and people think it's criminal'

Naming a child is a huge responsibility as whatever you choose has to suit both a sweet, innocent baby and an adult making their way in the world. One man was floored when his friend named their child after a crime

Events

6 d. ago Trump puts $50 million bounty on Venezuelan president for helping terrorists bring 'deadly violence' to US

The Trump administration is now offering a $50 million reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

Events

6 d. ago Donald Trump's bizarre plan confirmed as new pictures show major White House change

The US President seems very excited about changes he's making - but the latest has confirmed people's worst fears

Politics

7 d. ago Swiss urged to bring Fifa chief off bench in Trump tariff row

Political figures want Gianni Infantino enlisted to rescue talks by opening door to White House

Politics

7 d. ago Trump’s envoy Witkoff will bring back only humiliation from his meeting with Putin

Steve Witkoff - the president’s international diplomatic Mr Fixit - has failed to bring peace to the Middle East or deliver on Trump’s boast to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

8 d. ago Trump attacks blue states for accepting Texas Democrats while endorsing gerrymandered state map – live updates

President says ‘we are entitled to five more seats’ in Texas as state House battles over Republican-drawn congressional mapsFull report – Trump weighs in on Texas redistricting fightIt’s a quiet August Tuesday on the president’s schedule today. The only listed item on his agenda is an executive order signing at 4pm EDT. We don’t know the details of that just yet.Trump is also speaking on CNBC now, and we’ll bring you the latest from that interview. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump calls blue states ‘gerrymandered’ and ‘terrible’ for accepting fleeing Texas Democrats amid redistricting fight – live

President says ‘we are entitled to five more seats’ in Texas as state House battles over Republican-drawn congressional mapsTexas House pushes forward on redistricting as Democrats vow to fightIt’s a quiet August Tuesday on the president’s schedule today. The only listed item on his agenda is an executive order signing at 4pm EDT. We don’t know the details of that just yet.Trump is also speaking on CNBC now, and we’ll bring you the latest from that interview. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Caracas releases 10 Americans as Venezuelans freed from El Salvador jail

Scores of Venezuelans deported by US to El Salvador repatriated as Marco Rubio hails return of AmericansVenezuela released 10 jailed Americans on Friday in exchange for getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.The resolution represents a diplomatic achievement for the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, helps Donald Trump in his goal of bringing home Americans jailed abroad and lands El Salvador a swap that it had proposed months ago. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Tim Walz says Trump ‘brings out the worst in people – and the worst in me’

Kamala Harris running mate strikes regretful tone after calling for Democrats to ‘bully the shit out of’ US presidentDonald Trump “brings out the worst in people, and he brings out the worst in me”, Tim Walz has said in a new interview in which Minnesota’s governor struck an apologetic tone over a recent plea for his fellow Democrats to “bully the shit out of” the Republican president.Walz, who was Kamala Harris’s running mate as she unsuccessfully ran for the White House against Trump in November, made those comments in a conversation with the Minnesota news station KMSP that was published Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago 'My sister is naming her baby after a car – people say it's the worst name ever'

A man was horrified to hear about what his sister planned to call her second child – and knew he had to intervene to stop the moniker from being chosen

Politics

4 w. ago Vance Boelter told Kash Patel in letter that Gov. Tim Walz told him to kill Democratic lawmakers: report

A grand jury indicted the 57-year-old Tuesday after he embarked on ‘a murderous rampage targeting Minnesota’s elected officials and their families’

Politics

4 w. ago Donald Trump tells Starmer to 'bring back the oil' and banish windfarms ahead of Aberdeen meeting

Donald Trump is poised for Aberdeen talks with Keir Starmer and John Swinney later this month.

Politics