3 h. ago Trump live: President threatens to cut ‘very popular Democrat programs’ as shutdown drags on

Trump said the hostages in Gaza will be released early next week

Politics

4 h. ago Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals

Prosecutor who sought charges was installed amid Trump frustrations with pace of investigations against rivalsUS politics live – latest updatesA federal grand jury indicted Letitia James, the New York attorney general, for bank fraud on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the matter.Lindsey Halligan, the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, personally presented the case to the grand jury on Thursday, the person said. US attorneys do not typically present to a grand jury. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Trump live: Grand jury weighs charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James following president’s request

Trump said the hostages in Gaza will be released early next week

Politics

5 h. ago Trump says ‘we’re only going to cut Democrat programs’ as Senate again fails to pass dueling funding bills – live

Trump says federal cuts made while government is shut down will ‘only’ target his opponents’s priorities; House-passed bill and Democratic stopgap rejectedThe president has spent much of Thursday morning thanking his allies on Truth social for praising his diplomatic efforts in Gaza. “I would like to thank Republican Congressman Brian Mast, of Florida, for his brilliant words and analysis on the return of the Hostages, and Peace in the Middle East, this morning on Fox & Friends. Thank you Brian!!!,” Trump wrote in a post. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago ‘Trump is like a juggernaut’: how the Gaza ceasefire deal was done

Sidelines chat at UN was turning point for US president, but others also have right to claim role in end of two-year warGaza ceasefire plan – live updatesIt is a well-known adage in politics that success has many parents, but failure is an orphan. Except when Donald Trump is involved, in which case there is only one parent.Nevertheless, many countries and individuals have a right to step forward to claim an authorial role in the deal that it is hoped will bring an end to the two-year war in Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Trump live: RFK Jr derails Cabinet meeting revelry with bizarre story about pregnant woman ‘gobbling Tylenol’

Trump said the hostages in Gaza will be released early next week

Politics

7 h. ago Trump says ‘we’re only going to cut Democrat programs’ as Senate again fails to advance stopgap funding bill – live

Trump says federal cuts made while government is shut down will ‘only’ target his opponents’s priorities; Democratic measure fails again on ninth day of shutdownThe president has spent much of Thursday morning thanking his allies on Truth social for praising his diplomatic efforts in Gaza. “I would like to thank Republican Congressman Brian Mast, of Florida, for his brilliant words and analysis on the return of the Hostages, and Peace in the Middle East, this morning on Fox & Friends. Thank you Brian!!!,” Trump wrote in a post. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Trump holds Cabinet meeting hours after Gaza peace deal as tension rises over National Guard deployment: Live updates

Protesters lined the streets in Chicago as National Guard troops arrived this week

Politics

9 h. ago House speaker Mike Johnson accuses Democrats of ‘political theater’ as shutdown enters day nine – US politics live

Move comes as Donald Trump calls for imprisonment of Brandon Johnson, Chicago’s mayor, and JB Pritzker, the Illinois governorThe president has spent much of Thursday morning thanking his allies on Truth social for praising his diplomatic efforts in Gaza. “I would like to thank Republican Congressman Brian Mast, of Florida, for his brilliant words and analysis on the return of the Hostages, and Peace in the Middle East, this morning on Fox & Friends. Thank you Brian!!!,” Trump wrote in a post. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Trump to hold Cabinet meeting hours after Gaza peace deal as tension rises over National Guard deployment: Live updates

Protesters lined the streets in Chicago as National Guard troops arrived this week

Politics

11 h. ago Keir Starmer says ‘Bollywood blockbusters’ will be made in the UK under new trade deal with India – UK politics live

Three Bollywood movies will be made in the UK, says British PM, and two more British universities will be setting up a campus in IndiaCompensation schemes for victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal will be improved, with a new appeals process and funded legal advice for post office operators, the government has announced.Responding to the first part of the findings from a two-year public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal, regarded as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in UK legal history, the business secretary, Peter Kyle, said there would be a new appeals process for people who have accepted fixed-sum offers under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, one of several compensation schemes. Funded legal advice will also be offered. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago National guard troops ‘protecting’ ICE and other federal property in Chicago area – US politics live

Move comes as Donald Trump calls for imprisonment of Brandon Johnson, Chicago’s mayor, and JB Pritzker, the Illinois governorDonald Trump hailed what he said was a “great day” for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel and all surrounding nations, as well as the US.“We thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” he posted. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago US shutdown deadlock deepens as senators reject competing bills

Proposals from both sides fail to receive enough support as no senators change their votes from recent daysUS politics live – latest updatesThe deadlock over ending the US government shutdown deepened on Wednesday, with senators once again rejecting competing bills to restart funding as Democrats and Republicans remain dug in on their demands for reopening federal agencies.The funding lapse has forced offices, national parks and other federal government operations to close or curtail operations, while employees have been furloughed. Signs of strain have mounted in recent days in the parts of the federal government that remained operational, with staffing shortages reported at airports across the US as well as air traffic control centers. Further disruptions may come next week, when US military personnel and other federal workers who remain on the job will not receive paychecks, unless the government reopens. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago Senate again fails to pass stopgap funding bill as government shutdown drags into eighth day – live

Senate fails for sixth time to pass a funding bill in 54-45 vote – three Democrats sided with Republicans in attempt to reach 60-vote thresholdUS airport staffing shortages set to cause more delays amid shutdownDemocrat bill aims to help federal workers cover childcare costsA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Economics

32 h. ago US airport staffing shortages expected to cause more delays amid shutdown

Air traffic controllers warn of escalating delays and stress as the government shutdown enters its second weekUS politics live – latest updatesStaffing shortages at US airports are anticipated to cause further disruption to air travelers on Wednesday as effects from the US government shutdown, now in its seventh day, ripple out across the country.Union leaders for air traffic controllers and airport security screeners have warned the situation is likely to get worse, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing issues at airports in Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia, as well at its air traffic control centers in Atlanta, Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Continue reading...

Events

33 h. ago ‘This madness needs to end’ say House Republicans as shutdown enters eighth day – US politics live

Majority leader Steve Scalise continues to blame Democrats for not passing House-passed funding bill as shutdown continuesEx-FBI director pleads not guilty on lying to Congress chargeA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago Former FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty in case accusing him of lying to Congress – US politics live

Trump critic arraigned at federal courthouse in VirginiaA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago Tory plan to abolish stamp duty ‘will benefit London and the wealthiest the most’ – UK politics live

The Social Market Foundation thinktank says council tax reform and a property-based tax would be more sustainable and fairerVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understa...

Politics

35 h. ago Trump says Chicago mayor ‘should be in jail’ for not protecting Ice officers after Texas national troops arrive in Illinois – live

Trump posts on social media that Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois governor JB Pritzker ‘should be in jail’ A series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Events

37 h. ago Tories would abolish stamp duty, Badenoch tells party conference – UK politics live

Party leader says measure is a ‘bad tax’ and scrapping it would free up the housing market and improve social mobilityVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understand tha...

Politics