3 d. ago Starmer hails Labour victory after surprise win in Hamilton byelection for Scottish parliament – UK politics live

PM congratulates Davy Russell but Reform also performed strongly, gaining third place with 26% of the voteScottish Labour win pivotal Holyrood byelectionHere is an extract from the full statement John Swinney, the SNP leader and Scottish first minister, issued after the byelection result was announced. He said it showed the need for the SNP to offer “a vision of hope and optimism”.Labour won by an absolute landslide in this area less than a year ago - we came much closer tonight but the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have made clear that we still have work to do. Over the next few days we will take time to consider the result fully. When I became leader of the SNP last year I made clear my intention to bring the party together and focus more than ever on standing up for the people of Scotland. During this campaign we heard a lot of anger about the cost of living - and it is clearer than ever that Westminster control is making Scotland poorer, whether that is the damage ...

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1 week ago Donald Trump makes chilling WW3 protection ultimatum to Canada as he pushes for '51st state'

In a bizarre protection offer, Trump is offering Canada access to his “fabulous” Golden Dome air defence for free if they give up their sovereignty and hand it to him

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1 week ago Trump and Pete Hegseth inspiring Islamic State recruitment propaganda

Experts say president’s dismantling of world order, rapport with Netanyahu and choice of Pentagon chief benefiting ISDonald Trump has a long and colorful history with the Islamic State. He incorrectly blamed the founding of IS on his predecessor, said its infamous leader “died like a dog” while announcing his assassination, and rallied an international coalition that successfully ended its so-called caliphate.So far, in his second presidency, his administration has much less to do with IS. But the terror group has still benefited from him. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Nigel Farage's plot to win over the lefties: Reform leader to 'commit to restoring winter fuel payments and scrapping two

The Reform leader is expected to announce his new promises in a speech next week in a speech where he will also accuse the PM as 'one of the most unpatriotic prime ministers in our history.

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2 w. ago Martin Lewis says winter fuel payments now need to be fixed in two ways by Keir Starmer

It comes after the Labour leader announced in parliament that the Government will change the means testing system

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2 w. ago EU to lift economic sanctions on Syria to aid recovery of war

Move comes one week after Trump announced all US sanctions on Syria would be liftedThe EU has agreed to lift economic sanctions on Syria in an effort to help the war-torn country recover after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.After the decision by EU foreign ministers on Tuesday, the EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, wrote on X: “We want to help the Syrian people rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria.” Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Mike Brown announces retirement and calls for unity in rugby leadership

The former England international is to hang up his boots upon completion of the Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership title pursuit next month.

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2 w. ago Israel launches 'unprecedented attack' as Gazans flee following undercover operation

Israeli special forces launched an 'undercover' ground offensive against a Gazan militant leader, hours before announcing fresh horror on the Strip with an 'unprecedented attack' on diehard Hamas operatives

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2 w. ago What we know about Joe Biden’s ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment options

Since the announcement, various world leaders have sent their good wishes and messages to the former US President

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3 w. ago Trump makes the Gulf states feel powerful, but the real test is: can they stop Israel’s war? | Nesrine Malik

The US president’s deference to his Middle Eastern allies is hollow if they cannot affect what happens in their own back yardDonald Trump’s visit to the Middle East last week was an exercise in disorientation. Both in terms of rebalancing the relationship between the US and the region, and in scrambling perceptions. In Riyadh, he told the Saudi royals there would be no more “lectures on how to live”. He lifted sanctions on Syria so that the country may have a “fresh start”, and he fawned over the camels and lavish architecture (“as a construction guy,” he said at one Qatari palace, “this is perfect marble”). Never has Trump appeared more in his element, surrounded by the wealth of sovereigns, the marshalling power of absolute monarchies, and their calculated self-orientalisation and over-the-top flattery.The same man who enacted the Muslim ban in his first term was strolling around mosques and shrugging off the radical path to power of the Syrian president: “Handsome guy Tough past,...

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3 w. ago Trump signs $200bn Qatar deal after hailing meeting with Syria’s ‘young, attractive’ president: Live updates

Donald Trump said ending sanctions on Syria would give the country a ‘chance for greatness’ after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

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3 w. ago Trump signs $200bn Qatar deal after hailing meeting with Syria’s ‘young, attractive’ president in Middle East tour

Donald Trump said ending sanctions on Syria would give the country a ‘chance for greatness’ after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

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3 w. ago ‘He’s a hero’: Syrians praise Trump after removal of decades

Trump was already popular among many Syrians for his decision to launch military strikes against Assad during his first term in the White House — and last night they celebrated him again

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3 w. ago Trump meets Syria’s ‘attractive, tough’ president after lifting US sanctions

US president meets Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia as lifting of sanctions is met with jubilation in DamascusUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has met Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia, telling the former jihadist he had an “extraordinary opportunity”, and said Washington is exploring normalising ties with Damascus, a day after an announcement that all US sanctions on Syria would be lifted.The US president met Sharaa, a former militant who fought against US forces in Iraq and had a $10m US bounty on his head until December 2024, alongside the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for about half an hour before a conference of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as part of his four-day visit to the Middle East. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Trump signs $200bn Qatar deal after hailing meeting with Syria’s ‘young, attractive’ president in Middle East tour: Live

Donald Trump said ending sanctions on Syria would give the country a ‘chance for greatness’ after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

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3 w. ago Trump arrives in Qatar after hailing meeting with Syria’s ‘young, attractive’ president in Middle East tour: Live

Donald Trump said ending sanctions on Syria would give the country a “chance for greatness” after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

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3 w. ago MIKEY SMITH: 9 unhinged Donald Trump moments in 24 hours as he fawns over ruthless Saudi Crown Prince

It follows his deeply weird speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - where his song choice was both entirely normal for him and entirely inappropriate for the setting. Oh, and RFK Jr took a swim in a river full of human poop

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3 w. ago Trump meets Syria’s president after lifting US sanctions on country

Meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia seen as key towards recognition of new Syrian authority’s legitimacyUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has met Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia and said that Washington is exploring normalising ties with Syria, a day after an announcement that all US sanctions on Syria would be lifted.The US president and Sharaa met before a conference of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), part of Trump’s four-day visit to the Middle East, where he is expected to court Gulf allies for investments in the US. Trump is due to land in Doha next, where he will meet with Qatari leader, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Trump claims ‘it was an honor’ to lift Syrian sanctions after meeting president in Middle East visit: Live

Donald Trump said ending sanctions on Syria would give the country a “chance for greatness” after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

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3 w. ago Syria offered to build Trump Tower in Damascus before presidents’ meeting

Syria also offered the US president a Ukraine-style mineral deal

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