8 h. ago Ghislaine Maxwell's family breaks their silence with bombshell claim as Trump decision to close Epstein case triggers MAGA civil war and cover

Her statement comes as President Donald Trump and his Attorney General Pam Bondi face MAGA mutiny amid claims they botched an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's laundry list of crimes.

Events

11 h. ago Trump isn't a reliable ally – but Nato dollars can be more persuasive than Putin's propaganda | Rafael Behr

There is no guarantee the US president’s impatience with Russia will last, but the Kremlin may come to regret testing his patienceBefore Donald Trump was a politician he was a property tycoon. Naturally, he thought he could fix the Ukraine war with a real-estate deal. In exchange for a ceasefire, Vladimir Putin would get to keep territory he had already seized.But before Putin was a politician he was a KGB agent who mourned the collapse of the Soviet Union. His idea of a fair solution begins with Ukraine’s total submission to an imperial Russian motherland.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago US House speaker Mike Johnson calls for release of Epstein files amid backlash

Trump has faced growing resentment over the decision of his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to withhold informationUS politics – live updatesAnalysis: How Epstein files uproar became a vehicle for QAnonMike Johnson, speaker of the House, called for the justice department to make public documents related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, breaking with Donald Trump over an issue that has roiled the president’s rightwing base.It was a rare moment of friction between Trump and the speaker, a top ally on Capitol Hill, and came as the president faces growing backlash from conservatives who had expected him to make public everything known about Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while in federal custody as he faced sex-trafficking charges. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Trump's top ally turns on him again over 'broken promises' as MAGA civil war escalates over Ukraine

The latest chapter in the internal MAGA fight features Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green blasting the Trump administration's pivot to sending arms to Ukraine.

Politics

44 h. ago Supreme court clears way for Trump to gut education department – live updates

Conservative justices lift federal judge’s order that had reinstated nearly 1,400 workers affected by mass layoffsWith Trump’s headache not showing any signs of going away, Politico learned that “an ally supportive of the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, has pitched senior White House officials on the idea of Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche doing an all-questions-addressed news conference in an attempt to exhaust the press and put the story to bed.”Maga influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer also told Politico on Sunday that “there should be a special counsel appointed to do an independent investigation of the handling of the Epstein files so that people can feel like this issue is being investigated, and perhaps take it out of [Pam Bondi’s] hands, because I don’t think that she has been transparent or done a good job handling this issue”. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago Trump continues attacks on Federal Reserve chair as he demands lower interest rates – live updates

Trump attacks Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, calling him a ‘stupid guy’ and a ‘knucklehead’ as he demands lower interest ratesWith Trump’s headache not showing any signs of going away, Politico learned that “an ally supportive of the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, has pitched senior White House officials on the idea of Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche doing an all-questions-addressed news conference in an attempt to exhaust the press and put the story to bed.”Maga influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer also told Politico on Sunday that “there should be a special counsel appointed to do an independent investigation of the handling of the Epstein files so that people can feel like this issue is being investigated, and perhaps take it out of [Pam Bondi’s] hands, because I don’t think that she has been transparent or done a good job handling this issue”. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Trump defends attorney general as Maga base furious over justice department’s handling of Epstein files – live

Trump signals backing for Pam Bondi amid calls from Maga world for her dismissalWith Trump’s headache not showing any signs of going away, Politico learned that “an ally supportive of the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, has pitched senior White House officials on the idea of Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche doing an all-questions-addressed news conference in an attempt to exhaust the press and put the story to bed.”Maga influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer also told Politico on Sunday that “there should be a special counsel appointed to do an independent investigation of the handling of the Epstein files so that people can feel like this issue is being investigated, and perhaps take it out of [Pam Bondi’s] hands, because I don’t think that she has been transparent or done a good job handling this issue”. Continue reading...

Society

3 d. ago What if Ukraine falls? This is no longer a hypothetical question – and it must be answered urgently | Simon Tisdall

Europe offers platitudes, Trump dithers, and Ukraine and its extraordinary people stand on the brink. Nato must step upFor 40 cruel and bloody months, Ukraine has fought the Russian invader. Since February 2022, when Moscow’s full-scale, countrywide onslaught began, its people have faced relentless, devastating attacks. Tens of thousands have been killed or wounded, millions have lost their homes. Ukraine’s industries, shops, schools, hospitals and power stations burn, its fertile farmlands are laid waste. Its children are orphaned, traumatised or abducted. Despite repeated appeals, the world has failed to stop the carnage. And yet Ukraine, outnumbered and outgunned, has continued to fight back.Ukrainian heroism amid horror has become so familiar, it’s almost taken for granted. But as Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, escalates the war, raining nightly terror on Kyiv and other cities using record waves of armed drones, as US support and peace efforts falter, and as Ukraine’s overs...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump takes side in MAGA civil war over Epstein files as FBI director Kash Patel breaks silence on Pam Bondi

FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly dismissed speculation surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case, breaking his silence amid a growing rift inside the Trump administration.

Events

7 d. ago Bank of England says UK banks can increase riskier mortgage lending – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as BoE recommends banks can issue more high loan-to-income level loansCopper prices in US hit record high after Trump announces 50% tariffTrump threatens to escalate trade war amid confusion over new tariff ratesCarsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research at Julius Baer, says the copper tariffs will be inflationary domestically in the US and deflationary internationally – which matches the price action we’ve seen since last night.Menke also points out that the jump in US copper prices (13% yesterday) is less than the 50% tariff, implying traders expect some imports will be exempt, saying:President Trump announced the imposition of 50% import tariffs at a cabinet meeting yesterday. While US-traded futures jumped on the news, the price differential is well below the tariff level, pointing to expectations of exemptions for key suppliers or expectations of different demand dynamics.As already mentioned, we remain of the con...

Economics

7 d. ago Copper prices in US hit record high after Trump announces 50% tariff

Latest escalation in trade war is expected to push up costs across key parts of US economyBusiness live – latest updatesCopper prices hit a record high in the US after Donald Trump announced he would impose a 50% tariff on the industrial metal, in the latest escalation in his trade war.Trump said before a cabinet meeting on Tuesday: “Today we’re doing copper,” proposing a 50% tariff rate for imports. He also threatened to impose a 200% border tax on pharmaceuticals but in a year or year and a half’s time. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Elon Musk names top Trump ally in the Epstein files as MAGA civil war spirals

Billionaire Elon Musk has launched another salvo at MAGA world by claiming that former Trump advisor Steve Bannon is implicated within the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Politics

7 d. ago Trump threatens to escalate trade war amid confusion over new tariff rates

US president announces tariffs of up to 200% on foreign drugs and 50% on copper as he continues to shift plansDonald Trump vowed to further escalate his trade wars on Tuesday, threatening US tariffs of up to 200% on foreign drugs and 50% on copper, amid widespread confusion around his shifting plans.Hours after saying his latest deadline for a new wave of steep duties was “not 100% firm”, the US president declared that “no extensions will be granted” beyond 1 August. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Elon Musk drops Epstein files bombshell as he claims Steve Bannon on list

Elon Musk has claimed, without evidence, that a major ally of Donald Trump is in an alleged client list belonging to the late Jeffrey Epstein - after making a similar claim about the US president

Events

8 d. ago Fox News’ Peter Doocy corners Karoline Leavitt on Pam Bondi’s broken Epstein ‘client list’ promise

‘So what happened to the Epstein client list that the attorney general said she had on her desk?’ Peter Doocy wondered during Monday’s press briefing.

Politics

1 week ago Many say Elon Musk 'wants to be the US President' as he launches party – but there's reason he can't

Elon Musk has announced that his new America Party has been "formed" in what appears to be a dig at former ally-turned-foe Donald Trump, sparking speculation that he could be looking to run for presidency himself

Politics

2 w. ago Trump ally and mega investor launches PAC to go against Musk’s political ambitions

James Fishback, a former Department of Government Efficiency adviser, launched the FSD PAC Tuesday in response to Musk’s ‘antics’

Politics

2 w. ago Mexican cartel civil war escalates as four decapitated bodies hung from bridge

Officials in Mexico have been ordered to review their plans for tackling organised crime after a wave of bodies were found scattered across the city of Culiacan - with some heads detached

Events

2 w. ago Elon goes nuclear on 'insane spending bill' with new pledge that could threaten Trump's Republican majority

Ex-Trump ally billionaire Elon Musk 's latest promise could throw a major wrench into Trump's governance plans for his second term.

Politics

2 w. ago Man Utd's forgotten wonderkid opens up on transfer 'mess' after broken Jose Mourinho promises

Ex-Manchester United youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah remains confident of finding a club despite last playing in April 2023 at Bayer Leverkusen and being a free agent for 12 months

Politics