9 d. ago Why Starmer was quiet on Venezuela but bold against Trump on Greenland

As a progressive, Starmer has shown there is a limit to how far he can compromise with the US, and he has drawn a line on Greenland

Politics

1 week ago Iran cannot be bombed into democracy. But it can be helped to find its way there | Simon Tisdall

Independent media, civil society, the rule of law – these are the things that Iranians truly need. And there are ways for the west to help secure themSoon after becoming president in 2017, Donald Trump ordered an attack on an Islamic State (IS) underground complex in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. The strike involved the first-ever use in combat of a GBU-43 massive ordnance air blast (Moab) “bunker buster” bomb – the US’s most powerful conventional weapon. The bombing killed about 90 insurgents but failed to crush IS. It also made zero long-term difference to the US’s losing battle with the Taliban.Yet that was not the point. Inexperienced Trump, who had famously avoided military service, was keen to show he was in charge, a commander-in-chief unafraid to make tough calls and send troops into harm’s way. He craved a big bang – a spectacular demonstration of unmatched US power. Like a teenager who unexpectedly obtains the keys to the family gun cabinet, he could not resist the tem...

Events

3 w. ago Is Starmer’s reluctance to criticise Trump smart tactics – or the sign of a man without a plan? | Rafael Behr

The PM won’t call out Trump over Venezuela, and won’t commit to Europe. His refusal to choose leaves vital choices for Britain to be made by others For an inveterate liar, Donald Trump is remarkably honest. The best guide to what he thinks is what he says. When forecasting his likely course of action, start with his declared intentions – removing the president of Venezuela, for example – and assume he means it. When he says the US must take possession of Greenland, he is not kidding.The motives are sometimes muddled but rarely hidden. Trump likes making deals, especially real estate deals, and money. He wants to be great and to have his greatness affirmed with praise and prizes. He craves spectacle. The world as he describes it doesn’t always resemble observable reality, but there is an effortless, sociopathic sincerity to his falsehoods. The truth is whatever he intuits it to be in the moment to advance his interests and manipulate his audience.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist C...

Politics

3 w. ago RAF spy plane flies over path of oil tanker pursued by America through Atlantic

The Marinera has been making its way north through the Atlantic, with media reports suggesting it had avoided a naval blockade of Venezuela.

Events

3 w. ago Donald Trump's unhinged latest as he STILL hasn't spoken to Keir Starmer since Venezuela invasion

It's five years since Donald Trump's supporters mounted an attempted coup - and people are still, for some reason, surprised that he doesn't care about playing by the rules. Here's a roundup of the unhinged last 24 hours in Trump world

Politics

3 w. ago Brits disapprove of Donald Trump's Venezuela raid, poll shows

A YouGov poll found 51 per cent of Britons disapprove of the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a military operation.

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer’s priority is to protect UK relationship with Trump, Streeting suggests

Wes Streeting also issued a direct warning to the US president, saying now is ‘not the time to destabilise Nato’ after Trump threatened to annex Greenland

Politics

3 w. ago PM choosing words ‘wisely’ on Venezuela, says Cabinet minister

Sir Keir Starmer has been reluctant to criticise the US action directly.

Politics

3 w. ago Why managing Trump is far more important than defending international law for Starmer

Political editor David Maddox explains why Sir Keir Starmer could be the pivotal figure in Paris for the conference on Ukraine when European leaders know that they have to ‘manage’ Trump

Politics

3 w. ago 'I'm a prisoner of war': Venezuela's deposed leader Maduro appears in New York court after being captured by Trump

The captured Venezuelan dictator told a judge ‘I am a decent man’

Events

3 w. ago 'I'm a prisoner of war': Deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro appears in New York court after being captured by Trump

The captured Venezuelan dictator told a judge ‘I am a decent man’

Events

3 w. ago Even after Venezuela, the West must speak softly to Donald Trump

Editorial: Washington’s new imperialism has trashed the transatlantic alliance – but Keir Starmer and other leaders can yet persuade the US that they have much to contribute to its national security

Politics

3 w. ago Maduro appears in New York court as deposed Venezuelan leader says he is 'a prisoner of war'

The captured Venezuelan dictator told a judge ‘I am a decent man’

Events

3 w. ago Starmer criticised for not querying legality of Trump’s Venezuela attack

Some Labour MPs want the UK prime minister to label the US intervention as a breach of international law

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer delivers masterclass in hedging his bets after Venezuela raid

Prime minister assures colleagues he may one day stand up to Donald Trump – but not yetKeir Starmer has got used to walking a diplomatic tightrope with Donald Trump. But the US president’s Venezuelan adventure, whisking its leader out of the country after a late-night raid, has pushed that cautious approach to its limits.The clues were all there. Ever since Trump confirmed that he had authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela against drug traffickers – and blockaded oil tankers – the military campaign had been mounting. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Maduro appears in New York court as Venezuela's deposed leader says he was 'kidnapped by US'

The captured Venezuelan dictator told a judge ‘I am a decent man’

Events

3 w. ago Maduro appears in New York court as Venezuela's deposed leader pleads not guilty to drug charges

The captured Venezuelan dictator told a judge ‘I am a decent man’

Events

3 w. ago Starmer defies Trump over Greenland after US president threatens Nato ally

Comes as former Supreme Court head Lord Sumption states that Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s president was ‘illegal’ and former attorney general Dominic Grieve describes the US president as ‘a serious and significant danger to world peace’

Politics

3 w. ago Hands off Greenland! Starmer backs Denmark's rebuke to Trump

Keir Starmer threw his support behind Denmark after it rebuked the president's persistent demands to take the territory.

Politics

3 w. ago Maduro hauled to New York courthouse in handcuffs as Venezuela's deposed leader faces drug charges

The captured Venezuelan dictator is due to appear in a New York court on Monday on narco-terrorism charges which he denies

Events