15 h. ago One by one, leaders learn that grovelling to Trump leads to disaster. When will it dawn on Starmer? | Simon Tisdall

As the US president’s state visit looms, he’s leaving a trail of broken promises across the globe. Britain can’t afford to look like a lackey stateSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreSucking up to Donald Trump never works for long. Narendra Modi is the latest world leader to learn this lesson the hard way. Wooing his “true friend” in the White House, India’s authoritarian prime minister thought he’d conquered Trump’s inconstant heart. The two men hit peak pals in 2019, holding hands at a “Howdy Modi” rally in Texas. But it’s all gone pear-shaped thanks to Trump’s tariffs and dalliance with Pakistan. Like a jilted lover on the rebound, Modi shamelessly threw himself at Vladimir Putin in China last week. Don and Narendra! It’s over! Although, to be honest, it always felt a little shallow.Other suitors for Trump’s slippery hand have suffered similar heartbr...

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3 d. ago Nigel Farage meets Donald Trump in the Oval Office after hitting out at Keir Starmer's 'awful, authoritarian' UK over civil liberties

Nigel Farage has met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office shortly after lambasting Sir Keir Starmer's online safety laws as 'awful' and 'authoritarian.'

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4 d. ago Keir Starmer blasts ‘disgraceful’ Nigel Farage for ‘badmouthing’ UK on Reform leader’s US visit

Sir Keir Starmer has slammed “disgraceful” Nigel Farage for “badmouthing” the UK, as the Reform leader skipped Prime Minister’s Questions to appear at the US congress.

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8 d. ago Starmer's stinging snub to Trump as he turns down bottle of fancy whisky from US president

The two leaders met at Trump's golf club in Turnberry, Scotland, last month before travelling abroad Air Force One together to the US President's Aberdeenshire golf club.

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1 week ago Final arguments in publisher Jimmy Lai's national security trial conclude in Hong Kong

The final arguments have concluded in the national security trial of Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper founder Jimmy Lai

Events

1 week ago Donald Trump claims UK in for 'bad awakening' thanks to Starmer's energy policy

Trump's comments come despite the UK's reliance on fossil fuels being one of the factors driving up energy costs, with wind power being significantly cheaper than nuclear, gas or coal

Politics

2 w. ago Flying Ukraine flags ‘a visible symbol of UK’s unwavering support’ – Government

A spokesperson said: “Our support for Ukraine’s independence will be clear for all to see.”

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2 w. ago In numbers: Is the UK ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine?

Keir Starmer’s commitment to deploy British peacekeepers to Ukraine has raised questions over whether the UK is ready for conflict, Alicja Hagopian writes

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2 w. ago Recap: Putin suggests hosting Zelensky peace meeting in Moscow during Trump phone call but offer is swiftly rejected

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky will meet, Donald Trump has said after a White House summit with European leaders aimed at bringing an end to the Ukraine war.

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2 w. ago New pics of Trump holding court in Oval Office branded ‘embarrassing’ as world leaders sit around his desk: ‘Like schoolchildren’

Some on social media noted that the set up, with Trump behind the Resolute Desk and his European counterparts on chairs opposite him, presented the president as hosting a bunch of ‘unruly schoolchildren’

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2 w. ago Keir Starmer gives major update on Ukraine security plans after crunch Trump meeting

Keir Starmer co-chaired a meeting of the 'Coalition of the Willing' and vowed that European leaders would work with the US to draw up crucial plans to defend Ukraine is a peace deal is reached

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2 w. ago Starmer returns to Scotland after family holiday interrupted by Ukraine talks

The Prime Minister flew to Washington DC from Glasgow for the meeting held by US President Donald Trump.

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer hails ‘breakthrough’ on security guarantees after crunch White House Ukraine talks

Sir Keir Starmer said ‘real progress’ was made during the crunch talks on Monday

Events

2 w. ago Starmer hails ‘breakthrough’ on security guarantees after Ukraine talks

US President Donald Trump described the talks as ‘very good’ and said a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin would be arranged.

Events

2 w. ago Starmer hails ‘real progress’ on Ukraine after European leaders gather at White House

Sir Keir Starmer praised the White House meeting with eight European leaders, including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, and Donald Trump as a possibly “historic step” towards ending Vladimir Putin’s war

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine live updates: Trump and European leaders press Putin to agree to Zelenskyy meeting

US president says arrangements being made for bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy and that US will help guarantee Ukraine’s security if a deal is reachedFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesSketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meetBritish prime minister Keir Starmer has described the talks at the White House as “good and constructive” and said they produced “real progress”.Speaking after the summit, Starmer said: “There was a real sense of unity between the European leaders that were there and President Trump and President Zelenskyy.”The other material outcome was the agreement that there will now be a bilateral agreement between President Putin and President Zelenskyy, that was after a phone call between President Trump and President Putin during the course of this afternoon, followed by a trilateral that will add in Trump.That is a recognition of the principle that on s...

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer hails ‘real progress’ made during White House summit on Ukraine war

Posting on his Truth Social platform after the meeting, Donald Trump also described the talks as ‘very good’.

Events

2 w. ago Trump and Zelensky met with other world leaders in White House as Russia peace deal inches closer

US president suggests ‘possible territory exchanges’ after Putin summit

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer says crucial Ukraine meeting is about ‘security of the UK’ as European leaders gather at White House

Sir Keir Starmer praised the White House meeting with eight European leaders, including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, and Donald Trump as a possibly “historic step” towards ending Vladimir Putin’s war

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer praises Trump and says today's meeting could be 'historic'

Keir Starmer thanked Trump at the top of a multilateral meeting of European leaders and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky

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