4 h. ago House Speaker Johnson's top aide is arrested on charge of driving under the influence, police say

The chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing into a police vehicle following President Donald Trump’s address to Congress

Events

4 h. ago Speaker Mike Johnson’s chief of staff arrested on DUI charge after Trump’s speech

Spokesperson says Johnson ‘has full faith and confidence in Hayden’s ability to lead the Speaker’s office’

Politics

6 h. ago Trump’s veterans affairs chief defends ‘extraordinarily difficult’ plans to cut 80,000 staff – US politics live

Doug Collins says cuts are personally difficult for him as move could undo expansion in agency’s healthcare services implemented by Joe BidenDonald Trump and Justin Trudeau will speak today, Reuters reports, citing a source with knowledge of the matter.The Canadian prime minister condemned Trump’s imposition of levies on his country yesterday, saying he was looking to make its economy collapse as part of a plan to incorporate it into the United States. Trump responded with insults, and a warning that he may tighten levies further next month. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago US and Kyiv officials to meet, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff says, after intelligence sharing with Ukraine curbed – Europe live

Andriy Yermak says he has discussed next steps with US national security adviser Mike Waltz after CIA move to force sides to negotiation tableRussia takes a positive view of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement last night that he is willing to negotiate over the war, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, however, that it was not clear how this would work because Ukraine had a legal ban on negotiating with Russia, Reuters noted. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Real Sociedad vs Manchester United: Europa League prediction, kick

Europa League offers United one final chance to win silverware this season

Sport

14 h. ago Trump will consider restoring aid if talks with Ukraine progress, White House national security adviser says – Europe live

Mike Waltz says ‘president will take a hard look at lifting this pause’ if negotiations confidence-building measure put in placeRussia takes a positive view of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement last night that he is willing to negotiate over the war, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, however, that it was not clear how this would work because Ukraine had a legal ban on negotiating with Russia, Reuters noted. Continue reading...

Events

17 h. ago German debt ‘bazooka’ sends stocks, euro rallying and bond yields soaring; dollar slides – business live

Defence stocks leap while dollar falls further, sparking talk that it could lose its safe-haven statusAs defence stocks are soaring, Europe’s aerospace and defence index has hit a new record high, rising by 3.7%.The euro has also powered ahead and is now 0.8% higher against the dollar at $1.0711. Continue reading...

Society

35 h. ago Zelenskyy says he is ‘ready to work under Trump’s strong leadership’ to negotiate Ukraine peace deal – Europe live

Ukrainian president says his country is ready to sign minerals and security agreement while admitting issues over White House meetingNew EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Politics

38 h. ago JD Vance claims he was not referring to Britain or France in jibe about European troops – UK politics live

US vice president says he ‘didn’t even mention’ UK or France in jab about ‘20,000 troops from random country’ protecting UkraineMichelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s first minister, has described a decision to build thousands of lightweight missiles for Ukraine in a Belfast factory as “incredulous”.The Sinn Féin leader in Northern Ireland, who is also boycotting the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House, said the money should be invested in infrastructure and peace.I find it really incredulous that at a time when public services are being cut left, right and centre.At a time when we have endured 14 years of austerity ... I think at a time like that, rather than buying weapons of war, I would rather see the money invested in public services. Continue reading...

Politics

38 h. ago Ukraine can maintain frontline, says its PM, after Trump puts military aid on hold – Europe live

Denis Shmyhal says Ukraine ready to sign minerals deal after Trump paused aid and says country ‘will continue to work with US in a calm manner’New EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Events

39 h. ago Tories accuse Vance of being ‘deeply disrespectful’ to Britain and France with jibe about European troops – UK politics live

James Cartlidge, shadow defence secretary, says US vice president has ‘ignored service and sacrifice’ after Britain and France sent troops to AfghanistanMichelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s first minister, has described a decision to build thousands of lightweight missiles for Ukraine in a Belfast factory as “incredulous”.The Sinn Féin leader in Northern Ireland, who is also boycotting the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House, said the money should be invested in infrastructure and peace.I find it really incredulous that at a time when public services are being cut left, right and centre.At a time when we have endured 14 years of austerity ... I think at a time like that, rather than buying weapons of war, I would rather see the money invested in public services. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Europe ‘ready to step up’ as Kremlin welcomes Donald Trump decision to pause aid for Ukraine – Europe live

EU ready to increase defence spending and military capabilities as Kremlin welcomes US ‘contribution’ to the cause of peaceNew EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago EU plans to strengthen defence spending could cost €800bn, says von der Leyen – Europe live

EU Commission president says bloc is ready to massively increase defence spending and military capabilitiesUS has suspended all military aid to Ukraine, White House official says, in wake of Trump-Zelenskyy rowNew EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Economics

62 h. ago One dead and several injured with suspect arrested after car driven into crowd in Mannheim, Germany – Europe live

Local police investigating whether other suspects involved after residents warned to keep away from city centrein DublinThe Irish government has drafted legislation to remove a de facto ban on any more than 12 troops being deployed overseas as the country makes significant moves to bolster its bare and weak defence force.European Union is a project of peace, and the project of peace means that security and defence is necessarily a priority, because peace without defence is an illusion. Continue reading...

Events

63 h. ago Ukraine needs ‘strong support from its partners’, Zelenskyy says, after Macron suggests a month’s limited truce – Europe live

Ukraine president posts video showing damage from Russian attacks as French president urges pause in air, sea and critical infrastructure attacksin DublinThe Irish government has drafted legislation to remove a de facto ban on any more than 12 troops being deployed overseas as the country makes significant moves to bolster its bare and weak defence force.European Union is a project of peace, and the project of peace means that security and defence is necessarily a priority, because peace without defence is an illusion. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Markets climb as defence stocks, euro and pound rally on Europe’s Ukraine peace push – business live

German stock market records biggest gains after Starmer announces ‘coalition of the willing,’ as investors expect big splurge in defence spending Eurozone inflation has dipped, moving closer to the European Central Bank’s 2% target, ahead of a widely expected drop in interest rates at the central bank’s meeting on Thursday.Headline inflation fell from 2.5% to 2.4% in January, while core inflation, which strips out volatile energy and food costs, dropped from 2.7 to 2.6%, Eurostat said this morning.After quite a strong January reading, February eurozone inflation came in soft. Core inflation ticked down after having been stable at 2.7% since September.The weak economic environment seems to trump an increase in reported input costs for the moment. For the European Central Bank, this is a dovish sign as the governing council mulls over how low it should bring rates. Continue reading...

Economics

65 h. ago Europe live: month’s truce in Ukraine would show if Putin was acting in good faith, says French minister

Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s foreign minister, picks up earlier suggestion of truce saying it would show if Putin were willing to start negotiations in earnestKeir Starmer says Europe ‘at crossroads in history’ and must support Ukrainein DublinThe Irish government has drafted legislation to remove a de facto ban on any more than 12 troops being deployed overseas as the country makes significant moves to bolster its bare and weak defence force.European Union is a project of peace, and the project of peace means that security and defence is necessarily a priority, because peace without defence is an illusion. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago Bitcoin jumps on US crypto reserve plan; euro rises on Europe’s Ukraine peace push – business live

Cryptocurrencies rally while euro and sterling rise on Keir Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.Cryptocurrencies have rallied on plans for a new US strategic reserve, while the euro and sterling rose amid Europe’s peace push for Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Europe's unity at exceptionally high level: Zelenskyy at key meet after Trump clash

Europe's unity at exceptionally high level: Zelenskyy at key meet after Trump clash  India Today

Politics

3 d. ago Zelenskyy says minerals deal is ready to be signed as he seeks to move conversation on from White House spat – live

Keir Starmer announces additional £1.6bn package for Ukraine, allowing it ‘to buy more than 5,000 air defence missiles’Kemi Badenoch said she does not agree that the Oval Office clash was part of an orchestrated “ambush”, as some had suggested, as both Kyiv and Washington were representing their “respective national interests”.The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, says there is no difference between Labour and Conservative in terms of British support for Ukraine. When asked about the furious exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House, the Conservative party leader said her “heart went out” to the Ukrainian president while she was watching it.I couldn’t believe what was happening. He was being humiliated. I don’t think we should conduct these sort of difficult conservations in front of the cameras and we have to remember that President Zelenskyy is a hero.He is the person who represents that strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people and whatever difference a...

Society