3 d. ago Israeli airstrikes ‘kill nine’ as Hamas restates Gaza ceasefire demands

Militant group hardening its negotiating position in ceasefire talks amid new violence in territoryThe current fragile pause in hostilities in Gaza has come under further threat with Hamas hardening its negotiating positions amid new Israeli airstrikes in the devastated territory.The first phase of the ceasefire agreement ended two weeks ago but Israel is refusing to implement the scheduled second phase, which is supposed to end with its withdrawal from Gaza, the freedom of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, and a definitive end to the conflict. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Will Starmer start a trade war with Trump? PM says he is 'disappointed' at tariffs as Europe hits back with its own levies on the US in growing global crisis

Taking PMQs in the Commons, Keir Starmer made clear his unhappiness that the US had pushed ahead with the blanket 25 per cent levy on steel and aluminium imports.

Events

6 d. ago Jobs warning after Trump tariffs hit UK steel and aluminium exports

The UK Government said Donald Trump’s actions were disappointing but did not retaliate, while Brussels threatened a trade war with Washington.

Events

1 week ago US stocks reverse jobs data disappointment to trade in positive territory

Fed chair Jay Powell says central bank is no ‘hurry’ to cut rates despite weaker-than-forecast jobs figures

Politics

1 week ago Trump touts private sector jobs in latest employment data – live

Comments come as Trump vows to dramatically downsize government, including with mass firings of federal employeesCanadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has scrambled to convince Donald Trump to lift tariffs on his country, which together with Mexico and China is one of the US’s largest trading partners.That effort included a phone call between the two leaders on Wednesday, which appears to have had some effect – on Thursday, Trump exempted Canada from some of the tariffs he had imposed, along with Mexico.Trudeau responded Tuesday by placing tariffs on the US, and he questioned whether further negotiations would make any difference, accusing Trump of acting in “bad faith.” The two leaders eventually spoke Wednesday morning, an exchange Trump said ended in a “somewhat” friendly manner. A person familiar with the matter said the call grew heated and included profanity. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago European markets fall and euro soars amid Trump tariff delays

FTSE 100 drops and is on track for its worst week in a year, as Germany’s Dax index slidesBusiness live – latest updatesEuropean stock markets have slumped after Donald Trump’s second reversal on tariffs caused deep uncertainty among investors, while the euro was on track for its biggest weekly rise since the financial crisis.Germany’s Dax index dropped by 1.6%, as weak factory data added to the signs of difficult economic conditions. France’s Cac 40 fell by 1.2%, while London’s FTSE 100 dropped by 0.5% on Friday morning, after the US benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8% on Thursday night to its lowest level since early November. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump administration briefing: Trump changes tack on tariffs – again – as US plans to close consulates

Trump shelves Canada-Mexico tariffs; Musk says he is not to blame for mass firings of federal workers – key US politics stories from Thursday at a glanceDonald Trump has performed another reversal on tariffs, delaying duties on many goods from Canada and Mexico again. Trump said the reversal has “nothing to do” with turbulence in the stock market in recent days, as investors weighed his economic plans. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 1.8% on Thursday. “I’m not even looking at the market,” he claimed.It was also a day where the focus fell on the power wielded by Elon Musk and the president’s plans for US consulates in Europe. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Political data site FiveThirtyEight being shuttered amid sweeping ABC News layoffs

Two key Disney divisions are expected to slash about six percent of their staff in the entertainment giant’s latest round of layoffs, while the polling data site will wind down as part of the job cuts

Politics

4 w. ago Middle East crisis live: Lebanon concerned Israel will not withdraw troops by deadline as IDF says Hamas leader killed in south

Israeli military said it killed a Hamas commander in an airstrike in southern Lebanon’s Sidon areaReuters has seen a document that sets out the EU’s plan to tell Israel next week in talks in Brussels that Palestinian people displaced from Gaza should be “ensured a safe and dignified return to their homes in the territory.The bloc is to outline its position to Israeli officials in talks on 24 February as part of the EU-Israel Association Council, the first such session since 2022. Continue reading...

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