25 h. ago Republican unity to be tested in talks over Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

Party eyes dramatic spending cuts to turn president’s promises into reality – but not all lawmakers are on boardDonald Trump has made a simple request of Congress’s Republican leaders: deliver “one big, beautiful bill” that will turn his campaign promises into reality. By all indications, there will be little beautiful about the negotiations to come when Congress returns to session on Monday.The bill envisioned by the president will extend tax cuts enacted during his first term, fund more border defenses and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and potentially include the president’s vow to end the taxation of tips, overtime and social security payments. To pay for it, the GOP is eyeing dramatic reductions in government spending, and has targeted social safety net programs relied on by tens of millions of Americans. Continue reading...

Politics

52 h. ago Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claims US and Moscow moving in 'right direction' to end Ukraine war

US and Russia have been discussing a deal that would force Ukraine to hand over occupied land and give up its Nato ambitions

Politics

56 h. ago Kashmir attack: Indian army chief to visit Srinagar as UN urges ‘maximum restraint’

UN calls for tensions between India and Pakistan to be resolved peacefully as relations plunge to lowest level in years following deadly shootingIndia’s army chief was set to lead a high-level security review in Srinagar on Friday, days after militants opened fire on tourists in Indian-held Kashmir, killing 26 civilians in one of the worst such attacks in years.The brazen assault, carried out in a mountain meadow near Pahalgam, has derailed prime minister Narendra Modi’s claims of restored calm in the restive Himalayan territory and sent tensions soaring between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. Continue reading...

Events

2 d. ago China calls reports of ongoing US tariff talks ‘baseless’ while Trump claims administration ‘actively’ seeking deal – live

Spokesperson for China’s ministry of commerce says any claims of progress in China-US negotiations are ‘without factual evidence’South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he talked about the war in Ukraine and the need to foster good bilateral relations with the US in his phone call with Donald Trump.“We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths... to meet soon to address various matters regarding US-South Africa relations,” Ramaphosa wrote in a post on X. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago Top minister's savage clapback at Kemi Badenoch's 'fought for women' claim

Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson has accused Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of being a 'keyboard warrior' who did nothing to improve the lives of women when she was in Government

Politics

6 d. ago Ten assaults a day on asylum seekers in Home Office care, figures reveal

Exclusive: There were 380 safeguarding referrals of victims of hate crimes from January 2023 to August 2024The Home Office is recording an average of 10 assaults a day on asylum seekers in its care, according to internal government data, amid harsh government rhetoric on those crossing the Channel.Figures reveal that there were 5,960 referrals of assaults upon asylum seekers while in the care of the Home Office between January 2023 and August 2024. There were also 380 referrals of victims of hate crimes to their internal safeguarding hub during this period.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Denied, detained, deported: the people at the heart of Trump’s immigration crackdown

The White House is targeting people seen as opponents of its agenda – here are some of the most high-profile casesDonald Trump retook the White House vowing to stage “the largest deportation operation in American history”. The administration has set about further militarizing the US-Mexico border and targeting asylum seekers and refugees while conducting raids in undocumented communities and spreading fear.Critics are outraged, if not surprised. But few expected the new legal chapter that unfolded next: a multi-pronged crackdown on certain people seen as opponents of the US president’s ideological agenda. This assault has come in the context of wider attacks on higher education, the courts and the constitution. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Denied, detained, deported: the people ensnared in Trump’s immigration crackdown

The White House is targeting people seen as opponents of its agenda – here are some of the most high-profile casesDonald Trump retook the White House vowing to stage “the largest deportation operation in American history”. The administration has set about further militarizing the US-Mexico border and targeting asylum seekers and refugees while conducting raids in undocumented communities and spreading fear.Critics are outraged, if not surprised. But few expected the new legal chapter that unfolded next: a multi-pronged crackdown on certain people seen as opponents of the US president’s ideological agenda. This assault has come in the context of wider attacks on higher education, the courts and the constitution. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Pub 'banter ban' is needed so anxious staff can feel safe at work, Labour minister claims

Peers are anticipated to try and block the 'banter crackdown', as Lord Young , warned the proposed anti harassment clause will have a 'chilling effect' on free speech. (Pictured: Lilian Greenwood)

Politics

1 week ago El Salvador president vows to double size of prison holding US deportees

Donald Trump urged that the prison, which already holds 40,000, be expanded after he threatened to send American citizens who have broken the law

Events

1 week ago SNP minister claims her £19,000 pay rise won't cost the taxpayer a single penny

SNP ministers have faced a backlash after they were handed whopping pay rises.

Economics

1 week ago UK Government rejects SNP claim Grangemouth refinery would be saved in England

SNP MP Dave Doogan had claimed Labour ministers would have worked "at pace" to bring Grangemouth into public ownership if it were in England.

Politics

1 week ago Ukraine pounds Kursk with drones as Trump again blames Zelensky for Putin's invasion

Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have shot down over 100 drones above its Kursk region

Politics

1 week ago Protests in Hungary over government’s plan for constitutional amendment – Europe live

Rights campaigners say amendment, which will ban LGBTQ+ gatherings, is ‘significant escalation’ in efforts to chip away at human rightsThe Russian defence ministry also responded to the criticism for its attack on Sumy, claiming it had targeted a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers, Russian news agencies reported on Monday.We are now hearing from the Kremlin, with Russia insisting that it “strikes only military or military-related targets,” despite the widespread condemnation for the attack on civilians in Sumy (9:18). Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago John Swinney defends £20,000 pay rise for SNP ministers as 'principle of fairness'

John Swinney has claimed allowing his ministers a pay rise is guided by “fairness”.

Politics

2 w. ago Government approach to grooming gang inquiries is shameful – Sir Trevor Phillips

He claimed the reason ministers are not pursuing the local reviews in five towns is ‘obviously political’.

Politics

2 w. ago EU sanctions policy ‘failed’ to make impact on Russia, says Hungarian minister – Europe live

Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, claims sanctions ‘hit European economy more than Russian economy’Péter Szijjártó, a frequent visitor to Moscow despite the continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine, also told Bloomberg that the EU’s sanctions policy “has failed” as he claimed it “hit European economy more than the Russian economy”.He said that Hungary’s view on rolling over the existing sanctions will “depend a lot on the geopolitical circumstances”, with Budapest closely following the progress of Trump-led talks with Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago SNP Government plan to abolish two child benefit cap 'needs Westminster legislation'

EXCLUSIVE: Letters between an SNP Cabinet Secretary and a Labour Cabinet Minister reveal claims Westminster must legislate to help ScotGov's anti-poverty policy.

Politics

2 w. ago Chinese woman detained by US border patrol in Arizona dies by suicide

Officials reportedly didn’t publicly acknowledge death until inquiries were made about woman, 52, who overstayed visaA woman being detained in Arizona by US border patrol for overstaying her visa has died by suicide, according to Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.The woman, a 52-year-old Chinese national, had first been picked up in California after it had been determined that she had overstayed her B1/B2 visitor visa, Jayapal said in a statement. She was later sent to the Yuma station in Arizona where she stayed until her death on 29 March. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Chinese woman 'commits suicide in ICE custody after being arrested for overstaying her visa'

A Chinese woman who was detained at the US-Mexico border has died by suicide while being held by immigration officials. 

Events