34 h. ago Xi and Kim hold talks as west fears emergence of ‘autocratic alliance’

First in-person meeting in six years of Chinese and North Korean leaders comes as Pyongyang and Moscow deepen ties

Politics

62 h. ago ‘Europe is the core – America joined as an offshoot’: the historian challenging what ‘the west’ means

Was the ‘western alliance’ dreamt up to further American and British interests? Georgios Varouxakis argues that the idea is older, quintessentially European, and even anti-imperialistFor your book The West: The History of an Idea, you spent 12 years researching what people mean when they talk about “the west”. At a time when America’s president shows more admiration for autocratic Russia than for Nato-allied countries in Europe, are we witnessing the end of the west as an idea?I certainly wouldn’t write off the west. What we are seeing is a challenge to a version of the west that had America as its leader. But it doesn’t have to signal the end. The west is crucial to Europeans, and they have been the core of it. America joined at some point as an offshoot; it has been isolationist before, and it may become isolationist again. So we may see a different version of the west for a while, with its core in Europe, as it historically has mostly been. But America will surely return sooner o...

Events

4 d. ago Igor Julio: West Ham in talks for Brighton defender as Crystal Palace negotiations collapse

Talks over the Brazilian’s future will likely go down to the wire on Deadline Day

Politics

4 d. ago West Ham in talks with Chelsea over Axel Disasi move on Deadline Day

Hammers need Nayef Aguerd replacement, with Charlie Cresswell also an option and Igor Julio set for Crystal Palace

Events

8 d. ago Nvidia shares fall as investors weigh AI bubble risk after Altman warning

Shares in chipmaking giant Nvidia fell despite the group predicting continued bumper demand as investors feared the emergence of an artificial intelligence bubble.

Events

1 week ago West Ham close in on €20m deal for Monaco midfielder Magassa

Nottingham Forest have also shown interest in MagassaPotter wants him to be the first of two midfield signingsWest Ham are in advanced talks over a deal to sign the Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa for €17m (£14.7m) plus €3m in add-ons.Graham Potter, who is under growing pressure after opening the campaign with heavy defeats by Sunderland and Chelsea, is desperate for midfield reinforcements and has been pushing for the 21-year-old to join. West Ham have had an agreement on a fee with Monaco since the weekend but have been working on personal terms. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Today's rugby news as WRU proposals already hitting recruitment plans and 'done deal' fears emerge

These are your morning headlines on Friday, August 22

Economics

2 w. ago The perils of drawing conclusions from first week of the Premier League season

A look through history shows that the first day of the top-flight season can often be misleadingBy WhoScoredIt would not be a Premier League opening week without football-starved fans and pundits leaping to some kneejerk conclusions.Sunderland, tipped by many to make a swift return to the Championship, caused the biggest upset of the weekend with a thumping 3-0 win over West Ham, marking their first Premier League success in the month of August since 2010. Suddenly Sunderland are being talked up as safe, West Ham as doomed, and Graham Potter already on borrowed time. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Do you have a high street full of gambling shops breeding poverty and addiction? I have a way to fight back | Dawn Butler

Communities feel powerless because the law gives betting firms the upper hand. But a simple change could transfer power to the people• Dawn Butler is MP for Brent EastWalking down their local high streets, people in Britain are increasingly unlikely to come across a local butcher, baker or grocery shop, and more likely to find betting shops, casinos, adult gaming centres (AGC) and so-called bingo venues, where traditional bingo is muscled out by money-sapping slot machines. These establishments are taking over our town centres at an alarming rate. From talking to my constituents in Brent, west London, and residents across the capital, I know that people have had enough.That’s why this summer I have launched a campaign for urgent reform of our gambling laws. Ministers must give local authorities and people greater power to tackle this issue and reclaim our high streets. Currently, billionaire-owned overseas corporations have too much power, and local people have none. That needs to c...

Politics

3 w. ago Major London hospital evacuated amid fears of chemical explosion as emergency services rush to scene

Major London hospital evacuated amid fears of chemical explosion as emergency services rush to scene  GB News

Events

3 w. ago Keir Starmer meets with Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street amid claims US and Russia are planning 'West Bank

The Prime Minister and Mr Zelensky met in No10 as both leaders brace themselves for the outcome of the US President's talks with the Russian leader.

Politics

3 w. ago Newcastle close to signing Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa for £40m

Midfielder could be in squad to face Villa on SaturdayTalks over Wissa continue so Gordon may be used as No 9Newcastle are close to signing Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa for £40m after resisting competition from West Ham for the versatile 24-year-old midfielder.With talks between the clubs advanced, it is understood personal terms should not be a problem. If the deal proceeds as planned Ramsey could be in Newcastle’s squad for Saturday’s opening Premier League fixture at, coincidentally, Villa Park. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Use of AI could worsen racism and sexism in Australia, human rights commissioner warns

Labor divided on how to respond to the emerging technology as media and arts groups fear ‘rampant theft’ of intellectual propertyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAI risks entrenching racism and sexism in Australia, the human rights commissioner has warned, amid internal Labor debate about how to respond to the emerging technology.Lorraine Finlay says the pursuit of productivity gains from AI should not come at the expense of discrimination if the technology is not properly regulated. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago West Ham in talks over new role for Michail Antonio after exit confirmed

Hammers have decided against offering the forward a new contract following his car crash last year

Politics

4 w. ago ‘I love scoring goals’: meet Shekiera Martinez, the striker taking WSL by storm

After 10 goals in 12 league games earned West Ham player a rising star award she talks dogs, sleep and her football dreamShekiera Martinez’s family were sceptical when she told them, aged eight, she wanted to start playing football. She was one of four girls and a boy in her family, growing up in Germany, and one of her older sisters had by then given up the game. “I wanted to start but when I told my mum, she firstly said: ‘No, you won’t play for long, you’ll be like your sister,’” Martinez recalls. “And so then I gave her a promise that I would play for longer than my sister.”Sixteen years later, the West Ham striker has certainly kept that promise. After progressing through her local boys’ team, playing for Eintracht Frankfurt for six years and thriving at youth level for Germany, Martinez most recently collected the Women’s Super League’s Rising Star award for the 2024-25 season after a breakthrough second half of the campaign in which she scored 10 times in 12 WSL games.This is...

Events