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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Wife of US soldier deported after Trump rollback on military family protections
Cristy Maryori Villafranca-Trejo, deported to Honduras, is latest military spouse to face removal amid Trump 2.0 The wife of an active-duty US soldier was deported on Monday to her native Honduras , according to her family and the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Cristy Maryori Villafranca-Trejo is at least the seventh spouse or parent of an active-duty US soldier to be deported under the immigration crackdown during Donald Trump ’s second presidency. Continue reading...
Why do some Labour MPs want electoral reform and will it happen?
Despite the policy not being included in the party’s 2024 manifesto, Andy Burnham is under pressure to act Andy Burnham is facing new pressure to act over electoral reform, with nearly 100 of his MPs backing a commission to decide on a route to replace the first-past-the-post voting system. Why is this an issue for Labour – and will anything happen? Continue reading...
Labour MPs will push Burnham to back voting reform in first 100 days
Exclusive: Nearly 100 Labour MPs support commission on changing the system used for Westminster election Why do some Labour MPs want electoral reform and will it happen? Andy Burnham will face an immediate test of his backing for electoral reform in his first week in parliament as prime minister, with almost 100 Labour MPs supporting a bid for a new national commission. Burnham, a longtime advocate of electoral reform, will be asked to support the new commission into ditching first past the post in his first 100 days as prime minister. Continue reading...
Celebrity tributes pour in for Dolly Parton: ‘a gift to the world’
Lily Tomlin, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bernie Sanders and Kacey Musgraves are among those remembering the queen of country after she died aged 80 Alexis Petridis on Dolly Parton’s peerless career which turned country music cliches inside out Dolly Parton – a life in pictures Country music legend Dolly Parton dies aged 80 – latest updates Tributes have poured in for Dolly Parton , the country singer and actor, after her death aged 80. News of her death was shared by her nephew on social media . “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus,” he said. Continue reading...
Taiwan charges nine people for smuggling ‘high-end’ AI servers to China
Among those charged are two Super Micro employees and one from Nvidia, marking another flashpoint in US-China AI rivalry Taiwanese prosecutors charged nine people Monday, including one from Nvidia and two from Super Micro, for illegally exporting “high-end AI servers” to mainland China, adding another wave of turbulence in the AI rivalry between China and the United States. Prosecutors said the servers involved were graphics processing units known as “B300,” which have been banned from sale to China. Continue reading...
Hakeem Jeffries defends his meeting with Trump envoy Jared Kushner
House minority leader is under attack from his own party for ‘affordability crisis’ meeting with president’s son-in-law Democrats incredulous over Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner meeting US politics live – latest updates Hakeem Jeffries , the Democratic minority leader in the US House of Representatives, has defended his meeting with Jared Kushner and claimed it was arranged at the request of Donald Trump ’s son-in-law. Jeffries, who has come under attack from Democrats since the New York Times reported on Sunday that the two met privately to discuss common ground on issues like housing, immigration and the high cost of living, said he agreed to the meeting “to discuss the affordability crisis” in the US. Continue reading...
Country music legend Dolly Parton dies aged 80 – latest updates
The country music star’s death was announced by nephew Brian Seaver on Instagram Dolly Parton, US country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80 A life in pictures Parton’s peerless career turned country music cliches inside out Beneath the wig and rhinestones, Dolly Parton was the genius behind strings of classic songs from Jolene to I Will Always Love You that continue to inspire new artists, writes Guardian music critic Alex Petridis. You can read his tribute here. Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family has announced. This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father, Larry, held before me. I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now. It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. Continue reading...
Trump faces backlash from Republicans over plan to lift tariffs on beef imports
Alarm as Republicans warn that ‘flooding’ stores with 300,000 metric tons of beef imports will hit US farmers Donald Trump is facing growing criticism from within his own party over his decision to temporarily pause US tariffs on foreign beef in a bid to bring down grocery prices. The president’s announcement that the US will import up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef without charging higher tariffs has alarmed some senior Republicans, who warn that “flooding” stores with imports will hit US farmers. Continue reading...
Dolly Parton – a life in pictures
The country music star, actor and philanthropist’s long and varied career spanned decades Dolly Parton, country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80 Country music legend Dolly Parton dies aged 80 – latest updates Continue reading...
Dolly Parton, US country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80
Songwriter of I Will Always Love You, Jolene and 9 to 5 also invested millions in child literacy, Covid-19 vaccine development and other causes Dolly Parton, one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music who was also much cherished for her philanthropy, has died aged 80. Her death was announced by nephew Brian Seaver on Instagram. Continue reading...
Trump-backed Ken Paxton unveils ‘Texas first’ datacenter plan aimed at ‘negative impact’
The Republican Senate candidate announced the plan with a graphic X flagged as ‘Made with AI’ US politics live – latest updates Ken Paxton , a Republican candidate for the US Senate in Texas, has unveiled plans to tackle the “negative impact” of datacenters amid a growing backlash across the political spectrum. Paxton, endorsed by Donald Trump but facing a close contest against Democrat James Talarico, posted a “Texas first” datacenter plan on X with a graphic that the social media network flagged as “Made with AI”. Continue reading...
At least 47 killed and dozens kidnapped in gang attack near Haiti capital
Gang leader threatens to kill hostages after attack in Kenscoff in which homes were also set alight ‘A massacre’: Haiti gangs carrying out mass killings At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped when armed men attacked a once peaceful community near Haiti’s capital at the weekend, the UN has said. A gang leader has threatened to kill the hostages if authorities kill any gang members as they try to secure the community of Kenscoff, nestled in the hills above Port-au-Prince. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on Trump’s economic threats: bullies can overplay their hand | Editorial
Tariffs on Canada, threats against Iran’s partners and bond market intervention show a president weaponising US power while making Americans poorer at home Three moves in the last week have exposed the limits of Donald Trump’s economic bullying . The US slapped 50% tariffs on another $20bn of Canadian goods – then threatened the same rate on the cars, trucks, parts and steel that America Inc depends on. On Monday, the Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, menaced Iran’s trading partners with exclusion from the US financial network, hoping that coercion can deliver what months of war have not. And as the costs of war, tariffs and pro-billionaire tax cuts helped send US bond yields higher, the Treasury stepped in to tame long-term rates. These are not contradictory policies but a gamble: that US economic power can be repeatedly weaponised without reducing others’ willingness to depend on it. The Trump administration’s “D-day” sanctions are potentially the most consequential because they expose the scaffolding of American financial power. While markets shrugged off the immediate threat , that calculation might change were the US to target a major Chinese refinery or bank. Such an escalation could spark a trade war with Beijing. The US has leverage. But China has pressure points – especially farmers in Republican states – that make using it costly. In the long run, there is a price to pay. Nations hold one another’s currencies partly because they trust the political relationship. Mr Trump is testing what happens when they don’t. Continue reading...
Ella Baron on Rupert Lowe’s earnings from X – cartoon
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Multiple people killed in shooting at Montana home also set on fire, officials say
Children were among victims of Sunday shooting in Billings in case police have characterized as a family disturbance Multiple people – including children – were killed on Sunday evening in a shooting at a home in Billings, Montana , that was also set on fire, according to authorities and local media reports. Police have characterized the case as a family disturbance, according to Montana news outlet KULR . Continue reading...
Revealed: How undercover agents spied on anti-ICE protesters in Minnesota
One agent’s aim was to ‘gather intelligence regarding any organized networks of conspirators’ Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Newly disclosed records reveal how undercover federal agents posed as concerned community members to spy on residents and activists who opposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) crackdown in Minnesota. Internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) files, disclosed in federal court and reviewed by the Guardian, document the actions of several undercover agents, including one who went by the username “peanutbutterjelly” in Signal chats with activists. The documents show that the officer kept records of Signal conversations, screenshotting chats about protest plans, and offering to help with fundraising efforts and volunteer recruitment. Continue reading...
UK to warn citizens to stock up on food amid threat from climate crisis and hostile states
Government resilience campaign aims to ensure people can cope in a national disaster, in order to free resources for most vulnerable UK citizens will be told to stock up on tinned food and take steps to ensure they are prepared for national emergencies as part of a new government campaign to improve the nation’s resilience. The new campaign from the Cabinet Office will set out ways people can prepare for extreme weather events and potential attacks from hostile states, including stocking up on bottled water, sources told the Guardian. Continue reading...
Canada announces 50% retaliatory tariffs on hundreds of US imports as trade war escalates – video
Announcement of tariffs on $20bn worth of US goods follows through on Mark Carney's vow to match US tariffs 'dollar for dollar' Continue reading...
Canada announces retaliatory tariffs on wide range of US goods
Ottawa’s ‘focused response’ to levies imposed by Donald Trump on Canadian products comes after trade talks collapsed last week US politics live – latest updates Canada has announced it will impose tariffs on a wide range of key American industries including cosmetics, dairy, wood products and outdoor equipment in the coming weeks, as it retaliates roughly “dollar for dollar” against levies imposed by the US. On Tuesday, Canada’s finance and industry ministers announced the government’s “focused response” to what it sees as unfair tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on Canadian products, which took effect on Saturday after trade talks collapsed late on Friday. Continue reading...
CIA director John Ratcliffe reportedly on Moscow visit
Unannounced trip reported by US media is said to be Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia as CIA chief The CIA director, John Ratcliffe, has made an unannounced visit to Moscow, US media reported, after flight data showed an American military aircraft flew to the Russian capital, where a US diplomatic motorcade was later spotted. CBS News quoted sources familiar with the situation as confirming Ratcliffe’s trip, saying it was his first known visit to Russia as CIA chief. Axios separately confirmed the visit, quoting a US official. Continue reading...
London bus drivers resume strike over heatwave working amid fears over air con deal
Drivers concerned that bus operator’s offer to retrofit cabs on 730 buses will not be complete by next summer London bus drivers have resumed strike action over having to work in high temperatures, amid fears that proposed improvements to air conditioning will not be complete by next summer. About 1,500 members of the Unite union working across north London and Essex are taking part in the four-day strike from Tuesday to Friday, after industrial action earlier this month. Further stoppages are planned for the coming weeks. Continue reading...
US consumer confidence falls in August as gas prices remain above $4 per gallon
Confidence index drops to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July amid frustration after five years of elevated inflation Americans’ confidence in the economy declined again this month as the ongoing conflict in Iran continued to push US gasoline prices above $4 per gallon. The Conference Board said on Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July. That was the lowest level in seven months but was essentially within the same lukewarm range it has been in since the beginning of the year. In late 2024 and early 2025, readings were consistently above 100. Continue reading...
VW workers boo boss as he urges them to ‘pull together’ amid job cuts
Oliver Blume faces workforce at German HQ as carmaker struggles against Chinese competition and US tariffs The chief executive of Volkswagen has faced boos and whistles of protest at the company’s headquarters after telling thousands of workers that a comprehensive reorganisation, which could include job losses and factory closures, is vital for its future. As Oliver Blume urged more than 10,000 workers on Tuesday to “pull together”, saying drastic restructuring measures at the struggling manufacturer were essential, they held up banners and shouted slogans, including: “Our jobs are not your balance sheet adjustments”. Continue reading...
Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex-trafficking appeal, calling claims ‘demonstrably meritless’
Maxwell sought to vacate Epstein-related conviction, alleging hidden trial evidence and juror’s abuse history Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell ’s legal effort to throw out her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges and 20-year prison sentence, calling her claims “demonstrably meritless, and generally based on speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods”. In a 67-page decision filed on Tuesday, US district judge Paul Engelmayer for New York’s southern district denied the former British socialite’s petition for relief, finding that Maxwell had failed to make a substantial showing that her constitutional rights were denied when she was convicted for her role in crimes linked to late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein . Continue reading...