Iran to close Strait of Hormuz as Trump threatens toll Economics Iran’s top military command has said it will shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement despite President Trump’s threats to impose a toll if the stretch of water is closed off. The Iranian leadership said the crucial shipping passage will be closed to vessel traffic as the “first [...]
‘Waste of time’: Trump cancels envoys’ trips to Pakistan for Iran talks Politics Donald Trump has cancelled a trip by US envoys to Pakistan to hold more peace talks with Iran, shortly after Tehran’s delegation left Islamabad. The US President said special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would be wasting “too much time” on the trip, accusing Iran’s delegation of “tremendous infighting and confusion”. The collapse [...]
Christian nationalism is a dead end for British conservatives Opinion JD Vance supports re-election of Viktor Orban because the Hungarian autocrat funds a network of think tanks and writers that are crucial to his own succession of Donald Trump. This is not the way forward for the British right, says Alys Denby “This is the horniest place I’ve ever been,” a fellow attendee said, noting [...]
‘Beautiful thing’: Trump moots US-Iran tax for ships in Strait of Hormuz April 8, 2026 President Trump has floated the prospect of a “joint venture” with the Iranian leadership on administering a tax on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in a new peace deal for the region. Trump said both the US and Iran could jointly tax ships passing through the stretch of water, which is critical for [...]
Tory MP Danny Kruger defects to Reform September 15, 2025 Kemi Badenoch has suffered a major blow after sitting Tory MP Danny Kruger defected from to Reform. The Wiltshire MP has been put in charge of Nigel Farage’s preparations for government, in a major coup for the insurgent party that has been dominating the opinion polls. At an event on Monday morning, Kruger announced that [...]
UK backs down on plans to force Apple to share encrypted user data August 19, 2025 The British government has backed down on plans to force Apple to share encrypted user data, according to President Trump’s intelligence chief. Tulsi Gabbard told the Financial Times that the government has agreed to abandon its demands for a “back door” for data. US vice-president JD Vance reportedly intervened to broker the exemption for the [...]
Crunch summit: Starmer, Zelensky and European leaders to meet Trump in DC August 18, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer will join European leaders in presenting a united front with Volodymyr Zelensky at his crunch meeting at the White House with Donald Trump. The Prime Minister and six other political leaders will travel to Washington DC on Monday, with the aim of protecting Ukraine from having to submit to Russian land grabs [...]
Trump Scotland visit: Starmer to push for zero steel tariffs July 25, 2025 President Trump kicks off his golfing holiday in Scotland this evening, and all eyes are on his diary as the trip looks set to become a hub for diplomacy. Sir Keir Starmer will meet the US President on Monday, with the express mission of pressing for reduced tariffs on British steel. The two leaders are [...]
Donald Trump and Elon Musk urged to end feud June 7, 2025 Republicans fearful about potential consequences of a prolonged feud between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are urging the pair to call a truce. At a minimum, the explosion of animosity between the two powerful men could complicate the path forward for Republicans’ massive tax and border spending legislation that has been promoted by [...]
Trump’s first 100 days: From stock market carnage to electing Carney April 29, 2025 Tuesday marks President Trump’s second first 100 days. On 29 April 2017, pundits looked back at the opening of the then 45th President’s term as a period that had shaken presidential norms and perhaps lowered the tone. In comparison, these first three months have been an earthquake. Trump has shown himself willing to execute the [...]