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US and UK Reach Limited Trade Deal While 10% Tariffs Remain

President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a limited bilateral trade agreement on Thursday that maintains Trump's 10% tariffs on British exports while expanding agricultural access and reducing steep US duties on British automobile exports. The "general terms" agreement marks the first of numerous tariff-adjusting deals Trump expects to finalize in the coming weeks. It follows his implementation of new import taxes aimed at addressing the $1.2 trillion US goods trade deficit. Trump celebrated the deal in the Oval Office with Starmer connected via speakerphone. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer prepared to launch negotiations with Chinese officials in Switzerland. Trump emphasized that Britain "made a good deal" but cautioned that other trading partners might face higher final tariffs due to their large US trade surpluses. "It opens up a tremendous market […]

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US and Britain Set to Announce Historic Tariff Reduction Deal

The United States and Britain are preparing to announce an agreement to lower tariffs on certain goods on Thursday, marking the first such deal since President Donald Trump implemented worldwide tariffs. Trump announced on Truth Social that he would hold an Oval Office news conference at 10 a.m. EDT Thursday regarding a "major trade deal with representatives of a big and highly respected country." A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed he would provide an update on US-UK trade discussions later Thursday. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated the framework of an agreement would be announced. "The United States is an indispensable ally for both our economic and national security," a Downing Street spokesperson stated. "Talks on a deal between our countries have been continuing at pace, and the Prime Minister will update later today." A British official […]

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Europe Commemorates 80th Anniversary of VE Day Amid Shifting Security Landscape

Solemn ceremonies will be held at war memorials across France on Thursday as the country marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, observed as a public holiday there annually. In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron will lay a wreath at Charles de Gaulle's statue, walk up the Champs-ร‰lysรฉes to the Arc de Triomphe, rekindle the eternal flame at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and inspect troops. The ceremony will include a minute's silence, a rendition of the Marseillaise, a speech from Macron on "the values that triumphed in 1945," military bands from six countries, a parade of French armed forces personnel, flags, wartime vehicles, re-enactors, and a flypast. However, France is among the relatively few European countries marking VE Day with such an elaborate ceremony. Some commemorate it more modestly without a public holiday; others call it […]

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Young Britons Turn to Catholicism Seeking Deeper Connection in Digital Age

Twenty-three-year-old Joshua Steel found a "great sense of peace" when he began attending Catholic Mass in Britain, something he says was missing in his life. Twenty-six-year-old Dan Williamson was driven to convert by an "ache" for something "deeper and ancient and more rich." Both are among a growing number of men aged 18-34 attending church in Britain compared to pre-pandemic times, challenging the assumption that Christianity was in generational decline in Western nations like Britain. As cardinals gather to vote for Pope Francis's successor on May 7, the traditions and rituals of the Catholic Church, combined with a longing for connection and faith, appear to be attracting younger British adults, particularly men. "I was looking for meaning in life," Steel said after Mass at St. Elizabeth of Portugal church in southwest London, as incense lingered in the air. An Australian […]

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UK Stocks Decline Led by Healthcare and Real Estate Despite Trade Talk Progress

Britain's main indexes fell on Wednesday, with healthcare and real estate stocks leading the decline despite positive developments in trade talks, as investor focus shifted to the upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decision. By 1008 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.3%. The domestically focused midcap index slipped 0.2%, poised to end its nine-session upward streak. An index of the UK's healthcare companies dropped 2% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration appointed Vinay Prasad, an oncologist previously criticized for FDA leadership and COVID-19 mandates, as the director of its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Shares of GSK and AstraZeneca fell between 4.4% and 2%, with GSK heading toward its largest daily decline in a month. The real estate index shed 1.3% following an industry survey that showed Britain's construction sector contracted for a fourth consecutive month in […]

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German Chancellor Nominee Rejected in Historic First-Round Vote

Friedrich Merz, Germany's conservative leader, unexpectedly failed to secure enough votes to become chancellor on Tuesday, plunging Europe's largest economy into renewed political uncertainty. The 69-year-old Merz, whose CDU/CSU conservatives won February's federal election and recently signed a coalition agreement with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), received only 310 votes in the secret parliamentary ballotโ€”six short of the absolute majority required. At least 18 coalition MPs apparently withheld their support. While not necessarily fatal to his chancellorship bid, Merz's first-round rejection marks an unprecedented setback in post-war German politics and embarrasses a leader who promised economic revival during global instability. The vote immediately cast doubt on Merz's planned diplomatic visits to France and Poland scheduled for Wednesday. Bundestag President Julia Kloeckner announced that nine lawmakers abstained while 307 voted against Merz, who appeared visibly shocked by the outcome. Party insiders […]

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Rihanna Announces Third Pregnancy During Met Gala 2025

Rihanna revealed her third pregnancy at Monday's Met Gala, continuing her tradition of making memorable appearances at the prestigious fundraising event. The 37-year-old singer and beauty entrepreneur's pregnancy announcement preceded her arrival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photographer Miles Diggs shared a portrait on Instagram showing Rihanna in a fitted gray Miu Miu outfit with her baby bump clearly visible. The ensemble, which embraced the gala's Black dandy theme, included a skirt, matching knee-high boots, fur stole, and black cloche hat. A$AP Rocky, Rihanna's partner and a co-chair of this year's event, confirmed the news to reporters on the red carpet. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," the rapper responded when congratulated. "I'm glad everybody's happy for us because we're definitely happy." After all other guests had arrived, Rihanna entered in a deconstructed black ensemble featuring a cropped jacket, […]

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Eight Men, Including Seven Iranians, Arrested in UK Counter-Terrorism Operations

British counter-terrorism police have arrested eight men in two separate investigations, with seven of them identified as Iranian nationals, according to London's Metropolitan Police. In the first operation on Saturday, five men were detained on suspicion of terrorism offenses involving a plot targeting a specific premise. Four suspects are Iranian nationals aged between 29 and 40, while the fifth man's nationality remains undisclosed. The arrests took place in multiple locations, including Swindon, West London, Stockport, Rochdale, and Manchester. "We are exploring various lines of inquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter," said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of London police's Counter Terrorism Command. Police confirmed they are in contact with the targeted site to provide support but withheld further details for operational reasons. […]

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Reform UK Upends British Politics as Major Parties Reel

Nigel Farage has declared Reform UK's electoral gains "unprecedented" and proclaimed "the end of two-party politics" following Thursday's elections. The party secured control of 10 local councils, won two mayoral races, and added a fifth MP through the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. These victories came largely at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives, with both major parties now assessing the impact. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that citizens aren't yet experiencing the benefits of Labour governance, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch committed to rebuilding her party as a "credible" alternative. Farage boldly claimed, "In post-war Britain, no one has ever beaten both Labour and the Tories in a local election before." In his Times article, Sir Keir argued the election results don't call for "ideological zealotry" but rather indicate "now is the time to crank up the pace […]

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TOP ORDER TURMOIL: England Backs Struggling Batsmen Ahead of Crucial Summer

England selector Luke Wright has publicly supported under-pressure batsmen Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope while acknowledging that "runs are the currency" in international cricket. Both players have been retained for the upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe despite recent poor form. "In international cricket, someone is always under pressure or scrutiny from the outside," Wright stated after England announced their squad for the Zimbabwe Test at Trent Bridge beginning May 22. "This is no different. I have no doubt those boys will do well. When they are playing well, we're a better team." The selector emphasized the simple truth of cricket performance metrics: "Any player knows that runs are the currency. Any batter wants to get runs." Crawley's struggles are particularly notable, with only one fifty in his last 14 Test innings, while vice-captain Pope has managed just two half-centuries in […]

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