THE PULSE OF THE PLANET
By Allison Jones The Canadian Press Posted May 16, 2025 11:37 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size TORONTO – Ontario’s integrity commissioner says a former top staffer to Premier Doug Ford broke lobbying rules. Amin Massoudi now runs Atlas Strategic Advisors, but previously served as Ford’s principal secretary until…
The debate is starting. At the start an MP moved a motion that the house sit in private. During debates on private member’s bills, opponents of bill sometimes use this procedure (which triggers a vote which, if passed, means MPs continue sitting with the public and press excluded) because it holds up proceedings, and because…
Supreme court to hear birthright citizenship dispute Good morning and welcome to our blog covering US politics as the supreme court prepares to hear arguments over birthright citizenship in a case that could significantly expand Donald Trump’s power. As part of a sweeping crackdown on both undocumented and legal immigrants, Trump signed an executive order…
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Budget should be brought forward to avoid ‘months of tax uncertainty’, says former No 10 adviser The Times article by Nick Williams mentioned earlier (see 9.07am) is worth reading in full. Williams gave up a job as a Treasury official to…
Major Whitehall buildings to be shut to shed 12,000 civil servant jobs in London Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, has been giving interviews this morning to talk about government plans to get rid of 12,000 civil service jobs in London. Rowena Mason has the details here. Some of the 12,000 London jobs will be…
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Donald Turmp’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria is of historic importance, Turkish state-owned Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday. Erdoğan met online with Donald Trump, Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa….
Robert Jenrick claims immigration has already turned UK into ‘island of strangers’ Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, was also doing an interview round this morning. Asked about Keir Starmer’s warning in his speech yesterday that Britain was at risk of becoming an “island of strangers” because of the impact of mass immigration, Jenrick claimed…
Trump in Riyadh for four-day Gulf tour US President Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia to kick off a four-day tour through the Gulf region, focusing on economic deals rather than the security crises ranging from war in Gaza to the threat of escalation over Iran’s nuclear programme. Tesla CEO and Trump adviser Elon…
Labour MP says Starmer’s ‘island of strangers’ comment ‘mimics scaremongering of far right’ The leftwing Labour MP Nadia Whittome has criticised Keir Starmer for saying this morning Britain risked becoming “an island of strangers” without fair immigration controls. (See 9.53am.) She posted these on Bluesky. The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful…
Plan to accept luxury jet from Qatar draws criticism from allies and rivals President Donald Trump is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar during his trip to the Middle East this coming week – and American officials say it could be converted into…
