Politics

Trump's week in review: Key highlights unveiled

Welcome to the final Washington Secrets of the week. That means our rival strategists rank how Donald Trump has fared during the past seven days. Secrets will be taking a break over Memorial Day and will return at the end of next week.

Taiwan has not received notification of pause in US arms sales

Taiwan has not been notified of a pause in U.S. arms sales, after acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao revealed it during congressional testimony.

Rubio defends Poland reversal of US troops in Europe as not ‘punitive’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied on Friday that the administration’s ongoing reshuffling of its force posture in Europe is “punitive.”

Gaza flotilla activists allege sexual assault and rape in Israeli detention

Israeli prison service denies claims of abuse during detention of 430 people trying to take aid to Palestinians

Nobody better represents Israeli politics today than Itamar Ben-Gvir

He may be the most brazen of the nation’s leaders, but his ideological spirit is found throughout its government, and beyond

US rightly warns Russia over threats to Latvia

The Trump administration has responded robustly to Russian threats against NATO ally Latvia. As U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce put it on Tuesday, “The United States keeps all of its NATO commitments.”

‘Venice is beautiful, but inside there is a struggle’: Bangladeshi candidates eye historic breakthrough

Seven Bangladeshi-Italian candidates stand for Venice’s council as community faces far-right hostility – while voters demand an end to overtourism and neglect

‘This is his legacy’: Marco Rubio nears goal of toppling Cuba’s government

US secretary of state’s campaign of ‘maximum pressure’ is culmination of a personal pursuit spanning decades

What am I bid for a blown-up van? The bizarre art auction aiming to build an eco power station in Reform-held Clacton

They blew up a van full of banknotes. They sold high-end Ukrainian vodka to Selfridges. Now art duo Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn are auctioning their past works – to launch their most ambitious project to date

New lawsuits against Trump's DOJ 'lawfare' fund

President Trump dropped his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for the DOJ creating a $1.8 billion fund to compensate alleged "lawfare" victims.

‘He made us laugh and he never flinched’: America says goodbye to The Late Show and Stephen Colbert

Jane Fonda, Bruce Springsteen and Joe Biden are among the names paying tribute to host of cancelled late-night show

Jury discharged at trial of men accused of murdering child abuser Ian Watkins

Judge says it is ‘disappointing’ there will have to be retrial of prisoners accused over Lostprophets singer’s death